Tartuntaelin

Apparatus for transferring sheet-like objects from one position to another comprises a control frame including a vertical control member and a gripping device within the control frame and including a control member counterpart engaging the vertical control member of the control frame in a manner permitting relative movement of the control frame and the gripping device over a predetermined vertical range. A loading member is coupled to the gripping device for lowering the gripping device from an upper position to a lower position and for raising the gripping device from the lower position to the upper position, and a positioning member is attached to the gripping device for engaging a complementary member when the gripping device is at the lower position. When the gripping device is in the upper position the control frame is suspended from the gripping device and when the gripping device is lowered from the upper position to the lower position the control frame remains suspended from the gripping device until the control frame attains the lower position, whereupon downward movement of the control frame ceases and the gripping device continues downward movement relative to the control frame and the positioning member engages the complementary member.