Method and means for linking and then separating encased sausage

摘要

A linking and link cutting assembly for sausage encasing machines has a pair of endless linking chains having portions which are parallel and which are laterally spaced. They carry spaced pinching blocks which register during the parallel movement, and pinch a sausage rope moving longitudinally therebetween to form links in the rope. A cutting knife is incorporated into one of the registering blocks and is actuated by a cam block having a cam surface that engages the knife to selectively move the knife to cut the desired link. The linking chains are conventionally driven and are adaptable for operative connection to the typical drive shaft of a conventional linking apparatus of a sausage encasing machine. The method of separating cutting links in a sausage rope while the rope is moving longitudinally. The knife which cuts the links is a part of the blocks on the linking chain that forms the links, and is actuated by a cam block. By selectively positioning the cutting knives on the linking chain, two or more sausage members can be linked together if desired.