Patent ID: 7533513

Claim:
A method for filling food product drafts into packages, comprising the steps of: supplying open top container portions arranged in rows that are spaced-apart along a longitudinal direction and having a first row and a longitudinally spaced-apart second row and connected to move longitudinally together, said first and second rows movable together along said longitudinal direction into a fill station; providing a conveyor having a retractable and extendable conveying surface, said conveying surface arranged above said fill station and having an end region longitudinally movable to a first position arranged to deposit food product drafts into said container portions of said first row by said conveying surface, moving said end region to said first position and depositing food drafts into container portions of said first row; and while said first and second rows are in said fill station, retracting or extending said conveying surface to reposition said end region to a second position arranged to deposit food product drafts carried on said conveying surface into said container portions of said second row.