Abstract: A denesting device for separating trays of joined cups prior to loading of the cup trays onto a conveyer belt of a packaging machine includes a feed bin mounted on a housing for receiving a stack of the nested cup trays. Associated with the bottom of the feed bin are a plurality of elongated helical screws each of which has a variable screw thread formed thereon. The variable screw thread on each of the helical screws has a variable pitch that increases from a first lesser pitch portion which is located adjacent to the feed means to a second greater pitch portion from which the denested cup trays are discharged. The plurality of elongated helical screws are rotatively mounted on the housing in a spaced array about the feed means.