Magnetic fanning accumulator

An apparatus for transporting a lamination from a magnetic fanner arrangement to an insertion arrangement comprising:

• a magnetic fanner arrangement;
• a movable plate;
• a transport mechanism;
• the transport mechanism transferring the lamination from the magnetic fanner arrangement onto the movable plate;
• and
• an injection mechanism;
• the movable plate disposed to move between the magnetic fanner arrangement and the injection mechanism;
• and
• the transport mechanism transporting the movable plate to a position proximate the injection mechanism and the lamination being transferred from the movable plate onto the injection mechanism.

A method of loading an injection mechanism with a lamination, the method comprising:

• retrieving at least one lamination from a storage area;
• transporting the lamination to a magnetic fanner arrangement, the magnetic fanner arrangement containing one or more laminations;
• separating the laminations within the magnetic fanner arrangement;
• transferring a lamination from the magnetic fanner arrangement onto a movable plate;
• and
• introducing the lamination to the injection mechanism.

A magnetic fanner arrangement for accumulating and magnetically separating laminations, comprising:

• a mounting plate;
• at least a first and second magnetic pole piece assembly fixedly mounted opposite one from the other and substantially perpendicularly to the mounting plate defining a space therebetween, the space being generally U-shaped, in plan view, having a back wall formed by the mounting plate and a pair of side walls formed by the first and second magnetic pole piece assemblies, the space being used for accumulating the laminations;
• and
• a magnetic field, the magnetic field being generated by the first and second magnetic pole piece assembly polarizing the laminations accumulated within the space and causing the laminations to magnetically repel each other and become physically separated.