US3852665A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for testing potentiometers
Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corp
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Filing: 1973-02-12
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-02-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for testing potentiometers utilizing an endless carrier which moves past a plurality of devices positioned at stations along the carrier. A feeder device inserts potentiometers into potentiometer supports on the carrier, an adjusting device moves the slider of the inserted potentiometer to a base position, and an evaluation device moves the slider while simultaneously measuring test parameters of the inserted potentiometer. In one embodiment, an ejection device is included which ejects tested potentiometers into selected receptacles.
Inventors
- 👤 M Bothner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:47
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R35/00; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/344; G01R27/00; G01R27/02; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2832; G01R31/2836
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for testing potentiometers having a resistor element with two end terminals and a slider contact which traverses said resistor in response to rotation of a spindle, comprising a carrier having a plurality of potentiometer supports at spaced points thereon, and a plurality of devices positioned at stations adjacent to said carrier, said carrier being movable to locate each support successively at said stations in a predetermined sequence, wherein the improvement comprises an adjusting device at one of said stations including rotary driving means engageable with the spindle of a potentiometer in a support on said carrier adjacent to said one station, means applying a constant potential to the end terminals of said potentiometer, means sensing the potential appearing between the slider contact and one end terminal, and means disengaging said driving means from said spindle when the ratio between the potential across the end terminals of said potentiometer to the potential between the slider contact and said one end terminal has a predetermined value, and an evaluation device at a subsequent one of said stations, including second rotary driving means engageable with the spindle of a potentiometer in a support on said carrier adjacent to said subsequent station, means passing a constant current from one end terminal of said potentiometer through the slider contact thereof, and means visibly displaying the magnitude of the potential between said last mentioned slider contact and the other end terminal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for testing potentiometers having a resistor element with two end terminals and a slider contact which traverses said resistor in response to rotation of a spindle, comprising a carrier having a plurality of potentiometer supports at spaced points thereon, and a plurality of devices positioned at stations adjacent to said carrier, said carrier being movable to locate each support successively at said stations in a predetermined sequence, wherein the improvement comprises an adjusting device at one of said stations including rotary driving means engageable with the spindle of a potentiometer in a support on said carrier adjacent to said one station, means applying a constant potential to the end terminals of said potentiometer, means sensing the potential appearing between the slider contact and one end terminal, and means disengaging said driving means from said spindle when the ratio between the potential across the end terminals of said potentiometer to the potential between the slider contact and said one end terminal has a predetermined value, and an evaluation device at a subsequent one of said stations, including second rotary driving means engageable with the spindle of a potentiometer in a support on said carrier adjacent to said subsequent station, means passing a constant current from one end terminal of said potentiometer through the slider contact thereof, and means visibly displaying the magnitude of the potential between said last mentioned slider contact and the other end terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means visibly displaying the magnitude of potential is an oscilloscope having its vertical deflection input connected to said last mentioned slider contact and other end terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said oscilloscope has its horizontal deflection input connected to said last mentioned one end terminal and to said slider contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said evaluation device includes rotation limiting switches, and adjustable actuating means therefor, driven by said second driving means said limiting switches preventing further rotation of said second driving means and said spindle in a given direction when points adjacent the ends of said resistor predetermined by adjustment of said actuating means are reached by the slider contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second rotary driving means includes a driver shaft, and a shaft tip portion adapted to fit a potentiometer spindle, said shaft tip portion being shiftable in axial direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second rotary driving means includes a spring biasing said shaft tip portion toward a potentiometer spindle, and an actuator operable to shift said shaft tip portion away from a potentiometer spindle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier comprises a rotatable wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said wheEl comprises a square base rotatably mounted on a centrally-positioned shaft, said potentiometer supports being exchangeably mounted on the peripheral faces of said base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said potentiometer supports includes three contacts arranged to electrically engage the three contacts of an inserted potentiometer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said potentiometer supports comprise clamps.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including a self-locking Geneva wheel drive for rotating said rotatable wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, including a mercury transfer coupler joined to said shaft, said mercury transfer coupler electrically coupling the contacts of an inserted potentiometer which rotates with said shaft to stationary terminals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said limiting switches include a rotating disk driven by said second driving means, and photoelectric units operatively coupled to said rotating disk at points defining two positions between which said disk rotates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, including: an electromagnetically actuated clutch coupling said second driving means to said rotating disk, and a spring biasing said disk so that said disk returns to a predetermined initial position when said clutch is released.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said photoelectric transmission units are adjustable for selectively predetermining said two positions.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
328 words
An apparatus for testing potentiometers having a resistor element with two end terminals and a slider contact which traverses said resistor in response to rotation of a spindle, comprising a rotating carrier having a plurality of potentiometer supports spaced around the periphery thereof, and a plurality of devices positioned at stations adjacent to said carrier, said carrier being movable to locate each support successively at said stations in a predetermined sequence, wherein the improvement comprises a feeder device at a first one in sequence of said stations comprising a vertically extending feed duct adapted to receive a stack of potentiometers, the interior profile of said duct being such that potentiometers can be introduced only when they are in a predetermined position, said duct having its lower portion adjacent to said carrier and having an opening therein facing said carrier, and a feeder device movable radially with respect to said carrier and engageable with the lowermost potentiometer in said feed duct to move said lowermost potentiometer through said opening into a potentiometer support on said carrier, rotary driving means at a second one of said stations engageable with the spindle of a potentiometer carried in a support on said carrier when said support is adjacent to said second station, adjustable control means disengaging said driving means from the spindle of a potentiometer being driven at said second station when its slider contact reaches a predetermined position adjacent to one end of said resistor element, and second rotary driving means at a third one of said stations, engageable with the spindle of a potentiometer carried in a support on said carrier when said support is adjacent to said third station, and second control means sequentially actuating said second driving means to engage the spindle, drive the associated slider contact from the starting point to a predetermined point adjacent to the opposite end of the resistor element, reverse the direction of drive, and return the slider contact to the starting point.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
328 words
An apparatus for testing potentiometers having a resistor element with two end terminals and a slider contact which traverses said resistor in response to rotation of a spindle, comprising a rotating carrier having a plurality of potentiometer supports spaced around the periphery thereof, and a plurality of devices positioned at stations adjacent to said carrier, said carrier being movable to locate each support successively at said stations in a predetermined sequence, wherein the improvement comprises a feeder device at a first one in sequence of said stations comprising a vertically extending feed duct adapted to receive a stack of potentiometers, the interior profile of said duct being such that potentiometers can be introduced only when they are in a predetermined position, said duct having its lower portion adjacent to said carrier and having an opening therein facing said carrier, and a feeder device movable radially with respect to said carrier and engageable with the lowermost potentiometer in said feed duct to move said lowermost potentiometer through said opening into a potentiometer support on said carrier, rotary driving means at a second one of said stations engageable with the spindle of a potentiometer carried in a support on said carrier when said support is adjacent to said second station, adjustable control means disengaging said driving means from the spindle of a potentiometer being driven at said second station when its slider contact reaches a predetermined position adjacent to one end of said resistor element, and second rotary driving means at a third one of said stations, engageable with the spindle of a potentiometer carried in a support on said carrier when said support is adjacent to said third station, and second control means sequentially actuating said second driving means to engage the spindle, drive the associated slider contact from the starting point to a predetermined point adjacent to the opposite end of the resistor element, reverse the direction of drive, and return the slider contact to the starting point.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, including a motor operatively coupled to said feeder device, and two adjustable stop switches electrically joined to said motor and actuated by the motion of said feeder device to limit the range of movement thereof.
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) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |