Stator winding method and apparatus

A machine for winding a plurality of stators each having an associated longitudinal axis, stack diameter and stack height, said machine comprising:

• a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis;
• first, second, and third stations spaced from one another around said table, wherein said first station is a winding station having one or more winding needles;
• means for selectively rotating said table about said first axis so that said table moves relative to said first, second, and third stations;
• a plurality of stator supports spaced around the periphery of said table, each stator support being adapted to receive and hold a stator and having a pair of opposing clamping members for releasably clamping said stator thereto;
• and
• means for providing relative radial motion between said winding station and a first stator support rotated into position adjacent said winding station so as to position said one or more winding needles adjacent said first stator support.

A method for winding a plurality of stators, each having an associated longitudinal axis, stack diameter, and stack height, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis;
• providing a first station and a second station spaced from one another around said table, wherein said first station is a stator loading and unloading station and wherein said second station is a stator winding station having one or more winding needles;
• providing a plurality of stator supports spaced around the periphery of said table, each stator support being adapted to receive and hold a stator at said first station and to hold the stator so that it is wound at the winding station with its longitudinal axis oriented substantially horizontal;
• releasably clamping a first stator at the loading and unloading station with a first pair of removable opposing clamping members, said first stator having a first diameter;
• rotating said table so as to position said first stator adjacent said winding station;
• providing relative motion between said rotated first stator and said winding station so as to position said one or more winding needles adjacent said first stator;
• winding said first stator with at least one coil of wire;
• and
• rotating said table so as to return said wound stator to the load and unload station.

A machine for winding a plurality of stators, said machine comprising:

• a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis:
• first second, and third stations spaced from one another around said table, wherein said first station comprises a load and unload station;
• means for selectively rotating said table about said first axis so that said table moves relative to said first, second and third stations;
• a plurality of stator supports spaced around the periphery of said table, each stator support being adapted to receive and hold a stator and having a pair of opposing clamping members for releasably clamping said stator thereto, said clamping members being able to be moved between an unlocked position and a locked position wherein said stator is clamped;
• and
• a stationary actuator located adjacent said load and unload station for moving said clamping members between the unlocked position and locked position so as to allow a stator to be loaded and unloaded from said machine when said clamping members are in the unlocked position.

A method for winding a plurality of stators, each having an associated longitudinal axis, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis;
• providing a first station and a second station spaced from one another around said table, wherein said first station is a stator loading and unloading station and wherein said second station is a stator winding station;
• providing a plurality of stator supports spaced around the periphery of said table, each stator support being adapted to receive and hold a stator at said first station and to hold the stator so that it is wound at the winding station with its longitudinal axis oriented substantially horizontal, said plurality of stator supports each including a pair of opposing clamping members for releasably clamping said stators, and said clamping members being able to be moved between an unlocked position and a locked position wherein said stators are clamped;
• providing a stationary actuator adjacent said stator load and unload station for moving said clamping members between the unlocked position and locked position so as to allow a stator to be loaded and unloaded from said machine when said clamping members are in the unlocked position;
• loading a first stator in a first stator support by actuating said stationary actuator;
• rotating said table so that a second stator support is positioned adjacent said stator loading an unloading station;
• loading a second stator in said second stator support by actuating said stationary actuator before said first stator is unloaded from said first stator support;
• winding said first stator with at least one coil of wire at the winding station;
• rotating said table so as to return said wound stator to the stator load and unload station;
• and
• unloading the first stator from the first stator support by actuating said stationary actuator.