Method and apparatus for forming a row of spring coils from a continuous length of wire

A single continuous length of wire is formed into a continuous length spiral or helix, which is subsequently placed onto a moving chain conveyor having pins upstanding therefrom. The helix then is folded into a wave configuration for establishing a row of parallel coils by folding the links so as to move further apart a pair of adjacent pins of adjacent links while simultaneously moving closer together other pins on the same adjacent links. Thereby, the individual spring coils are arranged in generally parallel alignment one with the other within the row. Each coil in the row is thereby connected at its opposite ends to adjacent coils by three-dimensional looped connector segments. The looped connector segments are then formed into substantially two-dimensional planar configuration by engagement of the center section of the connector segment with a forming tool, which forming tool is then operative to pull the center portion of the connector segment outwardly, and then after clamping of the end loops or turns of the coils at opposite ends of the connector segment, rotating the forming tool and the center portion of the connector segment so as to establish a connector segment having parallel opposite end sections interconnected by an offset section. During forming of the end segments or heads of the connector segment of the coils, each connectors segment is deformed from a looped three-dimensional attitude into a generally planar configuration comprising parallel end sections interconnected by an offsetting center section.