Strip material dividing device

A dividing apparatus for dividing or cutting a continuously running strip material, the apparatus including an articulated drive for a stroke movement of a cutting unit, the articulated drive being fashioned as a quadrangular linkage including a driven crank and a rocker lever pivotally connected to the driven crank through a coupling member, characterized in that the rocker lever includes an extension portion extending beyond a pivotal connection of the coupling member with the rocker lever, a secondary drive lever, a link member having a first end pivotally connected with said secondary drive lever and a second end pivotally connected with a free end of the extension portion, a transmission link means is provided for moving the cutting unit, means are provided for adjustably connecting said transmission link means with said secondary drive lever, in that the rocker lever, extension portion and link member assume an extended position over a first approximately 180.degree. displacement of the driven crank and, over a second approximately 180.degree. displacement of the driven crank, the rocker lever, extension portion and link member are deflected from the extended position, and in that during a total circular displacement of the driven crank, the rocker lever, extension portion, link member and secondary drive lever are moved out of a range of an extended position.