Machine for automatically assembling armature cores and commutators therefor

Claim 2

A machine for automatically assembling commutators with armature cores of the type comprising a shaft with a stack of laminations thereon, the stack of laminations having circumferentially spaced winding receiving slots and the commutators having circumferentially spaced terminal tangs at one end thereof, each of which must be in a definite location with respect to at least one of the winding receiving slots of the armature core and form a hook of predetermined shape overlying the cylindrical surface of the commutator, said machine comprising the combination of: A. feeding means for successively transferring commutator and armature cores, each from a source thereof, to an assembly station; B. receiving means at the assembly station for receiving and holding commutators and armature cores in coaxial paired relation with the end of the commutator at which its tangs are located facing but spaced from the armature core; C. pressure applying means operable upon a paired armature core and commutator being held by said receiving means to effect relative axial movement thereof towards one another, to thereby press the commutator onto the shaft of the armature core; and D. tang-straightening means positioned to be engaged by the commutator tangs during relative movement of the commutator and the armature core toward one another.

Claim 3

A machine for automatically assembling commutators with armature cores of the type comprising a shaft with a stAck of laminations thereon, the stack of laminations having circumferentially spaced winding receiving slots and the commutators having circumferentially spaced terminal tangs at one end thereof, each of which must be in a definite location with respect to at least one of the winding receiving slots of the armature core and form a hook of predetermined shape overlying the cylindrical surface of the commutator, said machine having

Claim 4

A machine for automatically assembling commutators with armature cores of the type comprising a shaft with a stAck of laminations thereon, the stack of laminations having circumferentially spaced winding receiving slots and the commutators having circumferentially spaced terminal tangs at one end thereof, each of which must be in a definite location with respect to at least one of the winding receiving slots of the armature core and form a hook of predetermined shape overlying the cylindrical surface of the commutator, said machine having

Claim 5

receiving means at the assembly station for receiving and holding commutators and armature cores in coaxial paired relation with the end of the commutator at which its tangs are located facing but spaced from the armature core,

Claim 6

receiving means at the assembly station for receiving and holding commutators and armature cores in coaxial paired relation with the end of the commutator at which its tangs are located facing but spaced from the armature core,

Claim 7

positioning means engageable with the coaxial armature core and commutator and operable to bring the same into such angular orientation relative to one another that the tangs and winding slots are in predetermined positional relationship, and

Claim 8

positioning means engageable with the coaxial armature core and commutator and operable to bring the same into such angular orientation relative to one another that the tangs and winding slots are in predetermined positional relationship, and

Claim 9

pressure applying means operable upon the coaxial armature core and commutator to effect relative axial movement thereof towards one another to thereby press the commutator onto the shaft of the armature core, said pressure applying means including a pressure applying member constrained to reciprocate along a defined axis, said machine being characterized by: A. tang checking and shaping means coaxial with said reciprocably movable pressure applying member, comprising cooperating relatively movable members adapted to clamp the tangs of the commutator therebetween upon relative movement of said members in one direction while a commutator and armature core are in the grip of said pressure applying means, to sense the posture of the tangs with respect to the cylindrical surface of the commutator and to lift all of the tangs at least a predetermined minimum distance above the cylindrical surface of the commutator if none of the tangs has its free end bearing against the surface of the commutator; and B. impositive power means for effecting such relative movement of said coopErating members, whereby the movement thereof in said direction is arrested by any tang which has its free end bearing on the cylindrical surface of the commutator, to provide an initiating signal for actuation of reject mechanism, while completion of such relative motion lifts the tangs at least to said predetermined minimum distance above the cylindrical surface of the commutator.

Claim 10

pressure applying means operable upon the coaxial armature core and commutator to effect relative axial movement thereof towards one another to thereby press the commutator onto the shaft of the armature core, said pressure applying means including a pressure applying member constrained to reciprocate along a defined axis, said machine being characterized by: A. tang checking and shaping means coaxial with said reciprocably movable pressure applying member, comprising cooperating relatively movable members adapted to clamp the tangs of the commutator therebetween upon relative movement of said members in one direction while a commutator and armature core are in the grip of said pressure applying means, to sense the posture of the tangs with respect to the cylindrical surface of the commutator and to lift all of the tangs at least a predetermined minimum distance above the cylindrical surface of the commutator if none of the tangs has its free end bearing against the surface of the commutator; and B. impositive power means for effecting such relative movement of said coopErating members, whereby the movement thereof in said direction is arrested by any tang which has its free end bearing on the cylindrical surface of the commutator, to provide an initiating signal for actuation of reject mechanism, while completion of such relative motion lifts the tangs at least to said predetermined minimum distance above the cylindrical surface of the commutator.

Claim 11

pressure applying means operable upon a paired armature core and commutator being held by said receiving means to effect relative axial movement thereof towards one another to thereby press the commutator onto the shaft of the armature core, said machine being characterized by: tang-straightening means positioned to be engaged by the commutator tangs during relative movement of the commutator and the armature core toward one another.

Claim 12

pressure applying means operable upon a paired armature core and commutator being held by said receiving means to effect relative axial movement thereof towards one another to thereby press the commutator onto the shaft of the armature core, said machine being characterized by: tang-straightening means positioned to be engaged by the commutator tangs during relative movement of the commutator and the armature core toward one another.

Claim 13

The machine of claim 2, further characterized by tang-shaping means positioned to be coaxially aligned with a paired commutator and armature core at the assembly station, and operable upon actuation to engage the tangs on the commutator and impart a predetermined shape thereto.

Claim 14

The machine of claim 3, further characterized by power-driven actuating means for said tang-shaping means, timed to effect operation of said tang-shaping means directly after the commutator has been pressed onto the shaft of the armature core and while the assembled commutator and armature core are still at the assembly station.

Claim 15

The machine of claim 1, wherein said tang-straightening means comprises a die member with a hole therethrough of a size and shape to axially slidably accept the commutator, the boundary surface of said hole having circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending grooves of a size to slidably accommodate the tangs, and means mounting said die member in a position to lie between a paired commutator and armature core at the assembly station, so that during relative movement thereof towards one another, the commutator is pushed into the hole and the tangs move along the grooves and in so doing become centered with respect to planes containing the axis of the commutator and bisecting the attached ends of the tangs, and the maximum radial projection of the tangs from the commutator is defined by engagement of the tangs with the bottoms of said grooves.

Claim 16

The machine of claim 2, wherein said tang-straightening means comprises a die member with a hole therethrough of a size and shape to axially slidably accept the commutator, the boundary surface of said hole having circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending grooves of a size to slidably accommodate the tangs, and means mounting said die member in a position to lie between a paired commutator and armature core at the assembly station, so that during relative movement thereof towards one another, the commutator is pushed into the hole and the tangs move along the grooves and in so doing become centered with respect to planes containing the axis of the commutator and bisecting the attached ends of the tangs, and the maximum radial projection of the tangs from the commutator is defined by engagement of the tangs with the bottoms of said grooves.

Claim 17

The machine of claim 5, further characterized by tang-shaping means comprising an axially reciprocable sleeve coaxial with said hole in the die member and having circumferentially spaced parallel fingers projecting from one end thereof to telescope over the commutator and enter the grooves in the boundary surface of the hole behind the tangs upon axial advance of thE sleeve toward said die member, the inner surfaces of the fingers being positioned to ride upon the cylindrical surface of the commutator, and the ends of said fingers being wedge-shaped with the apex of the wedge at the inner surfaces of the fingers so as to engage under the tangs in the grooves and lift the same towards the bottoms of the grooves, whereby the wedge-shaped ends of the fingers and the bottoms of the grooves can coact to define the maximum distance the tangs project above the cylindrical surface of the commutator.

Claim 18

The machine of claim 7, further characterized by power means for imparting axial movement to the sleeve, said power means being timed to advance the sleeve after the commutator has been pushed into the hole.

Claim 19

The machine of claim 6, further characterized by tang-shaping means comprising an axially reciprocable sleeve coaxial with said hole in the die member and having circumferentially spaced parallel fingers projecting from one end thereof to telescope over the commutator and enter the grooves in the boundary surface of the hole behind the tangs upon axial advance of the sleeve toward said die member, the inner surfaces of the fingers being positioned to ride upon the cylindrical surface of the commutator, and the ends of said fingers being wedge-shaped with the apex of the wedge at the inner surfaces of the fingers so as to engage under the tangs in the grooves and lift the same towards the bottoms of the grooves, whereby the wedge-shaped ends of the fingers and the bottoms of the grooves can coact to define the maximum distance the tangs project above the cylindrical surface of the commutator.

Claim 20

The machine of claim 9, further characterized by power means for imparting axial movement to the sleeve, said power means being timed to advance the sleeve after the commutator has been pushed into the hole.

Claim 21

A machine for automatically assembling commutators with armature cores of the type comprising a shaft with a stack of laminations thereon, the stack of laminations having circumferentially spaced winding receiving slots and the commutators having circumferentially spaced terminal tangs at one end thereof which must be in predetermined positional relationship with respect to the winding receiving slots when the assembly is completed and form hooks of predetermined shape overlying the cylindrical surface of the commutator, said machine having

Claim 22

A machine for automatically assembling commutators with armature cores of the type comprising a shaft with a stack of laminations thereon, the stack of laminations having circumferentially spaced winding receiving slots and the commutators having circumferentially spaced terminal tangs at one end thereof which must be in predetermined positional relationship with respect to the winding receiving slots when the assembly is completed and form hooks of predetermined shape overlying the cylindrical surface of the commutator, said machine having

Claim 23

Apparatus for assembling commutators having terminal tangs onto armature cores of the type having a stack of laminations fixed upon a shaft, comprising: A. armature core-holding means adapted to receive and hold an armature core in a definite axially fixed position; B. tandem arranged first and second slidably mounted carriages constrained to travel along a path parallel to the axis of an armature core held by said holding means; C. a commutator support on the first carriage to receive and hold a commutator in coaxial alignment with an armature core held by said holding means; D. a bored die member on the first carriage positioned to at all times be between the armature core-holding means and the commutator support with the axis of its bore coaxial with an armature core held by said holding means, the bore of the die member being of a size to accept the commutator and having circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending grooves in its wall to slidably accommodate the terminal tangs on the commutator; E. yieldable motion transmitting means connecting the carriages for travel in unison while permitting relative movement therebetween; F. power means connected with the second carriage to effect simultaneous advance of both carriages towards the armature core-holding means; stop means for interrupting the advance of the first carriage when the same has moved far enough to cause the shaft of an armature core held by said armature core-holding means to project through the bore of the die member; and H. a pusher bar on the second carriage operable upon continued advance of the second carriage after the advance of the first carriage has been interrupted to shove the commutator off its support, into the bore of the die member and onto the shaft of the armature core, the passage of the tangs along the grooves in the die member as the commutator moves into the die member straightening any tangs that may be askew.

Claim 24

Apparatus for assembling commutators having terminal tangs onto armature cores of the type having a stack of laminations fixed upon a shaft, comprising: A. armature core-holding means adapted to receive and hold an armature core in a definite axially fixed position; B. tandem arranged first and second slidably mounted carriages constrained to travel along a path parallel to the axis of an armature core held by said holding means; C. a commutator support on the first carriage to receive and hold a commutator in coaxial alignment with an armature core held by said holding means; D. a bored die member on the first carriage positioned to at all times be between the armature core-holding means and the commutator support with the axis of its bore coaxial with an armature core held by said holding means, the bore of the die member being of a size to accept the commutator and having circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending grooves in its wall to slidably accommodate the terminal tangs on the commutator; E. yieldable motion transmitting means connecting the carriages for travel in unison while permitting relative movement therebetween; F. power means connected with the second carriage to effect simultaneous advance of both carriages towards the armature core-holding means; stop means for interrupting the advance of the first carriage when the same has moved far enough to cause the shaft of an armature core held by said armature core-holding means to project through the bore of the die member; and H. a pusher bar on the second carriage operable upon continued advance of the second carriage after the advance of the first carriage has been interrupted to shove the commutator off its support, into the bore of the die member and onto the shaft of the armature core, the passage of the tangs along the grooves in the die member as the commutator moves into the die member straightening any tangs that may be askew.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized by a tang-shaping sleeve telescoped over the pusher bar and having circumferentially spaced parallel fingers, one for each groove in the die member, to embrace a commutator in the die member and enter the grooves therein upon advance of the sleeve with respect to the pusher member and the die member, the extremities of said fingers being shaped to lift the tangs towards the bottom of the grooves and thereby shape the tangs, and power means to advance the tang-shaping sleeve with respect to the pusher bar and into the die member.