Abstract: An improvement in a system for transferring parts between work stations wherein the system has part grippers movable along three orthogonal axes, the first being the opening and closing movements of the grippers, the second being the transfer movement of the grippers between stations and the third being the lifting and lowering movements of the grippers at a station. The improvement resides in the mechanism which effects movements along the first and third axes. This mechanism includes two linearly movable bushings connected with a lost motion and separated by a compression spring with the first bushing being movable by the action of a cam. In their closing movement, the grippers are moved by the bushings until the second bushing is stopped by an abutment.