Abstract: Apparatus for automatically transferring elongated rows of articles from an oven hearth conveyor moving continuously in a first direction essentially normal to the longitudinal axes of the rows of articles thereon includes an outfeed conveyor continuously moving in a second direction disposed at an obtuse angle to the first direction and having a lateral width substantially less than the length of a row of articles. An endless transfer conveyor extends between the hearth and outfeed conveyors and carries thereon pickup mechanism mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rows of articles for engaging and lifting a row of articles from the hearth conveyor and carrying it in a level upright condition to the outfeed conveyor without changing the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the row of articles. Cam-actuated unloading means at the outfeed conveyor engage the row of articles for removing them from the pickup means and holding them on the outfeed conveyor.