Apparatus for establishing cross connections in an automated main distributing frame

Claim 2

Automated apparatus responsive to control signals for establishing and terminating cross-connections and providing test access to switches in an automated main distributing frame having a plurality of said switches in a lineup comprising rows and columns of said switches served by said apparatus, each of said switches including terminals thereon adapted to receive connectors therebetween for establishing said cross-connections and test lands along an edge thereof, comprising, in combination: a switch engagement means for removing and replacing a respective one of said switches in said lineup; connector placement means for installing and removing said connectors between said terminals when said respective switch is removed from said lineup; positioning means for positioning said engagement means and said connector placement means adjacent said respective switch in said lineup; and a test connector for contacting said test lands for providing said test access when said switch engagement means engages said switch.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes: a horizontal guide mounted along said lineup of switches; a first member mounted on said horizontal guide for movement therealong; a vertical guide supported by said first member, said engagement means and said connector placement means being mounted on said vertical guide for movement therealong; a first drive means for moving said first member along said horizontal guide to thereby position said engagement means and said connector placement means in a horizontal direction with respect to said switch; and a second drive means for moving said engagement means and said connector placement means along said vertical guide to thereby position said engagement means and said connector placement means in a vertical direction with respect to said switch, whereby said engagement means and said connector placement means can be positioned adjacent any said switch in said lineup.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said connector placement means and said engagement means comprise first and second platforms, respectively, mounted on said vertical guide, and support rods supporting said second platform from said first platform to allow relative movement therebetween on said vertical guide.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said horizontal guide comprises a horizontal roundway and said first member includes bearing means for engaging said horizontal roundway to accurately guide said first member therealong; said vertical guide comprises first and second vertical roundways and said first and second platforms include bearing means for engaging said first and second vertical roundways to accurately guide said first and second platforms therealong; said first drive means includes a rack mounted along said lineup, a pinion mounted on said first member and engaging said rack, and a first motor for driving said pinion to move said first member along said rack; and said second drive means includes a vertical roll nut screw mating with said first platform, a roll nut engaging said roll nut screw and a second motor for driving said roll nut to rotate said roll nut screw and move said first platform and said connector placEment means along said first and second vertical roundways, whereby said second platform and said engagement means can be moved along said first and second vertical roundways by said support rods.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said switch engagement means comprises: a carriage movably mounted on said second plaform for movement toward and away from said lineup of said switches; a third drive means for moving said carriage along said second platform; first and second sets of engagement jaws, each of said sets being adapted for opening and closing about said edge of said switch; and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said engagement jaws about said edge so that said switch can be grasped, whereby said switches can be removed from and replaced in said lineup.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said third drive means comprises a ball screw engaging said carriage, and a third motor for rotating said ball screw to drive said carriage along said second platform.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said switch comprises a printed circuit board having said edge accessible to said engagement jaws when said switch is mounted in said lineup; said switch includes registration holes along said edge, and wherein each said set of engagement jaws includes: a first jaw having a registration pin thereon adapted to mate with a respective said registration hole when said jaw is closed about said edge of said switch to accurately register said switch with respect to said set of jaws; and a second jaw adapted for closing about said edge opposite said first jaw and having a stop thereon including an opening therethrough adapted to receive said registration pin so that said edge is accurately positioned and grasped between said first and second jaws.

Claim 9

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said operating mechanism comprises: a cam shaft; a fouth motor for rotating said cam shaft; a plurality of cams on said cam shaft associated with respective ones of said engagement jaws; and cam followers responsive to the rotation of respective said cams for operating respective said engagement jaws to thereby open and close said engagement jaws about said edge.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein each said set of engagement jaws comprises first and second jaws and wherein said operating mechanism includes first and second springs biasing said first and second jaws, respectively, toward closed and open positions, respectively, about said edge, said first jaw and said second jaw being forced toward said open and said closed positions, respectively, by respective said cam followers in opposition to said first and second springs whereby said first jaw is force limited and said second jaw is displacement limited in said closed positions about said edge.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said test connector comprises: first and second connector jaws operable by said operating mechanism for opening ad closing with respect to each other about said edge to grasp said edge therebetween; and a plurality of test terminals on each of said connector jaws adapted to mate with said test lands on respective sides of said edge whereby test access can be provided to said switch.

Claim 12

Arrangement in accordance with claim 10 wherein respective ones of said plurality of said cams on said cam shaft are operably associated with said first and second connector jaws; and wherein said plurality of cams have profiles which cause said connecors jaws to close about said edge after said engagement jaws close thereabout and to open from said edge before said engagement jaws open, whereby said edge is properly registered with respect to said connector jaws when said connector jaws are closed thereabout.

Claim 13

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said connector placement means comprises first and second connector placement units mounted on said first platform and adapteD to receive said switch therebetween when said switch is removed from said lineup so that said first and second units have access to first and second sides of said switch, respectively, each of said first and second units including: at least one magazine for storing a plurality of said connectors; at least one placement head adapted for grasping a connector for removing said connector from said magazine and for placing and removing said connectors on said terminals on said switch; and at least operating means for moving said placement head between said magazine and said switch.

Claim 14

Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said placement head comprises a pair of spring jaws adapted for grasping a tab on one of said connectors to thereby hold said connector; and said operating means includes opening means for opening said spring jaws to release said connector.

Claim 15

Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said operating means includes: a plunger for moving said placement head toward and away from said switch; a mounting sleeve about said plunger for rotating said plunger and said placement head to and from a position providing access to said connectors in said magazine; a cam shaft having a plurality of cams thereon; and a cam drive for rotating said cam shaft and said cams, said plunger and aid mounting sleeve being responsive to the rotation of respective ones of said cams for moving said placement head.

Claim 16

Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said placement head comprises a pair of spring jaws for grasping one of said connectors; and said operating includes means for opening and closing said spring jaws to discard and grasp said connectors, respectively, and a control circuit responsive to respective ones of said cams for coordinating said opening and closing means with said plunger and said mounting sleeve whereby said connectors can be removed from said magazine and placed on and removed from said switch.

Claim 17

Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 each of said first and second units includes two each of said magazines, said placement heads, and said operating means whereby each said unit can place and remove two different configurations of said connectors on said switch.

Claim 18

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said operating mechanism comprises: linkages operable associated with each of said engagement jaws for opening and closing said jaws; and solenoids for moving said linkages to close and open said jaws.

Claim 19

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switch engagement means comprises: first and second sets of engagement jaws, each of said sets of jaws being adapted for opening and closing about said edge of said switch; an operating mechanism for opening and closing said engagement jaws to release and grasp said switch, respectively; carriage means for moving said jaws toward and away from said lineup of said switches so that said switches can be removed from and replaced in said lineup; and mounting means for mounting said carriage means to said positioning means so that said carriage means can be moved about said lineup.

Claim 20

Apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said test connector comprises: first and second connector halves mounted on said carriage and adapted for opening and closing about said edge of said switch; a plurality of terminals on each of said connector halves adapted to contact said test lands and establish test access thereto when said connector halves are closed about said edge; and said operating mechanism includes means for opening and closing said connector halves about said edge in coordination with said opening and closing of said engagement jaws.

Claim 21

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said connector placement means comprises first and second connector placement units adapted to receive said switch therebetween when said switch is removed from said lineup so that said first and seCond units have access to first and second sides of said switch, respectively, each of said first and second units including: at least one magazine for storing a plurality of said connectors; at least one placement head adapted for grasping one of said connectors for removing said connector from said magazine and for placing and removing said connectors on said terminals of said switch; and at least one operating means for moving said head between a first position providing access to said connectors in said magazine and a second position for placement and removal of said connectors on said switch.

Claim 22

Apparatus in accordance with calim 20 wherein said operating means includes: a plunger for moving said placement head toward and away from said switch; a mounting sleeve about said plunger for rotating said plunger and said placement head; a cam shaft having a plurality of cams thereon; and a cam drive for rotating said cam shaft and said cams, said plunger and said mounting sleeve being responsive to the rotation of respective ones of said cams for moving said placement head between said first and second positions.

Claim 23

Apparatus in accordance with calim 20 wherein said operating means includes: a plunger for moving said placement head toward and away from said switch; a mounting sleeve about said plunger for rotating said plunger and said placement head; a cam shaft having a plurality of cams thereon; and a cam drive for rotating said cam shaft and said cams, said plunger and said mounting sleeve being responsive to the rotation of respective ones of said cams for moving said placement head between said first and second positions.

Claim 24

Apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said placement head comprises a pair of spring jaws for grasping one of said connectors; and said operating means includes means for opening and closing said spring jaws to discard and grasp said connectors, respectively, and a control circuit responsive to the rotation of respective ones of said cams for coordinating said opening and closing with the movement of said placement head between said first and second positions whereby said connectors can be removed from said magazine and placed on and removed from said switch.

Claim 25

Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein each said unit includes two each of said magazines, said placement heads and said operating units whereby each said unit can place and remove two different configurations of said connectors on said switch.

Claim 26

Automated apparatus responsive to control signals for establishing and terminating cross-connections and providing test access to switches in an automated main distributing frame having a plurality of said switches in a modular lineup with a plurality of rows and columns of said switches served by said apparatus, each of said switches including terminals thereon adapted to receive connectors therebetween for establishing said cross-connections and test lands along an edge thereof, comprising, in combination: a switch engagement means including first and second engagement jaws adapted for grasping and holding said switches so that said switches can be withdrawn from and replaced in said lineup, first and second connector halves adapted for opening and closing about said edge to establish said test access with said test bands, and operating mechanism for opening and closing siad engagement jaws and said connector halves in a coordinated sequence, and means for moving said engagement jaws and said connector halves toward and away from said switches in said lineup; connector placement means for placing said connectors between said terminals when said switch is removed from said lineup and held by said engagement means comprising a magazine for storing a plurality of said connectors, a placing head for grasping said connectors to place and remove said connectors between said terminals, and an operating means for moving said placement head between a first position providing access to said connectors in said magazine and a second position allowing said connectors to be placed on and removed from said terminals; means for positioning said engagement means and said connector placement means adjacent any respective said switch in said plurality of rows and columns comprising a horizontal guide mounted on said lineup, a support member movably mounted on said horizontal guide, a first drive means responsive to said control signals for moving said support member along said horizontal guide tO the one of said columns containing said respective switch, a vertical guide mounted on said support member, platform means movably mounting said engagement means and said connector placement means on said vertical guide, and a second drive means responsive to said control signals for moving said platform means along said vertical guide to the desired one of said rows containing said respective switch whereby said switch engagement means and said connector placement means can be positioned adjacent said respective switch.

Claim 27

Automated apparatus responsive to control signals for establishing and terminating cross-connections and providing test access to switches in an automated main distributing frame having a plurality of said switches in a modular lineup with a plurality of rows and columns of said switches served by said apparatus, each of said switches including terminals thereon adapted to receive connectors therebetween for establishing said cross-connections and test lands along an edge thereof, comprising, in combination: a switch engagement means including first and second engagement jaws adapted for grasping and holding said switches so that said switches can be withdrawn from and replaced in said lineup, first and second connector halves adapted for opening and closing about said edge to establish said test access with said test bands, and operating mechanism for opening and closing siad engagement jaws and said connector halves in a coordinated sequence, and means for moving said engagement jaws and said connector halves toward and away from said switches in said lineup; connector placement means for placing said connectors between said terminals when said switch is removed from said lineup and held by said engagement means comprising a magazine for storing a plurality of said connectors, a placing head for grasping said connectors to place and remove said connectors between said terminals, and an operating means for moving said placement head between a first position providing access to said connectors in said magazine and a second position allowing said connectors to be placed on and removed from said terminals; means for positioning said engagement means and said connector placement means adjacent any respective said switch in said plurality of rows and columns comprising a horizontal guide mounted on said lineup, a support member movably mounted on said horizontal guide, a first drive means responsive to said control signals for moving said support member along said horizontal guide tO the one of said columns containing said respective switch, a vertical guide mounted on said support member, platform means movably mounting said engagement means and said connector placement means on said vertical guide, and a second drive means responsive to said control signals for moving said platform means along said vertical guide to the desired one of said rows containing said respective switch whereby said switch engagement means and said connector placement means can be positioned adjacent said respective switch.