A system for conveying cigarette packets includes a reversible compartmented accumulator (AC) arranged so that in normal operation packets are pushed by retractable pressure bands (18) through an aligned uppermost compartment (13) during passage from a packing machine (PM) to a wrapping machine (WM). To load the accumulator (AC) packets are stopped at the downstream end by a gate (106) so as to assemble a batch of packets in the aligned compartment (13) for storage by transverse indexing of the accumulator (AC). As part of the loading sequence detectors (88, 107) determine the presence of a complete batch of packets at least partly upstream of the compartment (13). Before the loading sequence begins the uppermost compartment (13) is emptied of packets by an unloading conveyor (70). To unload the accumulator (AC) the infeed of packets is stopped and the unloading conveyor (70) removes packets from successive compartments (13) indexed into the aligned position.