Apparatus for transferring cigarettes or the like at a transfer station between a mass flow conveyor system including a reversible transfer conveyor and a movable trolley having vertical compartments for holding batches of cigarettes, comprises means for separating articles in the trolley from articles on the transfer conveyor including movable bands defining spaced outlets and an apertured plate, which bands and plate are sequentially moved to close or open the outlets. Two compartments are normally filled or emptied simultaneously. The cigarettes are supported in the compartments by movable captive platforms which are operated on by hoist means associated with the transfer station.