Armature gripping machine

A gripping apparatus for holding a shaft of an armature comprising:

• a housing;
• a tube having a longitudinal axis, the tube at least partially disposed within the housing;
• a collet disposed within the tube and along the longitudinal axis for gripping the shaft of the armature;
• means for releasably coupling the tube to the housing such that the tube and the collet may be removed from the housing concurrently as a unit, through loosening, without removing, the means for coupling the tube to the housing;
• means for moving the tube along the longitudinal axis to selectively cause the collet to grip the shaft;
• and
• means for releasably coupling the collet to the housing.

A gripping apparatus for holding a shaft of an armature comprising:

• a housing;
• a tube having a longitudinal axis;
• a collet disposed within the tube and along the longitudinal axis for gripping the shaft of the armature;
• means for moving the tube along the longitudinal axis to selectively cause the collet to grip the shaft;
• means for releasably coupling the collet to the housing;
• and
• means for accessing the coupling means, coupled to the housing and the coupling means, for selectively actuating the coupling means to release the collet from the housing;
• wherein at least a portion of said accessing means remains within the housing to maintain coupling of the collet to the housing until actuated to release the collet from the housing.