Abstract: In a device for transferring a pallet-mounted electric motor armature to an armature winding formation station, the armature is made rigid with the pallet by members which enable it to be released therefrom, and the frame carrying the winding arms comprises a vertical gripper for gripping the armature and connected to drive means which cause it to rotate about its axis between said winding arms; means are also provided for vertically transferring either the armature alone or the armature rigid with the pallet from the conveyor belt to the winding arm zone in which the armature becomes released from the pallet and secured to the vertical gripper.

Abstract: A machine for forming windings on electric motor stators, comprising a needle driven with reciprocating rectilinear motion combined with reciprocating rotary motion about its axis. The needle has two opposing points, which are orthogonal to the needle. The needle carries copper wires unwinding from reels in order to deposit the wires in slots in a stator armature. The needle is split into two arms or ends oscillating between a position of substantial parallelism, in which the ends of the points are at a distance apart which is less than the maximum width of the inner cavity of the stator, and a position of maximum divergence in which the ends of the points are at a distance apart which exceeds the distance between the ends of the teeth which frontally retain the windings in the opposite slots of the stator.

Abstract: In a production line for electric motor stators, the stators are rigidly fixed individually, onto respective individual pallets which advance along conveyor belts, in proximity to which the necessary stator-working stations are located; mechanical means are also provided for removing the pallets from the belts and handling them so that the respective stators become disposed in positions corresponding with the working stations located along the line, and in proximity to which said mechanical means are provided.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus, for determining the resistance of the electrical connections between coils and the bars of a commutator for electric motors as well as the resistance of the coils themselves includes applying appropriate voltages to the commutator bars to simulate a cut in the winding thus permitting determination of the connection resistance independently of the coil resistance. After the connection resistance has been determined, the measurement of an additional voltage permits the determination of the coil resistance.

Abstract: An adjustable chuck for armature winding machines employs a pair of stationary longitudinal deflectors or wings and a separate pair of frontal deflectors or wings. At least one of the frontal deflectors is movable independently of the longitudinal deflectors so that the chuck can be adjusted to accommodate armatures having cores of various different lengths. Regardless of whether the frontal deflectors have been positioned to accommodate a long or short armature, they cooperate with the longitudinal deflectors to form a continuous wire guide path for a wire being wound around the armature.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus comprises an endless conveyor operative to convey workpieces past a number of processing stations. The workpieces are conveyed in seats of the conveyor, each of the seats being designated to receive a workpiece which is at a predetermined stage in the process. Means are provided to sense the presence of filled and empty seats and to control workpiece removal and depositing means associated with the processing stations so that workpieces are only removed from, and deposited in, the appropriate designated seats.

Abstract: A device for angularly centering a member having an annular toothed formation, for example an electric motor commutator prior to mounting the commutator on a rotor shaft, comprises a centering bracket located in the path of movement of the member. The bracket has, at its upstream end, a ramp, followed by two laterally spaced centering profiles. If a tooth of the member engages the ramp, the bracket is resiliently deflected and the tooth thereafter engages one of the centering profiles. Alternatively, the tooth will directly engage the other of the centering profiles. When the member has been centered by either one of the two profiles, it is held in its centered position within a grooved seat to enable further operations to take place.

Abstract: A welding machine is described in which current to the welding electrodes is controlled by an S.C.R. unit. The S.C.R. unit is provided with control pulses in accordance with a predetermined program so that the power fed to the welding electrodes should follow a predetermined characteristic. A simulator is provided to simulate from the control pulses, the energy characteristic that the welding electrodes should follow. The actual energy characteristic of the electrodes is monitored. If the actual energy characteristic falls outside the simulated characteristic, a fault signal is generated.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus comprises an endless conveyor operative to convey workpieces past a number of processing stations. The workpieces are conveyed in seats of the conveyor, each of the seats being designated to receive a workpiece which is at a predetermined stage in the process. Means are provided to sense the presence of filled and empty seats and to control workpiece removal and depositing means associated with the processing stations so that workpieces are only removed from, and deposited in, the appropriate designated seats.