Shirred casing delivery apparatus for meat packing system

A shirred casing delivery apparatus for a meat packing system in which a shirred casing is connected to a nozzle and packed with meat extruded from the nozzle, comprising:

• movable supporting means for supporting the entire length of the shirred casing from the inner side thereof at a position forwardly of the direction in which the meat is extruded from the nozzle;
• clamping and tnesioning means having radially extending elements for holding the shirred casing, which is supported by said supporting means, at an end of the casing facing said nozzle by applying force for pressing the shirred casing outwardly from the inner side thereof, said clamping and tensioning means being advanced and retracted together with said supporting means;
• drive means which reciprocates said supporting means for advancing said clamping and tensioning means toward the nozzle to connect the shirred casing to the nozzle and for subsequently retracting said support means and clamping and tensioning means;
• resisting means advanced and retracted together with said supporting means for resistively engaging the outer wall surface of the shirred casing when said clamping means is retracted after said connection between casing and nozzle, said resistance means forming the shirred casing into a straight, tubular portion because of relative movement between the casing wall and the resisting means resistively engaged therewith.

A shirred casing dleivery apparatus for a meat packing system in which a shirred casing is connected to a nozzle and packed with meat extruded from the nozzle, comprising;

• movable supporting means for supporting the entire length of the shirred casing form the inner side thereof at a position forwardly of the direction in which the meat is extruded from the nozzle;
• clamping means having radially extended leaf springs for holding the shirred casing, which is supported by said supporting means, at an end of the casing facing said nozzle by applying force for pressing the shirred casing outwardly from the inner side thereof, said clamping means being advanced and retracted together with said supporting means;
• drive means which reciprocates said suppporting means for advancing said clamping means toward the nozzle to connect the shirred casing to the nozzle and for subsequently retracting said supporting means and clamping means;
• resisting means advanced and retracted together with said supporting means for resistively engaging the outer wall surface of the shirred casing when said clamping means is retracted after said connection between casing and nozzle, said resisting means forming the shirred casing into a straight, tubular portion because of relative movement between the casing wall and the resisting means rsistively engaged therewith.

A shirred casing delivery apparatus for a meat packing system in which a shirred casing is connected to a nozzle and packed with meat extruded from the nozzle, comprising;

• movable supporting means for supporting the entire length of the shirred casing from the inner side thereof at a position forwardly of the direction in which the meat is extruded from the nozzle;
• clamping means having radially extending elements for holding the shirred casing, which is supported by said supporting means, at an end of the casing facing said nozzle, by applying force for pressing the shirred casing outwardly from the inner side thereof, said clamping means being advanced and retracted together with said supporting means;
• first drive means which reciprocates said supporting means for advancing said clamping means toward the nozzle to connect the shirred casing to the nozzle and for subsequently retracting said supporting means and clamping means;
• resisting means advanced and retracted together with said supporting means for resistively engaging the outer wall surface of the shirred casing when said clamping means is retracted after said connection between casing and nozzle, said resisting means forming the shirred casing into a straight, tubular portion because of relative movement between the casing wall and the resisting means resistively engaged therewith;
• and
• tensioning means for engaging said casing filled with meat extruded from said nozzle while said casing is still attached to said nozzle, and for pulling said casing in a direction away from said nozzle, said casing being tensioned over said meat.