Abstract: An automatic plate freezer comprises a plurality of freezer plates which rest on a lower support connected by ties to an upper support. Each plate rests on the plate below via adjustable spacers and the upper support may be raised and lowered by jacks. In use, product to be frozen is loaded on the plate located at a loading level determined by sensors and the spacers associated with that plate are set to a value appropriate to the product in question. The jacks are then extended to lift the stack of plates until the plate just loaded is engaged by latches. The stack is then lowered, and the latches support all plates at and above the level of the latches. Lowering of the remaining plates continues until the sensors detect that the plate below that just loaded is at the loading level whereupon the cycle repeats.

Abstract: An automatic plate freezer in which articles are fed in rows on to a plate to be loaded and are advanced along the plate by driving members on a drive element supported on the next plate above, the driving members being movable between a first article engaging position for article advance and a second free position by a positioning member coupled to each driving member by a positioning means.