Method of manufacturing rotary electric machine armature

1. A method of manufacturing a rotary electric machine armature that includes a cylindrical armature core in which a plurality of slots that extend in an axial direction are disposed in a circumferential direction and a coil wound around the armature core, the slots having respective radial openings that open in a radial direction, and the coil being formed by joining a plurality of segment conductors to each other, the method comprising:

preparing a plurality of the segment conductors and preparing the armature core, the segment conductors having respective conductor side portions that extend along the axial direction and respective crossover portions connected to the conductor side portions on an outer side of the armature core in the axial direction, the conductor side portions being provided with respective joint portions that have respective facing surfaces;

arranging, when the segment conductor, among the plurality of segment conductors, the crossover portion of which is disposed on one side in the axial direction with respect to the armature core, is defined as a first segment conductor and the segment conductor, the crossover portion of which is disposed on the other side in the axial direction with respect to the armature core, is defined as a second segment conductor, at least either the conductor side portions of the first segment conductor or the conductor side portions of the second segment conductor in the slots such that the facing surface of one of the joint portions of the first segment conductor and the facing surface of one of the joint portions of the second segment conductor face each other;

regulating movement of the conductor side portions in the radial direction; and

joining the joint portions of the first segment conductor and the joint portions of the second segment conductor to each other while maintaining a regulating state, wherein:

the regulating includes pressing at least a part of the conductor side portions in the radial direction;

the joining includes joining the joint portions of the first segment conductor and the joint portions of the second segment conductor to each other while maintaining a pressing state;

the pressing includes pressing at least a part of the conductor side portions from the radial opening; and

a part of a pressing device that performs the pressing is arranged radially inside the radial opening and the pressing occurs from the radial opening using the pressing device.

2. The method of manufacturing according to claim 1 , wherein:

the arranging includes arranging both the conductor side portions of the first segment conductor and the conductor side portions of the second segment conductor in the slots.

3. The method of manufacturing according to claim 1 , wherein

the pressing includes pressing a pressing region of the conductor side portions and not pressing a non-pressing region of the conductor side portions, the pressing region including the joint portions of the first segment conductor and the joint portions of the second segment conductor.

4. The method of manufacturing according to claim 1 , wherein:

the joint portions of the first segment conductor and the joint portions of the second segment conductor are shaped to be fitted with each other in the radial direction; and

the pressing includes pressing the conductor side portions of the first segment conductor and the conductor side portions of the second segment conductor in the radial direction to fit the joint portions of the first segment conductor and the joint portions of the second segment conductor with each other to be joined.

5. The method of manufacturing according to claim 1 , wherein

a width of the radial opening in the circumferential direction is smaller than a width, in the circumferential direction, of a region of the slot in which the conductor side portions are disposed.

6. The method of manufacturing according to claim 1 , further comprising:

disposing a conductive joint material on at least one of the facing surfaces which face each other, wherein:

the conductive joint material joining the joint portions of the first segment conductor and the joint portions of the second segment conductor to each other while securing conductivity;

the joining includes joining the joint portions of the first segment conductor and the joint portions of the second segment conductor to each other by heating the conductive joint material.

7. A method of manufacturing a rotary electric machine armature that includes a cylindrical armature core in which a plurality of slots that extend in an axial direction are disposed in a circumferential direction and a coil wound around the armature core, the slots having respective radial openings that open in a radial direction, and the coil being formed by joining a plurality of segment conductors to each other, the method comprising:

preparing a plurality of the segment conductors and preparing the armature core, the segment conductors having respective conductor side portions that extend along the axial direction and respective crossover portions connected to the conductor side portions on an outer side of the armature core in the axial direction, the conductor side portions being provided with respective joint portions that have respective facing surfaces;

arranging, when the segment conductor, among the plurality of segment conductors, the crossover portion of which is disposed on one side in the axial direction with respect to the armature core, is defined as a first segment conductor and the segment conductor, the crossover portion of which is disposed on the other side in the axial direction with respect to the armature core, is defined as a second segment conductor, at least either the conductor side portions of the first segment conductor or the conductor side portions of the second segment conductor in the slots such that the facing surface of one of the joint portions of the first segment conductor and the facing surface of one of the joint portions of the second segment conductor face each other;

regulating movement of the conductor side portions in the radial direction; and

joining the joint portions of the first segment conductor and the joint portions of the second segment conductor to each other while maintaining a regulating state,

wherein the regulating includes regulating movement of the conductor side portions in the radial direction by inserting a regulation member, a width of which in the circumferential direction is smaller than a width of the radial opening in the circumferential direction, into the slot through the radial opening.