Methods and apparatus for balancing armatures during coil winding

Apparatus for simultaneously winding two coils of wire onto a rotor for use in a dynamo-electric machine comprising:

• first and second wire supplies for respectively supplying first and second wires;
• first and second winders for respectively winding said first and second wires onto said rotor during a predetermined time period, thereby forming first and second wire masses on said rotor;
• first and second means for respectively applying tension to said first and second wires as said first and second wires pass said first and second means for applying tension, wherein said first and second means for applying tension are downstream along said wires from said first and second wire supplies and are upstream from said first and second winders;
• first and second means for respectively monitoring the rates at which said first and second wires are fed toward said first and second winders past said first and second means for monitoring, wherein said first and second means for monitoring are respectively downstream along said wires from said first and second means for applying tension;
• third and fourth means for respectively monitoring the rates at which said first and second wires are fed toward said first and second winders past said third and fourth means for monitoring, wherein said third and fourth means for monitoring are respectively upstream along the wires from said first and second means for applying tension;
• first and second means for respectively further tensioning said first and second wires, said first and second means for further tensioning respectively supporting first and second lengths of said first and second wires, wherein said first and second means for further tensioning are respectively upstream along said wires from said first and second means for monitoring and are downstream from said first and second means for applying tension;
• fifth and sixth means for respectively monitoring the rate of change of said first and second lengths of said wires supported by said means for further tensioning;
• and
• means responsive to said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth means for monitoring for adjusting the tension applied by at least one of said first and second means for applying tension in order to substantially equalize said first and second wire masses during a subsequent one of said predetermined periods of time.

A method for simultaneously winding two coils of wire onto a rotor for use in a dynamo-electric machine, each of said coils being wound by a respective one of first and second winders respectively supplied with first and second wires from first and second wire supplies, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying tension to said first and second wires with first and second wire tensioners;
• monitoring the respective first and second lengths of said first and second wires that are wound onto said rotor during a predetermined time using respective first and second wire monitors, said first and second wire monitors being located between said respective first and second wire tensioners and said respective first and second winders;
• and
• adjusting the tension applied by at least one of said wire tensioners to equalize the first and second lengths of said wire that are wound onto said rotor during a subsequent predetermined period of time.

A method for simultaneously winding two coils of wire onto a rotor for use in a dynamo-electric machine, comprising the steps of:

• supplying first and second wires from first and second wire supplies;
• winding said first and second wires onto said rotor using respective first and second winders for a predetermined time period, thereby forming corresponding first and second wire masses on said rotor;
• applying tension to said first and second wires with first and second wire tensioners;
• monitoring first and second respective rates at which said first and second wires are fed toward said first and second winders using respective first and second wire monitors located respectively between said first and second wire tensioners and said first and second winders;
• monitoring third and fourth respective rates at which said first and second wires are fed toward said first and second winders using third and fourth wire monitors located respectively between said first and second wire tensioners and said first and second wire supplies;
• further tensioning a first length of said first wire between said first wire tensioner and said first wire monitor and a second length of said second wire between said second wire tensioner and said second wire monitor, said first length of wire having a fifth rate of change of length and said second length of wire having a sixth rate of change of length;
• monitoring said fifth and sixth rates;
• and
• adjusting the tension applied by at least one of said wire tensioners based on said monitored first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rates to equalize subsequently formed ones of said first and second wire masses.