Transport apparatus

A transport apparatus, comprising:

• a frame;
• a conveyor configured to convey discrete products to be sorted which conveyor is drivable with respect to the frame in a direction of conveyance;
• a loading unit for configured to receive a product which loading unit is located at a position along the conveyor, wherein the loading unit comprises a platform for bearing a product, which platform is mounted to the frame above the conveyor and tiltable with respect to the frame about an axis of rotation (AR) between a lying product receiving position and a downwardly directed product releasing position, which axis of rotation (AR) is angled with respect to the direction of conveyance;
• a product transfer device configured to transfer a product from the loading unit to the conveyor, wherein the product transfer device comprises a driving system configured to tilt the platform from the product receiving position to the product releasing position, hence allowing a product to move downwardly with respect to the platform to the conveyor in a direction which has a component in the direction of conveyance;
• a first product detector configured to detect a free location at the conveyor for receiving a product;
• a second product detector configured to detect a product at the loading unit;
• and
• a controller having an input for receiving signals from the first and second product detectors, respectively, and an output for sending a control signal to the product transfer device, wherein the controller is configured such that when the first product detector detects a free location at the conveyor and the second product detector detects a product at the loading unit the product transfer device transfers the product from the loading unit to the free location when the free location passes the loading unit.