A machine for inspecting bottles which has a conveyor for conveying bottles at a first velocity. A bottle spacing mechanism receives bottles conveyed by the conveyor at a first location and releases bottles on the conveyor at a second downstream location. The bottle spacing mechanism includes a first belt conveyor defining one side of a conveyor path for bottles progressing from the first location to the second location, a first drive mechanism including a drive pulley for driving the first belt conveyor at the first velocity, an upstream second conveyor and a downstream third conveyor defining the other side of the conveyor path for bottles progressing from the first location to the second location, a second drive mechanism including a drive pulley for driving the second belt conveyor at a second velocity lower than the first velocity whereby a bottle conveyed between the first and second conveyors will be conveyed at a velocity lower than the first velocity, and a third drive mechanism including a drive pulley for driving the third belt conveyor at the first velocity whereby a bottle conveyed between the first and third conveyors will be conveyed at the first velocity, the second velocity resulting in bottles released onto the conveyor having a selected spacing.