WO2012104661A2

WO2012104661A2 - Apparatus for movement of articles

Info

Publication number: WO2012104661A2
Application number: PCT/GB2012/050252
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colin Powell
Original assignee: Knight Warner (Control Systems) Limited
Priority date: 2011-02-04
Filing date: 2012-02-06
Publication date: 2012-08-09
Also published as: AU2012213144A8; AU2012213144A1; EP2670671A2; WO2012104661A3

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus, system and a tray assembly to allow the handling and movement of articles, such as empty containers from a storage to a filling location. The invention provides for the use of at least one, but typically a plurality, of trays which can be used to store a group of containers therein during storage in which the same can be hygienically and effectively sealed in the tray, and also for use to allow a portion of the tray to be moved so as to allow movement of the group of containers into and out of the tray for subsequent handling. In one embodiment it is the base of the tray which is movable with respect to the remainder of the tray to allow the movement of the containers.

Description

Apparatus for Movement of Articles

The invention to which this application relates is apparatus for the movement of a plurality of articles and particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, the movement of articles which are provided in an empty condition and are required to be moved through handling apparatus to a position at which the same can been filled with a product, such as, for example, a dairy product such as milk.

The movement of containers to a location for filling is a well known requirement. In addition to the need to move the containers in a controlled manner, there is also a need to maintain the containers in a hygienic condition when being moved to the location for filling.

The applicant, in their co-pending patent application number WO2010/001093, discloses an apparatus which can be used for the opening of a bag or enclosure, in which a plurality of empty containers are delivered to a location for subsequent handling. The containers, once they have been removed from the enclo sure, can then be moved onwards to apparatus which strips or removes a quantity of the containers and subsequently moves them in a linear manner to further handling apparatus and/or the filling location. One example of this apparatus which strips or removes a quantity of the containers is disclosed in the applicant's co-pending application GB 1019140.1.

While the above apparatus is particularly useful in relation to containers which are delivered in an enclosure or bag, and the sub sequent removal of the same from that enclosure and sub sequent transport of the same. It is known that containers can be delivered onsite, or moved to different locations in a group wherein the containers are located on a tray. Thus, in this arrangement the containers may not need to be removed from an enclo sure, but instead need to be removed from the tray for sub sequent handling. It is known to provide apparatus which allows containers to be gripped, typically around the neck portion, and moved upwardly from the tray and then to the filling location. However, this form of apparatus is found to be problematic in terms of the accuracy of gripping the containers for removal from the tray. Also, it is found that if the apparatus fails then the entire filling apparatus cannot be used.

In the first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for the handling and movement of a plurality of articles, said apparatus including at least one tray on which said articles are positioned, said tray including a base and one or more side walls depending upwardly therefrom, wherein at least one portion of the tray can be moved relative to the remainder of the tray so as to allow the movement of the articles into and/or from said tray.

In one embodiment, the articles which are removed from the tray are moved to apparatus which allows the articles to be moved onwardly in a first, substantially linear, direction. Typically a leading row of said articles are then moved in a direction in a second linear direction for filling or for movement to a further location for handling. Successive leading rows of the articles are moved onwardly in this manner.

In one embodiment, the apparatus can also include means which allow articles, which may be supplied in a bag or enclo sure, to be removed from the bag or enclosure using a debagging apparatus as disclosed in the applicants co-pending application. Typically the means is provided such that when the articles are provided in a bag or enclosure, the debagging apparatus is used. When the articles are provided in trays, then the debagging apparatus is moved to a position so as not to prevent the onward movement of the articles which are removed from the tray.

In one embodiment, the portion of the tray which is movable is at least a portion of the base. Typically the base portion is movable with respect to the remainder of the tray. This allows the articles to be slid or swept onto the base, and the base and articles thereon, can be moved into a position so as to locate the articles within the tray.

In one embodiment, the base may be movable with respect to the remainder of the tray so as to allow the articles held on the base to be moved out of the tray to a position whereby the articles can be slid or swept from the base onto a surface which allows the same to be moved onwardly in the said first linear direction.

Thus, by providing a base, and at least a portion of which is separable from the remainder of the tray, it is found that groups of articles can be slid and/or swept onto a relatively thin base rather than having to grip each of the articles, as is conventionally the case. By avoiding the need to grip the articles, the handling problems which are associated with this can be avoided, whilst ensuring that the base is filled with a sufficient number of articles such that when the base is then placed into po sition with the remainder of the tray, the tray is filled with the required number of articles.

Typically, when the base is in position with the remainder of the tray, the tray can be moved to a location and typically will be moved in conjunction with a number of other trays. Typically, the trays will be provided with a nesting feature such that one tray can be placed on top of another. When this nesting is achieved, the underside of the top tray acts as a sealing plate for the opening into the tray below. Thus, the articles in the tray below are in a hygienic sealed environment until the same are required to be removed from the tray. It will be appreciated that typically there will be a number of trays stacked one on top of the other and the trays are successively removed from the same to expose in the next batch or tray o f articles which are to be moved for subsequent handling.

In one embodiment, the trays comprise a base portion which is moveable and a support frame which receives the base, said support frame including two oppo sing end walls and two opposing side walls which depend upwardly from the base.

In one embodiment, each of the support frames includes a number of feet which depend downwardly from the location of the base. The feet can act to space the underside of the base of a tray from the ground or a support surface.

Typically each of the support frames will include detent means and/or receiving means to engage with the tray which is placed on top of the same. Typically, the engagement is in such a manner so as to ensure that the underside of the base of the upper tray seals with the support frame typically in the form of the side and end walls, of the lower tray, thereby sealing the articles in position and/or sealing the contents of the lower tray. Further typically there is engagement with the feet of the tray located above the same.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the portion of the tray which is moveable, is at least one of the side walls. Typically the side wall is moved from a position in which the same is upstanding in a sub stantially vertical plane to a position which allows access to be gained to the articles within the tray. This arrangement allows the articles to be moved from the tray through the opening which is achieved by the movement of said side wall.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a tray assembly for the reception of a plurality of articles therein, said tray assembly comprising a base on which the articles are located in use and side walls depending upwardly therefrom, said tray including an opening and wherein a portion of said tray is moveable with respect to the remainder of the tray to allow movement of the articles to and/or from the same.

In one embodiment, the portion which is movable is the base. Typically the base can be moved to and from its original position through an opening provided at the top of the side walls of the tray. Typically the tray includes in this case, side walls and a supporting frame which has retention members to contact with the base when it is placed into the tray so as to retain the base in position.

In an alternative embodiment, the portion of the tray which is movable is at least one of the side walls. Typically said at least one side wall is movable between a substantially upstanding position and a po sition which an opening is formed, through which the articles can pass to be removed from and/or introduced into the said tray.

The base can be moved to a position at which the formed articles can be slid onto the base and, if required the articles can be hygienically stored on the tray prior to subsequent filling. Typically the trays are stackable vertically such that the underside of one tray, typically the underside of the base acts to enclo se the top, open face of the tray below and so on.

In order to remove the articles from the tray, relative movement of the base and the remainder of the tray, typically in a manner to move the base through the top, open, face of the tray, is caused such that the base is provided to lie sub stantially flush with the supporting surface onto which the articles are to be moved and the articles are then slid off the base and onto the supporting surface.

It is also possible to move the trays with the articles located therein to and from the storage locations using automated forklift or other forms of movement vehicles and such apparatus is incorporated herein.

In accordance with the improvements to the invention described herein, the trays are formed of a base which forms at least part of the lower face of the tray, side and end walls depending upwardly from the base and the free ends of which define an open top face of the tray through which the base is movable to separate the same from the tray and, in turn allow the base to be positioned with the remainder of the tray as required. Typically the base is moved either with no articles thereon to a position to receive said articles or is moved with articles located thereon to move the articles into the tray or remove the articles from the tray.

Typically the base is substantially planar in form.

In one embodiment the tray includes at least one locating portion, and more typically two locating portions, each of said portions provided to move into po sition to contact with the outer surface of at least one of the articles which lies to the adjacent edge of the group of articles when located on the base, in a manner so as to keep the articles in a unified group and close together when in the tray.

Most typically each of the said locating portions contact with the majority of articles along the adj acent side of the group of articles so as to maintain a consistent and uniform edge of the group and also the action of both of the locating portions effectively acts to push the group of articles towards the fixed opposing side and end walls respectively and thereby ensure that the articles in the groups are placed uniformly and clo se to each other. This is found to aid the subsequent removal of the articles from the tray and the subsequent handling of the same.

In one embodiment a first locating portion is located on a side wall of the tray and another locating portion is located on an end wall of the tray. In one embodiment the locating portions are held in a retracted position when the base is being moved with respect to the remainder of the tray and are released to move into contact with the articles on the base when the base is positioned in the tray.

In one embodiment the locating portions are free to move into a locating position under gravity when released. Alternatively the locating portions are driven to move the same into locating positions. In either case, the locating portion which depends inwardly from the side wall acts to contact and push the articles towards the opposing end wall which may be fixed, or include a further locating portion which acts in the opposing direction. The locating portion mounted on the end wall acts to push the articles towards the opposing end wall which may be fixed or include a further locating portion which acts in the opposing direction. This therefore ensures that the group of articles are accurately located on the base and that the tray can be range taking in terms of different sizes of the group of articles, different numbers of articles forming the group and/or the size of the articles in the group.

The provision of the locating portions ensures that the articles are held together as a group when located on the base in the tray and typically the said locating portions are provided to be range taking in that the same can extend into the tray over a predetermined distance range, with the degree of extension inwardly of the base from the side or end wall determined by when the locating portion contacts with the outer edge of the group of articles placed on the base. Thus, if the size of the group of articles in one use is relatively small then the locating portions will extend further into the tray than when the group of articles is larger, thereby ensuring that the group of articles is always retained together.

Typically the locating portions are also capable of further movement once in contact with the group of articles to take into account shrinkage of the articles which may occur over time after the manufacture of the articles and as the same cool.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a system for movement of a plurality of articles, said system including the steps of providing loading means to move a first group of articles onto a base of a first tray, movement means to bring the base with the first group of articles thereon into location with the remainder of the first tray, movement means to move the said first tray to a location for further processing of the articles, wherein movement means are provided at said location to cause movement of the base with the articles thereon to free the base from the first tray so as to bring the base into a position to allow further movement means to slide the group of articles from the base and onto an adjacent supporting surface. In one embodiment the further movement means comprise a plate located at the front o f the group of articles and a pusher plate located at the rear of the group of articles with respect to the direction o f movement of the group of articles.

Typically the first plate and pusher plate are located with respect to the group o f articles to contact with the front and rear rows o f the group of articles respectively as the group of articles is moved.

In one embodiment the system includes a storage area into which the first tray is moved after the base with articles located thereon is moved into the tray, said tray held in the storage area until req uired to be moved for further processing of the articles therein. Typically the first tray will be joined by second and further trays in the storage area and when this occurs, the trays are stacked vertically such that the underside of the second tray seals the articles hygienically in the first tray and so on for the second tray by the third tray stacked thereon and so on.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein

Figure 1 illustrates schematically the movement of the articles through apparatus and a system in accordance with one embodiment o f the invention;

Figure 2a-cl and 3a-d illustrate embodiments of a tray in accord ance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figures 4a and b illustrate a further embodiment of a tray in accordance with the invention; Figures 5a and b illustrate schematically apparatus and a system in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention with Figure 5a illustrating in plan a storage layout with an illustrative loading and unloading layout and Figure 5b illustrating in plan and elevation the illustrative loading and unloading layout in more detail; and

Figures 6a- d illustrate views of a tray in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings there is illustrated in Figure 1 and Figures 5a and b schematic arrangement of two embodiments of apparatus according to the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 the articles, in this case in the form of empty containers are initially moved to a location 2 with the containers provided in a series of trays 4 which are stacked as shown. The containers are then removed successively, with the containers in the top tray 6 being moved first and so on with successive trays. The removal of the containers from the trays will be described subsequently.

The containers are slid out of the tray and onto a movement surface 8 and are then slid along the movement surface in direction 12 towards a stripping location 10. As the containers are slid along they may move past debagging apparatus 14 which is also provided to remove containers from an enclosure or bag but as this apparatus is not required for the removal of the containers from the trays the same is moved out of the way as shown. The stripping apparatus can be provided in accordance with the applicant's co-pending application and is provided to move the leading row of containers in a direction 1 6 towards a location where the containers are filled. This movement is then repeated for each of the leading row of containers as the same are moved through the apparatus.

In Figures 5a and b there is illustrated a further movement arrangement. In this case trays 102 with containers therein are successively moved to an unload table 106, at one end thereof as shown in Figure 5b. The tray 102 is then moved as indicated by arrow 108 to a position 104' for unloading. The base of the tray is then moved out of the tray as indicated by arrow 1 10, with the containers thereon, to move the same into an aperture in the table surface and bring the level of the base to that 1 12 of the table 106. the base can be raised and lowered by any suitable movement means such as conveyors which grip the base independently of the tray or actuating arms which cause the relative movement of the base and tray. It should also be appreciated that the relative movement may be of the tray relative to the base in an alternative embodiment.

When at the required level the containers are slid off the base and onto the table 106 surface in the direction of arrow 1 14 from where the same can be directed for further movement as required by further movement means.

Once the containers have been slid from the base, the base can be moved back down into the tray at the location 104' and the tray can then be moved to a location for filling with more containers which for ease of illustration is shown as being location 104", although it should be appreciated that in practical and large scale implementations of the invention the location 104" will typically be with respect to a different table and at a different location to that of the unloading location 104'.

At the loading location 104" the base is again raised to the level of the surface 1 12 of the table and a group of containers can be slid onto the base and at which point the base is lowered down back clown into the tray. Once in position, locating portions can be released and/or moved to contact with the group of containers to maintain the same in the required position on the base and in the tray and as a group on the base until the containers are subsequently to be removed therefrom. The operation o f the locating portions is described in more detail subsequently.

Once the tray has been loaded with the containers the same can then be moved to an appropriate location 1 14 for subsequent movement to a storage location 1 16 until required, or for unloading of the containers therefrom at location 104' in the manner described above.

The trays can then be moved by robotic apparatus 128 as shown in Figure 5a via predetermined paths 120 from empty tray storage location 1 1 8 and full tray storage location 1 1 6 to moving stations 1 22, 124 and 126 as appropriate to allow the efficient movement of the trays and to ensure that the trays with con tainers therein are available to allow the containers to be moved therefrom when required. :

Referring now to the trays on which the containers are first presented to the apparatus, one embodiment of the same is shown in Figures 2a-d and a similar embodiment is shown in Figures 3 a-d . In both cases the tray 1 8 comprises a base 20 which is positioned on a support frame 22 with side walls and end walls and a top opening. The support frame is provided with means 23 to locate the base in the required position on the tray with a group of containers 24, as shown in Figure 3a, po si tioned on the base 20 so that the tray will be filled with the containers . The base 20 is movable with respect to the support frame as indicated by arrow 26 so that the base can be removed through the opening 28 in the top of the same and placed back into position through the opening. The opening is defined at the top edge of the side and end walls 30 which depend upwardly as shown. In Figures 2a-d the tray is shown as having feet 32 which are provided to allow access to be gained to the underside of the base such as by forklift 128 to move the base relative to the support frame.

In one embodiment the base is initially removed from the support frame and is relatively thin and/or moved such that the top face of the same is flush with the adjacent surface so as to allow the containers to be slid from the adjacent surface onto the base. When the base is filled with the containers 24 it is lifted, with the containers thereon, and moved into the position in the support frame. This can be repeated for successive trays as shown in Figure 2d such that a stack of trays can be provided and the under surface 25 of the base of the higher tray will act to contact the top surface of the side walls of the lower tray and thereby seal the containers hygienically within the tray. For the top tray an additional cover 27 can be placed over the opening.

The trays or stacks of trays can then be moved to the location of the unloading apparatus such as location 104 as shown in Figures 5a and b and start to be unloaded. To do this the base 20 of the top tray 6 is moved from its support frame with the containers thereon and moved to the movement surface 8 of the apparatus and the containers can be slid off the base and then come under the influence of the movement apparatus.

The empty base is then removed and the support frame for that base is also removed from the stack and the process can then be repeated for the next tray in the stack and so on until the stack of trays has been fully emptied of the containers.

In one sequence of operation the following process would be followed when using trays with the movable base.

To load the tray with containers such as plastic milk bottles the steps in one embodiment would be

• Bottles are collated into a full pack format

• The trays would be delivered to the loading location where they are clamped in position and the tray base raised into the load position.

• Once the bottles have been collated into the required format they are transferred on to the raised base.

• The bottles are captivated during the transfer by side guides and a front and rear retainer.

• The base is then lowered into the tray and locating portions allowed to move into position, if provided.

• The loaded trays are then stacked on top of each other.

• The stacks of trays are then stored in the store area by robotic

apparatus.

• In one embodiment and in addition to or alternatively to the tray

loading system a bag making unit can be fitted (in its normal position) and when required a bag can be made.

• A removable bed is fitted to cover the tray load position and bottles are pushed into the bag and sealed.

• The bags would then be lifted onto a take away conveyor.

For tray unloading.

• The tray is positioned and clamped .

• The base of the tray in the stack of trays is raised with the bottles thereon

• The bottles are then transferred off the base in a similar method to loading, and positioned on the adjacent surface.

• The bottles are then transferred through to the stripping apparatus.

• The bottles are then single filed with the successive leading rows

moved An alternative arrangement is shown in Figures 4a and b in which there is provided a tray 40 in a first configuration provided for stacking and which can be filled with containers 24. In this case the base is provided in a fixed position as part of the support frame and it is one of the side walls 42 which is movable between the po sition shown in Figure 4a to a position shown in Figure 4b in which an open passage 44 for the removal of the containers in the direction of arrow 46 from the tray is provided. This allows the containers to be moved from the tray and slid onto the movement apparatus in a similar manner as described previously.

Referring now to Figures 6a-d there are illustrated views of a tray in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 6a illustrates the tray without the base or locating portions in position while Figures 6b and c illustrate cross sectional views along line AA of the tray with the base in position and locating portions in retracted and in use positions respectively. The tray 202 includes a base 204 which lies between side walls 210 and 21 1 , and end walls 206,208. The base 204 is supported in the position shown in the Figures 6b and c by lip portions 212 which depend outwardly from the said end and side walls as shown. Thus the base 204 is prevented from moving further downwardly but is free to allow relative movement between the base and the remainder of the tray to allow the base to be moved through the opening 214 at the top of the tray and therefore be removed from the remainder of the tray. The base can be moved with or without articles such as empty plastic bottles, placed thereon as a group.

The tray also includes, in this embodiment, at at least the side wall 210 and end wall 208, locating portions 21 8,21 6 respectively. The locating portions are moveable inwardly and outwardly from the walls as indicated by arrows 222, 224, in this case under the influence of gravity, but the same can be driven in another embodiment, when the same are released from a retracted position.

The retracted po sition of the locating portions is shown in Figure 6b and this position is typically used when the base 204 is being moved into or from the remainder of the tray as illustrated by arrow 220. This therefore means that the locating portions do not obstruct the movement of the base.

When the base is in the position in the tray as shown the locating portions 21 6, 218 can be freed to move, and the plates 223 of the respective locating portions effectively fall inwardly of the tray via support arms 221 which are pivotally movable and mounted to the side and end wall 210,208 respectively, until the plates contact with the external surface of the adjacent outer row of the group of containers. The movement inwardly is illustrated by arrows 222, 224 respectively in Figure 6c in which the locating portions are shown having moved inwardly. The extent of movement may change within a predetermined movement range depending on the dimensions of the particular group of containers on the base at that time. One such group of containers 230 is illustrated in Figure 6d which shows the tray 202 in plan in a schematic manner and illustrates the locating portions 216, 128 in an extended position of Figure 6c such that the plate 223 of locating portion 21 6 contacts the adjacent external faces of the containers of outer row 232 and exerts a pushing action 234 on the same and the other containers towards the opposing wall 206. Also, the plate 223 of locating portion 218 contacts the adjacent faces of the containers of outer row 236 of the group of containers and exerts a pushing force 238 on the same towards the opposing wall 21 1. The provision of the locating portions 21 6, 21 8 to contact with the respective adjacent outer faces of the group of containers allows the group of containers to be retained in the correct configuration and formation and location on the base when in the tray. Thus the provision of the locating portions allows the tray to be range taking whilst allowing the group of containers to be retained in the desired position. While the trays can be made of any material it is preferred that the same are formed of plastics material, typically formed by blow moulding so as to reduce the weight of the same.

Thus, in use the trays can be used to receive groups of articles, such as bottles that have only recently been formed by sliding the articles onto the base when it is free from the remainder o f the tray. The base with the group of articles thereon is then moved into the remainder of the tray to the po sition shown in Figures 6b and c and, when in po sition, the locating portions are freed to move to contact with the outer faces of at least one but typically two perpendicular rows 232, 236 of the group of articles 230 to retain the same in position. The tray can then be moved to a location for storage of the articles therein until they are required to be used or taken directly to the location of use. In either case the movement of the trays is typically achieved using automated movement means. At the location of unloading of the containers from the tray, the locating portions are retracted, typically mechanically, and the base, with the articles thereon, is freed from the remainder of the tray and placed on or adjacent to a support surface which is positioned in sub stantially the same plane as the top surface of the base such that the articles can be slid off the base, typically using a front plate in contact with the outer surface of the leading row of the group of articles and a pusher plate in contact with the outer surface of the last row of articles in the group of articles with respect to the direction of movement. The articles are therefore retained in the group as they are progressed for subsequent use, such as filling with a liquid such as milk. The empty base can then be placed back into the remainder of the tray and the tray moved to a location for reuse to receive a further group of articles.

It will therefore be appreciated that there is provided an improved system and apparatus which allows the efficient movement and removal of the containers from the trays and makes the containers available for onward movement and processing.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the handling and movement of a plurality of articles, said apparatus including at least one tray on which said articles are po sitioned, said tray including a base and one or more side walls depending upwardly therefrom, wherein at least one portion of the tray can be moved relative to the remainder of the tray so as to allow the movement of the articles into and/or from said tray.

2 Apparatus according to claim herein articles removed from the tray are moved onwardly movement means in a first sub stantially linear direction.

3 Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein movement means are provided to move a leading row of said articles in a second linear direction for filling or for movement to a further location for handling and successive leading rows of the articles are sub sequently moved onwardly by said movement means.

4 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said portion of the tray which is movable is at least a portion of the base.

5 Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the said portion of the base is movable to allow articles located thereon to be moved out of the tray.

6 Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein means are provided to move the articles from the base when the base is removed from the remainder of the tray.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein when the base is in position with the remainder of the tray, the tray is movable as a whole unit.

8 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the trays are nestable such that the underside of an upper tray acts as a sealing means for an opening into the tray below and articles therein.

9 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the tray includes a base portion which is moveable and a support frame which receives the base, said support frame including two opposing end walls and two opposing side walls which depend upwardly from the base.

10 Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the support frame includes a number of feet, which depend downwardly from the location of the base.

1 1 Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the support frame includes detent means and/or receiving means to engage with a tray which is placed on top of the same.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the side walls is movable to allow access to be gained to articles within the tray.

13 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the tray includes at least one locating portion provided to locate with the outer row of the group of articles to position the same on the tray base.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein when the base is removed from the tray the same is po sitioned sub stantially flush with an adjacent support surface onto which the articles are slid.

15. A system for movement of a plurality of articles, said system including the steps of providing loading means to move a first group of articles onto a base of a first tray, movement means to bring the base with the first group of articles thereon into location with the remainder of the first tray, movement means to move the said first tray to a location for further processing o f the articles, wherein movement means are provided at said location to cause movement of the base with the articles thereon to free the base from the first tray so as to bring the base into a position to allow further movement means to slide the group of articles from the base and onto an adjacent supporting surface.

16 A system according to claim 15 wherein the further movement means include a plate located at the front of the group of articles and a pusher plate located at the rear of the group of articles with respect to the direction of movement of the group of articles.

17 A system according to claim 16 wherein the first plate and pusher plate are located with respect to the group of articles to contact with the front and rear rows of the group of articles respectively as the group of articles is moved.

18 A system according to claim 15 wherein the system includes a storage area into which the first tray is moved after the base with articles located thereon is moved into the tray, said tray held in the storage area until required to be moved for further processing of the articles therein.

19 A system according to claim 1 8 wherein the first tray is joined by second and further trays in the storage area and stacked vertically such that the underside of the second tray seals the articles hygienically in the first tray and so on for the second tray by the third tray stacked thereon.

20 A tray assembly for the reception of a plurality of articles therein, said tray assembly comprising a base on which the articles are located in use and side walls depending upwardly therefrom, said tray including an opening and wherein a portion of said tray is moveable with respect to the remainder of the tray to allow movement of the articles to and/or from the same.

21 A tray assembly according to claim 20 wherein the portion which is movable is the base.

22 A tray assembly according to claim 21 wherein the base can be moved to and from its position in the tray through an opening at the top of the side walls of the tray.

23 A tray assembly according to claim 20 wherein the tray includes retention members to contact with the base when it is placed into the tray so as to retain the base in position.

24 A tray assembly according to claim 20 wherein the portion o f the tray which is movable is at least one of the side walls which is movable between a substantially upstanding position and a position in which an opening is formed and through which the articles can be moved to be removed from and/or introduced into the said tray.

25 A tray assembly according to claim 20 wherein articles are sealed in a first tray by placing another tray thereon such that the underside of the upper tray forms a closure for the opening into the first tray.

26 A tray assembly according to claim 25 wherein the trays are stackable vertically.

27. A tray assembly according to any of claims 20-26 wherein the tray includes at least one locating portion provided to move into position to contact with the outer surface of at least one of the articles which lies to the edge of a group of articles located on the base.

28 A tray assembly according to claim 27 wherein the tray includes a second locating portion.

29 A tray assembly according to claim 28 wherein a first locating portion is located on a first side wall of the tray and the second locating portion is located on a first end wall of the tray.

30 A tray assembly according to claim 28 wherein the first and second locating portions are perpendicular to each other.

31 A tray assembly according to any of claims 27-30 wherein each of the said locating portions contact with the majority of articles along respective sides of the group of articles on the tray base.

32 A tray assembly according to any o f the claims 27-31 wherein the locating portions are held in a retracted position when the base is being moved with respect to the remainder of the tray and are released to move into contact with the articles on the base when the base is positioned in the tray.

33 A tray assembly according to claim 32 wherein the locating portions move into contact with the said articles under gravity. 34 A tray assembly according to claim 32 wherein the locating portions are driven to move the same into contact with the articles.