US4371013A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of straightening backplane-supported pins
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1980-08-29
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Granted: 1983-02-01
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Expires: 2000-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A backplane (22) supporting a plurality of pins (21) is supported in a fixture (84) which is mounted on a movable platform (51). A pair of straightening bars (82 and 83) are attached to a movable holding bar (76) above the backplane-supported pins (21) and are spaced at least a distance equal to the spacing between alternate rows of the pins. The straightening bars (82 and 83) are positioned to capture the tips of alternate rows of pins (21). The fixture (84) is then reciprocated in a first direction and then in a second direction to process the pins (21) through a single straightening cycle. Eventually, the straightening bars (82 and 83) and all of the rows of pins (21) are processed in a similar fashion whereby each of the pair of bars processes each row of pins through a single straightening cycle. In this manner, each pin (21) is processed ultimately through two straightening cycles.
Inventors
- 👤 Carey A. Camp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/20; H01R43/205; H01R43/002; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A method of straightening pins supported in equally spaced rows in a pin-populated backplane, which comprises the steps of: mounting spatially at least two straightening bars in a parallel relationship with a spacing at least equal to the distance between the spacing of alternate rows of pins; capturing simultaneously tips of the pins of alternate rows within respective ones of the straightening bars during a straightening cycle; processing the straightening bars and the captured rows of pins whereby a first of the two straightening bars provides a single straightening cycle for each of the rows of pins and a second of the two straightening bars provides a single straightening cycle for each of the rows of pins; wherein after the straightening of each of the rows of pins by each of the bars and while the pins remain captured by each of the bars, the method further comprises the step of bending each of the captured rows of pins slightly toward the next adjacent row of pins to be straightened; and wherein during the straightening of the next adjacent row of pins by each of the bars, the method further comprises the step of moving the exterior side wall of each of the bars which is adjacent to the bent pins into engagement with the bent pins to facilitate the straightening thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
222 words
A method of straightening pins supported in equally spaced rows in a pin-populated backplane, which comprises the steps of: mounting spatially at least two straightening bars in a parallel relationship with a spacing at least equal to the distance between the spacing of alternate rows of pins; capturing simultaneously tips of the pins of alternate rows within respective ones of the straightening bars during a straightening cycle; processing the straightening bars and the captured rows of pins whereby a first of the two straightening bars provides a single straightening cycle for each of the rows of pins and a second of the two straightening bars provides a single straightening cycle for each of the rows of pins; wherein after the straightening of each of the rows of pins by each of the bars and while the pins remain captured by each of the bars, the method further comprises the step of bending each of the captured rows of pins slightly toward the next adjacent row of pins to be straightened; and wherein during the straightening of the next adjacent row of pins by each of the bars, the method further comprises the step of moving the exterior side wall of each of the bars which is adjacent to the bent pins into engagement with the bent pins to facilitate the straightening thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of straightening pins as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processing step comprises the steps of: processing the first straightening bar successively with a first row and a second row of pins through pin-straightening cycles; processing simultaneously the first and the second straightening bars and a third row and the first row of pins, respectively, through a pin-straightening cycle; and processing the second straightening bar successively with the second row and the third row of pins through a pin-straightening cycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of straightening pins as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises the steps of: mounting the backplane in a support fixture; and indexing the fixture to position the rows of pins beneath the straightening bars.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of straightening pins as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of processing comprises the step of moving relatively the straightening bars and the backplane to straighten the pins.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of straightening pins as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of processing includes the steps of: maintaining the straightening bars in a fixed position while the tips of the pins are positioned within the bars; and moving the support fixture in a predetermined pattern to straighten the pins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of straightening pins as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step of processing comprises the step of processing simultaneously the first and second straightening bars through a single straightening cycle to straighten two rows of pins.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of straightening pins arranged at least in a first row, a second row and a third row of pins, which comprises the steps of: processing the first row of pins through a pin-straightening cycle; bending the first row of pins toward the second row of pins; processing the second row of pins through a pin-straightening cycle and simultaneously straightening the first row of pins; bending the second row of pins toward the third row of pins; processing the first and third rows of pins through a pin-straightening cycle and simultaneously straightening the second row of pins; bending the first row of pins toward the second row of pins and the third row of pins in a direction away from the second row of pins; processing the second row of pins through a pin-straightening cycle and simultaneously straightening the first and third rows of pins; bending the second row of pins toward the third row of pins; processing the third row of pins through a pin-straightening cycle and simultaneously straightening the second row of pins; bending the third row of pins in a direction away from the second row of pins; and straightening the third row of pins.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of straightening pins arranged at least in a first row, a second row and a third row of pins, which comprises the steps of: processing the first row of pins through a pin-straightening cycle; bending the first row of pins toward the second row of pins; processing the second row of pins through a pin-straightening cycle and simultaneously straightening the first row of pins; bending the second row of pins toward the third row of pins; processing the first and third rows of pins through a pin-straightening cycle and simultaneously straightening the second row of pins; bending the first row of pins toward the second row of pins and the third row of pins in a direction away from the second row of pins; processing the second row of pins through a pin-straightening cycle and simultaneously straightening the first and third rows of pins; bending the second row of pins toward the third row of pins; processing the third row of pins through a pin-straightening cycle and simultaneously straightening the second row of pins; bending the third row of pins in a direction away from the second row of pins; and straightening the third row of pins.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-31 | 1986-08-02 | 1987-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-31 | 1990-08-02 | 1991-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-31 | 1994-08-02 | 1995-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |