An apparatus for the intermittent feeding of a workpiece, the apparatus comprising: a first linearly guided gripper mechanism (3; 103) which is movable in a first direction of workpiece feeding and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the first gripper mechanism (3; 103) comprising a first gripping member (30; 130) and a second gripping member (15; 115) wherein the second gripping member (15; 115) is movable relative to the first gripping member (30; 130) for gripping the workpiece; a first release actuator (71; 171; 271; 371) for moving the second gripping member (15; 115) of the first gripper mechanism (3; 103) in a direction relative to the first gripping member (30; 130) of the first gripper mechanism (3; 103); a first release connecting link (13; 113) with a first end pivotally connected at a first pivot axis (16; 116) to the first release actuator (71; 171; 271; 371) and with a second end pivotally connected at a second pivot axis (17; 117) to the second gripping member (15; 115) of the first gripper mechanism (3; 103), and a first programmable controller (92; 192) for controlling the actuation of the first release actuator (71; 171; 271; 371); wherein the second pivot axis (17; 117) of the first release connecting link (13; 113) is movable in the first direction of workpiece feeding and the second direction opposite to the first direction; wherein the first release actuator (71; 171; 271; 371) is reversible; characterized in that the reversible first release actuator comprises a rotary motor, a threaded rod, and an internally threaded member; wherein the internally threaded member is connected to the first release connecting link (13; 113) at the first pivot axis (16; 116). a first linearly guided gripper mechanism (3; 103) which is movable in a first direction of workpiece feeding and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the first gripper mechanism (3; 103) comprising a first gripping member (30; 130) and a second gripping member (15; 115) wherein the second gripping member (15; 115) is movable relative to the first gripping member (30; 130) for gripping the workpiece; a first release actuator (71; 171; 271; 371) for moving the second gripping member (15; 115) of the first gripper mechanism (3; 103) in a direction relative to the first gripping member (30; 130) of the first gripper mechanism (3; 103); a first release connecting link (13; 113) with a first end pivotally connected at a first pivot axis (16; 116) to the first release actuator (71; 171; 271; 371) and with a second end pivotally connected at a second pivot axis (17; 117) to the second gripping member (15; 115) of the first gripper mechanism (3; 103), and a first programmable controller (92; 192) for controlling the actuation of the first release actuator (71; 171; 271; 371); wherein the second pivot axis (17; 117) of the first release connecting link (13; 113) is movable in the first direction of workpiece feeding and the second direction opposite to the first direction; wherein the first release actuator (71; 171; 271; 371) is reversible; characterized in that the reversible first release actuator comprises a rotary motor, a threaded rod, and an internally threaded member; wherein the internally threaded member is connected to the first release connecting link (13; 113) at the first pivot axis (16; 116).