abstract the invention relates to an apparatus and method for loading heavy block like articles such as blocks of cheese weighing 40 pounds or more into flexible receptacles such as thermoplastic bags the apparatus comprises a reciprocally movable loading carriage and means for bringing an article to the carriage and positioning the article thereon after the article is positioned on the carriage the carriage moves forward towards a wicketed or taped bag whose mouth is held open by a stream of air spreader means are provided on the movable carriage to stretch the bag mouth sufficiently wide so that a block of cheese may be inserted deep into the bag without contacting the mouth of the bag thereby preventing the deposit of grease from the cheese around the bag mouth which would interfere with a heat seal closure of the bag pusher means on the carriage push the article through the spreaders into the bag and the force of the article striking the bottom of the bag will sever it from the tape or wicket holding means and deliver the filled bag to a conveyor where it travels to a vacuumizing and heat sealing station application_number US 65938276 A description refering first to fig1 and 2 apparatus 1 which is the preferred embodiment of the subject invention will.