Adjustable mechanism for cutting and clinching electrical component leads

Claim 1

A cut-clinch assembly for acting on component leads inserted through spaced receiving holes of a circuit board, comprising: a pair of cut-clinch units arranged in side-by-side relation; means mounting the units for movement toward and from the circuit board and for angular adjustment about an inserting axis normal to the board, each of the units comprising a fixed knife and a relatively movable knife cooperative therewith to shear a lead and then to clinch it against the board; a mechanism for actuating the movable knives; means for adjusting operating positions of the units in a direction parallel to a line interconnecting said receiving holes, and means for adjusting an operating position of the units in a direction normal to said line; each cut-clinch unit comprising a block for supporting a non-conductive holder of the fixed knife and a lead guide block having at least a portion extending above said knife and engageable with the board at opposite sides of a lead-receiving hole, and a pair of shims of selected thickness insertable one between the block and an underside of said holder and the other between the block and an underside of said lead guide block to adjust the distance between an upper surface of said movable knife and an under surface of said circuit board to permit adjustment of the lead length and angle the lead makes with the board after cutting, and to adjust the distance between the knives to establish a proper clearance therebetween, respectively.