US4033031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and machine for inserting electrical contacts into electrical interconnection boards
Assignee: Augat Inc
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Filing: 1976-04-22
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Granted: 1977-07-05
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Expires: 1996-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A machine for inserting socket contacts into holes in electrical panel boards or printed circuit boards. A vibratory feeder is coupled through an escapement by means of a flexible tube to a hand held insertion tool. A timing mechanism operates the escapement at a predetermined rate to individually feed socket contacts to the tool, where they are dispensed into the holes in a panel board. Operation of the timing mechanism can be controlled by a foot switch. The method for insertion is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 George L. Ballew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:24
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K13/043; H05K13/0434; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49147; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53174; Y10T29/53183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A machine for inserting elongated electrical contacts into holes in electrical interconnection boards, said machine comprising: means for holding a multiplicity of said contacts; means for feeding said contacts individually and separately in tandem parallel fashion from said holding means; means extending from said feeding means for arranging a plurality of said contacts in parallel in at least one row, said individual contacts normally abutting adjacent said contacts in said row; escapement means mounted to said arranging means; insertion means having an exhaust nozzle; means for flexibly connecting said insertion means to said escapement means, said escapement means being shaped and configured to remove said contacts individually from said arranging means and feed them to said insertion means through said flexible connecting means, said escapement means having means to maintain said row of separate contacts in said arranging means while one of said contacts is fed to said insertion means; and means for controlling the operation of said escapement means to eject said contacts individually from said exhaust nozzle at a predetermined rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A machine for inserting elongated electrical contacts into holes in electrical interconnection boards, said machine comprising: means for holding a multiplicity of said contacts; means for feeding said contacts individually and separately in tandem parallel fashion from said holding means; means extending from said feeding means for arranging a plurality of said contacts in parallel in at least one row, said individual contacts normally abutting adjacent said contacts in said row; escapement means mounted to said arranging means; insertion means having an exhaust nozzle; means for flexibly connecting said insertion means to said escapement means, said escapement means being shaped and configured to remove said contacts individually from said arranging means and feed them to said insertion means through said flexible connecting means, said escapement means having means to maintain said row of separate contacts in said arranging means while one of said contacts is fed to said insertion means; and means for controlling the operation of said escapement means to eject said contacts individually from said exhaust nozzle at a predetermined rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine recited in claim 1 and further comprising means for varying said predetermined rate of operation of said controlling means to thereby vary the rate at which said contacts are ejected from said exhaust nozzle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine recited in claim 1 wherein said insertion means comprises a hand held tool and said flexible connection means comprises a tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The machine recited in claim 3 and further comprising: a source of compressed air, said insertion tool being formed with an internal jet pump structure; and means for coupling compressed air from said source thereof to said insertion tool to create a vacuum therein, thereby drawing said contacts from said escapement means to said insertion tool and out through said exhaust nozzle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine recited in claim 4 and further comprising a foot switch for actuating and deactuating said controlling means thereby controlling the cyclical operation of said escapement means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The machine recited in claim 1 wherein said arranging means comprises two spaced parallel plates forming a track, a portion of each of said contacts extending between said plates and a portion thereof riding on the top edges of said plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
The machine recited in claim 6 wherein said escapement means comprises: an end plate coupled to said track and having a generally vertically oriented hole therethrough, said hole communicating with said track; a guide member mounted to said end plate and said track; a longitudinally movable shuttle confined laterally by said guide member and said end plate, said shuttle having a groove diagonally formed in the bottom surface thereof communicating with a portion of said track at every position of its longitudinal motion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
The machine recited in claim 7 wherein said shuttle groove receives the top portion of one of said contacts when said shuttle is in one extreme longitudinal position, and deposits said socket into said hole in said end plate when said shuttle is in the other extreme longitudinal position, said groove conducting said contact the remaining length of said track between said receiving and depositing position during its motion between said first extreme position and said second extreme position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The machine recited in claim 8 wherein said shuttle groove is formed with an enlargement at the end where said contacts enter said groove when said shuttle is in said one extreme position, said enlargement having a depth to permit one of said contacts to fully enter said groove and preventing a second of said contacts from entering said groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
The machine recited in claim 9 wherein the intersection between said enlargement and a side surface of said shuttle adjacent thereto and perpendicular to said plates forming said track froms an acute angle adapted to separate the contact in said groove from the next adjacent contact in said track when said shuttle moves toward said other extreme position, said contact remaining in said track outside of said groove being in contact with said side surface as said shuttle moves from said one extreme position to said other extreme position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The machine recited in claim 1 wherein said holding means and said feeding means comprise a vibratory bowl feeder with a slot extending from the exit point of said bowl feeder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The machine recited in claim 1 wherein said controlling means comprises: a piston coupled to said shuttle; a source of compressed air; a timing mechanism connected to said source of compressed air to make pulses of said compressed air; and a hose coupling said compressed air to said piston, whereby said shuttle operates cyclically at a variably predetermined rate to feed said contacts at that rate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The machine recited in claim 3 and further comprising a source of compressed air coupled to said escapement means to thereby force said contacts through said tube and said insertion tool when fed by said escapement means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The machine recited in claim 4 and further comprising means for coupling said source of compressed air to said escapement means to thereby assist said vacuum created in said insertion tool in feeding said contacts from said escapement means through said insertion tool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The machine of claim 6 and further comprising: means for detecting when said track is full of said contacts; and means for connecting said detecting means to said controlling means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The machine of claim 15 wherein said detecting means comprises a photo detector, said connecting means comprises wires whereby when said track is full, said detecting means opens the circuit to said controlling means and stops the operation of said feeding means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for inserting electrical contacts individually into holes in an electrical interconnection board, said method comprising the steps of: feeding said contacts in tandem fashion from a container of said contacts; arranging said contacts in parallel abutting relationship in a row; removing said contacts individually at a predetermined variable rate from said row; and then feeding said contacts individually from an exhaust nozzle through a flexible tube.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for inserting electrical contacts individually into holes in an electrical interconnection board, said method comprising the steps of: feeding said contacts in tandem fashion from a container of said contacts; arranging said contacts in parallel abutting relationship in a row; removing said contacts individually at a predetermined variable rate from said row; and then feeding said contacts individually from an exhaust nozzle through a flexible tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method recited in claim 17 wherein said removing step is accomplished by an escapement mechanism, said method comprising the further step of controlling the operation of said escapement mechanism to feed said contacts at said predetermined rate in variable intermittent fashion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method recited in claim 18 and comprising the further step of moving said exhaust nozzle to a different location with respect to said interconnection board for each of said contacts fed therethrough.
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) | 1980-07-04 | 1981-01-03 | 1981-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-04 | 1985-01-03 | 1985-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-04 | 1989-01-03 | 1989-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |