Method and apparatus for automatically packing sausage links.

摘要

Method and apparatus for automatically packing sausage links in containers. A high speed feed conveyor (11) feeds a plurality of spaced apart sausage links (13), in a lengthwise orientation, to a further conveyor having a plurality of transverse compartments. A sausage link is received in each compartment and they are conveyed transversewise, in side-by-side relationship, to a group forming station. Sensing devices are provided to determine when a predetermined quantity of sausage links are at the forming station. A movable platform then displaces the sausage links from the group forming station to an unloading station where they are reoriented in side-by-side contact relationship and unloaded into a container by a pusher mechanism. While the group of sausage links is being unloaded, another group is being formed at the forming station.