Transport unit with negative pressure device and method for transporting trays

Abstract

A transport unit that comprises a de-stacking device which is configured to drop trays from a stack of trays individually or in groups into a drop area, and a transport belt unit with a transport surface passing through the drop area for receiving and transporting away the dropped trays. The transport surface may comprise at least one opening. A negative pressure device may be provided to generate a suction force in the drop area through one or more of the openings of the transport surface, wherein the suction force sucks the dropped trays in the drop area in a direction towards the transport surface. This configuration reduces the rebound of the trays when they impact the transport surface as they are dropped. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for transporting trays.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.