| 摘要 |
A process and apparatus for the continuous manufacture of food products such as sausages is provided which eliminates the need for intermediate stuffing of the food product into casings which are discarded prior to final packaging. The preferred apparatus of the invention includes first and second heated rollers ( 16, 17 ) each presenting a plurality of elongated, axially aligned channels or recesses ( 18,20 ) which are circumferentially and axially spaced on the corresponding rollers ( 16, 17 ); in addition, the second roller ( 17 ) includes a series of elongated, continuous, tube-receiving openings ( 22 ) extending between each series of aligned openings ( 20 ). Mechanisms ( 28, 29 ) are associated with the rollers ( 16, 17 ) in order to continuously feed elongated synthetic resin sheets ( 34, 35 ) into the nip between the rollers ( 16, 17 ). Rollers ( 24, 27 ) are provided for forcing portions of the sheets ( 34,35 ) into the recesses ( 18,20 ) and openings ( 22 ) prior to passage of the sheets ( 34,35 ) between the rollers ( 16, 17 ) where they are longitudinally heat sealed together to continuously form elongated, aligned food-receiving cavities ( 48 ). A plurality of feeding tubes ( 11 ) extend through the rollers ( 16, 17 ) and are located within the corresponding openings ( 22 ) and recesses ( 20 ) during rotation of the rollers ( 16, 17 ). The tubes ( 11 ) continuously direct the flowing food material into the cavities ( 48 ), the latter being transversely heat sealed via transverse sealing bars ( 60, 60 ') to form complete, enclosed food packages.
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