Abstract: A conveyor line moves palleted workpieces past a plurality of work stations arranged at intervals along the line. The pallets to which the workpieces are clamped are frictionally supported for travel at a designated linear rate of speed. A portion of the conveyor line adjacent one or more work stations includes a conveyor for spaced apart pallet control elements, which are driven at a reduced rate of speed. The traveling pallet control elements on the second conveyor prevent the pallets from moving at the faster rate of the first conveyor. A stop element, which is normally maintained in the path of pallets on the first conveyor but moves out of the plane of movement of the pallets to release the pallets individually is operated when a pallet control element on the second conveyor reaches a predetermined position.