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US 3,936,909 AGranted
Apparatus for severing thin tubing members
AssigneeCarter Engineering Company
InventorClarence F. Carter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for severing a length of shirred casing from a length of unshirred casing utilizes a mandrel onto which an unshirred casing is introduced. A fluid is injected between the casing and the mandrel. The casing is shirred into tight overlays to provide a length of shirred casing. This length of shirred casing and the yet unshirred casing are engaged to displace them relative to and sever them from each other. Prior to severence, the casing is circumferentially weakened by thermal partial decomposition of the casing or by at least partial penetration with a weakening tool that does not engage the mandrel.
Claims32
An apparatus for severing a length of shirred casing for prepared meats from unshirred casing, said apparatus comprising:
- an apertured cylindrical mandrel means for receiving prepared meat casing therearound, said apertured cylindrical mandrel means having aperture means for introducing a pressurized fluid into a zone between said mandrel means and said casing to inflat said casing to a maximum diameter greater than a diameter of said mandrel means;
- means for introducing unshirred casing around said apertured mandrel means;
- shirring means for folding the inflated, unshirred casing into tight overlays to provide a length of shirred casing;
- a plurality of arcuate penetrating means for contacting and at at least partially penetrating substantially an entire circumference of said inflated casing at a loation defining essentially an interface between said shirred and said unshirred casing, said penetrating means being movable radially inwardly from a first position of no contact with said casing to a second position of balanced, substantially full circumferential contact with said inflated, unshirred casing;
- limiting means operably connected to said arcuate penetrating means for limiting said radial movement thereof so that said arcuate penetrating means together form an essentially circular enclosure of said unshirred casing of a diameter;
- greater than that of said mandrel, but less than the diameter to which said contacted circumference is being urged by said pressurized fluid,
- such that said pressurized fluid establishes a fluid cushion against which said penetrating means acts to effect said at least partial penetration of said unshirred casing while said penetrating means and said contacted casing circumference are out of contact with said mandrel;
- and
- separating means for separating said length of shirred casing from said unshirred casing, said separating means comprising:
- first engaging means for engaging a portion of said length of shirred casing;
- second engaging means for engaging a portion of said unshirred casing;
- and
- displacing means for displacing said first engaging means to separate said length of shirred casing from said unshirred casing to sever said length of shirred casing from said unshirred casing.
10 more elements
An apparatus for severing a length of shirred casing for prepared meat from unshirred casing, said apparatus comprising:
- a mandrel for receiving said casing;
- penetrating means for at least partially penetrating substantially an entire circumference of said casing to weaken said circumference said penetrating means being movable from a condition out of contact with said casing radially inwardly to a condition spaced apart from said mandrel but in contact with said unshirred casing circumferentially constraining the unshirred casing to a diameter less than that of the shirred casing;
- first engaging means disposed to one side of said penetrating means for engaging said shirred casing;
- second engaging means disposed to the other side of said penetrating means for engaging said unshirred casing;
- and displacing means cooperating with said penetrating means for displacing said first engaging means relative to said second engaging means so as to exert longitudinal tensioning forces on the unshirred casing to:
- maintain said unshirred casing substantially out of contact with said mandrel,
- force said unshirred casing against said penetrating means while said unshirred casing remains in substantially continuously spaced apart relation to said mandrel, and
- overstress said weakened circumference of said casing between said shirred and unshirred casing to thereby sever said length of shirred casing from said unshirred casing.
5 more elements
An apparatus for severing a length of shirred casing for prepared meat from unshirred casing, said apparatus comprising:
- mandrel means for receiving the shirred casing therearound;
- inflation means for introducing a pressurized fluid into an interior of said casing disposed around said mandrel means to inflate and maintain a portion of said casing out of contact with said mandrel means;
- penetrating means for at least partially penetrating a portion of said casing inflated by said inflation means to weaken said casing, said penetrating means being movable from a condition out of contact with said casing radially inwardly to a condition spaced apart from said mandrel but in contact with said unshirred casing;
- limiting means operably connected to said arcuate penetrating means for limiting said radial movement thereof so that said arcuate penetrating means together form an essentially circular enclosure for said unshirred casing of a diameter;
- greater than that of said mandrel, but
- less than the diameter to which said contacted circumference is being urged by said pressurized fluid so as to maintain said penetrating means in spaced apart relation to said mandrel and in constricting relation to said unshirred casing;
- first engaging means for engaging a portion of said shirred casing;
- second engaging means for engaging a portion of said unshirred casing;
- and
- displacing means cooperating with said penetrating means for displacing said first engaging means relative to said second engaging means to exert longitudinal tensioning forces on said unshirred casing to:
- maintain said unshirred casing substantially out of contact with said mandrel,
- force said unshirred casing against said penetrating means while said unshirred casing remains in substantially continuously spaced apart relation to said mandrel, and
- overstress said weakened portion of said casing to sever a length of shirred casing from said unshirred casing.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.