US3574935A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for applying terminals to a circuit board
Assignee: Berg Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1968-11-12
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Granted: 1971-04-13
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Expires: 1988-11-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for simultaneously mounting a plurality of terminals on a circuit board. The terminals are severed from a carrier strip, individually conveyed to a transfer plate so that the plate holds the terminals in the same pattern in which they will be attached to the circuit board. The terminals are transferred to the lower face of a ram in the same pattern and are held thereon by parasitic drag resulting from a flow of air past the terminals and into the ram. The ram with the terminals positioned on its lower face is lowered to seat the terminals on the circuit board in the desired pattern and to secure the terminals thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Quentin Berg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:37
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K13/0478; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49147; Y10T29/49151; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53174; Y10T29/53191
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
359 words
Apparatus for simultaneously positioning a plurality of terminals in a predetermined pattern on a circuit board including a support, a drop-tube assembly mounted above said supporT, terminal feed means on top of said assembly, a ram mounted above said support adjacent said assembly, means for moving said ram toward and away from said support, a terminal transport plate movable between a position beneath said assembly and a position beneath said ram, a circuit board plate movable between a position beneath said ram and a loading position, said drop-tube assembly including a plurality of terminal drop tubes extending from said terminal feed means to the bottom of said assembly with the lower ends of said tubes arranged in a pattern identical to the pattern of terminals to be positioned on the circuit board, the upper end of each tube communicating with said feed means to receive a terminal from said feed means upon actuation thereof, a plurality of terminal receiving recesses in said transfer plate arranged in said pattern so that when said transfer plate is located beneath said assembly a recess therein is located immediately beneath the lower end of each tube to receive a terminal from such tube, a plurality of terminal holding means on the lower face of said ram arranged in said pattern so that when said transport plate is located beneath said ram and said ram is lowered upon said transport plate each terminal holding means is located above a terminal holding recess in said transport plate, a vacuum manifold in said ram communicating with each of said terminal holding means so that the terminals in said recesses are transferred to said terminal holding means when the ram is on said transport plate and are held against said terminal holding means in said pattern during further movement of the ram, locating means on said circuit board plate for mounting a circuit board thereon with each terminal receiving location on the board positioned below one of said holding means when said circuit board plate is located beneath said ram whereby lowering of said ram mounts the terminals carried thereby on said circuit board in said pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
359 words
Apparatus for simultaneously positioning a plurality of terminals in a predetermined pattern on a circuit board including a support, a drop-tube assembly mounted above said supporT, terminal feed means on top of said assembly, a ram mounted above said support adjacent said assembly, means for moving said ram toward and away from said support, a terminal transport plate movable between a position beneath said assembly and a position beneath said ram, a circuit board plate movable between a position beneath said ram and a loading position, said drop-tube assembly including a plurality of terminal drop tubes extending from said terminal feed means to the bottom of said assembly with the lower ends of said tubes arranged in a pattern identical to the pattern of terminals to be positioned on the circuit board, the upper end of each tube communicating with said feed means to receive a terminal from said feed means upon actuation thereof, a plurality of terminal receiving recesses in said transfer plate arranged in said pattern so that when said transfer plate is located beneath said assembly a recess therein is located immediately beneath the lower end of each tube to receive a terminal from such tube, a plurality of terminal holding means on the lower face of said ram arranged in said pattern so that when said transport plate is located beneath said ram and said ram is lowered upon said transport plate each terminal holding means is located above a terminal holding recess in said transport plate, a vacuum manifold in said ram communicating with each of said terminal holding means so that the terminals in said recesses are transferred to said terminal holding means when the ram is on said transport plate and are held against said terminal holding means in said pattern during further movement of the ram, locating means on said circuit board plate for mounting a circuit board thereon with each terminal receiving location on the board positioned below one of said holding means when said circuit board plate is located beneath said ram whereby lowering of said ram mounts the terminals carried thereby on said circuit board in said pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said transport plate and said circuit board plate are joined to form a transport unit, and including drive means for shifting said unit between a first position where said transport plate is beneath said assembly and said circuit board plate is beneath said ram and a second position where said transport plate is beneath said ram and said circuit board plate is at said loading position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including a plurality of terminal staking means arranged on said circuit board plate in said pattern with one staking means located below each holding means on said ram when the circuit board plate is beneath said ram whereby following mounting of the terminals on said circuit board continued lowering of said ram brings the terminals into contact with said staking means to deform the terminals and secure them to the circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for lifting said drop-tube assembly above said transport plate to facilitate movement of said transport plate between said positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including a second vacuum manifold located beneath said transport plate when said transport plate is below said assembly, passages communicating each of said terminal holding means with said second vacuum manifold to permit a flow of air down each drop tube and into such manifold to carry terminals from said feed means to said transport plate, each terminal recess including a stop to prevent terminals from being carried into said second manifold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 including a plurality of vents in said second manifold, valving means operable to close said vents when said transport plate is beneath said assembly and to open said vents when said transport plate is beneath said ram.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for positioning a plurality of terminals in a pattern on a substrate comprising a plate for receiving a plurality of terminals in a pattern, feed means for supplying terminals to said plate, a support for receiving terminals from said plate in said pattern including terminal holders arranged in said pattern and vacuum holding means communicating with said holders, and drive means for positioning said support adjacent said plate with each terminal holder adjacent a terminal on the plate so that the terminals are transferred from said plate to said support by said vacuum holding means, said drive means also operable to locate said transfer means with terminals held against said holders in said pattern adjacent a substrate to position said terminals on said substrate in said pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for positioning a plurality of terminals in a pattern on a substrate comprising a plate for receiving a plurality of terminals in a pattern, feed means for supplying terminals to said plate, a support for receiving terminals from said plate in said pattern including terminal holders arranged in said pattern and vacuum holding means communicating with said holders, and drive means for positioning said support adjacent said plate with each terminal holder adjacent a terminal on the plate so that the terminals are transferred from said plate to said support by said vacuum holding means, said drive means also operable to locate said transfer means with terminals held against said holders in said pattern adjacent a substrate to position said terminals on said substrate in said pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said plate includes a plurality of terminal receiving cavities arranged in said pattern on one side of said plate and said feed means and said transfer means are located to said one side of said plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said feed means includes a plurality of drop tubes extending from a terminal supply toward said plate with the ends of the drop tubes adjacent said plate arranged in said pattern above the cavities of said plate and including means for supplying a flow of air through said drop tubes to carry terminals from said supply to said cavities.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for simultaneously positioning a plurality of terminals in a predetermined pattern on a substrate including a base for holding a plurality of terminals in said pattern, a terminal support including a plurality of terminal holders arranged in said pattern for holding said terminals on said terminal support, and drive means for bringing said terminal support and said base together to position each terminal holder adjacent a terminal on said base and for separating said base and support whereby the terminals are transferred from said base to said support and are held on said support in said pattern by said terminal holders, said drive means also operable to bring said terminal support with the terminals held thereon adjacent a substrate to position said terminals on said substrate in said pattern.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for simultaneously positioning a plurality of terminals in a predetermined pattern on a substrate including a base for holding a plurality of terminals in said pattern, a terminal support including a plurality of terminal holders arranged in said pattern for holding said terminals on said terminal support, and drive means for bringing said terminal support and said base together to position each terminal holder adjacent a terminal on said base and for separating said base and support whereby the terminals are transferred from said base to said support and are held on said support in said pattern by said terminal holders, said drive means also operable to bring said terminal support with the terminals held thereon adjacent a substrate to position said terminals on said substrate in said pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said terminal holders include means for biasing said terminals against said terminal support.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of simultaneously mounting terminals in openings in a circuit board including the steps of arranging a number of terminals in a predetermined pattern, moving a ram adjacent said terminals to position the lower face thereof above the terminals, passing a flow of air into said ram at locations above each terminal to hold said terminals against said ram by parasitic drag resulting from the flow of air past said terminals, raising said ram while holding the terminals thereon by parasitic drag, positioning a circuit board beneath said ram with each terminal receiving opening therein located beneath a terminal on said ram, and lowering said ram to position each terminal in one of said openings.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of simultaneously mounting terminals in openings in a circuit board including the steps of arranging a number of terminals in a predetermined pattern, moving a ram adjacent said terminals to position the lower face thereof above the terminals, passing a flow of air into said ram at locations above each terminal to hold said terminals against said ram by parasitic drag resulting from the flow of air past said terminals, raising said ram while holding the terminals thereon by parasitic drag, positioning a circuit board beneath said ram with each terminal receiving opening therein located beneath a terminal on said ram, and lowering said ram to position each terminal in one of said openings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 including the step of securing said terminals to said circuit board.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for simultaneously mounting terminals on a substrate in a predetermined pattern comprising the steps of arranging a plurality of terminals in a predetermined pattern, flowing air past said terminals to transfer the terminals to a ram and hold the terminals on said ram by parasitic drag while in said pattern, and effecting relative movement between the ram and a substrate to position the terminals on the substrate in said pattern.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for simultaneously mounting terminals on a substrate in a predetermined pattern comprising the steps of arranging a plurality of terminals in a predetermined pattern, flowing air past said terminals to transfer the terminals to a ram and hold the terminals on said ram by parasitic drag while in said pattern, and effecting relative movement between the ram and a substrate to position the terminals on the substrate in said pattern.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of simultaneously mounting terminals on a circuit board in a predetermined pattern including the steps of arranging the terminals in said pattern on a support, transferring the terminals to a ram and biasing the terminals against such ram in said pattern by an air pressure induced force, bringing said ram and a circuit board together to position the terminals on the circuit board in said pattern, and then staking the terminals to the circuit board.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of simultaneously mounting terminals on a circuit board in a predetermined pattern including the steps of arranging the terminals in said pattern on a support, transferring the terminals to a ram and biasing the terminals against such ram in said pattern by an air pressure induced force, bringing said ram and a circuit board together to position the terminals on the circuit board in said pattern, and then staking the terminals to the circuit board.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 including the step of biasing the terminals against said ram by a flow of air past the terminals.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
72 words
The method of mounting a plurality of terminalS on a substrate in a predetermined pattern including the steps of holding a plurality of terminals on a ram by the parasitic drag resulting from the flow of air past said terminals and into the ram and while the terminals are held on the ram effecting relative movement between the ram and a substrate to position the terminals on the substrate in said pattern.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
72 words
The method of mounting a plurality of terminalS on a substrate in a predetermined pattern including the steps of holding a plurality of terminals on a ram by the parasitic drag resulting from the flow of air past said terminals and into the ram and while the terminals are held on the ram effecting relative movement between the ram and a substrate to position the terminals on the substrate in said pattern.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of mounting a plurality of terminals on a support in a predetermined pattern comprising the steps of positioning a plurality of terminals to one side of a transfer plate and directing a first flow of air past said terminals and toward said plate to move the terminals toward the plate, guiding each terminal to a predetermined location on the plate so that the terminals are seated thereon in a pattern, directing a second flow of air in a direction generally opposite to the direction of the first flow of air to move the terminals away from the plate and mount the terminals on a support in said pattern.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of mounting a plurality of terminals on a support in a predetermined pattern comprising the steps of positioning a plurality of terminals to one side of a transfer plate and directing a first flow of air past said terminals and toward said plate to move the terminals toward the plate, guiding each terminal to a predetermined location on the plate so that the terminals are seated thereon in a pattern, directing a second flow of air in a direction generally opposite to the direction of the first flow of air to move the terminals away from the plate and mount the terminals on a support in said pattern.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 including the step of positioning said support on said plate before mounting said terminals on said support.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18 including the step of retaining said terminals on said support by parasitic drag.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18 including the step of passing both said air flows through the thickness of said plate.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of mounting a plurality of terminals on a support in a predetermined pattern comprising the steps of directing a first flow of air past a plurality of terminals toward a plate to seat the terminals on said plate in a predetermined pattern, and directing a second flow of air in a direction generally opposite to the direction of the first flow of air to mount the terminals on a support in said pattern.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of mounting a plurality of terminals on a support in a predetermined pattern comprising the steps of directing a first flow of air past a plurality of terminals toward a plate to seat the terminals on said plate in a predetermined pattern, and directing a second flow of air in a direction generally opposite to the direction of the first flow of air to mount the terminals on a support in said pattern.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said means for biasing said terminals includes a vacuum manifold communicating with each terminal holder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-12 | 1974-10-12 | 1975-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-12 | 1978-10-12 | 1979-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-12 | 1982-10-12 | 1983-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |