Abstract: A sausage link handling and packaging machine which comprises a feed conveyor for receiving individual sausage links from a link forming machine and for transferring them onto a main conveyor. These sausage links are transferred in a guided manner whereby to orient them on a predetermined ejecting path. When the sausage links arrive at the receiving end of the main conveyor, they are oriented in a side-by-side transverse alignment relationship. A transfer device is provided at a transfer station along the main conveyor to transfer a predetermined number of the transversely aligned sausage links off the conveyor and onto a package support element. The package support element with the predetermined number of sausage links thereon are then conveyed downstream of the transfer station for further handling.