Loading apparatus

Apparatus for loading a plurality of articles into a receptacle having parallel rows of openings each of which is adapted to receive a respective one of the articles, comprising a loading station including means for guiding and supporting said articles in a row parallel to and spaced above and laterally of a row of said openings to be filled with the row of articles, said guiding and supporting means including movable guide means for engaging the row of articles laterally, means for moving said movable guide means between a position in which said movable guide means laterally engages the row of articles and a position in which the movable guide means is disengaged from the row of articles, carrying means for the row of articles, means for moving the carrying means into engagement with the articles thereby to provide support for and carry the articles when the movable guide means is disengaged from the articles and for then moving the carrying means with the row of articles carried thereby laterally toward and into vertical alignment with the openings of the row of said openings to be filled with the row of articles, means for increasing the spacing between the carrying means to a spacing corresponding to the spacing between the openings of the row to be filled as the articles are laterally carried by the carrying means into vertical alignment with the openings of the row to be filled and means for moving the carrying means vertically downwardly thereby to lower the articles partly into the openings, said means for moving the carrying means laterally including means for then moving the carrying means laterally in reverse of the former lateral movement thereby to disengage the carrying means from the articles partly received in the openings to permit the articles to descend further into the openings.