A package carrier member is positioned under a wound package by being pivoted at the end of a support arm that in turn is pivoted at the end of an arm of a package moving mechanism that includes a translational motion gear set so that upon rotation of the positioning arm the gear set will maintain the package in translational motion to a position closely above a package handling assembly at which the positioning mechanism pivots the carrier member to withdraw it from underneath the package. During this withdrawal a stop member is positioned against the package on the side opposite the direction of carrier member withdrawal to maintain the package in position against twisting, tilting or rotating as it is being released onto the package handling assembly. A package diameter sensing mechanism in the form of a roller on the end of an arm senses the diameter of the wound package in terms of the degree of pivoting of the arm, which information is applied through a comparator to control the moving means to position the carrier member closely under the package when the package has been raised for positioning of the carrier member thereunder.