Patent ID: 7603827

Claim:
An apparatus for packaging foodstuffs in containers having various widths (x dimension), lengths (y dimension) and depths (z dimension), the width and length defining the opening of a container, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of removable tray components, each removable tray component including a uniquely-sized opening slightly less than the opening of an associated container to be filed in a manner such that as a container is positioned underneath a selected removable tray component of said plurality of removable tray components, foodstuff contaminants do not contact the container; a de-nester module including a central opening for supporting a stack of containers to be filled and removing individual containers, in succession from the bottom of the stack, the de-nester module including adjustable sidewalls for modifying the width of the central opening as a function of the width of the container currently being used; a container-presenting module for receiving a container as it is de-nested by the de-nester module and conveying the de-nested container to a position underneath said selected removable tray component such that the container is aligned with the uniquely-sized opening of said selected removable tray component, the container-presenting module including adjustable sidewalls for providing support of the container as a function of the length of the container currently being used and an adjustable elevation element for positioning the container directly underneath said selected removable tray component as a function of the depth of the container currently being used; and a user interface module, responsive to container dimension input data for activating the width, length and depth adjustments of the apparatus to accommodate the dimensions of the container currently being used and generating a signal confirming the selection of the proper removable tray component from the plurality of removable tray components with respect to the container dimension input data.