To reduce the level of the impulsive sound made when transferring bar-like workpieces and transfer a lot of workpieces unscrambled in one layer by transferring creeping pressing bodies, movable stoppers and conveyors.

First conveyors 1, movable stoppers 12 and first pressing bodies 25 are transferred creeping. That is, the right and left first conveyors 1, movable stoppers 12 and first pressing bodies 25 repeatedly start and stop motors 2, 13 and 26, or feed the right and left ones alternately with their feed rates varied. Therefore, workpieces on the upper layer side are lowered while being pressingly broadening the space between workpieces on the lower side due to their dead weight, reducing the number of layers. About 1/3 to 1/2 of the feed rate of the movable stoppers 12 is set for the first pressing bodies 12. When the first pressing bodies 25 move to the forefront section of first pressing devices 20, second pressing bodies 36 are made to stand to hold the rear section of workpieces. At this moment, workpieces on the front side have been transferred to second conveyor 14, and are transferred further forward by these second conveyor 14.