forward end of the gate inserted into lane 31 while in this position bottles b1 b2 etc move forward against the gate during the other half of the cycle gate 37 pivots so that its rearmost end is inserted into the lane 31 behind the forwardmost bottle lined up against the gate thus in this 34 admitting 34 position shown in fig3 b gate 37 allows the passage of a single bottle as a result of the periodic activity of gate 37 bottles are spaces at regular intervals reflecting the period of gate 37 and the line speed of the conveyor these bottles are then divided into two groups one in lane 32 and the other in lane 33 by diverter 39 in the embodiment of fig3 a and 3b diverter 39 is a pivoting panel with two periodically alternating positions in fig3 a diverter 39 is in its activated position causing bottle b1 to be deflected into lane 32 in fig3 b diverter 39 is in a retracted position allowing b2 to pass undeflected into lane 33 diverter 39 is coordinated in its operation with the timing of gate 37 so that bottles are alternately routed into lanes 32 and 33 an alternative embodiment of gate 37 is shown in fig4 a and 4b gate 37 39 comprises two air cylinder gates 37r and 37f which are alternately.