Hormel Foods Corporation

Geo. A. Hormel & Company

Eric S VanDenBerg

Lyndon R Leining

William D Young

Thomas F A Jacobson

Ralph O Erlandson

An electrical stunning device ( ) to stun and immobilize an animal includes a first contact tip ( ) and a second contact tip ( ) to contact the animal. The first contact tip ( ) is operatively connected to a first voltage wire ( ) and the second contact tip ( ) is operatively connected to a second voltage wire ( ). The second contact tip ( ) is pivotable to activate a proximity switch ( ), which closes the circuit and allows voltage to be applied to the first contact tip ( ) via the first voltage wire ( ) and the second contact tip ( ) via the second voltage wire ( ) to stun the animal.

Electrical stunning device

A method and apparatus is provided for removing casings (15a) from elongated casing enclosed sausage sticks (15). An indexing conveyor (22) receives the casing-enclosed sausage sticks (15). An inflating mechanism is provided for inflating the casing-enclosed sausage sticks. An end cap removal section provides for the removal of the end caps. A casing slitting mechanism laterally slits the casings and the casings are then removed in a direction generally perpendicular to the length of the sausage sticks. Preferably a mechanism is provided for removal of the casings after they have been taken off from the sausage sticks by means of forced air.

Method and apparatus for stripping casings from sausages

A loin separation apparatus and method of operation therefor controls a loin knife assembly in a manner which simulates the anthropomorphic motions of a human operator during a loin pulling operation. The loin knife assembly includes a U-shaped knife blade which is mounted to an arm which is connected to the apparatus through a universal joint to permit lateral and vertical displacement of the knife blade. Moreover, the separation between the sides of the loin knife may be varied. The combination of lateral displacement and varying the separation between the sides of the blade enables the sides of the knife blade to follow separate profiles. The loin separation apparatus generates customized cutting profiles and/or modifies standard cutting profiles for the loin knife assembly, as well as for a scribe saw assembly which may also be included on the apparatus, based upon the particular dimensions, contours, etc. of a specific side of meat.

Loin separation apparatus and method of operation therefor

The present invention is a method and apparatus for testing filled containers. The apparatus includes both a vacuum sensor and displacement sensors in combination. A computer is utilized to analyze the data from both the vacuum sensor and the displacement sensors, and based on preselected criteria, determines the seal integrity for the container.

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Austin, MN, United States of America

Eric S VanDenBerg