A device for gripping and transporting objects, for example containers, comprising: a shaft (3;46;62); an arrangement (8;51;66) which comprises at least one carrier (11;53;68) which is arranged in a manner secured against rotation on the shaft (3;46;62), wherein an axial position of the arrangement (8;51;66) along the shaft (3;46;62) can be adjusted; and at least one gripping apparatus (25a-h;84a-i) arranged on the carrier (11;53;68), wherein each gripping apparatus (25a-h;84a-i) comprises a gripping arm pair (28,29;85,86) for gripping one of the objects, wherein each gripping apparatus (25a-h;84a-i) has at least one actuating portion (42;93) which, upon actuation, is designed in order to produce a pivoting of at least one of the arms (28,29;85,86) of the gripping arm pair about a respective pivot axis (87,89), and the arrangement (8;51;66) comprises at least one component (12;54;69) which can be moved in the rotational direction relative to the carrier (11;53;68) and is designed, upon rotation of the shaft (3;46;62), to actuate the respective actuating portion (42;93) of the gripping apparatus (25a-h;84a-i) in order to pivot the at least one arm (28,29;85,86), wherein the device comprises an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the axial position of the arrangement (8;51;66) along the shaft (3;46;62), characterised in that the adjusting mechanism comprises a toothed rack (7;58;65) configured on the shaft (3;46;62) and a transmission shaft (20;57;78) which is rotatably mounted in the arrangement (8;51;66) and interacts with the toothed rack (7;58;65), wherein the transmission shaft (20;57;78) is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis (21;59;79) aligned substantially parallel to the toothed rack (7;58;65), and wherein the transmission shaft (20;57;78) is a worm shaft. a shaft (3;46;62); an arrangement (8;51;66) which comprises at least one carrier (11;53;68) which is arranged in a manner secured against rotation on the shaft (3;46;62), wherein an axial position of the arrangement (8;51;66) along the shaft (3;46;62) can be adjusted; and at least one gripping apparatus (25a-h;84a-i) arranged on the carrier (11;53;68), wherein each gripping apparatus (25a-h;84a-i) comprises a gripping arm pair (28,29;85,86) for gripping one of the objects, wherein each gripping apparatus (25a-h;84a-i) has at least one actuating portion (42;93) which, upon actuation, is designed in order to produce a pivoting of at least one of the arms (28,29;85,86) of the gripping arm pair about a respective pivot axis (87,89), and the arrangement (8;51;66) comprises at least one component (12;54;69) which can be moved in the rotational direction relative to the carrier (11;53;68) and is designed, upon rotation of the shaft (3;46;62), to actuate the respective actuating portion (42;93) of the gripping apparatus (25a-h;84a-i) in order to pivot the at least one arm (28,29;85,86), wherein the device comprises an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the axial position of the arrangement (8;51;66) along the shaft (3;46;62), characterised in that the adjusting mechanism comprises a toothed rack (7;58;65) configured on the shaft (3;46;62) and a transmission shaft (20;57;78) which is rotatably mounted in the arrangement (8;51;66) and interacts with the toothed rack (7;58;65), wherein the transmission shaft (20;57;78) is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis (21;59;79) aligned substantially parallel to the toothed rack (7;58;65), and wherein the transmission shaft (20;57;78) is a worm shaft.