Closure module and method for closing and/or separating filled sausage casings connected via a sausage neck

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11528915-B2
Application number	US-201916460654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2019
Priority date	Jul 2, 2018
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

A closure module and a method for closing and/or separating filled sausage casings connected via a sausage neck, comprising two stamps movable relative to and towards each other and arranged such that a sausage neck can be placed therebetween, the stamps being capable of clamping the sausage neck in a closed condition, and further comprising a first and a second electrode, through which, in a closed condition of the stamps, a current can flow from the first electrode into the sausage neck and via the sausage neck into the second electrode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A closure module for closing and/or separating filled sausage casings connected via a sausage neck, comprising:
two stamps movable relative to and towards each other and arranged such that a sausage neck is placed therebetween, the stamps capable of clamping the sausage neck in a closed condition, and further comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, through which, in a closed condition of the stamps, a current flows from the first electrode into the sausage neck and via the sausage neck into the second electrode.

2. The closure module according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged such that, in the closed condition of the stamps, the first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart from rounded sausage ends of the filled sausage casings such that the electrodes do not contact the filled sausage casings, the electrode sides facing outwards having in particular provided thereon an insulating material.

3. The closure module according to claim 1 , wherein a clamping point of the stamps is arranged on at least a respective side of the first electrode and the second electrode facing a rounded sausage end of the sausage neck.

4. The closure module according to claim 3 , wherein both of the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged in one of the stamps in spaced relationship with each other, or wherein the first electrode is arranged in one of the stamps and the second electrode is arranged in the opposite stamp.

5. The closure module according to claim 3 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged on opposite sides of the sausage neck such that they are laterally displaced relative to each other.

6. The closure module according to at least claim 3 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode, except for a contact area of the first electrode and the second electrode, are provided with an insulating coating or are potted in an insulating material.

7. The closure module according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode in the stamps are insulated towards an outside, and wherein a free contact area is only provided on ends of the first electrode and the second electrode facing the sausage neck.

8. The closure module according to claim 7 , wherein the stamps are configured as integral components or wherein each electrode is arranged in a stamp element of its own.

9. The closure module according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode arranged side by side lies in a range of 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

10. The closure module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the stamps is supported to be rotatable, including freely rotatable, about an axis A 2 , A 3 which extends along a longitudinal direction L, in such a way that opposed clamping surfaces extend substantially parallel to each other.

11. The closure module according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the stamps are movable relative to and towards one another manually or by means of a positioning drive.

12. The closure module according to claim 11 , wherein the positioning drive is a pneumatic or an electric positioning drive.

13. The closure module according to claim 1 , wherein the closure module is configured as a hand-held device with a handle area that comprises two spaced-apart, opposed handle elements, which are movable relative to and towards each other and which are each coupled with the stamps respectively such that, when the handle elements are moved towards each other, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the stamps will move towards each other, and wherein the hand-held device is configured as hand pliers whose handle elements are rotatably supported.

14. The closure module according to claim 13 , wherein the closure module has, on an end of the closure module facing away from a handle area, a hook-shaped bow comprising in particular two portions tapering into a tip.

15. A method for closing and/or separating filled sausage casings connected via a sausage neck, comprising the following steps:
placing a sausage neck between a first stamp and a second stamp;
moving the first stamp and the second stamp relative to and towards each other such that the first stamp and the second stamp close and clamp the sausage neck in position, whereupon a current flows from a first electrode into the sausage neck and via the sausage neck into a second electrode, whereby the filled sausage casings are closed or additionally separated from each other.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the sausage neck is clamped in position by the first stamp and the second stamp, at least on sides of the first electrode and the second electrode facing a respective rounded sausage end.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein, during a first period of time t 1 , an amount of energy per unit time is supplied through the electrodes such that the sausage neck is heated and closed, and, in particular during a second period of time t 2 , the supply of energy is continued and the amount of energy per unit time is preferably increased, in particular in a peaklike manner, such that the sausage neck decomposes and is cut off.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the current is a high-frequency current, in particular in a frequency range of 300 kHz to 500 kHz.

19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein a voltage in a range of 50 V to 500 V is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode.

20. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the clamping of the sausage neck is not eliminated until the flow of current through the electrodes has terminated.

Assignees

• Handtmann Albert Maschf

Inventors

• Strohm Kurt
• Schliesser Gerhard
• Baechtle Manfred
• Winghart Robert
• Osswald Florian
• Merk Jochen

Classifications

• A22C11/12

  Apparatus for tying sausage skins {; Clipping sausage skins (applying clips or binding material to package folds or closures, e.g. to twisted bag necks B65B51/04, B65B51/08)} · CPC title

• B29C65/743

  using the same tool for both joining and severing, said tool being monobloc or formed by several parts mounted together and forming a monobloc (B29C65/2046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B51/30

  Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes · CPC title

• B29L2023/002

  Sausage casings · CPC title

• B65B51/22

  by friction or ultrasonic or high-frequency electrical means · CPC title