Method and apparatus for positioning individual leads utilizing an improved template

A method and apparatus for positioning lengths of individual leads of a plurality of leads in spaced apart relationships with respect to each other so that work operations can be simultaneously performed upon the ends of the leads, the lengths of the leads being positioned in a plurality of spaced apart grooves on a template by progressively positioning successive parts of the lengths of each of said plurality of leads into said grooves, the grooves being of improved construction so that the lengths of the leads are not unduly elongated as they are positioned within the grooves. Each of the grooves has one or more principle portions and spaced apart lead confining means, the principle portions having spaced apart sidewalls of a width greater than the maximum width of a lead which is to be associated with said groove, and the spaced apart lead retaining means having spaced apart sidewalls which are spaced apart from each other a distance less than the minimum width of the leads, the spaced apart lead retaining means retaining spaced apart segments of the lengths positioned in the grooves. Knock-out pins are associated with each of the spaced apart lead retaining means to facilitate stripping the leads from the template.