Patent ID: 7740122

Claim:
A workpiece transfer apparatus for a production line transferring a workpiece between a first plurality of processing facilities and a second plurality of processing facilities for processing the workpiece, the apparatus comprising: a first workpiece grasper capable of grasping the workpiece in one of the first plurality of workpieces; a second workpiece grasper capable of grasping the workpiece in one of the second plurality of workpieces; a first plurality of rails that are arranged above the first plurality of processing facilities and movably hanging the first workpiece grasper; and a second plurality of rails that are arranged above the second plurality of processing facilities and movably hanging the second workpiece grasper, wherein the first plurality of rails and the second plurality of rails are arranged so that at least one of the first plurality of rails and at least one of the second plurality of rails both at least partially overlap a selected processing facility, which belongs to either one of the first plurality of processing facilities and the second plurality of processing facilities.