Patent ID: 8156637

Claim:
Apparatus for forming high temperature superconductor (HTS) continuous conductor elements from a substrate, comprising: a punch cutting tool for punching from a continuous strip material at successive operations of the punch cutting tool successive parts of the length of each of a plurality of continuous serpentine conductor elements side by side from the strip material, the punch cutting tool comprising a die for supporting from one side of the strip material at successive operations of the punch cutting tool, successive portions of the continuous strip material for punching by the punch cutting tool, a moving stripper also for supporting from an opposite side at said successive operations of the punch cutting tool the successive portions of the strip material, and a moving punch arranged to move through the stripper and portion of the strip material and into the die on each operation of the punch cutting tool; a feed system for feeding in steps the continuous strip material through the punch cutting tool between operations of the punch cutting tool; and a plurality of synchronised take-up spools for taking up each of the conductor elements from the punch cutting tool.