An apparatus and a method for the automatic adjustment of the distance between the holding members (2) of a pallet (3) connected to a fastening bar (12) and which allow a movement in a transverse plane with respect to the fastening bar between a first auto-locking position on the fastening bar and a second position of free movement. An apparatus for gripping (11) the holding members (12), an apparatus for moving (10) the gripping apparatus (11) from the first to the second position and an apparatus for translating (17) the apparatus for moving (10) parallelly to the fastening bar (12) are provided for. The adjustment method comprises the steps of: controlling the actual location of said arms with respect to said fastening bar in comparison with a stored location and change of the location of said arms only when said locations are different from each other. The apparatus and the method allow for a precise location of the holding members without the need of a displacement to a position of zero and without the need of moving them when they are already at a location to receive the workpiece correctly.

An adjusting unit for an article carrier is disclosed. The adjusting unit includes adjustable support elements for receiving articles of different sizes, in particular for supporting printed circuit boards of different sizes with a frame. One frame member of the frame may be used as a support for an article to be carried. At least one additional supporting element is provided which is adapted to be adjusted relative to a frame member. In addition, arresting structures are provided with the aid of which the supporting element can be arrested relative to the frame member. The arresting structures are adaptable to be releasably arrested on a guide, along which the supporting element is displaceable. Accordingly, the adjusting unit comprises adjustment structure for adapting the adjustable supporting element of the article carrier to the size of the printed circuit boards to be accommodated.

A pallet and system for transporting armatures along an armature manufacturing line, where the armatures may change in configuration at different stations of the manufacturing line, accommodates the various configurations without requiring a change of pallets at a station at which a configuration change occurs. The pallet has multiple sets of seats, each set corresponding to one of the configurations that the armature may assume during processing. Whenever the configuration of the armature changes from a first configuration to a second configuration, the armature, having been removed from a set of seats that accommodates the first configuration, is replaced in a set of seats accommodating the second configuration. One way of accomplishing the transfer is, after lifting the armature from the first set of seats, allowing the pallet to advance by the distance separating the first and second sets of seats. The armature can then be lowered directly into the second set of seats without the need for lateral movement.

An armature assembly support pallet has armature assembly support surfaces which exhibit a magnetic field that magnetizes the portions of the armature shaft adjacent the support surfaces so that armature assembly is magnetically attracted to the support surfaces and thereby maintained in a precise axial position on the pallet as the pallet is conveyed between work stations. The magnetic field is preferably created by thin layers of magnetic material secured to upwardly-facing surfaces of V-shaped portions of support members or blocks affixed to the body of the pallet. The pallets may be used without changes or adjustments for supporting armature assemblies having a substantial range of various different configurations. Pallets of known construction, including those with adjustable support members, may be modified or retrofitted by providing them with magnetic support surfaces.