US3599468A

US3599468A - Wire drawing and feeding apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3599468A
Application number: US816908A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard A Alcock; Robert B Johnston; Robert M Guthrie
Original assignee: FASTENER ENG Inc
Current assignee: FASTENER ENG Inc; FASTENER ENGINEERS Inc
Priority date: 1969-04-17
Filing date: 1969-04-17
Publication date: 1971-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-17

Abstract

An hydraulically operated wire drawing and feeding apparatus having stationary draw grippers for gripping and holding the wire during a draw stroke, a movable wire-drawing die which is hydraulically actuated to draw a section of wire during a draw stroke of one hydraulic actuator, and stock feed grippers mounted for movement with the draw die to feed a section of drawn wire during a return stroke of the hydraulic actuator, in which fluid under relatively high pressure is supplied to the hydraulic actuator during the drawing stroke and fluid under a relatively low pressure is supplied to the hydraulic actuator during the feed stroke.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Richard A. Alcock;

Robert B. Johnston; Robert M. Guthrie, all of Rockford, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 816,908 [22] Filed Apr. 17, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 17,197] [73] Assignee Fastener Engineers, Inc.

Rockford, Ill.

54 WIRE DRAWING AND FEEDING APPARATUS 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S.'Cl 72/287, 72/285 [51] Int. Cl B2lc 1/28 [50] Field of Search 72/285, 287,288, 23; 24, 27 [56] References Cited UN1TED STATES PATENTS 2,728,447 12/1955 Ware 72/285 3,290,916 12/1966 Louis 72/285 Primary Examiner-Richard .1. Herbst Assistant Examiner-Michael J. Keenan Attorney-McCanna, Morsbach, Pillote and Muir ABSTRACT: An hydraulically operated wire drawing and feeding apparatus having stationary draw grippers for gripping and holding the wire during a draw stroke, a movable wiredrawing die which is hydraulically actuated to draw a section of wire during a draw stroke of one hydraulic actuator, and stock feed grippers mounted for movement with the draw die to feed a section of drawn wire during a return stroke of the hydraulic actuator, in which fluid under relatively high pressure is supplied to the hydraulic actuator during the drawing stroke and fluid under a relatively low pressure is supplied to the hydraulic actuator during the feed stroke.

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WIRE DRAWING AND FEEDING APPARATUS stock from a supply source into the wire-drawing machine, which feed apparatus includes stock infeed grippers mounted on a carrier for movement along a guideway extending from the inlet of the wire-drawing machine. The guideway is shiftable relative to the draw axis of the wire-drawing machine and the stock infeed grippers are mounted on the carrier for shifting in a direction laterally of the guideway to laterally position the stock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wire-drawing machine of the movable die type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,337,881 having a wire feed mechanism associated with the movable wiredrawing die to feed drawn wire stock during the return stroke of the wire-drawing die. The invention embodies an hydraulic actuator for reciprocating the wire-drawing die and the wire feed mechanism on alternate strokes of the hydraulic actuator, and an hydraulic control system arranged to supply fluid at a relatively high pressure to the hydraulic actuator during the drawing stroke for drawing a section of wire and to supply fluid at a relatively lower pressure to the hydraulic actuator during the feed stroke to limit the force with which the stock is fed against a work stop and to also automatically adjust the stroke of the wire-drawing die and the stock feed mechanism to the distance required for feeding the desired length of the stock against the work stop.

The invention also includes a wire-feeding apparatus for feeding wire stock from a supply source into the wire-drawing machine. The wire exiting from the supply source such as a coil of wire is frequently not aligned with the inlet of the wiredrawing machine and, particularly when handling very heavy wires for example of the order of 1 inch in diameter, it is difficult to manually position and insert the end of the wire into the wire-drawing apparatus. Moreover, the wire as it exits from the supply source is frequently curved .or bent and this further aggravates the problem of inserting the end of the wire into the wire-drawing apparatus. The wire infeed apparatus includes stock infeed grippers mounted on a carrier movable along a guideway. The guideway has its outlet end mounted adjacent the inlet of the wire-drawing apparatus at a location to position the wire engaged by the grippers in approximate alignment with the inlet of the wire-drawing apparatus, when the grippers are adjacent the outlet end of the guideway. A means is provided for shifting the other end of the guideway to a position out of alignment with draw axis of the wire-drawing machine to enable the infeed grippers to engage stock at a location offset from the axis of the wire-drawing machine and to laterally shift the stock during feeding of the stock into the wire-drawing machine. The infeed grippers are ad vantageously supported on the carrier for shifting movement in a direction crosswise of the guideway to facilitate lateral positioning of the end of the wire. In the preferred embodiment, the infeed wire grippers comprise a pair of opposed wire-gripping jaws each mounted on the carrier for movement in a direction crosswise of the guideway, individual hydraulic actuators for moving each of the infeed gripper jaws, and a valve system for controlling the flow of fluid to the actuators for the gripper jaws which is selectively operable to move the jaws in relatively opposite directions into gripping engagement with the wire stock and to move the jaws in like directions crosswise of the guide means to laterally position the wire engaged by the gripper jaws.

An important object of this invention is to provide an hydraulically operated apparatus for drawing and feeding wire to a work stop in a wire-processing machine, in which the hydraulic controls provide a relatively high hydraulic thrust for drawing and a relatively lower hydraulic thrust for feeding the drawn stock to thereby limit the force with which the drawn stock is fed against a work stop.

Another object of this invention is to provide an hydraulically operated wire drawing and feeding apparatus for feeding drawn stock to a wire-processing machine, in which the stroke of the wire drawing and feeding apparatus is automatically adapted to feed the desired length of wire stock by adjustment of the position of the work stop in the wire-processing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stock feed apparatus for feeding wire from a supply source into a wiredrawing machine, which stock infeed apparatus is adapted to accommodate substantial misalignment between the wire exiting from the supply source and the inlet of the wire-drawing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stock feed apparatus for feeding stock from a supply source into a wiredrawing machine in which the stock feed apparatus has grippers which can be moved laterally and vertically while forcing the stock into the wire-drawing apparatus to accommodate misalignment between the wire and the wire drawing machine as well as bends and curves in the wire.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a simplified hydraulic actuator and control system for the stock infeed mechanism.

These, together with other objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a wire drawing and feeding apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view on a larger scale than FIG. 2 illustrating the wire drawing and feeding apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken on the plane 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. Sis a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the wire infeed apparatus, on a larger scale than FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view taken on the plane 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the hydraulic control system for the wire drawing and feed apparatus; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the electrical controls for the wire drawing and feeding apparatus.

In FIGS. I and 2, the wire drawing and feeding apparatus 10 is shown used to withdraw wire from a supply source 11 and to draw and feed the wire to a wire-processing machine 12. The wire-processing machine can be of various different constructions and may, for example, comprise a press having relatively movable cutoff dies 12a and 12b and a work stop 120. In the wire-processing machine shown, cutoff die 12b is mounted on a stationary bolster and die llZa is mounted on a movable ram 12d which is reciprocated as by a crank wheel 13. The wiredrawing and feeding apparatus is operated in timed relation with the operation of the movable cutoff dies of the wire processing machine to feed the wire stock W against the work stop or gauge 12c and to hold the cutoff operation.

The wire-drawing machine includes a frame structure 20 of any suitable construction for supporting the wire drawing and feeding apparatus. The wire drawing and feeding apparatus is of the movable die type and includes a movable wire-drawing die 21 and stationary draw grippers 22 at the die exit side of the wire-drawing die for gripping and holding the drawn wire during the drawing operation. The draw grippers 22 are mounted on a crosshead 23 attached to the frame 20 and a wire guide 24 is advantageously provided on the crosshead 23 to guide the end of the wire into the draw grippers 22 and to laterally center the wire with respect to the draw grippers.

The wire-drawing die 21 is mounted on a carrier 26 which is supported on guides 27 for reciprocation in a direction lengthwise of the wire. In the embodiment shown, the guides 27 are conveniently in the form of rods having one end mounted on the crosshead 23 and the other ends supported in it against the work stop during a crosshead 28 fixed to the frame structure 20. Linear fluid actuators are provided for reciprocating the carrier 26 and die 21 and, in the embodiment shown, a pair of linear actuators are provided and located at relatively opposite sides of the center line of the wire-drawing machine. Each linear actuator includes a cylinder member 31 and a piston member 32. The cylinder members 31 are conveniently mounted on the crosshead 23 and the piston members 32 are connected to the carrier 26 to reciprocate the latter.

The draw grippers 22 grip the drawn stock and hold the same during movement of the wire-drawing die 21 in a draw stroke, that is in a direction away from the draw grippers 22, and provision is made for advancing the wire stock on the return stroke of the drawing die. For this purpose, a set of stock feed grippers are mounted on the carrier 26 for movement by the same fluid actuators that reciprocate the drawing die. In the embodiment shown, the carrier 26 is formed in a single section and the stock feed grippers 35 are mounted on the carrier 26 at a location intermediate the drawing die 21 and the stock draw grippers 22 to grip and feed the drawn stock'during the return movement'of the fluid actuators. It is to be understood, however, that the carrier 26 could be formed in several sections operatively interconnected for movement by the fluid actuators 30, and that the stock feed grippers could be positioned so as to engage the drawn wire at any point intermediate the drawing die and the entrance to the wire-processing machine 12. With the disclosed arrangement, the stock draw grippers 22 operate to grip the drawn stock, to hold the same against retraction during the drawing stroke, that is during movement of the carrier 26 and die 21 to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the stock feed gripper means operate during the return stoke of the carrier to grip and feed the drawn wire to the wire-processing machine.

In order to facilitate starting of the wire-drawing operation, a set of push point grippers 38 are advantageously provided adjacent the inlet side of the wire-drawing die 21. The push point grippers 38 are conveniently mounted on the crosshead 28 and are used when starting a drawing operation to grip and hold the end portion of the stock while the drawing die 21 is pushed over the end of the stock. During push pointing of the wire, the carrier 26 is actuated in a manner described more fully hereinafter to push point an end section of the wire gripped by the push point grippers 38 until the push pointed end section is gripped by the feed grippers 35. When the carrier is thereafter moved to the right as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end section of the wire is pulled through the push point grippers and, when the carriage is subsequently moved in a drawing stroke, a further portion of the wire is drawn. The actuators30 are reciprocated a number of times during the push pointing operation until the drawn end section of the wire is sufficient to be engaged by the stock feed gripper jaws 22. At that time, the push point grippers 38 are rendered inoperative and remain so during the rest of the drawing operation.

The

several grippers

22, 35 and 38 may be of any suitable type for effecting gripping of the wire stock and, in the embodiment shown, are of the. wedge grip type. As shown, the draw grippers 22 are mounted in a pocket 40 formed in the crosshead 23 and comprise opposed wedge shape gripping blocks 22a and 22b disposed between guide members 42 having relatively converging guide faces 42a and 42b. The gripping blocks have concave wire-engaging faces 22c on the registering sides thereof and the gripping blocks and guide.

faces are arranged so that the blocks grip the wire to hold the same when the drawing die is moved away from the draw grippers, and the gripping blocks release the wire during the return stroke of the drawing die to allow advance of the wire stock. Antifriction roller elements 45 are preferably provided between the gripping blocks and guide faces of guides 42 to facilitate movement into and out of stock-gripping position. A means, such as a guide pin 46 disposed in cross slots 47 in the guide blocks, is advantageously provided to maintain the gripping blocks in opposed registry. In order to minimize slippage between the wire stock and the gripping blocks during drawing, provision is made for urging the gripping blocks into their wire-gripping position. Springs are commonly provided for yieldably urging the gripping blocks to their wire-gripping position. However, such jaw-operating springs maintain a continuous pressure on the jaws and, during feeding of the wire through the jaws, cause the jaws to exert a drag on the wire. In the preferred embodiment shown herein, a fluid actuator 49 is provided for urging the jaws into their gripping position, during the wire-drawing operation to provide more positive gripping of the wire and to minimize lost motion between the jaws and wire during the draw stroke. The fluid actuator is operated in a manner described hereinafter to release the jaws during the feed stroke to thereby minimize drag of the jaws on the wire. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fluid actuator has a movable piston rod 51 connected through a bellcrank 52 having a bifurcated upper end 53 arranged to engage actuating pins 54. The bellcrank is pivotally supported on a bracket 55 attached to the crosshead 53 and the pins 54 are slidably supported in the crosshead and engage the gripper blocks 21a and 22a to urge the latter in a direction to grip the wire stock when fluid pressure is applied to the actuator 49,

The grippers 35 are herein shown mounted in a pocket 56 which forms a jaw holder in the carrier 26. The grippers are in the form of wedge shaped gripping blocks 35a and 35b disposed between guide members 58 having relatively converging guide faces 58a and 53b. The wedge-shaped gripping jaws 35a, 35b and the converging guide faces 58a, 58b are arranged so as to move the gripping jaws into wire gripping position when the carrier is moved in a feed stroke, that is to the right as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, and to allow the jaws to release the wire when the carrier is moved in a draw stroke, that is to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4. Springs are commonly provided for yieldably urging the gripping jaws 35a and 35b into wire-gripping position. However, in the preferred embodiment shown, a fluid actuator 61 is provided for selectively operating the jaws to their gripping position during the feed stroke. The actuator 61 has its piston 62 connected to a bellcrank 63 pivotally mounted on a bracket 64 on the carrier 26. The bellcrank also has a bifurcated end arranged to engage pins 65 slidably supported in the carrier to urge the pins and hence the jaws in a direction to grip the wire stock. The actuator 61 is operated in a manner described hereinafter to automatically urge the grippers into wire-gripping position during the feed stroke and to release the grippers during the draw stroke of the carrier 26.

The wire grippers 38 are conveniently mounted in a pocket or jaw holder 68 on the crosshead 28. In the form shown, the grippers 38 include wedge shaped gripping jaws 38a and 38b disposed between guides 71 having relatively converging guide faces 71a and 71b. The jaw members are yieldably urged as by springs 72 in a direction to grip the wire therebetween and a means is provided for selectively moving the jaws to a release position after the wire stock has been push pointed to a length sufiicient to be gripped by the draw grippers 22. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a fluid actuator 74 is mounted on the crosshead 28 and has its piston rod 75 connected to a bellcrank 76 pivotally mounted at 77 on the crosshead. The bellcrank has a bifurcated upper end which engages rods 78 slidably supported in the crosshead and arranged to move the jaws 38a and 38b to a stock release position, when fluid is supplied to the actuator 74.

Reference is now made more specifically to the hydraulic power supply and control system for the wire-drawing apparatus, diagrammatically shown in FIG. 8 and to the electrical control system therefore shown in FIG. 9. Fluid pressure is supplied by a pump 71, preferably of the variable displacement type having a selectively operable control 72 for varying the pump displacement. The pump is driven by a drive motor 73 and pumps fluid from a reservoir 74 through an inlet strainer 75 to a fluid pressure delivery line 76.

The fluid pressure in the delivery line is conveniently controlled by a combination adjustable pressure relief valve 77 and bypass valve 78. The relief valve is selectively adjustable to adjust the relief pressure and the bypass valve 78 is preferably of the type arranged to normally bypass flow from the line 76 back to the reservoir, to unload the pump 71 when the drawing machine is idle. The bypass valve 78 is operated as by an electroresponsive actuator or solenoid 79 which, when energized, operates to shut off the bypass and thereby allow full pump delivery pressure to be regulated by the relief valve 77. An air bleed check valve is preferably connected to the delivery line 76 to bleed off air from the delivery line. A pressure gauge 82 is connected to the delivery line 76 through a two-way valve 83 to enable visual monitoring of the pressure in the delivery line.

Fluid under pressure from the delivery line 76 is reversibly supplied to the opposite ends of the hydraulic actuators 30 under the control of a four-way valve 85. This valve is of the three position electrically controlled type having springs 85a for centering the spool when the solenoids 66 and 67 are deenergized. When either solenoid is energized, the spool moves against the opposite spring. Thus, when solenoid 86 is energized, the spool is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 8 to supply fluid under pressure through one controlled outlet line 88 which is branched and connected to one end 310 of each of the cylinders 31, and when the solenoid 87 is energized, the spool is moved in the opposite direction to supply fluid under pressure through the other controlled outlet line 89 which is branched and connected to the other end 31b of each of the cylinders 31. Adjustable orifice valves 88a and 88b are preferably provided in the branches of line 88 leading to the ends 31a of the cylinders 31 to facilitate balancing or equalizing motion of the pistons 32 in the two fluid actuators 30 during the draw stroke. When the valve 85 is in a position supplying fluid under pressure to the ends 31a of the cylinders 31, the carrier 26 and the draw die 21 are moved in a draw stroke, that is to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 1. When fluid under pressure is supplied by the valve 35 to the other ends 3112 of the cylinders 31, the carrier 26 is moved in a feed stroke, that is to the right as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the control valve 65 is in its centered position, the valve spool is arranged to block flow from the discharge line 76 and to communicate both controlled

lines

88 and 89 leading to opposite ends of the cylinders with the return line 90, to vent both ends of the cylinders to the reservoir. Thus, when the valve 35 is in its neutral position, there is no hydraulic pressure on either side of the pistons 32 which would tend to move the same.

The force required to move the drawing die during the draw stroke varies with the tensile strength of the rods as well as the amount ofstock reduction effected in the draw. In general, the thrust or force required to move the carrier 26 during the draw stroke is relatively high for example in the range of 6,500 pounds of thrust to draw %inch wire; 12,000 pounds of thrust for 1 inch wire; and 25,000 pounds of thrust for lie-inch wire. The adjustable relief valve 77 is adjusted so as to maintain a sufficiently high fluid pressure at the ends 31a of the cylinders 31 during drawing (herein referred to as the draw ends of the cylinders) to not only provide the necessary thrust for drawing of the wire but also the somewhat higher (up to 50 percent higher) thrust required for push pointing of the wire. As shown in FIG. 6, the draw ends 31a of the cylinders are preferably at the side ofthe pistons opposite the piston rods so as to not only maximize the piston area to which the fluid pressure is applied during drawing, but to also minimize problems regarding leakage past the piston rod during drawing. Although a very high force is required to move the drawing die 21 during the drawing operation, a substantially lower force is required to effect feeding of the wire stock from the supply reel or through a wire straightening unit, if used, and to the wire-processing machine 12. For example, 56-inch wire only requires a force of about 600 to 700 pounds to feed the wire, while lye-inch wire requires about 7,500 pounds of thnist to feed the wire from the coil through the straightening rolls and wire-drawing machine to the work-processing machine. It is preferable to avoid feeding the wire with excessive force to the work-processing machine since this not only tends to damage or deflect the work stop in the wire-processing machine, but also increases the tendency of the wire stock to rebound after striking the work stop. Provision is herein made for limiting the pressure applied to the cylinder ends 31b (herein referred to as the feed ends of the cylinders), to a preselected relatively lower value sufficient to pull the wire from the supply reel and through a wire-straightening device, and to advance the wire through the wire-drawing machine to the wire-processing machine. In the form shown, this is advantageously achieved by a pressure control valve 91 connected in the fluid delivery line 76 ahead of the flow-reversing valve 85. The pressure control valve 91 has a valve member 91a normally urged to an open position as by spring 91b, and a pressure-responsive fluid actuator 910 for moving the valve member to its closed position. The pressure-responsive fluid actuator is connected through a line 92 to the controlled line 89 leading to the feed ends 3112 of the cylinders 31. Thus, when the valve member is in a position to supply fluid under pressure to the draw ends 31a of the cylinders, line 69 is communicated with the reser' voir and a flow control valve 91 remains open. On the other hand, when the valve 85 is positioned to supply fluid under pressure through the control line 89 to the feed ends of the cylinders, the pressure in the line 89 will build up as soon as the wire stock engages the work stop or gauge 12c in the wireprocessing machine and this increase in pressure is applied to the pressure-responsive actuator 910 of the valve 91 to move the valve to a position throttling flow through the line 76. The force required to feed the stock varies in different installations dependent on the stiffness of the wire and the use or nonuse of auxiliary apparatus, such as wire-straightening apparatus, which engage the wire during feeding. The pressure control valve 91 is accordingly of the adjustable type and is adjustable to vary the maximum pressure supplied to the feed ends 3112 of the cylinder to a value sufficient to enable the feed jaws to pull the wire from the supply reel, through a wire-straightening unit, if one is used, and to advance the wire to the wireprocessing machine, without subjecting the work stop to excessive pounding. In general, the thrust required for feeding the work is only a fraction, for example one-half or less, of the force required to effect drawing of the wire stock. As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 6, the valve 91 has a threadedly adjustable knob 91d for adjusting the pressure applied by a spring 91:2 to the fluid actuator 910, to variably counteract the spring 911;. This arrangement maintains a constant relatively low pressure on the pistons 32 of the fluid actuator when the work piece engages the work stop to hold the work piece against the work stop, but without applying excessive pressure to the work stop. Moreover, this arrangement automatically limits the stroke of the fluid actuators to that required to advance the wire against the work stop.

As previously described, fluid actuators 49 and 61 are provided for moving the jaw grippers 22 and feed grippers 35 into wire gripping position and provision is made for automatically supplying fluid to the actuators 419 and 61 in timed relation with the reciprocation of the carrier 26. As shown in FIG. 6, the pistons 51 and 62 of the actuators 19 and 61 are spring urged by springs 419a and 61a respectively to a gripper release position. Fluid pressure is alternately supplied to the actuators 49 and 61 during drawing and feeding and, conveniently, this is achieved under the control of the flow-reversing valve 65 which controls the flow of fluid to the draw actuators 31. For this purpose, the fluid actuator 419 is connected through a line 95 to the control line 66 leading to the draw end 31a of the draw cylinders 31 and the fluid actuator 61 is connected through a line 89 leading to the feed end 3112 of the cylinders 31. Thus, when the control valve 85 applies pressure to the line 66 to move the carrier in a draw stroke, fluid is also applied to the actuator 49 to move the draw grippers 22 into gripping engagement with the wire. Similarly, when fluid pressure is applied to the control line 89 leading to the feed end of the draw actuators, fluid pressure is also applied to the fluid actuator 61 to move the feed grippers 35 into wire-gripping position.

Reference is now made to the electrical control circuit diagrammatically shown in FIG. 9. Power supply lines L1L3 are connectedthrough a'switch 101 and conductors 102a 102c and motor relay contacts 103a103c to the drive motor 73 for the hydraulic pump 71. Closing of the main switch 101 applies power through a transformer 104 to a low-voltage control

circuit including conductors

105 and 106. A normally closed stop switch 107 and a normally opened start switch 108 are connected in a series circuit with normally closed motor overload relays 109 and a motor start relay 111. The aforementioned series circuit is connected to

conductors

105 and 106 so that, upon closing the start switch 108, the motor start relay 111 is energized to close relay contacts 103a103c to start the pump drive motor 73. A control relay 112 is connected in parallel with the motor start relay 111 so as to also be energized upon closing of the start switch 108 and the control relay operates to close normally open relay contact 112a connected in parallel with the start switch 108 to establish a holding circuit to maintain the motor start relay energized when the start switch 108 is thereafter opened. Thus, starting of the motor 73 is effected by closing the start switch 108 and the motor will remain energized when the start ,switch thereafter opens and until the stop switch 107 is thereafter depressed to open the circuit to the motor control relay. An indicator light 115 is connected in parallel with the motor start relay to indicate when the latter is energized.

The control relay 112 also controls a contact 112b to establish a circuit from conductor 105 to conductor 116. Line 116 is connected through a selector switch herein shown as a single-pole double-throw switch 117 which is movable from a automatic position establishing a circuit to contact 117b. When the selector switch 117 is in its automatic position engaging contact ll7a, a circuit is established through conductor 119, normally open timing switch 121 and draw solenoid 86 to conductor 106 to energize the draw solenoid when thelimit switch 121 is closed. A circuit is also established through conductor 123, normally open timing switch 124 and feed solenoid 87 to conductor 106 to energize the feed solenoid when the limit switch 124 is closed. A further circuit is established through a conductor 127 to the bypass valve operatingsolenoid 79 toenergize the latter and close the bypass valve.78. Timing switches 121 and 124 are operatedby the wire-processing machine to effect operation of the wiredrawing apparatus in timed relation therewith and, as shown in FIG. 1, are conveniently operated by rotary cams 121a and 124a on a shaft l24b driven, as by a chain 13a from the crank well 13 of the wire-processing machine. The cams 124a and 1210 are angularly adjustable on shaft 124b to facilitate timing of the wire-drawing machine with the wire-processing machine. Timing switch 124 is closed by cam 124a as the eutoff rarn 12d approaches its raised position, as shown in FIG. 1, to thereby energize the feed solenoid 87 and move the valve 85 to its left-hand position as shown in FIG. 8 supplying fluid under pressure to the feed end 31b of the fluid actuator cylinder 31. The wire stock is fed while the ram is in a raised position and cam 124a holds the switch 124 closed for a time sufficient to complete the feed stroke of the wire-drawing machine. As the ram moves down and preferably after the die 12a reaches its wirecutting position, the cam 121a closes timing switch 121 to thereby energize the draw solenoid 86 and move the valve ,85 to its'right-hand position supplying fluid under pressure to the draw end 31a of the fluid actuator cylinders 31. Cam 121a holds the switch 121 closed for a time sufficient to complete the drawing stroke and then allows the switch 121 to open and return the valve 85 to its neutral position.

Manually operable controls are provided to enable manual operation of the wire-drawing machine during push pointing and starting of the drawing operatiom-Movement of the selector switch 117 out of engagement with contact 117a and into engagement with contact 1 17b disconnects the automatic control circuit for the wire-drawing apparatus and establishes a manual control circuit for the wire-drawing apparatus. The manual controls include a normally open manually operable draw switch 131 connected through a conductor 132 to the contact 117b and connected through conductor 133 to the draw solenoid 86 to energize the latter when the switch 131 is closed. The draw switch 131 preferably includes a second set of contacts 134 adapted to be closed when the draw switch 131 is closed, and which contacts are connected through conductor 132 to the contact 1171: and through conductors 135 and 136 to the bypass valve solenoid 79. A normally open manually operated feed switch 138 is connected through conductor 132 to contact 117b and through conductor 139 to the feed solenoid 87 to energize the latter. Feed switch 138 also preferably includes a second set of contacts 141 adapted to be closed when the feed switch 138 is closed, and which contacts establish a circuit to the bypass valve operating solenoid 79 to energize the latter. A infeed jog switch 145 is connected to conductor 132 and conductor 136 to establish a circuit to the bypass valve operating solenoid to selectively operate the bypass valve and close the bypass, for a purpose described hereinafter. With the manual controls, the draw switch 131 can be operated to hydraulically actuate the carrier 26 to move the drawing die in a draw stroke and the switch 138 can be operated to hydraulically actuate the carrier 26 to move the feed grippers 36 in a feed stroke.

The wire-drawing apparatus can be manually operatedto push point the wire, after the end of the wire has been inserted into the push point grippers 38. Thus, the manual controls can operate to move the draw die in a draw stroke to draw an end section of the wire until the drawn end section extends into the feed grippers 35. The feed grippers then engage and advance the drawn end section during the subsequent feed stroke. The draw die and feed grippers are reciprocated under the manual controls a number of times until the drawn end section of the wire is sufficient to be engaged by the draw grippers 22. At that time, the push point grippers 38 are rendered inoperative. As previously described,-a fluid actuator 74 is provided for rendering the push point grippers 38 inoperative. As shown in FIG. 8, this actuator is normally urged to a retracted position as by spring 74a and fluid pressure is selectively applied and exhausted from the actuator 74 under the control of a valve 70. The actuator 74 can be either hydraulically or pneumatically actuated and in the embodiment shown, it is pneumatically actuated from a pneumatic supply line'indicated at 70a. It is apparent, however, that the line 70a to the valve 70 could be connected to the hydraulic supply system, if desired.

It is common practice in wire-drawing machines to utilize a wire-straightening unit, such as indicated at 150, ahead of the draw dies. In the embodiment shown, the wire-straightening unit comprises a lower set of straightening rolls 151a 151a and an upper set of straightening rolls 152a152b mounted in staggered relation to the rolls in the lower set. The rolls are preferably mounted for limited adjustment relative to each other to accommodate different size wire. Entering guide rolls 153a and 15312 are provided adjacent the inlet of the wire-straightening unit and define the inlet of the wire-drawing machine.

In order to start a drawing operation, it is necessary to advance the end of the wire through the straightening unit 150 and into the infeed grippers 38 of the wire-drawing machine. The wire as it leaves the supply source 11 is frequently not straight and considerable force is required to push the end of the wire through the straightening unit and into the push point grippers 38. A wire feed apparatus is disclosed herein for feeding the wire from the supply source into the inlet of the wire-drawing machine.

The wire infeed apparatus 160 includes a guideway 161 extending from the inlet of the wire-drawing machine and a wiregripping mechanism 162 mounted for movement along the guideway 161 to feed an end section of the wire into the inlet of the wire-drawing machine. The guideway 161 shown herein is in the general form of a box beam having top and

bottom walls

165 and 166 and sidewalls 167 extending between the top and bottom walls. The gripper mechanism 162 is mounted on a carriage including spaced side plates 168a and l68b and upper and lower sets of tie bars 169a and 16% extending between the plates 168a and 168b tospacethe latter. Upper and lower sets of rollers 171a and 17lb are supported on the tie bars 169a and 16% and engage the top and

bottom walls

165 and 166 of the guideway to support the carriage for movement therealong.

The stock gripper apparatus is advantageously in the form of a pair of opposed gripper jaws 172 and 173 having opposed wire-gripping

surfaces

172a, 173a. The wire-gripping jaws are mounted for movement in relatively opposite directions into and out of gripping engagement with the wire stock and are also preferably mounted for limited shifting movement in a direction crosswise of the guideway to facilitate lateral positioning of the wire gripped by the jaws. As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the wire-gripping jaws are pivotally mounted on the carriage for movement about a common axis extending lengthwise of the guideway. In particular, a generally I-shaped head 181 is attached to one set of upper and lower cross shafts 169a and 169b, as by fasteners 182 for movement with the carriage. The head 181 extends through elongated slots 165a and 166a in the top and

bottom walls

165 and 166 respectively of the guide and a pivot pin 185 is attached to the upper end of the I-shaped head 181. The jaws 172 and 173 have overlapping hinge knuckles 172b and 173b respectively pivotally mounted on the pin 185 and retained thereon as by a collar 187 and lock ring 188. The jaws 172 and 173 are thus supported for movement relative to each other into and out of wire-gripping position and can also be moved in unison about the pin 185 to laterally shift the wire gripped by the jaws relative to the carriage and guideway. Individual

fluid actuators

189 and 190 are provided for moving the jaws 173a and 171%. Actuator 189 includes a cylinder 189a attached to the side plate 168b, and a piston rod 18% connected to the jaw 172 at a point eccentric to its pivot axis. Actuator 190 similarly includes a cylinder 190a attached to the plate 168a and a piston rod 190b connected to the jaw 173.

The wire stock as it leaves the supply reel 11 is frequently out of alignment with the inlet of the wire-drawing machine and, moreover, the wire is often curved or bent. In order to adapt the wire infeed apparatus to feed wire stock under such varied conditions, the guideway has one end supported adjacent the inlet of the wire-drawing machine at a location such as to position the wire gripped by the infeed grippers 162 in approximate alignment with the inlet of the wire-drawing machine, when the wire grippers are adjacent the inlet of the wire-drawing machine. However, the other end of the guide 160 is supported so that it can be shifted to enable shifting of the grippers 162 when they are spaced from the end of the guide 160 As shown, the guide 160 is mounted on an arm 195 supported for pivotal movement about a shaft 196 adjacent the inlet of the wiredrawing machine. The guide 160 can thus be swung from the generally horizontal position shown in FIG. 1 respectively above and below that position to facilitate gripping of the wire stock as it exits from the supply reel 11. A fluid actuator 198 is provided for elevating and lowering the guideway 160, and, as shown in FIG.1, the actuator includes a cylinder 198a pivotally mounted on the frame and a piston rod [98b connected to the arm 195 at a point eccentric to the pivot axis 196. A fluid actuator 199 is also provided for shifting the carriage and grippers 162 along the guideway and, as shown, includes a cylinder 199a mounted on the inside of the box beam and a piston rod 19% connected to the head 181.

The hydraulic controls for the wire infeed apparatus are shown in FIG. 8. The hydraulic controls for the

grip actuator cylinders

189a and 190a are arranged so that the grip actuators can move the jaws 172 and 173 in relatively opposite directions into and out of gripping engagement with the wire, and also move the jaws in unison to laterally shift the wire gripped by the jaws. Fluid pressure for the infeed apparatus is preferably supplied by a separate hydraulic pump 200, conveniently driven by the motor 73, it being understood that pump 71 could be used, if desired. As shown, the hydraulic controls include a manually operable four-way valve 201 of the three-position type for moving the jaws into and out of gripping engagement with the wire stock; a manually operable four-way valve 202 of the three-position type for shifting the grippers in unison while in gripping engagement with the stock to laterally position the stock engaged by the grippers, and a two-way, two-position valve 203 for locking the jaws in gripping position. Valve 201 has an inlet line 204 connected to the fluid pressure supply line 200a from the pump 200, and first and second controlled outlet lines 205 and 206. Controlled outlet line 205 is connected to the rod end of one cylinder a and through conduit 205a to the rod end of cylinder 189a. Valve 201 also has a return line 208 for returning fluid to the reservoir, as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 0.

Valve 202 has a supply inlet 211 connected to the pressure supply line 200a and a return line 212 connected to the reservoir. The valve also has controlled outlet lines 213 and 214 respectively connected through metering-out check valves 215 and 216 to the blind end of the

cylinders

190a and 189a respectively. The blind ends of the

cylinders

190a and 189a are also respectively connected through the metering-out check valves 215 and 216 and

lines

217 and 218 to the inlet ports of the valve 203. The outlet ports of valve 203 are interconnected by a line 207 to the controlled outlet line 206 of valve 201.

Valves

201 and 202 are of the flowreversing type which, in their center position, block the controlled outlet ports. Jaw lock valve 203 is operative in its lock position shown in FIG. 8 to block the

lines

217 and 218 and is operative in its other or open position to pass fluid from these lines to the controlled outlet line 206. In order to move the jaws into and out of gripping position, it is necessary to move the jaw lock valve 203 to its open positionand to also move the valve 201 either to the left or to the right from its neutral position shown in FIG. 8. When the valve 201 is moved to the right, fluid under pressure is supplied through

lines

205, 205a to the rod ends of the cylinders 190a and 1890 and fluid from the blind ends of these cylinders is passed through the metering-out orifices 215 and 216,

lines

217 and 218, line 206 and valve 201 back to the reservoir to thereby move the piston rods downwardly and open the jaws. Closing of the jaws is effected by moving valve 201 to the right from the position shown in FIG. 0. The jaws can then be effectively locked in gripping engagement with the wire by moving valve 201 back to its neutral position to block flow of fluid to the blind ends of cylinders 190a and 18911 and to also move the valve 203 to its lock position shown blocking flow from

lines

217 and 218. Valve 202 can then be operated to move the jaws in unison either to the left or to the right. Thus, when the valve 202 is moved to the left from the position shown in FIG. 2, or 8, fluid under pressure is supplied to the blind end of cylinder 190a and fluid is returned from the blind end of cylinder 189a. This will tend to urge the piston 190k upwardly and the piston 18% downwardly and, since the rod end of

cylinder

190a and 189a are interconnected by line 205a, the pistons will tend to move substantially equal distances in relatively opposite directions to shift the rod engaged by. the grippers laterally in one direction. When the valve 202 is moved to its other flow position, the rods will similarly be shifted in the relatively opposite directions laterally of the guides. In this manner, the wire can be gripped by the jaws and then laterally shifted to facilitate positioning of the wire in alignment with the inlet of the wire-drawing machine.

Raising and lowering of the infeed guide is effected under the control of a manually operable fourway valve 225 of the three-position type which is normally biased to its center position as by spring 225a. The valve has an inlet line 226 connected to the fluid supply line 200a and a return line 227 connected to reservoir. The controlled

outlet lines

228 and 229 are connected to opposite ends of the actuator cylinder 198a for raising and lowering the same. Feeding of the wire stock engaged by the grippers is effected under the control of a'fourway valve 231 of. the three-position type having a spring 231a normally urging the valve to its centeredl position. Valve 231 has an inlet line 232 connected to the fluid supply line 200a and a return line 233 connected to the reservoir. Controlled outlet lines 234 and 235 are connected to opposite enltls of the feed cylinder 199a to reciprocate the stock grippers along the guideway. As will be seen, the valve 231 can, be operated to move the feedgrippers to the inlet end of the guideway 160 and the valve 225 can be .operated to raise or ldwer the guideway as required to position the jaws at a level Eadjabdnt the level of the wire exiting from the supply source. Further, valve 202 can be operated to laterally shift the jaws as requii'ed to engage the wire and

valve

201 and 203 can be operated to move the jaws into and out of gripping englagement'with the wire. After the jaws have gripped the wire, they can be advanced along the guideway toward the inlet of the wire-drawing machine and the wire engaged by the grippers 162 can be raised or lowered or moved sideways as required to position the end of the wire in the inlet of the wire-drawing apparatus. The feed grippers can thereafter be operated through several strokes, if required to feed an adequate length of wire through the wire straightening unit 150 and into the push point grippers 38. Even after the end of the wire is inserted in the inlet of the wire-straightening unit, it .is frequently found that the end section of the wire to be advanced into the wirestraightening unit is still substantially out of alignment with the axis of the wire-drawing machine. The grippers can, after gripping the wire, be manipulated to laterally shift the wire and even bend the same to enable pushing the wire into the drawing apparatus. While a single wire-gripping unit is shown herein mounted for movement along the guideway, it is contemplated that an additional wire infeed gripper unit can be mounted for movement along the guideway and operated under similar control valves alternately with the infeed gripper unit shown, to effect feeding of the wire stock into the wiredrawing machine.

A selectively operable wire-locking device is preferably provided to inhibit retrograde movement of the wire during feeding of the wire into the wire-straightening unit. As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 8, the wire-locking device includes a wire-engaging member 240 which is adapted to wedge the wire in the entering guide rolls 153a and 15311. The wire-engaging member 240 has a convex upper surface generally complementary to the groove in the guide roll 153a and a concave undersurface generally complementary to the wire W, and is mounted for movement into and out of a position wedged between the wire W and the guide roll 153a at the exit side of the latter, as shown in FIG. 6. A fluid actuator including a cylinder 241 and piston 241a is provided for moving the wireengaging member 240. The wire-engaging member 240 is mounted on the rod of the piston and is yieldably urged to a retracted position, as by a spring 243 in the cylinder, as shown in FIG. 8. The cylinder is supported at its upper end for limited pivotal movement by a bracket 242 to allow the member 240 to firmly wedge between the wire stock and the roller, when the piston 241a is extended. The piston is fluid actuated to an extended position under the control of a manually operable valve 244. The valve 244 is normally positioned to vent the cylinder 241 to atmosphere, as shown in FIG. 8, and is selectively movable to a position supplying fluid pressure, such as air pressure from supply line 70a, to the cylinder to move the wire-engaging memberinto a wire-locking position. As will be seen, the valve 244 can be operated to lock the wire against retrograde movement during retraction of the carriage of the wire infeed apparatus.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation of the wire di and feeding apparatus will be readily understood. During startup of the wire-drawing operation the infeed apparatus is operated to grip the wire exiting from the wire supply 11 and to feed the end of the wire into the inlet of the wire straightening unit l50 until the end of the wire is gripped by the push pointing jaws 38. During feeding of the wire, the infeed guide 160 can be swung upwardly or downwardly as required to accommodate the misalignment of the wire exiting from the supply source and the inlet of the wire-drawing apparatus. Moreover, the infeed jaws can be shifted laterally to accommodate lateral misalignment. After the end of the wire is positioned in the push pointing jaws 38, the apparatus is manually operated under the control of switches 131 and 134 to draw an end section of the wire sufficient to extend the drawn section int the draw grippers 22. At that time, the actuator 74 is operated to move the push point grippers 38 to their inoperative position. Selector switch 117 can then be moved into engagement with contact 1170 and the wire-drawing machine will thereafter cycle automatically in timed relation with the wire-processing machine 12 as previously described.

What we claim as new is:

1. In an apparatus for drawing and feeding a section of wire stock against a work stop of a wire-processing machine, said apparatus including a frame having carrier means reciprocable thereon and a drawing die on the carrier means adapted to perform a drawing operation on wire stock, stock draw gripper means mounted on the frame at the die exit side of the drawing die operative to grip and hold the stock when the carrier means is moved in a draw stroke away from the stock draw gripper means, stock feed gripper means mounted on said carrier means operative to grip and advance the stock when the carrier means is moved in a feed stroke toward the stock draw gripper means, the improvement comprising hydraulic actuator means operatively connected to said frame and said carrier means for moving the latter in said draw and feed strokes, hydraulic power means including a valve means operative to supply fluid to said hydraulic actuator means to move the carrier means in said draw and feed strokes, and means for controlling the fluid pressures supplied to said hydraulic actuator means to provide a first relatively high pressure to move the carrier means in said draw stroke and to provide a second relatively lower pressure to move the carrier means in said feed stroke.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 including means for operating said valve means in timed relation with the workprocessing machine.

3. In a wire drawing and feeding apparatus including a frame having carrier means reciprocable thereon and a drawing die on the carrier means adapted to perform a drawing operation on wire stock, stock draw gripper means mounted on the frame at the die exit side of the drawing die operative to grip and hold the stock when the carrier means is moved in a draw stroke away from the stock draw gripper means, stock feed gripper means mounted on the carrier means operative to grip and advance the stock when the carrier means is moved in a feed stroke toward the stock draw gripper means, the improvement comprising double-acting hydraulic actuator means including reciprocably cooperable cylinder and piston members operatively connected to said frame and said carrier means for moving the latter in said draw and feed strokes when fluid under pressure is supplied to said cylinder member at first and second sides of the piston member respectively, hydraulic power means including pump means and a flowreversing valve means operative in first and second positions thereof to supply fluid to said cylinder member at said first and second sides of said piston member respectively, and means for controlling the fluid pressure supplied by said pump means to said cylinder member to provide a first relatively high pressure at said first side of the piston member for moving the carrier means in said draw stroke and to provide a second relatively low pressure at said second side of the piston member for moving the carrier means in said feed stroke.

4. A wire drawing and feeding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for controlling pressure includes a pressure control valve operative to control flow from said pump means to said flow reversing valve means, said pressure control valve including pressure operated means responsive to pressure at said second side of said piston for throttling flow from said pump means to said flow reversing valve.

5. A wire drawing and feeding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said flow-reversing valve is of the three-position type having a neutral position operative to equalize pressures at opposite sides ofthe piston member.

6. A wire drawing and feeding apparatus according to claim 3 including fluid-actuated means for moving said draw gripper means and said feed gripper means into gripping engagement with the wire stock, and means for supplying fluid pressure to said fluid-actuated means in timed relation with the reciprocation of said carrier meansv 7. A wire drawing and feeding apparatus according to claim 3 including first and second fluid-actuated means for respectively moving said draw gripper means and said feed gripper means into gripping engagement with the wire stock, and means operative in said first position of said valve means for supplying fluid pressure to said first fluid-actuated means and means operative in said second position of said valve means for supplying fluid pressure to said second fluid actuated means.

8. A wire drawing and feeding apparatus comprising a frame having carrier means reciprocable thereon and a drawing die on the carrier means adapted to perform a drawing operation on wire stock, stock draw gripper means mounted on the frame at the die exit side of the drawing die for gripping and holding the stock when the carrier means is moved in a draw stroke away from the stock draw gripper means, stock feed gripper means on said carrier means for gripping and advancing the stock when the slide means is moved in a feed stroke toward the stock draw gripper means, double-acting hydraulic actuator means including reciprocably cooperable cylinder and piston members operatively connected to said frame and said carrier means for moving the latter in said draw and feed strokes when fluid under pressure is supplied to said cylinder member respectively at first and second sides of the piston member, hydraulic power means including pump means and a flow-reversing valve means operative in first and second positions thereof to supply fluid to said cylinder members at said first and second sides of the piston member respectively, a first fluid-operated means for biasing said stock draw gripper means into gripping engagement with the stock, means operative when said flow-reversing valve is in said first position for applying fluid pressure to said first fluid operated means to urge said stock draw gripper means into gripping engagement with the stock a second fluid operated means for biasing said stock feed gripper means into engagement with the stock, and means operative when said flow-reversing valve is in said second position for applying fluid pressure to said second fluid-operated means to urge said stock feed gripper means into gripping engagement with the stock.

9. A wire drawing and feeding apparatus according to claim 8 including means for controlling the fluid pressure supplied to said cylinder member to provide a first relatively high pressure at said one side of the piston member for moving the carrier means in said drawing stroke and to provide a second relatively low pressure at said second side of the piston member for moving the carrier means in said feed stroke.

10. In combination with a wire-processing machine having a work stop and a cutoff mechanism operable through a cycle to cut off a blank from a length ofwire stock, apparatus for draw ing a length of wire stock correlative with the length of the blank in timed relation with the operation of the wireprocessing machine, said apparatus including a stationary frame having carrier means movable thereon in first second relatively opposite directions respectively toward and away from the work stop, a drawing die on the carrier means, stock gripper means mounted on the frame at the die exit side of the drawing die operative to grip and hold the wire stock when the carrier means is moved in said second direction away from the work stop, fluid actuator means including cylinder and piston actuator members operatively connected to said frame and to said carrier means for moving the latter relative to the frame, means including valve means operated in timed relation with said processing machine for supplying fluid at a first relatively high pressure to said actuator means to move the carrier meansin said second direction in a draw stroke, and means for supplying fluid at a second relatively lower pressure to said ac tuator means to move said carrier means in said first direction toward said work stop.

52 3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,599 A68 Dated August 17 1971 Inven 0r( Richard A. Aloook. Robert B. Johnston. Robert M. Guthrie It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The view printed on the front or title page of the printed copies of the patent should conform to Figure l of the drawings.

Column 1 line 23, after "first" should be and Signed and sealed this 7th day of March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 Including means for operating said valve means in timed relation with the work-processing machine.

3. In a wire drawing and feeding apparatus including a frame having carrier means reciprocable thereon and a drawing die on the carrier means adapted to perform a drawing operation on wire stock, stock draw gripper means mounted on the frame at the die exit side of the drawing die operative to grip and hold the stock when the carrier means is moved in a draw stroke away from the stock draw gripper means, stock feed gripper means mounted on the carrier means operative to grip and advance the stock when the carrier means is moved in a feed stroke toward the stock draw gripper means, the improvement comprising double-acting hydraulic actuator means including reciprocably cooperable cylinder and piston members operatively connected to said frame and said carrier means for moving the latter in said draw and feed strokes when fluid under pressure is supplied to said cylinder member at first and second sides of the piston member respectively, hydraulic power means including pump means and a flow-reversing valve means operative in first and second positions thereof to supply fluid to said cylinder member at said first and second sides of said piston member respectively, and means for controlling the fluid pressure supplied by said pump means to said cylinder member to provide a first relatively high pressure at said first side of the piston member for moving the carrier means in said draw stroke and to provide a second relatively low pressure at said second side of the piston member for moving the carrier means in said feed stroke.

5. A wire drawing and feeding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said flow-reversing valve is of the three-position type having a neutral position operative to equalize pressures at opposite sides of the piston member.

6. A wire drawing and feeding apparatus according to claim 3 including fluid-actuated means for moving said draw gripper means and said feed gripper means into gripping engagement with the wire stock, and means for supplying fluid pressure to said fluid-actuated means in timed relation with the reciprocation of said carrier means.

7. A wire drawing and feeding apparatus according to claim 3 including first and second fluid-actuated means for respectively moving said draw gripper means and said feed gripper means into gripping engagement with the wire stock, and means operative in said first position of said valve means for supplying fluid pressure to said first fluid-actuated means and means operative in said second position of said valve means for supplying fluid pressure to said second fluid actuated means.

10. In combination with a wire-processing machine having a work stop and a cutoff mechanism operable through a cycle to cut off a blank from a length of wire stock, apparatus for drawing a length of wire stock correlative with the length of the blank in timed relation with the operation of the wire-processing machine, said apparatus including a stationary frame having carrier means movable thereon in first second relatively opposite directions respectively toward and away from the work stop, a drawing die on the carrier means, stock gripper means mounted on the frame at the die exit side of the drawing die operative to grip and hold the wire stock when the carrier means is moved in said second direction away from the work stop, fluid actuator means including cylinder and piston actuator members operatively connected to said frame and to said carrier means for moving the latter relative to the frame, means including valve means operated in timed relation with said processing machine for supplying fluid at a first relatively high pressure to said actuator means to move the carrier means in said second direction in a draw stroke, and means for supplying fluid at a second relatively lower pressure to said actuator means to move said carrier means in said first direction toward said work stop.