Link cutter

Abstract

A link cutter apparatus for separating stuffed product casing links interconnected by twisted casing sections includes a conveyor having a plurality of hooks extended therefrom at spaced-apart positions thereon. A cutting member is positioned on the support structure of the apparatus with the conveyor being operative to advance each hook from a loading position, where it receives and supports a twisted casing section between a pair of links, to a cutting position, wherein the twisted casing section is moved into cutting engagement with the cutting member so as to be severed thereby. Each hook may be bifurcated to include a pair of legs defining an open ended slot for receipt of the cutting member therebetween at the cutting position for the hook. A guide structure may be provided in advance of the cutting position to properly align the hooks for receiving the cutting member and a pan may be positioned relative to the cutting member for receiving the severed links.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.