Apparatus for dispensing spacer boards from a stack

Apparatus for applying spacer boards to a preformed array of items such as beer kegs (21), comprises a magazine (11) for containing a vertically extending stack (12) of horizontally orientated spacer boards (13). The magazine (11) has an open lower end, and incorporates board retaining means (18) for retaining the stack of boards (13) in the magazine. The apparatus further includes board release means (18, 33) operable to release the lowermost spacer board from the open end of the magazine whilst retaining the remaining boards, and means (23) for moving the magazine vertically relative to a pattern of items (21) onto which said board is to be dispensed. In use a pattern of items (21) is positioned beneath the open end of the magazine, means (23) lowers the magazine towards the pattern of items and the board release means is operated to release the lowermost board, whereafter the means (23) raises the magazine and remaining boards of the stack to permit removal of the pattern of items (21) and recommencement of the cycle.