To provide a transfer mechanism of a simple, inexpensive configuration which transfers an article to a desired intermediate transfer position.

The transfer mechanism includes an air actuator 50 having a piston member 54 which is driven by compressed air to reciprocate selectively between a first transfer position A and a second transfer position B, and a holding means which is connected to the piston member 54 and holds the article. The transfer mechanism includes at least one intermediate transfer position M at a desired position between the first transfer position A and the second transfer position B, and a stopping means 52 disposed in correspondence to the intermediate transfer position M. When a contacting member 66 is positioned at an action position, the holding means moved by the air actuator 50 comes in contact with the contacting member 66, which stop the holding means from moving. When the contacting member 66 is positioned at a nonaction position, the holding means is allowed to move without coming in contact with the contacting member 66.