Patent ID: 7137769

Claim:
A workpiece feeding apparatus having a feeding apparatus for feeding a workpiece on a plurality of rails held in an elevated position, said feeding apparatus comprising: a branched transporting mechanism disposed between said rails which are arranged in a crisscross pattern; transporting means for moving along said rails; and a non-self-propelled transportation vehicle for transporting the workpiece by engaging and disengaging said transporting means; wherein said branched transporting mechanism receives said transportation vehicle transported by said transporting means and a first one of the rails and delivers said transportation vehicle to a second one of the rails, said branched transporting mechanism having a rotating mechanism for rotating said transportation vehicle when said transportation vehicle is delivered from said first rail to said second rail, said branched transporting mechanism having a first drive source for driving said transporting means and a second drive source for rotating said rotating mechanism, said rotating mechanism having a third drive source for receiving and delivering said transportation vehicle, wherein said transporting means comprises a wire trained around pulleys, further comprising tension adjusting means selectively disposed near said branched transporting mechanism for adjusting the tension of said wire when necessary, and wherein said rotating mechanism has a mechanism for holding said transportation vehicle, a drive roller driven by said third drive source, and driven rollers, said drive roller and said driven rollers contacting said transportation vehicle to receive and deliver the transportation vehicle.