Apparatus for feeding bars through a bending or like processing station

摘要

Apparatus for feeding a bar or several bars in a vertical pile along a predetermined horizontal path extending through a bending station, where the bars are bent into desired shape. A first conveyor has mounted thereto a first gripper assembly, which releasably grips the bar or bars, for feeding successive requires lengths of the bar or bars to the bending station. Arranged collinearly with the first conveyor, a second conveyor has a second gripper assembly and coacts with the first conveyor for transporting the bar or bars through, and away from, the bending station with the progress of bar bending. The second gripper assembly is further movable up and down on the second conveyor. Upon completion of the bending of the bar or bars, the second gripper assembly grips the bent bar or bars while being lowered, then is raised for lifting the bar or bars out of engagement with the bending mechanism at the bending station, and then is transported by the second conveyor away from the bending station.