PURPOSE: To obtain a direction changing mechanism for a carriage of an automatic carrying system which can change the direction of advance very quickly and also is maintenance-free approximately and inexpensive.

CONSTITUTION: Wheels 1b and 1a are fitted on the longitudinal and lateral sides of the main body 2 of a carriage 1 running on a track 3, and elevating members 4b and 4a and solenoids 6b and 6a for elevating either the longitudinal wheels 1b or the lateral wheels 1a and making outer wheel surfaces of the wheels 1b coincide with rail surfaces of a track 3b in a desired direction are provided in a branch track area 3a. According to this constitution, the rail surfaces of the track 3b are made to coincide with the outer wheel surfaces of the wheels 1b by simply raising the elevating members 4b by the solenoids 6b without giving an inertia force to a workpiece, the thrust of liner motors 5e and 5c are given and thereby the direction of advance of the carriage 1 is changed over quickly from the track 3 to the track 3b.