Abstract: A loading machine, particularly for drying installations for coated sheets or sheet metal plates, with circulating chain conveyors with two roller chains, which are at a distance from one another and the links of which in each case are connected by bars, which bridge the distance between roller chains, stand up at an angle to the chains and which in the inlet region form chambers, which open up in wedge-shaped fashion from deflection gears at the ends for inserting sheets or sheet metal plates essentially horizontally, the roller chains, leaving the deflection gears, being guided on a convex and particularly on a parabolic path.