Coil forming apparatus and coil forming method

A coil forming method for forming a band-shaped coil in a wound state, the band-shaped coil including a plurality of straight portions and side ends provided on both ends of the plurality of straight portions, the method comprising:

• a coil conveying step of pivotally conveying the band-shaped coil along at least a portion of an outer periphery of a coil winding jig, the coil winding jig including a plurality of comb-shaped grooves on the outer periphery, each of which can hold a respective one of the plurality of straight portions therein, and being configured to wind the band-shaped coil, and
• a guiding step of providing guide members in a vicinity of both ends of the coil winding jig in an axial direction, guiding the band-shaped coil so as to be in an arc shape while bringing the guide member into contact with the side end so as to insert into a respective one of the plurality of comb-shaped grooves,
• wherein the coil conveying step include a first half step of pivot conveying that is a step in which the band-shaped coil is introduced, and a second half step of pivot conveying that is a step in which the band-shaped coil is discharged, and
• wherein the guiding step includes:
• a diameter-reducing guide step of guiding the band-shaped coil so as to gradually reduce in diameter in the second half step of the pivot conveying along a path of the pivot conveying, thereby gradually pressing the band-shaped coil toward the coil winding jig,
• and an extension guide step, immediately following the diameter-reducing guide step, of guiding the band-shaped coil to extend a predetermined length by maintaining the diameter according to a curvature immediately following the diameter-reducing guide step, thereby maintaining an outer diameter of the band-shaped coil that has been reduced in the diameter-reducing guide step.