Loading mechanisms

A workpiece loading mechanism, comprising a work station including a treatment bed having substantially continuous workpiece receiving surface and having a plurality of lifting elements, which pass through the bed and are arranged in lines, and means for moving the elements between a workpiece lift position and a withdrawn position in which they do not project above the surface;

• a pallet for supporting a plurality of workpieces in respective workpiece locations disposed in an array and means for moving the pallet into and out of the work station so that in one position it overlies the bed, the pallet defining a plurality of slots open at one end corresponding to the lines of the elements such that when the pallet is in said one position each element can pass through a slot to lift the workpieces off the pallet, at least one of the slots extending through a plurality of workpiece positions and such that the pallet can be withdrawn from the work station with the elements in the workpiece lift position and the elements can then lower the workpieces on to the bed as they return to their withdrawn position.