Patent ID: 7328542

Claim:
An apparatus for loading food product into open top containers movable into a loading station, comprising: a conveyor having a circulating conveying surface for supporting and transporting food product, said conveying surface having a moveable end region positionable over a container in said loading station and retractable out of said loading station to withdraw support of said food product; a guiding device arranged within said loading station above said container and movable vertically to capture said food product on said conveying surface; and a pushing device arranged within said guiding device and extendable vertically to protrude out of said guiding device, said pushing device adapted to push food product into the container after said conveying surface end region is retracted to withdraw support of said food product, wherein the vertical movements of said guiding device and pushing device are synchronized to push food product from said conveying surface end region into the container directly without any intervening vertical support of the food product.