Abstract: In a coil-winding machine, an apparatus for routing a wire (10) from a storage pin (12) to a terminal pin (14) of a coil bobbin (16) mounted on a coil-winding arbor (18) includes routing and tension-controlling pins (50, 52, 54) for routing the wire to either a first set of terminal pins (14) in a first row (14B) or to a second set of terminal pins (14) in a second row (14A) and around the first set of terminal pins. An apparatus for reliably breaking the wire at the terminal pins includes a freely-rotatable breaker pin (80 or 84) which deflects the wire to the breaking point. The routing and tension-controlling pin(s) also serve to decouple at least part of the breaking tension from the storage pin. A cutting apparatus (116) shortens the length of wire extending from the coil of wire wrapped around and ultimately ejected from the storage pin, so as to reduce the likelihood of tangling.

Abstract: Wires (30-1, 30-2, 30-3 and 30-4), which may be of different gauges, are selectively wound on bobbins (32) either singly or in parallel with one another. More specifically, wire guides (364) for first wires (30-1) are selectively transferable between a wire wrapping plate (222) for a bobbin winding operation, and inoperative positions on a storage block (71). Similarly, wire guides (428) for the additional wires (30-2, 30-3 and 30-4) are selectively transferable between the wire wrapping plate (222) for a bobbin winding operation, and inoperative positions in a magazine storage assembly (66). The wrapping radius of the wrapping plate (222) also is adjustable to accommodate bobbins (32) having different terminal spacings.

Abstract: The formation of dross in a molten solder bath (28) by surface agitation of the bath, and the adverse effects of dross on a solder pumping operation, are essentially eliminated by suspending a pump shaft (36) and an impeller (38) thereon for free rotation within a housing (96) in the molten solder bath so that solder in the solder bath is precluded from making any significant contact with the rotating shaft. To insure against binding between the impeller (38) and an opposed horizontal inner surface (132) of the housing (96), a small amount of solder is permitted to flow continuously between the impeller and the surface into contact with the rotating shaft (36) adjacent the impeller. The small solder flow then is exposed to the atmosphere to form a correspondingly small amount of light powdery solder dross (134).

Abstract: Wires (30-1, 30-2, 30-3 and 30-4), which may be of different gauges, are selectively wound on bobbins (32) either singly or in parallel with one another. More specifically, wire guides (364) for first wires (30-1) are selectively transferable between a wire wrapping plate (222) for a bobbin winding operation, and inoperative positions on a storage block (71). Similarly, wire guides (428) for the additional wires (30-2, 30-3 and 30-4) are selectively transferable between the wire wrapping plate (222) for a bobbin winding operation, and inoperative positions in a magazine storage assembly (66). The wrapping radius of the wrapping plate (222) also is adjustable to accommodate bobbins (32) having different terminal spacings.

Abstract: In winding tape on an article a preselected length of the tape is collected from a tape supply and the collected tape is severed from the supply to form a trailing end portion on the collected tape. The trailing end portion of the collected tape then is attached to the article and the article is rotated to wind the collected tape onto the article without any significant back tension in the tape which could damage the article. Preferably, the collected tape is moved from a collecting position to a position adjacent the article between the tape severing and tape attaching operations, to eliminate twisting and misalignment of the tape as it is transferred to the article, and possible damage to the article. The tape collecting operation also preferably involves winding the tape onto a rotatable tape collecting member in a small compact package, to reduce the size of the apparatus required.