The apparatus has two pairs (16, 17) of conveying elements which are arranged laterally spaced from each other. Each pair (16, 17) has two parallel conveying elements (18, 19, 20, 21) arranged one above the other. All of the conveying elements (18 to 21) are guided via a respective driving wheel (22 to 25) and a deflecting wheel (26 to 29). They are, for example, toothed belts from which drivers (34, 35) protrude at a regular, adjustable spacing just over part of their length. A first driving unit (30, 31) drives one of the driving wheels (22, 23) of each pair (16, 17) of conveying elements in synchronism. A second driving unit (32, 33) drives the two other driving wheels (24, 25) in each case in synchronism. A control device is connected to the driving units. The apparatus enables containers to be transported from an input station (4) in groups to a loading station (8), in which they are made ready in a precise position and are filled.