Pneumatically operated rod workpiece feed mechanism for turning machines

A fluid pressure operated rod workpiece feed mechanism for turning machines, comprising a hollow feed tube having a closed end and an opposite open end through which the rod workpiece is adapted to be fed, an axially displaceable feed piston in said feed tube, said feed piston having a first part and a second part telescopically received in said first part and having an end adjacent the open end of said feed tube with a rod workpiece centering head for receiving the rear end of the workpiece to be fed, said first piston part comprising a tubular member having a closed end with the end adjacent said feed tube closed end and with a fluid pressure opening therethrough, said second part being displaceable in said first part, a cam control mounted on said feed tube and projecting into the path of said feed piston, a backrest assembly including a plurality of radially arranged actuating rollers on said feed tube and being radially displaceable in said feed tube inwardly for engagement with the workpiece and outwardly to clear the periphery of said workpiece and said second part therebetween, and fluid pressure supply means connected to said cam control, said cam control having separate means for directing the fluid pressure supply to said feed tube for displacing said feed piston and to said backrest assembly for displacing said centering rollers.