Patent ID: 7762759

Claim:
Feeder device for bars, for picking up and removing, in a pick up and remove cycle, selectively from a bundle at least one bar to arrange the at least one bar for use in an operating machine, the device comprising: a first magnetic means comprising a first magnetic element and a first actuator, the first magnetic element selected from the group consisting of a first permanent magnet and a first electromagnet, the first actuator for moving the first magnetic element, the first magnetic element being functionally attached to the first actuator, the first magnetic means for separating from said bundle at least an end segment of a plurality of bars and arranging at least the end segment of said plurality of bars on a plane distanced with respect to said bundle, wherein the first magnetic element is moveable by the first actuator at least in a first step of the pick-up and removal cycle and at least for a part of the movement, in a first substantially vertical operating direction substantially orthogonal to a plane on which the bundle of bars lies to raise the end segment of the plurality of bars with respect to the bundle, and a second magnetic means comprising a second magnetic element and a second actuator, the first magnetic element selected from the group consisting of a second permanent magnet and a second electromagnet, the second actuator for moving the second magnetic element, the second magnetic element being functionally attached to the second actuator, the second magnetic means for picking up, from said first magnetic means, at least one bar at a time from said plurality of bars and to unload said at least one bar in a desired release position, wherein said second magnetic element is moveable by said second actuator at least in a second step of the pick-up and removal cycle, in a second operating direction parallel ( 23 ), curved ( 123 ) or slant-wise with respect to said bars supported by said first magnetic element to pick up from the first magnetic element said at least one bar and to displace said at least one bar towards the desired release position.