Patent ID: 7802460

Claim:
A workpiece transfer apparatus that transfers a workpiece to be pressed by a press machine, comprising: a bar assembly including a workpiece holder that holds the workpiece, at least part of the bar assembly being arranged substantially parallel to a transfer direction of the workpiece, wherein the bar assembly includes: a fixed bar adapted to be fixed within the press machine; a movable bar detachable from the fixed bar; and a connecting device that selectively connects the fixed bar and the movable bar, the connecting device includes: a fixed-side connecting portion that protrudes from an end of the fixed bar toward the movable bar; a movable-side connecting portion that protrudes from an end of the movable bar toward the fixed bar to be superimposed on the fixed-side connecting portion; and holding means for holding the movable-side connecting portion, and wherein the holding means includes: a holding member that is adapted to be advanced and retracted in a longitudinal direction of the fixed bar and when advanced in the longitudinal direction of the fixed bar, abuts an outer surface of the movable-side connecting portion and presses the movable-side connecting portion toward and against the fixed-side connecting portion to thereby hold the movable-side connecting portion against the fixed-side connecting portion; and driving means that is provided within the fixed bar for driving the holding member.