Apparatus and method for forming spirally wound stator core or rotary electric machine

An apparatus for forming a spirally wound stator core from a strip of magnetic material having a plurality of cuts at one side thereof comprising:

• a pair of forming rollers having a wedge-shaped gap formed therebetween, one of said forming rollers being a driving roller and the other being a driven roller;
• a roller-drive motor connected to said driving roller for continuously inserting a strip of magnetic material into said wedge-shaped gap at a sending speed thereby bending said strip into a spiral with one side of said strip being radially inside;
• a winding drum disposed to receive said strip that is bent into spiral for winding the same therearound, said winding drum having a projection on an outer periphery thereof for engaging a part of said cuts;
• a drum-drive motor for rotating said winding drum at a winding speed;
• a roller presser for pressing one of said forming rollers at a controlled pressure.