An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles, comprising: a first conveyor driven in a first direction to convey articles thereon in said first direction, and a second conveyor driven in a second direction opposite to said first direction to convey articles thereon in said second direction; said first and second conveyors (12; 14) extending side-by-side and parallel with a space defined therebetween; a movable transport member disposed generally across and movable along said space, said transport member having a drive member that continuously rotates as either of said first and second conveyors (12; 14) moves, said transport member being movable along said space if a relative speed difference exists between said first and second conveyors (12; 14); an article transfer member carried by said transport member and operably disposed relative to said conveyors (12; 14) to contact and transfer articles from said first conveyor to said second conveyor along a curved transfer path; said article transfer member including an endless drive belt driven by the drive member and disposed along said curved transfer path so as to contact and move articles therealong, said driven drive belt running in an endless path between said drive member and said curved transfer path; said article transfer member further comprising a rotatable member, having an article contacting surface; said curved transfer path defined between said drive belt and a circumferential portion of said rotatable member such that articles are contacted and compelled along said curved transfer path by said drive belt and said rotatable member; characterised in that a drive mechanism configured between said drive member and said rotatable member for positively driving said driven rotatable member so that the belt speed of the drive belt is always greater than the surface speed of the driven rotatable member, when articles are contacted and compelled along said curved transfer path by said drive belt and said rotatable member. a first conveyor driven in a first direction to convey articles thereon in said first direction, and a second conveyor driven in a second direction opposite to said first direction to convey articles thereon in said second direction; said first and second conveyors (12; 14) extending side-by-side and parallel with a space defined therebetween; a movable transport member disposed generally across and movable along said space, said transport member having a drive member that continuously rotates as either of said first and second conveyors (12; 14) moves, said transport member being movable along said space if a relative speed difference exists between said first and second conveyors (12; 14); an article transfer member carried by said transport member and operably disposed relative to said conveyors (12; 14) to contact and transfer articles from said first conveyor to said second conveyor along a curved transfer path; said article transfer member including an endless drive belt driven by the drive member and disposed along said curved transfer path so as to contact and move articles therealong, said driven drive belt running in an endless path between said drive member and said curved transfer path; said article transfer member further comprising a rotatable member, having an article contacting surface; said curved transfer path defined between said drive belt and a circumferential portion of said rotatable member such that articles are contacted and compelled along said curved transfer path by said drive belt and said rotatable member; characterised in that a drive mechanism configured between said drive member and said rotatable member for positively driving said driven rotatable member so that the belt speed of the drive belt is always greater than the surface speed of the driven rotatable member, when articles are contacted and compelled along said curved transfer path by said drive belt and said rotatable member.