Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for loading sausages into trays, which includes a conveyor for the sausages and another for the trays. The sausages and trays are carried in the same direction laterally adjacent each other, and the trays are arrested one by one at a loading station. A low-friction table surface is located immediately above the tray and sausages are placed in side-by-side relation on the table. When the requisite number of sausages are accumulated on the table, a pusher blade shoves the sausages past the forward end of the table surface and into the forward end of the tray. The tray is then moved forward one-half its length, so that the next batch of sausages is inserted in the rearward end.

Abstract: An improved method for automatically producing a selected weight draft of sliced product from a workpiece in substantially uniform weight slices and in an integral number of slices.