Abstract: A machine for tying a coil of wire with ties comprises a substantially flat support having at least one cutout, wherein the coil and the flat support are movable with respect to each other to place a portion of the coil into the cutout. A clamp is provided in the region between the closed end of the cutout and the adjacent end face of the coil for gripping one end of the tie at a fixed point. A tie guide rotatably mounted on the flat support defines a path about the cutout and carries an element for gripping a point of the tie adjacent the fixed point so that during rotation of the tie guide the tie is wound about the portion of the coil in the cutout. A cutter arranged in the region between the closed end of the cutout and the end face of the coil serves to cut the tie after being wound about the portion of the coil, whereafter the ends of the tie are twisted by twisting elements.

Abstract: A succession of channel bars having widths that lie within a range below a predetermined maximum bar width is fed to a pickup station with the bars generally coplanar, parallel, and in edge contact. In the station a group of the bars is picked up by a pair of pivotal combs which are then pivoted about axes perpendicular to the group of bars to space the bars apart on centers that themselves are spaced apart substantially by the maximum bar width. Then the picked-up and arrayed bars are deposited in a stacking station substantially without changing the spacing between them. Another group of such bars which, however, numbers one less than the preceding group, is similarly picked up and arrayed at the maximum-width spacing, then is inverted and deposited between the previously deposited bars. These steps are repeated to form a neat stack.