Abstract: A machine for rhythmic and reciprocal movement of workpieces and the like in at least two successive steps is described. A carriage for moving the pieces has a drive in the form of at least two synchronously operating crank pins (12, 13), each engaging a groove (25, 26) of a slide track (24) fixed to the carriage (18-20) over about half the length of its travel. One step is thus executed. Then the crank pin in question (13) exits a groove (26) and the other crank pin (12) enters its groove (25). It then executes the second step. At the beginning of each step, the velocity of the carriage is zero. In the further course, it rises to a maximum at a crank angle of 90.degree., and drops back to zero at the end of the step. In this way an especially gentle and rapid motion is made possible. The crank pins may each be mounted on its own shaft, or they may be mounted together on a common shaft with an offset of 180.degree..