Large encased meat product with flat ends method and apparatus
AssigneeBeckman Development Company
InventorsJohn H. Beckman, George C. Haettinger, Leonard I. Tafel, Stuart P. Gavin, Joseph R. Guziec
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A joining system for flat end discs is used in an elongated encased food product. The food casing is joined to the flat end discs permitting food stuffing of the casing. An adhesive joining, a clamping joining, a tension band joining or a piercing joining takes place in an area external to and within the peripheral boundaries of the flat end discs. The axial outward force of the food product on the discs is thus coupled to the axial tension of the casing joined to the discs.
Claims54
A flat end plate for retaining a food product stuffed into an elongated elastic casing during processing, said flat end plate comprising
- a flat inner surface, and an outer surface having a peripheral boundary area,
- said flat inner surface being adapted to press against the food product at an end of said casing, and said outer surface including holding means to engage said casing and oppose an outward force directed along the longitudinal axis of the casing and against said flat inner surface during stuffing.
An end unit for retaining a food product stuffed into an elongated elastic casing during processing, said end unit comprising
- a flat inner surface for contacting said food product, and
- a casing confronting side surface, said casing confronting side surface being substantially perpendicular to said flat inner surface, said casing confronting side surface terminating in an edge, said edge being configured to restrain said casing.
An end unit for retaining a food product stuffed into an elongated elastic casing during processing, said end unit comprising
- a flat inner surface for contacting said food product, and
- a casing confronting side surface, said casing confronting side surface being sloped, whereby a plurality of said end units may be more compactly stored by reducing the space between a pair of flat inner surfaces.
A method for encasing a food product by a stuffing horn assembly having a fore end and an aft end, using a flat end plate, and an elastic tubular casing, said flat end plate comprising;
- a flat inner surface,
- and an outer surface having a peripheral boundary area,
- said flat inner surface being adapted to press against the food product, and said outer surface including holding means to engage said casing and oppose an outward force directed along the longitudinal axis of the casing and against said flat inner surface during stuffing said method comprising:
- a. delivering said first flat end plate to the stuffing horn assembly;
- b. retaining said flat end plate adjacent to the fore end of the stuffing horn assembly;
- c. pulling a length of elastic tubular casing material over the stuffing horn assembly so as to locate the terminal end of the casing adjacent to the fore end of the stuffing horn assembly;
- f. positioning the flat end plate within the terminal end of the casing;
- g. securing the end plate within the terminal end of the casing material by cooperatively engaging a portion of the terminal end of the casing extending axially beyond the end plate to the end plate for retaining and securing the food within the casing.
Apparatus for making an elongated encased food product having at least one substantially flat end, said apparatus encasing a food product in a length of elastic elongated casing material having a forward end and a terminal end, and utilizing a flat end plate, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a stuffing horn assembly having a fore end and an aft end, said stuffing horn assembly for forcing food product from its fore end into an elastic elongated casing material;
- b. an end plate retainment means for receiving, and retaining a flat end plate at a location proximate to the fore end of the stuffing horn assembly;
- c. means for delivering a flat end plate to said end plate retainment means;
- d. means for pulling a length of elongated casing material over said stuffing horn assembly and into a position at which the terminal end of the casing material is proximate to said fore end of said stuffing horn assembly;
- and
- e. means for securing the end plate retained within said retainment means to the terminal end of the casing material, by cooperatively engaging a portion of the terminal end of the casing material extending axially beyond the end plate to the end plate, for retaining and securing the food within the casing material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.