Apparatus for the stacking of objects

An apparatus is described for the stacking of objects, such as trays, plates, etc., in which the uppermost one of the objects in the stack is always maintained at the same height, independent of the number of objects in the stack. The novel apparatus comprises a vertically-arranged open-topped container for the stack of objects, the said container being further provided with a frame supported by a number of posts, and in which the carrier for the stack of objects is suspended from the said frame with the aid of circumferentially arranged tension springs. The said carrier is in the form of an open-topped box the bottom of which forms the supporting surface thereof and the upper edges of the side-walls of which lie substantially in the same plane as that of the surface of the said frame, whereas the supporting surface of the said carrier is located at a considerable distance below the surface of the said frame when the carrier is in the unloaded condition.