An apparatus for handling piece goods being moved one after another in at least one row , wherein the apparatus at least comprises: - at least one transport device via which immediately consecutive piece goods of the row are transportable without spaces immediately consecutive to one another as closed formation (F) into a seizing range of at least one manipulator of the apparatus , wherein the piece goods being supplied in closed formation (F) in each instance reach the seizing range of the at least one manipulator from the at least one transport device in transport direction (TR), wherein the at least one transport device is adjustable in its position relative to the seizing range in a direction with a component that is transverse to the transport direction (TR), wherein the apparatus comprises a rail system arranged transversely to the transport direction (TR), or another suitable mechanism, for the transverse pushing of the transport device , characterised in that the at least one manipulator is prepared and equipped to seize in each instance at least one piece good in a clamping and/or force-locking and/or form-locking manner from the closed formation (F) within the seizing range , as well as being prepared and equipped for the spatial separation of the at least one seized piece good from the at least one row , and for bringing the seized piece good into a particular defined relative target position (P1, P2) and/or target alignment relative to subsequent piece goods . - at least one transport device via which immediately consecutive piece goods of the row are transportable without spaces immediately consecutive to one another as closed formation (F) into a seizing range of at least one manipulator of the apparatus , wherein the piece goods being supplied in closed formation (F) in each instance reach the seizing range of the at least one manipulator from the at least one transport device in transport direction (TR), wherein the at least one transport device is adjustable in its position relative to the seizing range in a direction with a component that is transverse to the transport direction (TR), wherein the apparatus comprises a rail system arranged transversely to the transport direction (TR), or another suitable mechanism, for the transverse pushing of the transport device , characterised in that the at least one manipulator is prepared and equipped to seize in each instance at least one piece good in a clamping and/or force-locking and/or form-locking manner from the closed formation (F) within the seizing range , as well as being prepared and equipped for the spatial separation of the at least one seized piece good from the at least one row , and for bringing the seized piece good into a particular defined relative target position (P1, P2) and/or target alignment relative to subsequent piece goods . wherein the piece goods being supplied in closed formation (F) in each instance reach the seizing range of the at least one manipulator from the at least one transport device in transport direction (TR), wherein the at least one transport device is adjustable in its position relative to the seizing range in a direction with a component that is transverse to the transport direction (TR), wherein the apparatus comprises a rail system arranged transversely to the transport direction (TR), or another suitable mechanism, for the transverse pushing of the transport device , characterised in that the at least one manipulator is prepared and equipped to seize in each instance at least one piece good in a clamping and/or force-locking and/or form-locking manner from the closed formation (F) within the seizing range , as well as being prepared and equipped for the spatial separation of the at least one seized piece good from the at least one row , and for bringing the seized piece good into a particular defined relative target position (P1, P2) and/or target alignment relative to subsequent piece goods . <EOS>