Apparatus for looping and conveying an encased product

Looping and conveying apparatus for use with means adapted to issue forth an elongated linked casing, said apparatus comprising;

• a support,
• a guide means pivotally movably mounted on said support adapted to move between first and second positions, said guide means having first and second ends and a central area extending therebetween for receiving and supporting said casing, said first end adapted to receive said casing,
• a conveyor comprising a plurality of spaced apart casing supports thereon and also comprising carrying means for moving said casing supports along a predetermined path, said conveyor being positioned so that said casing supports will pass adjacent said second end of said guide means when being moved by said carrying means,
• power means for moving said guide means between its said first and second positions to cause said casing supports to catch said casing at spaced points along the length of said casing,
• and selectively adjustable control means operatively connecting said carrying means and said power means to coordinate the movement of said guide means and said carrying means, so that said casing supports will catch and carry away said casing at perdetermined spaced points along the length of said casing as said casing passes out of said second end of said guide means,
• said carrying means comprising a flexible means trained around at least a pair of spaced apart sprockets, a shaft secured to one of said sprockets for rotation therewith, a cam means operatively secured to said shaft, a control means engageable with said cam means, said control means being connected to said power means for controlling the operation thereof responsive to the operation of said carrying means,
• said cam means comprising a hub secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, a cam member secured to said hub and having at least a pair of spaced apart lobes provided thereon, said control means including a switch means operatively connected to said power means and having an actuator arm extending therefrom, a roller on said actuator arm adapted to be engaged by said lobes as said cam member is rotated.