Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Raymond F Fritz

Thomas H Gardner

Patrick J Roberts

An apparatus is provided for use in a method of making a torque converter clutch. The torque converter clutch is comprised of an annular clutch plate to which is secured or bonded an annular friction surface. The annular friction surface is formed on the machine by die-stamping, from a flat sheet of friction material, successive arcuate segments. Each arcuate segment is stamped into a holding ring which is indexed to accept the next successive segment until a full annulus is provided. The holding ring is transported to a stripper station. Simultaneous with the stamping, the annular clutch plate is heated and transported to the stripper station. When both components are in the stripper station, the friction annulus is stripped from the holding ring onto the heated clutch plate. The clutch plate and attached friction annulus are discharged from the machine. Simultaneous with the stamping, the offal of the sheet of friction material is cut transversely and longitudinally for discharge into an egress channel.

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Fredericksburg, VA, United States of America

Raymond F Fritz