Patent US3875636A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3875636A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for assembly of contacts in a printed circuit board
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1973-11-02
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-11-02
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneously assembling a plurality of elongated contacts within corresponding apertures provided in a printed circuit board. According to the of the present invention, an entire row of elongated contacts are initially manually inserted into corresponding rows of P.C. board apertures with the aid of a hand tool. In the present invention, the printed circuit board is mounted on a carriage of an insertion machine. The initially inserted row of contacts partially protrudes through the P.C. board and is received in the jaws of a vise. In the operation of the insertion machine, the vise jaws close and grip the row of protruding contacts. Sequentially, a limited and precisely adjusted relative motion is effected between the P.C. board carriage and the vise. Such operation causes a corresponding limited and precisely controlled relative displacement between the inserted row of contacts and the P.C. board, thus forcibly positioning and seating the enlarged, interference fit portions of the contacts within corresponding apertures of the P.C. board. In this manner, all contacts of the row are precisely positioned simultaneously in desired registration within the printed circuit board. Sequentially, the vise jaws are opened, allowing an operator of the machine to remove the contacts therefrom and reposition the P.C. board on the carriage for insertion of another row of contacts. With the board thus repositioned, the machine may be reset for a repeated cycle of operation. In a modification of the machine, a mechanism is provided which is actuated after opening of the jaws, thereby automatically removing the row of contacts from the jaws. The purpose of this operation is to provide a substantial clearance between the P.C. board and the jaws, allowing the operator to reposition the P.C. board on the carriage without interfering with the vise jaws. With the P.C. board repositioned (desirably for insertion of another row of contacts) the operator may then reset the machine for a repeated cycle of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Edmund Franklin Shultz
- 👤 Ronald Eugene Katzaman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:41
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K13/0447; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53174; Y10T29/53183; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53209
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A machine for simultaneously positioning a plurality of contacts in apertures provided in a printed circuit board, comprising: supporting means for supporting said P.C. board, vise means positioned adjacent said supporting means and receiving a plurality of contacts initially introduced in said P.C. board apertures, first actuating means for closing said vise means in gripping engagement on said contacts, second actuating means for causing relative motion between said supporting means and said vise means thereby causing relative displacement between said P.C. board supported on said supporting means and said plurality of contacts received in gripping relationship in said vise means, whereby said contacts are positively positioned in said apertures of said P.C. board, first reset means for opening said vise means and allowing disengagement and removal of said contacts from said vise means, and second reset means for causing return relative movement of said supporting means and said vise means thereby repositioning said supporting means with respect to said vise means for receipt of an additional plurality of contacts in said vise means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A machine for simultaneously positioning a plurality of contacts in apertures provided in a printed circuit board, comprising: supporting means for supporting said P.C. board, vise means positioned adjacent said supporting means and receiving a plurality of contacts initially introduced in said P.C. board apertures, first actuating means for closing said vise means in gripping engagement on said contacts, second actuating means for causing relative motion between said supporting means and said vise means thereby causing relative displacement between said P.C. board supported on said supporting means and said plurality of contacts received in gripping relationship in said vise means, whereby said contacts are positively positioned in said apertures of said P.C. board, first reset means for opening said vise means and allowing disengagement and removal of said contacts from said vise means, and second reset means for causing return relative movement of said supporting means and said vise means thereby repositioning said supporting means with respect to said vise means for receipt of an additional plurality of contacts in said vise means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure of claim 1, and further including: third actuating means for removing said contacts from said vise means upon opening of said first vise means by actuation of said first reset means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure of claim 2, wherein said third actuating means is manually operated to cause additional relative displacement between said support means and said vise means in order to remove said contacts from said vise means and to momentarily prevent said return relative movement of said supporting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The structure of claim 1, and further including indexing means on said supporting means for positioning said supporting means in a desired location with respect to said vise means in order to align selected apertures of said P.C. board with said vise means, whereby a plurality of contacts inserted in said apertures will protrude from said apertures and be received in said vise means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said vise means includes: a pair of opposed jaws actuable toward each other by said first actuating means in order to grippingly engage said contact and, partitions in said jaws for separating said contacts from one another when received in said vise means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure of claim 5, wherein said partitions are slidably displaced relative to said jaws by said second actuating means and mechanically support said P.C. board adjacent each of said contacts during said relative movement of said supporting means, whereby said P.C. board is prevented from warping during said relative displacement between said P.C. board and said plurality of contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, and further including adjustment means for limiting said relative displacement of said supporting means, and means for simultaneously positioning a desired medial portion of each of said contacts in a corresponding aperture of said P.C. board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
263 words
In a machine for the assembly of a plurality of elongated contacts within a P.C. board, wherein each of the contacts includes a medial portion adapted for having an interference fit in a corresponding aperture of the P.C. board, the combination comprising: supporting means receiving the P.C. board thereon, vise means adjacent said supporting means and provided with a pair of jaws, said contacts initially protruding from said apertures of said P.C. board and being received in said vise means, first actuating means for closing said jaws of said vise means in gripping engagement on said contacts which initially protrude from said apertures of said P.C. board, second actuating means for causing relative displacement between said supporting means and said vise means and for causing forcible relative displacement between said contacts and said P.C. board while said contacts are grippingly engaged by said vise means, whereby selected medial portions of said contacts are forcibly inserted with interference fits within corresponding ones of said apertures provided in said P.C. board, said interference fit of each of said contact medial portions within a corresponding aperture of said P.C. board fixedly retaining said contacts in said P.C. board, first means for opening said jaws and disengaging said jaws from said contacts, allowing removal of said contacts from said jaws, and second reset means for resetting said second actuating means and causing return relative displacement between said supporting means and said vise means whereby said vise means is repositioned relative to said P.C. board in order to receive a plurality of additional contacts in said P.C. board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
263 words
In a machine for the assembly of a plurality of elongated contacts within a P.C. board, wherein each of the contacts includes a medial portion adapted for having an interference fit in a corresponding aperture of the P.C. board, the combination comprising: supporting means receiving the P.C. board thereon, vise means adjacent said supporting means and provided with a pair of jaws, said contacts initially protruding from said apertures of said P.C. board and being received in said vise means, first actuating means for closing said jaws of said vise means in gripping engagement on said contacts which initially protrude from said apertures of said P.C. board, second actuating means for causing relative displacement between said supporting means and said vise means and for causing forcible relative displacement between said contacts and said P.C. board while said contacts are grippingly engaged by said vise means, whereby selected medial portions of said contacts are forcibly inserted with interference fits within corresponding ones of said apertures provided in said P.C. board, said interference fit of each of said contact medial portions within a corresponding aperture of said P.C. board fixedly retaining said contacts in said P.C. board, first means for opening said jaws and disengaging said jaws from said contacts, allowing removal of said contacts from said jaws, and second reset means for resetting said second actuating means and causing return relative displacement between said supporting means and said vise means whereby said vise means is repositioned relative to said P.C. board in order to receive a plurality of additional contacts in said P.C. board.
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) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |