US 6,656,031 B1 · Method and an apparatus for removing the skin from a sausage

Abstract

A method of removing the skin (7) from a sausage (1) comprises a plurality of steps. First, an end portion (2) of the sausage (1) is cut off, whereafter the skin (7) is grasped by gripping means (3) in diametrically opposed positions. Thereafter, an incision is made in the sausage (1) in its longitudinal direction by a knife (6), and the gripping means (3) and the sausage (1) are displaced in relation to one another in the longitudinal direction of the sausage (1) so that the skin (7) is pulled off in this direction. An abutment member (5) counteracts the tendency of the sausage (1) to move with the gripping means (3) when these are displaced. An apparatus for removing the skin (7) from a sausage includes a substrate for supporting the sausage, gripping means (3), a knife (6) and a displacement device (8). The gripping means (3) are disposed on either side of the sausage (1) and the knife (6) is disposed at the surface of the sausage (1) between them.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for removing the skin (7) from a sausage (1), comprising the step that an end portion (2) of the sausage is cut off, that the skin (7) is grasped by gripping means (3), that an incision is made in the sausage by a knife (6), that the gripping means (3) and the sausage (1) undergo a relative displacement in the longitudinal direction of the sausage (1), and that the skin (7) is pulled off in the longitudinal direction, characterized in that the gripping means (3) grasps the skin (7) in diametrically opposed positions, the knife (6) cuts the skin (7) in the longitudinal direction of the sausage (1),

said gripping means (3) are moved a distance transversely of the longitudinal direction of the sausage once the gripping means have grasped the skin (7), and
an abutment member (5) prevents the sausage (1) from moving with the gripping means when said gripping means are displaced, for which reason the skin (7) is pulled off.

An apparatus for removing skin from a sausage, comprising:

a support substrate extending in a longitudinal direction and dimensioned to receive and support a sausage;
a first gripper positioned to a first side of the sausage when supported on said support substrate, said first gripper having a first side skin gripper assembly which shifts said first gripper between a skin gripping mode and a skin release mode;
a second gripper positioned to a second side of the sausage, which second side opposes said first side of the sausage, when supported on said support substrate, said second gripper having a second side skin gripper assembly which shifts said second gripper between a skin gripping mode and a skin release mode;
a sausage displacement device;
a knife arranged for sausage skin contact when the sausage is supported on said support substrate, said knife being positioned at a location between the first and second sides of the sausage;
and
a gripper adjustment device which positionally adjusts said first and second grippers toward and away from the sausage and in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction;
said support substrate further comprising longitudinal guide support surfaces for guiding longitudinal movement of said sausage displacement device and said first and second grippers, and said sausage displacement device and said first and second grippers being arranged on said guide support surfaces for opposite relative longitudinal direction movement along said guide support surfaces such that during displacement of the sausage by said sausage displacement device in a first longitudinal direction said first and second grippers move in an opposite, second longitudinal direction while skin is removed from the sausage.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and an apparatus for removing the skin from a sausage

Life of this patent

Method and an apparatus for removing the skin from a sausage

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24