Abstract: A loading device is provided for portioning food products into trays, including a feeder belt for receiving and conveying food products into a transfer zone; a conveyor belt for conveying the trays conveying direction into a loading zone below the transfer zone; and a portioning unit for portioning the food products into the trays. The portioning unit has a first and a second constraining mechanism which are configured to be driven, in each case parallel to the conveying direction and orthogonally to the conveying direction, so as to come sequentially into contact with a tray being moved into the loading zone, in such a way that the movement of the tray is constrained at at least one position in the loading zone. A portioning unit and a method of operating a loading device are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for stacking portions made of food mass, in particular patties, comprising a feeder conveyor belt for feeding the portions in a conveying direction and for dispensing the portions at one end of the feeder conveyor belt, a vertical conveyor arranged downstream from the feeder conveyor belt, for conveying the portions in a substantially vertical direction and having at least one substantially vertically movable platform for receiving portions downstream from the feeder conveyor belt. The vertical conveyor is so designed that at least one portion and in particular a plurality of stacked portions can be dispensed from the platform for further transport. The feeder conveyor belt is also mounted and drivable in such a way that the end of the conveyor belt facing the vertical conveyor can be moved vertically up or down in a continuous or intermittent manner while the portions are being conveyed.

Abstract: A loading device is provided for portioning food products into trays, including a feeder belt for receiving and conveying food products into a transfer zone; a conveyor belt for conveying the trays in conveying direction into a loading zone below the transfer zone; and a portioning unit for portioning the food products into the trays. The portioning unit has a first and a second constraining mechanism which are configured to be driven, in each case parallel to the conveying direction and orthogonally to the conveying direction, so as to come sequentially into contact with a tray being moved into the loading zone, in such a way that the movement of the tray is constrained at at least one position in the loading zone. A portioning unit and a method of operating a loading device are also provided.