An apparatus for handling a circular saw blade for performing operations on the blade at a work station includes a mechanism for carrying the blade between a supply stack of blades, the work station, and a blade off-loading location. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for supporting the supply stack of blades. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for transferring the blade between a second blade support mechanism carried by the carrying mechanism and a third blade support mechanism provided at the work station. The third blade support mechanism enables indexing of the blade through the work station.
An electronically-controlled apparatus has a feed assembly for moving circular disk blank workpieces from a storage position to a pickup position where a pickup mechanism receives the workpiece and then carries it to an operational position within a machine tool which converts the workpiece into a pulley or like-type device while simultaneously the pickup mechanism receives a finished disk product and delivers it a collection device.
