Machine for stuffing a food product in a casing

Abstract

A machine for stuffing a food product in a casing, comprising a clipping unit which is adapted to apply two clips with an intermediate cut at the trailing end of a product introduced in a casing and comprising a device for inserting ties which are supported by a ribbon which moves stepwise, moving progressively the ties, one after the other, to a clipping standby position, in which the tie is available for being engaged by a clip in its motion from the magazine to the closure position, a bar being provided which is adapted to be associated with the tie in its movement from the clipping standby position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the region of the machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a detail of FIG. 1 during a step of the translational motion of the tie supporting ribbon;

FIG. 3 is a view of the same detail of FIG. 2 during standby for clipping;

FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of a tie supporting ribbon;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the end of the guide of the tie supporting ribbon;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views of the means for connecting the bar.

Claims

1. A machine for stuffing a food product in a casing, comprising a clipping unit which is adapted to apply two clips with an intermediate cut at a trailing end of a product introduced in a casing and comprising a device for inserting ties which are supported by a ribbon which moves stepwise, moving progressively the ties, one after the other, to a clipping standby position, in which the tie is available for being engaged by a clip in its motion from a magazine of the clipping unit to a closure position on the casing at a trailing end of the product with said tie inserted therein, wherein a bar is provided which is adapted to be associated with the tie in its movement from the clipping standby position.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said device for inserting ties which are supported by the ribbon which moves stepwise in contact with a fixed guide which has one end located proximate to the clipping unit, so that one tie after the other, thanks to the motion of the ribbon which proceeds in contact with a lower face of guide and then turns back at the end and moves into contact with an upper face of said guide, is in a standby position with a forward portion which is separated from the ribbon which protrudes from the end of the guide while a backward portion is still in contact with said ribbon, said tie in the standby position being available to be engaged by a clip, which at the appropriate time exits from the magazine of the clipping unit and is closed onto the casing at the trailing end of the product with said tie inserted therein, said bar being bent at one end and being connected to supporting means and to means for movement between a first position, in which said bent end is in contact with the supporting ribbon of the ties which rests on the lower face of the guide in a position within the backward portion of the tie in the standby position, and a second position for separating said end from said ribbon, said bar being connected to said support and movement means by way of means which are adapted to allow the passage of a tie in contact with the bar.

3. The machine according to claim 2, comprising a cylinder for the actuation of a pad which is adapted to compress the tie supporting ribbon against the lower face of the guide in the clipping standby steps, in order to move to a separation position during the ribbon advancement steps, said bar also being connected to said actuation cylinder.

4. The machine according to claim 2, wherein the means for connecting the bar to the support and movement means comprise a crosspiece which is designed to be fixed to said support and movement means and is provided with two jaws which are pivoted thereon and are kept, by the action of a spring, in mutual contact at a bar grip portion which is located at the end of a portion for guiding the passage of a tie, an element for limiting the opening of said jaws being provided.