Stator assembly apparatus and stator assembly method

A stator assembly apparatus for assembling a stator by inserting a coil into slots of a stator core from inside the stator core, the stator assembly apparatus comprising:

• the stator core having a through-hole penetrating in an axial direction at a center thereof and the slots that are open to the through-hole and to which insulating members are mounted, and the coil that is wound annularly and is to be arranged in the through-hole,
• pressing parts that are arranged annularly and adapted to be expanded and reduced in diameter, the pressing parts each having an outer diameter in a diameter-reduced state which is equal to or smaller than an inner diameter of the coil, the pressing parts being configured to press, by expanding in diameter, the coil outward in a radial direction to cause the coil to move into insides of the insulating members in the slots;
• first rod-shaped bodies provided movably along a central axis direction of the stator core and inserted into the insides of the insulating members in the slots by moving toward the stator core, each one of the slots being provided with at least one of the first rod-shaped bodies;
• second rod-shaped bodies provided movably along the central axis direction of the stator core and inserted into the insides of the insulating members and onto outer sides relative to the first rod-shaped bodies in the radial direction in the slots by moving toward the stator core, each one of the slots being provided with a plurality of the second rod-shaped bodies;
• and
• a controller controlling movement of each of the first rod-shaped bodies and the second rod-shaped bodies along the central axis direction of the stator core, and operation of expansion and reduction in diameter of the pressing parts;
• the at least one of the first rod-shaped bodies being positioned ahead in a movement direction of the coil moved by being pressed by the pressing parts, in a state of being inserted in the slot, and being provided movably outward in the radial direction in the slot by being pushed by the coil;
• and
• the controller performing control so as to, after the at least one of the first rod-shaped bodies moves outward in the radial direction in the slot until coming into contact with or close to a second rod-shaped body arranged on a radially inner side among the plurality of second rod-shaped bodies, cause the plurality of second rod-shaped bodies to sequentially move to an outer side of the stator core in the central axis direction in order with the second rod-shaped body closest to the at least one of the first rod-shaped bodies first and retreat from the slot as the coil is moved outward in the radial direction by the pressing parts.