Method for forming a shirred fibrous casing article

A method for forming a shirred fibrous casing article having an internal bore including the steps of:

• a. providing two portions of fibrous casing each containing about 20% to about 30% moisture based on total casing weight, the two portions being joined together at a splice to form a continuous casing length and having a flag associated with the splice;
• b. drawing the continuous casing length onto and along a shirring mandrel and shirring the casing including the splice about the mandrel to form a shirred stick composed of at least said two spliced together portions;
• c. doffing the shirred stick from the mandrel and inserting the shirred stick into a retainer which encompasses and presses against said stick including at least a portion of the opposite ends of said stick so as to retain the integrity of said stick;
• d. locating the splice through the retainer;
• e. forming a window in said retainer to expose said splice;
• and
• f. extracting said flag and extending it through said window.