The disclosure relates to a system and method for automatic sorting of natural intestines/casings for use in the production of food products, and especially as casings for sausages. A partly hollow feeding mandrel is configured to hold an intestine such that the intestine surrounds the feeding mandrel. The feeding mandrel includes a measuring area configured to transport water through a hollow part of the feeding mandrel through punctures in a surface of the measuring area, and into a cavity of the surrounding intestine. A vision device obtains images of the intestine, and a processor processes the images to sort the natural intestines or casings.

The present invention relates to a method, a coextrusion apparatus and a filling machine including a coextrusion apparatus of the type in question, wherein, during production of the sausage strand, the ratio of the volume flow of the casing material to the volume flow of the inner mass is variable along the sausage strand.

An apparatus for processing a foodstuff material is provided, specifically for producing sausage products from sausage meat. The apparatus includes a stationary housing which has a wall and which can be connected in fluid-conducting relationship to a conveyor pump, and has a discharge opening for delivery of the foodstuff material. Arranged within the housing is an element for partially swirling the foodstuff material within the housing, which is rotatable relative to the wall and along which in operation at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material to be conveyed flows. The rotatable element ends within the housing before the discharge opening for delivery of the foodstuff material. The apparatus can produce a string with a substantially cylindrical outer contour from a foodstuff material like sausage meat.

The present disclosure relates to packaging equipment for continuous automatic net sleeving of a casing, a shirring machine and a packaging method. The packaging equipment is provided with a shuttle; a first gripper, capable of being opened or closed to release or clamp and fix the shuttle; a second gripper, capable of driving an open end of the net bag to make reciprocating motion between a first position and a second position on the shuttle when being closed, and capable of allowing the net bag to move freely in a net bag conveying direction when being opened; a third gripper, configured to clamp the open end of the net bag and pull the net bag to sleeve a whole shirred casing in a penetrating mode; and a fourth gripper, configured to pull the net bag, and designed to be capable of moving with the third gripper.

Apparatus for orient sausages and methods of orienting sausages. The apparatus has at least one conveyor device with a moveable, in particular circulating, conveyor element on which individual sausages can be placed and transported in a conveyor direction along a path of movement. Two orientation devices are spaced from each other transversely relative to the conveyor direction and which are arranged above the moveable conveyor element, and each having at least one respective guide for laterally guiding the sausages.

A system and method for processing a coextruded meat product including a casing enclosing a meat batter after brining in which a heated, high velocity air stream is applied to the coextruded meat product thereby mechanically removing moisture from a surface of the casing and cooking the coextruded meat product. This system and method can further improve the ability for a liquid coating to be added to the coextruded meat product in a non-drenching manner because of the superior surface preparation of the casing by the jets.

The present invention relates to cellulose casings, whether reinforced or not, capable of transferring color to the product stuffed therein. These casings contain a food dye transferable to the stuffed product during processing. The present invention also relates to the method of obtaining the casing and the product stuffed in said casing.

A detection unit configured to detect a leakage hole in an intestine suspended on a tubular member having a perforated portion that is configured to distribute a flow of liquid through the perforated portion and thereby pressurize the intestine, when the intestine is being moved with a non-zero velocity (V) along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member is disclosed. The detection unit comprises an electrically conducting and axially extending sleeve-shaped surrounding portion that at least partly surrounds the circumference of the tubular member and an electric circuitry arranged and configured to measure an electric quantity established between the surrounding portion and the liquid pressurizing the intestine.

An improved process for the manufacturing of emulsion-type sausages into a flattened form-factor that does not require the use of individual molds.

The present invention is directed to a process for preparing a food product having a casing, the process comprising the step of applying a casing paste comprising alginate and a sparingly soluble calcium salt by co-extrusion to the exterior of a material to be cased to form a co-extruded product, and contacting the co-extruded product with a solution comprising calcium ions, thereby causing the alginate to gel.