Abstract: The invention provides a packing assembly for rotating and/or oscillating machine shafts arranged in a machine housing. The packing assembly comprises a packing accommodation unit floating on said shaft. The packing accomodation unit is supported on the housing by means of a ball joint assembly that is pivotable and translatory movable in a radial direction to and from the shaft. The ball joint assembly comprises a ball member provided with a central bore received in a ball socket. A guiding element projecting into the bore of the ball member serves for translatory guiding the ball member along the axis of the bore in the ball member, whereby the axis of the bore on the ball member runs essentially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the shaft.