NL8201792A - NUCLEAR CRUSHED HIGH DENSITY COVER. - Google Patents

Description

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/ N.0. 31,038 1

High density corrugated corrugated sheath.

The invention relates to cellulosic food casings, in particular to cellulose corrugated food casings, which are placed in a compact form. Rigid hollow tubular cores in a highly compacted state to produce corrugated corrugated sticks which have an important further stopping length. possess improved structural stability and strength, and have the further feature of making casings currently available commercially in certain sizes for use on larger bore horns than hitherto possible. The invention is of particular importance for the manufacture of corrugated casing sticks used in the food industry for the manufacture of sausage products of all sizes, and important advantages are also obtained when stuffing into the pieces of food products in the form of chunks such as whole bean meat products.

15 ENCLOSURE TYPES.

Artificial food casings used all over the world to treat many types of meat and other food products, such as sausages of various types, cheese rolls, turkey rolls and the like, are generally made from regenerated cellulose and other cellulose materials. Cahulls are available in many different types and sizes to accommodate different categories of food products to be prepared, and are provided in supported or unsupported form, the supported envelopes, usually called fibrous envelopes, having a fibrous backing web embedded in the wall of the enclosure.

A common feature of many prepared food products, in particular meat products, is that the mixture of edible ingredients, commonly called emulsion, is tucked into a pressurized casing and the food product is handled after its casing. The food product can also be stored and transported while it is contained in the casing, although in many cases, especially in small sausage products such as frankfurters, the casing of the food product is removed after the completion of the treatment.

The term "small food casings" generally refers to those casings used in the manufacture of small sized sausage products such as frankfurters. As the name 8201792/2 assumes, this type of food casing is small in terms of plugged diameter, generally has a mounted diameter ranging from about 13 mm to about 40 mm, and is usually supplied in the form of unsupported thin-walled tubes with large 5 lengths. For ease of handling, these envelopes, which may be 20 - 50 m or more in length, are pleated and compressed to form what is commonly referred to as pleated envelope sticks about 20 cm to about 60 cm in length. Folding machines and products thereof are described, inter alia, in U.S. Patents 2,983,949 and 2,984,574.

Large-sized food casings, which is the common designation of casings used in the manufacture of generally larger food products, such as salami and bologna sausages, meat loaves, cooked and smoked ham pieces, and the like, are made in plugged diameters of about 40 mm to about 200 mm and even more. Generally, such casings have a wall thickness about three times greater than the wall thickness of small size casings and are provided with a fiber web reinforcement embedded in the wall, although they can be manufactured without such a support. For many years, the large-sized tubular casings have been supplied in flat form to the food maker, cut to predetermined lengths from about 0.6 to about 2.2 m. However, today for the filing date of this invention, large sized casings of both the fibrous type and the unsupported type supplied in the form of pleated sticks containing up to about 65 m of casing for loading with a high speed device. MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE COVER.

When manufacturing and using artificial food casings, the control of the moisture content of the casings is important. Although the sticks with the pleated cellulose casing of the type used in the invention must have a moisture content of at least about 13% of the total weight of the casing, the moisture level may be higher.

When small sized casings are made from regenerated cellulose, it is generally preferred that they have a water content in the range of from about 14 wt% to about 18 wt% of the total casing in order to be able to clog without damage of the casings. This relatively narrow area 8201792

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3 of Moisture Content Also important because excessive breakage of the casing during plugging was found to occur at lower moisture contents and higher moisture contents result in excessive plasticity of the casing material and consequent over-stuffing.

The large sized casings described above have been briefly improved to such an extent that pleated and compacted casing lengths are available in pre-wetted condition so that the long applied and disruptive step of dipping these casings immediately prior to plugging has now been lifted. The moisture content of the large-sized fibrous reinforcement type casings, when supplied in the pleated and pre-wetted condition, usually appeared to be in the range of about 16 wt% to about 35 wt% of moisture. known by the total weight of the casing.

The specific moisture content can be selected to meet the requirements or preferences of the user. If the moisture content is high and a long storage period for plugging is possible, steps to prevent mold or bacterial growth are recommended. One approach of the invention is to limit the activity of the water supplied before or during plugging with sufficient amounts of solutes such as propylene glycol or glycerine. These also function usefully in shells to be pleated and compressed as plasticizers or wetting agents.

FILLING.

The folding of the envelopes as described above in accordance with the patents cited therein as well as with other patents can generally be described as continuously feeding a length of flat casing material from a supply, for example from a spool, into a folding machine, where the enclosure is inflated using a low pressure gas, usually air. The inflated casing is passed through a series of pleating rollers that pleat the casing against a resistance on or around the pleat mandrel 35 until a predetermined pleated length is obtained. For a floating-type mandrel of the pleating machine, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,766,603, the pleated envelope is then linearly transferred along or from the braking member against which the pleating was performed and onto an extended mandrel, 40 on which the envelope is compressed to the desired stick length.

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For a retracting mandrel pleating machine, such as, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,583,654, the pleated sleeve with the pleated sleeve thereon is rotated to another position where the pleated sleeve is compressed to the desired stick length.

Normal compaction results in a stick length ranging from about 1.0% to 1.2 or 1.3% of the original casing length.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,001,461 describes how an original casing length of 1006 cm is reduced by 10 cm to a length less than 10 cm in the form of a stick. This patent further assumes that the lowest practical limit likely to be prepared in terms of the stick length to original casing length ratio is likely to be in the range of 1/130. However, it does not address the problems that arise when attempting to manufacture such a highly compacted pleated stick casing of a commercially practical length, nor does it address the importance of bore size.

The ratio of original length of the casing to the length of the pleated stick is generally of the order of 70-100 throughout the industry before the filing of the present application. This ratio is called the packing ratio and is the inverse of the ratio described in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent.

/ 25 The packing efficiency is another way of quantitatively indicating the extent to which original casing pieces are compressed in the form of the pleated stick. The packing efficiency is defined as the ratio of the volume of the pleated and compressed casing in a unit of length divided by the volume of the same unit of length occupied by the solid casing material, and can be determined using the following position:

Lc x (2 x FW x tc) PE - _

Tr „.

4 (OD2 - ID2) x Ls where PE = packing efficiency 35 Lc = casing length

Lg - stick length of the corrugated casing FW = flat width of the casing tc = thickness of the wall of the casing 8201792/1 5 "OD the outer diameter of the corrugated stick casing material ID the inner diameter of the corrugated casing.

This calculation automatically takes into account the specific gravity and / or the density of the casing material itself. Examination of this relationship shows that the ratio is in reality the volume of the flat casing material contained in the pleated casing stick divided by the volume of a hollow cylinder of the same dimensions as the pleated casing stick. Thus, the extent to which the packing efficiency increases is measured by the near-hero of its approach to one unit.

Because the packing ratio is the ratio of Lc to Ls, another way to express the relationship of packing efficiency is: 2 x FW x tc PE = (packing ratio) _ w 4 (OD2 - ID2) m

It will be understood that for a given packing efficiency, the ratio varies with the difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the stick of a casing of certain size. Furthermore, since the outer diameter is necessarily limited by the flat width (FW) of the envelope used to form the stick, the increase in the diameter difference to increase the packing ratio must ultimately be the size of the bore or diameter. reduce inner diameter. While the goal of maximum stick bore and maximum pack ratio work against each other, the fact remains that the pack efficiency is maximized at a given pack ratio if the inner diameter of the stick is maximized.

It is generally desirable to use the stopper at a given bore size with maximum bore size (internal cross-sectional area) to maximize throughput and minimize stopping pressure. Another reason to maximize the size of the horn is to eliminate the danger of fatting out. The term "fatting out" is understood to mean the phenomenon which occurs when the passage of the meat emulsion through a stuffing horn at a high shear rate results in the emulsion breaking down and allowing water and fat to separate. The water and fat then accumulate between the surface of the finished sausage product and the cellulose food casing during the treatment, resulting in an unsatisfactory sausage product 8201792/6 with an unacceptably visible appearance. The amount of shear decreases with the increase in the inner diameter of the stopper.

The objectives envisioned in the crimping were to form a wrapping stick that can be deployed and stuffed onto a stopper continuously, with no mechanical defects or failure to ensure continuous production, the stick itself has sufficient structural and mechanical integrity, that is, consistency, to withstand the usual influences of packaging, storage, handling and placing on the stopper and moreover satisfies the desire to compress as much pluggable casing material as possible in a given stick length is technically possible for use on a stop horn with the maximum possible bore size.

Accordingly, the ideal stick with casing is one of high cohesion, in which a large casing length per unit of stick length (high packing ratio) and a large diameter or bore size (high packing efficiency) is provided.

A typical known packing ratio and packing yield can be calculated according to U.S. Patent 3,528,825. Column 5, line 75, 20 to column 6, line 5, describes a pleated casing stick in which 30 m casing with an inflated outer diameter of 1.75 cm with a wall thickness of 0.0254 mm is folded into a stick with an outer diameter of 2.22 cm, an inner diameter of 1.27 cm and a stick length of 41.28 cm. Using this data and the pack efficiency formulas noted above, it appears that the prior art casing described in the latter U.S. patent has a pack yield of 0.374. The packing ratio of this known casing was 70; Pleated 30 m and compressed to 41.28 cm.

The cohesion of a pleated wrapping stick is determined by measuring the bending moment in inches-pounds when breaking the stick. A casing stick is placed on two V-grooved support members mounted on a base plate and spaced (D) approximately 80-90% of the length of the casing stick to be tested. A presser with supports with V-35 grooves, spaced D less than 10 cm apart, is lowered centrally on the top of the envelope stick. Downward force is provided by a hand-operated handle, rack and pinion joint, on a force gauge (such as a "Hunter Force Indicator, Model L-IM" with a "Hold at Maxi-40 mum Device") that is mounted centrally with respect to the pressure member.

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The force is increasingly applied until the envelope breaks.

The strength reading P in pounds is noted. The bulging moment in inch-pounds at break on the device is equal to P / 2 x 2 inches and thus the force reading P equals inch-pounds of the bulging moment to break the 5 envelope. Generally, a consistency of at least about 1.2 inch-pounds is required and a consistency of at least about 2.5 inch-pounds is particularly suitable and preferred.

Since the relationship of the usual bore diameter of the casing stick to the diameter of the stopper is the most meaningful measure of the casing's functionality, a "drop fit" test has been developed that can be used on pleated casing articles. . To simulate the placement of a pleated stick on a stopper and thereby measure the effective inner diameter of the pleated stick, a test was designed in which a pleated stick is placed over the top end of a vertical stainless steel rod of greater length than the pleated stick and allowed to fall freely under its own weight completely around said rod to its lower end. More particularly, the rod can be placed vertically on a table. The pleated stick is placed over the top end of the rod and then released. If the stick falls to the surface of the table, the "drop fit" test is a success. Rods are available with 0.010 inch diameter steps, and for certain areas of casing dimensions, rods 25 are manufactured in 0.002 inch increments. The pleated stick is tested on each rod starting with the smallest rod and on each rod of subsequent size until the pleated stick does not fall free along the entire length of the rod. The rod with the largest diameter over which the stick falls free over its entire length is the effective internal diameter of said pleated stick, ie the "drop fit" diameter.

In the manufacture of sheathing sticks from pleated cellulose, the individual sticks vary slightly in bore size, in part due to irregularities in the size of the pleats in the bore of the stick. For these reasons, it is necessary for experimental work that many pleated sticks, for example at least about 10, are measured in relation to "drop fit" and the arithmetic mean is used to determine the functionality of the whole group in terms of the fit of the stophoom.

40 As indicated above, averages of the drop fit are determined at 8201792 δ thousands of an inch and a condition of the drop fit is determined with this degree of accuracy, for example, if the requirement is a minimum of 0.490 inch an average drop fit of 0.489 inch is unacceptable because a significant number of sticks in the 5 group indicated with the average drop fit size of 0.489 inch are not functional on a stopper with a diameter of 0.490 inch.

One of the main factors in crimping a small-size food casing is the quality of the consistency, i.e. the durability of the pleated stick as a self-supporting object. The consistency of the stick is of particular importance in view of the suitability of such sticks for use in automatic food stuffing devices such as, for example, a machine device used to form products such as frankfurters and other similar food items. An improper connection or a break in the pleated stick before applying it to a stopper makes the stick unsuitable for use with such an automatic stopper. Accordingly, any treatment of the tubular food casing, which may be formed into a pleated casing stick, should not adversely affect the consistency of the stick and, moreover, should be more focused on improving it.

Many efforts have been made in recent years in the casing industry, especially for small sized casings, to develop systems for forming highly cohesive casing sticks. These efforts include chemical treatments such as discussed, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,137,947.

Conventional pleating on modern pleating machines provides pleated wrapping sticks with a discernible angular displacement between a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stick and a plane in which a pleated pleat lies. This is called the bend angle. A conventional pleated stick without the core element of the invention with a pleat angle of this type has a consistency and structural integrity significantly greater than that of a stick of the same type pleated with the pleat perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the stick, because the total length of the stick is like a stack of interconnected nesting cones.

It has been found, particularly for the small-sized enclosures used to manufacture frankfurter type products, that as a conventionally pleated stick 40 (without core) is strongly compressed in an attempt to pack its packing. 9 maximize posture »the consistency or structural integrity of the compressed stick drops to a point where the stick is no longer functional. That is, the stick has become fragile, breaks easily, and therefore cannot be applied to a filling horn.

This effect is believed to occur if the high longitudinal compressive forces tend to flatten the "nesting cone" geometry obtained during the crimping.

It has also been found that when a tubular casing is subjected to a crimping method (ie converted from a flat tubular shape to a folded and compressed stick shape as described above), high inwardly directed radial forces are developed in the obtained pleated stick as high packing yields are achieved. The magnitude of these high forces was not recognized until pleated casing sticks were strongly compressed on tubular core elements of the invention and it was found that very stiff core diameter cores lost somewhat over a period of time. It was previously known that the inner diameter of conventional pleated sticks (without a tubular core) show a sharp reduction in the removal (removal) of the pleat immediately after compression, and a more gradual further reduction that continues to occur for about a week or more after the decrease, but the magnitude of the forces causing such diameter loss was not noted for the present invention. It has further been found that the magnitude of these radial inwardly directed forces is proportional to the longitudinal compressive force used to compress the stick to the initial compressed length that the stick had immediately prior to removal. That is, the radially inwardly directed forces increase as the longitudinal compressive force increases.

30 USE OF CORE.

British Patent No. 1,167,377 discloses a pleated tubular casing stick supported on a hollow molding member (core) which is shaped and sized to co-operate with the periphery of a stopper horn. The latter British Patent 35 discloses a frictional fit in the stick to hold it against decompression or slipping of the former. It is stated that the molding member can be made of any desired material, for example synthetic synthetic material or thin cardboard. In accordance with the one particularly described mold example, this is formed from polyvinyl chloride which is extruded to form a cylinder with a wall thickness of about 0.01 inch. The article of this patent is marketed in the form of a sheet of polyvinylidene chloride plastic tubing pleated on a cellulose acetate core with an inner diameter of 0.984 inch and a wall thickness of about 0.0115 cm. The invention disclosed in the above-mentioned British Patent has never been applied to crimped tubular cellulose casings.

In addition to the uses described above, the use of a hollow core or central tube as a support for pleated large envelopes has been known for many years. However, all known prior uses of the core on crimped cellulose casings have been to provide integrity and resistance to swelling during immersion. Rods have been used in small casings for transportation and handling to develop cohesive casing sticks. The 15 pleated casings were sheared from the rods on the stop horns before use.

In recent years, cellulose casings for food have increasingly moved away from the use of inner tubes for holding the casing, and the support and are more inclined to hold and support externally such as, for example, with nets or shrinkable or elastic films for intermediate and large-sized envelopes. Small casings are used as cohesive sticks without any support.

A main object of the invention is to provide a pleated, high cohesion sheathed stick with pleated wrapping and compressed to a higher packing ratio than heretofore achieved in this technique, while maintaining an acceptable bore size as evidenced by a high packing efficiency.

Another object of the invention is to provide a highly cohesive pleated wrapping stick with a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency of a general structure and of a general type which is widely applicable over the whole range of sizes and types of wraps used in the food industry.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a very dense pleated wrapping stick with a pack ratio coupled with a pack yield, both of which are significantly higher than available hitherto in the manufacture of casings, while at the same time eliminating all potential problems which are today were associated with a lack of structural integrity and cohesion.

8201792 r 11

Another important object of the invention is to provide a cored high density pleated wrapping stick with a core that has suitable physical properties for withstanding high inwardly directed radial forces developed as a tubular casing. pleating process and then compressed to a high packing ratio.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a cored very dense pleated wrapping stick on hitherto available pleating devices 10 with only minor, if any, modifications thereof to manufacture the article of the invention .

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a casing with a combination of a larger bore and a higher packing ratio than can be achieved with a non-cored product.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a corrugated high-density pleated casing, with which specific standard casing dimensions across all size ranges of the casing can be considered capable of fitting respectively larger stop horns. possible so far.

The contribution of the pleated wrapper of the invention to the technology thereto includes more efficient packing for stuffing food items of all types into available wraps.

A particular object of one aspect of the invention is to provide a corrugated high density corrugated stick stick wherein the core replaces the stuffing machine horn and thereby becomes a consumable element of the stuffing machine.

A further particular object of the invention is to provide a corrugated high density crimped stick in which the core element may optionally be used as a support tube for transferring over a stuffing horn on a stuffing machine or, alternatively, as the stop horn itself, with a gauge of some known type on the core element of the article and placed within an un-pleated portion of a pleated casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

In contrast to the previous use of cores, a new application has been found for cores in which they are designed to limit the effects of the inwardly directed radial force of the pleated envelope to such an extent that not only pack ratios are achieved that significantly higher than that achieved to date 8201792 12 (non-cored pleated sticks that are compacted and pleated under the same conditions), but these higher packing ratios can be achieved with casings of equal or even larger usable bore sizes then possible with the above-mentioned comparable non-corrugated pleated sticks. This was contrary to the expectations of those skilled in the art, that is, a core takes up space thereby reducing the effective bore of the casing stick. Accordingly, one can expect a core to have a negative effect on the packing ratio. Contrary to this expectation, the cored high-density cellulose shell of the invention can provide a significantly higher packing ratio with no reduction of the usable bore size, and thus can result in a cored article from pleated casing material with a packing efficiency greater than 15 the packing efficiency of the non-cored stick. A further feature of the invention is that it provides a pleated article with improved structural integrity and strength.

According to one embodiment, which is particularly useful in stuffing devices for packaging meat breads such as whole boneless hams and the like, the core itself of the article according to the invention is used instead of a stuffing horn. It should be noted in this connection, however, that the bone-in ham stopping device is considered to be a separate invention, the invention in the present case being merely adapting the high-density cored article to such a device. It is further noted that such an arrangement is the subject of United States application 261,313 to the same applicant.

A further embodiment of the invention provides a corrugated high density crimped stick wherein the core member may optionally be used as a support tube for sliding it over a stopper on a stopper, or, alternatively, as the stopper itself, which has a gauge of one type or the other mounted on the core element of the article and placed within an un-pleated portion of the pleated casing. It is to be noted, however, that such a pleated sheath is the subject of U.S. Patent Application 273,180 in the name of the same applicant.

In general, the invention includes the combination of a tubular core, an adjustable wetted cellulose casing with a moisture content of at least 13% on the total weight of the casing, pleated and heavily compressed on said core to a high packing ratio and to a packing efficiency not less than about 0.50 and also greater than the packing ratio and packing efficiency of the same piece of casing which is crimped and strongly compressed under the same conditions of pleating and compressing without said core, thereby developing an inwardly directed expansion force on the enclosure. Another object of the invention is that the core is sufficiently rigid to resist deformation and reduction of the size of the core bore due to the high inward expansion force of the casing. The object of this comparison between cored and non-corrugated pleated and compressed sheaths is that the non-cored sheath article has no external longitudinal limitation.

As used herein, the term "same pleat and compression conditions" means that the pleating and device (eg, pleating members and pleat diameter) and final compression, device, and length as compressed on the compression force are substantially the same to be.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the packing efficiency is kept at 0.60 and above *

In a preferred embodiment of this cohesive casing article based on a "drop fit" equation (described in detail above), the core has an inner bore that is at least as large as the inner bore that would have the same casing as it is. 25 crimped and strongly compressed under the same crimping and compression conditions, without the core. In a preferred embodiment, the narrow unreinforced cellulose casing with an inflated diameter less than 40 mm is compressed to a pack ratio of at least 100.

For these aspects of the method, the present invention includes a method of manufacturing a crimped and highly compressed cored casing article comprising the steps of: (a) providing a piece of cellulose food casing having a moisture content of at least about 13% on the total weight of the casing; (b) drawing the inner periphery of the bore of the cellulose food casing piece over a first piece of a doom having a reduced diameter end portion at the second end of the mandrel; (c) folding the piece of cellulose food casing onto said doom; (d) providing a hollow core co-40 axially disposed with and aligned with the end portion of the doom with reduced diameter 8201792 14, said core being rigid enough to prevent deformation and reduction of the size of the core bore by internally directed expansion forces from the enclosure due to compression of the enclosure; (e) linearly moving the pleated casing length along the mandrel on the outer surface of the coaxially disposed core; and (f) compressing the piece of pleated bore on the core to a high packing ratio and to a high packing efficiency, whereby the casing develops an inwardly directed expansion force.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a method of manufacturing a pleated and highly compressed cored envelope comprising the steps of: (a) providing a piece of cellulose food envelope having a moisture content of at least 13% based on the total weight of the casing; (b) sliding the inner periphery of the bore of the cellulose food casing piece over a first end of a mandrel; (c) folding and compressing the cellulose food casing piece on said mandrel; (d) providing a hollow core, which is preferably coaxially disposed with and aligned with the second end of the mandrel, said core being rigid enough to deform and reduce the size of the core bore from the casing to absorb internal expansion force due to compression of the enclosure; and (e) linearly moving the crimped and compressed casing piece from the second end of the mandrel to the outer surface of the core, so that a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency is achieved, thereby providing said inward expansion force of the casing. developed as the bore of the pleated stick contracts.

Another method of the invention includes a method of manufacturing a pleated and highly compressed cored envelope comprising the steps of: (a) providing a piece of cellulose food envelope having a moisture content of at least about 13% of the total weight of the casing; (b) sliding the inner periphery of the bore of said cellulose food casing piece 35 over a first end of a mandrel; (c) folding the piece of cellulose food casing onto the mandrel; (d) providing a hollow core sufficiently rigid to resist deformation and reduction of the core bore size by the inward expansion force of the casing due to compression of the casing; (e) moving a piece of 8201792 a; * s 15 pleated casing from the second end of the mandrel on the outer surface of the core; and (f) further compressing the piece of pleated casing on the core to a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency, wherein said casing develops an inwardly directed expansion force. In this embodiment, the core is preferably supported on a second mandrel and the pleated casing piece is transferred to the core and the second mandrel for compression in the fully compressed state. In addition, the piece of pleated sheath supported by the mandrel can be moved to a second position before the piece of pleated sheath is moved from the second end of the mandrel to the core. Preferably, the core is co-axial with and aligned with the second end of the mandrel.

A further embodiment of the invention includes a method of manufacturing a crimped and highly compressed casing article having a core comprising the steps of: (a) providing a piece of cellulose food casing having a moisture content of at least about 13% of the total weight of the enclosure; (b) providing a hollow core that is rigid enough to withstand deformation and reduction of the core bore size by inwardly expanding casing expansion forces due to said compression; (c) providing a mandrel and longitudinally sliding the inner circumference of the bore of said core over the outer circumference of said mandrel; (d) longitudinally sliding the inner circumference of the bore of the cellulose food casing piece over the outer circumference of the core; (e) pleating said cellulose food casing piece on said core and mandrel; (f) compressing the cellulose food casing piece on the core to a high packing ratio and a high packing yield, said casing developing an inwardly directed expansion force; 30 and (g) longitudinally sliding the pleated and highly compressed cored casing article off the mandrel.

A further embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises a method for manufacturing a pleated and highly compressed core cored article comprising the steps of: (a) providing a piece of cellulose envelope having a moisture content of at least at least about 13% on the total weight of the casing; (b) sliding the inner periphery of the bore of the cellulose food casing over a first end of a doom; (c) folding said piece of cellulose food casing 40 onto the mandrel; (d) compressing the piece of pleated casing on the 8201792 * 16 mandrel to a high packing ratio and to a high packing efficiency; (e) providing a hollow core that is rigid enough to resist deformation and reduction of the core bore size by an inwardly directed expansion force of the casing due to compression of the casing; and (f) longitudinally sliding the casing piece compressed and crimped from the first end of the mandrel and over the outer circumference of the core to provide a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency, thereby providing said inwardly expanding force of the envelope is developed when the bore of the pleated stick contracts.

Yet a further embodiment of the invention includes a method of manufacturing a pleated and highly compressed cored article from the enclosure comprising the steps of: (a) providing a piece of cellulose food enclosure having a moisture content of at least at least about 13% based on the total weight of the casing; (b) sliding the inner periphery of the cellulose food casing piece over a first end of a mandrel; (c) folding the piece of cellulose food casing onto the mandrel; - (d) providing a hollow core that is sufficiently rigid to withstand deformation and reduction of the bore size of the core from the inward expansion force of the casing due to compression of the casing; (e) moving the cellulose food wrap piece supported by the mandrel and pleated to a second position, preferably linearly and coaxially aligned with the core; (f) moving the piece of pleated envelope from the first end of the doom onto the outer surface of the core; and (g) further compressing the piece of pleated wrap on the core to a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency, whereby the wrap develops an inwardly directed expansion force.

In this embodiment, the core is preferably supported on a second mandrel, and the partially compressed stick is transferred to the core and the second doom for compression to a fully compressed state.

The particular preferred moisture content for different casing types may vary. More specifically, the moisture content of the controllably wetted crimped fiber envelopes in the larger size range is preferably in the order of about 16% to about 35% of the total weight of the envelope.

The preferred range of moisture content for intermediate sized casings is also on the order of from about 16 8201792 * 17 wt% to about 35 wt% moisture on the weight of the total casing.

The smaller sized casings used to manufacture frankfurter type products and the like are preferably provided with a moisture content based on the total weight of the casing ranging from about 14 wt% to about 18 wt% .

The tubular core element of an article according to the invention must be sufficiently rigid to resist deformation and reduction of the core bore size from the inwardly directed expansion force of the casing, noting that slight deformation and reduction of the bore occurs but is acceptable if it is not excessive. The core diameter can range from about 3/8 inch to 5.0 inches or more depending on the size of the casing and the required size of the bore. It may vary in wall thickness in accordance with the particular encapsulated article and its adaptation and application and further in accordance with the core material used, but, generally, it may be said that the wall thickness of such a tubular core is in the range of about 0.051 cm to 20 about 0.254 cm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

The invention is now described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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Fig. 1 shows a view of a device that can be used for manufacturing an article according to the invention and in accordance with one method of the invention, showing the crimping in connection with a continuously fed piece of casing material.

Fig. 2 shows the completed pleating and the transport of the pleated casing piece to the compression tation of the device of FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the application of the compression force to form a piece of stick according to the invention on a core element mounted on the extended part of the folding machine.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an article of the invention in which the pleated and compressed sheath is in place on a hollow tubular core.

FIG. 5 shows a variation of the invention which can be used as a stopper element on the stopper for treating meat products with pieces.

Fig. 6 shows in perspective an article according to the invention which is particularly suitable for stopping products of average dimensions, wherein the core element can be used as a support which is slid over a stuffing horn or alternatively serves as stuffing horn part of the device self.

Fig. 7 shows an article according to the invention which can be used for stuffing small-sized sausage products, the core element replacing the stuffing horn on the stuffing device.

Fig. 8 shows a graph showing the "drop fit" as a function of the packing ratio for non-cored or cored pleated sticks formed from a small diameter 160 foot non-fibrous sheath.

30. FIG. 9 shows a graph of the cohesion as a function of the packing ratio for non-corrugated pleated sticks formed from a small diameter 160 foot non-fibrous sheath.

Fig. 10 shows a graph in which the "drop fit" is indicated as a function of the packing ratio for non-cored pleated sticks formed in the dimensions 17, 21 and 27 of small diameter from a cellulose casing (without fibrous reinforcement), all sticks of a given size having the same length.

Fig. 40 11 shows a graph showing the relationship as 8201792 19, a function of the packing ratio for the coreless sticks of FIG. 10.

Fig. 12 is a graphical representation of the maximum packing ratio that can be achieved for non-core, 5-core pleated sticks formed from medium sized fibrous envelopes in the range of 43 - 60 to fit a 1.073 stopper inch.

Fig. 13 finally shows a graphic representation of the same relationship as shown in FIG. 12 for fibrous envelopes of 10 average size in the range of 70-100, and fits a 1.556 inch stopper.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a typical crimping machine indicated by 11 is shown, comprising a crimping mandrel 13 extending through a crimping head 15. An inflated casing 17 is supplied to the mandrel 13 by a pair of feed rollers 19 and a pair of co-operating supply belts 21. The pleat head 15 includes a plurality of pleat wheels 23, usually three, through which the inflated envelope 17 passes which folds the envelope together with the retaining belts 25 in a manner known to one skilled in the art. The pleat wheels 20 are of the general type as described in U.S. Patent 3,461,484.

The advancement of the pleated casing on the mandrel 13 is slowed by a series of retaining bands 25 to provide a substantially regular pleat formation and a partially compressed pleated casing. After the initial pleating, the casing is transferred through the retaining straps further under the mandrel and toward the first clamp 27.

To cause transfer of the pleated sheath to the substantially rigid hollow tubular core and ultimate compression thereon according to the invention, the first clamp 27 is swung out of the web and a pleated piece is moved by hand or by means of conventional automatic means, towards the position shown in Fig. 2, against the second clamp 29. In this position, the piece of pleated casing is placed on a hollow tubular core 31, which is placed on a recessed portion of the mandrel 23, as shown in Figure 3, which shows an enlarged detail of the right side of Figure 2. The final compression of the casing 17 on the hollow tubular core 31 is caused by the compression device 33 which moves linearly to the second clamp 29 until the desired length. 40 of the pleated stick is obtained. A holding disc 35 or ring may be preferably placed between the end of the casing 17 and the second clamp 29 so that when the one-piece object is removed, the casing is securely retained on the hollow tubular core and prevented from being trapped. drifting from the end of it.

When a high-density cored article is completed as described in the above steps, the second clamp 29 is removed from its retaining position and the finished article is removed.

For example, the article of the invention may be formulated by transferring the pleated and partially compressed casing to its hollow tubular core 31 in the manner described above. Fig. 3 shows the pleated and partially compressed casing piece that has been linearly moved on the core coaxially adjusted with the crimping mandrel 13 to a reduced diameter portion thereof 15, and then applying the final compressive force by means of a presser 33.

Other methods can be used to place the pleated sheath on a core. For example, on a floating mandrel pleating machine, as described above, the pleated casing can be completely compressed over the mandrel of the pleating machine and then taken off on a tubular core. It is also possible to completely remove the pleated and partially compressed casing piece from the crimping device 11 on a transport rod or girdle and move the entire length to a separate compression device where the pleated casing piece is placed on a core and is compressed. Also, the core can be placed on the floating doom and then adjusted thereon so that the envelope is pleated on the core, the corrugated pleated envelope is then fully compressed on the core, and the core with fully compressed envelope is then finished taken from doom.

Another pleating system, including the use of a retraction doom pleating machine is described in U.S. Patent No. 2,583,654. This type of crimping system can be used in manufacturing the article of the invention and allows the crimping of the envelope to take place directly on a core for subsequent compression thereon. In one embodiment, the core is placed on the retracting pleat mandrel and is placed thereon so that the envelope is pleated on the core, then the corrugated pleated envelope is then fully compressed on the core, and the cored fully compressed then remove the mandrel from the mandrel. In another embodiment, the casing may be pleated and compressed on the retraction mandrel in the usual manner, and the pleated and compressed casing may be slid off the mandrel and onto the core. In a further embodiment, the casing may be pleated and partially are compressed on the retracting mandrel, then the mandrel is then moved to another position coaxial with the core, the compressed pleated stick then partially sliding off the mandrel and onto the core, and the pleated stick then fully compressed on the 10 core. It is also possible to completely remove the pleated and partially compressed casing piece from the retraction mandrel of the pleating device by taking it off on a transport rod and the carrying mandrel and then transferring the partially compressed pleated stick from the transport rod to the carrier mandrel on the core which is arranged in a separate compression device, where the pleated stick is then fully compressed on the core.

Achieving the maximum potential packing ratio in the article according to the invention requires a high compressive force, which in turn induces high inwardly directed radial forces in the pleated envelope. Since the preferred method of manufacturing the article of the invention includes compressing the pleated casing while in place on its core, it will be appreciated that a low coefficient of friction between the casing and the core is desired. Example VII (discussed in detail below) shows that a higher packing ratio can be obtained with a core material such as high density polyethylene with a relatively low coefficient of friction compared to polypropylene or polystyrene which have a higher coefficient of friction.

Fig. 4, an article according to the invention in particular 30 shows a wetted piece 17 of cellulose food casing, which has been pleated and compressed on a substantially rigid tubular core 31 to a packing ratio and packing efficiency higher than has usually been achieved. As shown in Fig. 4, retaining disks 35 can be placed, if desired, on each end of the piece of pleated wrap to hold it on the core in its compressed state.

Fig. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of a high density corrugated pleated sheath disposed on the detachable stuffing horn, which is the subject of United States patent application 261,313, to the same applicant. In this embodiment, a tiltable casing holding member 37 for the casing is shown as mounted 8201792 22 on the hollow tubular core 31, and placed within a deployed portion of the casing 17, which is pulled from the pleated and compressed casing section, over the casing. tiltable cannula holding member and the end of the tubular core / stopper, where it can be closed with a clip 3 to provide an end closure for the product to be stopped. A flange 39 is provided as shown on the opposite end of the article to facilitate attachment of the article to the stopper.

Fig. 6 shows a high density cored body 10 of the invention adapted to the casing support or support sleeve to be placed over the stopper of a stopper. When used in this manner, a flange 39 or the like can be connected to the stop machine device providing reciprocating movement of the entire sleeve to cause slack if required when plugging . An embodiment similar to that shown in Fig. 6 can also be used as a sleeve that includes a gripping or holding element, in which case a deployed portion of the casing can be pulled over the gripping or holding element and the end of the tubular core, and closed with a clip to hold the plugged product.

Fig. 7 shows an article according to the invention which can be used in stuffing sausage products of small dimensions, provided with an adapter 41 which is designed and placed so that it fits directly on a stuffing device, wherein the hollow tubular core 31 of the article supplants usual stop horn. In this case, the casing 17 is partially deployed, drawn over a gripping member 43 and the end of the tubular horn, where it is closed to provide a seal against product stopping. It is of particular advantage to provide large lengths of casing in a given stick length for stuffing small sized sausage products, since the manufacture of such products is for the most part performed on high speed automatic stuffing devices. The use of the cored article of casing according to the invention allows the use of much longer casing lengths within a given stick length for more efficient operation of such a device while at the same time high dimensional accuracy ( for example, straightness) and structural integrity (consistency), which is required from enclosures to be used in such devices 8201792-23.

Flg. 7 also shows the pleat angle ö of the envelope in the pleated stick shape according to the invention. Conventional crimping on modern crimping devices provides pleated casing sticks with a noticeable angular displacement between a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stick and a plane in which the pleated crimp lies. A non-cored stick with a bend angle of this nature, as has been found, has a significantly greater coherence and structural integrity than such a stick of the same type would have when it is bended with a bend angle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stick, because the total stick length is somewhat similar to a stack of nesting cones. The core element provides sufficient structural rigidity so that reliance on a bend angle for cohesion can be removed.

One reason to introduce some bend angle Θ into casing sticks according to the invention is to slow the growth in the longitudinal direction of the stick. Immediately after they have been removed from the pleat or compression mold, sheathed pleated sticks tend to show the tendency of an unrestrained pleated and compressed stick to elongate. In the case of non-corrugated pleated and compressed sticks, further growth of the pleated casing is allowed radially inwardly into the bore of the stick, which phenomenon increases in proportion to the extent of the growth of the stick in the longitudinal direction stopped.

The tendency of a crimped and compressed stick to grow radially inwardly against the core provides a further locking element of the creases of the casing against the outer surface of the core. With this advantageous effect, the tendency of the finished stick from the pleated casing to grow longitudinally is mainly induced by friction between pleat and pleat combined with a frictional force between pleat and core so that only minimal further longitudinal prevention is required to Dimensionally stabilize the stick from casing material.

Example I.

A piece 76.22 m long with a wide fibrous casing width, trade number 10, with an average flat width of 19.18 cm and a wall thickness of 0.10 mm was pleated using a pleating device which was very similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,484. The casing 40 had a moisture content of about 10% by weight based on the total weight 8201792 of the casing. As usual, a mineral oil was used as a lubricant. Internally, oil was used to reduce the friction of the mandrel and externally, oil was used to prevent damaging the envelope to be pleated and undesired wear of the pleat rollers. The mineral oil lubricant was applied internally in an amount of about 180 mg of oil per 100 inches of the surface of the casing, and externally in an amount of about 100 mg of oil per 100 inches of casing surface, which amounts had no discernible bad effect on the properties 10 of the finished stick. The casing was compressed from one end onto a high density polyethylene core housing having an inner diameter of 9.53 cm, and a wall thickness of 0.16 cm to a stick length of 58.42 cm. The subject article was manufactured on a floating mandrel pleating machine in a manner as described above, wherein the pleated envelope after transfer and slightly compressing was transferred to a core coaxial with the pleating mandrel on a reduced diameter portion thereof, and finally pressed in place on the mandrel and taken off. This high density core corrugated stick according to the invention has a packing ratio of 130.4 and a packing efficiency of about 0.757.

For comparison with a control sample, a standard commercially available 150 foot length casing of the same dimensions and the same casing type was pleated and compressed to the same 58.42 cm length of the coreless stick and a pack-25 ratio of 78 and have a packing efficiency of 0.390, with a 3 5/8 inch internal diameter bore. Other non-cored control samples with a high pack ratio and a higher pack yield provided useless articles due to the excessive reduction of the bore due to expansion radially inward.

Example II.

The fact that very high inwardly directed forces on the bore of the stick are developed as a result of the crimping was demonstrated by an experiment comprising crimping and compression, 35 to a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency, of samples size 25 (21 mm inflated diameter), cellulose (without fiber reinforcement) casing of small size with a casing wall thickness of about 0.0254 mm. In the experiment, pieces 25.61 m in length, 25 cellulose casing, about 5 samples 40 each, were pleated using a crimping device similar to that described in U.S. Patent 3,461,484, while twisting the pleated stick as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,069. The pleated stick was then compressed with a compressive force of approximately 181 kg on tubular cores with a wall thickness of 0.254 mm, 0.508 mm, 0.762 mm, 1.016 mm and 1.270 mm. The cored articles were fabricated on a floating mandrel type pleating machine, as described in detail in this application, except that during final compression on the core, core 31 could slide freely through rear clamp 29 ( Fig. 3), the envelope being compressed effectively from both ends simultaneously. All tubular cores had an inner diameter of 1.30 cm and the compression after crimping was performed on a 1.27 cm diameter press mandrel portion with the core elements placed thereon. On all samples, the moisture content after pleating was about 16.5 wt% and mineral oil was used as an internal lubricant (about 14 to 20 mg / 100 inch) and an external lubricant (up to about 70 mg / 100 inch). ). The amounts of lubricant are not critical, but they are the usual amounts for a given pleating machine and type of casing.

The top part of Table A shows the dimensions of the inner diameters of the cores immediately after they have been removed from the mandrel, and at least one day to 20 days later. Reduction of the inner diameter of the core was due to the high inward expansion force of the casing, which resulted from a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency. It should be noted that the degree of reduction of the bore is a function of the diameter as well as the magnitude of the inwardly directed forces and the creep strength of the core (i.e. a larger shell requires a greater core thickness than a small shell to achieve the same within directed force per unit 30 of surface). It should be noted that the relatively low creep strength of the high density polyethylene made it possible to compress the 0.010 inch stick core until the inner diameter of the core (0.480 inch) was actually less than the core of the non-core sample. The bore of the stick casing material was, of course, 35 larger (0.480 + 2 (0.010) - 0.500).

(see table A).

The lower part of Table A shows data from a sample of the same size, size 25, crimped and compressed on a 0.575 inch mandrel, but without a core. Although a high packing ratio and a 40 packing efficiency were achieved with "cone" pleats (8201792 26 114.7 and 0.63 respectively), an excessive reduction site had In bore size (determined by the "drop fit" test) and this is not acceptable to the trade. It would not be correct to compare these data directly with the cored article data of Table A 5 because each of the cored samples was compressed on a support core with an outer diameter that varies according to the wall thickness of the core.

Two bend angles were used according to Table A above in the bend tests. The designation "upstanding" means a pleat angle up to about 15 ° and the designation "cone" means a pleat plate angle of about 45 °. The "upstanding pleat samples" were pleated with pleat members or rollers similar to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,984,574. The compressed packing ratio of the coreless cone-pleated sample is similar to the un-cored sample of Table B of length 210 foot where the stick is unusable due to loss of cohesion.

The core material for the experiments according to Table A was high density polyethylene. For convenience, the cores were made from a thick-walled tube and the resulting rough outer surface slightly reduced the packing ratio that could be achieved. Considering Table A, it appears that for high pressure polyethylene cores, a significant deformation of the bore of the article occurs when the core thickness reaches 0.050 inches. It is also indicated in Table A that for a constant compressive force (400 pounds in this example) the resulting final packing ratio decreases proportionally as the core thickness increases (ie, the outer diameter of the core increases). However, the packing efficiency also increases. In order to maximize the packing ratio, the fit of the stopper and the packing efficiency, the design of the core must also be considered (a) the creep of the core due to high inward forces on the envelope as well as the required final dimension of the core. bore, (b) reduction in the packing ratio that would occur if an excessive thickness of the core wall were used and (c) the cost of the core material.

Other core materials tested gave similar results in view of core deformation. Cores made of ABS, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, tubing were satisfactory at slightly lower wall thickness than the high-density polyethylene cores, but ABS cores are less economical.

Example III.

40 The advantages provided by the high density cellulose core 8201792 27 in terms of packing efficiency and packing ratio are demonstrated by experiments comprising pleating and compression to a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency of samples size 25 (21 mm inflated diameter) of cellulose casing (without fibrous reinforcement) with a casing wall thickness of 0.0254 mm. The moisture level of the pleated casing was about 16.5% by weight and the amount of mineral oil lubricant was used as indicated in Example II. Pleating members of the type used commercially and corresponding to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,484 were used to pleat the enclosure while communicating a twist to the pleated stick as described in U.S. Patent 3,397 .069, and each stick was then compressed onto tubular polypropylene cores (polypropylene reinforced with 20% talc) for comparison to a casing crimped using the same crimping method but compressed without cores. The high-density cored articles were fabricated on a floating mandrel type pleating machine, as described in detail in this application, except that during final core compression, core 31 could slide freely through rear clamp 20 ( Fig. 3), thereby effectively compressing the casing from both ends at the same time. In addition, to obtain a more even compression over the entire pleated stick, about 80 feet of envelope was compressed simultaneously (increasing compression). The non-cored samples and certain cored samples were run to have a drop fit of 0.490 inches. Other cored samples were designed such that the tubular core can serve as a disposable stopper. In these circumstances, the inner diameter of the core was effectively equivalent to the inner diameter of a 0.5 inch outer diameter stopper and the pleated article had no particular drop fit requirements with respect to the stopper. For all examples, the pleated casing was compressed to a final stick length of about 20 inches. About 10 samples were prepared for each of the cored shapes and for each of the non-cored shapes containing sheath lengths ranging between 160 and 225 feet.

The results of the experiments are summarized in Table B. For non-cored articles with an envelope length of 210 feet and more, poor cohesion resulted in broken sticks and drop-fit measurements after one week were not possible.

8201792 e * 28

For non-cored articles with casing lengths of 187.5 to 202.5 feet, radially inward forces due to casing growth (after one week), the pleated stick bores reduce to a point where they requirement of the 0.490 inch 5 "drop fit" did not reach. For comparison, the best available crimping methods produced a non-corrugated sleeve with a pleated casing containing 160 feet of casing with an average pack ratio (10 samples) of 94.6 and an average pack yield of about 0.491. A corrugated pleated and compressed high density cellulose envelope of the invention intended for a .490 inch drop fit was fabricated by the same pleating method. This gave an article in which the inner diameter of the core was about 59% of the diameter of the inflated casing. This article contained 200 foot casing and 15 had an average pack ratio (10 samples) of 116.46 and an average pack yield of 0.653.

(see table B).

These data also show a preferred embodiment of the invention in which based on a "drop fit" comparison, the core has a bore inner diameter size at least as large as the inner bore size of the same casing if it is pleated and strongly compressed under the same pleat and compression conditions without the core, and to the same packing ratio. More specifically, the core bore size of the article with a 116.46 average packing ratio was 0.497 inches. In contrast, the bore sizes of the non-corrugated pleated sticks with pack ratios of 113.1 and 120.0 were 0.470 inches and 0.465 inches, respectively, substantially smaller than the comparable cored article.

A second series of high-density cored samples were prepared in which the core of the crimped article can serve as a disposable stuffing horn with a throughput effectively equal to a standard 0.5 inch outside diameter stuffing horn (0.436 inch inside diameter). This provides an article in which the inner diameter of the core is approximately 51% of the inflated diameter of the casing. This item contains 230 foot wrapping, shows an average pack ratio (10 samples) of 133.4 and an average pack yield of 0.617.

The further testing was conducted to determine the quality of the crimped and compressed sheaths of this Example III (as much cored as not cored) as shown by the number of perforations present in the pleated casing. Five sticks from each sample were tested for perforations by filling the casing with water and applying internal pressure. The 5 results, shown in Table B, show a general tendency of increasing perforation damage as the overall casing length of the non-cored article increases. In contrast, no perforations were found in any of the cored tested samples.

In summary, Example III shows that it was not possible to obtain a typical non-corrugated pleated and compressed cellulose article with at least 0.5 pack efficiency without unacceptable bore reduction (diameter). In contrast, this was well achieved with the article of the invention, and in fact the preferred packing efficiency of at least 0.6 was exceeded.

Example IV.

Another advantage of the article according to the invention with a core and pleated at a high density is that the tendency of damage to the envelope, ie the formation of perforations, is reduced compared to the same envelope when it is pleated and compressed under the same conditions without core. This is because the core limits longitudinal growth due to surface friction and less compression is required to maintain a given packing ratio compared to a non-corrugated pleated stick. Since perforation increases with increasing compression, a potential problem of casing damage can be reduced or avoided by the article of the invention.

Furthermore, the core allows achieving and retaining the fully compressed pack ratio and even larger pack ratios without damage from perforations.

This relationship of compression between core and non-core stick is illustrated in a series of experiments in which 160-foot pieces of size 25 were pleated from non-fiber cellulose and also compressed with and without core to a length of 15 inches and a initial packing ratio of 128. After removal, the cored and non-corrugated pleated stick was allowed to grow over a period of 7 days without further longitudinal retention. At this point, the article with core only maintained a longitudinal accretion of 0.4 inches. (Packing ratio after growth of approximately 125), while the article without core had a growth of 1.4 inches (packing ratio after growth). of about 117). If the target had been a final packing ratio of 125, a higher initial compressive force would be required with the non-cored pleated stick.

The advantage of less tendency to damage the casing can be exploited in another way. If the performer determines a maximum compressive force that can be used without causing damage to the enclosure when this force is utilized, the cored article having a higher packing ratio and higher packing efficiency can be formed than a non-cored article .

Example V.

A series of experiments were performed based on what is described in the above-mentioned British Patent Specification 1,167,377, and comparing it with the high density core corrugated cellulose stick of the invention.

Based on the disclosure in the above-mentioned British Patent, a polyvinyl chloride tube with an Inside diameter of 1.613 20 inch and a wall thickness of 0.010 inch was used as the core element and a size 2.5 fiber reinforced cellulose shell (approximately 2.4 inch inflated diameter) was used pleated with the crimping device as described in U.S. Patent 3,461,484 and then compressed to a length of 12.0 inches. The inner diameter of the 1.613 inch tube at size 2.5 fiber sheath was chosen for this test because it was the smallest polyvinyl chloride tube available at the time of this test. The test specimens of the casing were prepared on a floating mandrel type pleating machine in a manner as described in detail above, wherein the pleated casing is placed after pleating on a core coaxially aligned with the pleated mandrel on a part thereof with reduced diameter, and finally compressed in the manner described in example I and taken off. These samples had a pleat moisture content of about 20% and a mineral oil lubricant was used internally (about 200 mg / 100 inch) and externally (up to about 107 mg / 100 inch). The casing was provided in three different lengths: 75, 100 and 125 feet. Based on the compressed article, different pack ratios were obtained. The resulting objects were then measured to determine the inner diameter of the core 40 by the drop fit method described above. For the sample with 8201792 * 31 pack ratio 75, the drop fit size was 1.590 Inch, obtaining a core diameter size of 0.023 inch. For the sample with 100 pack ratio, the drop fit size was 1.540 inch and was found to be 0.073 "reduction in core diameter size. For the 125 pack ratio sample, the drop fit size was less than 1,500 inch. However, the core crimped at one end immediately after the article was compressed and taken off the mandrel. This demonstrates the impossibility of obtaining the high density core stick from pleated cellulose when following the above British patent specification.

The 75 foot sample still fits the 1,556 inch outside diameter stopper but packing efficiency is only 0.43. The 100-foot samples caused the bore size to be so large that it did not fit the horn. The 125-foot core sample collapsed completely.

Example VI.

Fiber cellulose sheath articles similar in size to those used for the sample of the above British Patent described in Example V were prepared in accordance with the present invention and compared with non-core samples to investigate the limits of compressibility determined by damage of the casing. Size 2.5 (about 2.4 inches of inflated diameter) and size 4 (about 2.8 inches of inflated diameter) casings were pleated through the crimping device according to that described in U.S. Patent 3,461,484. The moisture content of the 2.5 and 4 samples after pleating was about 20%. Mineral oil was used as a lubricant as follows: size 2.5 - about 200 mg / 100 inch ^ (internal) and about 100 mg / 100 inch ^ (external) size 4 - about 170 mg / 100 inch ^ (internal) and about 90 mg / 100 inch (externally).

The core articles were compressed onto polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cores in a manner similar to the objects used in Example V. The samples were compressed to 12.0 inches in length at a packing ratio of 150, which was the highest packing ratio achievable wash size 2.5 without damaging the casing. All samples were run to fit a 1.556 diameter stopper. The cores used had an outside diameter of 1.713 inches and a wall thickness of 0.05 inches. Core-40 samples were secured against longitudinal expansion using 8201792

4 T

32 pen and non-cored samples were retained (only partially) by wrapping in a carton.

The results of the tests are shown in Table C.

(see table C).

5 The core size 2.5 objects showed a final core bore size that is slightly too small to fit the horn, yet larger than the bore of the non-cored items, even though the cored items are a packer attitude of about 138 while the non-cored articles had a packing ratio of only about 114. In practice, a slightly smaller packing ratio would have provided a good fit to the horn with the core. The cored items size 4 were functional (in view of the packing ratio) after 15 days at a packing ratio of 138.46. Non-cored size 4 objects showed a reduction in bore size to a point of inoperability after 15 days with a measured packing ratio of 128.48.

This Example VI also demonstrates for cored fiber reinforced sheaths a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein, based on a "drop fit" equation, the core had an inner bore diameter at least as large as the size of the inner bore which would have the same fiber casing if it was pleated and strongly compressed under the same pleat and compression conditions without the core and at the same compressed packing ratio. For example, in the case of size 2.5, the average non-cored bore size of 1.540 inches was slightly smaller than the average core bore size of 1.547 inches, even though the latter's final packing ratio was significantly greater (138 compared to 114). Similarly, in the size 4 casing, the average bore size of the non-cored casing of 1.547 was significantly smaller than the average bore size of the core casing, even though the latter final packing ratio was higher (138 compared to 128) .

Comparison of the test results described above with those of Example V demonstrate that British Patent 1,167,377 does not disclose nor indicate the use of a core in a manner that simultaneously achieves three beneficial properties of the cored cellulose casing according to the invention makes possible: high packing ratio, high packing efficiency, and limited deformation reduction of the size of the core bore.

Example VII.

Yet another series of tests was performed using the general type pleating device described in U.S. Patent 3,461,484 while imparting a twist to the pleated stick as described in U.S. Patent 3,397,069. In these experiments, the corrugated, high-density pleated cellulose articles were manufactured using different core materials. The cored articles were fabricated on a floating mandrel type crimper as described in detail in this application, except that during final compression on the core, core 31 could slide freely through rear clamp 29 (FIG. 3), whereby effective compression of the enclosure occurred simultaneously from both ends. The core materials used in the experiments were polypropylene (reinforced with 20% talc filler), polystyrene and high density polyethylene, each core having an outside diameter of 0.5 inch and a wall thickness of 0.025 inch. The casing used was size 25 cellulose (no fiber support), and each article contained 200 feet of casing. In all samples, the pleated moisture content was about 16.5%, and mineral oil was used as a lubricant internally (about 14-20 mg / 100 inch ^) and externally (up to about 70 mg / 100 inch ^).

The test results, summarized in Table D, demonstrate that the relatively lower coefficient of friction of the high density polyethylene core allows the pleated envelope to be compressed to a significantly higher packing ratio than that obtained for the other core materials.

The experiments according to Examples XI and VII show that the construction of a core according to the invention is based on the properties of the core material, such as strength, modulus of elasticity and creep resistance. These properties determine the wall thickness of the core required to withstand the inwardly expanding forces that tend to deform and reduce the size of the core bore. The coefficient of friction of the core material determines the magnitude of the longitudinal compressive forces necessary to compress the casing to extremely high packing ratio and

It has been found that many factors are involved in determining the core material including the coefficient of friction, the creep strength, the modulus of elasticity, the availability in extruded form, the cost, the ductility, the washability and the availability in reinforced form. The final choice may differ for different applications. High density polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride 5 (PVC) are suitable for large encapsulation embodiments of the invention.

(see table D).

Example VIII.

Another series of experiments were conducted with high density cored casings similar to those described in Example III and summarized in Table B. The only difference is that instead of the final compression from both ends, the compression was from one end in the same manner as performed with non-corrugated pleated sticks casing according to Table B, and the compressed pleated sticks were transferred to the core.

The results of these tests with high density cored articles, with a fiber-free enclosure size 25, are summarized in Table E, and should be compared with the data for non-cored enclosures according to Table B. The article high density core with a drop fit of 0.490 inch showed an average pack ratio (15 objects) of 129.2 and an average pack yield of 0.67. The high density core article serving a 0.5 inch outer diameter stopper had an average packing ratio (15 samples) of 140.1 and an average packing efficiency of 0.64.

In summary, while Example III indicates that it is not possible to have a typical non-corrugated pleated and compressed small cellulose wrap of at least 0.5 packing efficiency at one end compression without unacceptably high bore reduction, this was easily accomplished with the article of the invention, and in fact, the preferred packing efficiency of at least 0.6 was exceeded. Material was not available to compress non-cored sticks from both ends.

(see table E).

Example IX.

Yet another series of experiments were conducted using cellulose envelope size 25 (without fiber reinforcement) to manufacture non-cored and cored corrugated high density articles at different packing ratios , and examined from the point of view of "drop fit" (fig. 8) and coherence (fig. 9). All articles were made from 160 foot wrap and the compressed pleated articles were of different lengths depending on the packing ratio. The moisture level of the casing after pleating was about 6.5 wt% and mineral oil was used as an internal lubricant (about 14-20 mg / 100 inch2 internal surface) and external lubricant (up to 70 mg / 100 inch ^ external surface) during bending.

The pleating device of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,484 was used for crimping casing while twisting the pleated stick as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,069 and the casing was completely compressed in the usual manner from one end to the mandrel compression cross-section of a mandrel-type crimping machine, as generally shown in FIG. 3. After compression, the crimped stick was taken directly onto a tubular core . The latter was formed from polyvinyl chloride with an outside diameter of 0.560 inch x an inside diameter of 0.506 inch. For one group of 20 experiments, the mandrel print diameter was 0.575 inches in diameter. For the other group of experiments, the mandrel print diameter was 0.595 inch diameter.

The drop fit and the consistency for both non-cored and cored high-density pleated objects 25 were measured along with the pack ratio, 7 days after collection, and these data are summarized as pack ratio functions in the fig. 8 and 9.

Fig. 8 shows the "drop fit" for both non-cored compressed pleated sticks (compression diameters 0.575 and 0.595 30 inches) continuously decreasing with increasing packing ratio in the range of a packing ratio of 95-120. Because the minimum acceptable bore size for size 25 casing (inflated diameter 0.83 inch) is 0.490 inch (horizontal dotted line), the maximum usable packing ratio for the 0.575 inch mandrel is approximately 99. It should be noted that when using a larger mandrel (0.595 inch), the minimum size of the bore can be achieved at a slightly higher pack ratio (about 103) but this increases the possibility of casing damage due to perforation. Also progressively larger mandrel cross sections, greater than about 0.575 inch for size 25, 40, progressively increase the possibility of retention on the mandrel, increasing production interruption and increasing the amount of waste. In other words, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the optimum design for effortlessly bending a given casing size is one using the smallest mandrel 5 that provides the desired bore size *

In contrast to the above-described limitation of the pack ratio of non-corrugated pleated sticks due to the bore size requirement (approximately 99), FIG. 8 shows that for size 25 cored casing the "drop fit "was constant 10 with increasing packing ratio to a packing ratio of about 124 using the same 0.575 inch mandrel size. As the packing ratio increases further, the inner bore of the core begins to drift inwardly due to excessive internal force from the pleated stick. Accordingly, 124 indicates a practical upper limit of the pack ratio for this particular example where the inflated casing diameter is about 0.83 inches, the pack ratio is greater than 100, and the drop fit is at least 0.490 inches. .

It has been unexpectedly found that if the packing ratio of non-corrugated cellulose-coated pleated sticks (without fiber reinforcement) is in the range of packing ratios that can be prepared with the cored article of the invention, the consistency of the non-cored sticks progressively decrease with increasing packing ratio. This is in contrast to the expectations of the lower pack ratios, as used in practice, the consistency of the same non-cored stick known to progressively increase with increasing pack ratio.

8201 792 37

This unexpected discovery that cohesion decreases with increasing packing ratio for non-corrugated pleated cellulose sticks is shown in Figure 9 for a sheath size 25. It is noted that for a 0.575 inch doom the cohesion decreases by an almost constant and high degree from about 5 (pack ratio of 100) to at least 1.5 (pack ratio 125). The latter packing ratio is only slightly above the minimum commercially acceptable relationship of 1.2 and significantly below the preferred relationship of 2.5. In contrast, in the corrugated high-density pleated article of the invention, there is no limitation of cohesion because the compressed pleated sheath is supported by and in functional contact with the outer wall of the core.

While not fully understood, the above-described relationship of cohesion and packing ratio for a non-corrugated pleated cellulose stick is related to the degree of compression of the container pleat. A possible explanation is that in the low range of packing ratio, the compression of the pleats develops a closer nesting of the individual cones, thereby increasing the contact area between adjacent cones and thus increasing cohesion. However, if the compression is further increased to obtain a higher packing ratio, the high compression can interfere with nesting of the cones, thereby reducing cohesion. This possible explanation is consistent with the experimental observation that as the pack ratio of non-corrugated pleated cellulose stick progressively increases, the consistency initially increases to a maximum value and then decreases progressively. The possible explanation also agrees with the experimental observation that larger sized envelopes have a higher consistency at higher packing ratios than small envelope sizes (see Fig. 11 discussed below). This may be due to the larger surfaces of adjacent cones in contact with each other in relatively large sized casings.

The data for size 25, 160 foot enclosure, which are merged in Figures 8 and 9, also support the broad requirements of this invention that the cored article has a packing efficiency of not less than 0.50 and that the packing ratio and its packing efficiency, respectively, are greater than the packing ratio and the packing efficiency of the same casing length, pleated and pressurized under the same pleating and compression conditions, without the core 8201792 38. More specifically, the 7 day properties of the samples (a) are the highest packing ratio of a cored article that meets the minimum 0.490 inch drop fit requirement (b) the non-cored article that pleated and compressed under the same conditions as examples (a) and (c) was the highest packing ratio of the non-cored article that also meets the same minimum drop fit requirement as follows: _Monster_ Drop fit "Packing ratio Packing efficiency (a) object with core 0.50 inch 124 0.66 10 (b) object without core 0.46 inch 116 0.54 (c) object without core 0.50 inch 98 0.44

These data show that the drop fit, pack ratio and pack yield of sample (a) were all higher than sample (b). In addition, the sample (b) was not an acceptable product because the stick grew inwardly into the bore of the stick to an extent that the sample (b) did not meet the minimum drop fit requirement. Determining this drawback in the bore size for sample (b), a non-cored object (c) was the best non-cored stick that performs the same function as the cored object (a). sample (a) a 26% improvement in packing ratio and a 50% improvement in packing efficiency.

Example X.

A further series of tests, according to Example IX with a shell size 25, was performed with three different (smaller and larger) sizes of the cellulose shell without fiber reinforcement. They were size 17 (0.61 inch inflated diameter and 0.001 inch wall thickness), size 21 (0.73 inch inflated diameter and 0.001 inch wall thickness), and size 27 (0.89 inch inflated diameter and 0.001 inch wall thickness) . A difference from Example IX 30 is that instead of using the same casing length and manufacturing stick lengths different depending on the packing ratio, the casing length was varied in these tests and the sticks compressed to provide approximately the same final stick length for each casing size (7 days after take-off). For the size 17 enclosure, the final stick length was about 16 inches, while for sizes 21 and 27, the final stick length was about 20½ inches.

Another difference between these experiments and that according to Example 8201792 39 is that no cored articles according to the invention are made of casing size 17, 21 or 27. However, in another similar test, a cored high density pleated cellulose casing made from size 21 casing, and had the following properties: pack ratio 119.8; packing efficiency 0.66; and bore inner diameter 0.422 inch. This corrugated corrugated article was suitable for use with the 0.406 inch outside diameter stopper. As demonstrated by the curves for a non-cored stick, size 21, in Figs. 10 and 11 (discussed below), these very good properties cannot even be approximated with the non-cored pleated casing of the prior art of the technique.

With the exception of the aforementioned differences, sizes 17, 21 and 27 non-cored high density pleated sticks were manufactured in the same manner as the non-cored high density pleated sticks of size 25. days of turning without limitation in longitudinal direction, the obtained sticks were then subjected to drop fit measurements and consistency measurements. The data is summarized in Fig. 10 ("drop fit"), and Fig. 11 (coherence) curves as a function of the pack ratio.

An examination of FIG. 10 shows that like casing size 25 (FIG. 8), the "drop fits" of all three sizes progressively decrease with increasing packing ratio at substantially constant speed. For size 17 sheathing, the minimum acceptable "drop fit" is 0.360 inch (see horizontal dotted line), so that from the "drop fit" standpoint, the maximum attainable packing ratio with the prior art non-corrugated stick is approximately 80. Accordingly, with a sheath size 21, the minimum acceptable "drop fit" is 0.410 inches so that the maximum attainable packing ratio in the prior art of a non-corrugated pleated stick is about 98. Finally, for a casing size 27, the minimum acceptable "drop fit" is 0.530, so that the achievable maximum packing ratio with the known non-cored 35 crimped stick is approximately 130.

Referring now to the cohesion and packing ratio curves of FIG. 11, it is noted that they all show the unexpected relationship described above of a falling cohesion with increasing packing ratio in the upper region of the packing ratios for each casing size. For size 17, the consistency across the entire tested range of 60 - 125 pack ratios is low, indicating that the minimum acceptable value is 1.2 (dashed horizontal line). For size 17 of a non-corrugated pleated wrap, the maximum attainable pack ratio from the cohesion standpoint is also about 80. For size 21, the cohesion across the entire range of 70 - 120 pack ratios tested is also low and based on the minimum acceptable value of the cohesion of 1.2, the maximum attainable packing ratio from the context being approximately 102.

For size 27 of a non-corrugated pleated wrap, the above-described entire range of cohesion relative to increasing packing ratio is shown. That is, for pack ratios up to about 120, the consistency increases with increasing pack ratio. Outside of the pack ratios of about 122, however, the consistency decreases to an approximately constant and relatively sharp degree.

Based on Figures 10 and 11, it will be appreciated that the drop fit and the requirements of consistency present significant limitations in the use of high pack ratios in corrugated corrugated sticks according to the prior art formed from cellulose casings of sizes 17, 21 and 27. In any case, the article of the invention can provide much higher packing ratios with an acceptable core bore size and higher cohesion, and less tendency to damage the casing in the form of perforations.

More specifically, a corrugated pleated sheath size according to the invention has an inflated sheath diameter of about 0.61 inch and a drop fit of at least 0.360 inch preferably a packing ratio greater than 80. Also one of ·.

a corrugated pleated sheath size 21 of the invention having an inflated sheath diameter of about 0.73 inches and a "drop fit" of at least 0.410 inches, preferably a packing ratio greater than 98. Finally, a cored pleated sheath size 27 of the invention having an inflated sheath diameter of about 0.89 inch and a drop fit of at least 0.530 inch preferably a packing ratio greater than 130.

Example XI.

The advantages of the packing ratio and packing efficiency of the intermediate fiber-reinforced article of the invention are demonstrated by yet another 40 series of experiments comprising both cored and non-cored samples. Casings of sizes 43, 47 and 60 with flat widths in the range of dimensions of about 2.30-3.30 inches were used to form pleated and compressed cored and non-cored sticks for fitting on a 5 horn an outside diameter of 1.073 inch + 0.005 inch. The flat, size 70, 80 and 100 enclosures in the range of about 3.75-5.50 inches were used to form pleated and compressed cored and non-cored sticks to fit a stuffing horn with an outside diameter of 1.556 + 0.005 inch. The casing wall thickness for all tests was about 0.0031 inch. The moisture level of the casing after pleating was about 20%, and mineral oil was used as an internal lubricant (about 44 mg / 100 inch ^ internal surface) and external lubricant (up to about 30 mg / 100 inch ^ external surface). The inflated diameters of these fiber reinforced casings are as follows:

Size Inflated Diameter (inches) 43 1,480 47 1,588 20 60 2,063 70 2,387 80 2,772 100 3,485

In these tests, pieces of casing of different length were compressed to obtain substantially the same stick length for all pack ratios of a casing of special size. The length of these compressed sticks were as follows: size 43, 10.5 inches; size 47, 10.0 inc; size 60, 9.0 inches; size 70, 12.0 inches; size 80, 12.0 inches; size 100, 12.0 inches.

All casing sample items were prepared on a floating doom pleating machine as described above. The crimping device is of the type commercially available and corresponds to the device described in U.S. Patent 3,461,484. A number of samples were made under each condition. The non-cored samples were pleated and compressed from one end on the doom, to a maximum packing ratio, which does not allow damage to the envelope and to lower packing ratios. The maximum "non-injurious" packing ratio was determined by testing for perforations by filling with water and 8201792 42

Pressurize internally. If damage was detected, further samples were prepared at slightly lower pack ratios and these samples were tested with water for perforations as observed. The sequence was repeated until a pack ratio was reached with no casing damage, and this was the maximum pack ratio.

After compression on the doom, coreless samples of sizes 43, 47 and 60 were transferred from the crimper to a small diameter (1.1 inch) plastic tube for treatment and after about 1 hour they were removed from the tubes and inserted in a 10 network. The latter was clamped closed at both ends and the net wrap closed with clamp provides commercially useful practice for facilitating handling. This embodiment provides a slight limitation against longitudinal growth. The non-cored samples of sizes 70, 80 and 100 were transferred from the crimping machine directly into a polyvinyl chloride film wrapper which provides very limited end holding. This is common treatment practice.

The cores were made from rigid polyvinyl chloride. For casing dimensions 43, 47 and 60, the outer core diameter was 1,230 inches and the wall thickness was 0.050 inches. For casing sizes 70, 80 and 100, the core outer diameter was 1.713 inches and the wall thickness was also 0.050 inches.

After crimping, the cored samples were longitudinally moved from the doom on cores coaxial with the mandrel for crimping about a portion of the reduced diameter through, as described above and shown in FIG. 3. The pleated stick was then compressed to the desired packing ratio on the core by compression from one end and taken off. The cored samples were compressed to pack ratios equivalent to 30 for those of the non-cored samples.

After stripping, the corrugated pleated article was provided with means corresponding to coring retaining disks 35 and flange 39 (as shown in Fig. 6) on opposite ends of the pleated stick to hold the stripped section for 35 seconds. 7-day storage period. This degree of longitudinal restraint is not used with unsealed sticks because they bend or grow inward to an extent that they do not fit the desired stophome. Accordingly, the wrapping from mesh and plastic film used on non-core sticks does not significantly limit longitudinal growth.

8201792 Ί 43

The stick pieces were measured to take both non-cored and cored samples and measured again after a 7 day storage period. The results of these measurements are shown in Fig. 12 for fiber-reinforced casings of sizes 43, 47 and 60 and in Fig. 13 for fiber-reinforced casings of sizes 70, 80 and 100, plotted as a function of the planar ratios width of the enclosure.

In both Figures 12 and 13, the bottom curve shows the non-corrugated pleated and compressed stick after 7 days of storage. The middle curve shows the corrugated pleated and compressed article also after 7 days of storage, and the upper curve (dotted line) shows the corrugated, pleated and compressed article immediately after compression. The latter is included because it represents a state achievable with the present invention which cannot be achieved with the known non-corrugated pleated stick. That is, by "capturing" the opposing ends of the cored article after compression but before removal, for example, when longitudinal holding means are holding the initial (and highest) packing ratio without loss of essential properties of the stick. For example, there is minimal bore size loss because the compressed stick is retained against radial inward growth through the core. However, if the long-end retaining means are used with a non-cored stick immediately after recording, the initial highest packing ratio is maintained but there is an additional growth of the bore inward from that which occurs without holding the long end . Since the person using the article according to the invention applies the smallest possible folding mandrel for optimal results (explained for reasons above), the further radial inward growth would most likely result in a bore size too small to fit the meant stop horn.

More specifically, Fig. 12 shows that based on comparison of the value of the 7-day pack ratio for fiber-reinforced sheaths, size 43-60 without core and with core (two lowest curves), the slightest improvement occurs at size 43 and here the difference is about 78 minus 60 or a packing ratio improvement of about 30% if the cored article is used. The greatest improvement takes place at an envelope size 60, and here the difference is 129 minus 79, or about 63% 8201792 44 improvement in the packing ratio using the cored article. The potential maximum improvement based on comparison of the pack ratio (lowest curve) without core after 7 days with the initially highest pack ratio (highest dotted curve) 5 is significantly higher. For example, with a casing size 43, the difference is 97 minus 60 or about 62% higher packing ratio, and with a casing size 60, the difference is 146 minus 79 or about 85%.

A comparison of packing efficiency and packing ratio for the non-cored and cored pleated fiber reinforced casings of dimensions 43, 47 and 60 as described in this example XI are as follows:

Pack yield (and pack ratio) size without core with core with core wrap (7 days) (7 days) (initial) 15 43 0.54 (60) 0.74 (78) 0.78 (82) 47 0.53 (66 ) 0.76 (95) 0.81 (102) 60 0.45 (79) 0.75 (130) 0.85 (147)

Fig. 13 shows that based on a comparison of the 7-day pack ratio values for fiber-reinforced casing 20 with and without core sizes 70-100, the improvement in pack ratio is smaller than with the casing size 43-60, but is still large . The smallest improvement is with a casing size 80 and here the difference is 166 minus 154 or about 8%. The potential maximum improvement based on comparison of the 7-day non-core packing ratio with the initial highest packing ratio for size 30 is 180 min 154 or about 17%.

A comparison of the packing efficiency and the packing ratio for the non-cored and corrugated pleated fiber jacket, dimensions 70, 80 and 100 as described in this example XI is as follows:

Pack yield (and pack ratio) size without core with core with core wrap (7 days) (7 days) (initial) 70 0.66 (129) 0.77 (141) 0.82 (150) 35 80 0.63 (154 ) 0.71 (166) 0.77 (180) 100 0.50 (167) 0.59 (187) 0.70 (220)

While consistency is also important in fiber-reinforced cellulose casings, it does not present the same serious problems as in non-reinforced small-diameter cellulose casings. This is 8201792 45 in part because the former are inherently stronger due to the fiber reinforcement, but also due to the differences in the stopper arrangement for each.

The small diameter cellulose casings are typically stopped using high speed fully automated devices with the next stick to be used automatically advanced in the stop position when the previous stick is exhausted. Poor consistency can cause broken sticks, which in turn can cause breakage of the casing or tearing open when inserting or rotating the automatic stop lever. When this occurs, a very large amount of food emulsion is released into the environment before the device can be stopped, and a large stop time is necessary for cleaning and removing the broken casing.

In contrast, with large diameter fiber reinforcements, the machine speed is usually slower and the next stick is placed by hand for use by the operator. If a casing breaks (less likely due to fiber reinforcement), the device can be stopped before a large amount of food has been dispensed and the standstill time is shorter. Example XII.

For the present invention, a machine was developed and marketed by Union Carbide Corporation, the SHIBMATIC Model 405 Sizer, for stuffing boned whole hams in a fiber-reinforced, large-diameter cellulose casing described above. The device was intended for use of pleated casing with a measuring disc implanted in one deployed end of the non-corrugated pleated stick. When designing the machine, the necessity of a maximum bore size of the stuffing horn as well as the limitation of the size of the horn imposed by the maximum available bore of the pleated casing stick has been taken into account. To obtain the maximum horn size, the horn wall thickness was reduced to the minimum acceptable from the point of view of strength, the length of the casing necessarily and undesirably reduced from 200 feet to 150 feet, and the pleating conditions optimized for the largest available bore size. Also, the wall thickness of the collet and the clearance over the stuffing horn were necessarily and undesirably reduced to the minimum acceptable dimensions.

8201792 46

The result of these efforts was the use of the highest amount of pleats available and the use of a 3 3/8 inch inside diameter darning horn. The SHIRMATIC Model 405 Sizer originally marketed is described in Belgian oc-5 patent 888,526. Many of these devices have been installed in meat packaging devices, but have been found to be unsatisfactory for most applications. It was noted that the extreme elongation of the ham pieces as they pass through the horn, and then "mixing" as they are introduced into the casing, resulted in the surface grease turning towards the interior of the stuffed casing hams and a caused poor muscle fiber composition. The meat packaging industry did not consider the system to be consistent with the handstops and attempts to market the SHIRMATIC Model 405 Sizers were temporarily lifted.

Tests were then conducted in a Applicant's food lab using larger stop horns and un-pleated casing. These experiments clearly demonstrated that a larger size of the horn would solve the problems encountered with the SHIRMATIC Model 405 Sizer and that the hams formed with a larger stopper were as good as the hams obtained by handstopping.

At this time, applicants had begun developing the high density corrugated pleated stick of the invention. The development work showed that use of the high density corrugated pleated wrapping stick of the invention as a stop horn resulted in an increase in the internal diameter of the horn to 3 3/4 inches. Part of this improvement in the size of the horn was due to the elimination of the stress sleeve of the SHIRMATIC Model 405 Sizer. The tension sleeve 30 was replaced with a tiltable retainer as described in U.S. Patent Application 261,313 in the name of the same applicant as the present application.

As a result of these changes to the SHIRMATIC Model 405 Sizer, the fiber envelope horn size 10 increased from 3 3/8 inch internal diameter to 33/4 inch internal diameter. This is an increase in the diameter of 3/8 inch or 11.1%. This increase in diameter, in turn, provides an effective increase in the area of the inside cross-sectional area of the stuffing horn of 23.5%. Of this 23.5% increase in cross-section of the horn 40, 7.5% contributes to the lifting of the tension sleeve according to the known prior art »and 16.0% is attributed to the use of a corrugated high density fabric according to the present application *

Moreover, by changing the stuffing horn and using a cored stick, it was possible in this way to increase the packing ratio of the fiber envelope size 10 from about 78 to about 130% which is a 67% increase * Also, the packing efficiency was increased from 0 »39 to 0» 76 »and the length of the casing was increased from 150 feet to 250 feet. This modification of the stop system 10 is now being marketed as a SHIRMATIC Model 405H System. Example 1 of this patent application is a specific representation of a core fiber sheath used in the Model 405H System.

This example also shows the preferred embodiment of the core article in which, based on bore size comparison, the core 15 has a bore size at least as large as the inner bore size that the enclosure would have if crimped and strong compressed under the same bending and compression conditions without the core and the same packing ratio. In particular, »based on the fiber-size enclosure 10, the modified device (SHIRMATIC Model 405H) with the cored object uses a core with a 3 3/4 inch bore size» while the inner bore size of the staple of a corrugated crimped stick was about 3 5/8 inches when it was crimped and compressed to a packing ratio of 78. The core used in this particular size of this enclosure is formed from high density polyethylene and has a wall thickness of 0.062 inches.

After the modification was completed, the SHIRMATIC Model 405H System was traded to the meat packaging industry that was not satisfied with the original SHIRMATIC Model 405 Sizer, and this industry 30 has now accepted the Model 405H System as a major improvement in ham stopping. Ten months after the introduction of the SHIRMATIC Model 405H System, 20 machines were in use and more such machines are being installed as a meat packing device on a regular basis. The SHIRMATIC Model 405 Sizer has now been withdrawn from the market for the reasons outlined above, and the overwhelming success of the SHIRMATIC Model 405H System is largely contributing to the present invention.

The invention provides, as indicated above, an important improvement. More pleated casing material in a given stick-40 length allows for longer continuous production runs. The higher packing efficiency provides a more satisfactory combination of high packing ratio and large bore size that can maintain or improve the stop properties while achieving a longer continuous production run. The invention completely eliminates the problems of cohesion and growth of the stick that have hitherto hindered the users of the machine and the users of small cases. The moisture characteristic (no immersion) of the article according to the invention is of particular advantage because characteristically high pack ratios cannot be used with a casing where the dipping is done by the user of the casing before stopping. This is because the dense folds prevent water from entering the wall of the enclosure and proper dipping is not achieved within a commercially acceptable time period.

It will be understood that to compare the inner bore circumferences 15 for cored and non-corrugated pleated and compressed articles, the comparison must be made at least about one week after manufacture.

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Table E

COVER SMALL DIMENSION

with core for "drop fit" for disposable 0.490 inch horn equivalent to 0.5 inch horn push part diameter diameter, inches 0.575 0.512 tube core outside diameter x inside diameter, inches 0.560 x 0.510 0.500 x 0.450 sleeve length, ft 200 200 stick length, inch compressed 17 .0 15.0 decreased 18.63 17.1 1 week 18.58 17.13 stick pack ratio compressed 141.2 160.0 decreased 128.8 140.3 1 week 129.2 140.1 stick outer diameter, inches

composed NA NA

decreased 0.983 0.939 1 week 0.979 0.987 stick "drop-fit", inches decreased 0.498 0.430 1 week 0.494 0.423 stick packing efficiency (after 1 week) 0.67 0.64 NA * no data available.

8201792

Claims (46)

1. Cohesive enclosing article, characterized by the combination of a tubular core; and, a wetted piece of casing for cellulose food having a moisture content of at least about 13% of the total weight of the casing, which is pleated and compressed under high pressure on said core to a high packing ratio and not to a high packing efficiency. less than about 0.50, and also greater than the packing ratio and packing efficiency, respectively, of the same piece of wrap that is pleated and strongly compressed under the pleat and compression conditions without said core, thereby providing a high inward expansion force in the wrap developed; which core is sufficiently rigid to resist deformation and reduction of the core bore size from said inwardly directed high casing expansion force. Object according to claim 1, characterized in that the packing efficiency is not less than 0.60. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that the casing 20 contains a fiber reinforcement and the moisture content of the casing is on the order of about 16% to about 35% of the total weight of the casing. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the inflated diameter of the casing is between about 3.8 to about 9.9 cm, the outer diameter of the tubular core is between about 2.54 cm and about 5.08 cm, and the packing ratio of the non-pleated to the pleated length of the casing is between about 50 to about 360. An article according to claim 4, characterized in that the wall thickness of the tubular core is between about 0.10 cm to about 0.15 cm. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the inflated diameter of the envelope is less than 3.6 cm and the moisture content of the envelope is between about 14% to about 18% of the total weight of the envelope . An article according to claim 1, characterized in that based on a "drop fit" comparison said core has an inner bore size at least as large as the inner diameter size which would have the same casing when it is pleated and strongly compressed under the same conditions of pleating and compression without the said core. An article according to claim 7, characterized in that the casing is a small unreinforced cellulose casing with an inflated diameter of less than about 40 mm. Article according to claim 7, characterized in that the packing ratio is at least 100. 10. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the inflated diameter of the casing is between about 10.2 cm to about 13.44 cm, the outer diameter of the tubular core is between about 7.6 cm and at least at least about 12.7 cm, and the packing ratio of the non-pleated casing piece to the pleated casing piece is between about 100 to about 190. 11. An article according to claim 10, characterized in that such a wall thickness of the tubular core is between about 0.127 cm to about 0.19 cm. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall thickness of the tubular core is at least about 0.05 cm. 13. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular core comprises high density polyethylene. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular core contains polyvinyl chloride. The article of claim 1, characterized in that the packing ratio is not less than about 70. 16. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the packing ratio is not less than about 70 and the packing efficiency is not less than about 0.60. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the inflated diameter of the casing is a diameter between about 2.6 inches to about 3.9 inches, the outer diameter of the tubular core is between 2.0 inches to about 3.0 inches, and the packing ratio of the un-pleated piece to the pleated casing piece is between about 100 and about 200. An article according to claim 17, characterized in that the thickness of the tubular core wall is between about 0.040 to about 0.075. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the casing is a small unreinforced cellulose casing with an inflated diameter ranging from about 0.50 inch to about 1.50 inch with an inner core bore diameter of at least 40% of the inflated diameter of the casing, and a core with a thickness in the 8201792 * range from about 0.010 inch to about 0.050 inch, with a packing efficiency of at least 0.60. Object according to claim 19, characterized in that the packing ratio is at least 100. Object according to claim 19, characterized in that the inner bore diameter is at least 50% of the inflated diameter of the casing. 22. Object according to claim 20, characterized in that the diameter of the inner bore is at least 50% of the inflated diameter of the casing. Object according to claim 19, characterized in that the packing ratio is at least 120. 24. An article according to claim 19, characterized in that the inflated diameter of the casing is about 0.61 inch, the packing ratio is greater than 80, and the drop fit is at least 0.360 inch. «* 25. An article according to claim 19, characterized in that the inflated diameter of the casing is about 0.73 inches, the pack ratio is greater than 98, and the drop fit is at least 0.410 inches. An article according to claim 19, characterized in that the inflated diameter of the casing is about 0.83 inches, the pack ratio is greater than 100 and the drop fit is at least 0.490 inches. An article according to claim 19, characterized in that the inflated diameter of the casing is about 0.89 inches, the pack ratio is greater than 130 and the drop fit is at least 0.530 inches. 28. A method of manufacturing a crimped and highly compressed cored casing, characterized by the steps of: a. Providing a piece of cellulose food casing having a moisture content of at least about 13% of the total weight of the casing; 35 b. sliding the inner circumference of the bore of the cellulose food casing piece over a first end of a doom with a reduced diameter end portion at the second end of the doom; c * folding the cellulose food casing onto said 40 doom; 8201792 d. providing a hollow core coaxially positioned with and aligned with the end portion of the reduced diameter doom, each core is rigid enough to withstand deformation and reduction of the core bore size from a casing 5 inwardly directed expansion force due to compression of the enclosure; e. linearly moving the pleated length of pleated sheath over a doom on the outer surface of the coaxially disposed core; and 10 f. compressing the piece of pleated casing on said core to a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency, developing said inwardly extending expansion force of the casing. 29. Method according to claim 28, characterized in that the packing efficiency is not less than 0.50. A method according to claim 28, characterized in that the packing ratio is at least 70. 31. A method according to claim 28, characterized in that the packing ratio is at least 70 and the packing efficiency is not less than 0.60. 32. A method according to claim 31, characterized in that the packing ratio is at least 100, the food casing consists of small diameter cellulose without fiber reinforcement, and the inner core bore diameter is at least 50% of the inflated diameter of the casing. . 33. A method according to claim 32, characterized in that the packing ratio is at least 120, the food casing consists of small diameter cellulose without fiber reinforcement, and the inner core bore diameter is at least 40% of the inflated diameter of the casing. . 34. A method of manufacturing a pleated and highly compressed cored casing article, characterized by the steps of: a. Providing a piece of cellulose food casing 35 having a moisture content of at least about 13% of the total weight of the casing ; b. sliding the inner periphery of the bore of the cellulose food casing piece over a first end of a mandrel; c. crimping and compressing the food casing piece onto said mandrel; 8201792 d. providing a hollow core, which core is rigid enough to prevent deformation and reduction of the core bore size from the inwardly directed force of the casing due to compression of the casing; and 5 e. linearly moving the pleated and compressed casing piece from the second end of the mandrel to the outer surface of the core, to provide a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency, thereby developing said inwardly expanding casing expansion force as the pleated stick bore is pressed-10 together. A method according to claim 34, characterized in that the core is coaxially arranged with and aligned with the second end of the mandrel. 36. A method of manufacturing a crimped and highly compressed cored casing article, characterized by the steps of: a. Providing a piece of cellulose food casing having a moisture content of at least about 13% of the total weight of the casing; 20 b. sliding the periphery of the inner bore of the cellulose food casing piece over a first end of a mandrel; c. folding the piece of cellulose food casing onto said mandrel; d. providing a hollow core sufficiently rigid to withstand deformation and reduction of the core bore size from the inwardly directed expansion force due to the compression of the casing; e. moving the casing piece from the second end of the doom onto the outer surface of the core; and 30 f. further compressing the pleated casing piece on said core to a high packing ratio and to a high packing efficiency, thereby developing said inwardly expanding force. A method according to claim 36, characterized in that the core 35 is supported on a second doom. A method according to claim 37, characterized in that the pleated envelope is transferred to the core and the second mandrel. A method according to claim 36, characterized in that the domed-supported pleated cellulose food casing 40 is moved to a second position before the pleated piece of the casing is moved from the second end of the mandrel at the core. A method according to claim 36, characterized in that the core is coaxially disposed and aligned with the second end of the mandrel. A method of manufacturing a crimped and highly compressed core casing article, characterized by the steps of: a. Providing a piece of cellulose food casing having a moisture content of at least about 13% of the total weight of the casing; 10 b. providing a hollow core that is rigid enough to prevent deformation of the core drill size by the inwardly directed expansion force due to compression; c. providing a mandrel and longitudinally sliding the inner circumference of the core bore over the outer circumference of the mandrel; d. longitudinally displacing the inner periphery of the bore of the cellulose food casing over the outer periphery of the core; e. folding the cellulose food casing onto said core and mandrel; f. compressing the piece of pleated cellulose food casing on said core to a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency, whereby said inwardly expanding force is developed; and 25 g. longitudinally sliding the pleated and strongly compressed cored casing article from the mandrel. 42. A method of manufacturing a pleated and highly compressed cored casing article, characterized by the steps of: a. Providing a piece of cellulose food casing having a moisture content of at least about 13% of the total weight of the casing ; b. sliding the inner periphery of the bore of the cellulose food casing piece over a first end of a mandrel; C. folding the piece of cellulose food casing onto the doom; d. compressing the piece of pleated casing on the mandrel to a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency; e. providing a hollow core with sufficient rigidity to avoid deformation and reduction of the core bore size 8201792 → against the inwardly directed expansion force due to the compression of the shell; and £. longitudinally displacing the compressed piece of pleated sheath from the first end of the doom over the outer circumference of said core to provide a sufficiently high packing ratio and a sufficiently high packing efficiency developing the inwardly directed expansion force as the bore of the pleated stick contracts 43. A method of manufacturing a pleated and highly compressed cored casing, characterized by the steps of: a. Providing a piece of food casing with a moisture content of at least 13% of the total weight of the casing; b. sliding the inner periphery of the casing of the cellulose food casing piece over a first end of a mandrel; c. folding the piece of cellulose food casing onto said mandrel; d. providing a hollow core sufficiently rigid to resist deformation and reduction of the core bore size against the inwardly directed expansion force due to the compression of the casing; e. moving the mandrel-supported pleated cellulose food casing to a second position; f. moving the pleated sheath from the first end of the doom onto the outer surface of the core; spooky. further compressing the piece of pleated casing on the core until a high packing ratio and a high packing efficiency is achieved thereby developing said inwardly directed expansion force. A method according to claim 43, characterized in that the core is supported by a second doom. A method according to claim 44, characterized in that the partially compressed envelope is transferred to the core and the second doom. A method according to claim 43, characterized in that the core is arranged coaxially and aligned with the second end of the doom. ******** 8201792