words it can be used for gripping a rod and rotating it in a similar manner in either direction in order to achieve this the groove 21 is symmetrical in relation to the diameter of the notches 16 and 17 the second springed pin 33 with its conical end 34 depression 35 and its other end 37 and depression 36 is also symmetrically located to rotate the ring gears and thereby the rod 20 in a direction reverse in relation to the above fig6 and 7 show how the gripping and rotating tong devices fastened to the transfer means 4 form a gripping and rotating unit 4 to be installed for example inside a chain magazine in this case the gripping and rotating unit 4 is made up of two gripping and rotating tong devices 10 a motor 9 rotating the tong devices by transmission of gears 3 transfer cylinders 37 moving the tong devices between the magazine and the point of use and a cylinder 38 which moves the tong devices axially these said components form the gripping and rotating unit 4 which can be installed in connection with the mechanism desired to illustrate the operation of the unit 4 fig6 and 7 also depict the placement of the unit inside the magazine this magazine is made up of chain sprockets 40 and a chain 49 which runs on them the rods 20 being located in spaces in the chain the chain magazine is rotated by the drive device 39 this chain magazine with its drive device may be of any suitable type known per se and therefore its operation is not described in greater detail the gripping and rotating unit 4 and the chain magazine.