Stacking device for egg trays

A stacking device that is suitable for the stacking of substantially square egg trays, supplied, or at least to be supplied, via a supply conveyor in a supply transport direction under a stacking location, and to be discharged via a discharge conveyor in a discharge transport direction from the stacking location, comprising:

• a receiving device, configured for the successive receiving and carrying of egg trays filled with eggs delivered by the supply conveyor, said receiving device comprising a transit space that is suitable for moving a platform through it, and which is defined on at least two sides by first carrying elements, which, in use, carry edges of an egg tray corresponding to the first carrying elements,
• a stacking device located above the receiving device at the stacking location, comprising a passage extending substantially in a horizontal plane that is suitable for transporting the platform loaded with an egg tray through it, and that is located above the receiving space, and is defined on at least two sides extending parallel to each other by movable second carrying elements, which during use carry, with the second carrying elements, corresponding edges of an egg tray, and which are configured for increasing and reducing the passage,
• a lifting device, comprising a platform extending at least substantially horizontally, carried by a carrying device configured for bringing an egg tray upward from the receiving device, wherein the platform has dimensions such that it can pass through the transit space and the passage,
• wherein the stacking device is configured to cause an egg tray filled with eggs, brought upward from the receiving device by means of the lifting device, to engage with an upper side of the egg tray on an underside of a further egg tray located in the stacking device, then causing the second carrying elements to move in such a way that the egg tray can pass through the passage, then bringing the lifting device with the egg tray(s) thus carried by the platform further upward and then causing the second carrying elements to reduce the passage so that when the lifting device is moved downward, the egg tray is carried by the second carrying elements,
• characterized in that the second carrying elements extend at least substantially horizontally and at right angles to the discharge transport direction and are configured to move in a horizontal plane in the transport direction away from each other and toward each other.