Trays and apparatus and method for removing cartons from trays

A system comprising:

• a plurality of trays (20;
• 20′;
• 20″), each comprising:
• a base (22);
• and
• a pair of end walls (30) extending upward from the base;
• a tray unloading system (200;
• 200′),
• wherein:
• the plurality of trays includes trays of a plurality of different widths;
• the tray unloading system comprises a plurality of fingers (202A-202I);
• each of the end walls comprise a plurality of vertical slots (40) open to an upper edge of the end wall;
• the fingers are positioned and dimensioned to pass through the slots of the trays as the trays are delivered to lift contents of the trays;
• and
• the fingers are positioned so that some fingers pass through the slots of each of the different widths, but others pass only through slots of wider said widths.

A tray (20;

• 20′;
• 20″) comprising:
• a base (22);
• and
• a pair of end walls (30) extending upward from the base,
• wherein:
• the base includes an upper surface having a plurality of interspersed longitudinal grooves (38) and ridges (42);
• each of the end walls comprise a plurality of vertical slots (40) open to an upper edge of the end wall and respectively aligned with an associated said groove;
• and
• there are at least two distinct lateral sizes of the slots and the grooves.