to withdraw the knife belts assemblies from the open bottom end of the flexible bag 15 the knife belt assemblies are simultaneously extracted without changing their lateral spacing from one another at a first velocity v 1 to prevent removal of the compressed disposable diapers 20 from the open bottom end of the bag the belts 80 81 are driven in the direction shown by the arrows in fig1 at a second velocity v 2 which is equal to or slightly greater than the velocity of retraction vi of the knife belt assemblies this maintains the compressed disposable diapers 20 in intimate contact with the innermost surface of top panel 51 of the flexible bag 15 as can also be observed from fig1 the compressed disposable diapers 20 begin to expand immediately as the knife belts 80 81 release control of the stack this results in the condition generally illustrated in fig1 i e the compressed disposable diapers 20 have expanded to occupy the full interior cross section of the flexible bag 15 thereby relieving at least to a degree some of the compression initially imparted to the stack of articles 20 by the knife belts 80 81 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art if the amount of compression remaining in.