The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for the automated removal of workpieces arranged in a container; having an object recognition device for detecting the workpieces and having a gripper for gripping and removing the workpieces from the container; having a control for evaluating the data of the object recognition device, for path planning and for controlling the gripper; and having a buffer station on which the gripper places the workpieces after the removal from the container, wherein the workpieces are picked up from the buffer station by a gripper and are placed down in a target placement area, with the buffer station having at least two different workpiece placement areas for placing down the workpiece in at least two different, defined placement positions.