A casing hopper for sausage encasing machines includes a hopper having a
downwardly sloping bottom terminating in a downwardly extending fence
wall. A chute wall is substantially vertically disposed in parallel
spaced condition to the fence wall to form a substantially vertical
casing passageway with respect to the fence wall. The chute wall
terminates in an inclined flange that extends upwardly and inwardly below
the passageway to form a cradle portion to receive a single hollow casing
from the passageway. The passageway is of sufficient width to receive a
plurality of longitudinally vertically stacked elongated hollow casings.