Abstract: A smoking rail feed device as well as a method of accurately positioning a smoking rail in sausage loops or in loops of other products suspended from a hanger, and having, for improved insertion of the smoking rail into the loops, a smoking rail support, on which the smoking rail rests, at least partially, and oriented in the direction of the hanger. The smoking rail support is adapted to be displaced such that the smoking rail is transferred substantially in the longitudinal direction from the smoking rail feed device to a pick-up area of the hanger, in which the loops are arranged for being picked up.

Abstract: A gripper system for gripping and transferring a smoke stick introduced into sausage loops or into other products suspended on hooks in loops or in pairs. For the simple and proper gripping and transferal of a smoke stick a smoke stick is first lifted to remove the products from the hooks with at least two grippers, wherein the grippers grip the smoke stick between the hooks, wherein the grippers hold and fix the smoke stick during removal. The smoke stick and the products suspended from it are then aligned by rotation of the smoke stick about its longitudinal axis. The smoke stick is then transported to a smoke stick depository, wherein the smoke stick is fixed in the grippers and then deposited on a smoke stick depository.

Abstract: A gripper system for gripping and transferring a smoke stick introduced into sausage loops or into other products suspended on hooks in loops or in pairs. For the simple and proper gripping and transferral of a smoke stick a smoke stick is first lifted to remove the products from the hooks with at least two grippers, wherein the grippers grip the smoke stick between the hooks, wherein the grippers hold and fix the smoke stick during removal. The smoke stick and the products suspended from it are then aligned by rotation of the smoke stick about its longitudinal axis. The smoke stick is then transported to a smoke stick depository, wherein the smoke stick is fixed in the grippers and then deposited on a smoke stick depository.