System and method for loading and/or unloading trays

A system for at least one of loading trays with items and unloading the trays loaded with the items, the system comprising:

• a first conveyor configured to convey the trays in a direction of transport;
• a lowering device disposed subsequent to the first conveyor and configured to convey the trays from the first conveyor to a strip conveyor disposed subsequent to the lowering device, a level of the strip conveyor being lower than a level of the first conveyor and the lowering device being configured to lower the trays onto the strip conveyor;
• and
• a lift-out device disposed subsequent to the strip conveyor and configured to convey trays from the strip conveyor to a second conveyor disposed subsequent to the lift-out device, the level of the strip conveyor being lower than a level of the second conveyor and the lift-out device being configured to lift out the trays from the strip conveyor,
• wherein the strip conveyor includes strips disposed perpendicularly to an upper surface of the strip conveyor and the trays include slots configured to receive the strips such that the strips perpendicularly emerge into corresponding slots while a respective one of the trays is being lowered onto the strip conveyor by the lowering device and perpendicularly emerge from the corresponding slots while the respective one of the trays is being lifted from the strip conveyor by the lift-out device.