Abstract: In order to correctly detect whether an individually supplied part is actually mounted on a part-receptive member, a part detector is disposed at a position close to a part-holding member of a part-supply rod. Positionwise relationship between this part detector and the part-receptive member is predetermined in order that the part mounted on the part-receptive member can activate operation of the above-identified part detector to generate a signal for identifying presence of the delivered part while the part-supply rod retreats.

Abstract: A spacer frame consisting of a hollow profile strip bent three times and still open at the fourth corner, wherein one leg (2) is longer than the other leg leading to the open corner, is filled with granulated desiccant by way of a probe (20) introduced into the leg (2). The probe (20) extends with its front end (20)into the leg (2') up to the desired filling level. As soon as the desiccant in the leg (2) has reached the probe (20), the feeding flow of desiccant ceases. This is detected by a sensor (27). The sensor (27) actuates the pulling out of the probe (20). During this step, a vacuum is applied to the probe (20) a distance from the front end (201) of the probe via a conduit (40) so that no desiccant can exit from the probe (20).

Abstract: A flexible assembly cell is provided for adding a selected one of a plurality of available components to one of at least two different types of motor vehicle subassembly which may be presented. The flexible assembly cell comprises a work station including a platen having at least one head movable thereover, and a conveyor for presenting a subassembly to the work station. An optical scanner is also provided for identifying whether the subassembly is of a first type or a second type. The head moves magnetically over the platen to retrieve one of the first components from the supply of first components if the optical scanner determines that the subassembly is of the first type, or to retrieve one of the second components from the supply of second components if the optical scanner determines that the subassembly is of the second type. After retrieval, the head presents the retrieved component for addition to the subassembly.

Abstract: A device for chucking a zigzag spring, which comprises a pair of pawl elements, a drive source, and a detector. One of the two pawl elements may be moved and stoped at at least one position by operation of the drive source through detection of the detector, and then both two pawl elements are brought into engagement with both end portions of the zigzag spring, respectively, according to a length of the spring. The detector may comprise a plurality of proximity switches, one of which detects movement of such one of the pawl elements to that particular position. By those plural proximity switches, a base position may be set for that one of pawl elements in relation to another of them, according to a selected one of plural different zigzag springs with different lengths.

Abstract: Shingling apparatus for applying standard manufactured shingles in successive steps to a roof comprises a frame having a wheel assembly with air driven motors which move the apparatus in a vertical motion. A hopper holds the shingles, and a shuffle bar moves across the shingles placing one shingle at a time onto forks. The forks then move down to the roof where the shingle is then placed in the designated area and then fastened to the roof with a pneumatic nail gun. After the shingle has been fastened, the forks pull out from under the shingle and then return to the starting position to retrieve the next shingle to be fastened down. As the forks return the apparatus starts to move towards the top of the roof in a vertical direction. It stops when it reaches a sensed, predetermined destination. The apparatus is attached to nylon belts which are fastened at the top of the roof to a linear motion brace which is fastened across the peak of the roof.

Abstract: A pallet nail press used to drive random fasteners extending from the pallet after repair and assembly has taken place. The pallet nail press includes multiple continuous feed and exit conveyors that pre-position individual repaired pallets within a press support assembly having multiple vertical lift beams below the conveyors. The vertical lift beams are driven by a lift bag assembly. In use, the pre-positioned pallet is lifted off the continuous conveyor and driven against correspondingly positioned anvil beams driving the outwardly extending fasteners flush with the pallet. Sensors activate positioning pins and lift bag air assembly in a selected nature, cycling the pallets through the pallet nail press.

Abstract: Elongated thin strip stock is blanked to form interlocking laminas for electric motor or generator rotors or stators at successive blanking stations. At a final assembly station the laminas are stacked and pressed into interlocking relationship. In response to an operator input a predetermined number of reversals, or half turns about the stack axis of the previously stacked lamina are provided in order to compensate for nonuniform strip thickness to obtain a rotor or stator of substantially uniform height. Alternatively the thickness of the strip stock is gauged at transversely spaced points on the strip to determine cross feed thickness variation in the strip whereupon the stacked laminas are automatically provided with a number of reversals about the stack axis in response to a thickness differential that would result in a parallelism error in the stack that exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Elongated thin strip stock is blanked to form interlocking laminas for electric motor or generator rotors or stators at successive blanking stations. At a final assembly station the laminas are stacked and pressed into interlocking relationship. In response to an operator input a predetermined number of reversals, or half turns about the stack axis of the previously stacked lamina are provided in order to compensate for nonuniform strip thickness to obtain a rotor or stator of substantially uniform height. Alternatively the thickness of the strip stock is gauged at transversely spaced points on the strip to determine cross feed thickness variation in the strip whereupon the stacked laminas are automatically provided with a number of reversals about the stack axis in response to a thickness differential that would result in a parallelism error in the stack that exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a parts supply system applied to a versatile production line, which strives to eliminate manual labor and prevent misdelivery. The parts supply system includes at least one of the product assembling sites (3) on the production line, at least one of the parts supplying sites (4), at least one of the unit assembling sites (5), at which units are assembled from parts delivered from a warehouse and a plurality of sets are arranged with the units, and a delivery means for delivering the set automatically between each of the product assembling sites (3) and each of the parts supplying sites (4) by an automatic carrier (2) or conveyors.

Abstract: An assembling apparatus which can readily achieve change-over among operation programs corresponding to a large number of works of different models. Part pallets on which parts are received are supplied from a part supplying unit to a plurality of assembling units by a part pallet supplying conveyor. Meanwhile, assembling pallets are supplied from a model changing unit to the assembling units by an assembling pallet transporting conveyor. Each of the assembling units is provided with an orthogonal robot wherein an assembling head picks up a part from a part pallet supplied thereto and automatically mounts the part to a work on an assembling pallet supplied thereto.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and a method for feeding articles, the apparatus containing a tape transporting apparatus, including a transporting member having plural containing portions in succession, a cover tape for covering the apertures of the containing portions of the transporting member, a first reel for simultaneously winding the transporting member and the cover tape, a second reel for winding the transporting member only, a third reel for winding the cover tape only, a drive assembly for rotating the first, second and third reels, intermittent drive unit for driving the transporting member, control unit for driving the drive assembly and intermittent drive unit, an aperture for loading or removing the articles into or from the containing portions of the transporting member, a first detector for detecting the presence or absence of the article in the containing portion, and a guide member for defining the position to an article assembling apparatus or an article manufacturing apparatus, wherein ea

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for fixing holding clips (1) to a band (2) which is movable in its longitudinal direction, wherein the band (2) is deformed transversely relative to the longitudinal direction in such a way that the spacing of the band edges (3, 4) becomes less than the band width and the internal spacing of the holding elements (5, 6) provided on the holding clip (1) and the part of the band (2) which is between the band edges (3, 4) is curved forwardly out of the plane of the band defined by the band edges (3, 4), the band edges (3, 4) are brought into position between the holding elements (5, 6) and the deformation is substantially removed again so that the band edges (3, 4) substantially resume their original spacing and the holding clip (1) comes into frictional engagement with the band (2), and a corresponding apparatus.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for tightening threaded joints in two subsequent steps, namely a first step during which a joint is tightened to a predetermined torque snug level and a second step during which the joint is further tightened up to a final predetermined pretension level. During the second tightening step the angle speed of the power tool (10) is gradually increased at a predetermined rate. The power tool (10) comprises an electric brushless motor which is supplied with power from a variable frequency output inverter (11), and the gradual increase in angle speed of the power tool (10) is accomplished by a gradually increased output frequency and voltage from the power supply means (11).

Abstract: Printed circuit assembly machine, consisting of a flat lower base, capable of moving up and down, and of a curved upper base capable of tilting, both being drilled with a multitude of holes, through which a vacuum is created, characterized in that both lower and upper bases have their holes distributed in independent zones, each zone being provided with a vacuum tube, which regulates the vacuum in each of them, and a microprocessor with program for controlling operation of the vacuum tubes.

Abstract: An electronic parts mounting apparatus includes an index rotary member. The index rotary member is rotated. A plurality of mounted heads are provided on the index rotary member for sucking electronic components, and for mounting the electronic components on a printed circuit board. The mounting heads are vertically moved through a stoke relative to the printed circuit board. The stroke of movement of the mounting heads is adjusted. A vertically-movable table is provided on a horizontally-movable table. Clampers are supported on the vertically-movable table for holding the printed circuit board therebetween. The vertically-movable table is vertically moved to adjust a height of the printed circuit board held between the clampers.

Abstract: A handle case and a handle which are substantially assembled are clamped on a pallet with respective first and second clamping means on the pallet, and the pallet is conveyed along a looped conveyor. The handle case and the handle are connected operatively to each other with hinge means in a first assembling station disposed alongside of the conveyor. Then, the pallet is conveyed successively through other assembling stations disposed along the conveyor to install other door handle components on the handle case and the handle in the other assembling stations.

Abstract: A caulking machine has a column with a table for placing a work piece having rivet shanks passing therethrough, a cylinder vertically movably mounted on the column, a piston shaft fixedly mounted in the cylinder so as to be movable together with the cylinder, a spindle rotatably mounted in the piston shaft, and a rivet head forming tool having a forming shaft and mounted to the bottom end of the spindle. The forming shaft is adapted to be pressed against the rivet shank in the work piece by operating the cylinder, and can be rotated by a motor via the spindle to form a rivet head on the rivet shank. The machine has a rotation detector for determining whether a rivet head is being formed or the machine is idling by measuring the rotation of the forming shaft. If it is determined that the machine is idling, a display device can be activated and the operation of the machine can be stopped.

Abstract: A method and a device for tightening threaded joints includes applying torque on the joint by means of a power tool until a predetermined pretension level in the joint is reached, whereupon a controller connected to the power tool is arranged on one hand to initiate power shut-off and on the other hand to initiate continued successively decreasing power supply to the tool as the predetermined pretension level is passed.

Abstract: A robot for installing a fixed length of weather stripping in a body opening. The robot in a preferred embodiment includes an arm movable in a predetermined path, a powered variable angular displacement rate pressure roller mounted on the end of the arm for tracing the body opening and applying the fixed length to the opening, a calibration table for storage of preprogrammed datums for the pressure roller angular displacement rate and weather stripping feed rates for a plurality of locational segments along the body opening during an application cycle, a controller for delivering a signal representative of the calibration table preprogrammed datums to the pressure roller, an encoder for determining the actual angular displacement rate of the pressure roller, and an encoder for determining the actual feed rate of the weather stripping.

Abstract: Device for the simultaneous positioning of a plurality of threaded connecting elements (1) carried by a supporting member (8) and intended for fastening a component (2) placed on an appliance (3), the component (2) having open-ended bores (5) for the passage of the threaded connecting elements (1), and the appliance having tapped holes (4) corresponding to the open-ended bores (5) and capable of receiving the threaded connecting elements (1), including provision for permanent checking and correction of the position of the axes of the threaded connecting elements (1) in relation to the axes of corresponding tapped holes (4), and of the horizontality of the supporting member (8), and a lifting beam.

Abstract: A tape type work conveying method and apparatus conveys works placed in placing portions on a conveying tape to an opening surface portion, and causes a robot device to pick up or place works in synchronism with a parts assembling apparatus or a parts manufacturing apparatus. In the tape type work conveying apparatus, a cover tape is arranged to cover opening portions of the placing portions of the conveying tape.

Abstract: A gripping system for gripping a wire extending from a circuit board has a pair of claws provided at the end of a robot arm and a sensor for detecting a free end of the wire. A control is provided so that the robot arm is first moved so as to make the claws hold the fixed end of the wire, and then moved so as to allow the claws to slidingly move upwardly along the wire until the sensor detects the free end.

Abstract: The front end and rear end of a belt-shaped member having a predetermined length are grasped by front end grasping pawls and rear end grasping pawls, respectively, movable in synchronism with and independently from each other when required. The front and rear end grasping pawls are moved in synchronism with each other until the front end of the belt-shaped member arrives at the forming drum. After the front end of the belt-shaped member has been pressure-joined with the forming drum, only the rear end grasping pawls grasping the rear end of the belt-shaped member are moved to attach the belt-shaped member to the circumference of the forming drum. The length of the belt-shaped member is modified to a predetermined length or the circumferential length of the forming drum while the front and rear ends are grasped by the front and rear end grasping pawls, respectively, or the belt-shaped member is being attached to the forming drum.

Abstract: Workstation apparatus for automatically and vertically removing defective devices from delicate high density multilayer interconnect substrates, and for removing devices and substrates from large area substrates without damaging the substrates or closely-spaced neighboring devices on the substrates. The apparatus is also usable to precisely measure semiconductor attach shear strength by applying a torsional force and identifying the arc angle to failure. A table assembly positions and secures a substrate comprising a device to be removed. A thermode is adhered to the device to be removed with a high temperature thermosetting adhesive. A heater stage in the table assembly preheats the substrate including the device to be removed. The thermode has a strip heater, a thermocouple and a passage for a cooling fluid. The thermode temperature is adjustable for curing the adhesive and for loosening the device from the substrate. The device is removed by applying torque and vertical tensile loading at the same time.

Abstract: Device that makes possible the holding and/or automatic assembly of parts includes tool-carrying arms (40), fluid power circuits that actuate these tools, and control circuits for these power circuits. A support unit (10) has arms (40) mechanically fastened thereto. A fluid distributor (30) is mounted on the support unit, a part of the power and control circuits of the arms being incorporated into the support unit, the other part being extended in the arms.

Abstract: A component (22; 23; 122) is positioned on or formed as part of a plate (20) which is supported by a bearing (14) and which is supported at the position of the component (22; 23; 122) to be positioned by a support (8). The positioning is carried out by a die (10) which together with the support is controlled by a control system, comprising one or more reference signal sources, comparators (24, 30) and amplifiers (25, 31) , in such a way that the component (22; 23; 122) is accurately positioned relative to reference plane (26) relative to the plate. When the desired position of the component is reached, it is ensured that no elastic deformation are present in the plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle body assembling line including a floor main assembling unit for positioning a plurality of floor main components and jointing the positioned floor main components to assemble a floor main, a body side assembling unit for positioning a plurality of body side components and jointing the positioned body side components to assemble a body side, and a vehicle body assembling unit for positioning the body side and the floor main and jointing the positioned body side and the positioned floor main to assemble a vehicle body. The pushing forces applied to respective positioning points set on the body side are measured when the vehicle body assembling unit positions the body side with respect to the floor main.

Abstract: A method for assembling exterior parts of a motorcar wherein assembling accuracy errors of a motor car body are determined by measuring positions of a plurality of reference points of said motorcar body. Correction data is calculated relating to respective assembling positions of plural kinds of the exterior parts which form an external shape of the motorcar, the calculation being performed on the basis of measured data obtained in the previous step, while maintaining a correlative relationship among said parts, to eliminate correlative misalignment among said parts due to the assembling accuracy errors of said motorcar body. Each of said parts is then assembled by respective assembling robots to respective assembling position which has been corrected in accordance with the calculated correction data.

Abstract: A machine for inserting foam cores within the coil springs of a mattress or similar device having a series of spiral coil springs. The machine has a series of hollow receptacles for accommodated the cores above and aligned with one row of coil springs of the mattress. Beneath the mattress, a series of grippers is located in alignment with the receptacles. When actuated, the grippers rise through the coil springs, grip the bottom of each foam core, and return through the coils, placing each core in the center of each of the coils of the row of coils. The mattress is then indexed, and the process repeated for the next row of coils.

Abstract: An automatic screwdriver is mounted on a coordinately movable slide structure to shift horizontally to various positions above a workpiece and also to shift vertically to drive screws into the workpiece. A stylus which moves with the slide structure coacts with an overhead template to locate the gun in precise preselected driving positions over the workpiece. Jaws hold the screw as the screwdriver is advanced downwardly and are cammed open during driving of the screw. A link stops the jaws a predetermined distance above the workpiece to permit the jaws to open in the event another screw or other obstruction is located closely adjacent the screw being driven.

Abstract: Elongated thin strip stock is blanked to form interlocking laminas for electric motor or generator rotors or stators at successive blanking stations. At a final assembly station the laminas are stacked and pressed into interlocking relationship. In response to an operator input a predetermined number of reversals, or half turns about the stack axis of the previously stacked lamina are provided in order to compensate for nonuniform strip thickness to obtain a rotor or stator of substantially uniform height. Alternatively the thickness of the strip stock is gauged at transversely spaced points on the strip to determine cross feed thickness variation in the strip whereupon the stacked laminas are automatically provided with a number of reversals about the stack axis in response to a thickness differential that would result in a parallelism error in the stack that exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for feeding articles, containing a tape transporting apparatus, including a transporting member having plural container portions in succession, a cover tape for covering the apertures of the container portions of the transporting member, a first reel on which ends of the transporting member and the cover tape are fixed, for simultaneously winding the transporting member and the cover tape, a second reel on which the other end of the transporting member is fixed, for winding the transporting member only, a third reel on which the other end of the cover tape is fixed, for winding the cover tape only, a drive assembly for rotating the first, second and third reels, intermittent drive unit for intermittently driving the transporting member by engaging with successive perforations formed on the transporting member, a control unit for driving the drive assembly and intermittent drive unit, an aperture for loading or removing the articles into or from the container portions of the tra

Abstract: An improved apparatus for automatically mounting electronic components includes a take-out nozzle which is rotated by a nozzle rotating unit based on data on an angular position assumed by each chip-shaped electronic component firmly held on the take-out nozzle, in order to perform a correcting operation so as to allow the electronic component to assume an adequate angular position and, after completion of the correction operation, the respective electronic components are mounted on a printed-circuit board.

Abstract: A power assisted clamping and rotating apparatus for coupling two threadedly engaged members into a third, central member. The central member is held on a support in a fixed position by a clamping mechanism and the other two members are threaded into the central member with rotatable driving mechanisms on each side of central member and being moveable toward the member as they rotate. The rotating side members are in proximity to limit switches which cause rotation of the driving mechanisms to be discontinued when the members are threaded together to a predetermined degree. The limit switches may either be in the form of a laser beam which is interrupted or mechanical or electromechanical switches.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating a reference target on a partially assembled structure such as an automobile body frame. The apparatus has a base support structure for rigid mounting to a floor member, a transfer platform is attached to the base structure so that the transfer platform has freedom of movement in a first horizontal direction; a horizontal slide assembly is attached to the transfer platform so that it has freedom of movement in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction; and a vertical slide assembly is attached to the horizontal slide assembly and is movable therewith in a vertical direction. An acutator and a clamp bar are utilized to immobilize the transfer platform, and an actuator and a clamp plate are utilized to immobilize both the horizontal and vertical slide assemblies. A plurality of work tools or tool receiving recesses are attached to the vertical slide assembly so that the tool and recess can move toward and away from the automobile body frame.

Abstract: An electronic parts mounting device roughly turns a mounting head to which an electronic part is sucked in multiple actions in a plurality of steps in accordance with the direction in which the electronic part is to be mounted. Then, the attitude of the electronic part is detected and the mounting head is precisely turned in accordance with the results of the detection so as to correct the attitude of the electronic part so that the electronic part can be accurately mounted on a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A parts mounting machine for easily changing the type or number of parts being used within includes a work piece positioning device for positioning a work piece on a movable table thereon, and a plurality of part handling units which can be fixed to and detached from the work piece positioning device. Each of the parts handling units comprises mounting head means for holding a part and transferring it to the work piece, and transfer means for removing the part from a container and transferring the part to the mounting head means. Also contained in each handling unit is a controller for regulating the operation of the mounting head and transfer means. A main controller selectively controls the branch control means so that the parts handling units cooperate with the work piece positioning device as required by a user.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a louvered window or door fitting structure comprises first and second spaced apart style guides in parallel relationship to one another, dowel receiving members to the inside of each style guide and a motor for moving at least the first style guide towards the second style guide while maintaining their parallel relationship to clamp the styles to the louvers of the louvered window or door structure. The dowel receiving members guide the dowels on the louvers into the openings in the styles as the structure is clamped by the style guides. The motor then moves at least the first style guide away from the second style guide to allow releasing of the structure from the apparatus.

Abstract: By providing an electronic component mounting apparatus which an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the amount of drive in a path of transmission of drive from a drive unit, which is used for driving each component mounting head between elevated and lowered positions, to each component mounting head, the limit of position to which each component mounting head can be lowered is made adjustable. The provision of a control unit is also made to control the lowered position of each component mounting head according to the height of each of the electronic components to be mounted by the apparatus. The control unit is also operable to determine the lowered position of each component mounting head for the mounting of subsequent electronic components with the height of a first mounted one of the electronic components taken as a reference value so that a correction value can be added to the reference value when the succeeding electronic components are to be mounted.

Abstract: In order to facilitate rapid automatic set up and adjustment of a robotic assembly arrangement in a manner which produces the required precision, pre-recorded data and expert system software are teamed together and used to set robotic support jigs and move panels into position against the body they are to be attached to. The position of the panels is determined using a laser scanning technique and feedback control used to adjust the robots and associated hardware and move the panel or panels in the case there is a deviation beyond acceptable tolerances in a manner which either reduces or eliminates the deviation.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of applying discrete coupling elements one at a time onto a stringer tape, which comprises counting the number N.sub.1 of coupling elements entering a chute and comparing the number N.sub.1 thus counted with the number R of reovlutions of a motor driving a means of applying the elements to the tape thereby incessantly monitoring the inventory Nc of the elements in the chute.

Abstract: A vehicle body is assembled in a number of stages each including robots which are automatically adjusted to move and secure work pieces such as panels to a basic body member or chasis. One of the stages includes a measuring arrangement which scans the assembled unit with laser beams to determine if the required tolerance have been set. In the event of deviations beyond permissible limits the appropriate correction is derived and fed back to the stage wherein the securing operation in question occured.

Abstract: A production line capable of producing more than one variation of a particular type of electric motor component (e.g., more than one variation of armature or more than one variation of stator) is provided. The line includes at each workstation either a machine adjustable to the different variations to be produced, or more than one machine. Workpieces are carried down the line on coded pallets from which it can be determined automatically which variation it is, so that the workstation can be adjusted to perform the correct operation, or so that the pallet can be directed to the correct machine.

Abstract: A device for locating a datum reference on a partially assembled structural object, such as an automobile body frame. The device has a base structure for rigid mounting to a floor member, a transfer platform is attached to the base structure so that the transfer platform has freedom of movement in a first horizontal direction, a support structure is attached to the transfer platform so that it has freedom of movement therewith in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, a vertical slide support mechanism attached to the support structure and moveable therewith in a vertical direction, fluid actuated stop members for locking the horizontal and vertical movements of the device when a certain location in space, as dictated by the automobile body, has been attained. A work performing tool attached to the vertical slide support mechanism so that the tool can move into and out of engagement with the automobile body.

Abstract: An automatic unit for distributing and installing rings, particularly composite rings, on engine pistons, and which includes a first device for separating elastic expanders (b 1a) consisting of two pairs of helical ramps (26, 27) and (28, 29) having opposite winding directions driven simultaneously by a ring gear (30), and of an escapement mechanism (32) controlled by a cylinder (34) able to cause the turn portion corresponding to one helical ramp turn to be performed on this ring.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing a non-contact three-dimensional inspection of a surface-mount component prior to placement on a printed circuit board. Specifically, an arrangement to ensure acceptable alignment (i.e. coplanarity) of all component heads in the XZ or YZ plane, where XY is the plane of the component. The apparatus is embodied within a conventional pick and place machine and performs critical, in-process, lead coplanarity inspection.

Abstract: A wheel presetting apparatus has a pair of rotatable lower rollers and a pair of rotatable upper rollers mounted above the lower rollers and movable into contact with a wheel supported on the lower rollers. A center pin is supported for forward and backward movement in relation to a center hole of the wheel, and, a bolt hole detecting means is provided for detecting the angular position of a bolt hole of the wheel. A hub pin is supported for forward and backward movement, and is inserted into a bolt hole which is out of the phase of the bolt holes detected by the bolt hole detecting means.

Abstract: An armature core subassembly and a commutator to be assembled thereon are each centered on a common axis and rotated relative to one another until a desired angular alignment is obtained between a side edge of a commutator bar and the armature core slots. This orientation is maintained while the commutator is advanced to and pressed onto the armature shaft. A commutator placing machine is described in which a tang-oriented commutator is loaded into the nosepiece of a ram assembly and the ram assembly is rotated by a stepper motor until an edge of a commutator bar is detected at a predetermined location by an optical edge detector. Prior machines for tang-orientation and orientation by insulating gaps between commutator bars are also described.

Abstract: An automatic wheel mounting apparatus provided with a robot for positioning a wheel on a hub of an automobile and for tightening nuts onto hub studs, which has a lifting device for lifting the hub in a direction to cancel the camber angle, a head positioned by the robot, and a measurement and positioning unit disposed on the head and having a hub center measuring device, a hub stud positioning device, and a hub inclination measuring device, whereby an inclination condition of the hub surface due to steering angle or the like is detected by the hub inclination measuring device to cause the measurement and positioning unit to confront the hub, the hub center is measured by the hub center measuring device to align the center of the measurement and positioning unit with the hub center, and then the hub is rotated by the hub stud positioning device to position the hub studs at predetermined positions.

Abstract: A machine for driving and variable length cutting of the paper used in the armature of an electric motor rotor. The machine comprises a feed distance covered by the paper between shaping rollers, over which a pressure wheel is located which pushes the paper against a ledge and then slips. A paper cutting blade is inserted between the wheel and the ledge. Transfer devices located between the blade and the ledge transfer the cut paper to a bending fixture, which gives the paper the shape of the rotor slot. The paper is pushed into the rotor slot by inserting devices. The rotor is moved from the conveyor on which it is supplied to a suitable position to receive the paper. Locking elements connected to the ledge vary the length of the cut paper with respect to the height of the rotor slots where the paper is inserted.