Workpiece feeding apparatus

A plurality of working blocks (A, B) are connected by rails ( 18 ). A branched transporting mechanism ( 100 ) is disposed at the intersections of the rails ( 18 ). A transportation vehicle ( 300 ) of non-self-propelled type moves on the rails ( 18 ) by the driving power of a wire ( 20 ). A placement table ( 450 ) is positioned in the vicinity of the working blocks (A, B). The placement table ( 450 ) moves up and down with a workpiece placed thereon between the transportation vehicle ( 300 ) and the working blocks (A, B). Transfer of work is effected by moving the placement table ( 450 ) up and down, and adjusting the height of the placement table ( 450 ) to the height of the transportation vehicle ( 300 ) or to the height of the working blocks (A, B). Further, the transportation vehicle ( 300 ) has a wire gripping mechanism ( 350 ) for gripping the wire ( 20 ), and workpiece placement plates ( 326 a , 326 b) for placing the workpiece thereon.