Winders for electric motor armatures

• US 6,343,762 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Axis Usa, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Axis Usa, Inc.
• Inventors: Mazzoni, Gianni, Stratico, Gianfranco, Ciarlitto, Pasquale
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, EMMANUEL MONSAYAC
• Application Number:
  US09/495,832
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 242/433.1, 242/433.2, 242/433.3, 242/433.4, 242/448, 295/96, 296/25
• US Class Current: 242/433.4
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/09 by laying conductors into slotted rotors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49071 by winding or coiling

Abstract

The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for winding successive differently sized components with coils of wire. More specifically, the present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for winding multiple electric motor armatures in succession, when those armatures have different dimensions. Generally speaking, the invention includes an assembly with movable parts, which enables all armatures to have a common alignment characteristic in the winding apparatus. If necessary, the actual coil winding mechanism will shift to achieve proper positioning relative to each armature. This reduces the number of adjustments that have to be made to hardware that is ordinarily required to wind such differently sized armatures.

Claims

1. An apparatus for winding components, comprising:

a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder, said winding system being mounted to a support structure;

a loading device which receives a component from a supply source and transports it a distance along a path normal to an axis of rotation of said flyer winder to extend it into said winding system; and

a transport system which moves said support structure along said path and aligns said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position along said path, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component.

2. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said winding system includes a reference plane with which each component extended therein will be aligned.

3. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 2 wherein said component includes a core portion, and wherein said winding system causes a coil of wire to be placed on said core portion.

4. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 3 wherein said desired alignment position is that which aligns said core portion with an axis of rotation of a flyer in said winding system.

5. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 1 wherein said loading device transport distance is variable.

6. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 5 wherein said loading device transport distance is dependent upon a dimension of a component being placed in said winding system.

7. An apparatus for winding components, comprising:

a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder, said winding system being mounted to a support structure;

a loading device which receives a component from a supply source and transports it a distance along a path to extend it into said winding system, said component includes a core portion, and wherein said winding system causes a coil of wire to be placed on said core portion;

a transport system which moves said support structure along said path and aligns said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position along said path, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component and is that which aligns said care portion with an axis of rotation of said flyer winder in said winding system; and

said winding system includes a reference plane with which each component extended therein will be aligned such that a plane of a commutator portion of said core portion is aligned with said winding system reference plane.

8. An apparatus for processing components, comprising:

a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder, said winding system being mounted to a support structure;

a loading device which receives a component from a supply source and transports it a distance along a path to extend it into said winding system;

a transport system which moves said support structure along said path and aligns said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position along said path, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component; and

said transport system further comprises;

a guide bar which supports said support structure;

a drive screw connected to said support structure; and

a motor which rotates said drive screw, thereby causing said support structure to move along said guide bar.

9. An apparatus for winding components, comprising:

a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder, said winding system being mounted to a support structure;

a loading device which receives a component from a supply source and transports it a distance along a path to extend it into said winding system, said component includes a core portion, and wherein said winding system causes a coil of wire to be placed on said core portion; and

a transport system which moves said support structure along said path and aligns said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position along said path, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component;

a terminating device located at an end of said path which assists in connecting wire leads to a commutator portion of said core portion; and

said winding system includes a reference plane with which each component extended therein will be aligned.

10. An apparatus for winding components, comprising:

a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder and includes a reference plane with which each component extended therein will be aligned, said winding system being mounted to a support structure;

a loading device which receives a component from a supply source and transports it a distance along a path to extend it into said winding system, wherein said loading device transport distance remains constant for all components extended into said winding system; and

a transport system which moves said support structure along said path and aligns said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position along said path, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component.

11. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 10 wherein said component includes a core portion, and wherein said winding system causes a coil of wire to be placed on said core portion.

12. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 11 wherein said desired alignment position is that which aligns said core portion with an axis of rotation of a flyer in said winding system.

13. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a terminating device located at an end of said path which assists in connecting wire leads to a commutator portion of said core portion.

14. An apparatus for winding components of different dimensions, comprising:

a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder;

a loading device which receives a component from a supply source and transports it a distance along a path to extend it into said winding system to receive a wire coil, said component having at least one tang; and

a termination device fixed at an end of said path for connecting said wire coil to said tang regardless of the dimension of said component.

15. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 14 further comprising:

a support structure upon which said winding system is mounted; and

a transport system which moves said support structure along said path and aligns said component in said winding system at a desired position along said path, said desired position being determined by a dimension of said component.

16. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 14 wherein said loading device transport distance is a constant value for all components extended into said winding system.

17. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 14 wherein said loading device transport distance is variable.

18. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 17 wherein said loading device transport distance is dependent upon a dimension of a component being placed in said winding system.

19. An apparatus for winding components as claimed in claim 17 wherein said winding system includes a double flyer winder.

20. A method of winding components, comprising the steps of:

transporting a component along a path to extend it into a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder, said path extending in a direction normal to an axis of rotation of said flyer winder, and said winding system being mounted on a support structure;

moving said support structure along said path to align said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component; and

winding wire on at least a portion of said component while said component is extended in said winding system.

21. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 20 wherein said moving step further comprises positioning each component along a reference plane in said winding system.

22. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 20 wherein said transporting step further comprises moving said component a distance along said path that is dependent upon a dimension of a component that is extended into said winding system.

23. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 20 wherein said transporting step further comprises placing a geometric center of a main body of said component along an axis of rotation of a flyer in said winding system.

24. A method of winding components, comprising the steps of:

transporting a component along a path to extend it into a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder, said winding system being mounted on a support structure;

said transporting step further comprises maintaining a constant component transport distance when successive components with different dimensions are extended into said winding system;

moving said support structure along said path to align said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component; and

winding wire on at least a portion of said component while said component is extended in said winding system.

25. A method of winding components further comprising the steps of:

transporting a component along a path to extend it into a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder, said winding system being mounted on a support structure;

moving said support structure along said path to align said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component;

winding wire on at least a portion of said component while said component is extended in said winding system; and

connecting wire leads to a commutator portion of said component after said wire is wound on said component.

26. A method of winding components comprising the steps of:

transporting a component along a path to extend it into a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder, said winding system being mounted on a support structure;

said transporting step further comprises rotating a drive screw attached to said support structure, thereby causing said support structure to move along a guide bar;

moving said support structure along said path to align said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component; and

winding wire on at least a portion of said component while said component is extended in said winding system.

27. A method of winding components, comprising the steps of:

transporting a component along a path to extend it into a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder, wherein a component transport distance remains constant regardless of a size of said component;

moving a support structure with said winding system mounted thereon along said path to align said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component; and

winding wire on at least a portion of said component while said component is extended into said winding system.

28. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 27 wherein said moving step further comprises positioning each component along a reference plane in said winding system.

29. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 27 wherein said transporting step further comprises placing a geometric center of a main body of said component along an axis of rotation of a flyer in said winding system.

30. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 27 further comprising connecting wire leads to a commutator portion of said component after said wire is wound on said component.

31. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 27 wherein said transporting step further comprises rotating a drive screw attached to said support structure, thereby causing said support structure to move along a guide bar.

32. A method of winding components of different dimensions, comprising the steps of:

transporting a component along a path to extend it into a winding system that includes at least one flyer winder, said winding system being mounted on a support structure;

moving said support structure along said path to align said component in said winding system at a desired alignment position, wherein said desired alignment position is determined by a dimension of said component;

winding wire on at least a portion of said component while said component is extended in said winding system; and

attaching a portion of said wire to a tang mounted to said component using a termination device that is fixed at an end of said path regardless of the dimension of said component.

33. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 32 wherein said moving step further comprises positioning each component along a reference plane in said winding system.

34. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 32 wherein said transporting step further comprises moving said component a distance along said path that is dependent upon a dimension of a component that is extended into said winding system.

35. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 32 wherein said transporting step further comprises maintaining a constant component transport distance when successive components with different dimensions are extended into said winding system.

36. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 32 wherein said transporting step further comprises placing a geometric center of a main body of said component along an axis of rotation of a flyer in said winding system.

37. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 32 further comprising connecting wire leads to a commutator portion of said component after said wire is wound on said component.

38. A method of winding components as claimed in claim 32 wherein said transporting step further comprises rotating a drive screw attached to said support structure, thereby causing said support structure to move along a guide bar.