Flow control systems and methods for controlling the flow of liquid into and out of a tubular member comprising a perforated portion that is configured to distribute a flow of liquid having a predefined fixed liquid pressure through the perforated portion to pressurize an intestine that is suspended on the tubular member is disclosed. The flow control system comprises a flow regulating valve having a slidably arranged valve structure arranged in a pressurized liquid filled water chamber and an elastic water-side diaphragm arranged in the water chamber and connected to the valve structure such that the water-side diaphragm allows the valve structure to be moved in a first direction along the longitudinal axis of the valve structure to increase the volume in the water chamber and be moved in the opposite direction to decrease the volume in the water chamber.

Flow control systems and methods for controlling the flow of liquid into and out of a tubular member comprising a perforated portion that is configured to distribute a flow of liquid having a predefined fixed liquid pressure through the perforated portion to pressurize an intestine that is suspended on the tubular member is disclosed. The flow control system comprises a flow regulating valve having a slidably arranged valve structure arranged in a pressurized liquid filled water chamber and an elastic water-side diaphragm arranged in the water chamber and connected to the valve structure such that the water-side diaphragm allows the valve structure to be moved in a first direction along the longitudinal axis of the valve structure to increase the volume in the water chamber and be moved in the opposite direction to decrease the volume in the water chamber.

A cutting tool for cutting netting used for encasing meat products comprises a blade and a guard. A control circuit is electrically connected to the blade, and configured to maintain the temperature of the blade at a cutting temperature in the range of 300° C. to 500° C. The guard defines an interior cavity surrounding the blade and further comprises a slot exposing a portion of the blade. The guarding is further shaped to define a funnel at a distal end of the cutting tool leading to the slot such that in use the funnel guides a netting to be cut towards the blade. The cutting tool may be provided as a hand tool or in a bench mounted form.

A cutting tool for cutting netting used for encasing meat products comprises a blade and a guard. A control circuit is electrically connected to the blade, and configured to maintain the temperature of the blade at a cutting temperature in the range of 300° C. to 500° C. The guard defines an interior cavity surrounding the blade and further comprises a slot exposing a portion of the blade. The guarding is further shaped to define a funnel at a distal end of the cutting tool leading to the slot such that in use the funnel guides a netting to be cut towards the blade. The cutting tool may be provided as a hand tool or in a bench mounted form.

There is provided a system and a process for picking up and transporting a casing of indefinite length into relationship with a device, such as a device for measuring the diameter of the casing. The process comprises the steps: i) placing the casing on a support; ii) directing an actuated arm equipped with a finger towards the casing; iii) moving the actuated arm away from the support and activating rollers to coil the casing onto the finger; and iv) moving the finger with the casing to a device, such as a device for measuring the diameter thereof, and decoiling the casing to transfer the casing to the device.

A method and a device for separating shirred casing sticks, where a row R.sub.1 with a first number of consecutively disposed shined casing sticks in a shined casing stick storage is pushed in a first stroke cycle by a pusher along a sloped plane in the direction of a separation edge and one after the other over the separation edge and, once the last shined casing stick of the row has been pushed over the separation edge, the pusher moves back along the sloped plane and takes a row R.sub.2 with a second number of consecutively disposed shined casing sticks and pushes them in a further stroke cycle in the direction towards the separation edge, characterized in that a control device determines the filling level of shined casing sticks in the shined casing stick storage from the number of shined casing sticks pushed over the separation edge.

A method and a device for separating shirred casing sticks, where a row R.sub.1 with a first number of consecutively disposed shined casing sticks in a shined casing stick storage is pushed in a first stroke cycle by a pusher along a sloped plane in the direction of a separation edge and one after the other over the separation edge and, once the last shined casing stick of the row has been pushed over the separation edge, the pusher moves back along the sloped plane and takes a row R.sub.2 with a second number of consecutively disposed shined casing sticks and pushes them in a further stroke cycle in the direction towards the separation edge, characterized in that a control device determines the filling level of shined casing sticks in the shined casing stick storage from the number of shined casing sticks pushed over the separation edge.

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.

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.

There is provided a system and a process for picking up and transporting a casing of indefinite length into relationship with a device, such as a device for measuring the diameter of the casing. The process comprises the steps: i) placing the casing on a support; ii) directing an actuated arm equipped with a finger towards the casing; iii) moving the actuated arm away from the support and activating rollers to coil the casing onto the finger; and iv) moving the finger with the casing to a device, such as a device for measuring the diameter thereof, and decoiling the casing to transfer it to the device.