Lift unit for use with a load former and load former including the lift unit

A load former comprising:

• a frame including a stop wall;
• a cookie sheet having a top surface parallel to a plane;
• a first actuator configured to move the cookie sheet parallel to the plane between an extended position and a retracted position relative to a first platform,
• the first platform being shiftable between a raised position in which an upper surface of the platform is located a first distance below the plane and a lowered position in which the upper surface of the platform is located a second distance below the plane, the second distance being greater than the first distance,
• a second actuator configured to move the first platform between the raised position and the lowered position;
• the first platform being positioned relative to the frame such that when the cookie sheet is in the extended position a first portion of the cookie sheet directly overlies the upper surface of the platform and when the cookie sheet in the retracted position no portion of the cookie sheet directly overlies the platform,
• a lift having a lift support and a second platform;
• a third actuator configured to move the second platform relative to the lift support between a raised position and a lowered position and a fourth actuator configured to move the second platform relative to the lift support between an extended position in which a first portion of the second platform directly overlies the first platform and a second position in which no portion of the second platform directly overlies the first platform.