Abstract: An apparatus for placing at least one washer-shaped component, e.g., washer and the like, on an elongated object, e.g., nail, screw, rivet and the like comprises:Moveable carrier having at least one receptacle aligned with the groove therein; elongated object inlet to supply elongated objects to the carrier; magnetic elements located at least partially within the groove for attracting and holding elongated objects; inlet means to supply washer-shaped components to the receptacles; assembly plane to urge the elongated object held by the magnetic element through the hole in the washer-shaped component in the receptacle; and an exit for removing and recovering the elongated object and washer-shaped component combination from the carrier.An improved method for placing washer-shaped components on elongated objects has also been discovered.

Abstract: An apparatus for segregating or separating elongated objects, e.g., nails, screws, rivets and the like, according to length comprises a rotatable disc; an elongated object inlet to supply elongated objects to the disc; at least one magnet to pick up and hold at least one elongated object from this inlet; a slanted plane located below the disc to provide a substantially constant predetermined length below the disc of elongated objects; and a plurality of exit means to remove and recover the elongated objects from the magnet.An improved method for segregating elongated objects according to length has also been discovered.