Abstract: Apparatus for automatically removing pasta nests from drying frames and introducing such nests into packaging containers are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for interspacing groups of the nests on the drying frames in a checkerboard pattern with respective interspaces between adjacent groups. Also incuded is a mechanism, entering into the mentioned interspaces, for translating the groups of nests in a plane of the groups to respective locations at which the groups respectively pass through an opening transverse to the plane and into packaging containers.