Abstract: Apparatus for handling biscuits comprises a pair of identical devices for separating and holding back advanced supplies of the biscuits, which are arranged in rows, in contiguous, upright relationship, within laterally-spaced supply channels. The rows of biscuits are converted into a single row by a chute which is periodically movable sideways, to a position at the outlet end of one of the channels while the biscuit supply in the other channel is held back by a separating member comprising a "finger" movable towards and upwardly away from the path of the advanced supply of biscuits by a piston and cylinder assembly operable so that, only upward movement of a separating member takes place as positive motion, whereas the downward movement of the member is such that it is free, pausing in its movement if necessary, to make entry into the supply in a yieldable manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling biscuits, (or like laminar articles), comprises a plurality of article delivery channels, a reduced number of article receiving channels, and article transfer troughs disposed between the delivery and receiving channels, the transfer troughs being operable to select batches of articles from the delivery channels and to transport the batches to the receiving channels, whereby the overall number of streams of articles is reduced. The article transfer troughs are pivotally movable about substantially vertical axes, whereby one end of a transfer trough may be aligned with the outlet of one of three delivery channels, while the other end of the trough remains in general alignment with the inlet of a receiving channel.