An arrangement for an intermittent operation in a notching machine which includes a ram driven by way of a crank or eccentric drive which ram is articulated to a toggle joint. The notching machine has an operating cycle which consists of alternatingly successive notching and notch-free steps which is attainable by means of a cylinder-piston unit activatable pneumatically or hydraulically which unit is in operative connection with an eccentric supported on a pin with the eccentric being the central fulcrum of the toggle joint. A second toggle joint with a counterbalancing mass is diametrically opposed to the ram with the second toggle joint being articulated to the eccentric. The central pivot as well as the points of articulation of the toggle joints to the ram and counterbalancing mass are disposed substantially in one plane.