Abstract: In a setting machine for spacing formed articles a conveyor belt provides closely spaced green bricks in longitudinal rows. The longitudinal rows are transferred to a setting support collecting the green bricks as a compact setting or a partial setting of several parallel longitudinal rows or of one longitudinal row. The setting support comprises spaced rollers and carrying strips between the rollers and capable of moving in the direction of the roller axes. Each carrying strip is subdivided into spaced apart sections which are linked to lift cylinders moving them up and down independently. The lift cylinders are mounted on a carriage movable in the direction of the roller axes and which carries along the sections. The sections can lift up the green bricks from the rollers, the carriage can then move and after sufficient distance is reached the green bricks are lowered onto the rollers. The thus provided setting can be removed onto a conveyor or can be lifted by grippers.