Raisable and lowerable mat-loading and press-tray unloading device for a multi-lever press

A mat loading and press-tray unloading apparatus for a multi-level press having a plurality of plates for the manufacture of boards said apparatus comprising a raisable and lowerable structure;

• a set of loading and unloading levels connected to said raisable and lowerable structure, each set corresponding in number to the number of press levels whereby the press is loaded with mats on trays from the loading levels and whereby the unloading levels receive the empty trays;
• means for raising and lowering said structure, and means for feeding said levels;
• said loading and unloading levels being arranged one above another such that at one end of said structure at least two loading levels are directly adjacent to each other, at the other end of said structure at least two unloading levels are directly adjacent to each other, and at an intermediate portion of said structure at least one unloading level is disposed between two loading levels.