Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for providing an endless succession of compartmented trays for holding pouches or the like to be processed. The apparatus has a first conveyor to provide a plurality of compartmented trays end on end in endless fashion; means for taking the trays off of the end of the conveyor and stacking them; means for destacking the trays and placing them on a second conveyor; and means for changing the trays from the second conveyor to the first conveyor to provide an endless succession of trays thereon.

Abstract: A retorting tray for sterilizing material sealed in flexible pouches. The tray comprises a base portion which forms a conduit for circulation of a heating medium therethrough. The base portion has edges extending therefrom terminating in a stackable feature whereby one tray can stack on the other. The base also has protuberances therefrom for spacing apart the flexible pouches in a substantially unmovable manner to control the maximum cross-section of the pouch and for providing a space for circulation of a heating medium about the flexible pouches to sterilize the contents.