Part handling device

Apparatus for automatically effecting the simultaneous transfer of a plurality of ferrometallic pieces from one-position contained in a bulk supply thereof to another position, remote therefrom comprising a carrier, and a transporter means selectively movable from a non-use position to a use position located between the carrier and the bulk supply for transferring pieces to a station, a reversible motor means for reciprocally moving said carrier between said one and another position, a supply of A.C. and D.C. electric power, a plurality of electromagnets disposed on said carrier, each of said electromagnets comprising a plurality of coil-wound poles, having first switch means for connecting the coils of at least one of said poles to said A.C. supply of electric power and second switch means for connecting the coils thereof to said D.C. supply of electrc power, said first switch means being normally closed and said second switch means being normally open, sensing means interposed between the associated coil of said at least one of said poles and said A.C. supply of electric power, said sensing means being responsive to variation in electrical power in said continually excited A.C. pole induced as a function of the change in magnetic flux ambient thereto to produce an electric control signal, and control means responsive directly to presence or absence of said control signal for operating said motor to move said carrier toward said workpieces into said one position and to cause said first switch means to open to disconnect said coils from said A.C. supply and to cause said second switch means to connect to said D.C. supply switch means to thereby excite said coil wound poles resulting in the attraction of a plurality of ferro-magnetic pieces thereto, said control means including timing means operative by said electrical signal to thereafter actuate said motor to move said carrier from said one position to said another position, and to subsequently cause said second switch means to open removing the excitation of said remaining poles to cause the release of said ferrometallic pieces therefrom onto the transport means movable into the use position also in response to said switch means and to return said first switch means to its normally closed position and thereafter to actuate said motor to return said carrier from said another position to said one position to thereupon effect a repetition of movement of said carrier for the repetitive transfer of pieces from said bulk supply.