Method and apparatus for coagulating the outer surface of a sausage strand discharged from a sausage extruding machine

摘要

The sausage strand is extruded onto a belt and carried through a brine shower system for about 40 seconds. The brine is sprayed through nozzles onto the sausage while traveling on the belt. The sausage is turned several times during the shower to insure even brine distribution. The conveyor speed is controlled to match the speed of the extruder thereby preventing stretching of the product as it is being extruded. The conveyor provides exact motion control of the sausage rope and the dwell time in the brine shower can be exactly regulated. Since the conveyor system is open it lends itself to easy cleaning and visual inspection. The conveyor consists of a frame which supports the conveyor system, the brine shower system, air knives and the infrared heater. The brine shower system is composed of a drip pan, a brine tank, a centrifugal pump and a plumbing/brine distribution network. The centrifugal pump conveys the brine from the tank through the brine distribution network. The brine is sprayed onto the sausage through nozzles located at many intervals throughout the whole conveyor section.