Abstract: A stator core is formed from a continuous strip of wound sheet stock material, in which the sheet stock material is converted from the sheet stock to a formed material including winding slot cutouts. This strip of formed material is then wound into the stator core, with the winding slot cutouts in the formed material maintained at a substantially constant width throughout most of the radial extent of the resulting winding slots in the finished article. However, one or more of the radially innermost and radially outermost layers may define winding slot cutouts that are wider than the other winding slot cutouts. Where several radial layers are altered in this way, the cutout widths are progressively expanded such that the resulting winding slot has terminal ends with edges that are effectively “radiused” or rounded, thereby protecting windings near the edge of such slots.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the production of relatively large diameter annular components, such as stator cores for electric motors, without excessive waste of material. In one embodiment, a first progressive die assembly forms a plurality of identical pole pieces each made of a plurality of individual stacked and interlocked laminations. The pole pieces, having protruding end portions, are loaded into a rotary carousel. A second progressive die assembly forms a continuous strip including a plurality of body segments connected via hinge portions disposed adjacent recesses between the body segments that are dimensioned to receive the protruding ends of the pole pieces.

Abstract: A method for securing the end sections of an annular laminated article, such as a stator core, which includes a plurality of serially joined sections, each section formed of a plurality of stacked, planar laminas. The article is initially manufactured in a liner form, and is then formed into an annular form with the end sections disposed adjacent one another. At least one tab associated with one of the end sections is displaced by a forming tool into a corresponding cavity of the other of the end sections to secure the end sections together. In another embodiment, a pair of tabs each associated with one of the end sections are respectively displaced toward one another and into corresponding respective cavities each associated with the other of the end sections to secure the end sections together.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the production of relatively large diameter annular components, such as stator cores for electric motors, without excessive waste of material. In one embodiment, a first progressive die assembly forms a plurality of identical pole pieces each made of a plurality of individual stacked and interlocked laminations. The pole pieces, having protruding end portions, are loaded into a rotary carousel. A second progressive die assembly forms a continuous strip including a plurality of body segments connected via hinge portions disposed adjacent recesses between the body segments that are dimensioned to receive the protruding ends of the pole pieces.

Abstract: A stator core is formed from a continuous strip of wound sheet stock material, in which the sheet stock material is converted from the sheet stock to a formed material including winding slot cutouts. This strip of formed material is then wound into the stator core, with the winding slot cutouts in the formed material maintained at a substantially constant width throughout most of the radial extent of the resulting winding slots in the finished article. However, one or more of the radially innermost and radially outermost layers may define winding slot cutouts that are wider than the other winding slot cutouts. Where several radial layers are altered in this way, the cutout widths are progressively expanded such that the resulting winding slot has terminal ends with edges that are effectively “radiused” or rounded, thereby protecting windings near the edge of such slots.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the production of relatively large diameter annular components, such as stator cores for electric motors, without excessive waste of material. In one embodiment, a first progressive die assembly forms a plurality of identical pole pieces each made of a plurality of individual stacked and interlocked laminations. The pole pieces, having protruding end portions, are loaded into a rotary carousel. A second progressive die assembly forms a continuous strip including a plurality of body segments connected via hinge portions disposed adjacent recesses between the body segments that are dimensioned to receive the protruding ends of the pole pieces.

Abstract: A metal article, such as a stator core, is formed from a continuous strip of wound sheet stock material including winding slot cutouts. The winding slot cutouts are maintained at a substantially constant width throughout most of the radial extent of the winding slots in the finished article, except that one or more of the first and/or last wound layers (i.e., the radially innermost and radially outermost layers) may define winding slot cutouts that are wider than the other winding slot cutouts. Several radial layers may define cutout widths that are progressively expanded such that the resulting winding slot has terminal ends with edges that defining a stair-step profile that approximates a “radiused” or rounded edge. This rounded edge profile protects windings projecting radially into or outwardly from the winding slots near the edge of such slots.

Abstract: A method for securing the end sections of an annular laminated article, such as a stator core, which includes a plurality of serially joined sections, each section formed of a plurality of stacked, planar laminas. The article is initially manufactured in a liner form, and is then formed into an annular form with the end sections disposed adjacent one another. At least one tab associated with one of the end sections is displaced by a forming tool into a corresponding cavity of the other of the end sections to secure the end sections together. In another embodiment, a pair of tabs each associated with one of the end sections are respectively displaced toward one another and into corresponding respective cavities each associated with the other of the end sections to secure the end sections together.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the production of relatively large diameter annular components, such as stator cores for electric motors, without excessive waste of material. In one embodiment, a first progressive die assembly forms a plurality of identical pole pieces each made of a plurality of individual stacked and interlocked laminations. The pole pieces, having protruding end portions, are loaded into a rotary carousel. A second progressive die assembly forms a continuous strip including a plurality of body segments connected via hinge portions disposed adjacent recesses between the body segments that are dimensioned to receive the protruding ends of the pole pieces.

Abstract: A progressive die assembly and a method for manufacturing lamina stacks from a plurality of separate strips of stock material. The die assembly includes a plurality of feed pathways for the material strips, each feed pathway having an associated punch set. Each punch set includes one or more punches for stamping lamina features in the strip, as well as at least one blanking punch for blanking individual laminas from the strips. The die assembly additionally includes a choke assembly which is adapted to receive laminas which are blanked from each of the material strips by the blanking punches.

Abstract: A progressive die assembly and method for manufacturing lamina stacks from a strip of substantially planar material, in which at least some of the individual laminas are formed with portions which extend from, or are otherwise not within, the plane of the material strip. The die assembly includes die stations having punches for punching features substantially within the plane of the strip corresponding to individual laminas, such as lamina profiles and lamina interlock features. Additionally, the die assembly also includes at least one forming station which includes a selectively actuable forming tool which is configured to form a lamina portion in the strip which is disposed outwardly of the strip plane, such as by bending a portion of the strip.

Abstract: A progressive die assembly and a method for manufacturing lamina stacks from a plurality of separate strips of stock material. The die assembly includes a plurality of feed pathways for the material strips, each feed pathway having an associated punch set. Each punch set includes one or more punches for stamping lamina features in the strip, as well as at least one blanking punch for blanking individual laminas from the strips. The die assembly additionally includes a choke assembly which is adapted to receive laminas which are blanked from each of the material strips by the blanking punches.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for maintaining the levelness of a crucible having a first end and a second end during thermal expansion of the crucible comprising: providing a continuous pulling force on the first end in a direction parallel to the length of the crucible during heating of the crucible.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for effecting glow discharge comprising an elongated electrically conductive glow bar electrode, means for applying a potential to the glow bar electrode, thereby generating ions, means for creating a flow of ions from the glow bar electrode to a second electrode, and a shield situated to block partially the flow of ions between the glow bar electrode and the second electrode, said shield having a plurality of apertures through which ions can flow between the glow bar electrode and the second electrode, each aperture having associated therewith at least one shutter, said shutters being capable of at least partially blocking the flow of ions through the apertures, each shutter individually movable to a plurality of positions to adjust the flow of ions through the apertures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises providing an alloy of selenium, preparing powdered particles of the alloy with an average particle diameter of less than 300 microns, placing the powdered particles into a container and tumbling the container, and subsequently removing the powdered particles from the container and compressing the powdered particles into pellets.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for treating particles of selenium alloy to reduce fractionation when the particles are subsequently vacuum evaporated onto a substrate which comprises (1) heating particles of an alloy of selenium and an alloying component selected from the group are exposed to oxygen; (2) exposing the particles to water vapor; and (3) subjecting the particles previously exposed to oxygen and water vapor to a vacuum. Also disclosed is a process which comprises (1) providing particles of an alloy of selenium and an alloying component selected from the group consisting of tellurium, arsenic, and mixtures thereof; (2) forming selenium oxide on the surfaces of the particles; (3) converting the selenium oxide on the particle surfaces to selenious acid; and (4) removing the selenious acid from the particle surfaces.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of chalcogenide alloys which comprises crystallizing a chalcogenide alloy, grinding and pelletizing the crystallized product, and evaporating the alloy on, for example, a supporting substrate to form a photoreceptor.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of chalcogenide alloys which comprises crystallizing a chalcogenide alloy, grinding and pelletizing the crystallized product, and evaporating the alloy on, for example, a supporting substrate to form a photoreceptor.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an electrophotographic imaging member is disclosed comprising providing in a vacuum chamber at least one crucible containing particles of an alloy comprising selenium and an alloying component selected from the group consisting of tellurium, arsenic, and mixtures thereof, providing a substrate in the vacuum chamber, applying a partial vacuum to the vacuum chamber, and rapidly heating the crucible to a temperature between about 250.degree. C. and 450.degree. C. to deposit a thin continuous selenium alloy layer on the substrate.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging member is disclosed consisting essentially of a supporting substrate, a charge transport layer substantially free of arsenic and tellurium and consisting essentially of selenium and a halogen selected from the group consisting of from about 4 parts per million by weight to about 13 parts per million by weight of chlorine and from about 8 parts per million by weight to about 25 parts per million by weight of iodine and a photoconductive charge generator layer comprising selenium, from about 5 percent to about 20 percent by weight tellurium, from about 0.1 percent to about 4 percent by weight arsenic, and a halogen selected from the group consisting of up to about 70 parts per million by weight of chlorine and up to about 140 parts per million by weight of iodine, one surface of the charge generator layer being in operative electrical contact with the charge transport layer and the other surface of the charge generator layer being exposed to the ambient atmosphere.