A loading device for a plate press, composed of two loading supports which can be displaced perpendicular to a conveyance direction. Each loading support has at least one holding device with a conveyor belt which travels in the direction of conveyance. A workpiece to be processed is placed on the upper reach of the conveyor belt and is deposited by the conveyor belt in or on the press. The conveyor belt is moved in such a way that the relative speed of its upper reach in relation to a workpiece being conveyed is equal to zero for all states of movement of the assigned loading supports. As a result, no frictional movement occurs between the conveyor belt and workpieces being carried thereby.

The invention relates to a production line (1) for assembling and/or processing components (3) transported on workpiece holders (2), incorporating several conveyor sections (5, 6a, 6b, 6c) disposed one after the other, each of which has at least one separate forward feed mechanism (15; 51) which is independent of the adjacent conveyor sections (5, 6a, 6b, 6c) and at least one co-operating guide mechanism with two oppositely lying guide tracks (20), along which the workpiece holder (2) disposed between them, incorporating guide elements to provide a height and lateral guiding action, can be moved and positioned. The guide elements of the workpiece holder (2) have a groove-shaped recess for engaging in the guide tracks (20) spaced at a distance apart from one another transversely to the feed direction (16) and at least one guide track (20) is provided in at least one of the conveyor sections (6a; 6c) which can be raised by means of an adjusting mechanism from a non-operating position outside an obstruction gauge of the workpiece holder (2) into a position above the transport plane (19) and displaced into an engaged position locating with the recesses of the guide elements transversely to a longitudinal direction of the guide track (20).

A dampening datum plate assembly for an assembly line for components, the dampening datum plate assembly having a member for moving a component from a conveyor to a datum position at an assembly station, a dampening pin assembly supported at the datum position for absorbing vibrational shock from the component moved by the moving member. The moving member has a plate on which is supported a second dampening pin assembly for absorbing vibrational shock from contact of the plate with the component. Each dampening pin assembly has a replaceable compressible pellet member that absorbs vibrational shock.

An interlocking transfer system includes a workstation having four or more sides, each of which is positioned at 90.degree. angles from the next adjacent side. A cam lift assembly is provided on each of the sides and a means for moving the pallets horizontally. The cam lift assembly is actuated by a reciprocating cylinder which operates to lift and lower the pallets. While pallets are lifted, they are also advanced horizontally using either an external reciprocating cylinder, a motor or by hand. The interlocking transfer system of the present invention provides high efficiency and low transfer rate. It also eliminates the need for lift and locate devices, transfer space due to traffic control, and end-to-end cross transfers. The interlocking transfer system of the present invention also provides for interchangeable fixtures.