Abstract: An automatic capacitor winding machine including a photoelectric device for sensing the position of a capacitor tab which is rotated by a rotating arbor is disclosed. The sensing device is characterized by a light source providing a light-beam directed along a line which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the arbor. The tab crosses the line along which the light-beam is directed only twice. The width of the light-beam is greater than the width of the tab at the line crossing nearest the light source. A photoelectric detector is positioned to receive light directed along the line and it is responsive to light impinging thereon. The detector has an angle of light acceptance such that the light-beam is prevented from impinging on the detector only when the tab is at the line crossing which is nearest to the light detector.This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention.

Abstract: An automatic capacitor winding machine has a retractable bifurcated arbor and vertically movable clamps to grasp the ends of the capacitor dielectric layers and carry those ends to a point below the retracted arbor. The bifurcated arbor is registered in its retracted state with its slot parallel to the dielectric layers. The arbor is then extended and grasps the dielectric layers between its tangs. The pressure grasping the dielectric layers is partially removed to allow the arbor to rotate and pull the dielectric layers from between the clamps. A stripper washer is provided to freely rotate on the arbor with limited movement parallel to the axis of the arbor and with a relatively small clearance between the washer's inside surface and the arbor's outside surface. Photoelectric means are provided to accurately detect the location of the first tab (terminal) to time the insertion of the other tabs. A reciprocating blade severs the dielectric layers after the capacitor is wound.

Abstract: An automatic capacitor winding machine has a retractable bifurcated arbor and vertically movable clamps to grasp the ends of the capacitor dielectric layers and carry those ends to a point below the retracted arbor. The bifurcated arbor is registered in its retracted state with its slot parallel to the dielectric layers. The arbor is then extended and grasps the dielectric layers between its tangs. The pressure grasping the dielectric layers is partially removed to allow the arbor to rotate and pull the dielectric layers from between the clamps. A stripper washer is provided to freely rotate on the arbor with limited movement parallel to the axis of the arbor and with a relatively small clearance between the washer's inside surface and the arbor's outside surface. Photoelectric means are provided to accurately detect the location of the first tab (terminal) to time the insertion of the other tabs. A reciprocating blade severs the dielectric layers after the capacitor is wound.

Abstract: An automatic capacitor winding machine has a retractable bifurcated arbor and vertically movable clamps to grasp the ends of the capacitor dielectric layers and carry those ends to a point below the retracted arbor. The bifurcated arbor is registered in its retracted state with its slot parallel to the dielectric layers. The arbor is then extended and grasps the dielectric layers between its tangs. The pressure grasping the dielectric layers is partially removed to allow the arbor to rotate and pull the dielectric layers from between the clamps. A stripper washer is provided to freely rotate on the arbor with limited movement parallel to the axis of the arbor and with a relatively small clearance between the washer's inside surface and the arbor's outside surface. Photoelectric means are provided to accurately detect the location of the first tab (terminal) to time the insertion of the other tabs. A reciprocating blade severs the dielectric layers after the capacitor is wound.