The present disclosure relates to a displacement element pair for dividing a sausage strand, conveyed between the displacement elements, into individual sausages, each displacement element having at least one wing with a first wing section and a second wing section between which an outwardly widening, in particular V-shaped cutout is formed, both the first and the second wing section having a laterally curved pocket or an opening. The present disclosure also relates to a corresponding apparatus for dividing a sausage strand.

A closure module and a method for closing and/or separating filled sausage casings connected via a sausage neck, comprising two stamps movable relative to and towards each other and arranged such that a sausage neck can be placed therebetween, the stamps being capable of clamping the sausage neck in a closed condition, and further comprising a first and a second electrode, through which, in a closed condition of the stamps, a current can flow from the first electrode into the sausage neck and via the sausage neck into the second electrode.

A clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products is provided, comprising gathering means for forming a plait-like portion from tubular packaging casing filled with filling material and a closing unit for applying at least four closure means to the plait-like portion. Moreover, a guide unit is provided for guiding closure means to a closing unit of a clipping machine, being configured to supply at least two closure means to a first closing device of the closing unit and at least two further closure means to a second closing device of the closing unit. There is also provided a method for producing sausage-shaped products, comprising filling a portion of tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing with filling material, forming a plait-like portion therefrom and applying at least two closure means to a first section of the plait-like portion while substantially simultaneously applying two closure means to a second section of the plait-like portion.

A clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products is provided, comprising gathering means for forming a plait-like portion from tubular packaging casing filled with filling material and a closing unit for applying at least four closure means to the plait-like portion. Moreover, a guide unit is provided for guiding closure means to a closing unit of a clipping machine, being configured to supply at least two closure means to a first closing device of the closing unit and at least two further closure means to a second closing device of the closing unit. There is also provided a method for producing sausage-shaped products, comprising filling a portion of tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing with filling material, forming a plait-like portion therefrom and applying at least two closure means to a first section of the plait-like portion while substantially simultaneously applying two closure means to a second section of the plait-like portion.

A separator is provided for separating portions from elongate casings stuffed with food mass, in particular for separating sausages from alginate casings stuffed with sausage meat. The separator includes two circulating conveyor members spaced apart from one another and drivable by at least one drive element, and at least one crimping member arranged on each conveyor member. It is proposed that the legs of a crimping portion of the crimping members are curved on their side facing an adjacently arranged second crimping member in operation, such that the stuffed casing is first constricted in a constriction region with displacement of the food mass and then severed, producing a desirable shape for the portions separated.

A method for reconfiguring a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products from a first clipping mode to a second clipping mode, the method comprising the steps of: providing an input to a control unit of the clipping machine indicative of the reconfiguration of the clipping machine from the first clipping mode to the second clipping mode; and changing a number of closure means, such as closure clips, supplied to a closing unit of the clipping machine from a first number of closure means associated with the first clipping mode, to a second number of closure means associated with the second clipping mode.

A method for reconfiguring a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products from a first clipping mode to a second clipping mode, the method comprising the steps of: providing an input to a control unit of the clipping machine indicative of the reconfiguration of the clipping machine from the first clipping mode to the second clipping mode; and changing a number of closure means, such as closure clips, supplied to a closing unit of the clipping machine from a first number of closure means associated with the first clipping mode, to a second number of closure means associated with the second clipping mode.

An ejector device is provided for food portions, and in particular for sausages. A food portion in a conveying area between two conveyor belts is engaged in a conveying mode and can be conveyed in the conveying direction. It is proposed that the ejector device has at least one adjustment mechanism for ejecting a food portion in an ejection area, which is so designed that the distance of the conveyor belts from each other in the conveying area can be partially varied. A method of ejecting food portions is also provided, in which it is proposed that the food portions be taken out of engagement with the conveyor belts as described above.

A twisting apparatus comprising a loading device intended to load a food product into a casing, and a braking device, is described. The loading device comprises two tubular filling bodies, or filling tubes, intended to support the casing and a twisting device intended to rotate each filling tube about its axis, and a movable frame or carriage able to support the loading device. The twisting apparatus includes a rotation unit intended to cause rotation of the loading device and angularly displace the two tubular filling bodies with respect to the braking device. Also provided is a displacement drive member connected to said movable frame or carriage so as to move with an approaching and separating displacement, or to-and-fro movement, the two tubular filling bodies away from and towards the braking device. The rotation unit includes a rotation drive member fixed to said movable frame or carriage and is able to be moved by said displacement drive member together with the loading device. The displacement drive member is also configured to move the loading device with respect to an entry member for supplying the product.

A twisting apparatus comprising a loading device intended to load a food product into a casing, and a braking device, is described. The loading device comprises two tubular filling bodies, or filling tubes, intended to support the casing and a twisting device intended to rotate each filling tube about its axis, and a movable frame or carriage able to support the loading device. The twisting apparatus includes a rotation unit intended to cause rotation of the loading device and angularly displace the two tubular filling bodies with respect to the braking device. Also provided is a displacement drive member connected to said movable frame or carriage so as to move with an approaching and separating displacement, or to-and-fro movement, the two tubular filling bodies away from and towards the braking device. The rotation unit includes a rotation drive member fixed to said movable frame or carriage and is able to be moved by said displacement drive member together with the loading device. The displacement drive member is also configured to move the loading device with respect to an entry member for supplying the product.