Abstract: A tray transport device for transferring trays in one direction or the other between a tray transport trolley and a conveyor for delivering or carrying trays from the transport device. The transport device includes vertical members which supports sets of horizontal parallel tray carrying strips which are disposed essentially parallel to a plurality of vertical sets of tray rails in a tray trolley. The sets of carrying strips are vertically shiftable by a drive into different height positions corresponding to levels of the trays in a trolley. The uppermost height position is level with the delivery station of a belt conveyor. A horizontal continuous belt conveyor located below and between the tray strips is also vertically shiftable as a unit to a plurality of levels equal to the tray levels in the trolley and is horizontally shiftable as a unit to be moved between and under any selected level of trays in the trolley to shift trays from the trolley to the tray carrying strips.

Abstract: A tray unloading apparatus for transferring trays from a tray transport van to a horizontal in-feed station of a carry-away conveyor for carrying trays to further stations. The unloading apparatus includes vertical pillars which support a set of horizontal parallel tray guide tracks which are disposed essentially parallel to a plurality of vertical sets of tray rails in a tray transport van. The set of tray guide tracks are vertically shiftable along the pillars by a mechanical drive into different height positions corresponding to levels of the transport van rails. The uppermost height position is level with the in-feed station of the carry-away conveyor to receive a tray slid from the tray guide tracks at the upper level.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring trays, which contain prepared material such as food, and progress along a conveyor at a horizontal level to a transfer station, from that transfer station to a multi-level tray compartment of a transport van. The apparatus includes a multi-level tray magazine located adjacent intermediate the transfer station and transport van loading location and is shiftable vertically in steps equal in distance to the vertical distance between tray levels. A single horizontal reciprocating tranfer pusher shifts individual trays from the transfer station into the magazine as it vertically shifts in steps. Two laterally reciprocating loader units, one vertically above the other and on upper and lower side of the tray transfer pusher can engage and slide a plural number of trays from the magazine into the loader. The levels of magazine tray racks is one more than the plural number of trays which can be engaged and slid from the magazine by each of the loader units.