Apparatus for forming leads

Claim 1

In a machine for trimming and shaping the outwardly extending leads of electrical components wherein the leads are seated between the teeth located upon coacting drive sprockets that are arranged to transport the components through two independent work stations including a first lead cutting station and a second lead forming station, the improvement comprising a pair of stationary cutting blades mounted in the first station for engaging the outwardly extended leads of a component being transported therethrough to trim the leads to a predetermined length, a pair of forming dies positioned in the second station that are arranged to contact the leads being transported therethrough and form the leads into a desired shape, a guide element secured within the second station to each of the dies and having an arcuate shaped body section positioned along the side wall of one of said sprockets and extending rearwardly in regard to the direction of sprocket movement, each guide element being formed of a single piece of spring steel that is adapted to ride in contact against a lead seated in said sprocket to hold the lead therein and direct it into contact with the forming die, a contoured lip depending from said body section at the entrance to the cutting station that is turned outwardly in regard to the sprocket whereby a lead transported into the first station passes under the guide prior to contacting the forming die, and an arm depending outwardly from said lip to form a ramp for directing the leads into the sprocket at the entrance to the first station.