An apparatus for collecting articles from a first position, in which the articles are arranged vertically, and transferring the articles into a second position in which the articles are arranged horizontally, and vice versa

1) An apparatus for collecting articles from a first position, wherein the articles are arranged vertically, and transferring the articles into a second position wherein the articles are arranged horizontally, and vice versa, comprising:

• a first vertical bearing column;
• a second vertical bearing column;
• wherein the first vertical bearing column and the second vertical bearing column are arranged facing one another and distanced from one another in such a way as to define a manoeuvring space between them;
• at least a gripping element, configured such as to pick up, retain and release at least a respective article;
• a support element of the at least a gripping element, wherein the support element comprises a longitudinal axis and is arranged in the manoeuvring space between the first vertical bearing column and the second vertical bearing column with the respective longitudinal axis transversally arranged with respect to the first vertical bearing column and to the second vertical bearing column;
• a first movement unit, mounted and disposed on the first vertical bearing column, for a movement of the support element;
• a second movement unit, mounted and disposed on the second vertical bearing column, for the movement of the support element;
• wherein the first movement unit and the second movement unit are configured and activatable to move together the support element:
• between a first operating position, in which the at least a gripping element borne by the support element is opposite the at least a respective article to be picked up and which is situated in the first position wherein the at least a respective article is vertically arranged, for the pick-up of the at least a respective article by the gripping element, and a second operating position wherein the gripping element borne by the support element is opposite a transport means with the at least a respective article retained by the gripping element being arranged in the second position and horizontally, for release thereof onto the transport means,
• wherein the first movement unit and the second movement unit are configured and activatable to move, together, the support element between the first operating position and the second operating position, while keeping the support element arranged in the manoeuvring space and causing the support element to perform a rotation about the respective longitudinal axis in such a way as to rotate the at least a respective article retained by the gripping element between a vertical position and a horizontal position, and vice versa.