Loading device with a portioning unit and operating method

A loading device for portioning food products into trays, comprising:

• a feeder belt which is configured to receive food products and to convey the food products into a transfer zone;
• a conveyor belt which is designed to move the trays in a conveying direction and to convey the trays into a loading zone below the transfer zone, wherein the feeder belt is designed to transfer the food products in the transfer zone to the trays in the loading zone;
• and
• a portioning unit which is designed for portioning the food products into the in the loading zone,
• wherein the portioning unit has a first constraining mechanism and a second constraining mechanism which are configured to be driven, in each case parallel to the conveying direction and orthogonally to the conveying direction, so as to come sequentially into contact with a tray being moved into the loading zone, in such a way that the movement of the tray is constrained at at least one position in the loading zone.