Method and apparatus for removing winding conductors from a twisting machine and placing them in a rotor or stator stack

A method of removing from a twisting fixture and inserting into a rotor or stator, a plurality of rectangular winding conductors each having a pair of legs separated by an amount equal to the distance between a predetermined number of rotor or stator slots in which they will be inserted and integrally connected at one end thereof, comprising:

• with the legs of the winding conductors being aligned, each on a radial line from a center axis of the twisting fixture, the radial lines being equally angularly spaced about the center axis of the twisting fixture by a predetermined angle, placing a clamping assembly adjacent the twisting fixture, the clamping assembly having a plurality of outer fingers equally angularly spaced about the center axis of the twisting fixture by the predetermined angle and a plurality of inner fingers equally angularly spaced about the center of the twisting fixture by the predetermined angle, the outer fingers being radially outward of the winding conductors and the inner fingers being radially inward of the winding conductors;
• moving the inner fingers radially outward and the outer fingers radially inward to project between legs of the winding conductors and between the integral connections of the legs and the twisting fixture;
• separating the clamping assembly and the twisting fixture and with their center axes aligned and angularly aligned, bringing the clamping assembly adjacent the rotor or stator to insert free ends of the winding conductors into the rotor or stator;
• and,
• moving the inner fingers radially inward and the outer fingers radially outward beyond the winding conductors.