The present invention relates to apparatus for transferring coils or bundles of rod or wire. The apparatus can thus be used for taking up or collecting rod or wire into coil or bundle form, and the rod or wire can be in overlapping turns in what is known as a "fan-shaped configuration"; alternatively, the apparatus can be used for unwinding coils or bundles of rod or wire. The apparatus comprises a rotary turntable, a plurality of circumferentially-spaced mandrels carried on the turntable, conveying means comprising a track having an inclined portion which is adjacent to the turntable, and means for transferring the coils or bundles between the turntable and the conveying means--for instance, the track can be used for conveying away compact coils or bundles as a finished product.
There are various apparatuses of the type described in the foregoing paragraph, for instance comprising rotary coiler plates or a direct feed arrangement in which the coils or bundles are tipped over. Such apparatuses have a number of parts which are subject to wear, and in general may be relatively expensive and subject to faults, and may require a relatively large difference in level between the level at which the coils or bundles are removed and the feed level, e.g. the level of a rod mill which is producing the rod.