Armature pallet

• US 5,926,941 A
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ATOP SpA
• Original Assignee: Axis Usa, Inc.
• Inventors: Neri, Paolo, Bonura, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUGBANG, ANTHONY D
• Application Number:
  US08/882,916
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 29/597, 29/598, 29/564.5, 29/799, 29/732, 29/733, 29/822, 29/736, 198/345.3, 198/346.2, 198/867.08, 198/867.11, 198/465.2
• US Class Current: 29/598
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/18 for positioning only
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 7/1426 with work holders not rigidly fixed to the transport devices B23Q7/005, B23Q7/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining or repairing of dynamo-electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49011 Commutator or slip ring assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49012 Rotor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53143 Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53148 Means to assemble commutator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53161 including deforming means

Abstract

A pallet and system for transporting armatures along an armature manufacturing line, where the armatures may change in configuration at different stations of the manufacturing line, accommodates the various configurations without requiring a change of pallets at a station at which a configuration change occurs. The pallet has multiple sets of seats, each set corresponding to one of the configurations that the armature may assume during processing. Whenever the configuration of the armature changes from a first configuration to a second configuration, the armature, having been removed from a set of seats that accommodates the first configuration, is replaced in a set of seats accommodating the second configuration. One way of accomplishing the transfer is, after lifting the armature from the first set of seats, allowing the pallet to advance by the distance separating the first and second sets of seats. The armature can then be lowered directly into the second set of seats without the need for lateral movement.

Claims

1. A pallet for transporting an armature of a dynamoelectric machine along an armature manufacturing line, said armature having a shaft, said shaft having first and second shaft ends, said pallet comprising:

a base; and

at least one pair of spaced apart supports on said base;

wherein;

said at least one pair of spaced apart supports has at least two sets of seats for receiving said first and second shaft ends, each of said sets including first and second seats;

said first seat of each of said at least two sets of seats is on one member of said at least one pair of spaced apart supports, and said second seat of each of said at least two sets of seats is on another member of said at least one pair of spaced apart supports;

said first and second seats of a first of said sets of seats are in a first seat configuration for accepting said armature when said armature is in a first armature configuration; and

said first and second seats of another of said sets of seats are in another seat configuration for accepting said armature when said armature is in another armature configuration different from said first armature configuration;

whereby;

when said pallet transports an armature along said armature manufacturing line and said armature is altered, at a station of said manufacturing line, from one of said first and another armature configurations to another of said first and another armature configurations, said armature is placed in one of said first and another sets of seats according to said another of said first and another armature configurations.

2. The pallet of claim 1 wherein:

said at least one pair of spaced apart supports consists of one pair of spaced apart supports including a first support and a second support; and

said first seat of each of said at least two sets of seats is on said first support, and said second seat of each of said at least two sets of seats is on said second support.

3. The pallet of claim 1 wherein each of said seats in said at least two sets of seats comprises a substantially V-shaped portion for positive engagement of said respective shaft ends.

4. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said first seat of said first set of seats is substantially identical to said second seat of said first set of seats.

5. The pallet of claim 4 wherein said first seat of said first set of seats is substantially identical to said first seat of said another set of seats.

6. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said first seat of said first set of seats is substantially identical to said first seat of said another set of seats.

7. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said base has an opening therein for passage therethrough of an armature handler for raising armatures from said seats and for lowering armatures into said seats.

8. A system for transporting an armature of a dynamoelectric machine along an armature manufacturing line, said armature having a shaft, said shaft having first and second shaft ends, said armature being altered in shape at stations of said manufacturing line, said system comprising:

a pallet for holding said armature;

a conveyor for transporting said pallet, holding said armature, past said stations of said manufacturing line, defining a path of pallet movement; and

a respective brake for stopping a pallet at each station of said manufacturing line;

wherein;

said pallet comprises;

a base, and

at least one pair of spaced apart supports on said base;

said at least one pair of spaced apart supports has at least two sets of seats for receiving said first and second shaft ends, each of said sets including first and second seats, a first set of seats being separated from another of said sets of seats by a separation distance;

said first seat of each of said at least two sets of seats is on one member of said at least one pair of spaced apart supports, and said second seat of each of said at least two sets of seats is on another member of said at least one pair of spaced apart supports;

said first and second seats of said first of said sets of seats are in a first seat configuration for accepting said armature when said armature is in a first armature configuration; and

said first and second seats of said another of said sets of seats are in another seat configuration for accepting said armature when said armature is in another armature configuration different from said first armature configuration;

whereby;

when said pallet transports an armature along said armature manufacturing line and said armature is altered, at a station of said manufacturing line, from one of said first and another armature configurations to another of said first and another armature configurations, said armature is placed in one of said at least two sets of seats according to said another of said first and another armature configurations.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein:

said at least one pair of spaced apart supports consists of one pair of spaced apart supports including a first support and a second support; and

said first seat of each of said at least two sets of seats is on said first support, and said second seat of each of said at least two sets of seats is on said second support.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein each said respective brake comprises a first abutment member movable between a first brake position out said path of pallet movement and a second brake position in said path of pallet movement;

wherein;

said first abutment member is normally in said first brake position; and

to stop said pallet at a first pallet position, said first abutment member is moved into said second brake position, whereby said first abutment member prevents said pallet from advancing as said conveyor continues to advance.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising, at at least one said station of said manufacturing line, an armature handler for raising armatures from said seats and for lowering armatures into said seats;

wherein;

said first abutment member is for stopping said pallet at first pallet position in which said armature handler is aligned with said first set of seats;

said respective brake further comprises, at said at least one station, a second abutment member spaced from said first abutment member by said separation distance, and movable between a first brake position out said path of pallet movement and a second brake position in said path of pallet movement;

said second abutment member of is normally in said first brake position;

to stop said pallet at a second pallet position in which said armature handler is aligned with said another second set of seats, said second abutment member is moved into said second brake position, whereby said second abutment member prevents said pallet from advancing as said conveyor continues to advance.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising, at at least one said station of said manufacturing line, an armature handler for raising armatures from said seats and for lowering armatures into said seats;

wherein;

said base has an opening therein for passage therethrough of an armature handler for raising armatures from said seats and for lowering armatures into said seats.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein each of said seats in said at least two sets of seats comprises a substantially V-shaped portion for positive engagement of said respective shaft ends.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said first seat of said first set of seats is substantially identical to said second seat of said first set of seats.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said first seat of said first set of seats is substantially identical to said first seat of said another set of seats.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein said first seat of said first set of seats is substantially identical to said first seat of said another set of seats.

17. A method for transporting an armature of a dynamoelectric machine along an armature manufacturing line, said armature having a shaft, said shaft having first and second shaft ends, said armature being altered in shape at at least one station of said manufacturing line, said method comprising:

holding said armature on a pallet;

transporting said pallet, holding said armature, past said stations of said manufacturing line; and

stopping said pallet at stations of said manufacturing line;

wherein, when said pallet comprises a base, and at least one pair of spaced apart supports on said base;

said holding comprises;

providing said pallet with at least two sets of seats for receiving said first and second shaft ends, each of said sets including first and second seats, a first set of seats being separated from another of said sets of seats by a separation distance,

providing said first seat of each of said at least two sets of seats on one member of said at least one pair of spaced apart supports, and said second seat of each of said at least two sets of seats on another member of said at least one pair of spaced apart supports,

providing said first and second seats of a first of said sets of seats in a first seat configuration for accepting said armature when said armature is in a first armature configuration, and

providing said first and second seats of said another of said sets of seats in another seat configuration for accepting said armature when said armature is in another armature configuration different from said first armature configuration; and

said method further comprises;

removing said armature from one of said first and second sets of seats for processing when said pallet is stopped at one of said at least one station;

processing said armature at said one of said at least one station; and

returning said armature after processing at said one of said at least one station (a) to said first set of seats when, after said processing step, said armature is in said first armature configuration, and (b) to said another set of seats when, after said processing step, said armature is in said another armature configuration.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein, when said at least one pair of spaced apart supports consists of one pair of spaced apart supports including a first support and a second support, said holding comprises providing said first seat of each of said at least two sets of seats on said first support, and said second seat of each of said at least two sets of seats on said second support.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein:

said removing comprises lifting said armature from said first set of seats; and

said returning comprises lowering said armature into one of said at least two sets of seats.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising, when said armature is altered in configuration at said one of said at least one station:

after said removing, allowing said pallet to move said separation distance; and

again stopping said pallet;

whereby;

in said returning, said armature is returned to said another set of seats.

21. A method for transporting an armature of a dynamoelectric machine along an armature manufacturing line, said armature having a shaft, said shaft having first and second shaft ends, said armature being altered in shape at at least one station of said manufacturing line, said method comprising:

holding said armature on a pallet;

transporting said pallet, holding said armature, past said stations of said manufacturing line; and

stopping said pallet at stations of said manufacturing line;

wherein, when said pallet comprises a base, and at least one pair of spaced apart supports on said base;

said holding comprises;

providing said pallet with at least two sets of seats for receiving said first and second shaft ends, each of said sets including first and second seats,

providing said first seat of each of said at least two sets of seats on one member of said at least one pair of spaced apart supports, and said second seat of each of said at least two sets of seats on another member of said at least one pair of spaced apart supports, one of said sets of seats being for accepting said armature when said armature is in a first armature configuration, and another of said sets of seats being for accepting said armature when said armature is in another armature configuration different from said first armature configuration; and

said method further comprises;

removing said armature from one of said first and second sets of seats for processing when said pallet is stopped at one of said at least one station;

processing said armature at said one of said at least one station to assume said another armature configuration;

during said processing, moving said seats relative to said one of said at least one station so that one of said sets of seats corresponding to said another armature configuration is in position to receive said armature, and

returning said armature after processing at said one of said at least one station to said one of said sets of seats corresponding to said another armature configuration.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein:

said providing of said pallet comprises providing said pallet with said first set of seats being separated from said second set of seats by a separation distance; and

moving said seats relative to said one of said at least one station comprises allowing said pallet to move by said separation distance.