Abstract: Wire processing apparatus comprises a wire selector/feed mechanism for feeding a selected one of a plurality of different wire strands lengthwise into a wire insertion mechanism which then presents a wire segment severed by a wire cutter mechanism laterally to the infeed ends of a pair of laterally spaced apart conveyor units of a conveyor mechanism. Each conveyor unit comprises a support frame on which a conveyor belt assembly is mounted. The conveyor belt assembly is adjustably positionable on the support frame to enable wire segment end portions of desired length to project from the conveyor belt assembly. The wire selector/feed mechanism comprises a wire selector device including a pair of spaced apart rotatable plates having pairs of aligned holes for releasably supporting the wire strands.

Abstract: Apparatus which repeatedly severs wire segments from a wire strand and conveys them for further processing comprises a pair of wire feed clamps which are reciprocably movable in opposite directions to feed the wire strand along a first path. The wire feed clamps are affixed to parallel flights of a pulley-supported steel cable which is axially driven back and forth by an oscillatably rotatable cable drum. The cable drum is oscillatably driven by a rack-and-pinion mechanism which includes a drive rod or rack bar reciprocably movable by an orbiting crank pin on a support member which is adjustably mounted on a motor-driven rotatable feed crank. A locking mechanism releasably locks the support member and its crank pin in selected positions relative to the feed crank. The crank pin orbit determines drive rod stroke, cable drum position and wire feed clamp spacing and travel.