Apparatus for cutting and conveying segments of wire or cable

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for repeatedly cutting segments from a strand of wire or cable and for conveying them to work stations so that either or both ends can be processed to provide a partly or fully finished wire lead or cord. The apparatus comprises: a feed mechanism for moving the free end of the strand in incremental steps along a first path; inboard and outboard laterally spaced apart conveyor units for moving the segments in steps along a second path transverse to the first path, each unit comprising a pair of endless flexible belts having separable soft-faced confronting flights; a separator device for each conveyor unit to periodically separate and reclose the confronting flights; a set of periodically closable and reopenable wire guide members on each side of each conveyor unit and operable by the associated separator device; an independently openable elongated wire guide located between the conveyor units in alignment with the sets of wire guide members; a cutter located between the feed mechanism and the set of wire guide members on the outside of the inboard conveyor unit; and drive mechanisms and a programmable controller for operating the feed mechanism, the conveyor units and their associated separator devices and wire guides, and the cutter in synchronism.