Process and apparatus for manufacturing clutch friction plate

An apparatus for manufacturing a friction plate for a clutch, the friction plate being comprised of a large number of friction material segments adhesively bonded to each of bonding surfaces of an annular core in a circumferential direction of the core with oil grooves provided between adjacent segments, said apparatus comprising:

• a support for positioning said core thereon with either of the opposite bonding surfaces having an adhesive applied thereto being turned upwards, said support being intermittently rotated for adhesive-bonding of every friction material segment;
• an unwinding mechanism for unwinding a friction material tape to a position above said core, said tape having a width corresponding to that of the friction material segments which are to be located on areas of said core which are equally divided circumferentially;
• and
• a liftable pressing mechanism for subjecting said friction material tape to a multiple punching to provide a plurality of the friction material segments, and pressing and adhesively bonding the resulting friction material segments to said core;
• means for reversing the annular core to direct its other bonding surface upwards upon completion of adhering of the friction material segments to one bonding surface;
• and
• means for pressing the annular core with the friction material segments adhered to both of its opposite bonding surfaces, in order to form the friction plate.

An apparatus for manufacturing a friction plate for a clutch, the friction plate being comprised of a large number of friction material segments adhesively bonded to each of opposite bonding surfaces of an annular core in a circumferential direction of the core with oil grooves provided between adjacent segments, said apparatus comprising:

• a feed mechanism for feeding a friction material tape to a position between a cutting roller and a receiving roller which are rotated with their outer peripheral surfaces opposed to each other,
• a support disposed around said cutting roller to rotate synchronously with the cutting roller, for supporting said core with either of the opposite bonding surfaces opposed to the outer peripheral surface of said cutting roller, said cutting roller including a large number of cutting blades disposed radially at equal distances on the outer peripheral surface thereof, two adjacent cutting blades of the cutting blades being capable of cutting off the friction material segment from the friction material tape and retain it by cooperation with said receiving roller, and
• a pressing member disposed between two adjacent cutting blades for reciprocal movement between a retreated position in which said pressing member permits the cutting and retaining of said friction material segment by the cutting blades and an advanced position in which said pressing member pushes out said friction material segment from a position between the two cutting blades to press it against said bonding surface;
• means for reversing the annular core to direct its other bonding surface upwards upon completion of adhering of the friction material segments to one bonding surface;
• and
• means for pressing the annular core with the friction material segments adhered to both of its opposite bonding surfaces, in order to form the friction plate.

An apparatus for manufacturing a friction plate for a clutch, said friction plate being comprised of a large number of friction material segments adhesively bonded to each of opposite bonding surfaces of an annular core in a circumferential direction of the core with oil grooves provided between adjacent segments, said apparatus comprising:

• a support for positioning said core thereon with either of said opposite bonding surfaces having an adhesive applied thereto being turned upwards, said support being intermittently rotated for adhesive-bonding of every one of the friction material segments;
• a plurality of unwinding mechanisms for intermittently unwinding a plurality of friction material tapes each in an amount corresponding to one friction material segment to a plurality of unwound positions arranged above said support at equal distances in a circumferential direction of said core;
• and
• a plurality of liftable pressing mechanisms for subjecting said friction material tapes to a cutting, and pressing and adhesively bonding said resulting friction material segments to said core;
• means for reversing the annular core to direct its other bonding surface upwards upon completion of adhering of the friction material segments to one bonding surface;
• and
• means for pressing the annular core with the friction material segments adhered to both of its opposite bonding surfaces, in order to form the friction plate.