Abstract: A tray denesting apparatus is provided comprising a receptacle for holding at least one nested stack of packing trays. A conveyer belt is further provided for receiving each of the packing trays upon release from the receptacle. The denesting apparatus has at least one set of soft flexible suction cups disposed below the conveyer belt and which are disposed on a bellows assembly which is moveable between a first position and a second position so that at least one of the soft flexible suction cups may adhere to a first one of the packing trays, and successive packing trays. The tray denester further may include an automatic adjustment apparatus to correspond with selected size parameters of the trays being utilized. As a result, an individual tray may be removed from the receptacle, deposited on the conveyer belt and the conveyer belt then advancing the selected tray to the required area of use.

Abstract: A packaging tray for transport and storage of product includes a tray portion and a plurality of cover portions. The tray portions is formed from a first sheet material and defined by a plurality of removably connected retail portions. Each retail portion includes a plurality of pockets formed therein, each adapted to receive the product. Each retail portion further includes an outer edge defined substantially about a periphery of the retail portion and at least one tab extending from the outer edge. Each at least one tab is removably connected with at least one tab of an adjacent retail portion along the line of weakening. The plurality of cover portions are formed from a second sheet material and each is configured for removably engagement with one of the retail portions.

Abstract: A tray for a protective packaging includes a first side and a second side. The tray also includes a plurality of inner support portions, each inner support portion configured to receive a portion of at least one object from the first side, and a plurality of contoured outer support portions, each outer support portion being adjacent to at least one inner support portion. The outer support portions substantially protect the object from the second side.

Abstract: A molded pulp fruit tray. The molded pulp fruit tray contains carbon black pigment and is substantially uniformly black in color due to the presence of the pigment. The carbon black pigment may be added to a molded pulp furnish as an aqueous dispersion.