SAUSAGE LINK FORMING MACHINE

摘要

A sausage link forming machine (10) is comprised of a rotating frame (11) resembling a Ferris wheel and having a plurality of sausage grasping head assemblies (18) provided with support rollers (28) which are used to grasp an elongated sausage casing (16). A pincer mechanism (19) is provided between each of the grasping head assemblies to collapse the casing (16) to define sausage links (8). The links (8) are formed by rotating the sausage casing (16) on opposed sides of the pincer mechanism (19) and in opposite directions (81) to form a twisted sausage link connection (9) in a restricted throat area (70) formed by fork members (65, 65') of the pincer mechanism (19). At least some of the fork members (65, 65') are provided with a cutting edge (72) to sever the sausage link connection (9). The sausage link forming machine (10) is compact and is easily repairable as the grasping head assemblies (18) as well as the pincer mechanisms (19) are easily detachable from opposed side walls or discs (12, 12') of the machine. The grasping head assemblies (18) are also adjustable to handle sausage casings (16) of different diameters.