EP4084917B1

EP4084917B1 - Apparatus for bending wire-like material

Info

Publication number: EP4084917B1
Application number: EP20839151.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luca Mauri
Original assignee: FLli Mauri SpA
Current assignee: FLli Mauri SpA
Priority date: 2019-12-30
Filing date: 2020-12-23
Publication date: 2024-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-23
Also published as: WO2021137112A1; EP4084917A1

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for working, in particular bending, material in the form of sections of wire.
It is known in the technical sector of working wire-like or strip-like material that there exists the need to form, from material in the form of one or more sections of wire, bodies, for example tools, such as spanners with a shaped single or double end having a specific form, for example a male hexagonal or star-like form, used to operate corresponding parts with a female hexagonal form (Allen screws), star-like form and similar form.
Also known are forming machines which are designed to cold-work sections of wire with a predetermined length so as to suitably deform the ends thereof. US 2835152 discloses a forging machine with a stock feeding device, on which the preamble of Claim 1 is based.
There exists, however, on the market an ever increasing demand for spanners which are L-shaped, S-shaped or Z-shaped and are designed to be used to rotationally screw or unscrew female parts (Allen screws and the like).
The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is that of providing an apparatus designed to machine, in particular bend, wire-like material, in particular, but not exclusively, sections of wire with ends shaped to form operating spanners.
In connection with this problem it is required in particular that the apparatus be suitable for facilitating series-working and/or should have small dimensions and be able to be installed easily at any user location without the need for large volumetric dimensions.
It is moreover preferable that the apparatus should be able to be connected to and/or incorporated in other upstream and/or downstream machines for working wire-like material for large-scale mass production.
These results are obtained according to the present invention by an apparatus for working, in particular bending, material in the form of sections of wire according to the characteristic features of Claim 1.
"Section of wire" is understood as meaning a section (or piece) of wire cut or formed with a predefined length.
The present invention also relates to a method for working, in particular bending, wire-like material by means of an apparatus according to the invention, comprising the synchronized steps of:

gripping and feeding one or more sections of wire, wherein one or more sections of wire are gripped by the gripping and feeding unit in a pick-up position and moved inside the apparatus along a longitudinal direction X-X of advancing movement, so as to feed them to the working unit;
working the one or more sections of wire fed by means of the working unit.

Preferably, the step of gripping and feeding one or more sections of wire comprises:

a) start-up, where the first gripping and positioning means, in particular upper and lower outer comb-like jaws, and the second gripping means, in particular upper/lower central jaws, are respectively arranged in a close together, closed, position in the vertical direction Z-Z, and wherein the first gripping and transport means, in particular the outer comb-like jaws, are retracted towards the rear part P in the longitudinal direction X-X of advancing movement;
b) arrival of a section of wire into a pick-up position;
c) opening, in the vertical direction, of the first gripping and transport means, in particular of outer comb-like jaws situated opposite each other in the vertical direction, and advancing thereof in the longitudinal direction towards a front part as far as a position for picking up a section of wire;
d) closing, into a position close together in the vertical direction, of the first gripping and transport means, in particular of the upper/lower outer comb-like parts situated opposite each other in the vertical direction, and gripping of the one or more sections of wire by said first gripping and transport means;
e) simultaneous or successive opening of second gripping means, in particular upper/lower central comb-like jaws, into a disengaged position spaced apart in the vertical direction;
f) displacement, towards a rear part in the direction of advancing movement, of the first gripping and transport means, in particular of the outer comb-like jaws, closed in the vertical direction, until the picked-up section of wire is brought inside the apparatus;
g) closing of the second gripping means, in particular of the central comb-like jaws, into the position close together in the vertical direction, for gripping the one or more sections of wire inside the apparatus, so as to ensure stable holding thereof;
h) repetition of steps a) - g) so that, for each cycle, each section of wire previously picked up advances in the longitudinal direction towards the rear part (P) until it reaches a final working position at the working unit;

The working step preferably comprises working of section of wire in a working position by means of the working unit.
Further details may be obtained from the following description of a nonlimiting example of embodiment of the subject of the present invention provided with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 : shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the present invention, divided up into two groups of components;
Figure 2 : shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to Fig. 1 with the components assembled;
Figure 3 : shows a side view of the gripping and feeding unit of the apparatus according to Fig.1;
Figure 4 : shows a schematic cross-section along the plane indicated by IV-IV in Fig.3;
Figure 5 : shows a front view of the bending unit of the apparatus in Fig. 1 during bending of a section of wire;
Figure 6 : shows a front view, on a larger scale, of the detail of the bending unit according to Fig. 7; and
Figs. 7a-7u : show side views and schematic cross-sections of the movements of the means for gripping and transporting the wire to the bending unit.

As shown in Fig. 1 and assuming solely for the sake of easier description and without a limiting meaning a set of three reference axes, i.e. in a longitudinal direction X-X, corresponding to the direction of advancing movement of a section of wire along the apparatus, transverse direction Y-Y, corresponding to the widthwise dimension of the apparatus, and vertical direction Z-Z, orthogonal to the preceding directions, as well as a front part "A" corresponding to the entry side for a section of wire 1 and a rear part "P" for exit of the bent wire, an example of a bending apparatus according to the invention comprises essentially:

a gripping and feeding unit 100 designed to grip, in a pick-up position, one or more sections of wire 1 and to move them inside the apparatus in a longitudinal direction X-X of advancing movement, so as to feed them to a working unit, in the preferred example consisting of a bending unit;
a bending unit 200 arranged downstream of the gripping and feeding unit 100, in the longitudinal direction X-X, connected to and synchronized with it and designed to perform the bending of each section of wire 1 fed to it.

In greater detail, the unit 100 for gripping and feeding the wires 1 to the machine comprises preferably:

a first upper block 110 supported by upper horizontal guides 112S on which it is able to slide in both senses of the longitudinal direction X-X.

The first upper block 110 is preferably divided into two half- blocks 110a, 110b which are fastened together in the transverse direction Y-Y so as to leave an interspace 110c.
The first upper block 110 is preferably slidable in both senses of the vertical direction Z-Z on vertical guides, i.e. front guides 111A and rear guides 111P, respectively.

a second lower block 120 supported by lower horizontal guides 1121 on which it is able to slide in both senses of the longitudinal direction X-X. The second lower block 120 is preferably divided into two half blocks 120a, 120b which are fastened together in the transverse direction Y-Y so as to leave an interspace 120c between them, the second lower block 120 is preferably slidable in both senses of the vertical direction Z-Z on associated vertical guides, i.e. front guide 121A and rear guide 121P.

Both blocks 110 and 120 in the example have, passing through them, a respective through- eyelet 113, 123 in the transverse direction Y-Y.
The gripping and feeding unit 100 comprises gripping and transport means designed to grip the wires and transport them inside the apparatus in the direction of advancing movement. In particular, the gripping and transport means comprise:

-- first gripping and transport means 116, movable in both senses of the vertical direction Z-Z between a spaced apart, or open, position for disengagement from the one or more sections of wire 1 and a close together, closed, position in the vertical direction for gripping the one or more sections of wire and movable in both senses of the longitudinal direction X-X;
-- second gripping means 117 which are movable, upon operation of associated operating means, in both senses of the vertical direction Z-Z between a spaced apart, open, position for disengagement from the one or more sections of wire, and a close together, closed, position for gripping the one or more sections of wire 1 inside the apparatus. The second gripping means 117 are in particular designed to retain the one or more sections of wire inside the apparatus in order to allow a movement of the first gripping and transport means 116 in the longitudinal direction, separate from the sections of wire 1.

Preferably, the first gripping and transport means 116 and the second gripping means 117 extend in the longitudinal direction X-X and in particular the second gripping means are arranged internally, in the transverse direction, relative to the first outer gripping and transport means 116.
In the preferred embodiment shown, said first gripping and transport means comprise a pair of upper outer comb-like jaws 116S and a pair of lower outer comb-like jaws 116I, all extending in the longitudinal direction X-X.
Each upper outer comb-like jaw 116a is situated opposite, in the vertical direction Z-Z, to a respective lower outer comb-like jaw 116I. In particular, each outer comb- like jaw 116S, 116I is connected to a respective upper half- block 110a, 110b or lower half-block 120a, 120b.
Each outer comb-like jaw is provided with respective seats 116Sa and 1161a arranged in sequence in the longitudinal direction and situated opposite in the vertical direction Z-Z to corresponding seats 116Ia, 116Sa of the opposite lower or upper comb-like jaw.
The seats 116la,116Sa are configured so as to form, in a close together position of the upper and lower comb-like jaws in the vertical direction Z-Z, a gripping seat with an overall form corresponding to that of the section of wire 1with which they come into contact during operation of the apparatus, as will become clear below from the description.
The two pairs of outer comb-like jaws, i.e. upper jaw 116S and lower jaw 116I, are movable together with the respective block 110S, 120I in both senses of the vertical direction Z-Z between a spaced apart position for disengagement from the one or more sections of wire 1 and a position close together in the same vertical direction for gripping the one or more sections of wire.
The two pairs of outer comb-like jaws, i.e. upper jaw 116S and lower jaw 116I, are also movable in both senses of the longitudinal direction X-X.
As will become clearer below, the movement of the outer comb-like jaws in the longitudinal direction may in particular allow the movement, in the longitudinal direction X-X of advancing movement, of the sections of wires which have already been picked up and are present inside the apparatus and/or the movement of the outer comb-like jaws in the longitudinal direction, separate from the sections of wire 1 inside the apparatus, in particular for gripping a new section of wire present in the pick-up position.
According to preferred embodiments, the first gripping and transport means, in particular the outer comb-like jaws, are movable in the longitudinal direction between a retracted position, set back towards the rear part P in the longitudinal direction X-X, and a outwardly protruding pick-up position, projecting in the longitudinal direction from the front part A of the apparatus, preferably with respect to the second gripping means, in particular realized in the form of central comb-like jaws described below.
According to a preferred embodiment of the second gripping means 117, a third central comb-like jaw, i.e. upper jaw 117S and lower jaw 117I, extending in the longitudinal direction X-X, is arranged in the transverse direction Y-Y between the two upper outer comb-like jaws 116S and lower outer comb-like jaws 116I.
The central comb-like jaws 117S,117I are movable, upon operation of associated operating means, in both senses of only the vertical direction Z-Z between a spaced apart, open, position for disengagement from the one or more sections of wire and a close together, closed, position for gripping the one or more sections of wire.
In the same way as the two pairs of outer comb-like jaws, the central comb-like jaws 117S,117I also have preferably seats 117Sa and 117Ia which are situated opposite each other in the vertical direction and which, in the close together position of the central jaws, are coupled together to form a respective seat for gripping the section of wire 1 with a form corresponding to that of the wire 1 with which they come into contact during operation of the apparatus.
As can be seen for example from Fig. 7u, in a configuration of outer comb-like jaws and central comb-like jaws all in a gripping position on the one or more sections of wire, the seats of the outer comb-like jaws and the central comb-like jaws are preferably aligned in the transverse direction Y-Y.
It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the second gripping means may also not have these gripping seats, but alternative gripping means suitable for retaining the one or more sections of wire 1, for example in the form of suitable retaining pads.
The gripping seats of the first gripping and transport means and of the second gripping means are preferably arranged spaced apart at a constant interval in the longitudinal direction X-X.
The apparatus further comprises means for operating the gripping and feeding unit and the working unit, designed to perform synchronized steps for the advancing movement and/or working of the sections of wire 1.
In particular, the means for operating the means for gripping and transporting the gripping and feeding unit are configured to operate the first gripping and transport means in the longitudinal direction X-X from the retracted position into the projecting pick-up position, while the second gripping means are in the close together, closed, position for gripping the one or more sections of wire 1 inside the apparatus; and/or for operating, in the longitudinal direction X-X, the first gripping and transport means arranged close together in the vertical direction gripped onto the sections of wire 1, from the projecting pick-up position into the retracted position, while the second gripping means are in the spaced apart, open, position, for disengagement from the one or more sections of wire 1.
As shown, in a preferred example of embodiment, the means for operating the gripping and feeding unit comprise means for operating, in the vertical direction, the outer and central comb-like jaws, i.e. upper jaws and lower jaws respectively, comprising:
a respective upper shaft 114 and lower shaft 214 extending parallel to the transverse direction Y-Y so as to cross the respective through-eyelet 113;123; although not shown, the shafts are connected to rotational driving means, which are controlled and activated by a control and actuating unit 500.
Each shaft 114,124 has preferably mounted thereon:

a respective pair of first outer cams 115Sa,115Sb and 215Ia,215Ib for performing the movement of the respective upper half- blocks 110a,110b and lower half-blocks 120a,120b in both senses of the vertical direction Z-Z;
a respective second inner cam 1165,216I, arranged between the two outer cams and designed to act on the central comb-like jaw 117S, 117I so as to move it in both senses of the vertical direction Z-Z.

According to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the operating means for moving, in the longitudinal direction X-X, the upper and lower outer comb-like jaws comprise:
two further shafts, i.e. an upper shaft 134S and lower shaft 134I, extending parallel to the transverse direction Y-Y, which carry a respective cam 136S,136I which acts on respective vertical extensions 110c, 120c so as to perform the movement of the respective first block 110 and second block 120 in both senses of the longitudinal direction X-X.
The preferred example of a working unit, configured as a bending unit 200, comprises:
a pair of pressers, i.e. upper presser 210 and lower presser 220, the free end - respectively lower and upper end - of which has a recess with a form corresponding to that of the wire 1 to be bent, with which they come into contact so as to ensure the stable holding thereof during bending of the ends.
The two pressers are operated by a respective cam 211S and lower cam 211I mounted a respective upper rotating shaft 212S and lower rotating shaft 212I and connected to the respective presser by means of a kinematic chain 213S and 213I designed to convert the rotational movement of the cam into a rectilinear upward/downward movement of the pressers in the two senses of the vertical direction Z-Z.
The unit 200 also comprises two pairs of cutters, i.e. upper cutter 215S and lower cutter 215I, the respective blades of which are arranged in a suitable position along the transverse direction Y-Y so as to act on the corresponding and opposite free ends of the wire 1 and cause bending thereof upwards and/or downwards.
Conveniently, the blades have a free bevelled end so as to facilitate the thrusting bending action on the ends of the wire.
The two pairs of cutters 215S and 215I are operated by a respective upper cam 216S and lower cam 216I mounted on the respective said rotating upper shaft 212S and lower shaft 212I and connected to the respective blades by means of a respective toggle mechanism, i.e. upper 217S and lower 217I, designed to convert the rotational movement of the respective cam into a rectilinear upward/downward movement of the blades in the two senses of the vertical direction Z-Z.
With reference to this configuration the operating principle of the apparatus, schematically illustrated in Fig. 7, where Figs. 7a, 7c, 7e, 7g, 7i, 7m, 7o show the movement of the cams, may be summarised as follows:

a) at start-up, the outer upper/lower outer comb-like jaws and the central comb-like jaw are respectively lowered/raised into the close together, closed, position in the vertical direction Z-Z, the outer comb-like jaws are also retracted towards the rear part P in the longitudinal direction X-X (Figs. 7a, 7b);
b) upon arrival of a section of wire 1 in the pick-position, the opposite outer comb-like jaws move apart in the vertical direction Z-Z (Figs. 7c,7d) and advance in the longitudinal direction X-X towards the front part A (Figs. 7e,7f) as far as the pick-up position;
c) when the position for picking up the section of wire 1 is reached, the outer upper/lower comb-like jaws are lowered/raised into the close together position in the vertical direction, thereby closing around the section of wire 1 (Figs. 7g,7h) which is gripped by a respective first gripping seat;
d) after closing of the outer comb-like jaws, the central comb-like jaws are raised/lowered (Figs. 7i.7l) into the disengaged position, spaced apart in the vertical direction Z-Z;
e) thereafter, the outer comb-like jaws move towards the rear part P in the longitudinal direction X-X, so as to bring the first section of wire 1 inside the apparatus (Figs. 7m,7n);
f) when the retracted end-of-travel position is reached by the outer comb-like jaws, the central jaws are lowered/raised into the close together position in the vertical direction, so as to close around the section of wire (Fig. 7o,7p) and ensure the stable holding thereof inside a respective gripping seat during a subsequent new cycle of opening and forwards displacement, in the longitudinal direction, of the outer comb-like jaws;
g) at this point the steps a)-f) are repeated (Figs. 7r-7u) so that, at each cycle, each section of wire which has been previously picked up advances one position in the longitudinal direction X-X towards the rear part P, passing to the next seat of the outer and central comb-like jaws, until a final working position at the bending unit is reached (Fig. 2);
h) when a section of wire is in the bending position the upper/lower pressers are operated downwards/upwards so as to retain the said wire (Figs. 5,6) and
i) the upper/lower cutters are operated downwards/upwards so as to perform bending of the ends of the said wire (Figs. 5,6).

With the cycle described above the operation of both the pairs of cutters causes bending of both the opposite ends of the wire, resulting in the formation of S-shaped or Z-shaped spanners.
It is, however, envisaged that during the working cycle it may be required to perform only one bend in the wire in order to form L-shaped spanners and in this case the control system will activate only one of the two pairs of upper/lower cutters.
It is therefore clear how with the device according to the invention it is possible to achieve precise gripping and movement of wire-like materials with feeding to a working station for subsequent bending thereof and highspeed working suitable for large-scale production. Owing to the particular configuration of the apparatus, it is also possible to keep the overall dimensions thereof small.
Although described in connection with a number of embodiments and a number of preferred examples of implementation of the invention, it is understood that the scope of protection of the present patent is determined solely by the claims below.

Claims

Apparatus for working, in particular bending, wire-like material, characterized in that it comprises:
- a gripping and feeding unit (100) for gripping and feeding one or more sections of wire (1), designed to grip one or more sections of wire (1) in a pick-up position and to move the one or more sections of wire (1) inside the apparatus along a longitudinal direction (X-X) of advancing movement, so as to feed them to a working unit;

- a working unit (200) for working, in particular bending, the one or more sections of wire (1), said working unit (200) being arranged downstream of the gripping and feeding unit in the longitudinal direction;

- operating means for operating the two gripping and feeding and working units, configured to perform synchronized steps of gripping, moving and/or working of the one or more sections of wire, characterized in that the gripping and feeding unit (100) comprises:
- first gripping and transport means (116) movable in both senses of a vertical direction (Z-Z) between a spaced apart position for disengagement from the one or more sections of wire (1) and a position close together in the vertical direction for gripping the one or more sections of wire, and also movable in both senses of the longitudinal direction (X-X);

- second gripping means (117) movable in both senses of the vertical direction (Z-Z) between a spaced apart, open, position for disengagement from the one or more sections of wire, and a close together, closed, position for gripping the one or more sections of wire (1) arranged inside the apparatus.
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first gripping and transport means (116) and the second gripping means (117) extend in the longitudinal direction (X-X) and/or in that the second gripping means are arranged internally, in a transverse direction (Y-Y), relative to the first outer gripping and transport means (116).
Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first gripping and transport means (116) of the gripping and feeding unit (100) comprise:
- a pair of upper outer comb-like jaws (116S) and a pair of lower outer comb-like jaws (116I), each upper outer comb-like jaw (116S) being arranged opposite in the vertical direction to a respective lower outer comb-like jaw (116I); wherein the upper outer comb-like jaws (116S) and lower outer comb-like jaws (116I) situated opposite each other in the vertical direction are movable in both senses of the vertical direction (Z-Z) between a spaced apart, open, position for disengagement from the one or more sections of wire and a close together, closed, position for gripping the one or more sections of wire;
and wherein the two pairs of upper outer jaws (116S) and lower outer jaws (116I) are also movable in both senses of the longitudinal direction (X-X).
Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the second gripping means (117) comprise: an upper central comb-like jaw (117S) arranged in a transverse direction (Y-Y) between the upper outer comb-like jaws (116S); and a lower central comb-like jaw (117I) arranged, in a transverse direction (Y-Y), between the lower outer comb-like jaws (116I); the central comb-like jaws (117S,117I) being movable, upon operation of associated operating means, in both senses of the vertical direction (Z-Z) between a spaced apart position for disengagement from the one or more sections of wire and a position, close together, for retaining the one or more sections of wire.
Apparatus according to one of Claims 1-4, wherein the first gripping and transport means (116), in particular the two pairs of upper outer comb-like jaws (116S) and lower outer comb-like jaws (116I), are movable in both senses of the longitudinal direction (X-X) between a retracted position, set back towards a rear part (P) in the longitudinal direction (X-X), and a pick-up position, projecting in the longitudinal direction from a front part (A) of the apparatus, and vice versa.
Apparatus according to one of Claims 1-5, wherein the first gripping and transport means (116) are provided with a plurality of seats for gripping a section of wire (1), arranged in sequence in the longitudinal direction, in particular wherein each outer comb-like jaw is provided with respective seats (116Sa) and (116Ia) arranged in sequence in the longitudinal direction and situated opposite in the vertical direction (Z-Z) to corresponding seats (116Ia,116Sa) of the lower comb-like jaw or upper comb-like jaw situated opposite it in the vertical direction, which seats are coupled together to form a respective seat for gripping a section of wire (1), in the close together, closed, position of the outer jaws.
Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second gripping means (117) are provided with a plurality of seats for gripping a section of wire (1), arranged in sequence in the longitudinal direction, in particular wherein the central comb-like jaws (117S, 117I) have respective seats (117Sa) and (117Ia) which are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction and which, in the close together position of the central comb-like jaws, are coupled together to form a respective seat for gripping the section of wire (1).
Apparatus according to Claim 6 and 7, characterized in that, in a configuration of the first gripping and transport means (116) and second gripping means (117), in particular in the form of outer comb-like jaws and central comb-like jaws, all in a closed position for gripping the one or more sections of wire, the gripping seats of the first gripping and transport means and of the second gripping means are aligned in the transverse direction (Y-Y); and/or in that the gripping seats of the first gripping and transport means and/or of the second gripping means are arranged spaced at a uniform interval in the longitudinal direction.
Apparatus according to one of Claims 1-8, characterized in that it comprises means for operating in the vertical direction (Z-Z) the first gripping and transport means and the second gripping means, in particular the outer and central, respectively upper and lower, comb-like jaws, comprising:
- a respective upper shaft (114) and lower shaft (214) extending parallel to the transverse direction (Y-Y), each shaft being connected to rotational driving means;

- first cam means (115Sa, 115sb, 215Ia,215Ib) arranged on each of said upper and lower shafts for driving the movement of the first gripping and transport means, in particular of the outer, respectively upper or lower, comb-like jaws, in both senses of the vertical direction (Z-Z);

- second cam means 1165,216I) arranged on each of said upper and lower shafts for moving the second gripping means, in particular the respective upper or lower central comb-like jaw, in both senses of the vertical direction (Z-Z).
Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that:
+ said first cam means comprise a respective pair of first outer cams (115Sa,115sb;215Ia,215Ib) arranged on each upper and lower shaft and acting on a respective upper block (110) or lower block (120) connected to the first gripping and transport means, each block comprising in particular two half-blocks (110a,110b;120a;120b) each connected to a respective outer comb-like jaw; and/or

+ said second cam means comprise a respective second inner cam (1165,216I) arranged between two first outer cams on the respective upper or lower shaft and designed to move the second gripping means, in particular the respective upper or lower central comb-like jaw, in both senses of the vertical direction (Z-Z).
Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized in that the first and/or second cams are housed inside respective through-eyelets formed in each upper/lower block and crossed by a respective shaft for driving the cams.
Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises operating means for moving the first gripping and transport means, in particular the upper and lower outer comb-like jaws, in the longitudinal direction (X-X), comprising:
- two further respectively upper (134S) and lower (134I) shafts extending parallel to the transverse direction (Y-Y) and carrying a respective cam (136S, 136I) which acts on a respective upper block (110) or lower block (120) for displacement thereof in both senses of the longitudinal direction (X-X);

- each said upper block (110) and lower block (120) being integral with the first gripping and transport means, in particular respectively integral with the upper outer comb-like jaws or the lower outer comb-like jaws.
Method for working, in particular bending, wire-like material by means of an apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the synchronized steps of:
- gripping and feeding one or more sections of wire (1), wherein one or more sections of wire are gripped by the gripping and feeding unit (100) in a pick-up position and moved inside the apparatus along a longitudinal direction (X-X) of advancing movement, so as to feed them to the working unit;

- working the one or more sections of wire fed by means of the working unit (200).
Method for working, in particular bending, wire-like material, according to the preceding claim, wherein the step of gripping and feeding one or more sections of wire (1) comprises:
a) start-up, where first gripping and positioning means, in particular upper and lower outer comb-like jaws, and second gripping means, in particular upper/lower central comb-like jaws, are respectively arranged in a close together, closed, position in a vertical direction (Z-Z); and wherein the first gripping and transport means, in particular the outer comb-like jaws, are retracted towards a rear part (P) in the longitudinal direction (X-X) of advancing movement;

b) arrival of a section of wire (1) into a pick-up position,

c) opening, in the vertical direction (Z-Z), of the first gripping and transport means, in particular of the outer comb-like jaws situated opposite each other in the vertical direction (Z-Z), and advancing thereof in the longitudinal direction (X-X) towards the front part (A) as far as a position for picking up a section of wire;

d) closing, into the position close together in the vertical direction (Z-Z), of the gripping and transport means, in particular of the upper/lower outer comb-like jaws situated opposite each other in the vertical direction (Z-Z), and gripping of the one or more sections of wire by said first gripping and transport means;

e) opening of the second gripping means, in particular of the upper/lower central comb-like jaws, into the disengaged position spaced apart in the vertical direction (Z-Z);

f) displacement, towards the rear part (P) in the direction of advancing movement (X-X), of the first gripping and transport means, in particular of the outer comb-like jaws, closed in the vertical direction, until the picked up section of wire (1) is brought inside the apparatus;

g) closing of the second gripping means, in particular of the central comb-like jaws, into the closed position close together in the vertical direction, for gripping the one or more sections of wire inside the apparatus, so as to ensure stable holding thereof;

h) repetition of steps a) - g) so that, for each cycle, each section of wire previously picked up advances in the longitudinal direction towards the rear part (P) until it reaches a final working position at the working unit;
and wherein the working step comprises:
i) working each section of wire in the working position by means of the working unit (200).
Method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the working step is a bending step and comprises in particular:
- operation of upper/lower pressers downwards/upwards for stably retaining the section of wire; and/or

- operation of upper/lower cutters downwards/upwards for bending one or both the ends of the section of wire.
Method according to one of Claims 14 and 15, wherein the first gripping and transport means and the second gripping means (117) are provided with a plurality of seats for gripping a section of wire (1) arranged in sequence in the longitudinal direction (X-X) and wherein the step f) of displacement of the first gripping and transport means (116) in the longitudinal direction (X-X) from the pick-up position to the retracted position causes the movement of each section of wire inside the apparatus in the longitudinal direction and towards the working unit, from a gripping seat of the second gripping means to the next gripping seat or to the working position.