METHOD AND MEANS OF LINKING SAUSAGE

A machine for linking sausage has a pump, a stuffing tube, a casing on the stuffing tube, and a pair of linking chains downstream from the outlet end of the stuffing tube. A scale is located downstream of the discharge end of the stuffing tube and is operatively connected to the pump to increase or decrease the output speed of the pump as the weight of the encasing product decreases or increases, respectively from a predetermined target weight. A proximity sensor monitors the linking chains as they are rotating and senses variations in the distance between the linking elements as compared to a predetermined distance to determine stretching of the chains. A mass flow sensor on the machine adjacent the outlet of the pump measures the mass of meat emulsion exiting the pump, and increases or decreases the output of the pump as the mass thereof decreases or increases, respectively from a predetermined target mass. The method of linking sausage comprises sensing mass flow of the output of the pump and regulating the pump speed thereby, using a proximity sensor to monitor the linking chains to determine stretching thereof, and weighing the encased product and increasing or decreasing the output speed of the pump as the weight of the product decreases or increases, respectively with respect to a predetermined target weight.