US3665596A

US3665596A - Magnetic core wiring machine

Info

Publication number: US3665596A
Application number: US4252A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dixon A Ford
Original assignee: Sperry Rand Corp
Current assignee: Sperry Corp
Priority date: 1970-01-20
Filing date: 1970-01-20
Publication date: 1972-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-30

Abstract

A machine for automatically inserting the drive conductors in a magnetic core memory array. The cores to be threaded are first located in a core nest to form an array of rows and columns of cores. The wires to be threaded through the apertures in the toroidal cores are automatically loaded into elongated channels or barrels and subsequently, a jet of compressed gas is applied to the ends of the wires in the barrels which forces the wires out of the barrels and through the core array.

Description

United States Patent Ford May 30, 1972 54] MAGNETIC CORE WIRING MACHINE 3,314,131 4/1967 Judge ..29/241 x Inventor: Dixon A. Ford, Farmington Utah 3,339,261 9/1967 Van Der V00 ..29/203 MM [73] Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, Primary i hn F- mp N.Y Assistant ExaminerCa.rl E. Hall AttorneyThomas J. Nikolai, Kenneth T. Grace and John P. [22] Flled: Jan. 20, 1970 Dorit [21] Appl. No.1 4,252

[57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl ..29/604 29 241 29/433 A machine for auwmatically inserting the drive 29/203 8 83/99 83/402 a magnetic core memory array. The cores to be threaded are 51 1111.01. ..1io1r7/06 first in a core may and 581 Field of Search ..226/91 97- 83/98 99 402- The wires be threaded hmugh 29 I60 4 203 MM MW tures in the toroidal cores are automatically loaded into elon' gated channels or barrels and subsequently, a jet of compressed gas is applied to the ends of the wires in the barrels [56] Rem'ences cued which forces the wires out of the barrels and through the core UN1TED STATES PATENTS y- 2,958,126 1 1/1960 Shaw et a1 ..29/604 X 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 26 COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLY CORE NEST PATENTEUMMQ 1972 3.665 596 SHEET 2 s; 3

INVENTOR.

DIXON A. F 0R0 ATTORNEY O (D (O (O PATENTEDMAY30 1972 3, 665 596 SHEU a CF 3 IIIIIl IIIII/ Ig INVENTOR DIXON A. FORD ATTORNEY MAGNETIC CORE WIRING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to apparatus for threading an elongated filament through apertured elements, and more specifically to a machine for stringing a plurality of apertured elements on one or more lines.

In the Fielder US. Pat. No. 3,331,126, there is described a machine which is used to thread the so-called X and Y drive lines through an array of toroidal magnetic core elements of the type used in computer memories. In this arrangement, the drive lines to be threaded are unwound from a plurality of spools and advanced by means of drive rollers toward and through the matrix of magnetic cores which are positioned on edge in front of the drive rollers. As the wires are advanced through the core array, a reciprocating motion is applied to the drive rollers in a direction transverse to the direction of advancement of the wires. This causes the ends of the wires to rotate back and forth about their direction of advancement. which causes the wires to seek out the apertures in the cores.

While the machine of the Fielder patent works quite well with toroidal cores having an inside diameter of 0.030 inches, as the core size is reduced, the machine becomes less and less effective. This is due primarily to the fact that the machine described in the Fielder patent does not preclude interweaving of the drive lines threading the magnetic cores. This interweaving is wasteful of the amount or size of the aperture through which the wires must pass.

The present invention obviates this problem and thereby provides an apparatus whereby the job of threading magnetic core arrays is substantially reduced. In the preferred embodiment, the cores to be wired are arranged on edge in a core nest such that each core in the array has its aperture aligned with the apertures of all cores in one row and one column. The wires to bethreaded through the arrays are automatically inserted into elongated chambers or barrels and the chambers are then automatically positioned in alignment with the rows and columns in the core matrix. Subsequently, pheumatic forces are applied to the elongated chambers to shoot the wires out of the chamber and through the rows in which they are aligned. Subsequently, the first set of wires threaded through the cores are clamped and depressed into grooves provided in the core nest to thereby fully expose the aperture for a shot from a similar group of barrels oriented at right angles to the first set. Because of the clamping technique employed, interweaving of the drive line is prevented. Further, the machine is completely automatic and little or no operator skill is required. v

With a machine built in accordance with the teachings of this invention, it has been possible to automatically insert, a pair of wires, each having a diameter of approximately 3 mils through a 64 by 128 array of cores, each core having a 30 mil outside diameter and an 18 mil inside diameter. A complete cycle from the time that the wires to be threaded are inserted into' the barrels to the time that the core mat is completely strung occupies only. thirty second. Because little or no operator skill is required, it is possible to turn out one such array every two minutes.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for threading a plurality of continuous filaments or wires simultaneously through a plurality of apertured elements.

It is another object of this invention to provide animproved machine for automatically wiring-magnetic core matrices.

Still another object of this invention is to provide, in a machine of the type described, a means for rapidly inserting a large plurality of wire segments in parallel through an array of magnetic cores.

The foregoing objects, advantages, construction and operation of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the magnetic core wiring machine;

along line 4--4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a detail drawing of the assembly just prior to the shooting of the drive wires.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown schematically the functional units of the wiring machine of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the cores 10 to be threaded are positioned in a vacuum core nest 12 where they are held on edge in a rectangular array such that each core in the array has its aperture aligned with the apertures of all cores in one row and one'column. The wires 14.to be threaded through the aperture in the toroidal cores 10 are withdrawn from supply reels 16 by means of a drive roller 18 and a driven roller 20. Specifically, a predetermined length of wire 14 is withdrawn from the supply spools 16- and fed into a wire guide member 22 for a predetermineddistance. Subsequently, an air operated shear member 24 is moved downward severing the wires 14 at the entrance to the guide member 22. While the shear member 24 is in its depressed position, a blast of air from a compressed air supply 26 is passed through an opening 28 in the shear member to apply pneumatic forces to the wires 14 to thereby shoot them out from the guide member 22 and through the columns of aligned cores 10 and against a stop. Subsequently, therightmost end of the wire 14 is secured by a clamping means whichserves to hold the wire 14 tightly against the bottom of the apertures in the toroidal cores 10. As will be described more fully hereinbelow, a duplicate system similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 1 is oriented at right angles to the core nest and is effective, when operated, to insert a second set of wires through the core array in the above-described manner. Because the first set of wires are held tightly against thebottom of the apertures in the cores 10, the second group of wiresto be inserted, all pass over the first set such that no interweaving results.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 where like numerals refer to like parts, there isshown a side and top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As is illustrated, there is a bed or frame 32 which is used to support a carriage 34 and the core nest vacuum fixture 36. A core nest 38 is adapted to be positioned on the vacuum fixture 36. A core nest suitable for use in the apparatus of the present invention is described in the Moe et al., US Pat. No. 3,421,865 issued Jan. 14, 1969. As described in the Moe patent, the core nest serves to hold a plurality of toroidal magnetic core elements on edge in a desired orientation such that each core in the array has its aperture aligned with the aperture of all cores in one row and one column.

The carriage member 34 is slidably mounted upon the bed or frame 32,by means of

slide rods

40 and 42, whose ends are secured in the

brackets

44 and 46 respectively. These slide rods pass through bearings (not shown) located in the upward projecting lugs 48.and 50 which are fixedly secured to the bed 32 by welding or some other suitable fastening means. An air operated cylinder is employed to position the carriage 34. Specifically, the piston rod 54 of the air operated cylinder 52 is connected to the bracket 44 by means of an adjustable linkage or clevis 56. When the air cylinder is operated, the carriage is made to move to the right by a predetermined distance, determined by the length of the stroke of the cylinder 52. The reason for providing a slidable carriage will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

Mounted upon the carriage 34 and beneath a cover member 58 is a rack 60 which supports the pluraltiy of

cylindrical rods

62 and 64 which serve as axles for the wire supply reels 66 through which they pass. The racks 60 also support friction bars 68 which extend parallel to the

axles

62 and 64 and rub against the reels 66 to provide a predetermined rotational resistance.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the core array to be threaded includes 8,192 cores arranged in a matrix of 64 rows and 128 columns, each spaced on 0.035 inch centers. The cores themselves may be 0.030 outside diameter and 0.018 inside diameter. Limitation to this particular core size and array spacing, however, is not intended.

To accommodate this size of a core array, 64 spools or reels of wire are mounted in the rack 60 at the left end of the carriage 34. If these wires are referred to as the X-drive lines, then 128 Y-drive lines would be located in a substantially identical rack located at the end of the carriage associated with the Y-direction. The 64 strands of wire coming from the reels 66 individually pass through a comb-like member 70 and between upper wire guide 72 and lower wire guide 74. The

mating faces of the upper wire guide 72 and the lower wire guide 74 are machined so as to have a plurality of parallel grooves 75 having a center to center spacing substantially the same as the spacing between adjacent rows in the core nest 38. Hence, these grooves 75 and the comb member 70 serve to align the wires in a parallel relationship. As can best be seen in FIG. 4, located in the upper wire guide 72 is a driven roller 76. Similarly, a drive roller 77 is located in the lower wire guide 74. The drive roller 77 is driven by an electrical motor 78 (FIG. 3) through a suitable gear train 80. The wires to be threaded pass between the lower drive roller and the upper drive roller 76 and when the motor is energized, the wires are advanced toward the right and unrolled from the reels 66. By controlling the number of turns, the distance that the wires advance can be controlled.

After passing between the drive and driven rollers, the wires enter into a plurality of grooves (which can be considered as barrels) machined into the mating faces between the upper wire guide plate 82 and the lower wire guide plate 84. The assembly of the upper and lower wire guide plates with the tunnel-like grooves formed therein are referred to herein as heads. The grooves machined in the heads are spaced so as to correspond to the center to center spacing between rows of cores or between columns of cores in the core nest 38. These grooves are machined to be of a depth to permit a strand of wire of a desired diameter to pass therethrough with no interference. The upper and lower wire guide plates are bolted together and are fastened to the carriage 34 so as to move therewith.

Mounted upon the upper wire guide plate 82 and fastened to the upper wire guide 72 is a shear guide member 86. The shear guide 86 has a notched out portion 88 which forms a channel running vertically through the member 86. Fitted within this channel is the shear member 90 which is adapted to be moved up and down vertically within this channel by means of an air cylinder 92. (FIG. 1)

As is illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shear member 90 comprises a rectangular box-like member having a front face, a rear face, a top, a bottom and two sides. These surfaces define an opening 92 into which air under pressure is introduced by way of the elbow 94 and an air piloted dump valve 96. In the face 98 of the shear member 90 which abuts the shear guide 86 and in close proximity to the bottom thereof is formed a horizontal slot 100 through which air may pass. Located immediately below the shear member 90 is an anvil 102 which is normally biased by a compression spring 102 so that its top surface is normally aligned with the top surfaces of

members

74 and 84. This anvil has its top surfaced machined with grooves in the same fashion as the

wire guide plates

82 and 84. The shear member is designed so that when it is depressed because of actuation of the air cylinder 106 the anvil 100 is depressed and the slot 100 is aligned with the ends of the parallel grooves formed between the upper wire guide plate 82 and the lower wire guide plate 84. When the valve 96 is operated, a blast of gas such as CO or air is imparted to the grooves and to the wire segments contained in the grooves.

Mounted on top of the upper wire guide plate 82 is an air cylinder operated tensioning means. More specifically, an air cylinder 108 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 110 which is affixed to the upper wire guide plate 82. The piston rod of the cylinder 108 is pivotally connected to a bracket 1 12 affixed to a plate 114 which is pivotally mounted with respect to a mounting bar 116. The plate 114 overhangs the wire guide plate 82 and attached to the underside of the plate 114 are a pair of roller mounting bearings 118. Spanning the roller mounting bearings 118 is a cylindrical roller (not shown). In FIG. 2, the air cylinder 108 is shown in its energized position whereas in FIG. 5 it is shown in its de-energized position. When not energized, the piston is withdrawn into the cylinder and because of the overcenter mounting arrangement, the plate 114 is tipped upward about the pivot 116 and therefore the roller 1 18 does not interfere with the exit from the grooves in the

wire guide plates

82 and 84.

Extending out from the left side of the core nest vacuum fixture 36 is a projection 120 on which is mounted a pair of

roller mounting bearings

122 and 124. These mounts support a shaft on which is located a roller surface 126. This shaft is parallel to the upper roller mounted on the underside of the plate 114 and is adapted to be driven by means of a motor 128 mounted on the underside of the bed 32 by way of a belt drive, which includes the belt 130 and a non-slip pulley 131 affixed to the shaft.

Positioned on the rightmost end of the core nest 36 is a stop and clamping means indicated generally by the numeral 132. The clamping means includes an air cylinder 134 which is pivotally attached to a bracket 136 which, in turn, is fastened to a movable slide plate 138. The piston rod 140 of the air cylinder 134 is pivotally connected at point 142 to the clamp member 144. The clamp member 144 is pivotally connected at point 146 to the clamp slide plate 138 such that when the solenoid is energized the end of the clamp member 144 is moved tightly against the slide plate 138. This is the position illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 5, on the other hand, illustrates the position of the clamping means when the air cylinder 134 is not energized. In this position, the jaws of this clamp are opened so that wire passing through the cores in the nest 38 will butt up against the stop 148.

The clamp slide plate 138 is slidably mounted on a air of

guide rods

150 and 152. These slide rods are fastened to the core nest vacuum fixture 36 and project out from the right side thereof. These guide rods pass through a strap 154 and permit the clamp assembly to move horizontally toward and away from the core nest 38. To achieve this motion, an air operated cylinder 156 is secured to the strap 154 and has its piston rod passing through an aperture in the strap 154. The end of this piston rod is fixedly attached to the core nest vacuum fixture 36 such that when the solenoid is energized, the entire clamp assembly including the plate 138, the clamp 144 and the air cylinder and the strap 154 are moved to the left towards the core nest 38.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the core array wiring machine of the present invention includes additional apparatus which substantially duplicates all of the parts thus far described. The portion of the machine which has been described in detail is used for the insertion of the so-called Z-drive lines. The duplicate set of parts are oriented at right angles to the path of travel of the X-clrive lines and are used to insert the Y-drive lines through the core array. Because the construction of the Y-direction apparatus is substantially identical to the apparatus used for the insertion of the X-drive lines, it is felt to be unnecessary to go into any greater detail as to the parts for inserting the Y-drive lines. One thing that is to be especially noted, however, is that it is not necessary to provide duplicate motors 128 for the drive rollers 158 which are used in the insertion of the Y-drive lines because the motive power for rotating the rollers 158 is obtained through the

bevel gears

160 and 162.

Now that the construction and organization of the various parts has been described, consideration will be given to the mode of operation.

OPERATION In the initial start-up of the wiring machine of this invention, reels of wire 66 are first positioned on

axles

62 and 64 such that there is one reel of wire for each column of cores to be threaded. Similarly, in the Y-direction a similar rack of reels is provided for each of the rows of cores in the matrix to be threaded. During the initial loading, wires are first fed by hand from the reels and between the comb-like spacer member into the grooves between the upper wire guide member 72 and the lower wire guide 77. This is done only once, and is accomplished by removing the top assembly including the upper guide plate 82 and stretching the wires through the grooves in the lower guide plate 84. The top assembly is than again bolted onto the lower guide plate and the machine remains loaded back of the shear edge until the reels of wire are exhausted. In the same fashion, the Y-direction wires are fed from the associated spools and through a comb-like member, through the grooves in an upper wire guide and a lower wire guide and finally between the drive roller and driven roller associated with the Y-axis. The machine is now ready for fully automatic operation.

With the power on, the air supply on and a low vacuum applied through the corenest vacuum fixture 36, the operator places a loaded core nest into a recess provided in the core nest holding fixture 36. Next, the motor 78 is energized and through the gear train 80 drives the roller 77 and the driven roller 76 to advance the wires through the grooves machined in the upper and lower

wire guide plates

82 and 84 to a point approximately 2 inches from the right end of these plates. In a similar fashion, a corresponding motor drives the Y-wires through the upper and lower wire guide plates to a corresponding position. Next, the air cylinder 52 is energized to move the carriage 34 along

slide rods

40 and 42 to a position such that the rightmost end of the X-head is within one-sixteenth of an inch of the core nests. This position can most clearly be seen in FIG. 5. At the same time, the air cylinder 156 is operated to move the clamp assembly 132 toward the core nest to a point approximately one-sixteenth of an inch from the nest. At this time, the

air cylinders

108 and 134 are not energized and accordingly the top tension idler roller 118 and the clamp member 144 are in the up position as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Next, the air cylinder 106 is energized causing the shear member to be depressed in the slot formed between the shear guide member 86 and the upper wire guide 72. This shears off the X-drive wires and aligns the horizontal slot in the shear 90 with the grooves formed in the X-head. The air piloted dump valve 96 is next operated to shoot a suitable gas such as CO or air through the elbow 94 and the slot 92 formed in the shear member and out of the horizontal slot 100. This causes the X-wires in the head to be propelled through the cores aligned in the core nest and up against the stop 148 located on the clamp assembly 142.

Next,

air cylinders

108 and 134 are energized. By energizing air cylinder 134 the clamp member 144 is rotated about pivot 146 (FIG. 2) and the wires which have been shot through the core array are firmly clamped in the jaws of the clamp thereof. At this point in the sequence, the air cylinder 156 is de-energized and the clamp carriage 132 retracts, drawing the 64 X- wires out from the X-head. At the same time, the upper idler roller 118 is rotated downward about the point 116 and the left hand ends of the drive lines are clamped between the drive roller 126 and the driven roller 118 as illustrated in FIG. 2. With the motor 128 energized, the belt 130 rotates the drive roller 126 in a counterclockwise direction. The engagement of the upper tension idler roller 118 with the driven roller 126 slips on the wires and continues to hold them taut. Because of the tension, the X-drive lines are held tightly within grooves provided in the core nest so that they are firmly depressed against the bottom of the apertures through the cores being threaded.

5 between the wire guide plates thereby propelling them down the grooves and through the cores and up against a stop in the Y-direction clamp. Because the X-direction wires were firmly clamped at this time and depressed against the bottom of the 0 cores, the Y-direction wires enter through the cores in the array without interweaving with the X-direction wires.

Once the X- and Y-drive lines are threaded through the core array the resulting mat may be removed from the core nest and a new nest loaded with toroidal cores can be inserted 5 into the core nest vacuum fixture 36 for a new cycle.

Thus it can be seen that there has been provided a machine operating on novel principles to facilitate the stringing of wires through magnetic core memory arrays. While a specific embodiment has been described, it should be understood that the 20 invention is in no sense limited thereto except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for threading filaments through a plurality of apertured elements, comprising:

end of said elongated chamber for applying a force to said filament for driving it out of said chamber and through the apertures of the elements aligned in said one row. 2. Apparatus for threading filaments simultaneously through a plurality of apertured elements comprising:

means for supporting said elements in a rectangular matrix such that the apertures in a plurality of parallel rows are aligned; a plurality of elongated chambers oriented in alignment 40 with said plurality of parallel rows;

means for supplying a filament of a predetermined length into each of said elongated chambers; and means for applying a pneumatic force to said filaments to 45 drive them out of said chambers and into said apertures in said elements along said plurality of rows.

3. A machine for automatically stringing electrical wires through an array of toroidal magnetic cores, comprising a core nest for holding a plurality of toroidal shaped magnetic core elements on edge in a matrix of rows and columns with the apertures in said cores aligned along said rows and columns;

a pair of wire guiding heads each containing a plurality of elongated chambers, the number of chambers in said first head being equal to the number of rows in said matrix and the number of chambers in said second head being equal to the number of columns in said matrix;

wire supply means for introducing a predetermined length of wire into the chambers in said pair of heads;

to said core nest with the channels in said pair of heads in alignment with said rows and columns;

means for applying a pneumatic force to said predetermined lengths of wire in said first head for ejecting said wires from said first head and through the apertures of the cores in said rows; and

means for subsequently applying a pneumatic force to said predetermined lengths of wire in said second head for ejecting said wires from said second head and through the apertures of the cores in said column.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 and further including clamping means adapted to be positioned in close proximity to said core nest for receiving the ends of said wires after they have passed through said aligned apertures; and

means for positioning said pair of heads in close proximity means for retracting said clamping means to thereby apply tension to said wires prior to the application of said pneumatic force to said predetermined lengths of wire in said second head.

5. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said wire supply means comprises:

a plurality of spools of wire rotatably mounted on a shaft;

a drive roller and a driven roller positioned between said plurality of spools and said heads with an end of the wire on each of said spools passing therebetween;

means connected to said drive roller to rotate same a predetermined amount for advancing said wires into said heads; and

shearing means positioned in said heads for severing the wires prior to the application of said pneumatic forces thereto.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said shearing means is pneumatically operated.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said shearing means includes means for conveying said pneumatic force to said predetermined lengths of wire in said first and second heads.

8. A machine for automatically stringing electrical wires through an array of toroidal shaped magnetic cores, comprising a base;

a core nest fixedly mounted on said base for holding a plurality of toroidal magnetic cores in predetermined coordinate locations defining a plurality of rows and columns, with each core having its aperture aligned with the apertures of all cores in one row and one column;

wire feeding means including a plurality of spools of wire rotatably mounted on axes, driving roller and driven roller means pinching said wires for withdrawing wire from said spools when said driving roller means is rotated, and at least a pair of superposed plates each having a plurality of spaced apart parallel grooves located in opposing faces thereof to define a plurality of elongated chambers equal in number to the number of rows or columns of said cores arranged to receive the wires passing between said rollers, said wire feeding means being movably mounted on said base with respect to said core nest;

means for moving said wire feeding means in close proximity to said core nest;

means for severing said wires passing between said rollers to leave a predetermined length of wire in each of said elongated chambers;

means for applying a gas under pressure to said plurality of elongated chambers to force the predetermined lengths of wire out of said chambers and through said rows or columns of cores; and

clamping means operative to grip the wires passing through said cores movably mounted with respect to said base for driving said wires a predetermined distance through said cores.

9. A method of threading continuous filaments through an array of apertured elements comprising the steps of:

positioning a plurality of said elements in predetermined coordinate locations of rows and columns with the aperture of each element being aligned with all of the apertures of the elements in at least one row and one column;

inserting a predetermined length of said filament into elongated chambers aligned with said apertures; and

applying a pneumatic force to said predetermined length of wire to drive them out of said chambers and through said apertures.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE CERTIFICATE @1 5 'CQREQTEN Patent No. 3,665,596 Dated May 30, 1972 Inventor) Dixon A. Ford It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 8, line 2-0, driving" should read drawing Signed and sealed this 26th 'day of March 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M FLETCHER JR c MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer- 7 Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM DC 6037mm U.$. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 0-366-334,

Claims

1. Apparatus for threading filaments through a plurality of apertured elements, comprising: means for supporting said elements in at least one row with their apertures aligned; an elongated chamber aligned with said row; means for supplying a filament of a predetermined length into said elongated chamber; and means including a source of compressed gas applied at one end of said elongated chamber for applying a force to said filament for driving it out of said chamber and through the apertures of the elements aligned in said one row.

2. Apparatus for threading filaments simultaneously through a plurality of apertured elements comprising: means for supporting said elements in a rectangular matrix such that the apertures in a plurality of parallel rows are aligned; a plurality of elongated chambers oriented in alignment with said plurality of parallel rows; means for supplying a filament of a predetermined length into each of said elongated chambers; and means for applying a pneumatic force to said filaments to drive them out of said chambers and into said apertures in said elements along said plurality of rows.

3. A machine for automatically stringing electrical wires through an array of toroidal magnetic cores, comprising a core nest for holding a plurality of toroidal shaped magnetic core elements on edge in a matrix of rows and columns with the apertures in said cores aligned along said rows and columns; a pair of wire guiding heads each containing a plurality of elongated chambers, the number of chambers in said first head being equal to the number of rows in said matrix and the number of chambers in said second head being equal to the number of columns in said matrix; wire supply means for introducing a predetermined length of wire into the chambers in said pair of heads; means for positioning said pair of heads in close proximity to said core nest with the channels in said pair of heads in alignment with said rows and columns; means for applying a pneumatic force to said predetermined lengths of wire in said first head for ejecting said wires from said first head and through the apertures of the cores in said rows; and means for subsequently applying a pneumatic force to said predetermined lengths of wire in said second head for ejecting said wires from said second head and through the apertures of the cores in said column.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 and further including clamping means adapted to be positioned in close proximity to said core nest for receiving the ends of said wires after they have passed through said aligned apertures; and means for retracting said clamping means to thereby apply tension to said wires prior to the application of said pneumatic force to said predetermined lengths of wire in said second head.

5. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said wire supply means comprises: a plurality of spools of wire rotatably mounted on a shaft; a drive roller and a driven roller positioned between said plurality of spools and said heads with an end of the wire on each of said spools passing therebetween; means connected to said drive roller to rotate same a predetermined amount for advancing said wires into said heads; and shearing means positioned in said heads for severing the wires prior to the application of said pneumatic forces thereto.

8. A machine for automatically stringing electrical wires through an array of toroidal shaped magnetic cores, comprising a base; a core nest fixedly mounted on said base for holding a plurality of toroidal magnetic cores in predetermined coordinate locations defining a plurality of rows and columns, with each core having its aperture aligned with the apertures of all cores in one row and one column; wire feeding means including a plurality of spools of wire rotatably mounted on axes, driving roller and driven roller means pinching said wires for withdrawing wire from said spools when said driving roller means is rotated, and at least a pair of superposed plates each having a plurality of spaced apart parallel grooves located in opposing faces thereof to define a plurality of elongated chambers equal in number to the number of rows or columns of said cores arranged to receive the wires passing between said rollers, said wire feeding means being movably mounted on said base with respect to said core nest; MEANS for moving said wire feeding means in close proximity to said core nest; means for severing said wires passing between said rollers to leave a predetermined length of wire in each of said elongated chambers; means for applying a gas under pressure to said plurality of elongated chambers to force the predetermined lengths of wire out of said chambers and through said rows or columns of cores; and clamping means operative to grip the wires passing through said cores movably mounted with respect to said base for driving said wires a predetermined distance through said cores.

9. A method of threading continuous filaments through an array of apertured elements comprising the steps of: positioning a plurality of said elements in predetermined coordinate locations of rows and columns with the aperture of each element being aligned with all of the apertures of the elements in at least one row and one column; inserting a predetermined length of said filament into elongated chambers aligned with said apertures; and applying a pneumatic force to said predetermined length of wire to drive them out of said chambers and through said apertures.