Abstract

An apparatus for delivering in strip form packaged drinking straws, includes a device for severing the strip on a pivotal drum. The severing device pivots to transfer the individual packed straws to a vacuum cylinder, which is intermittently pivotal to pick up the individualized straws from the drum, and transfer the individual straws to a conveyor section. The conveyor section includes a continuous loop of track having an upper linear section of track and a lower linear section of track. A plurality of pressure arms are connected to the track where, each contains a vacuum holding mechanism adjacent to a free end for retaining the individual straws. The vacuum cylinder is mounted to a slide mechanism which is translatory relative to the upper linear section of the continuous track to position the individual packaged straws on the pressure arms of the conveyor mechanism. The pressure arms are pivotally controlled to pick up the individualized straws when the pressure arms are moving along the upper linear section and, when in the lower section of track, to position the straws adjacent to continuously moving containers to which the individualized packaged straws are attached.