PURPOSE: To transfer sideward a plurality of small - diameter and long - sized materials concurrently delivered, without causing any entanglement thereof, and enable the specified number of the materials to be placed at the predetermined position.

CONSTITUTION: A plurality of small - diameter and long - sized materials 10 delivered to an elevating table 21 are transhipped to a carriage 31 and transferred sideward. Then, the materials 10 are transferred to a walking beam 50 with a rotary tray transfer 43. The elevating table 21, the carriage 31 and the tray transfer 43 are fitted with forks to separate and support a plurality of the materials 10. The stationary skid 51 and movable skid 52 of the walking beam 50 are also constituted of similar forks.