US3733672A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for automatically inserting components in a workpiece
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1971-09-13
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A machine that automatically inserts electrical components in preselected locations on a workpiece includes a hopper assembly which houses a plurality of containers and means connected with the hopper assembly to dispense the containers from the assembly to a station remote from the assembly. The station includes means for selectively ejecting components within the containers therefrom and a collector assembly movable to and from the station for receiving the ejected components. A transfer assembly picks up the components from the collector assembly and transfers the components to the preselected location on the workpiece.
Inventors
- 👤 W Bohannon
- 👤 H Church
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:42
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K13/043; H05K13/0434; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5124; Y10T29/5136; Y10T29/5137; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53004; Y10T29/53017; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53174; Y10T29/53183; Y10T29/53252; Y10T29/53478
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for selectively ejecting different coded components from a plurality of magazines for transfer to a preselected location on a workpiece, comprising: means for housing the plurality of magazines; means for ejecting the components from the magazines; means for continuously advancing the magazines from the housing means to the ejecting means; means for incrementally halting the magazine as they are conveyed to the ejecting means to position a component at a desired position to be ejected; means mounted for movement to a sequence of desired positions beneath the ejecting means to collect the different coded components at each position as they are ejected from the magazine; and means rendered operative upon the movement of said collecting means from the ejection means for picking up and transferring the components from the collecting means to the selected positions on the workpiece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for selectively ejecting different coded components from a plurality of magazines for transfer to a preselected location on a workpiece, comprising: means for housing the plurality of magazines; means for ejecting the components from the magazines; means for continuously advancing the magazines from the housing means to the ejecting means; means for incrementally halting the magazine as they are conveyed to the ejecting means to position a component at a desired position to be ejected; means mounted for movement to a sequence of desired positions beneath the ejecting means to collect the different coded components at each position as they are ejected from the magazine; and means rendered operative upon the movement of said collecting means from the ejection means for picking up and transferring the components from the collecting means to the selected positions on the workpiece.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for inserting a plurality of different components in a workpiece wherein said workpiece has a plurality of locations for receiving said components and different types of components are inserted at different locations on said workpiece, said apparatus comprising: means for selectively dispensing each different type of component; means for receiving the dispensed components, said receiving means having component receiving locations which correspond to a predetermined number of locations on the workpiece; means for positioning said receiving means relative to said dispensing means to bring selected locations on said receiving means into a desired position with said dispensing means so as to dispense a desired type of component into said locations; and means for transferring said components from said receiving means to said workpiece and for inserting said components into desired locations in said workpiece.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for inserting a plurality of different components in a workpiece wherein said workpiece has a plurality of locations for receiving said components and different types of components are inserted at different locations on said workpiece, said apparatus comprising: means for selectively dispensing each different type of component; means for receiving the dispensed components, said receiving means having component receiving locations which correspond to a predetermined number of locations on the workpiece; means for positioning said receiving means relative to said dispensing means to bring selected locations on said receiving means into a desired position with said dispensing means so as to dispense a desired type of component into said locations; and means for transferring said components from said receiving means to said workpiece and for inserting said components into desired locations in said workpiece.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for automatically handling a plurality of magazines, each magazine having a plurality of desired coded components, to transfer the magazine to a position where the different coded components may be selectively ejected therefrom, and to further transfer the ejected components to preselected locations on a workpiece, comprising: a hopper assembly having a plurality of compartments, each compartment corresponding to a desired code indicative of the code of the component, and housing a series of the plurality of magazines; means operable to convey a magazine from each coded compartment of the hopper assembly to a location wherein a component from each of the magazines is situated at a predetermined position; means selectively movable into and out of any of the number of magazines situated at the predetermined position for ejecting desired components from the magazines; MEANS selectively movable to any position beneath the magazines for collecting the ejected components in a row as they are ejected; means cooperating with the collecting means at a position from the ejecting means for transferring the row of components from the collecting means to a preselected row on the workpiece; and means for advancing the workpiece to a position to receive the row of components at the preselected location.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for automatically handling a plurality of magazines, each magazine having a plurality of desired coded components, to transfer the magazine to a position where the different coded components may be selectively ejected therefrom, and to further transfer the ejected components to preselected locations on a workpiece, comprising: a hopper assembly having a plurality of compartments, each compartment corresponding to a desired code indicative of the code of the component, and housing a series of the plurality of magazines; means operable to convey a magazine from each coded compartment of the hopper assembly to a location wherein a component from each of the magazines is situated at a predetermined position; means selectively movable into and out of any of the number of magazines situated at the predetermined position for ejecting desired components from the magazines; MEANS selectively movable to any position beneath the magazines for collecting the ejected components in a row as they are ejected; means cooperating with the collecting means at a position from the ejecting means for transferring the row of components from the collecting means to a preselected row on the workpiece; and means for advancing the workpiece to a position to receive the row of components at the preselected location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the conveying means includes: a track member situated beneath and spaced from the plurality of compartments, the track member extending along the entire length of the compartments, terminating at a point remote from the compartments, and having a plurality of open slots, each slot extending axially therethrough along the length of each compartment; and means projecting through each slot for sliding the magazines along the track member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the collecting means includes: a base; a plurality of patterns situated on the upper length of the base, each pattern spaced a fixed equal distance from a preceding pattern and complementing a pattern of the component; and means for indexing the base in an axial direction to position any one of the patterns beneath any component situated at the predetermined position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the base includes: a pair of rectangular flanges extending symmetrically along the upper length thereof in spaced parallel relation to define a centrally located channel; a plurality of rectangular inserts slidably positioned in end-to-end spaced relationship within the channel, a part of each pattern situated on each insert, the remainder of each pattern situated symmetrically on the top of the flanges opposite each insert; and means for moving each insert in a vertical upward direction between the flanges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the base further includes: means for imparting circular motion to the base in a horizontal direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the transfer means includes: means for simultaneously gripping the plurality of components situated on the collector means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3471915A
Cited
US3590462A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |