Displacement device and method for displacement

A packing machine comprising:

• at least one handling device having at least one gripper arm;
• and
• a displacement device, comprising:
• at least one articulation mechanism on which the at least one handling device is accommodated, wherein the at least one handling device is displaceable along an arcuate path by means of the at least one articulation mechanism between at least one first position and at least one second position;
• and
• at least one pre-loading device in operative connection with at least one of the at least one articulation mechanism and the at least one handling device in order to unload the weight of the at least one articulation mechanism and/or the at least one handling device during displacement of the at least one handling device along the arcuate path between the at least one first position and the at least one second position,
• said at least one pre-loading device being one of a pneumatic device and a spring, at least part of said at least one pre-loading device being located entirely above the at least one articulation mechanism, and
• at least a portion of the at least one handling device being disposed entirely above the at least one articulation mechanism at all times.