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: A close-fitting wrapper for a product is produced from two sheets, the first of which is made dish-shaped so as to surround the greater part of the product. The other sheet is laid on the rest of the product so as to assume a shape complementary to that of the product itself. After the two sheets have been joined peripherally to give the wrapper sealing characteristics and the edges which project beyond the region of the join have been trimmed, the wrapper formed is subjected to a shaping step which causes the first sheet to cover practically the entire product, hiding the second sheet from view.