Semi-automatic sequencing machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for forming a string of components in a predetermined sequence and with a certain spacing therebetween including in combination, means for supporting component supplies in said sequence, means for driving said supporting means successively to move said supplies past a working station, means for receiving components removed from said supplies and for positioning said components with said spacing therebetween, means for interconnecting components fed thereto to form a string thereof, means for advancing said positioning means toward said interconnecting means and means for transferring components from said positioning means to said interconnecting means while maintaining said spacing.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 including bins for holding said supplies, and in which said supporting means carries a plurality of said bins and in which said driving means comprises means for stepping said supporting means through a distance of one bin on each operation of said apparatus.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 1 including means responsive to said driving means for actuating said advancing means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 3 including bins for holding said supplies, each of said bins having n compartments for holding n supplies and in which said supporting means carries a plurality of bins and in which said driving means comprises means for stepping said supporting means through a distance corresponding to one bin on each operation of said apparatus and in which said advancing means steps said positioning means through a distance equal to n times said spacing on each operation of said apparatus, in which n is at least 2.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said components have leads and in which said interconnecting means comprises means for applying a length of tape to the leads of successive components.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 1 including a take-up reel for receiving said string from said interconnecting means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for forming a string of components having leads in a predetermined sequence and with a certain spacing therebetween including in combination, means including a pitch belt for positioning components fed thereto with said spacing therebetween, means for applying a length of tape to the leads of components fed thereto from a string of components, said pitch belt adapted to advance components thereon toward said tape applying means, and means for transferring components from said belt to said applying means while maintaining said spacing therebetween.

Claim 9

Apparatus for forming a string of components having leads in a predetermined sequence and with a certain spacing therebetween including in combination, means including a pitch belt for positioning components fed thereto with said spacing therebetween, means for applying a length of tape to the leads of components fed thereto from a string of components, said pitch belt adapted to advance components thereon toward said tape applying means, and means for transferring components from said belt to said applying means while maintaining said spacing therebetween.

Claim 10

AppaRatus as in claim 7 in which said transferring means comprises a toothed wheel having an intertooth spacing corresponding to the space between said belt teeth, means mounting said wheel for rotary movement with adjacent teeth thereof adapted to receive therebetween the lead of a component from said belt and a stationary guide leading from said belt to said tape applying means, said wheel adapted to advance said leads along said guide from said belt to said applying means.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 8 in which said wheel teeth are adapted to engage said belt teeth and means for driving said wheel to advance said belt.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 7 in which said tape applying means comprises respective pressure rolls forming a nip therebetween, said transferring means adapted to feed component leads into said nip.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 7 including guide means for directing components fed thereto onto said belt.

Claim 14

Apparatus for forming a string of components having generally oppositely extending leads in a predetermined sequence and with a certain intercomponent spacing including in combination, respective laterally spaced pairs of pressure wheels forming nips adapted to receive component leads, means for supplying tape to said nips, a shaft supporting one pressure wheel of each pair for movement therewith, respective toothed wheels carried by said shaft for movement therewith, a pair of spaced pitch belts extending from a work location to second location adjacent to the peripheries of said wheels, said belts adapted to receive lead of components fed to said belts at said work location to support said components in spaced relationship, said wheels having an intertooth spacing substantially equal to the pitch of said belts, said wheels being positioned on said shaft with the wheel teeth adapted to engage said belts, respective stationary guides extending from said second locations to said nips, adjacent teeth of said wheels adapted to receive therebetween component leads to carry said leads off said belts and along said guides into said nips, and means for driving said shaft to advance said belts and to carry components into said nips.

Claim 15

Apparatus for forming a string of components having generally oppositely extending leads in a predetermined sequence and with a certain intercomponent spacing including in combination, respective laterally spaced pairs of pressure wheels forming nips adapted to receive component leads, means for supplying tape to said nips, a shaft supporting one pressure wheel of each pair for movement therewith, respective toothed wheels carried by said shaft for movement therewith, a pair of spaced pitch belts extending from a work location to second location adjacent to the peripheries of said wheels, said belts adapted to receive lead of components fed to said belts at said work location to support said components in spaced relationship, said wheels having an intertooth spacing substantially equal to the pitch of said belts, said wheels being positioned on said shaft with the wheel teeth adapted to engage said belts, respective stationary guides extending from said second locations to said nips, adjacent teeth of said wheels adapted to receive therebetween component leads to carry said leads off said belts and along said guides into said nips, and means for driving said shaft to advance said belts and to carry components into said nips.

Claim 16

Apparatus as in claim 12 in which one pressure roller of each pair has axial slots around its periphery with an interslot spacing substantially equal to said belt pitch.

Claim 17

Apparatus as in claim 12 including a funnel-like guide at said work location for directing components fed thereto to said belts.

Claim 18

Apparatus as in claim 12 including a take up reel for receiving a string of connected components from said tape applying means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as in claim 12 including a support for holding a plurality of component supplies arranged in said sequence and means for driving said support successively to move said supplies past said work station.

Claim 20

Apparatus as in claim 16 including means for concomitantly energizing said shaft drive means and said support drive means.

Claim 21

Apparatus as in claim 12 including a plurality of bins, each of said bins having two compartments for holding supplies of components, a table for receiving said bins in a sequence determined by said component sequence, means mounting said table for successive movement of said bins to said work location, means for driving said table, actuatable means for concomitantly energizing said table driving means to move said table through a distance corresponding to one bin and for driving said belts through a distance corresponding to substantially twice said spacing.

Claim 22

Apparatus as in claim 18 including means responsive to arrival of the last bin of a sequence at said work position for setting said shaft driving means to drive said belts through a distance corresponding to greater than twice said spacing in response to said actuatable means.

Claim 23

Apparatus as in claim 12 in which said shaft driving means comprises a motor, a counter adapted to be set to a predetermined count, actuatable means for setting said counter and means responsive to rotation of said shaft for reducing the count of said counter.