Abstract: A sausage conveyor hook has an elongated support arm having first and second ends and first and second arm portions disposed at an angle with respect to each other. The first arm portion normally is disposed in a horizontal position on the conveyor, and the second arm portion extends downwardly and outwardly from the first arm portion. The support arm extends outwardly from the conveyor chain at a right angle. The support arm has forwardly and rearwardly side edges. A pair of spaced hook elements extend forwardly from the second arm portion. When a strand of linked sausages comprised of a plurality of sausage links separated by link points is draped over the uppermost of the hook elements, the strand will bend on the pivotal link point proximate the upper hook element. The sausage links adjacent the bent link point will be held in an angular position with respect to each other by the relative positions and arm portions and the hook elements.

Abstract: A method for determining the number of loops of linked sausages for deposit on a smokestick includes; preparing an elongated strand of stuffed sausages; dividing the strand of sausages into a plurality of sausage links; determining the desired number of looped sausages to be prepared; depositing the linked sausages into the determined loops and depositing the loops on a plurality of adjacent hooks on a moving conveyor; intercepting the deposit of linked sausages on adjacent hooks when the predetermined number of linked loops of sausages have been deposited in the predetermined number of loops on the hooks to provide a visible variation in the configuration of linked sausages on the conveyor; and repeating the foregoing steps to create another group of sausages similar to the group of sausages created by the foregoing steps.