Systems with interchangeable horns for producing encased products and related methods, computer program products and horn rotor assemblies

An apparatus with interchangeable horns for engaging a filler/product pump and supplying elongate casings for encasing products therein, comprising:

• a housing having a support structure and opposing upstream and downstream end portions;
• a first horn releaseably mountable to the housing support structure, the first horn having a length, an outer surface and an internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, the first horn is configured to direct casing material to travel over the outer surface while product travels through the internal flow channel;
• and
• a horn rotor assembly releasably mountable to the housing support structure, the horn rotor assembly comprising a pivotable second horn with an outer surface and an intermediate pipe segment, each having a respective internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, product travels through the intermediate flow channel into the pivotable second horn while the second horn is adapted to allow a supply of casing material to travel over the outer surface thereof, and wherein the first horn is a heat seal horn configured to cooperate with sheet roll stock to form seamed elastomeric tubular casing in situ.

An apparatus with interchangeable horns for engaging a filler/product pump and supplying elongate casings for encasing products therein, comprising:

• a housing having a support structure and opposing upstream and downstream end portions;
• a first horn releaseably mountable to the housing support structure, the first horn having a length, an outer surface and an internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, the first horn is configured to direct casing material to travel over the outer surface while product travels through the internal flow channel;
• and
• a horn rotor assembly releasably mountable to the housing support structure, the horn rotor assembly comprising a pivotable second horn with an outer surface and an intermediate pipe segment, each having a respective internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, product travels through the intermediate flow channel into the pivotable second horn while the second horn is adapted to allow a supply of casing material to travel over the outer surface thereof, and
• wherein the first horn axially extends beyond a footprint defined by the housing and the intermediate pipe segment resides substantially within the footprint defined by the housing.

An apparatus with interchangeable horns for engaging a filler/product pump and supplying elongate casings for encasing products therein, comprising:

• a housing having a support structure and opposing upstream and downstream end portions;
• a first horn releaseably mountable to the housing support structure, the first horn having a length, an outer surface and an internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, the first horn is configured to direct casing material to travel over the outer surface while product travels through the internal flow channel;
• and
• a horn rotor assembly releasably mountable to the housing support structure, the horn rotor assembly comprising a pivotable second horn with an outer surface and an intermediate pipe segment, each having a respective internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, product travels through the intermediate flow channel into the pivotable second horn while the second horn is adapted to allow a supply of casing material to travel over the outer surface thereof, and
• wherein the horn rotor assembly has an overall assembled length that includes the assembled respective lengths of the casing horn, pivot head and intermediate pipe segment with the overall assembled horn rotor assembly length being substantially the same as the first horn length.

An apparatus with interchangeable horns for engaging a filler/product pump and supplying elongate casings for encasing products therein, comprising:

• a housing having a support structure and opposing upstream and downstream end portions;
• a first horn releaseably mountable to the housing support structure, the first horn having a length, an outer surface and an internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, the first horn is configured to direct casing material to travel over the outer surface while product travels through the internal flow channel;
• and
• a horn rotor assembly releasably mountable to the housing support structure, the horn rotor assembly comprising a pivotable second horn with an outer surface and an intermediate pipe segment, each having a respective internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, product travels through the intermediate flow channel into the pivotable second horn while the second horn is adapted to allow a supply of casing material to travel over the outer surface thereof, and
• wherein the housing support structure comprises a support bracket disposed on the downstream end portion of the housing, and wherein the horn rotor assembly comprises a support member configured and sized to releasably attach to the support bracket.

An apparatus with interchangeable horns for engaging a filler/product pump and supplying elongate casings for encasing products therein, comprising:

• a housing having a support structure and opposing upstream and downstream end portions;
• a first horn releaseably mountable to the housing support structure, the first horn having a length, an outer surface and an internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, the first horn is configured to direct casing material to travel over the outer surface while product travels through the internal flow channel;
• and
• a horn rotor assembly releasably mountable to the housing support structure, the horn rotor assembly comprising a pivotable second horn with an outer surface and an intermediate pipe segment, each having a respective internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, product travels through the intermediate flow channel into the pivotable second horn while the second horn is adapted to allow a supply of casing material to travel over the outer surface thereof, and
• wherein the horn rotor assembly pivotable casing horn comprises a pivot head with a coupling member having a semi-spherical profile and a flow passage held in a socket member having a flow passage, the socket member configured to snugly receive the coupling member while allowing the coupling member to pivot relative thereto, and wherein, in a casing material load position, the pivot head is configured to allow the casing horn to angle substantially laterally outward out of axial alignment and, in operative position, the pivot head is configured to allow the casing horn to extend in a substantially horizontal axial aligned position.