Abstract: A bar stock supporting and feeding apparatus which includes first and second series of bar stock support members centered about a longitudinal axis and movable with respect to the axis to rotatably engage a length of bar stock. An adjustable stop mechanism is provided to quickly adjust the apparatus to rotatably support bar stock of different diameter. A loading and unloading mechanism is provided which does not require that an operator's hands be placed dangerously close to the apparatus. A bar stock feeding apparatus is provided with a similar gear system for engaging the bar stock and feeding it into an adjacent machine tool. A fail-safe mechanism prevents disengagement of the support apparatus in the event of a loss of fluid pressure in the system.

Abstract: A loading and unloading mechanism including a workpiece receiving and discharging chamber and pressurized air/vacuum source operatively connected to the chamber. The chamber is tubular and adapted to be connected to the spindle of a lathe in a coaxial relationship. Pressurized air is used to force the workpiece into the lathe spindle and vacuum pressure is used to draw the workpiece out of the lathe and back into the tubular chamber. The device may be modified to facilitate vacuum unloading only in the case in which the lathe is manually loaded. A proximity switch is provided for detecting the passage of a finished workpiece out of the lathe and back into the chamber whereupon the chamber is opened and the workpiece is discharged.