Transfer device for transferring objects from a feed apparatus (12; 14) to a removal apparatus (14; 12), the transfer device comprising at least one pick-up region, which is assigned to the feed apparatus (12; 14), at least one discharge region, which is assigned to the removal apparatus (14; 12), and at least two, preferably at least three, transfer star segments (20a, 20b, 20c) that are rotatable about a common axis of rotation, each of which is formed having at least one receptacle, preferably having a plurality of receptacles (32a; 32b; 32c), which are spaced apart at defined intervals over an outer circumference in a transfer direction of rotation and can be driven to rotate in the transfer direction of rotation such that a particular transfer segment is alternately spatially assigned to the/a pick-up region and to the/a discharge region by assuming at least one rotary position assigned to the pick-up region or by rotating past the pick-up region, or by assuming at least one rotary position assigned to the discharge region or by rotating past the discharge region, in order to pick up at least one of the objects fed into the pick-up region by the feed apparatus (12; 14) from the pick-up region and receive it in the receptacle or in a particular receptacle (32a; 32b; 32c) of said receptacles, and to transfer said object to the subsequent discharge region in the transfer direction of rotation and to discharge it to the removal apparatus (14; 12) via said discharge region, it being possible for the transfer star segments to be driven to rotate at variable and nonconstant rotary speeds by means of a rotary drive arrangement (40, 44) of the transfer device by said segments rotating relative to one another in relation to the axis of rotation; the rotary drive arrangement comprising a mechanical coupling apparatus that is designed having a cam control system and by means of which the transfer star segments (20a, 20b, 20c) are rotationally coupled to a rotation input side of the coupling apparatus and can be driven to rotate together therewith by means of a rotary drive acting on the rotation input side, the cam control system (50, 48a, 48b, 48c) for each of the transfer star segments (20a, 20b, 20c) comprising at least one associated scanning device (48a; 48b; 48c), which engages with at least one closed guide cam of the cam control system that extends around the axis of rotation and can be displaced relative to the at least one guide cam by the rotary drive motion introduced on the rotation input side, in order to derive, from the course of the at least one guide cam, a defined rotary motion of the particular transfer star segment (20a; 20b; 20c) relative to a reference rotary motion as a result of the rotary drive motion introduced on the rotation input side; a carrier that is mounted so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation rotatably mounts the scanning devices (48a, 48b, 48c) at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, which scanning devices can be driven to rotate relative to the carrier about a particular scanning device axis of rotation, that is parallel to the axis of rotation, as a result of the rotary drive motion and according to the course of the at least one stationary guide cam, the scanning devices being rotationally coupled to the particular associated transfer star segment (20a; 20b; 20c), in order to impart a rotary motion on the transfer star segment that corresponds to a superposition from the reference rotary motion of the carrier and from the relative rotary motion caused by the rotation of the scanning device (48a; 48b; 48c) relative to the carrier, the scanning devices (48a, 48b, 48c) each comprising an engagement portion that is fixed thereto for conjoint rotation, or being connected to a particular, separate engagement element (50a; 50b; 50c) for conjoint rotation about the scanning device axis of rotation, the engagement portion or the engagement element engaging with a preferably radially internal counter engagement element (52a; 52b; 52c) that is connected for conjoint rotation to one of the transfer star segments (20a; 20b; 20c) associated in each case, characterised in that the engagement portion or the engagement element (50a; 50b; 50c) and the counter engagement element (52a; 52b; 52c) comprise a ring gear or a ring gear segment that mesh with one another.