Abstract: According to the invention, bodies are oriented head-to-foot by propelling the bodies and deflecting them onto adjacent guide members so that the bodies on one guide member are inverted with respect to the bodies on the adjacent guide members. The bodies are then guided to a packing station where the bodies are packed head-to-foot so as to maximize the use of space in the package. The apparatus of the invention includes a feed device which holds the bodies vertically with the same orientation. A throwing device propels two adjacent bodies upward, which are deflected by a deflecting device so that one of the bodies lands on a ramp and is oriented in one direction, and the other body lands on a second ramp and is oriented the opposite way. The bodies are then fed to a packing apparatus which packs the bodies head-to-foot.