Teepak, Inc.

Ivo G Hendriks

J Alfons Liekens

Johan Kwanten

Theo Stals

A machine for making a package of food casing strands, wherein the package has a hexagonal-like cross section, comprising a product holder for initially holding a plurality of the strands in a configuration having a hexagonal-like cross section, wherein the holder has an opening therein for admitting the strands into the holder; means for transporting the strands to the holder and for depositing the strands into the opening; shaker means for shaking the holder at predetermined times to ensure that the plurality of strands settle into the holder in the configuration having a hexagonal-like cross section; means for measuring and cutting a predetermined amount of stretch film, where the stretch film is a closed loop used to encase the package of food casing strands; means for stretching and holding the stretch film into a shape of a polygon having a perimeter which is larger than the perimeter of the holder; means for moving the stretched film into a position proximate the holder; means for pushing all of the strands out of the holder and into the stretched closed loop of film; and, means for releasing the stretched film, wherein the film then relaxes about the plurality of strands to form the package of food casing strands.

Machine for making a package of food casing strands

A method which comprises sequentially depositing individual shirred food casing strands into a holder, which, when filled, holds the strands in a desired configuration; stretching a tubular resilient plastic film having a stretched diameter large enough to accommodate the configuration and having a relaxed diameter small enough to tightly engage the external surfaces of strands located proximate the external surface of the configuration; inserting the configuration of strands into the tubular resilient plastic film when at least a portion of the film is so stretched and allowing the film to relax to tightly secure the strands in said configuration. The particular configuration comprises the configuration wherein, in the configuration, each strand has a strand diameter D, said strands being oriented such that central longitudinal axes of the strands are parallel; external surfaces of the strands contact external surfaces of adjacent strands; ends of the strands terminate in approximately the same plane; said plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the strands, lines passing perpendicularly through the central axes of strands located proximate the external surface of the configuration intersect to form a hexagon; and strands internally within the configuration encompassed by adjacent contact six adjacent strands; and the sides of the hexagon have side lengths such that said lengths vary by less than 1D from each other.

Method of packaging an efficient strand package with hexagonal cross

A package comprising, shirred, essentially cylindrically shaped, food casing strands, each of which has a strand diameter D. The strands are oriented in the package in such a way that longitudinal axes of the strands are parallel, external surfaces of the strands contact external surfaces of adjacent strands and ends of the strands terminate in approximately the same plane, which plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the strands. The strands are further oriented so that lines passing perpendicularly through the central axes of strands located proximate the external surface of the package intersect to form a hexagon in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axes. Sides of the hexagon have side lengths such that the lengths vary by no more than one D from each other. Strands, internally within the package, i.e. which would not have an exteriorly exposed surface if all package wraps were removed, contact six adjacent strands. The package usually consists essentially of, n rows of strands and an external package retainer, usually a package wrap. Preferably each of the lines forming the hexagon passes through the central axes of either an equal number of strands or a number of strands which do not vary by more than one. Preferably, the package according to the present invention has an odd number of rows n, which is a number of 5 to 15.

Efficient strand package with hexagonal cross-section

The invention comprises a package comprising 50 shirred essentially cylindrically shaped shirred food casing strands. The strands are oriented in the package such that longitudinal axes of the strands are parallel. Within the package external surfaces of the strands contact external surfaces of adjacent strands and ends of the strands terminate in approximately the same plane. In a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the strands, lines passing through the central axes of strands located proximate the external surface of the package intersect to form a hexagon. Strands internally within the package, i.e., which would not have an exteriorly exposed surface if a wrap for the package were removed, contact six adjacent strands. The package consists of nine strand rows. The first row contains four strands. The second row contains five strands. The third row contains six strands and the fourth row contains seven strands. The fifth row is the center row and contains six strands. The sixth row contains seven strands. The seventh row contains six strands. The eighth row contains five strands and the ninth row contains four strands. The package has a retaining means, usually a package wrap, for securing the strands within the package in the previously described orientation.

Package of strands with a hexagonal-like cross section

A food emulsion casing end-closure, and the method of making it, are disclosed. The end-closure is formed of a twist knot through which an air escape aperture is extended. The twist knot forms part of a wadding which is stuffed into the bore of a shirred casing stick and interference fitted therewith. The wadding acts as a shock absorber for the initial shock of extruded food emulsion and serves as means to enhance the consistency of that initial portion of extruded food emulsion. The twist knot is sufficiently tight that it can serve as a permanent end-closure or it may readily be opened by untwisting. Also provided is a lock means for maintaining the twist knot as such.

Food emulsion casing end-closure

A method and device for everting flexible tubular members, such as food casings and the like, is disclosed wherein a tubular member is axially displaced by a frictional engagement means, which means is deposed in a distal end portion of the member, and which frictionally engages the interior surface of said member and displaces said member to a point where the member is folded back over itself (everted) and then displaces said everted member, from the point of everting over the exterior surface of the noneverted tubular member.

Method and device for everting flexible tubular member

This relates to method and apparatus for the packaging of a tubular shirred casing strand within a wrap sleeve. The wrap sleeve is provided with end portions which extend beyond the casing strand, and these end portions are heated and folded and deformed by way of a plunger which functions as a piston within a mold structure so as to define a rigid substantially solid end cap which is integral with the wrap sleeve.

Method and apparatus for packaging sheathed tubular strands

This relates to the packaging of a tubular shirred casing strand within a wrap sleeve. The wrap sleeve is provided with end portions which extend beyond the casing strand, and these end portions are heated and folded and deformed by way of a plunger which functions as a piston within a mold structure so as to define a rigid substantially solid end cap which is integral with the wrap sleeve. This abstract forms no part of the specification of this application and is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Packaged sheathed tubular strands and method and apparatus for making

This relates to the packaging of a casing stick within a sheathing in a manner wherein the casing stick may be readily handled in the required manner without undue damage to that end which is to be telescoped over the filling horn, while at the same time permitting the casing stick to be subjected to desired treatments such as moisturizing as is required, prior to the filling of the casing with a selected product. One end of the casing stick is provided with a calibrated ring which includes a sleeve that telescopes within the end of the casing stick and which has at one end a flange of a size generally to prevent external damage to the pleats of the casing stick. The sheathing of the package is inter-wound with the calibrated ring and the calibrated ring is provided with resilient fingers for locking the calibrated ring and the sheathing material on the filling horn.

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Overpelt, Belgium

Ivo G Hendriks