Patent ID: 6790308
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: B23P,F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for making a friction clutch plate having an annular core plate, comprising:a) cutting a supply of friction material into a plurality of individual cut segments having a predetermined shape; b) moving the cut segments in a first horizontal linear direction to a position adjacent a shuttle assembly; and, c) engaging at least a first cut segment with the shuttle assembly and transferring the first segment in a second horizontal linear direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal linear direction; d) depositing the first cut segment in a first indexing fixture; e) sequentially moving the remaining cut segments in the first horizontal linear direction to the position adjacent the shuttle assembly; f) engaging at least a second cut segment with the shuttle assembly and transferring the second cut segment in a third horizontal linear direction which substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal linear direction, the third horizontal linear direction being substantially in a 180Â° opposing direction from the second horizontal linear direction; g) depositing the second cut segment in a second indexing fixture; h) repeating steps a-g until each of the first and second indexing fixtures contain a predetermined number of individual cut segments; and i) depositing the plurality of cut segments from the first and second indexing fixtures onto first and second annular core plates, respectively, to form first and second function clutch plates.