Patent ID: 8317122

Claim:
A device for preparing a set of mandrels ( 1 ′) to be fitted onto a rod ( 7 ) and spaced apart from one another, comprising at least two grooves ( 2 , 3 ) arranged in proximity to one another, namely: a supply groove ( 2 ) for receiving the mandrels ( 1 ) aligned along the axis of said supply groove ( 2 ) and juxtaposed via their end face, said supply groove ( 2 ) being associated with means for juxtaposing said aligned mandrels ( 1 ), the means for juxtaposing the mandrels ( 1 ) arranged in the supply groove ( 2 ) comprising a unit for conveying the mandrels along the supply groove ( 2 ), said unit being associated with an abutment ( 4 ) at one end of the supply groove ( 2 ) for immobilizing axially the mandrels ( 1 ) aligned in said supply groove ( 2 ) in a juxtaposed position, and a receiving groove ( 3 ) for receiving mandrels ( 1 ′) selected from the aligned mandrels ( 1 ) the supply groove ( 2 ), said receiving groove ( 3 ) being equipped with abutment members ( 6 ) that can be positioned in said receiving groove ( 3 ) along the axis of said receiving groove ( 3 ) in order to define individual housings ( 18 ) for receiving the selected mandrels ( 1 ′), the device also comprising means ( 5 ) for transferring the selected mandrels ( 1 ′) from the supply groove ( 2 ) toward said individual receiving housings ( 18 ).