Globe Products Inc.

W Patrick Winton

Alvin C Banner

A plurality of commutators are inserted into a commutator supply tube in end-to-end, tang-oriented relationship to form a row of commutators mutually aligned along a common axis. The ends of the supply tube may be at least partly covered during transport and handling. The commutator-filled tube is oriented on a horizontal axis in axial alignment with a commutator-receiving nest. A first commutator in the tube is inserted into the nest by pushing on the opposite end of the row. The nest is moved into alignment with a placing ram and the commutator pushed into the ram nosepiece after which the ram is operated to press the commutator onto an armature shaft. The process is repeatedly carried out until all of the commutators are removed from the tube. The process may also include a commutator tang forming step and a tang ejection capability. An empty tube is replaced successively by other tubes filled with commutators so that the process can be repeatedly carried out over an indefinite period of time. An intermittently-operated conveyor having tube-receiving seats is used to convey the tubes to the area of the commutator placing machine. A commutator feed plate having plural commutator-receiving nests is provided that intermittently rotates through a limited angle about a horizontal axis to successively move the nests from station-to-station. Open windows in the feed plate provide space for operation of the ram.

Commutator handling apparatus

A plurality of commutators are inserted into a commutator supply tube in end-to-end, tang-oriented relationship to form a row of commutators mutually aligned along a common axis. The commutator-filled tube is oriented on a horizontal axis in axial alignment with a commutator-receiving nest. A first commutator in the tube is inserted into the nest by pushing on the opposite end of the row. The nest is moved into alignment with a placing ram and the commutator pushed into the ram nosepiece after which the ram is operated to press the commutator onto an armature shaft. The process is repeatedly carried out until all of the commutators are removed from the tube. The process may also include a commutator tang forming step and a tang ejection capability. An empty tube is replaced successively by other tubes filled with commutators so that the process can be repeatedly carried out over an indefinite period of time. An intermittently-operated conveyor having tube-receiving seats is used to convey the tubes to the area of the commutator placing machine. A commutator feed plate having plural commutator-receiving nests is provided that intermittently rotates through a limited angle about a horizontal axis to successively move the nests from station-to-station. Open windows in the feed plate provide space for operation of the ram.

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Montgomery County, OH, United States of America

W Patrick Winton