Terminal ejector device

Claim 3

A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: means for releasing a first connecting block positioned within said receiving and positioning means upon the introduction of a second connecting block thereto so that insertion of the second connecting block into said receiving and positioning means removes the first conNecting block therefrom.

Claim 4

A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving and positioning means comprises: a feed block having a slot formed therein for receiving the connecting block to vertically position the connecting block and the connecting block terminals relative to said terminal ejecting means, and means mounted on said feed block for horizontally positioning the connecting block and the connecting block terminals relative to said terminal ejecting means.

Claim 5

A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 1, wherein said terminal ejecting means comprises: a plurality of terminal-ejector members slidably mounted on said frame for movement toward the connecting block terminals to engage and eject the terminals; a plurality of pawls mounted on said frame for sliding movement thereon and pivotally mounted on said frame for engaging said terminal-ejector members upon such sliding movement and thereafter moving said terminal-ejector members to engage and eject the connecting block terminals, and means mounted on said frame for inparting sliding movement to said pawls.

Claim 6

A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 4, wherein said presetting means comprises: means connecting with said pawls for selectively pivoting said pawls such that upon sliding movement thereof said pawls engage and move selected terminal-ejector members, and means cooperating with said pawls for retaining said pawls in a first orientation for precluding their engaging and moving said terminal-ejector members and in a second orientation for engaging and moving said terminal-ejector members.

Claim 9

A device for removing snap-in terminals mounted in an array of rows and columns in a connecting block as set forth in claim 6, wherein said receiving and positioning means comprises: a guide bar mounted on said terminal-ejector means, and a feed block mounted on said frame adjacent said terminal-ejector means and having a slot formed therein beneath said guide bar and transverse to the direction of movement of said ejector members, said slot cooperating with said guide bar for vertically positioning the connecting block therebetween so that the rows of connecting block terminals are aligned with said ejector members.

Claim 10

A device for removing snap-in terminals mounted in an array of rows and columns in a connecting block as set forth in claim 7, wherein said connecting block positioning means comprises: a pivot arm, having first and second pins mounted near opposite ends thereof, pivotally mounted to said feed block beneath said slot and biased upwardly such that said first and second pins normally project into said slot; said first pin engaging and horizontally positioning the connecting block positioned by said slot and said guide bar, and said second pin being depressed by the introduction of a second connecting block Onto said slot to depress said pivot arm and thereby depress said first pin to release the connecting block positioned thereby.

Claim 11

In a device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a connecting block, which comprises: a frame; an assembly of plungers mounted on said frame such that the individual plungers are reciprocably movable along parallel paths; a positioning mechanism mounted on said frame adjacent a first end of said assembly of plungers for positioning a connecting block so that the connecting block terminals are aligned in a first direction with the paths of movement of said plungers; a connecting block engaging mechanism cooperating with said positioning mechanism for positioning a connecting block inserted into said positioning mechanism so that the connecting block terminals are aligned in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, with the paths of movement of said plungers and for releasing the connecting block upon the introduction of a second connecting block into the positioning mechanism; a slide mounted on said frame adjacent a second end, opposite the first end, of said assembly of plungers for reciprocal movement along a path parallel to the paths of movement of said plungers; a plurality of pawls mounted on said slide and corresponding to said plungers, said pawls being pivotable between a first position which precludes engagement with said plungers and a second position intersecting said paths of movement of said plungers for engagement therewith; means for reciprocating said slide to advance or retract said slide relative to said plungers, and means for pivoting any one or combination of ones of said pawls from said first to said second position so that, upon the advancement of said slide, said pivoted pawls engage and advance corresponding ones of said plungers, which in turn engage and eject corresponding ones of the snap-in connecting block terminals.

Claim 12

In a device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a connecting block, which comprises: a frame; an assembly of plungers mounted on said frame such that the individual plungers are reciprocably movable along parallel paths; a positioning mechanism mounted on said frame adjacent a first end of said assembly of plungers for positioning a connecting block so that the connecting block terminals are aligned in a first direction with the paths of movement of said plungers; a connecting block engaging mechanism cooperating with said positioning mechanism for positioning a connecting block inserted into said positioning mechanism so that the connecting block terminals are aligned in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, with the paths of movement of said plungers and for releasing the connecting block upon the introduction of a second connecting block into the positioning mechanism; a slide mounted on said frame adjacent a second end, opposite the first end, of said assembly of plungers for reciprocal movement along a path parallel to the paths of movement of said plungers; a plurality of pawls mounted on said slide and corresponding to said plungers, said pawls being pivotable between a first position which precludes engagement with said plungers and a second position intersecting said paths of movement of said plungers for engagement therewith; means for reciprocating said slide to advance or retract said slide relative to said plungers, and means for pivoting any one or combination of ones of said pawls from said first to said second position so that, upon the advancement of said slide, said pivoted pawls engage and advance corresponding ones of said plungers, which in turn engage and eject corresponding ones of the snap-in connecting block terminals.

Claim 13

In a device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 9, wherein said pawl-pivoting means comprises: a keyboard having individual keys corresponding to and for pivotally moving individual ones of said pawls.

Claim 14

In a device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 9, further comprising: means for pivoting said pawls from said second to said first position upon the retraction of said slide from said plunger assembly.