Patent ID: 7484283

Claim:
A device for separating circular workpieces comprising: a guide rod whereby the circular workpieces are slidably situated on an outer periphery of the guide rod; a separating plate having an opening adapted to receive an end of the guide rod containing the workpieces, wherein the opening includes a first rectilinear side and a second rectilinear side, the separating plate comprising: a first step section located on a first portion of the first rectilinear side of the opening and a second step section located on a first portion of the second rectilinear side of the opening, wherein a distance between an inner edge of the first and second step sections is less than an outer diameter of the workpieces and a distance between an outer edge of the first and second step sections is larger than the outer diameter of the workpieces; a first wedge located on a second portion of the first rectilinear side of the opening, wherein the first wedge is spaced from the first step section such that a first angled opening is defined between the first wedge and the first step section along the first rectilinear side; and a second wedge located on a second portion of the second rectilinear side of the opening, wherein the second wedge is spaced from the second step section such that a second angled opening is defined between the second wedge and the second step section along the second rectilinear side; a driving means to reciprocally move the separating plate in a direction parallel to the first and second rectilinear sides; and a biasing means to slidably bias the workpieces on the guide rod toward the separating plate.