Accurate sausage skin handling - using two guide surfaces to centre skin between them and draw it over filling tube

To separate sausage skins (1) and fit them over a filling tube (2) to be filled with sausage meat, the skins (1) are taken from a supply container (3) to be drawn over the filling tube (2), while held still between by at least two guide surfaces (5). The guide surfaces (5) are driven at the same speed, while gripping the sausage skin (1) at its circumference. Before feeding the first sausage skin (1), the centering unit (6) is adjusted by setting at least one guide surface (5) to the skin dia., so that the skin (1) is centered to be drawn over the filling tube (2). The sausage skins (1) are washed in the supply container (3). ADVANTAGE - The system centres the sausage skin accurately in front of the filling tube, and passes it cleanly over the tube without distortion.