Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A clinching machine for fastening a connector to a printed circuit board in preparation for wave soldering the printed circuit board, said connector having an elongated row of terminal lugs extending therefrom and the circuit board having a plurality of land areas for receiving the terminal lugs, the clinching machine comprising: a work surface having an opening therein for receiving terminal lugs protruding through the printed circuit board, clamping means for engaging and retaining the circuit board and the connector in fixed relationship to the work surface, clinching means including a clinching jaw having a tip portion defined by work faces intersecting at an inside angle of less than 90°, the clinching jaw being pivotably fixed relative the work surface so as to be closely adjacent the surface of the printed circuit board in the area of the opening, actuating means responsive to clamping actuation of the clamping means for causing the clinching jaw to rotate a predetermined amount, whereby terminal lugs met by the clinching jaw are drawn into close and substantially parallel contact with the associated land areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A clinching machine for fastening a connector to a printed circuit board in preparation for wave soldering the printed circuit board, said connector having an elongated row of terminal lugs extending therefrom and the circuit board having a plurality of land areas for receiving the terminal lugs, the clinching machine comprising: a work surface having an opening therein for receiving terminal lugs protruding through the printed circuit board, clamping means for engaging and retaining the circuit board and the connector in fixed relationship to the work surface, clinching means including a clinching jaw having a tip portion defined by work faces intersecting at an inside angle of less than 90°, the clinching jaw being pivotably fixed relative the work surface so as to be closely adjacent the surface of the printed circuit board in the area of the opening, actuating means responsive to clamping actuation of the clamping means for causing the clinching jaw to rotate a predetermined amount, whereby terminal lugs met by the clinching jaw are drawn into close and substantially parallel contact with the associated land areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A clinching machine as defined in claim 1, in which the clinching means comprises a pair of clinching jaws rotatably mounted in complementary relationship and in which the actuating means includes a camming means in mechanical association with the clinching jaws and spring means for urging the tips of the jaws apart one from the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A clinching machine as defined in claim 1 in which the clamping means includes a first resilient member for bearing against the circuit board, a second resilient member for bearing against the connector, said second resilient member comprising a resilient material carrying a substantially rigid surface for contact with a connector whereby local distortion of the connector during the operation of the clinching machine is substantially prevented.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A clinching machine as defined in claim 2 in which the clamping means includes a first resilient member for bearing against the circuit board, a second resilient member for bearing against the connector, said second resilient member comprising a resilient material carrying a substantially rigid surface for contact with a connector whereby local distortion of the connector during the operation of the clinching machine is substantially prevented.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A clinching machine as defined in claim 2 in which the actuation of the actuating means is determined by a first limit switch means and the moment of withdrawal of the clamping means is determined by the impingement of the actuating means against a second limit switch means, said clamping means being responsive to actuation of said second limit switch means, to release the circuit board and the connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A clinching machine as defined in claim 3 in which the actuation of the actuating means is determined by a first limit switch means and the moment of withdrawal of the clamping means is determined by the impingement of the actuating means against a second limit switch means, said clamping means being responsive to actuation of said second limit switch means, to release the circuit board and the connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A clinching machine as defined in claim 1 in which the intersection between the work faces is of a radius sufficiently large to prevent the lugs from being sheared off and sufficiently small to cause the lugs to be drawn against the associated land areas of the printed circuit board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A clinching machine as defined in claim 1 in which the jaw is of a hardened tool steel material having a radius between the work faces of about 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm.