Sheet metal-working machine

A sheet metal-working machine comprising:

• a worktable on to which a metal sheet is loaded in use;
• a work station;
• a feed member for feeding said sheet along said worktable to and from said work station;
• said feed member comprising a carriage movable along a first horizontal axis, a slide fitted to and movable with respect to said carriage along a second horizontal axis perpendicular to said first horizontal axis, and a number of gripper assemblies fitted to said slide and each gripper assembly comprising a gripper for engaging a peripheral edge of said sheet;
• and
• a first device of each said gripper assembly for clamping and releasing each said gripper assembly to and from said slide;
• a positioning device fitted to said slide and for moving each said gripper assembly with respect to said slide along an axis parallel to said second axis to position each said gripper assembly as required with respect to said slide;
• said positioning device comprising drive means for driving each said gripper assembly to be positioned, and a second device for transmitting motion from said drive means to each said gripper assembly to be positioned, each said first device includes means for engaging said drive means and movable between a first position in which said engaging means is detached from said drive means and a second position in which said engaging means is connected to drive means;
• each said first device clamping a respective gripper assembly to said slide when said engaging means assumes said first position, and releasing said gripper assembly from said slide when said engaging means assumes said second position.