plate 9 so as to define an input station 10 for receiving a group 2 fed into station 10 by an input conveyor 11 conveyor 11 presents a transportation surface coplanar with plates 9 and provides for feeding a succession of groups 2 to station 10 in a direction 12 aligned with plates 9 and with rows 4 and 5 and perpendicular to the longer longitudinal axis of packets 3 in rows 4 and 5 with reference to fig1 and 3 device 1 also comprises a separating station 13 adjacent to and located to the side of station 10 and parallel to conveyor 11 station 13 is defined by an initial portion of an output conveyor 14 extending in direction 15 parallel to direction 12 and comprising a supporting frame 16 defined by two lateral shoulders 17 integral with an end portion of uprights 7 conveyor 14 also comprises a belt 18 looped about two guide rollers 19 only one shown connected to frame 16 so as to rotate about respective axes 20 perpendicular to directions 12 and 15 and which divide belt 18 into a delivery branch 21 extending between shoulders 17 and through station 13 and into a return branch 22 belt 18 is step operated by a motor 23 connected to one of rollers 19 and presents a number of dividing elements 24 defining a succession of pockets 25 for housing and transporting respective groups 2.