Transfer device, and in particular, a packaging machine for cigarettes or the like, which is provided with the said transfer devices

A transfer device comprising:

• a transfer tool;
• a drive element which moves in an angular motion about a stationary drive axis;
• an articulated oscillating linkage which guides said tool from a rear position in a rectilinear trajectory to a front position and back to the rear position, and which is activated by said drive element to cause said tool to move in the guided rectilinear trajectory and back, said oscillating linkage including:
• (a) a drive arm having an oscillating drive end and a drive attachment point remote from said drive end at which said drive arm is attached to said drive element such that said drive end of said drive arm is driven in rotation about the drive axis by movement of said drive element, and said drive arm including a drive line extending from said drive attachment point and through said drive end,
• (b) a driven arm having an oscillating driven end and a driven attachment point remote from said driven end at which said driven end is mounted for rotation about a stationary driven axis passing through said driven attachment point, said driven axis being parallel to said drive axis, and said driven arm including a driven line extending from said driven attachment point and through said driven end, and
• (c) an intermediate coupling arm having
• a coupling end attached to said driven end of said driven arm,
• a tool attachment end remote from said coupling end attached to said tool, and
• an intermediate portion located between said coupling end and said tool attachment end, said intermediate portion including an intermediate point of attachment to said drive end of said drive arm so that said coupling arm connects said drive end of said drive arm to said driven end of said driven arm,
• whereby said tool attachment end and hence said tool moves in the guided rectilinear trajectory when said drive end of said drive arm is rotated by said drive element;
• and
• wherein, with said drive and driven lines projected onto a common plane perpendicular to said drive axis, (a) when said tool is in the front position, said drive line and said driven line are one of convergent or divergent to one another, and (b) when said tool is in the rear position, said drive line and said driven line are the other one of convergent or divergent to one another.