Production method of natural intestine sausage and device therefor

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, which are used in the technical field of manufacturing sausages.

With conventional apparatuses for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, if an attempt is made to stuff a material up to a rear end portion of a natural intestine casing, the material is discharged from a nozzle by following the material which caused the rear end portion to be dislocated from the nozzle. This material is scattered without being stuffed into the rear end portion of the natural intestine casing, and not only has this been undesirable in sanitation, but a waste of the material has resulted. Thus, unless the material is stuffed up to the rear end portion for preventing the scattering of the material, the waste of the natural intestine casing occurs.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described aspects, and its first object is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, which make it possible to stuff the material up to the rear end portion of the natural intestine casing by establishing synchronization between the movement of the natural intestine casing and the stopping of the supplying of the material. A second object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, which make it possible to generate with high accuracy a signal for stopping the supplying of the material into the natural intestine casing. A third object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, which make it possible to generate with high accuracy a signal for stopping the supplying of the material into the natural intestine casing, following the advancing of the rear end portion of the natural intestine casing by a simple method.

To these ends, in accordance with the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, comprising the steps of: fitting a natural intestine casing over a stuffing tube in a state in which the natural intestine casing is divided into a shirred portion and a straight portion; causing an intestine pushing member to push and advance the shirred portion toward an intestine receiving member; pinching the shirred portion by and between the intestine pushing member and the intestine receiving member; detecting that the intestine pushing member has reached a predetermined position; pulling the natural intestine casing on the stuffing tube projecting from the intestine receiving member and sliding the natural intestine casing on the stuffing tube by transporting the natural intestine casing, stuffed with a material, by transporting means for a predetermined time after the detection; and stopping the discharging of the material into the natural intestine casing after the lapse of a predetermined time.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages including a stuffing tube having a distal end and adapted to stuff a material into a natural intestine casing, material supplying means for supplying the material into the stuffing tube, and transporting means disposed forwardly of the distal end of the stuffing tube and adapted to transport the natural intestine casing, stuffed with the material, in a direction away from the distal end, comprising: an intestine pushing member for pushing a rear end portion of the stuffing tube on the stuffing tube; intestine-pushing-member driving means for pushing and advancing the intestine pushing member toward the distal end of the stuffing tube; an intestine receiving member having a hole portion through which the distal end is passed so that the distal end of the stuffing tube is located in such a manner as to project on a transporting-means side, the intestine receiving member being adapted to receive the natural intestine casing being pushed by the intestine pushing member; detecting means for detecting a position of the intestine pushing member and generating a detection signal; and controlling means for stopping the operation of the material supplying means in response to the detection signal.

In accordance with the method and the apparatus according to the above-described aspects of the invention, the movement of the natural intestine casing on the stuffing tube subsequent to the generation of the detection signal is made to follow the movement of the stuffed natural intestine casing which is transported by the transporting means, and the shirred portion of the natural intestine casing undergoes a change in form into a completely straight portion. Accordingly, it is possible to establish synchronization between the arrival of the rear end portion of the natural intestine casing at the distal end of the stuffing tube and the stopping of the supplying of the material into the stuffing tube by the material supplying means in response to the detection signal.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory front elevational view of another preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory front elevational view of still another preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partly enlarged front elevational view for explaining the structure and operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is a partly enlarged front elevational view for explaining the structure and operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 6 is a partly enlarged explanatory plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 7 is a partly enlarged front elevational view for explaining another method of detection in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 8 is a partly enlarged front elevational view for explaining another example of an intestine receiving member in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 ; and

FIG. 9 is an explanatory front elevational view of a further preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, a more detailed description will be given of the embodiments of the invention. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to these embodiments.

In FIG. 1 , reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages; 2 , a device for stopping the charging of a sausage material constituted by ground meat or a meat emulsion (hereafter referred to as the material) into a natural intestine casing 5 ; 3 , a material supplying means for supplying the material into a stuffing tube 4 ; 4 A, a distal end of the stuffing tube 4 for discharging the material; 4 , the stuffing tube adapted to rotate in the direction of arrow A while supporting the natural intestine casing 5 and stuffing the material into it; 5 , the natural intestine casing including a shirred portion 5 A, a straight portion 5 B, a rear end portion 5 C, and a front end portion 5 D of the shirred portion 5 A; and 6 , an intestine pushing member having an intestine pushing surface 6 A for pushing the rear end portion 5 C of the natural intestine casing 5 and a hole 6 B through which the stuffing tube 4 is passed. Reference numeral 7 denotes an intestine-pushing-member driving means for pushing and advancing the intestine pushing member 6 toward the distal end 4 A of the stuffing tube 4 , and numeral 8 denotes an intestine-receiving-member attaching member constituted by a rotating pulley and adapted to rotate in the direction of arrow A in synchronism with the stuffing tube 4 . The intestine-receiving-member attaching member 8 has an end face 8 B facing the intestine pushing member 6 side, an end face 8 C facing the transporting means 11 side, and hole portions 8 A 1 and 8 A 2 which are respectively formed in such a manner as to penetrate both end faces 8 B and 8 C, an intestine receiving member 9 being fitted in the hole portion 8 A 1 . The intestine receiving member 9 has an intestine receiving surface 9 A for receiving the shirred portion 5 A pushed by the intestine pushing member 6 and a hole portion 9 B through which the straight portion 5 B is passed; 10 , a braking member which is provided with a hole portion 10 A having a portion engaging an outer surface of the straight portion 5 B and is adapted to brake the movement of the straight portion 5 B in the direction toward the distal end 4 A; 11 , a transporting means including a pair of wrapping connectors 22 which travel at a transporting speed V in the direction of arrow B, rotating shafts 23 for driving the wrapping connectors 22 , and a motor 24 for driving the rotating shafts 23 . The transporting means 11 pinches a stuffed natural intestine casing 12 , which has been stuffed with the material, from its outer sides and transports it at a predetermined speed. Reference numeral 13 denotes a detecting means for detecting the mutual contact between the intestine pushing surface 6 A and the intestine receiving surface 9 A, i.e., for detecting the position of the intestine pushing surface 6 A with respect to the intestine receiving surface 9 A, and for transmitting a detection signal 14 to a controlling means 15 and the intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 . The detecting means 13 has a proximity sensor. The controlling means 15 is used to stop the operation of the material supplying means 3 based on the detection signal 14 and change the transporting speed V of the transporting means 11 , as required. Reference numeral 19 denotes a second detecting means for detecting that the intestine pushing surface 6 A and the intestine receiving surface 9 A have faced each other with a predetermined interval D therebetween, and for transmitting a second detection signal 20 to the intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 , and the second detecting means 19 has a proximity sensor.

The stuffing tube 4 is disposed with respect to the intestine-receiving-member attaching member 8 such that the distal end 4 A of the stuffing tube 4 is positioned in such a manner as to project by the length L toward the transporting means 11 side from the end face 8 C of the intestine-receiving-member attaching member 8 facing the transporting means 11 side.

The intestine-receiving-member attaching member 8 may not necessarily be adapted to rotate. It suffices if the intestine receiving member 9 and the braking member 10 which are fitted in the hole portion 8 A 1 are attached to the intestine-receiving-member attaching member 8 , which is in a stationary state, in such a manner as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow A. Furthermore, the intestine receiving member 9 and the braking member 10 may be unrotatably attached to the intestine-receiving-member attaching member 8 which is in an unrotatable stationary state.

The intestine receiving member 9 is provided by being fitted in the hole portion 8 A 1 so that the intestine receiving surface 9 A is positioned in such a manner as to project from the end face 8 B toward the detecting means 19 side, i.e., so that the intestine receiving surface 9 A is located outside the hole portion 8 A 1 . The braking member 10 is positioned closer to the distal end 4 A side than the intestine receiving surface 9 A in the state in which the braking member 10 is in contact with the intestine receiving member 9 , and the distal end 4 A is positioned in such a manner as to project by the length l from the braking member 10 and by the length LL from the intestine receiving surface 9 A. The lengths l and LL can be set changeably depending on the ease of slippage of the natural intestine casing 5 used on the stuffing tube 4 .

The intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 is a means for generating a pushing and advancing force FF with respect to the intestine pushing member 6 . For example, the intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 may be such as a means using an air cylinder with a rod, a means using a rodless air cylinder, a means for blowing air, a means using a spring force, a means using a magnetic force, a means using an elastic member such as rubber, or other means including, for example, a manual force, and each of these means may be used, as required.

It is preferred that the intestine receiving member 9 have such rigidity that it is not deformed by being pressed by the intestine pushing member 6 , and have such a shape and be formed of such a material as to prevent the front end portion 5 D from entering the interior of the hole portion 9 B and easily allow the shirred portion 5 A to undergo a change in form into the straight portion 5 B. For example, the intestine receiving member 9 is a tubular member formed of a metal, a synthetic resin, or rubber, and its intestine receiving surface 9 A has a flat shape, while its hole portion 9 B has an inner peripheral portion opposing the outer peripheral surface of the stuffing tube 4 with a small gap therebetween.

The braking member 10 has such a shape and is formed of such a material as to brake the movement of the straight portion 5 B in the direction toward the distal end 4 A and permit the prevention of the entry of air into the straight portion 5 B. For example, the braking member 10 is a resilient hollow cylindrical member formed of rubber, and is provided with the hole portion 10 A having an inner peripheral portion which comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the stuffing tube 4 .

The apparatus 1 operates as follows. The stuffed natural intestine casing 12 is transported by the transporting means 11 at a predetermined speed, the straight portion 5 B on the stuffing tube 4 is pulled out from the distal end 4 A, and the shirred portion 5 A, while passing through the hole portion 9 B and the hole portion 10 A by being pulled by the straight portion 5 B, changes into the straight portion 5 B, and moves on the stuffing tube 4 toward the distal end 4 A, so that the length 11 of the shirred portion 5 A decreases gradually. The straight portion 5 B undergoes a reduction of its inside diameter by being pulled, and its inner surface is substantially brought into close contact with the outer surface of the stuffing tube 4 .

The intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 causes the pushing and advancing force FF to be intermittently applied to the intestine pushing member 6 , and the intestine pushing member 6 moves toward the intestine receiving surface 9 A while pushing the shirred portion 5 A against the intestine receiving surface 9 A. When the intestine pushing surface 6 A is pushed and advanced to the position opposing the intestine receiving surface 9 A with the predetermined interval D, the second detecting means 19 detects the intestine pushing member 6 , and transmits the second detection signal 20 to the intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 . Upon receiving the second detection signal 20 , the intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 changes the manner of applying the pushing and advancing force FF with respect to the intestine pushing member 6 so as to push and advance the intestine pushing member 6 by continuously applying the pushing and advancing force FF to the intestine pushing member 6 .

Upon receiving the continuous pushing and advancing force FF, the intestine pushing member 6 advances toward the intestine receiving surface 9 A while pushing the rear end portion 5 C. When all the shirred portion 5 A which was placed between the intestine pushing surface 6 A and the intestine receiving surface 9 A is pulled out from the hole portion 9 B, the intestine pushing surface 6 A abuts against the intestine receiving surface 9 A, so that the intestine pushing surface 6 A and the intestine receiving surface 9 A are brought into contact with each other. When the intestine pushing surface 6 A reaches the position of abutment against the intestine receiving surface 9 A, the detecting means 13 detects the intestine pushing member 6 . Namely, the detecting means 13 detects that the intestine pushing surface 6 A and the intestine receiving surface 9 A have contacted each other, and transmits the detection signal 14 to the controlling means 15 .

In accordance with this apparatus 1 , since the manner of pushing and advancing the natural intestine casing 5 is changed even before approaching the completion of stuffing, it is possible to generate with higher accuracy the signal 14 for stopping the supplying of the material into the natural intestine casing 5 .

The rear end portion 5 C located at the intestine receiving surface 9 A at the time of the generation of the detection signal 14 is pulled by the stuffed natural intestine casing 12 being pinched and transported by the wrapping connectors 22 , and thus slides on the stuffing tube 4 at a predetermined speed. At the point of time when the rear end portion 5 C has moved to the distal end 4 A, the operation of the material supplying means 3 is stopped by the controlling means 15 which received the detection signal 14 , so that the discharging of the material from the distal end 4 A is stopped. The controlling means 15 , after receiving the detection signal 14 , stops after a predetermined time lag the supplying of the material by the material supplying means 3 , as necessary.

The controlling means 15 may be provided with a means for changing the transporting speed V of the transporting means 11 on the basis of the detection signal 14 . As the means for changing the transporting speed V of the transporting means 11 , it is possible to use a device for changing the number of revolutions of a shaft 23 . This device is, for example, a clutch brake attached to the shaft 23 , a number-of-revolution controlling device (an inverter, a driver for a servo motor) of the motor 24 , or an electromagnetic switch for starting and stopping the motor 24 . If the controlling means 15 upon receiving the detection signal 14 is arranged to decelerate the transporting speed V of the transporting means 11 , the lengths l and LL can be shortened appropriately, so that this arrangement is suitable for use of the natural intestine casing 5 of the type which is difficult to slide on the stuffing tube 4 .

Since this apparatus 1 is so arranged that the pushing and advancing force FF is applied continuously after the pushing and advancing force FF is applied intermittently, the excessive pushing of the natural intestine casing 5 is difficult to occur, and high detection accuracy can be realized. Further, since the intestine receiving surface 9 A is positioned in such a manner as to project from the end face 8 B toward the detecting means 19 side, the material attached to the intestine receiving surface 9 A can be easily removed, thereby facilitating the maintenance of high detection accuracy. Even if the intestine receiving surface 9 A is positioned flush with the end face 8 B, a similar advantage can be obtained.

Until the material supplying means 3 stops the supply of the material after the generation of the detection signal 14 , there is a time lag due to signal processing. In this embodiment, however, since the rear end portion 5 C moves at a predetermined speed on the stuffing tube 4 having portions with the length l and the length LL, it is possible to establish synchronization between the arrival of the rear end portion 5 C at the distal end 4 A and the stopping of the material charging. Since the natural intestine casing 5 which moves after the generation of the detection signal 14 does not have the shirred portion 5 A, synchronization between the arrival of the rear end portion 5 C at the distal end 4 A and the stopping of the material charging can be controlled with higher accuracy. Further, since the rear end portion 5 C of the intestine slides on the outer peripheral surface of the stuffing tube 4 , the rear end portion 5 C assumes the form of being completely stretched out, synchronization with higher accuracy can be attained.

In accordance with this apparatus 1 , even if the shirred portion 5 A including the rear end portion 5 C of the natural intestine casing 5 having an extremely small thickness of, e.g., 0.03 mm, is present between the intestine pushing surface 6 A and the intestine receiving surface 9 A, these two surfaces 6 A and 9 A cannot come into contact with each other. Only when the shirred portion 5 A including the rear end portion 5 C has been pulled out from the gap between these two surfaces 6 A and 9 A, can these two surfaces come into contact with each other. Accordingly, this apparatus is suitable for reliably detecting the presence or absence of the rear end portion 5 C of the natural intestine casing 5 which is extremely thin.

With the apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 , the stopping of the supplying of the material is effected on the basis of the detection signal 14 generated as the detecting means 13 detects the mutual contact between the intestine pushing surface 6 A and intestine receiving surface 9 A. However, as in the case of an apparatus 51 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 , the stopping of the supplying of the material can be also effected on the basis of the detection signal 14 generated as the detecting means 13 detects a predetermined interval C determined by the intestine pushing surface 6 A of the intestine pushing member 6 and the intestine receiving surface 9 A of the intestine receiving member 9 .

The apparatus 51 differs from the apparatus 1 in that the detecting means 13 detects the predetermined interval C, i.e., detects the position of the intestine pushing surface 6 A with respect to the intestine receiving surface 9 A, and generates the detection signal 14 for stopping the supplying of the material.

The intestine pushing member 6 of this apparatus 51 is a hollow cylindrical member formed of a resin, and has an annular member to be detected 25 which is fitted around its outer periphery and is formed of a metal. The intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 has an air blowing means 16 for blowing air AA onto the intestine pushing member 6 , and the air blowing means 16 has an air nozzle 17 and an air-blowing-mode changing means 18 for changing the mode of blowing air onto the intestine pushing member 6 on the basis of the second detection signal 20 of the second detecting means 19 .

The detecting means 13 has a proximity sensor for detecting the annular member to be detected 25 , detects the predetermined interval C determined by the intestine pushing surface 6 A and the intestine receiving surface 9 A, and transmits the detection signal 14 to the controlling means 15 and the intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 . The predetermined interval C can be set changeably by taking into account the magnitudes of the length l and the transporting speed V.

The second detecting means 19 is a detecting means for detecting that the intestine pushing surface 6 A and the intestine receiving surface 9 A have faced each other with the predetermined interval D, and for transmitting the second detection signal 20 to the intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 . The second detecting means 19 has a proximity sensor for detecting the annular member to be detected 25 .

The apparatus 51 operates as follows. The air blowing means 16 blows the air AA intermittently at predetermined periods toward the intestine pushing member 6 from the air nozzle 17 which moves in the direction of arrow BB. The air nozzle 17 moves at a predetermined speed correlated to the transporting speed V of the transporting means. In the air-blowing process, the air AA pushes and advances the intestine pushing member 6 in the direction toward the distal end 4 A. In the process during which air is not blown, the intestine pushing member 6 cancels the pushing against the shirred portion 5 A. Such intermittent pushing prevents excessive compression which can occur in the shirred portion 5 A. The proximity sensor of the second detecting means 19 detects the annular member to be detected 25 which has been pushed and advanced up to the position for determining the predetermined interval D, and transmits the second detection signal 20 to the air-blowing-mode changing means 18 . The air-blowing-mode changing means 18 , upon receiving the second detection signal 20 , changes the mode of blowing air, i.e., the manner of blowing air, so that the air AA will be blown continuously from the air nozzle 17 . Since the air nozzle 17 is moved from the stuffing starting position in the direction of BB to blow air, the accuracy of pneumatic action on the intestine pushing member 6 improves. It should be noted, however, that the air nozzle 17 may not be moved in the direction of BB, and may be disposed in such a manner as to be fixed at the stuffing starting position.

While receiving the air AA being continuously blown out from the air nozzle 17 at a standstill in the illustrated position, the intestine pushing surface 6 A of the intestine pushing member 6 moves to the position of the predetermined interval C which is determined by the intestine pushing surface 6 A and the intestine receiving surface 9 A. The proximity sensor of the detecting means 13 detects the annular member to be detected 25 of the intestine pushing member 6 which reached that position, and transmits the detection signal 14 to the controlling means 15 .

Reference numeral 21 denotes a predetermined-interval setting member for setting the predetermined interval C, and the arrangement provided is such that as the intestine pushing member 6 abuts against the predetermined-interval setting member 21 , the intestine pushing surface 6 A faces the intestine receiving surface 9 A with the predetermined interval C. Although, in this embodiment, an adjustment screw capable of adjusting and setting with precision the magnitude of the predetermined interval C constitutes the predetermined-interval setting member 21 , the present invention is not limited to the same, and a shim member having the same thickness as the predetermined interval may be used, for example. Even if this predetermined-interval setting member 21 is not provided, the detecting means 13 is able to detect the intestine pushing member 6 which reached the position where it faces the intestine receiving surface 9 A with the predetermined interval C.

When the end portion 5 C located at the intestine pushing surface 6 A at the time of generation of the detection signal 14 reaches the distal end 4 A, the discharging of the material from the distal end 4 A is stopped at this point of time of arrival in the same way as with the apparatus 1 . Thus, in this embodiment, the shirred portion 5 A of the natural intestine casing 5 undergoes a change in form into a completely straight portion 5 B by the intestine receiving member 9 , and the rear end portion 5 C moves while sliding on the stuffing tube 4 having the lengths l and LL at a predetermined speed, so that synchronization can be established between the arrival of the rear end portion 5 C at the distal end 4 A and the stopping of the material charging.

With this apparatus 51 as well, since the stuffing tube 4 has the length l and the length LL, the magnitude of the predetermined interval C can be set to be smaller. This apparatus 51 in which the predetermined interval C is set to be small is able to shorten the length of the natural intestine casing 5 located in the predetermined interval C, so that the detection accuracy is high.

With this apparatus 51 , since the mechanism which operates for pushing the natural intestine casing 5 is constituted by the intestine pushing member 6 alone, the variation of the pushing and advancing force acting on the natural intestine casing 5 is small. The mechanism for pushing the natural intestine casing 5 is extremely simplified. Since the mechanism is based on the intermittent blowing of air, the instantaneous pushing and advancing of the natural intestine casing becomes possible. Since the annular member to be detected 25 is provided, the intestine pushing member 6 , while rotating in the direction of arrow A, can be detected by the detecting means 13 , thereby making it possible to prevent damage to the rear end portion 5 C which can occur by the pressing by the intestine pushing member 6 .

The above-described intestine receiving member 9 can be substituted by the intestine receiving member 9 having such rigidity that the intestine receiving surface 9 A can be deformed by being pressed by the intestine pushing member 6 . This substituted intestine receiving member 9 is a tubular member formed of rubber and having resiliency similar to that of the braking member 10 , and is provided with the hole portion 9 B having an inner peripheral portion coming into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the stuffing tube 4 . If the intestine receiving member 9 having such construction is used, the braking member 10 can be omitted.

The apparatus 51 may be provided with an air nozzle 17 A. In the process in which the air nozzle 17 is not blowing the air AA, the air nozzle 17 A blows air AR onto the intestine pushing member 6 to move the intestine pushing member 6 in the direction of arrow BR. This makes it possible to move the intestine pushing surface 6 A away from the rear end portion 5 C.

An apparatus 101 for manufacturing natural intestine sausages in accordance with still another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 8 has a device 102 for stopping the stuffing of the material into the natural intestine casing.

The apparatus 101 for manufacturing natural intestine sausages is comprised of a base 103 ; a material supplying means 104 constituted by a gear pump for supplying to a stuffing tube 106 the material to be stuffed into a natural intestine casing 107 ; a stuffing tube bearing 105 for reciprocatably supporting the stuffing tube 106 ; the stuffing tube 106 including a distal end 106 A for stuffing the material from the material supplying means 104 into the natural intestine casing 107 , a small-diameter portion 106 B over which the natural intestine casing 107 is fitted, and a large-diameter portion 106 C supported by the stuffing tube bearing 105 ; the natural intestine casing 107 being fitted over the stuffing tube 106 and divided into a shirred portion 107 A and a straight portion 107 B; a braking member 108 having a hole portion 108 A through which the distal end 106 A of the stuffing tube 106 is passed and which has a portion for engaging the natural intestine casing 107 on the stuffing tube 106 ; a braking-member rotatively driving means 109 for rotatively driving the braking member 108 ; and a transporting means 110 adapted to transport a stuffed natural intestine casing 111 and including a pair of wrapping connectors 113 which are disposed adjacent to the braking-member rotatively driving means 109 and to which constricting members 112 for constricting the natural intestine casing 111 stuffed with the sausage material are fixed at predetermined intervals, a motor 133 for driving the wrapping connectors 113 , two pairs of rotatively driving members 134 around which the wrapping connectors 113 are respectively wound, and two pairs of shafts 135 to which the rotatively driving members 134 are secured.

The device 102 for stopping the stuffing of the material into the natural intestine casing includes an intestine pushing member 114 for pushing a rear end portion 107 C of the natural intestine casing 107 ; an air blowing means 115 for blowing the air AA onto the intestine pushing member 114 so as to push the intestine pushing member 114 ; an intestine receiving member 116 for receiving a front end portion 107 D of the shirred portion 107 A of the natural intestine casing 107 being pushed by the intestine pushing member 114 ; a detecting means 117 for generating a detection signal F upon detecting the intestine pushing member 114 which has been pushed and advanced by the air blowing means 115 ; and a controlling means 118 for transmitting a signal FF for stopping the supplying of the material by the material supplying means 104 on the basis of the detection signal F from the detecting means 117 . The aforementioned air blowing means 115 constitutes the intestine-pushing-member driving means.

The above-described device 102 is further provided with a second detecting means 119 for generating a detection signal G upon detecting the intestine pushing member 114 which has been pushed and advanced by the air blowing means 115 .

The stuffing tube 106 has a rear portion 106 D connected to a rod 120 A of a reciprocating air cylinder 120 , and moves reciprocatingly in the directions of arrow J and arrow K. As shown in FIG. 6 , the distal end 106 A of the stuffing tube 106 located at a forward end position I is positioned between a line T passing through the rotational centers of the shafts 135 of the transporting means 110 and a common tangential line SS tangential to a pair of locus circles S of tips 112 A of the constricting members 112 rotating about the respective shafts 135 . The distal end 106 A is located in such a manner as to project by the length l from the braking member 108 .

The braking-member rotatively driving means 109 is fixedly provided on the base 103 and includes a housing 121 , an intestine-receiving-member attaching member 122 accommodated rotatably inside the housing 121 , and a braking-member receiving member 123 for restricting the position of the braking member 108 in the direction of arrow J. The intestine-receiving-member attaching member 122 includes a boss portion 122 C having an end face 122 A and an end face 122 B, as well as a hole portion 122 D provided in the boss portion 122 C. The hole portion 122 D receives the stuffing tube 106 having the distal end 106 A located at the position where the distal end 106 A projects by the length L from the end face 122 B toward the transporting means 110 side.

The intestine pushing member 114 includes a small-diameter portion 114 B including an intestine pushing surface 114 A formed by a flat surface, a large-diameter portion 114 D including an air receiving surface 114 C formed by a concave surface, a hollow cylindrical member 114 - 1 made of a resin material and having a hole portion 114 E with an inner peripheral surface which is supported by the outer peripheral surface of the stuffing tube 106 , and an annular member to be detected 114 - 2 which is made of a metal and is fitted over an outer periphery of the large-diameter portion 114 D.

The air blowing means 115 includes an air nozzle 125 having an air outlet 125 A, an air cylinder 126 having a rod 126 A to which the air nozzle 125 is fixed so as to reciprocate the air nozzle 125 between a retracted end position Ml and a forward end position M 2 of the air nozzle 125 , and an air-blowing-mode changing means 127 .

The air-blowing-mode changing means 127 is a means for changing the mode of blowing air onto the intestine pushing member 114 , i.e., the manner (continuous blowing, intermittent blowing, the volume of air, air pressure, etc.) of blowing air onto the intestine pushing member 114 , on the basis of the detection signal G from the second detecting means 119 . The air-blowing-mode changing means 127 includes an air-blowing-mode controlling means 128 having a storage means 128 A in which a plurality of air-blowing modes are stored, and an air controlling means 129 having a valve, a regulator, and other pneumatic equipment which are controlled by the air-blowing-mode controlling means 128 . Stored in the storage means 128 A are an air blowing mode N for pushing and advancing the intestine pushing member 114 toward the second detecting means 119 , as well as an air blowing mode O for pushing and advancing the intestine pushing member 114 detected by the second detecting means toward the intestine receiving member 116 .

The intestine receiving member 116 is a hollow cylindrical member having a hole portion 116 A, a hole portion 116 B, and an intestine receiving surface 116 C formed by a flat surface defined by the hole portion 116 A and the hole portion 116 B, and is fitted in the hole portion 122 D of the intestine-receiving-member attaching member 122 . The hole portion 116 A receives therein the small-diameter portion 114 B of the intestine pushing member 114 , while the hole portion 116 B converts the shirred portion 107 A into the straight portion 107 B. The intestine receiving surface 116 C is spaced apart by the length LL from the distal end 106 A located at the forward end position I, and is located in the hole portion 122 D.

The detecting means 117 detects that the intestine pushing surface 114 A and the intestine receiving surface 116 C have faced each other with the predetermined interval C, and transmits the detection signal F to the controlling means 118 and the air blowing means 115 (FIG. 5 ). The detecting means 117 has a proximity sensor 131 mounted on a bracket 130 secured to the housing 121 , the proximity sensor 131 being adjustable in the directions of arrow P and arrow

The second detecting means 119 has a proximity sensor 132 for detecting that the intestine pushing surface 114 A and the intestine receiving surface 116 C have faced each other with the predetermined interval D, and for transmitting the detection signal G to the air-blowing-mode controlling means 128 (FIG. 4 ). The proximity sensor 132 is mounted on the bracket 130 in such a manner as to be adjustable in the directions of arrow P and arrow Q.

The detecting means 117 and the second detecting means 119 are not limited to the proximity sensors, and are sufficient if they are respectively capable of detecting the positions of the intestine pushing member 114 . For example, it is possible to use known sensors including photoelectric sensors, capacitive sensors, laser sensors, mechanical limit switches, or the like.

The apparatus 101 operates as follows. First, the natural intestine casing 107 is fitted over the stuffing tube 106 at a standstill at a retracted end position H. Next, the air cylinder 120 and the air cylinder 126 are respectively actuated to move the stuffing tube 106 toward the forward end position I, and the air nozzle 125 at the retracted end position Ml is moved to the forward end position M 2 . When the stuffing tube 106 reaches the forward end position I, the rotation of the stuffing tube 106 in the direction of A and the supply of the material by the material supplying means 104 are started.

When stuffing is started, the stuffed casing 111 , in which a twisted portion 111 A is formed at its portion where it is constricted by the constricting members 112 travelling at the transporting speed V in the direction of arrow E, pulls out the straight portion 107 B from the distal end 106 A. Consequently, the shirred portion 107 A has its length 11 reduced gradually. Air is periodically blown out intermittently from the air outlet 125 A onto the air receiving surface 114 C in accordance with the air blowing mode N, so that the intestine pushing member 114 is pushed and advanced toward the intestine receiving member 116 .

When the intestine pushing surface 114 A reaches the position of the predetermined interval D determined by the intestine pushing surface 114 A and the intestine receiving surface 116 C, and faces the intestine receiving surface 116 C with the predetermined interval D, the proximity sensor 132 detects the annular member to be detected 114 - 2 and generates the detection signal G (FIG. 4 ). Upon receiving the detection signal G, the air-blowing-mode controlling means 128 finishes the air blowing mode N, and at the same time selects the air blowing mode O for continuously blowing out air with a small air volume, a lower air pressure, and a low air speed, and effects a change into that mode. The intestine pushing member 114 upon receiving the air pressure based on the air blowing mode O continuously approaches the intestine receiving surface 116 C.

When the intestine pushing surface 114 A reaches the position of the predetermined interval C determined by the intestine pushing surface 114 A and the intestine receiving surface 116 C, and faces the intestine receiving surface 116 C with the predetermined interval C, the proximity sensor 131 detects the annular member to be detected 114 - 2 and transmits the detection signal F to the controlling means 118 (FIG. 5 ), whereupon the controlling means 118 stops the supplying of the material by the material supplying means 104 when the rear end portion 107 C reaches the distal end 106 A. At the same time, the blowing out of air by the air blowing means 115 is stopped. Upon completion of the material charging into the natural intestine casing 107 , the stuffing tube 106 retracts in the direction of arrow K to return to the retracted end position H so as to prepare for the ensuing fitting of the natural intestine casing 107 over the stuffing tube 106 .

With this apparatus 101 as well, in the same way as the above-described apparatus 1 , the controlling means 118 , upon receiving the detection signal F, may control the speed of the motor 133 to change the transporting speed V of the transporting means 110 , such that the rear end portion 107 C reaches the distal end 106 A at the point of time when the discharging of the material from the stuffing tube 106 has stopped.

With this apparatus 101 as well, in the same way as the above-described apparatus 1 , it is possible to provide the detecting means 117 for generating the detection signal F upon detecting that the intestine pushing surface 114 A and the intestine receiving surface 116 C have contacted each other, as shown in FIG. 7 .

With the apparatus 101 , since the distal end 106 A extends up to the position between the line passing through the rotational centers of the shafts 135 and the tangential line SS (FIG. 6 ), it is possible to set a smaller predetermined interval C. In addition, since the intestine receiving surface 116 C is located inside the hole portion 122 A, and the length LL from the intestine receiving surface 116 C to the distal end 106 A can be shortened (FIG. 7 ), this arrangement is suitable for using the natural intestine casing 107 of the type which is difficult to slide on the stuffing tube 106 .

Although, in FIG. 4 , illustration is given of the example in which the intestine receiving member 116 , the braking member 108 , and the braking-member receiving member 123 are used, FIG. 8 shows an example in which an intestine receiving member 124 formed of resilient rubber is used instead of these members. The intestine receiving member 124 is a hollow cylindrical member made of rubber and including an end portion 124 B having an intestine receiving surface 124 A, a small-diameter hole portion 124 C provided in the end portion 124 B and adapted to come into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the stuffing tube 106 , a body 124 D having a length L 1 and formed integrally with the end portion 124 B, a large-diameter hole portion 124 E provided in the body 124 D, and an end face 124 B 1 of the end portion 124 B. The intestine receiving member 124 is mounted by being fitted in the hole portion 122 D of the intestine-receiving-member attaching member 122 . The intestine receiving surface 124 A is formed by a conical surface which is inclined toward the hole portion 124 C, and the intestine receiving surface 124 A determines the predetermined interval C in cooperation with the intestine pushing surface 114 A. When the intestine pushing surface 114 A reaches the position of the predetermined interval C, and faces the intestine receiving surface 124 A in a state of being nonparallel with the intestine receiving surface 124 A with the predetermined interval C, the proximity sensor 131 detects the annular member to be detected 114 - 2 , and transmits the detection signal F to the controlling means 118 .

In the intestine receiving member 124 , the hole portion 124 C changes the shirred portion 107 A into the straight portion 107 B, and brakes the movement of the straight portion 107 B in the direction of arrow E. The end portion 124 B of the intestine receiving member 124 also has the function of the aforementioned braking member 10 or 108 .

The end portion 124 B of the intestine receiving member 124 may have rigidity and resiliency equivalent to those of the aforementioned braking member 10 or 108 . Even if the intestine receiving member 124 has such rigidity that deformation occurs in the intestine receiving surface 124 A due to the action of the pressing force by the intestine pushing member 114 , the proximity sensor 131 is capable of detecting the intestine pushing member 114 , thereby making it possible to stop the supplying of the material.

Since the hole portion 124 E of the intestine receiving member 124 is open from the intestine receiving surface 124 A in the advancing direction of the intestine pushing member 114 , the material attached to the inner peripheral surface of the hole portion 124 E can be easily removed, with the result that a hindrance is unlikely to occur to the movement of the straight portion 107 B on the stuffing tube 106 due to the attachment of the material thereto. Since the length LL from the intestine receiving surface 124 A to the distal end 106 A is shorter than the length LL using the intestine receiving member 116 shown in FIG. 7 , this arrangement is suitable for use of the natural intestine casing 107 which is difficult to slide. Since the stuffing tube 106 has the large-diameter portion 106 C, runout of rotation is difficult to occur. Since the intestine pushing member 114 which rotates about the stuffing tube 106 is also difficult to undergo runout in rotation, the accuracy of detection of the intestine pushing member 114 by the proximity sensor 131 is high.

In the same way as the above-described apparatus 51 , this apparatus 101 may be also provided with an air nozzle 125 R for blowing the air AR onto the intestine pushing member 114 in the process in which the air nozzle 125 is not blowing the air AA, so as to move the intestine pushing member 114 in the direction of arrow K.

This apparatus 101 may be so arranged that the air nozzle 125 does not reciprocate in the directions of arrows J and K. The air nozzle 125 may be fixed at, for example, the forward end position M 2 , and the air AA may be blown onto the intestine pushing member 114 at this position from the start of stuffing until the end of stuffing. In this case, the air nozzle 125 has its shape and its fixing structure such that the intestine pushing member 114 which moves together with the stuffing tube 106 moving toward the forward end position I does not collide against the air nozzle 125 .

FIG. 9 shows an apparatus 151 which is not provided with the second detecting means as a further embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 151 is comprised of an intestine receiving member 152 which is a rubber-made hollow cylindrical member including an end portion 152 B having an intestine receiving surface 152 A, a small-diameter hole portion 152 C provided in the end portion 152 B, a body 152 D having the length L 1 and formed integrally with the end portion 152 B, and a large-diameter hole portion 152 E provided in the body 152 D; an intestine-receiving-member attaching member 153 including a boss portion 153 C having an end face 153 A and an end face 153 B, which together determine the length L 2 , and a hole portion 153 D provided in the boss portion 153 C; a transporting means 154 ; a stuffing tube 155 having a distal end 155 A located at a position where it projects by the length L from the end face 153 B toward the transporting means 154 side; an intestine pushing member 156 having an intestine pushing surface 156 A; an intestine-pushing-member driving means 157 for pushing and advancing the intestine pushing member 156 toward the distal end 155 A of the stuffing tube 155 ; a detecting means 158 ; and a material supplying means 159 .

The intestine receiving member 152 is mounted by being fitted in the hole portion 153 D such that the intestine receiving surface 152 A is flush with the end face 153 A. The hole portion 152 C is designed to change the shirred portion 107 A into the straight portion 107 B, and has an inner peripheral portion for coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the straight portion 107 B. The inner peripheral portion of the hole portion 152 C faces the outer peripheral surface of the stuffing tube 155 in a state of close contact therewith or with a gap therewith. The intestine pushing member 156 has an annular member to be detected 160 , and the detecting means 158 has a proximity sensor 161 for detecting the annular member to be detected 160 . In the same way as the apparatus 1 and the apparatus 101 , an arrangement may be provided such that the intestine receiving surface 152 A is located in such a manner as to project toward the proximity sensor 161 side from the end face 153 A. The end portion 152 B of the intestine receiving member 152 also has the function of the aforementioned braking member 10 or 108 .

With the apparatus 151 , the proximity sensor 161 generates the detection signal F upon detecting the annular member to be detected 160 of the intestine pushing member 156 located at the position where the intestine pushing surface 156 A and the intestine receiving surface 152 A have contacted each other. The supplying of the material by the material supplying means 159 is stopped when the rear end portion 107 C which was at the intestine receiving surface 152 A at the time of the generation of the detection signal F moved by the length LL from the intestine receiving surface 152 A and reached the distal end 155 A.

The intestine receiving member 152 may have rigidity and resiliency of such a measure that deformation is caused in the intestine receiving surface 152 A due to the action of the pressing force by the intestine pushing member 156 . If the intestine pushing surface 156 A and the intestine receiving surface 152 A are in a state of virtual contact with each other, the detecting means 158 is able to detect that state. Alternatively, the detecting means 158 may detect a very small predetermined interval C, there by making it possible to stop the supplying of the material.

With the apparatus 151 , since the length LL from the intestine receiving surface 152 A to the distal end 155 A, i.e., the moving length of the rear end portion 107 C, is long, it is possible to cope with the stuffed natural intestine casing 111 which is transported at a faster transporting speed V. Since the intestine receiving surface 152 A of the intestine receiving member 152 is not located inside the hole portion 153 D of the intestine-receiving-member attaching member (rotating pulley) 153 , the material attached to the intestine receiving surface 152 A can be easily removed. Since the intestine receiving member 152 has the length L 1 and is fitted in the hole portion 153 D, the positional accuracy of the intestine receiving surface 152 A is high. As for the hole portion 152 D of the intestine receiving member 152 , in the same way as the hole portion 124 E of the aforementioned intestine receiving member 124 , a hindrance is unlikely to occur to the movement of the straight portion 107 B on the stuffing tube 155 due to the attachment of the material thereto.

With the above-described apparatuses 1 , 51 , 101 , and 151 , since the intestine pushing member 6 , 114 , or 156 for pushing the natural intestine casing 5 or 107 is directly detected, it is possible to accurately detect the position of the intestine pushing member 6 , 114 , or 156 . Even if the intestine pushing members 6 , 114 , or 156 which rotates at high speed in the direction of arrow A while scattering water attached to the natural intestine casing 5 or 107 is directly detected, if detection is effected by using the proximity sensors 13 and 19 , the proximity sensors 131 and 132 , or the proximity sensor 161 , high-accuracy detection continues.

The detecting means in accordance with the invention may not only directly detect the intestine pushing member, but also indirectly detect the position of the intestine pushing member by detecting the position of a member or a means which moves in synchronism with the intestine pushing member, e.g., the intestine-pushing-member driving means which is mechanically linked with the intestine pushing member.

Since the apparatus 1 , 51 , or 101 has the second detecting means 19 or 119 for changing the intestine pushing mode, a program for pushing and advancing the natural intestine casing can be simplified, and the timing for changing the manner of pushing and advancing the intestine in conformity with the size and physical properties of the natural intestine casing 5 or 107 used is adjustable. The apparatus 1 , 51 , or 101 may be so arranged as not to be provided with the second detecting means 19 or 119 in the same way as the apparatus 151 , and the apparatus 151 may be provided with the second detecting means to the contrary. In the arrangement in which the second detecting means is not provided, the intestine pushing member 6 or 114 may be detected by the detecting means 13 or 117 without changing the manner of pushing and advancing the intestine pushing member 6 or 114 by the intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 or 115 after the start of the stuffing of the material into the natural intestine casing 5 or 107 . The intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 or 115 may continue to apply, for example, the intermittently pushing and advancing force against the intestine pushing member 6 or 114 , or may continue to apply, for example, the continuously pushing and advancing force against it. In the case where the intermittently pushing and advancing force is applied, the period of pushing and advancing by the intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 or 115 is preferably set so that the detection signal 14 or F is generated in a state in which the intestine pushing member 6 or 114 has pushed and advanced the rear end portion 5 C or 107 C, but the invention is not limited to the same. In the case where the continuously pushing and advancing force is applied, the pushing and advancing force of the intestine-pushing-member driving means 7 or 115 is set to such a weak pushing and advancing force that the shirred portion 5 A or 107 A is not too strongly pushed against the intestine receiving surface 9 A or 116 C.

In accordance with the above-described apparatus 1 , 51 , or 101 , since the intestine pushing member is pushed and advanced only by the blowing of air, the variation of the length of the natural intestine casing pinched by and between the intestine pushing surface of the intestine pushing member and the intestine receiving surface of the intestine receiving member, which face each other with a predetermined interval, is small. Accordingly, the apparatus of the invention is suitable for detecting the length of the natural intestine casing remaining on the stuffing tube. In addition, the intestine pushing member can be pushed and advanced by the simple method of only blowing air.

Since the stuffing tube is made to project from the intestine receiving member, the interval between the intestine pushing member and the intestine receiving member at the time of the generation of the signal for stopping the supplying of the material can be made vary small or zero. Consequently, since the variation of the length of the natural intestine casing remaining on the stuffing tube at the time of the generation of the signal for stopping the supplying of the material can be suppressed to a vary small level, the sausage material can be stuffed with high accuracy up to the rear end portion of the natural intestine casing.

In accordance with the invention, since synchronization is established between the movement of the natural intestine casing and the stopping of the supplying of the material by causing the stuffing tube to project from the intestine receiving member, it is possible to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, which excel in sanitation and make it possible to reduce the waste of the natural intestine casing and the material.

In accordance with the invention, since the signal for stopping the supplying of the material into the natural intestine casing can be generated with high accuracy by causing the stuffing tube to project from the intestine receiving member, it is possible to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, which excel in sanitation and make it possible to reduce the waste of the natural intestine casing and the material.

In accordance with the invention, since the signal for stopping the supplying of the material into the natural intestine casing can be generated with high accuracy, following the advancing of the rear end portion of the natural intestine casing by a simple method, it is possible to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, which excel in sanitation and make it possible to reduce the waste of the natural intestine casing and the material, and further to provide an inexpensive apparatus for manufacturing the same.