Abstract: An apparatus for enveloping and packaging widely varying articles has a conveyor belt, to whose starting area are preferably supplied two foil webs, between which foils are located the articles to be packaged. Both between the articles and laterally, welds are produced by welding members, which are arranged on a three-dimensional frame. The frame with the welding members can be moved up and down by a first crank drive (eccentric disk), in order to bring about the actual welding, which welding not only ensures the formation of a joint, but also constitutes a separation weld. The welding members are connected to the three-dimensional frame by a slide, which can be moved backwards and forwards in the conveyor feed direction and, in opposition to the feed direction of the conveyor belt on the frame, by a second crank drive (essentially formed by a crank web, a link and a connecting rod).