Patent ID: 8747192

Claim:
A pickup apparatus for use with sausage packaging machines having a loop feed means for transporting loops, the pickup apparatus comprising: a non-rotating pickup having a first portion extending in a transport direction, said first portion connected to a pickup end, said pickup end directed at an angle with respect to the transport direction; a moveable pin movable vertically between a first position adapted to extend through a transported loop and adapted to engage the pickup end and a second position distal the pickup end; a torque support defining a cavity in which the pickup end is positioned, the torque support adapted to selectably engage the pickup end; and the moveable pin having a contact surface adapted to engage the pickup end in such a way that the pickup end does not bear against the torque support when the moveable pin is in the first position, and wherein the torque support being a horizontally extending fork which selectively embraces the pickup end, the fork having a spread whose shape and width are so selected that the pickup end does not bear against the fork when the moveable pin is in the first position.