Apparatus and method for unscrambling and separating elongated elements

Apparatus for unscrambling and separating a plurality of elongated elements randomly deposited in a pile at a receiving station, comprising:

• laterally spaced stationary rack members extending in a forward direction from said receiving station to a discharge station, said rack members having first and second upper edge sections which are inclined respectively downwardly and upwardly in said forward direction, with successive first and second edge sections converging to define a succession of notch-shaped separating stations, and with the corresponding separating stations of said rack members being aligned laterally;
• first transfer means for shifting batches of elongated elements from the pile at said receiving station into the first of said separating stations;
• and, second and third transfer means movable relative to said stationary rack members, the path of movement of said second transfer means being arranged to bypass selected elements extending between and supported exclusively at the bases of corresponding laterally aligned separating stations and to transfer other elements lying at least partly on the first edge sections of said separating stations rearwardly to preceding separating stations, the path of movement of said third transfer means being arranged to transfer only said selected elements as well as other elements lying against the second edge sections of said separating stations forwardly to succeeding stations, whereupon operation of said second and third transfer means in an alternating sequence will result in individual elements being fed forwardly to said discharge station.