US3848864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fingers employing inserts to support work pieces in a flow solder machine
Assignee: PAGE-WILSON Corp A CORP OF
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Filing: 1972-11-21
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1992-11-21
Abstract
Abstract Fingers are provided to support work pieces in a flow solder machine. Ledges are formed on the fingers enabling them to support pallets which in turn support work pieces of varying size and configuration at a positive work-line height for contact with a solder-wave. Inserts may be placed in the fingers to provide palletless positive work-line height control, thus assuring proper contact of selected individual workpieces with the solder wave, without requiring the use of a pallet.
Inventors
- 👤 G Dwyer
- 👤 W Ferris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:25
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K3/00; B23K3/08; B23K3/087; B23Q; B23Q3/00; B23Q3/02; B23Q3/06; H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A finger for use in supporting a workpiece in a flow solder machine comprising a block, means associated with said block enabling the block to be fastened to a movable conveyor, means associated with said block enabling it, in cooperation with a plurality of similar blocks which are fastened to a movable conveyor, to support a workpiece and thus enable the workpiece to be carried through the work stations of a flow solder machine, said block, and each similar block, including means making it independently removable from said movable conveyor for cleaning and repair and independently replaceable thereon, said means to support a workpiece including an opening in said block, and in each similar block, and a resilient insert in said opening, the block terminating at one end in a ledge having a substantially flat face which may be drilled to enable the block to be locked to the movable conveyor of a flow solder machine, the block terminating at the other end in a ledge shaped to provide a seat against which a workpiece may rest, and the opening in said block being formed through the block adjacent the other end to receive the resilient insert, said seat and said resilient insert together forming a support for a workpiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A finger for use in supporting a workpiece in a flow solder machine comprising a block, means associated with said block enabling the block to be fastened to a movable conveyor, means associated with said block enabling it, in cooperation with a plurality of similar blocks which are fastened to a movable conveyor, to support a workpiece and thus enable the workpiece to be carried through the work stations of a flow solder machine, said block, and each similar block, including means making it independently removable from said movable conveyor for cleaning and repair and independently replaceable thereon, said means to support a workpiece including an opening in said block, and in each similar block, and a resilient insert in said opening, the block terminating at one end in a ledge having a substantially flat face which may be drilled to enable the block to be locked to the movable conveyor of a flow solder machine, the block terminating at the other end in a ledge shaped to provide a seat against which a workpiece may rest, and the opening in said block being formed through the block adjacent the other end to receive the resilient insert, said seat and said resilient insert together forming a support for a workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A finger as claimed in claim 1, in which the opening in said block is formeD by a series of adjoining concentric openings of successively larger size, the smallest opening having a diameter large enough to receive the body of a resilient insert, and the largest opening having a diameter large enough to receive a collet chuck, whereby a collet chuck may be inserted into the largest opening to seize the body of an insert and pull it through the smallest opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A finger as claimed in claim 1, in which the block is formed of thin walls around a central opening, and the resilient insert extends into the central opening through the opening in said block, whereby the insert may be pulled through the opening in said block by means of a tool inserted through the central opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
207 words
A finger for use in supporting a workpiece in a flow solder machine comprising a block, means associated with said block enabling the block to be fastened to a movable conveyor, means associated with said block enabling it, in cooperation with a plurality of similar blocks which are fastened to a movable conveyor, to support a workpiece and thus enable the workpiece to be carried through the work stations of a flow solder machine, said block, and each similar block, including means making it independently removable from said movable conveyor for cleaning and repair and independently replaceable thereon, said means to support a workpiece including a ledge on said block, and each similar bloc, to receive and support a workpiece in contact with a solder-wave at a positive work-line height, said means to enable the block to be fastened to a movable conveyor including a ledge having a face into which a hole is drilled substantially at right angles, said ledge terminating along one side in a step rising above the face of the ledge and substantially at right angles to the face, and said step providing a base to enable the finger to be held free of motion on the conveyor of a flow solder machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
207 words
A finger for use in supporting a workpiece in a flow solder machine comprising a block, means associated with said block enabling the block to be fastened to a movable conveyor, means associated with said block enabling it, in cooperation with a plurality of similar blocks which are fastened to a movable conveyor, to support a workpiece and thus enable the workpiece to be carried through the work stations of a flow solder machine, said block, and each similar block, including means making it independently removable from said movable conveyor for cleaning and repair and independently replaceable thereon, said means to support a workpiece including a ledge on said block, and each similar bloc, to receive and support a workpiece in contact with a solder-wave at a positive work-line height, said means to enable the block to be fastened to a movable conveyor including a ledge having a face into which a hole is drilled substantially at right angles, said ledge terminating along one side in a step rising above the face of the ledge and substantially at right angles to the face, and said step providing a base to enable the finger to be held free of motion on the conveyor of a flow solder machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
197 words
A finger for use in supporting a workpiece in a flow solder machine comprising a block, means associated with said block enabling the block to be fastened to a movable conveyor, means associated with said block enabling it, in cooperation with a plurality of similar blocks which are fastened to a movable conveyor, to support a workpiece and thus enable the workpiece to be carried through the work stations of a flow solder machine, said block, and each similar block, including means making it independently removable from said movable conveyor for cleaning and repair and independently replaceable thereon, said means to support a workpiece including an opening in said block, and in each similar block, and a resilient insert in said opening, the means to enable the block to be fastened to a movable conveyor including a ledge having a face into which a hole is drilled at right angles, said ledge terminating along one side in a step rising above the face of the ledge and at right angles to the face, and said step providing a base to enable the finger to be held free of motion on the conveyor of a flow solder machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
197 words
A finger for use in supporting a workpiece in a flow solder machine comprising a block, means associated with said block enabling the block to be fastened to a movable conveyor, means associated with said block enabling it, in cooperation with a plurality of similar blocks which are fastened to a movable conveyor, to support a workpiece and thus enable the workpiece to be carried through the work stations of a flow solder machine, said block, and each similar block, including means making it independently removable from said movable conveyor for cleaning and repair and independently replaceable thereon, said means to support a workpiece including an opening in said block, and in each similar block, and a resilient insert in said opening, the means to enable the block to be fastened to a movable conveyor including a ledge having a face into which a hole is drilled at right angles, said ledge terminating along one side in a step rising above the face of the ledge and at right angles to the face, and said step providing a base to enable the finger to be held free of motion on the conveyor of a flow solder machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
A finger as claimed in claim 5, in which the opening in said block is formed by a series of adjoining concentric openings of successively larger size, the smallest opening having a diameter large enough to receive the body of a resilient insert, and the largest opening having a diameter large enough to receive a collet chuck, whereby a collet chuck may be inserted into the largest opening to seize the body of an insert and pull it through the smallest opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A finger as claimed in claim 5, in which the block is formed of thin walls around a central opening, and the resilient insert extends into the central opening through the opening in said block, whereby the insert may be pulled through the opening in said block by means of a tool inserted through the central opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A finger as claimed in claim 5, in wHich the block is formed of thin walls around a central opening, and the resilient insert extends into the central opening through the opening in said block, whereby the insert may be pulled through the opening in said block by means of a tool inserted through the central opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |