METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE VARIATIONS IN WEIGHT OF EXTRUDED SAUSAGES

摘要

A conveyor assembly for moving an extruded strand of sausage (26) from an extruding machine (10) and for coagulating the outer surface (28) of the strand (26) has first (48) and second (49) conveyor elements mounted on a frame (36). The conveyor assembly on the frame (36) moves from a point of beginning (38) to a discharge station (40) and thence back to the point of beginning (38). A brine fluid circuit is disposed on the frame above the conveyor with a plurality of discharge nozzles thereon to spray brine on a strand of sausage moving with the conveyor assembly. A pair of laser lights (88) project beams (90) on the unlinked strand (26) to determine the diameter thereof. A signal is sent from the lasers to a controller (92) who compares the diameter of the strand to a predetermined diameter. The controller controls a meat emulsion pump (14) and causes it to increase or decrease its meat discharge rate to compensate for variations in diameter, and hence weight, between the measured strand and the predetermined strand on file in the controller.