Conveyor system with moveable drop point

1. A conveyor assembly for linked sausage strands, comprising:

an operating platform supported by a frame;

a carriage slidably mounted to the operating platform and having a plate;

at least one rotation member mounted to the operating platform;

a continuous conveying chain mounted to the rotational member; and

a plurality of hooks secured to the chain; and

a drop point sprocket mounted to the plate of the carriage so that movement of the carriage moves the drop point sprocket along a length of a smoke stack.

2. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 wherein an actuator is operatively connected to the carriage.

3. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 wherein a sensor is mounted to the platform.

4. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 wherein a sensor is mounted to the carriage.

5. A method of loading linked sausage strands on a smoke stick; comprising the steps of:

delivering a strand of linked sausage to a plurality of hooks mounted to a conveyor assembly at a loading station;

transporting the strand of linked sausage from the loading station to an unloading station;

unloading the strand of linked sausage onto a smoke stick; and

moving the unloading station while unloading the strand along the length of the smoke stick toward the loading station.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of sensing the strand at the unloading station and signaling the controller.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the unload station is moved at a predetermined rate.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the predetermined rate is based on a drive speed rate of a chain of the conveyor assembly used to transport the strand of linked sausages to create a desired spacing of the strand onto the smoke stick.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of loading the strand onto the plurality of hooks as the unloading station is moved away from the loading station.