Method and plant for the storage of sausages

A plant for the storage of sausages (2) comprising a loading station (13) for the storage of a succession of sausages (2);

• a store (3), which extends in a first, substantially vertical direction (4) and has a plurality of storage levels (8), which are arranged on top of one another in the first direction (4) and each comprise at least one respective support cross member (9), which extends in a second, substantially horizontal direction (10) and is provided with a plurality of first hooking members (11) distributed along the support cross member (9) in the second direction (10) so as to each receive and hold a respective sausage (2);
• and a transfer unit (15) to transfer the sausages (2) from the loading station (13) to the store (3), the transfer unit (15) comprising a pick-and-place device (20), which is movable between a first operating position, in which the pick-and-place device (20) retrieves the sausages (2) from the loading station (13), and a second operating position, in which the pick-and-place device (20) releases the sausages (2) onto the support cross member (9);
• and characterized in that the pick-and-place device (20) comprises two support arms (22), which are parallel to one another, have an elongated shape, are provided with respective pluralities of holding members (24) and are movable relative to one another between a closed position and an open position;
• the sum of the holding members (24) of the two support arms (22) being equal to the number of first hooking members (11) of a support cross member (9).