Machines for sequencing electronic components

Claim 2

In a machine for conveying axial lead componeNts from any selected component dispensers of a series of aligned component dispensers to an operating zone, each of the dispensers having an indexable means for releasing a component into a horizontal leadengaging shelf defining a pick-off position, an endless conveyor disposed for sequential movement adjacent to the several pick-off positions and the operating zone, said conveyor including a series of articulated carriers respectively including a pivotal pick-off portion uniformly spaced there along, and cam means adjacent to the path of the conveyor for controlling articulation of the carriers whereby a released component is caused to be picked off by a carrier pick-off portion at said pick-off position and restrained until released at said operating zone.

Claim 3

In a machine for successively taping coaxial lead components, at least one component dispenser having a horizontal exit passageway, a chain link conveyor movable in an endless path adjacent to the dispenser, a plurality of discrete component carriers associated with uniformly spaced links of the chain, each carrier including two pairs of laterally spaced plates in pivotal relation, respectively, an edge of each leading plate defining with an edge of a trailing plate a V-notch for receiving a lead of a component when the trailing plate extends in pick-off relation to the dispenser, the corresponding edges of the trailing plate extending in parallel relation for engaging leads in the dispenser passageway, a lead taping station including a toothed wheel adjacent to the conveyor and spaced from the dispenser, means for positively driving the conveyor and the toothed wheel in time relation to enable successive, relatively closely arranged tooth spaces of the wheel to receive and remove leads from the more widely spaced successive V-notches of the carriers, a cam adjacent to said wheel for controlling pivotal opening movement of the trailing plates to release a component into a space between successive teeth of the wheel, and means on the carriers for limiting the relative pivotal movement of their respectively trailing and leading plates.

Claim 4

In a machine for successively taping coaxial lead components, at least one component dispenser having a horizontal exit passageway, a chain link conveyor movable in an endless path adjacent to the dispenser, a plurality of discrete component carriers associated with uniformly spaced links of the chain, each carrier including two pairs of laterally spaced plates in pivotal relation, respectively, an edge of each leading plate defining with an edge of a trailing plate a V-notch for receiving a lead of a component when the trailing plate extends in pick-off relation to the dispenser, the corresponding edges of the trailing plate extending in parallel relation for engaging leads in the dispenser passageway, a lead taping station including a toothed wheel adjacent to the conveyor and spaced from the dispenser, means for positively driving the conveyor and the toothed wheel in time relation to enable successive, relatively closely arranged tooth spaces of the wheel to receive and remove leads from the more widely spaced successive V-notches of the carriers, a cam adjacent to said wheel for controlling pivotal opening movement of the trailing plates to release a component into a space between successive teeth of the wheel, and means on the carriers for limiting the relative pivotal movement of their respectively trailing and leading plates.

Claim 5

For use in transferring coaxial lead components, in a programmed order, from a series of component dispensers to a processing zone, means including horizontal lead-engaging shelf defining a horizontal exit passageway for releasing single selected components from the respective dispensers, an endless conveyor of pivotal pin-link chain, a plurality of articulated carriers secured to the conveyor chain in uniformly spaced relation and adapted to receive in parallel relation the leads of the components released from dispensers, each of said carriers having a projecting pick-off portion pivotally mounted on a pin of the pin-link chain and extending to transfer a component in said passageway into predetermined position on a carrier, and cam means disposed along the path of the conveyor for controlling component pick-off and release by said carrier.

Claim 6

For use in transferring coaxial lead components, in a programmed order, from a series of component dispensers to a processing zone, means including horizontal lead-engaging shelf defining a horizontal exit passageway for releasing single selected components from the respective dispensers, an endless conveyor of pivotal pin-link chain, a plurality of articulated carriers secured to the conveyor chain in uniformly spaced relation and adapted to receive in parallel relation the leads of the components released from dispensers, each of said carriers having a projecting pick-off portion pivotally mounted on a pin of the pin-link chain and extending to transfer a component in said passageway into predetermined position on a carrier, and cam means disposed along the path of the conveyor for controlling component pick-off and release by said carrier.

Claim 7

In a machine for producing a taped supply of programed electronic components, a series of component dispensers, a lead taping station remote therefrom and including a rotary, toothed tape applying wheel, a conveyor comprising a plurality of articulated carriers movable in an endless path extending adjacent to the delivery zones of the dispensers and through the lead taping station, each of the carriers having aligned V-notches for receiving and releasing the leads of a component, said V-notches being formed by articulated portions of the carriers, means including a horizontal lead-engaging shelf for selectively releasing a component from a dispenser to the V-notches of a selected carrier while the latter is moving toward said station and while the released component is restrained against rebound from its V-notches, and cam means adjacent to the lead taping station for further opening the angles of the V-notches of successive carriers and causing control of successive components to be transferred from their carriers into the toOth spaces of said tape applying wheel.

Claim 8

In a machine for producing a taped supply of programed electronic components, a series of component dispensers, a lead taping station remote therefrom and including a rotary, toothed tape applying wheel, a conveyor comprising a plurality of articulated carriers movable in an endless path extending adjacent to the delivery zones of the dispensers and through the lead taping station, each of the carriers having aligned V-notches for receiving and releasing the leads of a component, said V-notches being formed by articulated portions of the carriers, means including a horizontal lead-engaging shelf for selectively releasing a component from a dispenser to the V-notches of a selected carrier while the latter is moving toward said station and while the released component is restrained against rebound from its V-notches, and cam means adjacent to the lead taping station for further opening the angles of the V-notches of successive carriers and causing control of successive components to be transferred from their carriers into the toOth spaces of said tape applying wheel.

Claim 9

A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein the carriers and the wheel are positively driven in the same direction at different speeds, and intersecting arcuate guide surfaces respectively adjacent to the paths of the wheel teeth and the carrier V-notches are disposed to restrain the components.