Abstract: A conveyor defining a horizontal transport surface receives elongated workpieces in crossed-over and nonparallel orientation at an input side of the surface and moves them in a horizontal transport direction to an output side of the surface. A workpiece-aligning apparatus has a guide extending generally parallel to the workpieces along the surface, a carriage displaceable along the guide parallel to the workpieces, and a pushdown element vertically displaceable on the carriage between a lower position engaging and pushing down the workpieces and an upper position above the workpieces. A drive displaces the carriage along the guide with the element in the lower position and thereby presses the workpieces down against the transport surface and moves the workpieces into generally parallel alignment with one another.