Abstract:
A nail-forming apparatus and method to rapidly form nails typically with circular heads is provided. One aspect relates to a sequential wire piece positioner configured for sequentially positioning wire pieces respectively adjacent a plurality of nail head formers. The wire piece positioner may include several carriages related to moving and forming the wire pieces.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention is related generally to an apparatus and method for manufacturing nails. More particularly, the invention relates to such an apparatus and method which forms the nails in a relatively rapid manner, especially nails with circular heads which are centered relative to the shaft of the nail. 
     2. Background Information 
     Amongst the various nail forming machines which have been used over the years, there are those which form nails having heads which are circular and those which form nails having heads which are non-circular. Generally, the nails with the circular heads are formed so that the circular outer perimeter of the head is concentric with the circular or cylindrical outer surface of the shaft of the nail whereas the nails having non-circular heads have heads which are generally oval shaped and which are offset more to one side of the nail shaft. With respect to nail forming machines currently available, those which form the nails with circular heads typically have a slower production rate than those which form nails with non-circular heads. The machines which form nails with circular heads typically have a wire feeder and cutter which feeds a wire piece between a pair of jaws which clamp a wire piece therebetween while a punch assembly punches one end of the nail to deform that end into the circular head, after which the jaws move apart from one another to allow the newly formed nail to be ejected therefrom. The wire feeder and cutter then feed another wire piece between the jaws to be clamped and punched. 
     One of the types of machines which is used to form nails with non-circular heads utilizes a pair of flat rotating clamping wheels which generally overlap one another so that their flat sides are angled somewhat relative to one another and which respectively carry multiple jaws adjacent the outer perimeters thereof having formed therein wire piece carrying grooves each of which is perpendicular to and lies along a respective radius of the rotational axis of the given clamping wheel. Because these clamping wheels and their axes of rotation are angled relative to one another, the outer perimeters thereof and the corresponding jaws are adjacent one another adjacent a head forming position and somewhat spaced apart from one another on the opposite side of the wheels. The feeding and cutting assembly thus feeds wire pieces between jaws when they are relatively adjacent one another so that the jaws carry the wire pieces to the head forming position, where the nail heads are formed by a swaging roller which is rotatably mounted and has a circular outer perimeter adjacent the outer perimeters of the clamping wheels. Thus, the outer perimeter of the swaging roller sequentially rolls along the ends of the wire pieces to form the non-circular heads thereon as each wire piece moves through the head forming position. 
     Given the types of machines described above, there is a need in the art for a nail forming machine which is configured to rapidly produce nails having circular heads. The present invention provides such a machine and method while addressing various concerns in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a nail-forming apparatus comprising: a first carriage; a plurality of nail head formers mounted on the carriage; and a sequential wire piece positioner configured for sequentially positioning wire pieces respectively adjacent the nail head formers. 
     The present invention also provides a nail-forming apparatus comprising: a first rotatable member which is rotatable about a first axis; a plurality of circumferentially spaced wire piece-engaging first surfaces which rotate with the first rotatable member along a first circular path; a second rotatable member which is rotatable about a second axis; a plurality of circumferentially spaced wire piece-engaging second surfaces which rotate with the second rotatable member along a second circular path; a nail head forming position adjacent the first and second circular paths; and a plurality of nail head formers which are carried by the second rotatable member respectively adjacent the second surfaces. 
     The present invention further provides a nail-forming apparatus comprising: a first carriage; a plurality of nail head formers which are mounted on the first carriage and which are adapted for deforming an end of a wire piece to form a nail head from the end of the wire piece; and a plurality of spaced magnets which are positionable respectively adjacent the nail head formers and which are adapted to magnetically carry respective wire pieces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the nail forming machine of the present invention with some aspects shown diagrammatically. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view from the right side, from the rear and from above of the wire feeder, wire cutter and first wire piece transmitter. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  showing the magnets and other aspects of the first wire piece transmitter. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view from the front through the second wire piece transmitter, the lower portion of the first wire piece transmitter and an upper portion of the left jaw drum adjacent the second wire piece transmitter. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged front elevational view primarily of the left jaw drum. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged front elevational view of the right jaw drum with housing of the nail head formers shown in section so that the jaws are visible. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view with portions cut away and with portions in section showing a portion of the left jaw drum with one of the jaws, the corresponding wire piece receiving groove and magnets. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view with portions cut away and portions in section showing a portion of the right jaw drum which illustrates one of the jaws, the corresponding wire piece receiving groove and one of the nail head formers. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged front elevational view of the jaw drum with the nail head formers mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged sectional view similar to the upper portion of  FIG. 4  showing the transfer of a wire piece from the upper transmitter to the lower transmitter. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged sectional view similar to the lower portion of  FIG. 4  showing the transfer of a wire piece from the lower transmitter to the left jaw drum. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged sectional view taken from the front behind the head forming surface of the punches showing the head forming position between the outer perimeters of the left and right jaw drums with one nail at the head forming position, another nail having moved downstream from the head forming position, and a wire piece carried adjacent one of the jaws on the left drum upstream of the head forming position and moving downstream toward the head forming position. 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged left side elevational view taken just to the left of the cam and showing only the cam, a pair of the nail head formers and a portion of the jaw drum which carries the head formers.  FIG. 13  shows these components immediately prior to the movement of a wire piece into a groove of the right jaw drum which is adjacent and approaching the head forming position whereby the associated punch of the head former is in the non-punching position just prior to the punching operation. 
         FIG. 14  is similar to  FIG. 13 , is at the same stage as  FIG. 12 , and shows the cam lobe of the cam having rotated to engage the wheel of the punching assembly to move the punch to the punching position to form the circular head on the wire piece which was inserted into the corresponding groove immediately prior to the head forming position whereby the forming of the head completes the formation of the nail. 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is similar to  FIGS. 13 and 14  and shows the cam lobe having rotated past the wheel or roller of the lower punching assembly to allow the punch which just formed the nail head to return from the punching position to the non-punching position.  FIG. 16  also illustrates that the next sequential head forming or punching assembly is moving toward the head forming position as the other cam lobe of the cam is moving toward its engaging position in which it will engage the wheel of the next punching assembly to move it to its punching position for forming the head on the next wire piece to form another nail. 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The nail forming apparatus or machine of the present invention is shown generally at  1  in  FIG. 1 . Machine  1  is configured for cutting metal wire W into metal wire pieces  2  which are further formed into nails  4 . The malleable wire pieces are more particularly denoted at  2 A- 2 Q, and some of the nails are denoted at  4 A- 4 F, as illustrated primarily in  FIGS. 2-5 . Each wire piece  2  has a head or first end  3  ( FIG. 2 ) and an opposed tip or second end  5 . Machine  1  includes a synchronized drive assembly for moving various parts in a synchronized manner to properly feed the wire pieces  2  through the machine in a sequential manner, that is, one wire piece after the other in sequence. In the exemplary embodiment, the synchronized drive assembly includes several drive assemblies, three of which will be mentioned in greater detail further below. 
     The synchronized drive assembly drives the movement of the various components of a sequential wire piece positioner which is configured to sequentially position wire pieces  2  in specific locations as wire pieces  2  move downstream through machine  1 . A source of wire typically in the form of a roll  6  is wound on a spool  8  and unwinds therefrom as the wire moves downstream through machine  1 . Machine  1  includes a rigid frame  10  which is typically formed primarily of metal and on which are mounted the various moving components of the sequential wire piece positioner. The positioner includes a wire feeder  12 , a wire cutter  14  adjacent and downstream of feeder  12 , a first or upper rigid wire transmitter  16  adjacent and downstream of cutter  14 , a second or lower rigid wire transmitter  18  adjacent and downstream of transmitter  16 , a first or left rigid jaw drum adjacent and downstream of second transmitter  18 , and a second or right rigid jaw drum  22  which is adjacent drum  20  and downstream of second transmitter  18 . Each of transmitters  16  and  18  and drums  20  and  22  may also be referred to as rotatable members, carriages, wheels, disks or the like. Carriages  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  rotate about respective parallel horizontal axes X 1 , X 2 , X 3  and X 4 . In the exemplary embodiment, axis X 2  is directly below axis X 1  while axis X 3  is directly, below axes X 1  and X 2  whereby axes X 1 , X 2  and X 3  typically lie in a common vertical plane. In the exemplary embodiment, axis X 4  is directly to the right of and substantially at the same height of axis X 3 . A cam  24  is rotatably mounted directly in front of a nail head forming position at which heads are formed on wire pieces  2  to form nails  4 . A nail-receiving bin  26  or nail-collecting or storage location is positioned downstream of first drum  20  to receive nails  4  as they are ejected or stripped from drum  20 . 
     The synchronized drive assembly includes a continuous drive assembly  28  which typically includes an electric motor and various gears which are operably connected to and driven by the motor whereby the motor and gears are operably connected to feeder  12  and cutter  14  to drive operation thereof and more particularly to drive rotation of the various wheels thereof as discussed further below. The synchronized drive assembly also includes an intermittent transmitter drive assembly  30  which is configured to intermittently drive rotation of first transmitter  16 . Drive assembly  30  typically includes an electric motor with a rotatable driveshaft, various gears and an intermittent drive, such as a Geneva drive configured to translate continuous rotational movement of the driveshaft of the motor into intermittent rotation of transmitter  16 . Although a Geneva drive works well for this application, other types of intermittent drive assemblies may be used. The synchronized drive assembly further includes another continuous drive assembly  32  typically including an electric motor with a rotatable driveshaft and gears operably connected thereto which are operably connected to jaw drums  20  and  22  in order to drive rotation of drums  20  and  22 . 
     A gear disk or gear  34  is rigidly secured to a rigid driveshaft  36  to which jaw drum  22  is also rigidly secured such that gear disk  34 , shaft  36  and drum  22  rotate together as a unit about axis X 4 . Gear  34  engages a smaller gear or pinion  38  rigidly secured to the end of a horizontal shaft  40  which is perpendicular to horizontal shaft  36  and spaced directly forward of the left portion of drum  22  and the right portion of drum  20 . Shaft  40  is rotatably mounted on frame  10  by a pair of bearings  42  on opposed sides of cam  24 . Cam  24  is rigidly secured to and extends radially outwardly from shaft  40  so that cam  24 , shaft  40  and pinion  38  rotate together as a unit. Thus, drive assembly  32  not only drives rotation of jaws  20  and  22  through various gears, but also drives rotation of shaft  36 , gear  34 , pinion  38 , shaft  40  and cam  24  partially through the engagement between gears  34  and  38 . Pinion  38 , shaft  40  and cam  24  rotate about a horizontal axis X 5  which extends from the left to the right and is perpendicular to axes X 1 -X 4 . 
     A first ejector  44  or stripping device is located adjacent and directly between the respective outer perimeters of transmitters  16  and  18 . More particularly, ejector  44  is positioned adjacent the bottom of transmitter  16  and the top of transmitter  18 . A second ejector  46  or stripping device is positioned adjacent and directly between the outer perimeters of transmitter  18  and jaw drum  20 , more particularly adjacent the bottom of transmitter  18  and the top of drum  20 . A third ejector  48  or stripping device is positioned adjacent the outer perimeter of jaw drum  20  and more particularly adjacent the bottom thereof. Each of ejectors  44 ,  46  and  48  is rigidly secured to frame  10  and thus is fixed relative thereto and stationary during operation of machine  1  although the ejectors may be removed and replaced if necessary. A rigid retaining or holding member in the form of an arcuate plate  50  is rigidly secured to frame  10  directly to the left of and adjacent the outer perimeter of transmitter  18  such that plate  50  is fixed relative to frame  10  and substantially stationary during operation of machine  1 . 
     A first or left support roller assembly  52  is secured to frame  10  adjacent and to the left of jaw drum  20 . Likewise, a second or right support roller assembly  54  is secured to frame  10  adjacent and to the right of jaw drum  22 . Each of the assemblies  52  and  54  includes rotatable rollers  56  having circular outer perimeters  57  which engage the circular outer perimeters of the corresponding drum  20  and  22 . More particularly, the rollers  56  of assembly  52  engage the outer perimeter of drum  20  opposite the head forming location and cam  24  while the rollers  56  of assembly  54  engage the outer perimeter of drum  22  at a location opposite the head forming location and cam  24 . Thus, the head forming location and cam  24  are positioned substantially midway between assemblies  52  and  54 . 
     With primary reference to  FIG. 2 , wire feeder  12  is described in greater detail. Feeder  12  includes a first or left rigid rotatable member or feeder wheel  58 A and a second or right rigid rotatable member or feeder wheel  58 B which is substantially identical to wheel  58 A. Wheels  58 A and B are respectively rotatable about horizontally offset vertical axes X 6  and X 7 , which are thus perpendicular to the various horizontal axes noted herein. Each wheel  58  has a rigid cylindrical hub  60  and four substantially identical circumferentially spaced rigid wire feed arms  62 A-D which are rigidly secured to and extend radially outwardly from the perimeter of hub  60  away from axis X 6 . Wire feed arms  62  define therebetween substantially identical non-feeding blank areas, voids or open spaces  64 A-D. Each arm  62  has radially extending leading and trailing ends  66  and  68  and an arcuate outer surface  70  which extends circumferentially from the respective leading end  66  to the respective trailing end  68 . Each arcuate outer surface  70  is an arc of a circle which is concentric about either axis X 6  (for wheel  58 A) or axis X 7  (for wheel  58 B). Thus, the outer surfaces  70  define a respective circular outer perimeter of the given wheel  58  as well as a circular path along which the respective arcs  70  travel during rotation. 
     Arcuate circumferentially extending grooves  72  are formed respectively in each arm  62  extending radially inwardly from outer surface  72 . The grooves  72  of a given wheel  58  are arcs of a circle concentric about the corresponding axis X 6  or X 7  and thus lie along a common circular path concentric about the respective axis. Each groove  72  extends from the leading end  66  to the trailing end  68  of a given arm  62 . Each of the blank areas or voids  64  extends circumferentially from the trailing end  68  of one arm  62  to the leading end  66  of the next or adjacent arm  62  of a given wheel  58 . Thus, for example, space  64 A extends from the trailing end  68  of arm  62 A of a given wheel to the leading end  66  of arm  62 B of a given wheel  58 . The circumferential length of each groove  72  or the surface defining each groove  72 , as measured from the leading end  66  to the trailing end  68  of the given arm  62  is substantially the same as the length of each wire piece  2  measured from end  3  to end  5 . 
     During the synchronized rotation of wheels  58 A and B, the outer surfaces  70  and grooves  72  move closely adjacent and pass by a wire engaging position P 1  disposed directly between wheels  58 A and B and their respective axes X 6  and X 7 . The surfaces defining grooves  72  are thus wire engaging surfaces which may also be denoted at  72  and which engage wire W during operation in order to feed the wire toward wire cutter  14 . As surfaces  70  of analogous arms  62  of wheels  58 A and B move past position P 1 , said surfaces  70  are closely adjacent or in contact with one another, while the corresponding grooves  72  are closely adjacent one another as well. For example, the surfaces  70  and grooves  72  of analogous arms  62 A of wheels  58 A and  58 B are closely adjacent one another and are synchronized to move so that leading ends of  66  thereof reach position P 1  or a location immediately adjacent thereto at the same time, and so that the trailing ends of  68  of arms  62 A likewise subsequently reach the position P 1  or a location immediately adjacent thereto at the same time. It is likewise true of the surfaces  70  and the grooves  72  of the corresponding arms  62 B, as well as those of arms  62 C and of arms  62 D, which sequentially and repeatedly move past position P 1  during rotation of wheels  58 . 
     With continued primary reference to  FIG. 2 , wire cutter  14  is described in greater detail. Wire cutter  14  includes a first or upper rotatable member or cutter wheel  74 A and a second or lower rotatable member or cutter wheel  74 B. Wheels  74  are rigid structures and are respectively rotatable about vertically offset horizontal axes X 8  and X 9  which are perpendicular to the horizontal axes X 1 -X 4  and parallel to axis X 5 . Each cutter wheel  74  is a rigid structure that includes a rigid cylindrical hub, body or disk  75  with four cutting tips  76 A-D extending radially outwardly from the circular outer perimeter of the hub  75  away from the corresponding axis X 8  or X 9 . Cutting tips  76  are hardened tips which are configured to cut wire W to form wire pieces  2  while simultaneously forming the head end  3  and sharpened tip end  5  of the wire piece  2  which subsequently serves as the tip of the nail  4 . In the exemplary embodiment, tips  76 A-D are circumferentially spaced at about 90 degrees from one another such that for a given wheel  74 , tip  76 A is directly opposite tip  76 C and tip  76 B is directly opposite  76 D. The tips  76 A-D of wheel  74 A rotate along a common circular path which is concentric about axis X 8  while the cutting tips  76 A-D of cutter wheel  74 B likewise lie along and rotate along a circular path which is concentric about axis X 9  so that these two circular paths are substantially coplanar and adjacent one another. The synchronized drive assembly thus rotates wheels  74 A and B in a manner that the corresponding cutting tips  76 A are synchronized to move past a cutting position P 2  directly between the outer perimeters of bodies  75  and directly between axes X 8  and X 9  simultaneously in order to cut wire W at position P 2 . During the synchronized rotation of wheels  74 , the corresponding cutting tips  76 B thus simultaneously move closely adjacent to cutting position P 2  sequentially after cutting tips  76 A. Likewise, cutting tips  76 C sequentially follow cutting tips  76 B to position P 2 , with cutting tips  76 D sequentially following tips  76 C to position P 2  so that the continuous rotation of wheels  74  repeatedly moves tips  76 A-D past position P 2  repeatedly in a sequential manner. 
     With primary reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , first wire transmitter  16  is described in greater detail. Transmitter  16  is a rigid structure which is rotatably mounted about axis X 1  via an axle  78  ( FIG. 1 ) mounted on frame  10 . Carriage or transmitter  16  includes a rigid disk-shaped hub  80  which extends radially outwardly from axle  78  to a circular outer perimeter. Transmitter  16  further includes a cylindrical side wall  82  rigidly secured to the outer perimeter of hub  80  and extending rearwardly and outwardly therefrom whereby the hub and side wall define there within a cavity or interior chamber  84  having a rear entrance opening  86 . More particularly, cavity  84  is defined by a rear surface of hub  80  and a circular or cylindrical inner surface of side wall  82 . Side wall  82  has a circular forward facing front or front side  88  and an opposed rearward facing back or back side  90  which defines opening  86 . Side wall  82  also has a circular or cylindrical outer perimeter  92  which is concentric about and faces radially outwardly away from axis X 1  and extends from front surface  88  to back surface  90 . 
     A plurality (twelve in the exemplary embodiment) of straight wire piece receiving grooves  94  are formed in side wall  82  extending radially inwardly from outer perimeter  92 . Grooves  94  are parallel to axis X 1  and thus perpendicular to each of axes X 5 -X 9 . Grooves  94  are circumferentially spaced from one another so that each adjacent pair of grooves is the same distance from one another as any other adjacent pair of grooves  94 .  FIG. 4  illustrates that the circumferential widths or angles A 1  defined between each adjacent pair of groove  94  are equal. Each groove  94  extends continuously from front  88  to back  90  and thus communicates with front and back  88  and  90 . The surfaces defining grooves  94  respectively serve as wire piece engaging surfaces which may also be denoted at  94  and which engage the given wire piece  2  when received within the respective groove  94 . Each groove  94  is relatively shallow whereby the entire groove  94  is adjacent outer perimeter  92 . Front  88  serves as the front or front end of each groove  94  whereas back  90  serves as the rear or rear end of each groove  94 . 
     Grooves  94  are more particularly denoted in sequential order as grooves  94 A-L. During rotation of transmitter  16 , grooves  94 A-L thus move sequentially along a circular path (defined by or adjacent outer perimeter  92 ) concentric about axis X 1  and, for instance, move sequentially into a wire piece receiving position P 3  at the top of transmitter  16 , which is where groove  94 G is in  FIG. 2 . The groove at position P 3  is adjacent and substantially directly in front of position P 2  and the corresponding cutting tips  76  as they pass adjacent position P 2 . Position P 2  is typically slightly higher than the groove  94  at position P 3 . It is also noted that tips  76  and portions of body  75  of lower cutter wheel  74 B may be disposed in interior chamber  84  of transmitter  16  via entrance opening  86 . Body  75  of upper wheel  74 A is typically higher than the top of outer perimeter  92  whereas the body  75  of lower wheel  74 B is typically lower than the top of outer perimeter  92 . Cutting tips  76  of each of cutter wheels  74  when in their forward most position may be forward of rear surface  90  of transmitter  16 . 
     First or forward and second or rearward circular ejector receiving grooves  96 A and  96 B are also formed in side wall  82  extending radially inwardly from outer perimeter  92 . Grooves  96 A and B are concentric about axis X 1  and are deeper than grooves  94 . Thus, each ejector groove  96  has a circular bottom  98  ( FIG. 3 ) which is deeper or further inwardly from outer perimeter  92  than is a bottom  100  of the each groove  94 . Bottom  98  is thus closer to axis X 1  than are each of bottoms  100  of grooves  94 . Each of grooves  96  communicates with or intersects each groove  94  in a perpendicular fashion. Thus, a short segment of each wire piece  2  is disposed in and respectively intersects grooves  96  when the wire piece  2  is disposed in one of wire receiving grooves  94 . Front and rear magnet mounting or magnet receiving holes  102 A and  102 B are also formed in side wall  82  extending inwardly from outer perimeter  92  and in communication respectively with grooves  94 . Thus, holes  102 A serve as forward magnet mounting holes which are between front  88  and front groove  96 A whereas each hole  102 B serves as a rearward magnet mounting hole disposed between forward and rearward ejector grooves  96 A and  96 B. Holes  102 A are circumferentially equally spaced from one another and receive magnets  104  therein which are likewise circumferentially equally spaced from one another. Similarly, holes  102 B are circumferentially equally spaced from one another and receive therein magnets  104  which are likewise circumferentially equally spaced from one another. Magnets  104  are more particularly denoted in sequential order as magnets  104 A- 104 L whereby magnets  104 A-L are respectively adjacent grooves  94 A-L. Magnets  104  pass sequentially and repeatedly adjacent position P 3  during rotation of carriage  16 . The radial outward end of each magnet  104  is generally adjacent the bottom  100  of the corresponding groove  94  whereby the given magnet  104  is configured to magnetically attract a corresponding wire piece  2  within the given groove  94  and thereby serves as a retaining member which retains the magnetically attractable wire piece  2  within the groove at a given time as transmitter  16  carries the given wire piece from adjacent cutter  14  to transfer to transmitter  18 . 
     Carriage or transmitter  18  is now described in greater detail with primary reference to  FIG. 4 . Transmitter  18  is mounted on a shaft or axle  106  through which axis X 2  passes centrally. Transmitter  18  includes a rigid hub  108  ( FIG. 1 ) and a rigid generally cylindrical side wall  110  rigidly secured to and extending axially outwardly from hub  108 . Side wall  110  has a circular or cylindrical outer perimeter  112  which is concentric about axis X 2 , which defines an outer diameter of transmitter  18  which is substantially the same as that of transmitter  16 , and which defines a circular path along which the outer perimeter travels during rotation. Outer perimeter  112  extends from a front surface  111  of transmitter  18  to a back surface thereof. Generally, transmitter  18  is very similar in structure to transmitter  16  except that transmitter  18  does not carry a magnet or magnets for magnetically attracting wire pieces  2 . 
     Like transmitter  16 , there are straight wire piece receiving grooves  114 A-L (twelve in the exemplary embodiment) formed in side wall  110  of transmitter  18  and extending inwardly from outer perimeter  112  a short distance such that each groove  114  is entirely adjacent outer perimeter  112 . Each groove  114  extends from front surface  111  to the back surface of sidewall  110 . Grooves  114  lie on and travel along a common circular path concentric about axis X 2  on or adjacent perimeter  112 . Grooves  114  are parallel to axis X 2 , are circumferentially equally spaced from one another and are substantially semicircular in section as viewed parallel to axis X 2 .  FIG. 4  shows the equal circumferential widths or angles A 2  between each adjacent pair of grooves  114 . The surface defining each groove  114  serves as a wire piece engaging surface which may also be denoted at  114 . A pair of circular ejector grooves  116  (only one shown) are formed in side wall  110  extending radially inwardly from outer perimeter  112  in the same manner as grooves  96  of transmitter  16 . Grooves  116  are deeper than grooves  114  such that each groove  116  has a bottom  118  which is further from outer perimeter  112  and closer to axis X 2  than is a bottom  120  of each groove  114 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, transmitter  18  is positioned directly below transmitter  16  so that together, outer perimeters  92  and  112  form a figure 8-shaped configuration as viewed from the front or generally parallel to axes X 1  and X 2 . During the rotation of transmitters  16  and  18 , outer perimeters  92  and  112  are closest to one another adjacent a position P 4  which in the exemplary embodiment is directly above the top of outer perimeter  112  and directly below the bottom of outer perimeter  92  and directly between axes X 1  and X 2 . Outer perimeters  92  and  112  are closely adjacent one another adjacent position P 4  but typically not in contact with one another. Respective tangents to outer perimeters  92  and  112  adjacent position P 4  are thus horizontal and parallel to one another, that is, tangents at the bottom of outer perimeter  92  and at the top of outer perimeter  112 . The upwardly facing portion of outer perimeter  112  of the top side of transmitter  18  faces the downwardly facing portion of outer perimeter  112  of the bottom side of transmitter  16  whereas the downwardly facing portion of outer perimeter  112  of the bottom side of transmitter  18  faces away from and is distal the upwardly facing portion of outer perimeter  92  of the top side of transmitter  16 . Grooves  94 , magnets  104  and grooves  114  pass sequentially and repeatedly adjacent position P 4  during rotation of carriages  16  and  18 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , ejector  44  is shown as having a generally rectangular left portion and a generally triangular right portion such that the triangular section or portion includes an insert portion  122  which is disposed in grooves  96 . The triangular portion has a tip portion  124  which is the rightmost portion of insert portion  122  and is positioned further from axis X 1  than is bottom  98  of groove  96  and closer to axis X 1  than is bottom  100  of each groove  94 . The triangular portion of ejector  44  also has a generally downwardly facing cam surface  126  which angles downwardly and to the left relative to tip  124 . Surface  126  thus angles downwardly and outwardly away from axis X 1  from adjacent bottom  98  of groove  96  (and bottom  100  of a given groove  94  when at the bottom position adjacent position P 4 ) to adjacent outer perimeter  112  of transmitter  18  and to adjacent upper end  134  of arcuate surface  138  of retaining member  50 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , ejector  46  is described in greater detail. Ejector  46  is substantially the same as ejector  44  except that it is positioned facing in the opposite direction and is generally adjacent the bottom of transmitter  18  and the top of jaw drum  20 . Ejector  46  thus also has a generally rectangular right portion and a triangular left portion which is secured to the rectangular portion and extends to the left therefrom. The triangular portion has an upper insert portion  128  which is received within grooves  116  adjacent the bottom of transmitter  18  and includes a tip portion  130  which serves as the leftmost portion of the triangular portion and ejector  46 . The triangular portion also has a cam surface  132  which angles downwardly and to the right generally from adjacent the bottom of outer perimeter  112  of transmitter  18  to adjacent the outer perimeter of jaw drum  20 . Tip  130  and the portion of cam surface  132  defined by tip  130  is further from axis X 2  than is bottom  118  of groove  116  and closer to axis X 2  than is bottom  120  of each groove  114 . Surface  132  extends downwardly and outwardly to the right away from axis X 2  from within groove  116  to a position external to groove  116 . Surface  132  also extends from adjacent the lower end of arcuate surface  138  outwardly and to the right therefrom. Surface  132  also angles downwardly and outwardly away from axis X 2  from adjacent bottom  118  of groove  116  and bottom  120  of a given groove  114  when at the bottom position adjacent position P 5  to adjacent the outer perimeter of carriage  20 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , holding member or plate  50  is described in greater detail. Plate  50  has a first or upper end  134  and a second or lower opposed end  136  with an arcuate substantially semicircular retaining surface  138  extending from adjacent upper end  134  to adjacent lower end  136 . The entire length or nearly the entire length of surface  136  from adjacent end  134  to adjacent end  136  is concentric about axis X 2  and adjacent outer perimeter  112  along its left side. Surface  138  thus extends from adjacent the top of outer perimeter  112  to adjacent the bottom of outer perimeter  112  only along the left side of transmitter  18 . Retaining surface  138  is adjacent and spaced outwardly from outer perimeter  112  along its entire length so that the normal distance from the convex outer perimeter  112  and the concave inner retaining surface  138  is less than the diameter of each wire piece  2  so that a wire piece  2  cannot fit within the space defined between outer perimeter  112  and surface  138 . Surface  138  is thus configured to hold or retain wire pieces  2  within respective grooves  114  as they are carried within grooves  114  from adjacent the bottom of transmitter  16  to adjacent the top of drum  20 . 
     With primary reference to  FIGS. 5 and 7 , carriage or jaw drum  20  is now described in greater detail. Jaw drum  20  is mounted on and extends radially outwardly from an axle or shaft  140  which has central axis X 3 . Jaw drum  20  has a front or front surface  142  and a back or back surface  144  and a circular or cylindrical outer perimeter  146  which extends from the front  142  to the back  144  and is concentric about axis X 3 . Perimeter  146  thus defines a circular path concentric about axis X 3  along which perimeter  146  travels during rotation. Multiple circumferentially spaced jaw receiving recesses  148  are formed in drum  20  extending radially inwardly from outer perimeter  146  and rearwardly from front surface  142 . Recesses  148  are circumferentially equally spaced from one another and carry therein respective jaws  150 A-T which are likewise circumferentially equally spaced from one another and have respective flat vertical front surfaces  151 . Each of the rigid jaws  150  is rigidly and securely mounted within the respective recess  148  on the body of drum  20 . Jaws  150  are typically formed of a hardened metal which is harder than the metal of which the body of drum  20  is formed. 
     A plurality (twenty in the exemplary embodiment) of straight wire piece receiving grooves  152 A-T are formed in the cylindrical side wall of drum  20  extending inwardly from outer perimeter  146  a short distance such that each groove  152  is in its entirety adjacent outer perimeter  146 . Grooves  152  are parallel to axes X 1 -X 4 , to one another and to grooves  94  of transmitter  16  and grooves  114  of transmitter  18 . The surface defining each groove  152  serves as a wire piece engaging surface which may also be denoted at  152 .  FIG. 5  shows that each adjacent pair of grooves  152  defines therebetween a circumferential width or angle A 3 , thus representing that grooves  152  are circumferentially equally spaced around perimeter  146 . Each groove  152  has a longitudinal center line C 1  which is parallel to axis X 3  and midway between the parallel circumferentially spaced sides of the given groove  152 . Center line C 1  is substantially the same distance from axis X 3  as is outer perimeter  146  and surface  151 . Each groove  152  extends from back  144  to front  142  or front surface  151  and includes a side wall portion  154  which is formed in the side wall of the drum and a gripping or jaw portion  156  which is formed in a respective one of jaws  150  extending inwardly from the outer surface of the jaw which faces away from axis X 3 . The jaw portion  156  includes multiple semicircular arcuate gripping ridges which are generally perpendicular to the length of groove  152  and serve as a clamping surface for gripping or clamping wire pieces  2  during nail head formation. Grooves  152  lie on and travel along a common circular path which is concentric about axis X 3  and which is defined by or adjacent outer perimeter  146 . 
     A pair of circular ejector grooves  158  ( FIG. 7 ) are formed in the side wall of drum  20  extending radially inwardly from outer perimeter  146  in the same manner as the previously discussed ejector grooves in transmitters  16  and  18 . Each groove  158  is concentric about axis X 3 . Each groove  158  is deeper than each groove  152  and thus has a bottom  160  which is further from outer perimeter  146  and closer to axis X 3  than a bottom  162  of each groove  152 . Grooves  158  communicate with and intersect each groove  152  perpendicular thereto so that a given wire piece  2  when positioned within a groove  152  is perpendicular to and within a portion of grooves  158 . A pair of magnet mounting holes  164  is formed in the side wall of drum  20  extending radially inwardly from outer perimeter  146  adjacent and in communication with each groove  152 . A respective pair of magnets  166  are mounted securely within holes  164  radially inward of the given groove  152  for magnetically attracting and holding a given wire piece  2  within groove  152  during the time when the wire piece is carried by drum  20 . Magnets  166  are circumferentially equally spaced along outer perimeter  146 . The circular outer perimeters  57  of rollers  56  of assembly  52  rollingly engage outer perimeter  146  of drum  20  during the rotation of drum  20  and the rotation of each of rollers  56  about their respective axes, which are parallel to axis X 3 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, jaw drum  20  is directly below transmitter  18  whereby the outer perimeters  112  and  146  of carriages  18  and  20  form a generally figure 8-shaped configuration as viewed from the front and generally parallel to axes X 2  and X 3  although the upper circular portion of the “8” defined by outer perimeter  112  is substantially smaller than the lower circular portion defined by outer perimeter  146  inasmuch as the diameter of drum  20  defined by outer perimeter  146  is substantially larger than that of transmitter  18 . Outer perimeter  112  and outer perimeter  146  are closest to one another adjacent a position P 5  ( FIG. 4 ) which is directly between axes X 2  and X 3  and closely adjacent and below the bottom of outer perimeter  112  and closely adjacent and above the top of outer perimeter  146 . Tangents of outer perimeter  112  and  146  adjacent position P 5  are horizontal and parallel to one another. In the area adjacent position P 5 , the upwardly facing portion of outer perimeter  146  of the top side of jaw drum  20  faces the downwardly facing portion of outer perimeter  112  of the bottom side of transmitter  18  while the downwardly facing portion of outer perimeter  146  of the bottom side of drum  20  is distal and faces away from the upwardly facing portion of outer perimeter  112  of the top side of transmitter  18 . Position P 5  is adjacent lower end  136  of plate  50  and surface  138 . Grooves  152 , jaws  150 , magnets  166  and grooves  114  move sequentially and repeatedly adjacent position P 5  along their respective circular paths during rotation of carriages  18  and  20 . 
     With primary reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  8  and  9 , carriage or drum  22  is now described in greater detail. The main body of drum  22  has a front or front surface  168 , a back or back surface  170  ( FIG. 8 ) and a circular or cylindrical outer perimeter  172  which extends from front  168  to back  170  and is concentric about axis X 4 . Perimeter  172  defines a circular path along which perimeter  172  travels during rotation of carriage  22 . Outer perimeter  172  defines a diameter which is substantially the same as the diameter of drum  20 . Multiple circumferentially spaced recesses  174  are formed in drum  22  extending radially inwardly from outer perimeter  172  and rearwardly from front  168 . Recesses  174  are circumferentially evenly spaced from one another and receive therein jaws  176 A-T respectively such that the jaws  176  are likewise circumferentially evenly spaced from one another adjacent the outer perimeter  172 . Each jaw  176  has a flat vertical front surface  177 . Jaws  176  lie on and travel along a common circular path which is concentric about axis X 4  and which is defined by or adjacent outer perimeter  172 . Each of the front surfaces  88 ,  111 ,  142  and  168  of the respective carriages  16 ,  18 , and  22  lies in a vertical plane perpendicular to axes X 1 -X 4  so that these front surfaces may be coplanar or may lie in planes which are parallel and adjacent one another. Carriage  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  are positioned so that a single plane perpendicular to axes X 1 -X 4  cuts through all of carriages  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22 . 
     A plurality (twenty in the exemplary embodiment) of wire piece receiving grooves  178 A-T are formed in the side wall of drum  22  extending radially inwardly from outer perimeter  172  respectively adjacent and in communication with recesses  174 . The surface defining each groove  178  serves as a wire piece engaging surface which may also be denoted at  178 . Grooves  178  are circumferentially evenly spaced along perimeter  172  and are in their entirety adjacent perimeter  172 .  FIG. 6  shows each adjacent pair of grooves  178  defines therebetween the same circumferential width or angle A 4 , which is equal to angle A 3  in the exemplary embodiment. Grooves  178  extend from back  170  to front  168  or front surface  177  and are straight and parallel to axes X 1 -X 4 , to one another and to grooves  94 ,  114  and  152 . 
     Grooves  178  include a side wall portion  180  formed in the side wall of drum  22  and a gripping or jaw portion  182  formed in the respective jaw  176  extending inwardly from the outer surface of the jaw which faces away from axis X 4 . The jaw portion  182  is formed with semicircular arcuate gripping ridges which are perpendicular to the length of the given groove  178  and serve as a clamping or gripping surface for clamping or gripping wire pieces  2  during nail head formation. Each groove  178  has a longitudinal center line C 2  which is parallel to axis X 4  and midway between the circumferentially opposed parallel sides of the given groove  178 . Center line C 2  is parallel to center line C 1  and is substantially the same distance from axis X 4  as is outer perimeter  172  and surface  177 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the circular outer perimeters  57  of the respective rollers  56  of assembly  54  rollingly engage outer perimeter  172  of drum  22  during rotation of drum  22  about axis X 4  and rotation of rollers  56  about their respective axes, which are parallel to axis X 4 . Grooves  178  lie on and travel along a common circular path which is concentric about axis X 4  and which is defined by or adjacent outer perimeter  172 . 
     Outer perimeter  172  of drum  22  and outer perimeter  146  of drum  20  together form a figure 8-shaped configuration ( FIG. 1 ) wherein the “8” is turned on its side in that the outer perimeter  146  is directly to the left of the outer perimeter  172 . Outer perimeters  146  and  172  are closest to one another at or adjacent a nail head forming position P 6  ( FIG. 12 ) which is directly between axes X 3  and X 4  and adjacent the rightmost portion of outer perimeter  146  and the leftmost portion of perimeter  172 . Position P 6  is directly between outer perimeters  146  and  172  where they are closest to one another. Position P 6  is also directly between the leftmost portion of outer perimeter  146  and the rightmost portion of outer perimeter  172 , that is, directly between the outer perimeters  146  and  172  where they are furthest from one another. Position P 6  is also directly between roller assemblies  52  and  54  and in particular directly between the middle roller  56  of assembly  52  and the middle roller  56  of assembly  54 . Adjacent position P 6 , outer perimeters  146  and  172  are closely adjacent or in contact with one another. The rightward facing portion of outer perimeter  146  on the right side of left jaw drum  20  is directly opposite and faces the leftward facing portion of outer diameter  172  of the left side of right jaw drum  22  while the leftward facing portion of outer perimeter  146  of jaw drum  20  faces away from and is distal the rightward facing portion of outer perimeter  172  of the right side of right drum  22 . 
     With primary reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , drum  22  carries a plurality (twenty in the exemplary embodiment) of nail head formers  184 A-T which are equally circumferentially spaced from one another and respectively mounted adjacent the recesses  174 , jaws  176 A-T and grooves  178 A-T. Formers  184  lie on and travel along a common circular path which is concentric about axis X 4  and which is defined by or adjacent outer perimeter  172 . Each nail head former  184  in the exemplary embodiment is in the form of a punch assembly and includes a block or housing  186  having a back  188  and a front  190 . Block  186  is typically formed of a rigid piece of metal and includes a back portion  192  and a front portion  194  rigidly secured to and extending forward from back portion  192 . Back portion  192  adjacent back  188  is received within one of recesses  174  so that block or housing  186  is rigidly secured to the body of drum  22  adjacent outer perimeter  172 . Front portion  194  extends radially outwardly away from axis X 4  and beyond back portion  192  and overhangs a space  196  which is directly behind front portion  194  and is defined in back portion  192  extending radially inwardly from the outer surface of back portion  192 . Space  196  may be referred to as a nail head receiving space, a wire piece head end receiving space and/or a punch head receiving space. A through passage  198  is formed in front portion  194  extending from and communicating with space  196  forward to the front  190  of housing  186 . 
     A punch  200  is movably carried within passage  198  and includes a punch head  202  which extends rearwardly from passage  198  into space  196 , and a punch tail  204  which extends forward from the front of passage  198  external thereto. Punch head  202  has a back or rearwardly facing forming or punching surface  206  which faces and is adjacent the forward facing front forming surface  177  of the corresponding jaw  176 . Tail  204  defines a forward facing front surface  208  of punch  200  and includes a pair of spaced legs  210  which are more particularly spaced from one another by a notch  212  defined in tail  204  extending rearward from front surface  208 . A rotatable roller  214  has a circular outer perimeter  215  and is rotatably mounted on tail  204  by an axle  216  which is secured to and extends between legs  210 . More particularly, each axle  216  defines an axis X 10  about which roller  214  is rotatable. Each axis X 10  is perpendicular to axis X 4  and lies along or is a radius of axis X 4 . Three of the axes X 10  are shown in  FIG. 9  respectively associated with the rollers  214  of formers  184 Q-S. In keeping with the fact that the formers  184  are equally circumferentially spaced along the outer perimeter of drum  22 ,  FIG. 9  shows that rollers  214  and their axes X 10  are likewise equally circumferentially spaced. More particularly, each adjacent pair of axes X 10  defines therebetween a circumferential width or angle A 5  which is the same as Angle A 4  ( FIG. 6 ) defined between each adjacent pair of grooves  178 . In the exemplary embodiment, grooves  178  lie respectively directly behind axes X 10 . 
     A coil spring  218  ( FIG. 8 ) is disposed in passage  198  and biases punch  200  and roller  214  to a non-punching position shown in  FIGS. 8 and 13 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , punch head  202  is aligned with the corresponding groove  178  directly in front of the front of groove  178 . Center C 2  of groove  178  also serves as the longitudinal center of punch  202  and the center of punching surface  206 . In the exemplary embodiment, punch  200  moves relative to the body of drum  22 , jaw  176  and housing  186  only in a straight linear manner back and forth between the non-punching position and a punching position illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15  by the punch of former  184 F. Thus, each punch  200  is movable back and forth in a linear manner parallel to axes X 1 -X 4  and to the various wire piece receiving grooves  94 ,  114 ,  152  and  178 . 
     With primary reference to  FIG. 13 , cam  24  is described in greater detail. Cam  24  is a rigid structure which is substantially disk-shaped and typically made out of metal. Cam  24  has a substantially flat circular cam body  220  and a pair of opposed cam lobes  222 A and B extending radially outwardly from body  220 . Cam  24  has an outer perimeter  224  which includes a pair of opposed circular arc portions  226  which are nearly semicircular and lie along a circular path  228  concentric about axis X 5 . Each cam lobe  222  has an outermost surface or peak  230 , a tapered leading end  232  which slopes radially outwardly from an end of one of arc portions  226  to peak  230 , and a tapered trailing end  234  which slopes radially outwardly from an end of the other arc portion  226  to peak  230 . The peaks  230  and the leading and trailing ends  232  and  234  are part of outer perimeter  224 . 
     The operation of machine  1  will now be described beginning with a general description of the overall process. Generally, wire W unwinds from spool  8  ( FIG. 1 ) to be fed downstream therefrom through the remainder of the machine. The counter rotating feed wheels  58 A and B of wire feeder  12  feed wire W from position P 1  ( FIG. 2 ) to and past position P 2  ( FIG. 2 ) adjacent cutter  14  so that cutter  14  cuts wires into wire pieces  2  and sequentially delivers the wire pieces to the grooves  94  while located at position P 3 . Transmitter  16  rotates to carry the wire pieces magnetically held in the grooves sequentially from position P 3  down to position P 4  ( FIG. 4 ), adjacent which the wire pieces are sequentially transferred respectively to grooves  114  adjacent the top of transmitter  18 . The wire pieces then travel within the respective grooves  114  while being retained therein by plate  50  so that transmitter  18  delivers the wire pieces  2  sequentially from adjacent position P 4  to adjacent position P 5 , adjacent which ejector  46  facilitates the sequential transfer of the wire pieces into respective grooves  152  adjacent the top of drum  20 . Drum  20  rotates to carry and sequentially deliver the wire pieces held magnetically within grooves  152  from adjacent position P 5  to position P 6  ( FIG. 12 ) directly between drums  20  and  22 . At position P 6 , cam  24  drives the punching operation of nail head formers  184  to sequentially form the heads of the nails from the wire pieces, which are subsequently sequentially carried by drum  20  while still magnetically held in the grooves  152  from position P 6  to an ejection or removal position adjacent the bottom of drum  20 , where ejector  48  sequentially removes the newly formed nails from grooves  152  of drum  20  to sequentially transfer them into bin  26  or the like. 
     As previously discussed, machine  1  includes a synchronized drive assembly in order to drive the various components of the sequential wire piece positioner so that straight wire pieces  2  are cut and delivered through machine  1  in a sequential manner. This sequential feeding, delivery and processing of the wire pieces and nails is illustrated by the specific numbering of the wire pieces  2  and nails  4 . More particularly,  FIG. 1  shows the various nails  4  moving into bin  26 , followed by nails  4 A,  4 B,  4 C,  4 D,  4 E and  4 F ( FIG. 5 ), which is the sequential order in which the nails were formed and are being delivered to ejector  48  to be transferred into bin  26 . Similarly, the wire pieces are denoted in the order of sequential movement through the system of machine  1  at  2 A- 2 Q wherein wire pieces  2 A- 2 D are shown within respective grooves  152 G- 152 J of drum  20  in  FIG. 5 , wire pieces  2 E- 2 J are shown respectively within grooves  114 A- 114 F of transmitter  18  in  FIG. 4 , and wire pieces  2 K- 2 Q are shown respectively within grooves  94 A- 94 G in  FIGS. 2-4 . To move wire pieces  2  and nails  4  in this sequential manner through machine  1 , the various rotating carriages and wheels are rotated in a synchronized manner as detailed below. 
     This synchronized movement includes the rotation of the motor and gears of drive assembly  28  in a continuous manner (and usually at a substantially constant rate) such that feed wheels  58  and cutter wheels  74  are rotated continuously (usually at a substantially constant rate) which withdraws wire W (Arrow A in  FIG. 1 ) from spool  8  in an intermittent fashion. This is due to the use of alternating arms  62  and blank areas  64  on feed wheels  58 . More particularly, the rotation of wheels  58 A and B (Arrows B in  FIG. 2 ) so that one rotates clockwise and the other rotates counterclockwise causes the surfaces that define grooves  72  of a given pair of synchronized arms such as arms  62 A to grip opposed sides of wire W at position P 1  and move it forward a length equal to the circumferential length of grooves  72 . Once grooves  72  are out of contact with wire W, the movement of wire W stops momentarily during the length of time it takes for a given set of blank areas such as areas  64 A to move adjacent and past wire W so that the leading edges  66  of the next set of grooves  72  moves into contact with wire W to once again move wire W forward a distance equal to the circumferential length of groove  72 . The intermittent feeding of wire W thus positions wire W so that it extends forward from the gripping position P 1  to and forward of or beyond the cutting position P 2  so that the rotation of cutter wheels  74  (Arrows C in  FIG. 2 ) with one cutter wheel rotating clockwise and the other counterclockwise causes a given pair of cutting tips such as tips  76 A to move to position P 2  to cut or sever wire W in order to form and separate a wire piece  2  from the remaining length of wire being unwound from spool  8 . Feed wheels  58  thus feed wire W to a position adjacent the groove  94  which is at wire piece receiving position P 3 , and the rotating tips  76  which cut wire W also push the newly cut wire piece  2  into the groove  94  at position P 3 . As previously noted, the cutter tips  76  are configured to form the wire piece with its head end  3  and sharpened tip end  5 . The feed and cutting system thus provides wire pieces  2  all of which are substantially the same length. Wire pieces  2  when positioned within grooves  94  are horizontal and parallel to grooves  94 ,  114 ,  152  and  178 , to one another and to axes X 1 -X 4 , and remain in this orientation while being carried in grooves  94 ,  114  and  152 . 
     The synchronization of the sequential wire positioner includes the intermittent rotation (Arrows D in  FIGS. 1-3 ) of carriage  16  by intermittent drive assembly  30  ( FIG. 1 ) so that one of the carriage  16  grooves such as groove  94 G stops momentarily at position P 3  ( FIG. 2 ) and the opposed groove such as groove  94 A simultaneously stops momentarily adjacent position P 4  ( FIG. 4 ). Thus, while the given groove  94  is stopped at position P 3 , wire feeder and cutter  14  are synchronized to feed the given wire piece  2  into the groove  94  at position P 3 . After a given wire piece  2  is fed into the groove  94  at position P 3 , the intermittent drive assembly causes subsequent rotation of carriage  16  to advance the circumferential distance A 1  ( FIG. 4 ) between an adjacent pair of grooves  94 , thus advancing, for example groove  94 G out of position P 3  to the position shown by groove  94 F in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and simultaneously advancing the next or sequential groove  94 H ( FIG. 3 ) to position P 3 , at which time the rotation of transmitter  16  momentarily stops again in order to receive the next or sequential wire piece  2  fed, cut and transferred by feeder  12  and cutter  14  in a synchronized manner. The intermittent drive assembly thus intermittently rotates or advances transmitter  16  a specified circumferential distance or step A 1  from a first momentarily stopped position to another momentarily stopped position. 
     During the rotational step advancement of transmitter  16  to move a groove  94  with a wire piece  2  therein out of position P 3  and the next groove into position P 3 , the wire piece  2  in the groove  94  opposite position P 3  and adjacent wire piece transfer position P 4  also advances and is ejected or stripped out of its groove to be transferred into a groove of transmitter  18 . By way of example, as groove  94 G and wire  2 Q ( FIG. 2 ) is advancing one circumferential step out of position P 3  to the next position,  FIGS. 4 and 10  illustrate that groove  94 A moves generally horizontally and upward to the left (Arrow D 1  in  FIG. 10 ) while ejector  44  forces wire piece  2 K out of groove  94 A and into groove  114 G of transmitter  18 , which is rotating in the direction opposite of transmitter  16  in a continuous fashion with grooves  94 A and  114 G moving in a synchronized manner to be closely adjacent one another when substantially aligned with position P 4  and also while continuing a short distance beyond position P 4 . Thus, the rotation of transmitters  16  and  18  from the position shown in  FIG. 4  to the position shown in  FIG. 10  causes wire piece  2 K to slidingly engage cam surface  126  of ejector  44 , which translates the rotational movement of wire piece  2 K with transmitter  16  into downward movement radially outwardly away from axis X 1  to remove wire piece  2 K from groove  94 A and simultaneously guide wire piece  2 K toward and then into groove  114 G, which is closely adjacent and substantially directly below groove  94 A at the time that wire piece  2 K is ejected from groove  94 A adjacent position P 4  and received in groove  114 G. The sliding engagement between wire piece  2 K and cam surface  126  thus produces sufficient radially outward force on wire piece  2 K away from axis X 1  to overcome the magnetic attraction of wire piece  2 K to magnet  104 A, at which time wire piece  2 K falls by gravitational force into groove  114 G as groove  114 G rotates with transmitter  18  (Arrow E 1  in  FIG. 10 ) substantially horizontally and downwardly to the left. 
     Grooves  94  rotate along a common circular path which is defined by or adjacent the outer perimeter or circular path  92  of transmitter  16 . Thus, when parallel wire pieces  2  are disposed within the respective grooves  94 , they likewise travel along a circular path concentric about axis X 1  which is on or adjacent circular path  92 . Similarly, magnets  104  rotate along a circular path concentric about axis X 1  adjacent and radially inward of outer perimeter or path  92  and the circular paths along which grooves  94  and wire pieces  2  travel. The rotation of carriage  16  moves grooves  94  and wire pieces  2  carried thereby sequentially from position P 3  to adjacent position P 4 . In the exemplary embodiment, wire pieces  2  are disposed only in some of grooves  94  during normal operation, and more particularly within one half or approximately one half of grooves  94  along one side of transmitter  16  while the grooves  94  on the other side are empty due to the transfer of wire pieces adjacent position P 4  to transmitter  18 . Once wire pieces  2  have been transferred out of grooves  94  as grooves  94  moves sequentially past position P 4 , the resulting empty grooves  94  move in the intermittent fashion previously described upwardly away from position P 4  back to position P 3 , where the cycle of rotating transmitter  16  to pick up wire pieces at position P 3  and deliver them to position P 4  sequentially starts again to facilitate the continual feeding of wire pieces  2  through machine  1 . 
     Similarly, only about half of grooves  114  of transmitter  18  carry parallel wire pieces  2  along the left side thereof while the remaining grooves  114  generally along the right side are empty inasmuch as transmitter  18  receives wire pieces  2  adjacent its top and transfers them to jaw  20  adjacent its bottom. Grooves  114  lie along a common circle concentric about axis X 2  and thus travel along a circular path concentric about axis X 2  during rotation of transmitter  18 . Thus, wire pieces  2  travel along the same circular path concentric about axis X 2  on or adjacent outer perimeter or circular path  112  when they are carried within respective grooves  114 . As discussed further above, transmitter  18  is free of magnets which are used to magnetically hold or retain wire pieces  2  within the corresponding grooves  114 . The arcuate retaining surface  138  of retaining member  50  ensures that the wire pieces  2  do not come out of or exit grooves  114  during their travel from adjacent wire piece transfer position P 4  and upper end  134  to adjacent wire piece transfer position P 5  and lower end  136 . When wire pieces  2  are closer to the top of transmitter  18 , gravity alone may hold them within the respective groove  114 . However, as the wire pieces within grooves  114  travel downwardly, some sort of retaining mechanism is necessary to keep them within grooves  114 . Thus, wire pieces  2  slidably engage surface  138  as they rotate along with transmitter  18  in order to keep the wire pieces within the grooves  114 . The rotation of carriage  18  moves grooves  114  and wire pieces  2  carried thereby sequentially from adjacent position P 4  to adjacent position P 5 . As ejector  44  removes wire pieces  2  sequentially from grooves  114  as grooves  114  sequentially move past position P 5 , the grooves  114  which are empty as a result move back upwardly away from position P 5  sequentially toward position P 4  so that grooves  114  again sequentially pass by position P 4  to repeat the cycle of sequentially receiving wire pieces  2  from transmitter  16  and delivering them again to position P 5  for transfer to drum  20 . 
     More particularly, wire pieces  2  are sequentially transferred from transmitter  18  to jaw drum  20  once they move beyond the lower terminal end  136  of retaining member  50 . This transfer may be facilitated by ejector  46  in a manner similar to that described above with respect to ejector  44  effecting the removal of wire pieces  2  from grooves  94  of transmitter  16 . The transfer of wire pieces from transmitter  18  to drum  20  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 11 . Tip  130  and cam surface  132  thereof is positioned radially inwards of the given wire piece  2 E and thus closer to axis X 2  so that tip  130  is directly between wire piece  2 E and axis X 2  just prior to the ejection or removal of wire piece  2 E from groove  114 A. Tip  130  and the surface  132  thereof is also thus between the bottom  120  of groove  114 A and the bottom  118  of groove  116  immediately adjacent bottom  120  of groove  114 A just prior to the removal or ejection of wire piece  2 E. Wire piece  2 E thus slidably engages cam surface  132  to facilitate removal of wire piece  2 E from groove  114 A in the same manner as discussed above with respect to ejector  44 . It is noted that inasmuch as transmitter  18  does not include magnets to retain the wire pieces within the grooves  114  thereof that an ejector such as ejector  46  may not be necessary in order to cause the wire pieces to be removed from groove  114  since this may be achieved by gravity only. However, surface  132  of ejector  46  may also facilitate guiding the wire piece into the corresponding groove  152  of drum  20 . 
     In any case, wire piece  2 E comes out of groove  114 A as groove  114 A rotates (Arrow E 2  in  FIG. 11 ) generally horizontally and upward to the right as groove  114 A and wire piece  2 E move past the lower end  136  of retaining member  50  while the receiving groove  152 K and corresponding magnet  166  rotate (Arrow F 1  in  FIG. 11 ) with drum  20  generally horizontally and downwardly to the right. When grooves  114 A and  152 K are adjacent position P 5  and lower end  136  due to the synchronized movement of grooves  152  and  114 , they are substantially aligned with one another, more particularly with groove  152 K directly below groove  114 A, whereby the transfer of wire piece  2 E may be facilitated by gravity, magnetic attraction of the magnet  166  adjacent groove  152 K and the sliding engagement of wire piece  2 E with surface  132  of ejector  46 . The rotation of carriage  18  thus moves grooves  114  and delivers wire pieces  2  carried thereby sequentially to adjacent jaws  150 , grooves  152  and the corresponding magnets  166  while adjacent position P 5  as carriage  20  rotates. 
     The transfer of wire pieces  2  from transmitter  18  to jaw drum  20  occurs while transmitter  18  is continuously rotating (Arrow E in  FIG. 1 ) in one direction about axis X 2  at a predetermined rate while drum  20  is rotating in the opposite direction (Arrow F in  FIGS. 1 and 5 ) about axis X 3  at a predetermined rate so that respective grooves  114  and  152  are synchronized to sequentially be closely adjacent one another adjacent position P 5  in order to properly transfer the parallel wire pieces from their respective grooves  114  to their respective grooves  152  in sequential manner. Meanwhile, drum  22  is rotating (Arrow G in  FIG. 1 ) in a direction opposite that of drum  20 . At the same time, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , rollers  56  of assembly  52  rotate (Arrow H in  FIG. 5 ) about their respective axes in a direction opposite that of drum  20 , and rollers  56  of assembly  54  rotate (Arrow I in  FIG. 6 ) about their respective axes in a direction opposite that of drum  22 . More particularly, the circular outer perimeters  57  of rollers  56  of assembly  52  rollingly engage the circular outer perimeter  146  of jaw  20  while the circular outer perimeters  57  of rollers  56  of assembly  54  rollingly engage the outer perimeter  172  of drum  22 . Rollers  56  of assemblies  52  and  54  are idler rollers, such that their rotation is driven by engagement with the respective outer perimeters  146  and  172  of the drums  20  and  22  as they are driven by drive assembly  32  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Thus, as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 , carriages  16  and  20  and rollers  56  of assembly  54  are rotated in the same direction (clockwise) about their respective axes while carriages  18  and  22  and rollers  56  of assembly  52  all rotate in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) about their respective axes. With respect to carriages  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22 , each carriage which is immediately downstream of a given carriage rotates in the opposite direction of the given carriage. For example, carriage  18  is immediately downstream of carriage  16  and thus rotates in the opposite direction as carriage  16 . Likewise, carriage  20  is immediately downstream of carriage  18  and rotates in the opposite direction of carriage  18 . Likewise, carriage  22  is immediately downstream of carriage  20  and rotates in the opposite direction of carriage  20 . It may also be said that each pair of carriages having outer perimeters which are adjacent one another rotate in opposite directions from one another. Thus, one such pair is formed of carriages  16  and  18 , another such pair is formed of carriages  18  and  20 , and another such pair is formed of carriages  20  and  22 . Thus, with reference to  FIG. 10  and with respect to carriages  16  and  18 , outer diameter  92 , grooves  94 , magnets  104  and wire pieces  2  within a groove  94  when adjacent position P 4  are moving in the generally horizontal direction indicated at Arrow D 1  while outer perimeter  112 , grooves  114  and a wire piece  2  within a groove  114  when adjacent position P 4  are moving in the direction generally indicated at Arrow E 1 , which is substantially the same as the direction of Arrow D 1  when adjacent position P 4 . A similar relationship exists between carriages  18  and  20  adjacent position P 5 . Thus, outer perimeter  112 , grooves  114  and a wire piece  2  within a given groove  114  adjacent position P 5  is moving generally in the direction indicated at Arrow E 2  in  FIG. 11  while outer perimeter  146 , grooves  152 , magnets  166  and a wire piece  2  within a groove  152  adjacent position P 5  is moving in the generally horizontal direction indicated by Arrow F 1  in  FIG. 11 , which is substantially the same as the direction of Arrow E 2  adjacent position P 5 . 
     Once a wire piece  2  is transferred from transmitter  18  to drum  20 , it is held in a respective groove  152  by the corresponding magnet or magnets  166  as it travels from position P 5  adjacent the top of drum  20  to position P 6  ( FIG. 12 ), where the nail head is formed as described below to produce nails  4  which continue their travel within grooves  152  while magnetically held therein from position P 6  downwardly and to the left to an ejection or transfer position adjacent the bottom of drum  20  and ejector  48 , which ejects or removes the nails  4  from their respective grooves  152  in the same manner with respect to ejector  44 . Thus, only a portion of grooves  152  carry a wire piece or nail during normal operation. More particularly, about one quarter of grooves  152  carry parallel wire pieces  2  while about another quarter of grooves  152  carry finished nails  4  and the remaining number, typically about half, of grooves  152  are empty along the left side of drum  20  as they return sequentially to position P 5  to again sequentially pick up additional wire pieces. The rotation of carriage  20  moves grooves  152  and wire pieces  2  carried thereby sequentially from adjacent position P 5  to adjacent position P 6 . 
     As previously discussed, the synchronized drive assembly drives rotation of drums  20  and  22  in a synchronized manner whereby grooves  152  of drum  20  (and wire pieces  2  in grooves  152 ) and grooves  178  of drum  22  are sequentially positioned in a synchronized manner adjacent one another and head forming position P 6 , which can be understood by reference to  FIG. 12 . More particularly, the synchronized movement of grooves  152  and  178  in  FIG. 12  shows grooves  152 F and  178 F meeting or closely adjacent one another and position P 6  at which the nail head is formed whereas grooves  152 E and  178 E have moved past position P 6  after the formation of the nail head on nail  4 E, and grooves  152 G and  178 G are moving toward but have not yet arrived at position P 6 . Thus for instance, grooves  152 E and  178 E have already moved through the positions shown by grooves  152 G and  178 G, and then the positions shown by grooves  152 F and  178 F until reaching the position shown in  FIG. 12 . Unlike the other carriages, carriage  22  is not configured to carry a wire piece  2  or nail  4  within its grooves  178 , but does receive one, and only one, wire piece within one groove  178  just prior to rotating to position P 6 , and at position P 6  where the head is formed to create a nail  4 , whereby the shaft of the nail remains at least partially within the given groove  178  for a short period immediately after rotating past position P 6 . Thus, all of the other grooves  178  at this time are empty or free of wire pieces or nails. Inasmuch grooves  178  are not configured to carry wire pieces  2  or nails  4  aside from the relatively short period during which a wire piece or nail is within a given groove  178  at and adjacent position P 6 , carriage  22  is free of magnets generally and more particularly free of magnets adjacent grooves  178  for magnetically attracting or retaining wire pieces or nails within the grooves. It is noted that centerlines C 1  and C 2  of a pair of grooves  152  and  178  positioned adjacent position P 6  coincide momentarily at position P 6  whereby centerlines C 1  and C 2  at position P 6  define a longitudinal centerline of that pair of grooves and of the wire piece  2  or nail  4  while at position P 6 . 
     The sequential positioner also sequentially positions jaws  150  and the magnets  166  associated therewith adjacent position P 6  as jaw drum  20  rotates to carry these components past position P 6 . The sequential positioner also sequentially positions jaws  176  and nail head formers  184  sequentially adjacent position P 6  as they are carried by the rotation of carriage  22 . This occurs more particularly as the right side of carriage  20  rotates downwardly (Arrow F 2 ) and the left side of carriage  22  rotates downwardly (Arrow G 1 ) adjacent position P 6 . Thus, the positioner also in a synchronized manner sequentially positions jaws  150 , grooves  152 , the corresponding magnets  166  and parallel wire pieces  2  within grooves  152  respectively adjacent jaws  176 , grooves  178  and nail head formers  184  as they pass by position P 6 . As carriages  20  and  22  rotate, outer perimeter  146 , grooves  152 , jaws  150 , magnets  166  and wire pieces  2  or nails  4  within a groove  152  adjacent position P 6  moves generally in the direction indicated by Arrow F 2  and more particularly substantially straight down while outer perimeter  172 , grooves  178 , jaws  176  and formers  184  when adjacent position P 6  move generally vertically in the direction indicated by the Arrow G 1  and more particularly substantially straight down whereby all of these components are moving in substantially the same direction adjacent position P 6 . As nails  4  are formed at position P 6 , they are then sequentially transferred away from position P 6  within respective grooves  152  to the bottom of drum  20 , where they are sequentially removed by ejector  48  whereby the resulting empty grooves  152  move upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the drum and ejector  48  back to position P 5  to continue the cycle of picking up wire pieces  2  therein and carrying them from position P 5  to position P 6 . 
     The operation of the nail head formers  184  and cam  24  is now described with primary reference to  FIGS. 13-16 .  FIG. 13  shows nail head former  184 F and cam  24  just prior to the punching or nail head forming operation, while  FIG. 14  illustrates these components at the moment of nail head forming.  FIG. 16  shows these components just after the nail forming process and prior to the next nail head former  184 G moving into position to form a nail head on a subsequent wire piece. Each of  FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  16  shows the downward movement of the left most portion of carriage  22  at Arrow G 1 . These Figures also show the rotation of cam  24  about axis X 5  at Arrows J.  FIG. 13  shows groove  178 F a short distance above and just prior to reaching position P 6 , which is at the same height as axis X 5  and is directly behind axis X 5 , axle or shaft  40  ( FIG. 1 ) and cam  24 . At this stage, there are no wire pieces  2  or nails  4  within any of grooves  178  of carriage  22  although as illustrated in dashed lines in  FIG. 14 , the wire piece  2  which is to be formed into nail  4 F is being carried magnetically within groove  152 F and is engaged with jaw  150 F of left carriage  20 .  FIG. 13  also shows that punch  200  of former  184 F is in its non-punching position, as is punch  200  of former  184 G (and all the other punches  200 ).  FIG. 13  also illustrates that leading end  232  of cam  222 A has moved into engagement with outer perimeter  215  of roller  214  without having effected any movement of punch  200  yet. Thus, the non-punching position shown in  FIG. 13  is a fully retracted position with punching surface  206  at its maximum normal distance from the front compression or head forming surface  177  of jaw  176 F (and surface  151  of jaw  150 F shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14 ). 
       FIG. 14  shows that drum  22  has continued rotation a short distance from the position shown in  FIG. 13  so that groove  178 F is aligned with position P 6  and that the wire piece has reached position P 6  to be formed into nail  4 F.  FIG. 14  shows punch  200  of former  184 F at its fully extended punching position (and minimum distance to surfaces  177  and  151 ) and shows cam lobe  222 A at its punch driving position with peak  230  engaging outer perimeter  215  of roller  214  of former  184 F.  FIG. 14  also shows that punch  200  of former  184 G remains at its fully retracted non-punching position, which is true of all the other punches  200  of the nail head formers other than former  184 F. The dashed lines in  FIG. 14  also illustrate more particularly the location or position of wire piece  2  just prior to being formed into nail  4 F. As previously noted, this nail piece is carried in groove  152 F. More particularly, the head end  3  extends outwardly forward beyond front compression or head forming surface  151  of jaw  150 F, front surface  142  of drum  20 , front surface  177  of jaw  176 F and front surface  168  of carriage  22 . It is this portion or head end  3  which extends forward beyond surfaces  142 ,  151 ,  177  and  168  which is deformed by punch  200  in order to form therefrom a head  236  of nail  4 F such that the remaining length of the wire piece serves as a shaft  238  of nail  4 F wherein the shaft  238  retains the sharpened tip end  5 . The position of the given nail piece  2  within a groove  152  so that the head end  3  extends outwardly beyond surfaces  142 ,  151 ,  177  and  168  is achieved earlier in the process when the wire piece  2  is transferred from carriage  18  to carriage  20  ( FIG. 4 ). Thus, carriages  18  and  20  are positioned so that wire pieces  2  are transferred from grooves  114  of carriage  18  into grooves  152  with the wire pieces  2  extending through the open front ends of the respective grooves  152  and the respective head ends  3  extending forward of surfaces  142 ,  151 ,  177  and  168 . 
     To effect the punching or nail head forming operation, the synchronized drive assembly rotates drums  20  and  22  and cam  24  at the proper synchronized rate so that peak  230  of lobe  222 A engages outer perimeter  215  of wheel  214  when the given wire piece  2  reaches position P 6 , carried there within groove  152 F into groove  178 F. As carriages  20  and  22  and cam  24  rotate from the position shown in  FIG. 13  to that shown in  FIG. 14 , the engagement of outer perimeter  224  of cam  24  with outer perimeter  215  of roller  214  causes roller  214  to rotate about its axis X 10  while the leading end  232  of cam lobe  222 A forces roller  214  and punch  200  linearly horizontally rearwardly (Arrow K) from the non-punching position to the punching position whereby punching surface  206  engages and deforms head end  3  of the wire piece  2  to form circular head  236  from head end  3 . More particularly, forming surface  206  is forced against head end  3  toward surfaces  151  and  177  of the corresponding jaws to flatten malleable head end  3  against surfaces  151  and  177  into the circular head  236 . This type of head punching thus produces a circular head  236  which is centered with respect to shaft  238  whereby head  236  and shaft  238  have respective circular outer perimeters that which are concentric about a central axis (represented at C 1 , C 2  when at position P 6 ) of shaft  238 , as best shown in  FIG. 12 . At the moment of nail head formation at position P 6 , rollers  56  of assemblies  52  and  54  ( FIG. 1 ) via their rolling engagement with outer perimeter  146  and  172  apply force respectively through carriages  20  and  22  toward position P 6  and the wire piece  2  or nail  4  being formed to help ensure that the engaging surfaces  152  and  178  which hold the wire piece or nail are clamped tightly thereon, especially the clamping surfaces  156  and  182  of the corresponding jaws  150  and  176 . 
     When the wire piece  2  has arrived at position P 6  and is formed into nail  4 F as shown in  FIG. 14 , the only one of grooves  178  of carriage  22  which has a wire piece and/or nail shaft disposed therein is groove  178 F while the remaining grooves  178  are empty. In contrast, the other carriages  16 ,  18  and  20  carry a plurality of the parallel wire pieces within their respective grooves, and carriage  20  also carries a plurality of nails  4  in several of its grooves  152  with the shafts  238  thereof parallel to one another. Only one of nail head formers  184 F is operated at a time and thus only one punch  200  of a given nail head former may be in the punching position (as shown in  FIG. 14 ) at a time while the remaining punches are in the non-punching position. Thus, immediately before and immediately after the actuation of one of punches  200 , all of punches  200  are in the non-punching position. 
     When cam  222 A forces punch  200  to the punching position shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , spring  218  ( FIG. 15 ) is compressed within passage  198 . The continuing rotation of carriages  20  and  22  subsequent to the punching operation shown in  FIG. 14  thus moves groove  178 F, jaw  176 F and nail head former  184 F downwardly beyond position P 6  and likewise moves the newly formed nail  4 F, groove  152 F, jaw  150 F and the associated magnets  166  downwardly beyond position P 6  generally to or toward the position of nail  4 E, groove  152 E, jaw  150 E and the associated magnets  166  shown in  FIG. 12 . As the carriages  20  and  22  move from the position of  FIG. 14  to the position of  FIG. 16 , outer perimeter  215  continues to rollingly engage outer perimeter  224  of cam  24  along peak  230  and trailing edge  234  as roller  214  rotates about axis X 10 . As outer perimeter  215  rolls off of peak  230  and along trailing edge  234 , the compressed spring  218  ( FIG. 15 ) expands to move punch  200  of former  184 F forward linearly back to its non-punching position relative to housing  186  and carriage  22  as shown at Arrow L in  FIG. 16 . At this stage, all of grooves  178  are momentarily empty and all of punches  200  are momentarily in the non-punching position. 
     As the process continues, jaw  20  will deliver a subsequent wire piece  2 A ( FIG. 12 ) within groove  152 G to position P 6  as drum  22  moves groove  178 G to position P 6  simultaneously with groove  152 G and also moves nail head former  184 G so that its punch  200  is directly aligned in front of position P 6  in order to form a head from the head end of wire piece  2 A to create another nail. While the carriages  20  and  22  are moving in this synchronized fashion, cam  24  continues to rotate in synchronized fashion with carriages  20  and  22  to bring cam lobe  222 B into contact with the outer perimeter  215  of roller  214  of former  184 G in order to effect the punching operation in the same manner as previously described. Carriage  22  continues to rotate about axis X 4  in order to sequentially move the jaws  176 , grooves  178  and nail head formers  184  along their respective circular paths concentric about axis X 4  to move sequentially past position P 6 , cam  24  and roller assembly  54 . This synchronized sequential process continues repetitively whereby machine  1  forms wire pieces  2  into nails  4  at a relatively rapid pace. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.