Patent ID: 7956296

Claim:
A tray filling and sealing system, comprising: a transport system configured to transport trays, the transport system including: a plurality of pusher members coupled to a control mechanism for moving the pusher members along the transport path; a fixed support extending along the transport path for supporting trays as they are pushed by the pusher members; and a weighing system including a weighing member supported on a weight detection device, wherein the weighing member is adapted to transfer a tray from the support to the weighing member and out of contact with the pusher members by movement of the weighing member relative to the support between a rest position below the support and a weighing position in which it protrudes above the support so as to lift a tray off the support; and a weighing member moving system configured to move the weighing member with both vertical and forward direction components, with respect to the direction of movement of the pusher members, as it is moved from the rest position to the weighing position; a tray filling system upstream of the weighing system; and a tray sealing system downstream of the weighing system, the transport system being operable to transport trays from the tray filling system via the weighing system to the tray sealing system.