Method and apparatus for drawing elongated stock continuously

An apparatus for continuously drawing an elongated stock in the form of a hollow cylinder having an open end and an opposing end, said apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• a die holding member mounted on said base at a position intermediate opposing ends of said base, said die holding member presenting, in a first vertical position, at least one die for drawing the elongated stock to a first diameter, and defining a second vertical position allowing the open end of the elongated stock to pass through said intermediate position, by-passing the dies;
• at least one chuck for chucking an end of the elongated stock opposite the open end, said chuck comprising a plurality of jaws arranged around a central axis of the chuck and a pusher movable axially, relative to said jaws, along the central axis;
• at least one chuck actuator for moving said jaws to a closed position grasping the opposing end of the elongated stock and to an open position where the opposing end of the elongated stock is released;
• at least one pusher actuator for, with said one chuck in a limit extended position and said jaws in said open position, moving the pusher axially toward said die holding member to further move the elongated stock and to cause the open end to pass through said intermediate position;
• first horizontal moving means for moving said chuck means horizontally relative to said base, toward said die holding member to the limit extended position and away from said die holding member to a retracted position, said first horizontal moving means being mounted on said base, on one side of the die holding member;
• at least one insert rod to be fitted in the elongated stock, said rod being provided on the side of the die holding member opposite said first horizontal moving means;
• and
• second horizontal moving means for moving said insert rod toward said first horizontal moving means, for insertion of said insert rod into the open end of the elongated stock and for moving the elongated stock, mounted on said insert rod, toward said first horizontal moving means.