Apparatus for producing winding slot insulators and inserting same into the stator core of an electromechanical machine

Apparatus for forming and inserting a winding slot insulator in a winding slot defined in a stator core, said apparatus comprising:

• a reel support adapted to maintain a reel of slot insulator material having a predetermined width;
• a feed mechanism operative to deliver a quantity of said slot insulator material from said reel to a cutting station;
• a cutting mechanism located at said cutting station, said cutting mechanism operative to cut through said slot insulator material to provide an insulator blank having cuffs at respective ends thereof, said cutting mechanism including a cutting blade having first and second cuff pushers located on each side thereof, said cuff pushers being operative to form a respective cuff on a trailing end of said insulator blank and a leading end of said quantity of insulator material;
• a die mechanism in which said insulator blank is received, said die mechanism being operative to form said insulator blank into a U-shaped slot insulator;
• and
• a transfer mechanism operative to insert said U-shaped slot insulator into said winding slot.

Apparatus for forming and inserting a winding slot insulator in a winding slot defined in a stator core, said apparatus comprising:

• a reel support adapted to maintain a reel of slot insulator material having a predetermined width;
• a feed mechanism operative to deliver a quantity of said slot insulator material from said reel to a cutting station;
• a cutting mechanism located at said cutting station, said cutting mechanism operative to cut through said slot insulator material to provide an insulator blank having cuffs at respective ends thereof;
• a die mechanism in which said insulator blank is received, said die mechanism being operative to form said insulator blank into a U-shaped slot insulator;
• a transfer mechanism operative to insert said U-shaped slot insulator into said winding slot;
• and
• a retractable guide element movable to an operative position adjacent to the winding slot, said guide element presenting a guideway through which said U-shaped slot insulator is inserted, wherein said guideway of said retractable guide element is formed by plural components that converge together as said guide element is moved into said operative position.

Apparatus for forming and inserting a winding slot insulator in a winding slot defined in a stator core, said apparatus comprising:

• a feed mechanism operative to deliver a quantity of slot insulator material to a cutting station;
• a cutting mechanism located at said cutting station, said cutting mechanism operative to cut through said slot insulator material to provide an insulator blank having a predetermined length;
• a die mechanism in which said insulator blank is received, said die mechanism being operative to form said insulator blank into a U-shaped slot insulator;
• a transfer mechanism operative to insert said U-shaped slot insulator into said winding slot;
• a retractable guide element movable to an operative position adjacent to the winding slot, said guide element presenting a guideway through which said U-shaped slot insulator is inserted;
• and
• means for moving said retractable guide element into said operative position adjacent said winding slot prior to insertion of said U-shaped slot insulator and away from said winding slot after insertion of said U-shaped slot insulator therein.

Apparatus for forming and inserting a winding slot insulator in a winding slot defined in a stator core, said apparatus comprising:

• a feed mechanism operative to deliver a quantity of slot insulator material to a cutting station;
• a cutting mechanism located at said cutting station, said cutting mechanism operative to cut through said slot insulator material to provide an insulator blank having a predetermined length;
• a die mechanism in which said insulator blank is received, said die mechanism being operative to form said insulator blank into a U-shaped slot insulator;
• a transfer mechanism operative to insert said U-shaped slot insulator into said winding slot;
• and
• a retractable guide element movable to an operative position adjacent to the winding slot, said guide element presenting a guideway through which said U-shaped slot insulator is inserted, wherein said guideway of said retractable guide element is formed by plural components that converge together as said guide element is moved into said operative position.

Apparatus for inserting a winding slot insulator in a winding slot defined in a stator core, said apparatus comprising:

• a cutting mechanism operative to cut an insulator blank from a longitudinal strip of slot insulator material;
• a die mechanism in which said insulator blank is received, said die mechanism being operative to form said insulator blank into a U-shaped slot insulator;
• a transfer mechanism operative to insert said U-shaped slot insulator into said winding slot;
• a retractable guide element movable to an operative position adjacent to the winding slot, said guide element presenting a guideway through which said U-shaped slot insulator is inserted;
• and
• means for moving said retractable guide element into said operative position adjacent said winding slot prior to insertion of said U-shaped slot insulator and away from said winding slot after insertion of said U-shaped slot insulator therein.

Apparatus for inserting a winding slot insulator in a winding slot defined in a stator core, said apparatus comprising:

• a cutting mechanism operative to cut an insulator blank from a longitudinal strip of slot insulator material;
• a die mechanism in which said insulator blank is received, said die mechanism being operative to form said insulator blank into a U-shaped slot insulator;
• a transfer mechanism operative to insert said U-shaped slot insulator into said winding slot;
• and
• a retractable guide element movable to an operative position adjacent to the winding slot, said guide element presenting a guideway through which said U-shaped slot insulator is inserted, wherein said guideway of said retractable guide element is formed by plural components that converge together as said guide element is moved into said operative position.