Workpiece transfer device having a workpiece carrier (5, 6; 41; 51) and having a motorised drive (14, 46, 58), by means of which the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) can be moved in a transport direction from a starting position into a target position, • wherein the motorised drive (14, 46, 58) comprises a drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) and a gear mechanism (18, 19, 48, 59, 60) which is arranged between the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) and the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51), • wherein the gear mechanism (18, 19, 48, 59, 60) which is arranged between the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) and the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) has a motor-side gear element which can be driven by means of the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) and which is in the form of a toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) which can be driven by means of the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) about a toothed wheel axle which extends perpendicularly to the transport direction, and an additional gear element which is constructed as a toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53) which extends in the transport direction, • wherein one gear element out of the toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) and the toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53)is connected to the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) and thereby associated with the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) and can be driven by means of the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) together with the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) relative to the other gear element in the transport direction, • wherein the toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) and the toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53) can be positioned relative to each other with a coupling stroke (28, 29, 47, 61) which is carried out by means of a lifting device perpendicularly to the transport direction and can thereby be brought into engagement with each other, wherein, as a result of the mutual engagement of the toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) and the toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53), there is produced between the toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) and the toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53) a drive connection, due to which the gear element which is associated with the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) can be driven together with the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) by means of the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) in the transport direction, characterised in that there is provided a lifting device by means of which the coupling stroke (28, 29, 47, 61) can be carried out by the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) together with the toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) which is connected thereto being positioned relative to the toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53) perpendicularly to the transport direction by means of the lifting device or by the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) being able to be positioned together with the toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53) which is connected thereto relative to the toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) perpendicularly to the transport direction by means of the lifting device, and in that the lifting device for the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) has a carrier structure which can be positioned by means of a lifting drive of the lifting device perpendicularly to the transport direction, the carrier structure having a bearing face (10, 11) for the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) which bearing face (10, 11) extends in the transport direction and on which the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) is supported so as to be able to be moved in the transport direction. • wherein the motorised drive (14, 46, 58) comprises a drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) and a gear mechanism (18, 19, 48, 59, 60) which is arranged between the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) and the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51), • wherein the gear mechanism (18, 19, 48, 59, 60) which is arranged between the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) and the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) has a motor-side gear element which can be driven by means of the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) and which is in the form of a toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) which can be driven by means of the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) about a toothed wheel axle which extends perpendicularly to the transport direction, and an additional gear element which is constructed as a toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53) which extends in the transport direction, • wherein one gear element out of the toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) and the toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53)is connected to the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) and thereby associated with the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) and can be driven by means of the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) together with the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) relative to the other gear element in the transport direction, • wherein the toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) and the toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53) can be positioned relative to each other with a coupling stroke (28, 29, 47, 61) which is carried out by means of a lifting device perpendicularly to the transport direction and can thereby be brought into engagement with each other, wherein, as a result of the mutual engagement of the toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) and the toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53), there is produced between the toothed drive wheel (17, 44, 54, 55) and the toothed drive rack (20, 21, 43, 53) a drive connection, due to which the gear element which is associated with the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) can be driven together with the workpiece carrier (5, 6, 41, 51) by means of the drive motor (15, 45, 56, 57) in the transport direction,