Handling apparatus for handling a preferably plate-like or panel-like workpiece

A handling apparatus for handling a metal sheet workpiece, comprising:

• a carrier configured to be moved with a transfer movement by a transfer drive configured to handle the workpiece;
• a workpiece-side holder, which is provided on the carrier and has at least one holding element, which is configured to bear against the workpiece and to fix the workpiece on the holder;
• an actuator for the holder, the actuator having an actuator motor by which the holder is configured to be moved relative to the carrier by an actuating movement into a carrier-remote end position and into at least one carrier-side position, which is located along a movement path of the actuating movement relative to the carrying-structure-remote end position towards the carrier;
• a guide by which the holder is configured to be guided on the carrier during the actuating movement and which has a carrier-side guide element connected to the carrier for movement and a holder-side guide element connected to the holder for movement;
• a controller configured to control a longitudinal movability of the holder relative to the carrier, the longitudinal movability being directed along the movement path of the actuating movement of the holder towards the carrier;
• a holder-side form-fitting element connected to the holder-side guide element;
• a carrier-side form-fitting element connected to the carrier-side guide element;
• and
• a controllable force generator,
• wherein the holder-side form-fitting element and the carrier-side form-fitting element establish a form fit with a controllable degree of freedom when the holder is in the carrier-remote end position, on account of which the holder-side guide element has a controllable degree of freedom in a direction of the carrier relative to the carrier-side guide element and
• wherein the degree of freedom of the holder-side guide element relative to the carrier-side guide element is controllable in that, in the carrier-remote end position of the holder, the force generator is configured to generate a contact-pressure force by which the holder-side form-fitting element acts on the carrier-side form-fitting element, a magnitude of the contact-pressure force being variably adjustable such that the holder-side guide element is or is not deflectable in the direction of the carrier relative to the carrier-side guide element.