US3783910A

US3783910A - Bending machine for straightening elongated workpieces

Info

Publication number: US3783910A
Application number: US00245543A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Kopczynski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-19
Filing date: 1972-04-19
Publication date: 1974-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-08

Abstract

A machine for rolling elongated workpieces by inserting the workpiece between two spaced parallel series of rolls and holding the workpiece in position in a work zone by means of two opposed series of fingers which cause the workpiece to be retained substantially in a plane connecting the centers of rotation of the spaced series of rolls, the two series of fingers approaching the work zone from opposite directions simultaneously because they are driven by a differential type of linkage, with one of the series of fingers comprising carrier fingers which carry the straightened workpiece from the work zone and deposit it on a conveyor, and a toggle mechanism mounting the carrier fingers so as to cause them to be moved to a position, after depositing the workpiece, which permits them to clear the workpiece in returning to the work zone, and thereafter assume a carrying position for carrying a subsequent workpiece to the conveyor.

Description

United States Patent Kopczynski Jan. 8, 1974 BENDING MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING ELONGATED Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham WORKPIECES Assistant Examiner-E. M. Combs [76] inventor: John F. Kopczynsld, 1671 Sweeney, Altomey joseph caste Tonawanda, NY. 14120 [57] ABSTRACT 22 F1led: Apr. 19, 1972 A machme for rollmg elongated workpieces by insert- PP 2451543 ing the workpiece between two spaced parallel series of rolls and holding the workpiece in position in a 52 11.5. C1 140/147, 72/1210. 10, 72/110 by means f Series of fingers 51 1111. c1 B211 1/02 Whlch cause the workmen be mamed submmlally 58 Field of Seareh 72/101, 105, 106, a Plane connecting the of "nation the 72,107 108, 110, H], 224 DIG. 140/147 spaced series of rolls, the two series of fingers approaching the work zone from opposite directions si- [56] References Cited multaneously because they are driven by a differential UNITED STATES PATENTS type of linkage, with one of the series of fingers com- I prising carrier fingers which carry the straightened 1,015,412 [/1912 werckmeister 72/107 workpiece from the work zone and deposit it on 3 112533251) 31135? 3222 3111133:jiiiiiiiijjjijjjiiiiiij: 33515; m and a toggle mechanism mowing the 2,048,917 7/l936 Brandt et a1. 72/103 fingers iq them a 2,928,452 3/1960 Diggle et 140/147 depmmng mklmce, PermIts 3,002,539 /1961 Rus 140/147 the"! to clear the Workpiace in "filming the Work 3,052,278 9/1962 Baluck et 72/010. 10 z n a t r aft r assum a arrying p sition f 3,523,3l6 8/1970 Alexander lO/ISS A carrying a subsequent workpiece to the conveyor. 3,625,263 12/1971 Kopczynski ll147 3,701.233 10/1972 Luckman /147 6 Claims, 10 Drawn: Figures PAIENTEU JAN 3 I974 SHEU 1 0F 4 BENDING MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING ELONGATED WORKPIECES The present invention relates to an improved machine for straightening elongated workpieces such as wire-like leads of diodes.

By way of background, in the past various types of lead straightening machines have been used for straightening the leads of diodes. Certain of these machines had three substantially parallel series of spaced rolls forming a work zone therebetween for rolling a workpiece so as to straighten the leads thereof. Be cause of the need for mounting structure for all three series of rolls, the foregoing type of machine was relatively complex. In machines of the foregoing type the finished workpiece was permitted to fall free into a container, and there was no way of positively carrying the workpiece from the work zone to an area where it was to be deposited. It is with an improvement over the above type of machine that the present invention is concerned.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved machine for straightening elongated work pieces which is relatively simple in construction in that it utilizes only two substantially parallel series of spaced rolls to effect the straightening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for straightening elongated workpieces, such as the leads extending from opposite sides of a diode which includes a finger arrangement for positively carrying each straightened workpiece from the work zone between the rolls and depositing it on a conveyor in spaced relationship to previously straightened workpieces whereby the workpieces can be removed from the machine in a predetermined order and secured to a tape located on the conveyor on which they are deposited. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter.

The improved bending machine of the present invention comprises a frame, a first series of coaxial rolls mounted on said frame and having first spaces therebetween, a second series of coaxial rolls mounted on said frame and having second spaces therebetween, said second series of rolls being laterally offset from said first series of rolls, a third space providing a work zone between said first and second series of rolls to receive an elongated workpiece, means for driving said first and second series of rolls in the same direction to rotate said workpiece, and finger means for holding said workpiece in position in said third space while it is being rotated by said first and second series of rolls, and linkage means for causing said finger means to approach and recede from said third space to permit the insertion and removal of said workpiece from said third space, said finger means including pressing fingers for maintaining said workpiece in position in said work zone during straightening and also including carrier fingers to carry said workpiece from said third space to an area where said workpieces are deposited for removal from the machine after they have been straightened.

The various aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of the improved bending machine of the present invention showing the parts in the positions which they assume during bending of the workpiece;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the relationship between the various drives including the drive to the machine, the drive for the various gears and the drive for the mechanism which holds the workpiece between the rolls and deposits it on a conveyor after it has been straightened;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, with schematic additions, taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 5 and showing the mountings for the workpiece carrier fingers and the workpiece pressing fingers and their relationship to the differential drive linkage;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. I and showing var ious portions of the machine and also showing the workpiece in position between the bending rolls with the workpiece pressing fingers in phantom;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of H6. 4 and showing the relationship in more specific detail between the workpiece carrier fingers and the workpiece pressing fingers and the conveyor on which the workpieces are deposited after straightening and the drive for the workpiece pressing and carrier fingers;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the workpiece carrier fingers depositing a workpiece on the conveyor and the workpiece pressing fingers retracted to permit the loading of a new workpiece into the machine;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view partially broken away, of the central portion of the workpiece pressing finger arrangement taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 4-,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 5 and showing in greater detail the various rolls of the machine and their supporting structure;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 6 and showing in greater detail the detent structure associated with the toggle structure mounting the workpiece carrier fin gers; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 10-10 of FIG. 5 and showing the manner in which the straightened workpieces are deposited on the conveyor.

The improved bending machine 10 of the present invention includes a frame 11 having spaced sides 12 and 13 (FIG. 4) connected by a base portion 14. Also extending upwardly from base 14 is outer side 15 (FIG. 4) having an upstanding ear portion 15' which journals stub shaft 16 which pivotally mounts arm 17 of upper frame member 19. A counterpart (not shown) of stub shaft 16, which is in axial alignment with stub shaft 16, pivotally mounts arm 18, which is a mirror image of arm 17, to side 13, as can be visualized from FIG. 4. A horizontal upper arm portion 20 of upper frame member 19 extends lengthwise of

sides

12 and 15 and adjustably mounts cam follower roller 21 by means of slide member 22 which is received in slot 23 of arm 20 and which can be adjusted by means of set screw 24 and retained in adjusted position by means of screw 25 which fits in slot 26 of slide 22 and threads into upper horizontal arm portion 20. A leaf spring 27 has end 28 thereof secured to frame 19 by means of screws 29 and its opposite end 30 tucked under retaining member 31 which is mounted on frame portion 32 of the machine by means of strut 33 secured to the frame by means of screws 34. Member 31 may be moved up and down by loosening and tightening screw tab 35, having a portion 36 which slides in a slot 37 in member 33. This will adjust the force with which leaf spring 26 biases upper portion 19 in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 about the axis of shaft 16.

Mounted between

arms

17 and 18 of movable frame portion 19 and suitably journalled thereon is shaft 36 which mounts disc-like rolls 37 for movement toward and away from disc-like rolls 38 (FIG. 4) mounted on shaft 39 essentially extending between and journalled on frame portions 12 and 13 (FIG. 4). Disc-

like rolls

37 and 38 may be made out of plastic or any other suitable material.

Rolls

37 and 38 may be the same size or alternating larger and smaller sizes, as described in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,625,263.

Rolls

37 and 38 can be machined integrally with

hub portions

40 and 41, respectively, which are suitably keyed to

shafts

36 and 39, respectively. Alternatively, they may be individual rolls which are spaced from each other by spacers on

shafts

36 and 39, respectively.

The drive to the bending machine can best be seen from FIG. 2 which shows pulley 44 keyed to shaft 45 which has one portion journalled in bearing 46 in frame side and a spaced portion journalled in bearing 47 in pedestal 48 which extends upwardly from base 14. Cam 49 is suitably keyed to shaft 45 and it is this cam which is in engagement with cam follower 21 to cause pivotal frame 19 to pivot back and forth about the axis of shaft 16, as also controlled by leaf spring 27. A drive gear 50 is also keyed to shaft 45 and is in mesh with idler gear 51 journalled on stub shaft 52. Idler gear 51 is in turn in mesh with gear 53 which is keyed to shaft 39 on which rolls 38 are mounted and thus driven. An idler gear 54 is journalled on stub shaft 16 on machine frame portion 15' and gear 54 is in mesh with gear 55 keyed to shaft 36 on which rolls 37 are mounted to thereby drive the latter. It will be appreciated that since idler gear 54 is mounted on the same axis as the upper frame portion 19 pivots, the driving relationship be

tween gears

53, 54 and 55 will not be lost during the pivotal moition of frame 19.

workpieces such as diode 56 (FIGS. 4 and 10) have a central portion 57 and leads 58 extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof, and these leads are straightened by being placed in a plane connecting the centers of

rolls

37 and 38. Broadly, only two series of

rolls

37 and 38 are used to straighten leads 58 while they are held in position substantially in the plane connecting the centers of the two series of rolls by pressing fingers 59 and carrier fingers 60, both of which extend into the spaces between

rolls

37 and 38, as can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 8.

The positioning of workpiece 56 between

rolls

37 and 38 is effected as follows: A crankarm portion 61 is pivotally mounted on crank pin 62 eccentrically mounted on pulley 44 driven by belt 44 from a suitable motor source (not shown). Crankarm 61 includes a screw threaded portion 63 which fits into end portion 64 and is locked thereto by means of nut 65 to permit adjusting the distance between the center of crank pin 62 and pin 66 which extends between spaced cars 67 (FIGS. 5 and 8) and mounts portion 64 of crankarm 61 therebetween, ears 67 being formed integrally with pressing finger mounting base 68 (FIGS. 5 and 8) from which pressing fingers 59 extend in spaced parallel relationship. By adjusting the length of arm portion 63, the travel of fingers 59 can be adjusted. Attached to 0p posite ends of base 68 are

arms

69 and 70 and the portions of these arms which are remote from base 68 are pivotally journalled by bearing sleeve portions 69' and 80 thereof on shaft 71 which extends between spaced frame portions 12 and 13 (FIG. 3).

Carrier fingers 60 are fixedly mounted on tubular portions 72 and 73 (FIG. 8) which in turn are mounted on

shafts

74 and 75, respectively, (FIG. 6), which extend between spaced

arms

74 and 75 which in turn are secured by

pivot screws

76 and 77, respectively, (FIG. 9) to

arms

78 and 79, respectively, which are journalled by bearing sleeve portions 79' and 82 thereof on shaft 71, on which

arms

69 and 70 are also journalled, as described above.

As can best be seen from FIG. 3, arm 70, to which the pressing fingers 59 are attached, is formed integrally with sleeve 80 having bevel gear 81 formed thereon in concentric relationship to the axis of shaft 71. Arm 78, to which carrier fingers 60 are attached, terminates at sleeve 82 which is journalled on shaft 71 and has bevel gear 83 formed integrally therewith. A bevel gear 84 is effectively keyed to stub shaft 85 journalled in boss 85 of base 14 and is in mesh with

bevel gears

81 and 83 to provide a differential. Therefore, as pressing finger base 68 moves from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6, because of the action of the differential, the motion of

arms

69 and 70 in pivoting in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 71 will cause

arms

78 and 79 which are connected to the carrier fingers 60 to pivot in a clockwise direction about shaft 71 to thereby move fingers 60 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6. The movement of the carrier fingers 60 and the pressing fingers 59 is simultaneous and in timed relationship to the action of frame 19 as controlled by cam 49.

After

fingers

59 and 60 have been moved to the position shown in FIG. 6, a workpiece 56 is dropped between

rolls

37 and 38 by any suitable mechanism (not shown). The workpiece will drop down with the central portion 57 thereof located in the space 86 at the center portions of

roll series

37 and 38. At this time the cam 49 has caused rolls 37 and 38 to occupy a relatively close position relative to each other as can be seen from FIG. 6 when compared with FIG. 5. Thereafter, the action of crank 61 and the differential will cause pressing fingers 59 and carrier fingers 60 to approach each other simultaneously until they occupy the position shown in FIG. 5. At this point the leads 58 of work piece 56 will be supported from underneath in a de pression 87 in each of fingers 60 while undersurfaces 88 of pressing fingers 59 are positioned at the upper sides of the leads 58 in opposition to the portions of leads 58 supported in depressions 87. It will be appreciated that the force with which leads 58 are engaged by

fingers

59 and 60 is just enough to hold these leads in position without scoring them. Preferably the portions of

fingers

59 and 60 which engage the leads 58 are coated with a lubricating type of plastic such as nylon or Teflon so as to hold the leads in position between the rolls while permitting them to slip relative to the fingers. While the workpiece is thus held, rolls 37 and 38 will spin the workpiece 56 so as to straighten leads 58. The central portion 57 of diode 56 is engaged by rolls 89 which are journalled on central finger 90 (FIG. 8) secured to finger supporting base 68. Finger 90, by engaging diode portion 57, prevents this portion from whipping around during the lead straightening operation.

After the diode 56 has been in the straightening position for a predetermined period of time, as determined by the speed of rotation of drive shaft 45 and the size of the linkages associated therewith,

fingers

60 and 59 will move from the position shown in F IG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6 and just prior to such movement rolls 37 will be caused to move away from rolls 38 because of the action of cam 49 pivoting frame 19 in a clockwise direction about the axis of pivot shaft 16. This will permit carrier fingers 60, which support workpiece leads 58 in depression 87, to carry the workpiece 56 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6 wherein the central portion 57 of the workpiece is deposited between spaced flanges 92' of star wheel 93 (FIG. which is mounted on shaft 94 having its opposite ends journalled in frame sides 12 and 13. The portions of leads 58 adjacent central portion 57 are received in spaces 93' between corresponding points 92 in opposite flanges 92'. Pulleys 95 are also mounted in spaced relationship to each other on shaft 94 and they carry spaced parallel tapes 96 having an adhesive on their outwardly facing surfaces to which the outer ends of leads 58 are adhered as these leads are deposited on the tapes. A motor source (not shown) causes the upper runs of the tapes 96 to advance in increments to the right in FIG. 6. These increments are the distance 93' between adjacent points 92 on the star wheel so as to permit an empty space to be aligned with the grooves 87 in fingers 60 to receive a diode 56 after rolling.

After the fingers 60 have moved to the position shown in FIG. 6 and have deposited a diode 56 on tapes 96, fingers 67 have to be moved back to the position of FIG. 5 to support the next diode to be straightened. In order to permit this to be achieved,

arms

78 and 79, which carry fingers 60, are caused to move downwardly in a clockwise direction about the axis of shaft 71 after depositing the diode until such time as

outer tabs

98 and 99 formed at the outer ends of

arms

74 and 75, respectively, engage the tip of adjustable screw 10! on arm 102 in line with side l3 and a spaced counterpart of screw 101 mounted on a counterpart (not shown) of arm 102 which extends from frame side 12. This will cause

arms

74 and 75 to pivot from the solid line posi tion shown in FIG. 6 to the dotted line position shown therein in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of screw 76 until such time as spring biased detents 103 and 104 (FIG. 9) are received in depressions 105 and 106, respectively, in

arms

78 and 79, respectively. The

arms

74 and 75 will retain this position and the tips 107 of fingers 60 having depression 87 therein will have been pivoted to a position wherein such tips 107 will clear the workpiece 56 which is being held on star wheel 93. It will be understood that during the foregoing action of fingers 60, star wheel 93 remains stationary after the deposit of the diode 56 therein. Thereafter, when the fingers approach the position shown in FIG. 5,

tabs

98 and 99 will engage the ends of screws 108 and 109, respectively, mounted on frame 11, to cause

arms

74 and 75 to pivot from the dotted line position shown in FIG. 6 to the solid line position shown therein to cause the ends 107 of fingers 60 to lie under the workpiece 56 so that it is received in depressions 87 of fingers 60. in moving from the dotted line position shown in FlG. 6 to the solid line position shown therein, spring biased detents 103 and 104 will be disengaged from recesses 105 and 106, respectively, and spring biased detents I10 and 111 will enter

recesses

112 and 113, respectively, in

arms

78 and 79, respectively, to hold fingers 60 in the position shown in FIG. 5 until such time as they are again moved to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 6, as described in detail above.

As can best be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, a comb has two tines 115 extending into the space 86 between the two central rolls 37, comb 115 being secured to pivotal shaft 116. In the event it is desired to intercept a straightened workpiece 56 as it is being carried from the working position shown in FIG. 5 to the conveyor, it is merely necessary to pivot shaft 116 in a counterclockwise direction so that as fingers 60 move across tines 115, they will engage the workpiece 56 proximate to and on opposite sides of central portion 57. The workpiece 56 will thus be intercepted by the tines as shown in the dotted line position in FIG. 5, and the workpiece will not be deposited by fingers 60 onto the tapes 96.

It will be appreciated of course that the mechanism for carrying the workpiece from the work zone to the conveyor tape on which it is deposited can be incorporated into a straightening machine which utilizes a third series of rolls replacing pressing fingers 59. Also, it will be appreciated that any type of elongated workpiece can be straightened by the instant machine, and it is not limited to straightening the diodes disclosed herein.

It can thus be seen that the improved roll bending machine of the present invention is manifestly capable of achieving the above objects of rolling a workpiece between only two rolls by causing it to be positioned by opposing fingers during the rolling and then subsequently carrying the rolled workpiece to a station where it is deposited on a predetermined carrier tape for movement away from the machine, and while a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, it will be appreciated that it is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for straightening an elongated workpiece comprising a frame, a first series of coaxial rolls mounted on said frame and having first spaces therebetween, a second series of coaxial rolls mounted on said frame and having second spaces therebetween, said second series of rolls being laterally offset from said first series of rolls, a third space between said first and second series of rolls to receive an elongated workpiece for engagement by said rolls of said first and second se ries, means for driving said first and second series of rolls in the same direction to rotate said workpiece, finger means for holding said workpiece in position in said third space while it is being rotated by said first and second series of rolls, linkage means for causing said finger means to approach and recede from said third space to permit the insertion and removal of said workpiece from said third space, said finger means comprising a series of workpiece carrier fingers mounted on said frame and extending into said first spaces between said first series of rolls and into said second spaces between said second series of rolls to support said workpiece between said first and second series of rolls, a series of workpiece pressing fingers located in opposition to said workpiece carrier fingers for forcing said workpiece against said carrier fingers to thereby locate said workpiece in straightening relationship relative to said first and second series of rolls, and receiving means to receive a straightened workpiece, said linkage means causing said carrier fingers to carry said workpiece from said third space to said receiving means.

2. A machine for straightening an elongated workpiece as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkage means includes a toggle linkage on said carrier fingers to permit said carrier fingers to follow a first path in carrying said workpiece to said receiving means, first means to actuate said toggle linkage after said workpiece has been deposited on said receiving means to cause said carrier fingers to follow a second path in returning to said third space, and second means to reset said toggle means to cause it to follow said first path.

3. A machine for straightening an elongated workpiece as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkage means includes drive means to cause said carrier fingers and said pressing fingers to simultaneously move toward said third space and to simultaneously move away from said third space.

4. A machine for straightening an elongated workpiece as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive means comprises differential means, with said carrier fingers being effectively coupled to one side of said differential means and said pressing fingers being effectively coupled to the other side of said differential means.

5. A machine for straightening an elongated workpiece as set forth in claim 4 wherein said linkage means includes an eccentric effectively coupled to said pressing fingers to drive said pressing fingers. and through said differential means to drive said carrier fingers.

6. A machine for straightening an elongated workpiece comprising a frame, a first series of coaxial rolls mounted on said frame and having first spaces therebetween, a second series of coaxial rolls mounted on said frame and having second spaces therebetween. said second series of rolls being laterally offset from said first series of rolls, a third space between said first and second series of rolls to receive an elongated workpiece for engagement by said rolls of said first and second series, means for driving said first and second series of rolls in the same direction to rotate said workpiece, finger means for holding said workpiece in position in said third space while it is being rotated by said first and second series of rolls, said finger means comprising carrier fingers which are spaced from each other and extend into said first and second spaces for holding said workpiece in said third space during straightening, linkage means moving said carrier fingers to carry said workpiece from said third space to an area where said workpiece is deposited, and comb means extending through said spaces between said carrier fingers for selectively removing said workpiece from said carrier fingers as said carrier fingers travel from said third space to said UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 569 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3'783'910 Dated January 8, 1974 Inventofls) John F- P Y i It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 26 (claim 4) change "claim 6" to -claim 3--.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April 197M.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARI) FLFLE'IUHblE-QJR. C. MARSHALL DAr-IN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A machine for straightening an elongated workpiece comprising a frame, a first series of coaxial rolls mounted on said frame and having first spaces therebetween, a second series of coaxial rolls mounted on said frame and having second spaces therebetween, said second series of rolls being laterally offset from said first series of rolls, a third space between said first and second series of rolls to receive an elongated workpiece for engagement by said rolls of said first and second series, means for driving said first and second series of rolls in the same direction to rotate said workpiece, finger means for holding said workpiece in position in said third space while it is being rotated by said first and second series of rolls, linkage means for causing said finger means to approach and recede from said third space to permit the insertion and removal of said workpiece from said third space, said finger means comprising a series of workpiece carrier fingers mounted on said frame and extending into said first spaces between said first series of rolls and into said second spaces between said second series of rolls to support said workpiece between said first and second series of rolls, a series of workpiece pressing fingers located in opposition to said workpiece carrier fingers for forcing said workpiece against said carrier fingers to thereby locate said workpiece in straightening relationship relative to said first and second series of rolls, and receiving means to receive a straightened workpiece, said linkage means causing said carrier fingers to carry said workpiece from said third space to said receiving means.

5. A machine for straightening an elongated workpiece as set forth in claim 4 wherein said linkage means includes an eccentric effectively coupled to said pressing fingers to drive said pressing fingers, and through said differential means to drive said carrier fingers.

6. A machine for straightening an elongated workpiece comprising a frame, a first series of coaxial rolls mounted on said frame and having first spaces therebetween, a second series of coaxial rolls mounted on said frame and having second spaces therebetween, said second series of rolls being laterally offset from said first series of rolls, a third space between said first and second series of rolls to receive an elongated workpiece for engagement by said rolls of said first and second series, means for driving said first and second series of rolls in the same direction to rotate said workpiece, finger means for holding said workpiece in position in said third space while it is being rotated by said first and second series of rolls, said finger means comprising carrier fingers which are spaced from each other and extend into said first and second spaces for holding said workpiece in said third space during straightening, linkage means moving said carrier fingers to carry said workpiece from said third space to an area where said workpiece is deposited, and comb means extending through said spaces between said carrier fingers for selectively removing said workpiece from said carrier fingers as said carrier fingers travel from said third space to said area.