摘要 |
A laminated stack (82, 116) having a lamina layer comprised of a plurality of discrete lamina segments (121, 122, 136, 138) and which may also have laminas (118, 120) which define a plurality of outer perimeter configurations. The invention provides a method and apparatus for manufacturing such stacks (116). Lamina layers (118, 120) comprising a plurality of discrete lamina segments (121, 122, 136, 138) are automatically stacked by positioning the uppermost lamina in a choke barrel (94, 148) near the lower die bed (166) surface and engaging the interlock tabs (144) of the discrete lamina segments (121, 122, 136, 138) with the interlock slots (146) of an uppermost lamina layer in the choke barrel (94, 148) prior to the complete separation of the discrete lamina segments (121, 122, 136, 138) from the remaining portion of the strip stock material (154). Each of the outer perimeter configurations has at least one common choke surface (150). The common choke surfaces (150) form, when the laminas (118, 120, 140, 134) are stacked, a choke contacting surface (150) on the outer perimeter surface of the lamina stack (116) which extends continuously in the axial direction from the top lamina (140) to the bottom lamina (118). A die assembly having selectively actuated punches (90) is used to stamp the laminas (118, 120, 134, 140) with a plurality of outer perimeter configurations and the laminas (118, 120, 134, 140) are stacked in a choke barrel (94, 148) with an alignment surface which cooperates with the common choke surface (150) and securely holds the stamped laminas in position while the stack is being formed. Rotation of the choke barel (94, 148) compensates for strip thickness variations. |