Apparatus for thermally processing food packages comprising product carriers with positive package handling

An apparatus for thermally processing food products in flexible packages, comprising:

• a. one or more processing stations;
• b. an endless conveyor guided to the processing stations;
• c. a plurality of food product carriers connected interspaced to the conveyor, in which each food product carrier comprises at least a first row of divided individual insertion spaces extending along the length of the product carrier for flexible food product packages to be placed into and removed from, the first row of insertion spaces is at least partly delimited by a longitudinal first side wall and an opposite longitudinal second side wall spaced apart from each other to define insertion openings leading into the insertion spaces, wherein insertion of flexible food packages into the individual insertion spaces and removal of the flexible food packages from the individual insertion spaces is through the insertion openings in the direction disposed transversely to the lengths of the first and second longitudinal side walls;
• d. an inlet and outlet station comprising one or more first operating members operable to move relative to the insertion spaces for moving the flexible food product packages through the insertion openings in the insertion direction transverse to the lengths of the first and second side walls into and out of the insertion spaces;
• e. wherein the conveyor is designed for transporting the carriers with flexible food product packages placed in the insertion spaces thereof to the one or more processing stations and with the first row of insertion spaces transportable in horizontal orientation;
• f. wherein the first side wall and the opposite second side wall defines a primary aperture for an insertion space, which primary aperture extends the distance separating the first side wall from the opposite second side wall and transversely extends the entire insertion space in a direction parallel to the first side wall and the second side wall and extends along the insertion direction;
• and
• g. wherein the first operating members comprise load bearing organs operable for picking up and carrying flexible food product packages, which load bearing organs projecting through the primary apertures during placing or removing of the flexible food product packages into and out of the first row of insertion spaces through the insertion openings.