Apparatus for simultaneously packaging a series of elongate bodies

An apparatus for simultaneously packaging a series of elongate bodies, comprising in combination, means defining a packaging station, approximately horizontal support means which bear the bodies for delivering the same to the packaging station, a lengthwise movable, endless toothed belt arranged above the support means, said toothed belt possessing teeth and intermediate thereof tooth gaps, said teeth and tooth gaps confronting said support means, suction channel means, disposed for maintaining a continuous suction, said toothed belt being provided with openings for communicating the tooth gaps with the suction channel means in order to suck-up bodies bearing upon the support means and for placing the same into said tooth gaps, an elevationally displaceable stripper means provided at the packaging station for lowering a series of bodies out of the suction-held tooth gaps of the toothed belt into a package located beneath the stripper means, and wherein said support means comprises an endless lengthwise movable transport chain, said transport chain comprising chain links constituting sections of a gear rack, said chain links having teeth and therebetween tooth gaps which confront the toothed belt, the tooth gaps of the transport chain serving to receive the elongate bodies.