ZERO TIME WRAPPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the stuffing of tubular wraps for foods with food product, and more particularly it relates to a method and apparatus for efficiently applying staples or moorings to the stuffed food product to separate it into discrete "stretches". . It is known that the food stuffed in tubular wrappings for food, can be separated into discrete sections by means of ties or staples. Unfortunately, such section formation has been an inefficient operation since, in order to apply a tie or staple, the sausage operation has to be stopped momentarily. This has had numerous disadvantages. In particular, the fact of starting and stopping the sausage operation, takes time, thus decreasing the sausage process. In addition, the food product is supplied to the wrapper by means of a pump for food product, which must be turned on and off repeatedly as the sausage operation is started and stopped. This not only is detrimental to the pump, but also creates overpressure of the food product, which contributes to a non-uniform diameter in the finished stuffed product. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which allows improved production speeds for tubular casings of stuffed foods, and which allows the production of product, having a more uniform sausage diameter. Brief Description of the Invention Therefore, according to the invention, a method is provided for stuffing food product into a tubular food wrap, at a predetermined linear speed of movement of the stuffed food product, by closing the stuffed food product to separate the food product embedded in sections, while the stuffed food product continues to move at said predetermined speed. The invention also includes an improved machine for stuffing food product, which stuffs food product into a tubular food wrapper at a predetermined linear speed of movement of the stuffed food product, a closure device, which applies closures to the stuffed food product to separate the food product stuffed into sections of stuffed food product, while the stuffed food product continues to move at said predetermined speed. After stapling, means are provided to return the closure device to an original position to repeat the operation after another desired length of the wrapper has been inserted. According to the present invention, the closures are usually, but not essentially, staples and the food product is usually, but not essentially, sausage product. When the term "sausage" or "sausage casing" is used herein, it is to be understood that the invention also applies to other "sausage foods" that can be stuffed into "food casings". When the apparatus of the invention uses staples as the closing means, the apparatus includes a stapling mechanism, which moves from a starting position with the stuffed sausage product, at said predetermined speed, during the application of a staple. staple to the sausage product and includes means for returning the stapling mechanism to the starting position, after the rape has been applied. In a preferred embodiment, the stapling mechanism comprises a first V-shaped jaw and a second V-shaped jaw, which move towards each other to compress and constrict the stuffed sausage product, in preparation for the application of a staple, and also comprises means for applying a U-shaped staple on the narrow portion of the stuffed sausage product, followed by bending ends of the staple, to retain and separate the sausage segments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view in cross section of the machine of the invention showing the locking and stapling devices in a first position near the end of the horn, where they open the closing and undercutting slides.
Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the machine of Figure 1, in which the locking and stapling mechanisms are in a second, additional position from the stuffing horn of Figure 1, where the closing mechanism closes on the envelope. Figure 4 is a view of the right end of the machine shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the machine of Figure 3, where the locking and stapling mechanisms are in a Still further third position of the sausage horn of Figure 3, wherein the closing mechanism is closed and the stapling mechanism has been activated. Figure 6 is a view of the end of the machine of the
Figure 5. Detailed Description of the Invention "Foodstuff", as used herein, means essentially any food that can be stuffed into a tubular film casing. The most common of these foods are, meats for sausages, v.gr. , German sausages, bologna sausage, salami, Italian sausage, Polish sausage, thick German sausage, thin German sausage, liver sausage, sausage snack, etc. Other foods can also be pressed into said wrappings, e.g., fish paste, turkey breast, whole and processed ham, cheeses, processed chicken, etc. "Inlay" means that it will be introduced in a tubular film wrap. Said sausage can be achieved by any suitable means, which usually involve passing the food product through a horn for sausage, on which a tubular film casing has been placed. "Tubular film wrap" means a film in the form of a tube or hose. Said tubular films can be originally extruded in a tubular form, or they can then be formed from a flat film, sealing the opposite edges of a flat film. The film used to form the wrapper can be any suitable film, such as regenerated cellulose, collagen, and plastic, any of which can optionally be reinforced with fibers, eg, a nonwoven cellulose fiber paper. . "Continuously" means without stopping, except for purposes of re-feeding food product or tubular film wrapping, if required. "Stuffed food product" means the product that results from stuffing the food product in a tubular film wrap. "Default linear speed" means an essentially constant continuous performance of the finished stuffed food product.
"Closing the stuffed food product" means tying, stapling, or otherwise securing the end of the tubular food wrapper, at the end, in which the stuffing takes place, after stuffing to retain the food product within the wrapping and to form separate "stretches". The means for moving the closure device with the stuffed food product and returning it, can be any suitable means, such as, a car operated by a servomotor, or a series of gears, bands or chains and gear teeth. The invention can be better understood, with reference to the drawings that illustrate a preferred embodiment of the machine of the invention, for practicing the method of the invention. The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of a machine 10 of the invention. Referring to the drawings, a folded cartridge 11 of the tubular casing 12 for food is placed on a stuffing horn 13 and a sizing ring 14, then placed on an end 16 of the stuffing horn 13 after which a section 18 of the casing 12 is pulled from the folded cartridge 11. The open end 20 of the section 18 is then closed by the joining of the casing 12 at the end, by means of the joining mechanism 22 and applying a staple by means of the stapling mechanism 24. The linking mechanism 22 and stapling mechanism 24, are secured to the horizontal transport 26 and are slidably mounted on the arrows 50. The horizontal transport 26 , comprises upper horizontal guide rods 28, and lower horizontal guide rods 30, all of which are secured to frame 32 of the machine. The transport 26 also comprises the carriage 34, which is mounted on the upper and lower guide rods 28 and 30, using sliding bearings 36. The carriage 34 moves in both directions along the guide rods, by means of the servomotor 38. After the end of the casing 12 is stapled, food product is passed through the horn 13 for sausage, at a speed which is controlled by a pump 21 for food. As a result, the food wrap 12 is withdrawn from the cartridge 1 1 to form stuffed food product 40, which moves at a linear speed equal to the input of sufficient food in the wrapper for the sausage. After a desired length of food wrapper is embossed, the carriage 34 moves in the direction of movement of the stuffed food product, at a speed that equals the linear speed of movement of the stuffed food product. As the carriage moves, the wrapping is joined and stapled by the binding and stapling mechanisms 22 and 24, carried out, in the desired location to close the wrapping and thus form a finished "section" of stuffed food product. Union and stapling occur in this way without interrupting the flow of food product or slowing the movement of stuffed food product. As soon as the stapling is complete, the servomotor is reversed and the carriage 34 returns, with the joining and stapling mechanisms supported, such that the mechanisms are set to activate again when a desired closing position on the stuffed food product , reach the mechanisms. As can also be seen in the drawings, the stuffed food product is carried by the conveyor belt 42, as it is formed at the end of the horn for sausage. Since the binding and stapling mechanisms operate partially at a level below a lower edge 44 of the stuffed food product, the conveyor belt of the preferred embodiment is unique, since it moves away from the lower edge 44 in the area of the mechanisms of union and stapling. This is particularly interesting in terms of the portion of the conveyor belt, which should eliminate changes as the mechanisms of union and stapling move. This is achieved by dropping the band around the rollers 46 secured to the carriage 34, in such a way that the carriage moves, the band is always below the lower edge 44 in the area of the joining and stapling mechanisms. The connecting mechanism connected to the carriage comprises opposite joining locks, which have V-shaped grooves which join the casing in an adjustment area as the connecting locks 48 move towards each other. The joining locks move towards each other by any suitable means, such as one or more air operated pistons or servomotors. After joining a staple ejector comprising the cylinder 55, a U-shaped staple is moved around the joined wrapping and against a die that flexes the staple ends, thus securing it to the wrapping. The staple ejector can be operated by any suitable means, such as an air driven piston. In operation, after the first staple is placed on the end 20 of the wrap, the food product flows from the stuffing horn into the wrapper, to form stuffed food product, which is carried from the sausage horn at a predetermined speed by means of the conveyor 42. After a desired length of the stuffed food product is formed, the trolley 34 moves in the direction of the trajectory of the stuffed food product, in a location along the stuffed food product where a staple is desired. As the carriage moves, the attachment locks 48 move toward each other to join the housing in preparation for receiving a staple. After attaching a staple ejector, which carries a staple, the staple is placed around the attached wrapping and the rag hits a die, which bends the staple around and secures it to the attached wrapping.
The method and apparatus of the invention overcome the disadvantages discussed previously associated with closing sections of the stuffed food product. For example, it is not necessary to stop the sausage operation to close the casing in order to form sections, thus increasing the production speed. It is not necessary to stop and ignite a pump for food product, thus saving pump wear and reducing or eliminating overpressures of food product, thus resulting in a more uniform product. In a time comparison, the apparatus of the present invention will emboss sections or pieces, plus thirty percent faster than the commercial filler machine "T-SIZER or" of the state of the art, present, without considering even less time due to the extended life of the bomb.