Transfer mechanism for assembling apparatus and methods

Claim 1

THE COMBINATION WITH A MOUNT MACHINE INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE CONVEYOR-SUPPORTED STEM BLOCK HAVING A PASSAGE TO RECEIVE A STEM HAVING LEADS MOLDED IN A HEADER WITH LEADS EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM SAID HEADER, SAID STEM BLOCK INCLUDING A HOLLOW INSERT FOR THE EXTENSION THEREIN OF THE LEADS EXTENDING IN ONE DIRECTION, OF A LOADING STATION INCLUDING AN INTERMITTENTLY INDEXED CARRIER, AT LEAST ONE STEM HOLDER ON SAID CARRIER INCLUDING A BLADE MOVABLE INTO A TRANSFER POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID STEM BLOCK, SAID HOLDER CARRYING A STEM HAVING THE LEADS EXTENDING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION PARTED AND ORIENTED ABOUT SAID BLADE, MEANS INCLUDING A TRANSFER BLADE ALIGNABLE WITH THE HOLDER BLADE FOR RECEIVING A STEM FOR SAID HOLDER AND FOR INSERTING SAID STEM INTO SAID STEM BLOCK WITH STEM LEADS EXTENDING INTO SAID INSERT, AND TRANSFER MEANS MOVABLE FROM SAID HOLDER BLADE TOWARD SAID TRANSFER BLADE FOR DISPLACING THE STEM FROM SAID HOLDER BLADE TO SAID TRANSFER BLADE WHILE RETAINING THE INITIAL LEAD ORIENTATION.