Apparatus for stripping workpieces

Apparatus for stripping a cylindrical workpiece from a cylindrical supporting device on which the cylindrical workpiece is supported so that the cylindrical workpiece has a leading end surface during the return stroke of the cylindrical supporting device comprising:

• housing means for supporting the apparatus circumjacent the cylindrical workpiece and the cylindrical supporting device;
• a plurality of fingers for stripping said cylindrical workpiece from said cylindrical supporting device;
• mounting means for mounting each of said plurality of fingers for sliding movement that is radial and linear;
• each of said plurality of fingers having an end portion so that, when said plurality of fingers are in their radially innermost location, said plurality of fingers are at a location to be contacted by said leading end surface to remove said cylindrical workpiece;
• abutment means on each of said fingers and on said housing to limit the radially inward movement of said plurality of fingers;
• first moving means for moving each of said plurality of fingers in a radially inward direction;
• said stripping fingers, when in said radially innermost location, are in contact with the outer surface of said generally cylindrical supporting device and said abutment means are in a spaced apart relationship;
• second moving means for moving each of said plurality of fingers in a radially outward direction;
• and
• guide means between and in contact with adjacent fingers for guiding the movement of said fingers in said radially inward and outward directions.