US3926320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for selecting and transferring a stack of laminations for an electric motor or the like
Assignee: Micafil Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-06
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1994-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A rotary index table supports a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical magazines into which are loaded corresponding supply stacks of motor laminations. The table is indexed to position each magazine at a station where a retractable stack support member projects into the magazine. The support member is elevated by a screw jack to compress the supply stack of laminations against a surface formed by an adjustable nut member on a pick-off unit supported above the magazine by a transfer arm. The pick-off unit has an expandable collet which depends from the nut member into the laminations, and the collet has tapered peripheral surfaces which converge to form a sharp edge spaced a predetermined distance below the nut member. After a supply stack of laminations is elevated against the nut member with a predetermined pressure, the collet is expanded by actuation of a fluid cylinder so that the pick-off unit selects a predetermined stack height of compressed laminations. The pickoff unit is then elevated and indexed on a vertical axis to transfer the selected stack of laminations to a motor assembly station.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence A Shively
- 👤 Robert P Hoy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:27
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K15/00; H02K15/02; B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/02; B65G59/026; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/5317
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for selecting a predetermined stack of laminations for a motor or the like, comprising guide means adapted to receive a supply stack of laminations, a pick-off unit positioned adjacent said guide means and including means forming a surface, a pick-off member projecting from said surface and having movable means positioned a predetermined distance from said surface for engaging the supply stack of laminations, means for compressing the supply stack of laminations against said surface with a predetermined pressure, said pick-off unit including means for actuating said pick-off member after the supply stack of laminations is compressed against said surface for retaining a selected stack of compressed laminations on said pick-off unit, and means supporting said pick-off unit for predetermined movement to transfer the selected stack of laminations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for selecting a predetermined stack of laminations for a motor or the like, comprising guide means adapted to receive a supply stack of laminations, a pick-off unit positioned adjacent said guide means and including means forming a surface, a pick-off member projecting from said surface and having movable means positioned a predetermined distance from said surface for engaging the supply stack of laminations, means for compressing the supply stack of laminations against said surface with a predetermined pressure, said pick-off unit including means for actuating said pick-off member after the supply stack of laminations is compressed against said surface for retaining a selected stack of compressed laminations on said pick-off unit, and means supporting said pick-off unit for predetermined movement to transfer the selected stack of laminations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pick-off member comprises an expandable collet adapted to project into the center of the supply stack of laminations, and power actuated means for expanding said collet to effect engagement of the selected stack of laminations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said collet has tapered peripheral surfaces converging to form a relatively sharp peripheral edge spaced a said predetermined distance from said surface, and said power actuated means comprise a fluid actuated cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pick-off unit is positioned above a substantially vertical supply stack of laminations and said surface is positioned substantially horizontally, said means for compressing the supply stack of laminations against said surface comprise a support member for the supply stack of laminations, and power actuated means for elevating said support member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said guide means for said supply stack of laminations, comprise a substantially vertical magazine having a substantially vertical slot, said support member projects into said magazine through said slot, and said means for elevating said support member comprises a motor driven screw jack having a substantially vertical screw.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a rotary index table having a plurality of said substantially vertical magazines in a circumferentially spaced relation and supported for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, and means for moving said support member generally horizontally from a first position projecting into one of said magazines and a second position retracted from said magazine to provide for indexing said table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a stationary guide member positioned below said pick-off unit and above the stack of laminations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for selecting a predetermined stack of laminations for a motor or the like, comprising a substantially vertical magazine adapted to receive a supply stack of laminations, a pick-off unit positioned above said magazine and including means forming a substantially horizontal surface, an expandable collet member depending from said surface and having tapered peripheral surfaces converging to form a peripheral edge spaced a predetermined distance below said surface, said collet member adapted to project downwardly into the center of the supply stack of laminations, means for elevating the supply stack of laminations and for compressing the laminations against said surface on said pick-off unit with a predetermined pressure, and power actuated means for moving said collet member between a collapsed position and an expanded position for retaining on said pick-off unit a selected stack of laminations after the supply stack of laminations is compressed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for selecting a predetermined stack of laminations for a motor or the like, comprising a substantially vertical magazine adapted to receive a supply stack of laminations, a pick-off unit positioned above said magazine and including means forming a substantially horizontal surface, an expandable collet member depending from said surface and having tapered peripheral surfaces converging to form a peripheral edge spaced a predetermined distance below said surface, said collet member adapted to project downwardly into the center of the supply stack of laminations, means for elevating the supply stack of laminations and for compressing the laminations against said surface on said pick-off unit with a predetermined pressure, and power actuated means for moving said collet member between a collapsed position and an expanded position for retaining on said pick-off unit a selected stack of laminations after the supply stack of laminations is compressed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for elevating the supply stack of laminations, comprise a support member positioned within said magazine, and power operated means for elevating said support member with a substantially predetermined force.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said power operated means comprise a screw jack supporting said support member, and reversible fluid motor means for actuating said screw jack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including an index table supported for rotation on a vertical axis and supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced said magazines, each said magazine has a generally vertically extending slot, a support member, and power actuated means for moving said support member generally horiziontally between an extended position projecting into said slot of each magazine and a retracted position to provide for indexing said table.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said pick-off unit is supported by an arm rotatable on a substantially vertical axis.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of selecting a stack of laminations for an electric motor or the like, comprising the steps of placing a supply stack of laminations within guide means, compressing the supply stack of laminations with power operated means to a predetermined pressure against a surface of an adjacent pick-off unit having a movable pick-off member, actuating said pick-off member with power operated means after the supply stack of laminations is compressed against said surface to retain a predetermined selected stack of laminations on said pick-off unit, and moving said pick-off unit with power operated means for transferring the stack of laminations retained by said pick-off unit.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of selecting a stack of laminations for an electric motor or the like, comprising the steps of placing a supply stack of laminations within guide means, compressing the supply stack of laminations with power operated means to a predetermined pressure against a surface of an adjacent pick-off unit having a movable pick-off member, actuating said pick-off member with power operated means after the supply stack of laminations is compressed against said surface to retain a predetermined selected stack of laminations on said pick-off unit, and moving said pick-off unit with power operated means for transferring the stack of laminations retained by said pick-off unit.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of selecting a stack of laminations for an electric motor or the like from a supply stack, comprising the steps of placing the supply stack of laminations within generally vertical guide means, elevating the supply stack of laminations with power operated means and compressing the stack against a surface of a pick-off unit having an expandable collet edge dependiNg from said surface into the supply stack of laminations, expanding the collet with power operated means after the laminations are compressed for retaining on said pick-off unit a predetermined stack of laminations disposed between said surface and said collet edge, and moving said pick-off unit with power operated means for transferring the retained stack of laminations.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of selecting a stack of laminations for an electric motor or the like from a supply stack, comprising the steps of placing the supply stack of laminations within generally vertical guide means, elevating the supply stack of laminations with power operated means and compressing the stack against a surface of a pick-off unit having an expandable collet edge dependiNg from said surface into the supply stack of laminations, expanding the collet with power operated means after the laminations are compressed for retaining on said pick-off unit a predetermined stack of laminations disposed between said surface and said collet edge, and moving said pick-off unit with power operated means for transferring the retained stack of laminations.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |