a force by virtue of its weight gravity on the belt surface 10 39 according to fig2 a and 2b the slowly moved belt surface 10 39 presses with a normal force n upwardly on the stationary conveying surface 5 39 of the can 5a the pulling force p of the belt 10 is opposed by the retaining force exerted by the gate 8 during the sliding friction between the surface 10 39 and the conveying face 5 39 the pulling force p u03bc u00d7 n where u03bc is the coefficient of friction in the operational phase according to fig2 c the retaining force of the gate 8 is removed by lifting the gate so that the can 5a is advanced by the pulling force p of the belt 10 in the direction f turning to fig3 a 3b and 3c in a housing 15 parallel spaced toothed belts 22a 22b are arranged to serve as conveying elements on both sides of a holding element 16a 16b stationarily affixed supporting troughs 17a 17b are provided which extend in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus 1a on the upper side in each support trough 17a 17b a longitudinal groove 18 of rectangular cross sectional outline is provided which accommodates the lower zone of the upper run of the respective belts 22a 22b the respective upper zones extend beyond the longitudinal groove 18 and are by means of their respective outer surfaces 22 39 in engagement with the lower conveying surface 5 39 of.