Abstract: The pick-up device comprises a plurality of pick-up members connected together and articulated by means of arms so as to be disposed at the vertices of a polygon. Cam surfaces defined by the sides of slots provided in one or more motion plates allow the geometry, and possibly the length of one or more sides of the polygon to be varied. It is thus possible selectively to vary the geometry of the arrangement of articles held by the device during transfer thereof, possibly also causing the distance between groups of separate pick-up members to be varied.

Abstract: The articles which move towards the equipment in a disorganised two-dimensional flow are conveyed to a channelling unit including a plurality of vertical blades, the upstream ends of which are preferably given a vibratory movement so as to assist the formation of lines of articles side by side in the channels between adjacent blades. The downstream end of the channelling unit is formed as a chute and a rotary distributor is arranged at its output end. The articles coming from the output end of the channelling unit form ordered groups along the faces of the distributor. The stepwise rotation of the distributor causes the ordered groups of articles to drop into an underlying channel. This channel has movable walls which enable it to deposit the groups of articles on an underlying conveyor and which also follows the movement of the conveyor during the deposition of the groups of articles.