IP Library Granted Patent US 7,357,953
Granted Patent B1
US 7,357,953 · App. 10/130,618 · Granted Apr 15, 2008

Method for manufacturing sausages, and container for containing sausages to be processed

Assignee: Stork Townsend Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,357,953
App. No.
10/130,618
Granted
Apr 15, 2008
Kind
B1
Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing dry sausages by the successive processing steps of: A) manufacturing a half-finished product which is still to be dried and consists of a skin filled with a sausage filling, and B) drying the half-finished product for a period of more than one day, wherein the half-finished products are moved, optionally intermittently, during drying. The invention also relates to an apparatus for manufacturing dry sausages, comprising means for manufacturing half-finished products consisting of a skin filled with a sausage filling still to be dried, and a container for drying a plurality of half-finished products for dry sausages in a drying space with a frame in which at least one endless conveyor is arranged, which conveyor is provided with a plurality of product carriers and wherein the conveyor with product carriers is displaceable relative to the frame.

Claims (20)

1. A method for manufacturing sausages by the successive processing steps of: manufacturing a half-finished product which is still to be pre-dried and consists of a skin filled with a sausage filling, and pre-drying the half-finished product, characterized in that, the sausages to be manufactured are dry sausages, the half-finished pre-dried product is dried for a second time during a period of more than one day, and the products are moved, intermittently, during the second drying.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the products are moved during the second drying such that the orientation changes.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that the products are moved during the second drying such that they are displaced.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the half-finished product is manufactured by means of concentric co-extrusion of a sausage filling and a skin enclosing the sausage filling, and the pre-drying treatment is subsequently performed.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the half-finished products are placed in product carriers ( 28 ) during the second drying.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the half-finished products are situated in a substantially horizontal position during the second drying.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that the co-extruded half-finished products are transferred after pre-drying from a transport system ( 9 ) coupled to a co-extruder ( 3 , 15 ) to a subsequent transport system.

8. The method as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that a division of the co-extruded product into separate parts takes place between co-extrusion of the product in continuous manner and the second drying.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , characterized in that division takes place between the co-extrusion and the pre-drying.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the half-finished product is transferred to a subsequent stationary transport system ( 19 , 22 ).

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the half-finished products are transferred to a subsequent transport system ( 19 , 22 ) with displaceable product carriers ( 28 ).

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that the subsequent transport system ( 19 , 22 ) is displaceable as a whole between a loading/unloading position ( 18 ) and at least one treatment space ( 20 , 32 ).

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the half-finished products are moved during the second drying such that contact surfaces on which the half-finished products support are changed.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the half-finished products are transferred after the second drying to a conveyor ( 26 ) for final processing in continuous manner.

15. An apparatus ( 1 ) for manufacturing: half-finished pre-dried products consisting of a skin filled with a sausage filling comprising a co-extrusion unit ( 3 , 15 ) and a pre-drying unit ( 7 ), characterized in that, the apparatus ( 1 ) is an apparatus ( 1 ) for manufacturing dry sausages, and that the apparatus ( 1 ) also comprises a second drying space ( 20 , 32 ), for a second drying of the sausages during at least one day and a container ( 19 , 32 ) with a frame ( 23 , 33 ) in which at least one endless conveyor ( 26 ) is arranged, which conveyor ( 26 ) is provided with a plurality of product carriers ( 28 ) and wherein the conveyor ( 28 ) with product carriers ( 28 ) is displaceable relative to the frame ( 23 , 33 ), wherein the product carriers ( 28 ) are mounted pivotally on the conveyor ( 26 ), the frame is provided with at least one stop which co-acts with the pivotally suspended product carriers, and further comprises a drive ( 30 ) operatively connected to the conveyor ( 26 ) to advance the conveyor with a stop-start movement during a drying treatment.

16. An apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 15 , characterized in that the product carriers ( 28 ) are adapted to contain sausages in more or less horizontal position.

17. An apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 15 , characterized in that the container ( 19 ) comprises coupling means for coupling the conveyor ( 26 ) to an external drive.

18. An apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 15 , characterized in that the frame ( 23 , 33 ) of the container ( 19 ) of the apparatus ( 1 ) is embodied as a mobile wagon ( 22 ).

19. An apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 15 , characterized in that the frame ( 23 , 33 ) is combined with the drying space ( 32 ), and a transport route is situated wholly in the second drying space ( 32 ).

20. An apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 19 , characterized in that the space ( 32 ) combined with the frame ( 23 , 33 ) comprises a closable entrance/exit opening ( 35 ).

Assignments (7)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING AND RECEIVING PARTIES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 025521 FRAME 0670. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Mar 7, 2012
From: COOPERATIVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEEKBANK B.A.
To: MAREL MEAT PROCESSING INC. (F/K/A STORK TOWNSEND INC.)
Reel/Frame 027817/0367 →
TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 21, 2010
From: MAREL MEAT PROCESSING INC. (FKA STORK TOWNSEND INC.)
To: COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-BOERELEENBANK B.A.
Reel/Frame 025521/0670 →
SECURITY AGENT RESIGNATION Recorded Apr 29, 2010
From: MAREL MEAT PROCESSING INC.
To: COOPERATIVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK B.A., AS SUCCESSOR SECURITY AGENT
Reel/Frame 024305/0855 →
SUPPLEMENT TO SECURITY AGREEMENT (PATENTS) Recorded May 29, 2008
From: STORK TOWNSEND INC.
To: LANDSBANKI ISLANDS HF
Reel/Frame 021006/0952 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 19, 2006
From: TOWNSEND ENGINEERING COMPANY
To: STORK TOWNSEND INC.
Reel/Frame 017497/0228 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2006
From: TOWNSEND ENGINEERING COMPANY
To: STORK TOWNSEND INC.
Reel/Frame 017776/0012 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2002
From: VAN DEN DUNGEN, W.J.E.M.; VAN LIEBERGEN, A.J.H.A.
To: TOWNSEND ENGINEERING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 013435/0189 →
Priority Claims (1)
NL 1013596 · Nov 17, 1999 · national