The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 27, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 06, 1998
Lyndon R Leining, Austin, MN (US);
Eric S VanDenBerg, Austin, MN (US);
William D Young, Albert Lea, MN (US);
Hormel Foods, LLC, Austin, MN (US);
Abstract
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.