Patent ID: 7757462

Claim:
A method of loading a plurality of food items in multiple layers comprising the steps of: collecting food items in a first plurality of groups, wherein each group is separated from the other by a divider, each of said groups having a plurality of food items, in a staging area; displacing said first plurality of groups substantially simultaneously downwardly into an accumulating and storage area, thereby forming a plurality of first layer groups of said food items therein, wherein each group is separated from the other by a divider; collecting in said staging area a second plurality of said groups of food items, each of said second plurality of said groups having a plurality of food items; displacing said second plurality of groups substantially simultaneously downwardly into said accumulating and storage area such that said second plurality of groups forms a plurality of second layer groups of said food items superposed to said plurality of first layer groups of said food items, thereby forming a plurality of two layer groups of food items; and displacing substantially simultaneously said plurality of two-layer groups of food items downwardly into a plurality of receptacles in a packing area, wherein each receptacle corresponds to one of said two layer groups.