Abstract: A holder device for workpieces in the form of even or flat metal sheets of a magnetically attractable material, which are to be welded together along a connecting path at edges thereof. The holder device forms a support face for the sheets to rest on. The support face is divided up into a plurality of face parts, which are respectively formed by a separate pole plate of magnetizable material. Each pole plate is provided with an independently magnetically activatable and de-activatable magnet apparatus, which is located underneath the respective pole plate on a support plate arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus transfers plate-like parts, such as metal sheets, (2) from a stack to a forming station. A dual-rail stationary supporting structure (7) has tracks on which horizontal slides (15) move by means of outer cross slides (8a, 8b) and inner cross slides (9a, 9b) on tracks (10-13) in the horizontal longitudinal direction. Each horizontal slide has a vertical slide (17) whose lower end is coupled to one end of a respective inner or outer transverse member (21, 22) which has holding elements, such as suction cups (25), on the bottom to hold the plates being moved. The lateral distance (a) between the vertical slides (17) of the outer pair of cross slides (8a, 8b) is larger than the lateral distance (b) between the vertical slides (17) of the inner pair of cross slides (9a, 9b). The two inner vertical slides (17) are located between the outer vertical slides (17). The vertical slides and the traverse members form a pair of U-shaped supporting structures.