Filling nozzle device for use in automatic meat stuffing apparatus

Claim 1

A filling nozzle device for use in stuffing meat in a continuous tubular casing, the device comprising: a meat extruder; an inner nozz-le secured to the meat extruder; an outer nozzle sliding on the inner nozzle; a casing holding means located ahead of the inner nozzle, and coaxially thereof, the holding means having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the sliding nozzle; a plurality of split nozzle members arranged around the periphery of the inner nozzle in such a manner that their top portions are inwardly urged by an elastic material, and located within the casing holding means; a casing binding means provided ahead of the casing holding means, the binding means including a pair of punches adapted to affix a clip to the open end of the casing; a casing contact means including a pair of semicircular abutments adapted to be kept in contact with the outer surface of the casing; and whereby the sliding nozzle is advanced until it projects through the casing contact means, in the course of advance it expands the split nozzle members so as to urge them toward the casing holding means until the casing is held between the split nozzle members and the casing holding means, and wherein the casing is kept in contact with the outer surface of the sliding nozzle by the casing contact means.