Terminal applicator

Claim 2

A terminal applicator including a base; an extendable ram on said base; a feed path on said base generally perpendicular to the ram and running past the ram when retracted; an elongate feed arm generally parallel to the ram to one side thereof having a free end adjacent said feed path and an end away therefrom connected to said base to permit rotation of the arm relative to the base; a feed finger on the free end of the feed arm engagable with a terminal strip in the feed path for indexing the same toward the ram upon rotation of the feed arm about the connection with the base; and linkage means between said ram and feed arm for rotating the feed arm upon extension and retraction of the ram whereby said feed finger feeds terminals on the carrier strip to a pick-up position in the extension path of the ram.

Claim 3

A terminal applicator as in claim 1 wherein said linkage means includes a cam surface on said ram and a follower surface on said arm located for engagement with the cam surface upon extension and retraction of the ram.

Claim 4

A terminal applicator as in claim 2 wherein said linkage means includes a spring on said base biasing the arm toward the ram.

Claim 5

A terminal applicator for mounting terminals on a circuit board or like member comprising a flat circuit board support surface; and opening extending through said surface; means above said surface for accurately locating a hole in the circuit board on the surface in alignment with said opening; applicator apparatus below said surface and secured relative thereto including a ram extendable through said opening for securing a terminal to the circuit board hole located in alignment therewith, and feed means for successively indexing terminals to a position between said ram when retracted and said opening whereby extension of the ram picks up a terminal, moves the terminal through the opening and seats the terminal in the circuit board hole.

Claim 6

A terminal applicator for mounting terminals on a circuit board or like member comprising a flat circuit board support surface; and opening extending through said surface; means above said surface for accurately locating a hole in the circuit board on the surface in alignment with said opening; applicator apparatus below said surface and secured relative thereto including a ram extendable through said opening for securing a terminal to the circuit board hole located in alignment therewith, and feed means for successively indexing terminals to a position between said ram when retracted and said opening whereby extension of the ram picks up a terminal, moves the terminal through the opening and seats the terminal in the circuit board hole.

Claim 7

A terminal applicator as in claim 4 wherein said means above the surface comprises a retractable pin adapted to be positioned in the circuit board hole to locate the same and to be driven from the hole upon seating of the terminal.

Claim 8

A terminal applicator as in claim 5 wherein said means includes a flexible arm spaced above said surface and secured to one side thereof, said pin being carried by said arm above said opening.

Claim 9

An applicator for mounting terminals in holes extending through the thickness of circuit boards or like members comprising a circuit board support; a base on one side of said support; a ram on the base extendable along an axis perpendicular to the support including a terminal engaging means on the lead end of the ram; means for moving the ram toward and through the support to engage a circuit board on the other side of the support; a terminal strip feed path on the base extending transversely past said axis adjacent the support; an elongate feed arm extending generally parallel to said axis pivotally mounted on said base at a point away from the circuit board; the free end of the feed arm being located adjacent said feed path and including a feed finger extending into said path for engagement with a strip of terminals on the path; a cam member on said feed arm including a cam surface normally located in the path of extension of said ram toward the circuit board for engagement with said ram upon extension thereof toward the circuit board to pivot the feed arm away from said axis; means for pivoting the feed arm back toward said axis upon retraction of the ram away from the circuit board; the feed finger engaging said strip to feed a lead terminal on the strip toward said axis upon pivotal movement of said feed arm whereby upon extension of the ram by said drive means said engaging means picks up the lead terminal and carries the same through the support for mounting in a circuit board hole.

Claim 10

An applicator for mounting terminals in holes extending through the thickness of circuit boards or like members comprising a circuit board support; a base on one side of said support; a ram on the base extendable along an axis perpendicular to the support including a terminal engaging means on the lead end of the ram; means for moving the ram toward and through the support to engage a circuit board on the other side of the support; a terminal strip feed path on the base extending transversely past said axis adjacent the support; an elongate feed arm extending generally parallel to said axis pivotally mounted on said base at a point away from the circuit board; the free end of the feed arm being located adjacent said feed path and including a feed finger extending into said path for engagement with a strip of terminals on the path; a cam member on said feed arm including a cam surface normally located in the path of extension of said ram toward the circuit board for engagement with said ram upon extension thereof toward the circuit board to pivot the feed arm away from said axis; means for pivoting the feed arm back toward said axis upon retraction of the ram away from the circuit board; the feed finger engaging said strip to feed a lead terminal on the strip toward said axis upon pivotal movement of said feed arm whereby upon extension of the ram by said drive means said engaging means picks up the lead terminal and carries the same through the support for mounting in a circuit board hole.

Claim 11

An apparatus as in claim 7 including means for positioning a board on said support with a circuit board hole on said axis.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said means includes a spring backed finger adapted to be inserted in a circuit board hole on the side of the circuit board away from said ram and mounting means permitting movement of said finger toward and away from the circuit board.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said mounting means comprises a flexible arm extending over said support with said finger on the free end of the arm.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said feed finger engages said feed path upstream of said ram and feeds the terminal strip as the ram is retracted away from the circuit board.

Claim 15

Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said feed finger feeds the terminal strip upon retraction of said ram away from the circuit board.

Claim 16

A terminal applicator for mounting terminals on a circuit board comprising a flat circuit board support; an opening extending through said support; locating means on the top of the circuit board support for positioning a hole in the circuit board in alignment with said opening; and a terminal staking unit on the other side of the support; said unit including a base, a ram on the base extendable toward the circuit board support, through the opening therein and retractable therefrom, means for extending and retracting the ram, a terminal feed path located between the circuit board support and the lead end of the ram when retracted and extending perpendicular to the axis of the ram. An elongate feed bar pivotally mounted on said base away from the circuit board support and extending generally along the axis of the ram toward the circuit board support, a feed finger on the end of said feed bar engagable with a terminal strip on said path for indexing a terminal on the strip into axial alignment with the ram when the ram is retracted, cam linkage means connecting the arm and ram for pivoting the arm away from the ram during extension of the ram and pivoting the arm back toward the ram during retraction of the ram to effect feeding of the terminal strip, terminal engaging means on the lead end of the ram for engaging said lead terminal, and cutting means for severing said lead terminal from said strip during extension of the ram, the extended position of the ram positioning the lead end thereof adjacent the bottom surface of the circuit board to seat said lead terminal in the circuit board hole positioned on said axis by said locating means.

Claim 17

A terminal applicator for mounting terminals on a circuit board comprising a flat circuit board support; an opening extending through said support; locating means on the top of the circuit board support for positioning a hole in the circuit board in alignment with said opening; and a terminal staking unit on the other side of the support; said unit including a base, a ram on the base extendable toward the circuit board support, through the opening therein and retractable therefrom, means for extending and retracting the ram, a terminal feed path located between the circuit board support and the lead end of the ram when retracted and extending perpendicular to the axis of the ram. An elongate feed bar pivotally mounted on said base away from the circuit board support and extending generally along the axis of the ram toward the circuit board support, a feed finger on the end of said feed bar engagable with a terminal strip on said path for indexing a terminal on the strip into axial alignment with the ram when the ram is retracted, cam linkage means connecting the arm and ram for pivoting the arm away from the ram during extension of the ram and pivoting the arm back toward the ram during retraction of the ram to effect feeding of the terminal strip, terminal engaging means on the lead end of the ram for engaging said lead terminal, and cutting means for severing said lead terminal from said strip during extension of the ram, the extended position of the ram positioning the lead end thereof adjacent the bottom surface of the circuit board to seat said lead terminal in the circuit board hole positioned on said axis by said locating means.