The invention concerns an apparatus for picking up and guiding loops or the like which can be applied to articles, in particular sausage-shaped packs, comprising a loop feed means, an angled pick-up means having a front end, a pin which has a contact surface and which is movable between a first position in which it passes through the fed loop and in which the contact surface is in contact with the front end of the pick-up means, and a second position away from the front end of the pick-up means, and a drive for actuation of the contact pin. A torque support means is provided in the front region of the front end of the pick-up means and the contact surface of the pin has means for centering the pick-up means in such a way that the pick-up means does not bear against the torque support means when the pin is in the first position.