Transferring and transporting elongated magnetic articles for treatment

Abstract

Elongated magnetic articles 12 are transferred directly from a magnetic bin 17 and transported on a member 80 having deep slots 84 to retain the articles 12 for treatment. In a preferred example, the articles 12 include some articles 13 having undesirably shaped leads 14 and the treatment comprises lead straightening. A system of magnets 30 generates a magnetic field in the bin 17 which suspends and orients a supply of the articles 12 and 13 such that a dense, rotating pattern of articles is formed and urged against member 80. A pair of supports 57 and 58 limit the depth of the slots 84 at a first level to prevent more than one article 12 or 13 to enter therein. As an entered article 12 or 13 advances beyond the supply of articles, the supports 57 and 58 are discontinued and the entered article moves to a second level. Portions of the magnets in the bin 17 are advantageously extended, without discontinuities, along the edges of the transport area to form a system of magnets 34 which communicates from end to end of the articles 12 and 13 as they are advanced along the first and second levels. A system of magnets 70 generates a magnetic field directed inwardly of the slots 84 to attract the articles 12 and 13 to the first level and another system of magnets 55 generates a magnetic field transversely of member 80 to stabilize the articles in the slots 84. System 70 also generates a series of inwardly directed magnetic fields to attract the articles 12 and 13 and to retain them at the second level until they reach the treatment area.