The present disclosure provides a mechanical system for portioning a sausage string by forming links while continuously feeding the sausage string through the portioning apparatus. The portioning apparatus includes pincers that rotate and interleave for a portion of the rotation and apply pressure while interleaved to the sausage string thereby forming a link. The pincers face substantially towards each other while rotating. The pincers are configured to be at an angle when they are in an open position compared to when they are in a closed position.

A portioning device is provided for forming portions from elongate casings stuffed with food mass, in particular for forming sausages from alginate casings stuffed with sausage meat. The portioning device includes two circulating conveyor members spaced apart from one another and drivable by at least one drive element, and at least one crimping member arranged on each conveyor member and projecting laterally from the conveyor member. It is proposed that at least one of the crimping members has such a shape, on its functional area that in the conveying area at least partially faces an opposite crimping member, that corrugations, creases and/or folds extending substantially parallel to the conveying direction, in particular, are formed in the constricted portion of the casing, thereby producing a desirable shape for the portions separated.