Pin straightening machine

Claim 2

A machine for straightening a multiplicity of pins extending generally perpendicularly from one side of a board, said machine comprising: a housing; means for removably securing said board to said housing, said pins being modularly and orthogonally spaced from each other; means parallel to and spaced from said board coupled to said housing for simultaneously engaging all of said pins adjacent the free ends thereof; and means for providing a cycle of planar substantially nonlinear relative motion between ssid board and said engaging means in a preprogrammed series of continuously changing orbital sequences to correspondingly bend all of said pins simultaneously beyond their elastic limit throughout said cycle.

Claim 3

The machine recited in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a table and said carrying means comprises: a first grid plate having a multiplicity of modularly spaced holes therethrough, said first grid plate being adapted to support said board with said pins extending through said holes; and a cover pivotally mounted to said housing for clamping to said table and maintaining said board firmly in place thereon.

Claim 4

The machine recited in claim 2 wherein said engaging means comprises a second grid plate having a similar multiplicity of modularly spaced holes, said second grid plate being mounted for varying orbital motion within said table parallel to and spaced from said first grid plate.

Claim 5

The machine recited in claim 3 wherein said means for causing relative motion comprises: a source of power; and a gear train coupled between said power source and said second grid plate to move said second grid plate in a sequentially varying pattern.

Claim 6

The machine recited in claim 4 wherein said means for causing relative motion further comprises: timing means; and means coupled to said timing means and said power source for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said power source; wherein said power source is a motor.

Claim 7

The machine recited in claim 5 wherein said timing means includes: a timing gear coupled to said gear train and having switch actuating lobes mounted thereon; a first switch connected to said controlling means and actuatable by one of said lobes, said first switch when actuated causing said motor to reduce speed near the end of the operating cycle of said machine; a second switch connected to said controlling means and actuatable by said one of said lobes; an override mechanism coupled to said gear train and having stopping and reversing switch actuating lobes; a reversing switch connected to said controlling means and actuatable by said reversing lobe, said reversing switch being energized by actuation of said second switch and causing said motor to reverse its direction of rotation when actuated; and a stop switch connected to said controlling means and actuatable by said stopping lobe, said reversing switch being energized by actuation of said second switch and causing said motor to stop when actuated.

Claim 8

The machine recited in claim 6 wherein said reversing lobe is angularly adjustable with respect to said stopping lobe thereby controlling the angular distance of override before said motor is reversed and stopped at its normal position.

Claim 9

The machine recited in claim 6 wherein said timing means further includes: first and second half-cycle switch actuating lobes mounted to said timing gear; a first half-cycle switch connected to said controlling means and actuatable by said half-cycle switch actuating lobes, said first half-cycle switch when actuated causing said motor to reduce speed near the end of a half cycle of operation of the machine; a second half-cycle switch connected to said controlling means and actuatable by said half-cycle switch actuating lobes, said second half-cycle switch when actuated energizing said reversing switch and said stop switch and causing said motor to reverse its direction of rotation and stop respectively when actuated.

Claim 10

The machine recited in claim 8 wherein said controlling means includes: a full-cycle operation switch which, when actuated, energizes said first and second switches; and a half-cycle operation switch which, when actuated, energizes said first and second half-cycle switches.

Claim 11

The machine recited in claim 4 and further comprising: a base mounted to said table beneath said first grid plate; a pair of spaced oppositely disposed first track members mounted to said base; a slide plate mounted for reciprocal sliding motion between said first track members; a pair of spaced oppositely disposed second track members mounted to said plate; and an orbiting base mounted for reciprocal sliding motion between said second track members, said second track members being orthogonal to said first track members, said second grid plate being mounted to said orbiting base for movement therewith.

Claim 12

The machine recited in claim 10 and further comprising: a first connecting link pivotably mounted to said slide plate and extending in a direction generally parallel to said first track members; a second connecting link pivotally mounted to said orbiting base and extending in a direction generally parallel to said second track members; a first eccentric coupled between said first connecting link and a first gear of said gear train; and a second eccentric coupled between said second connecting link and a second gear of said gear train; said second gear being caused to rotate at a speed which is different from the speed of rotation of said first gear, thereby causing said second grid plate to assume a varying planar orbital motion during operation of said machine.

Claim 13

A machine for straightening a multiplicity of pins extending generally perpendicularly from one side of a board, said pins being modularly and orthogonally spaced from each other, said machine comprising: a housing; a table mounted to said housing; a cover pivotably mounted to said housing for clamping to said table and holding said board firmly in place thereon; a first grid plate secured to said table and having a multiplicity of modularly and orthogonally spaced holes therethrough, said first grid plate being adapted to support said board with said pins extending through said holes; a second grid plate having a like multiplicity of modularly and orthogonally sPaced holes and being movably mounted to said table parallel to and spaced from said first grid plate, said holes in said second grid plate engaging said pins adjacent to the free ends thereof; a motor mounted within said housing; a gear train coupled between said motor and said second grid plate so as to move said second grid plate in a sequentially varying pattern of continuously changing orbital sequences with respect to said first grid plate; timing means; and controlling means coupled to said timing means and said motor for controlling the operation of said machine, including the speed and direction of rotation of said motor; whereby said machine simultaneously bends said pins beyond their elastic limit in said changing orbital sequences followed by an override sequence of bend said pins past the perpendicular position sufficiently so that they will all become perpendicular to said board when returned to center.

Claim 14

A machine for straightening a multiplicity of pins extending generally perpendicularly from one side of a board, said pins being modularly and orthogonally spaced from each other, said machine comprising: a housing; a table mounted to said housing; a cover pivotably mounted to said housing for clamping to said table and holding said board firmly in place thereon; a first grid plate secured to said table and having a multiplicity of modularly and orthogonally spaced holes therethrough, said first grid plate being adapted to support said board with said pins extending through said holes; a second grid plate having a like multiplicity of modularly and orthogonally sPaced holes and being movably mounted to said table parallel to and spaced from said first grid plate, said holes in said second grid plate engaging said pins adjacent to the free ends thereof; a motor mounted within said housing; a gear train coupled between said motor and said second grid plate so as to move said second grid plate in a sequentially varying pattern of continuously changing orbital sequences with respect to said first grid plate; timing means; and controlling means coupled to said timing means and said motor for controlling the operation of said machine, including the speed and direction of rotation of said motor; whereby said machine simultaneously bends said pins beyond their elastic limit in said changing orbital sequences followed by an override sequence of bend said pins past the perpendicular position sufficiently so that they will all become perpendicular to said board when returned to center.

Claim 15

The machine recited in claim 1 and further including means for providing an overridge sequence after said changing orbital sequences are completed whereby said machine continues through a small portion of the first of said changing orbital sequences and returns to its normal position to leave said pins parallel to one another and perpendicular to said board.