PURPOSE: To circularly use a pallet even if a large difference i exists in the pallet housing number of two raising-lowering stands by respectively independently controlling the vertical movement of the two raising-lowering stands.

CONSTITUTION: A first raising-lowering stand 103a and a second raising-lowering stand 103b independently vertically move in a position separated in the horizontal direction, are respectively arranged. The second raising-lowering stand 103b is moved to a one stage lower position where the next pallet can be received onto the uppermost pallet, and the first raising-lowering stand 103a is vertically moved, and the uppermost pallet on the first raising-lowering stand is separated by a locking claw 113a. Next, the separated pallet is transferred and loaded and positioned in the horizontal direction toward an upper part of the second raising-lowering stand 103b by a slider 123. Next, an article is supplied to a work means from the positioned pallet by a robot. When the pallet becomes empty, it is transferred to and loaded on the uppermost pallet of the second raising-lowering stand 103b. Afterwards, such operation is repeated, and the pallet is recovered.