Device for manipulating a wound coil

A device for manipulating a wound coil, the wound coil including a start lead, a finish lead, a coil center, an inner circumference, and an outer circumference, the device comprising:

• a mechanism for gripping a portion of the wound coil, the mechanism comprising an adjustable upper and lower pair of spindle fingers spaced a predetermined distance away from each other and configured to receive at least an upper portion and a lower portion of the wound coil, respectively, the mechanism having an open position that is adapted to receive a portion of the wound coil and a closed position that is adapted to grip a portion of the wound coil;
• a first pair of opposed fingers for oppositely engaging the start lead, the first pair of opposed fingers are moveable between an open position adapted to receive the start lead and a closed position for squeezably engaging the start lead;
• a second pair of opposed fingers for oppositely engaging the finish lead, the second pair of opposed fingers are moveable between an open position adapted to receive the finish lead and a closed position for squeezably engaging the finish lead;
• a mechanism for moving the first pair of opposed fingers along an arc about an axis that is different from the coil center from a first position where the start lead is tangential to the inner circumference of the wound coil to a second position where the start lead is chordal to the inner circumference of the wound coil;
• and
• a mechanism for moving the second pair of opposed fingers along an arc about the axis from a first position where the finish lead is tangential to the outer circumference of the wound coil to a second position where the finish lead is chordal to the outer circumference of the wound coil.