Method and apparatus for orienting integrated circuit clips and sockets and assembling them into connector contacts

Claim 1

A method of mounting oriented socket contacts for an electrical connector wherein each of said contacts comprises a socket portion including a lead clip having inwardly and downwardly extending tines in oriented relationship with a lower tail portion of the contact, said method comprising the steps of: providing an orientation plate having adjacent apertures formed in the upper surface, said adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance for arranging said lead clips in a preselected array; providing a quantity of loose randomly oriented lead clips, each of said clips comprising a generally cylindrical ring open at the top and downwardly extending resilient tines; placing said clips on the upper surface of said orientation plate for arrangement upon said plate; vibrating said plate to cause the loose clips to be positioned within said apertures and arranged upon said plate; providing a carrier strip having a plurality of depending projections adapted for engaging and retaining said lead clips thereto; orienting said lead clips within said apertures and relative to said carrier strip projections; moving said carrier strip relative to said lead clips and securing said lead clips upon said carrier strip in oriented alignment therewith; advancing said lead clip supporting carrier strip from alignment with the orientation plate; positioning socket contacts in preselected arrangement and rotational orientation in alignment with said carrier strip; and moving said carrier strip relative to said contacts to secure said lead clips within the socket portion of said contacts in select orientation therebetween.

Claim 2

A method of mounting oriented socket contacts for an electrical connector wherein each of said contacts comprises a socket portion including a lead clip having inwardly and downwardly extending tines in oriented relationship with a lower tail portion of the contact, said method comprising the steps of: providing an orientation plate having adjacent apertures formed in the upper surface, said adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance for arranging said lead clips in a preselected array; providing a quantity of loose randomly oriented lead clips, each of said clips comprising a generally cylindrical ring open at the top and downwardly extending resilient tines; placing said clips on the upper surface of said orientation plate for arrangement upon said plate; vibrating said plate to cause the loose clips to be positioned within said apertures and arranged upon said plate; providing a carrier strip having a plurality of depending projections adapted for engaging and retaining said lead clips thereto; orienting said lead clips within said apertures and relative to said carrier strip projections; moving said carrier strip relative to said lead clips and securing said lead clips upon said carrier strip in oriented alignment therewith; advancing said lead clip supporting carrier strip from alignment with the orientation plate; positioning socket contacts in preselected arrangement and rotational orientation in alignment with said carrier strip; and moving said carrier strip relative to said contacts to secure said lead clips within the socket portion of said contacts in select orientation therebetween.

Claim 9

A method of orienting component lead engaging clips having inwardly and downwardly extending resilient tines with respect to the longitudinal axis of a carrier strip, said method comprising the steps of: providing an orientation plate having adjacent apertures formed in the upper surface, said adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance for arranging said lead clips in a preselected array; providing a quantity of loose randomly oriented lead clips, each of said clips comprising a generally cylindrical ring open at the top and having an outer diameter slightly smaller than each of the apertures in said orientation plate, each of said clips also having at least two downwardly extending resilient tines, the lower ends of said tines being opposed to and spaced from one another and lying in planes which coverage; placing said clips on the upper surface of said orientation plate for arrangement upon said plate; vibrating said plate to cause ones of the loose clips to be positioned with the tines thereof positioned within associated ones of said apertures and arranged upon said plate; providing a carrier strip having a plurality of depending projections which include adjacent sides lying in orthogonal planes to one another and to the axis of the carrier strips and adapted for engaging and retaining said lead chips thereto; moving said carrier strip relative to said lead clips positioned within the apertures to bring the projections into contact with the tines of the clips and cause each clip to rotate about its longitudinal axis and align the lower ends of the tines with opposed parallel sides of the projections and thereby orient the clips with respect to the axis of the carrier strip; and securing said lead clips upon said carrier strip in oriented alignment therewith.

Claim 10

A method of orienting component lead engaging clips having inwardly and downwardly extending resilient tines with respect to the longitudinal axis of a carrier strip, said method comprising the steps of: providing an orientation plate having adjacent apertures formed in the upper surface, said adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance for arranging said lead clips in a preselected array; providing a quantity of loose randomly oriented lead clips, each of said clips comprising a generally cylindrical ring open at the top and having an outer diameter slightly smaller than each of the apertures in said orientation plate, each of said clips also having at least two downwardly extending resilient tines, the lower ends of said tines being opposed to and spaced from one another and lying in planes which coverage; placing said clips on the upper surface of said orientation plate for arrangement upon said plate; vibrating said plate to cause ones of the loose clips to be positioned with the tines thereof positioned within associated ones of said apertures and arranged upon said plate; providing a carrier strip having a plurality of depending projections which include adjacent sides lying in orthogonal planes to one another and to the axis of the carrier strips and adapted for engaging and retaining said lead chips thereto; moving said carrier strip relative to said lead clips positioned within the apertures to bring the projections into contact with the tines of the clips and cause each clip to rotate about its longitudinal axis and align the lower ends of the tines with opposed parallel sides of the projections and thereby orient the clips with respect to the axis of the carrier strip; and securing said lead clips upon said carrier strip in oriented alignment therewith.

Claim 13

A method of orienting component lead engaging clips having inwardly and downwardly extending resilient tines with respect to the longitudinal axis of a carrier strip, said method comprising the steps of: providing an orientation plate having adjacent apertures formed in the upper surface, said adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance for arranging said lead clips in a preselected array; providing a quantity of loose randomly oriented lead clips, each of said clips comprising a generally cylindrical ring open at the top having downwardly extending resilient tines, said resilient tines of said lead clips which are in opposing relationship having straight lower edges in parallel spaced relationship; placing said clips on the upper surface of said orientation plate for arrangement on said plate; vibrating said plate to cause the loose clips to be positioned within said apertures and arranged upon said plate; providing a carrier strip having a plurality of depending projections adapted for engaging and retaining said lead clips thereto, each of said depending projections of said carrier strip including adjacent four sides lying in orthogonal planes to one another for engaging and orienting the resilient tines of said clips, said carrier strip being positioned above said lead clips with one depending projection in vertical alignment with each clip; orienting said lead clips within said apertures and relative to said carrier strip projections by vibrating said clips and moving said carrier strip relative to said vibrating clips to cause said clips to engage said depending projections and become oriented and secured there; and moving said carrier strip relative to said lead clips and securing said lead clips upon said carrier strip in oriented alignment therewith.

Claim 14

A method of orienting component lead engaging clips having inwardly and downwardly extending resilient tines with respect to the longitudinal axis of a carrier strip, said method comprising the steps of: providing an orientation plate having adjacent apertures formed in the upper surface, said adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance for arranging said lead clips in a preselected array; providing a quantity of loose randomly oriented lead clips, each of said clips comprising a generally cylindrical ring open at the top having downwardly extending resilient tines, said resilient tines of said lead clips which are in opposing relationship having straight lower edges in parallel spaced relationship; placing said clips on the upper surface of said orientation plate for arrangement on said plate; vibrating said plate to cause the loose clips to be positioned within said apertures and arranged upon said plate; providing a carrier strip having a plurality of depending projections adapted for engaging and retaining said lead clips thereto, each of said depending projections of said carrier strip including adjacent four sides lying in orthogonal planes to one another for engaging and orienting the resilient tines of said clips, said carrier strip being positioned above said lead clips with one depending projection in vertical alignment with each clip; orienting said lead clips within said apertures and relative to said carrier strip projections by vibrating said clips and moving said carrier strip relative to said vibrating clips to cause said clips to engage said depending projections and become oriented and secured there; and moving said carrier strip relative to said lead clips and securing said lead clips upon said carrier strip in oriented alignment therewith.

Claim 17

A method for mounting oriented component lead clips into socket contacts and affixing the oriented contact assembly to a carrier strip, wherein said lead clips comprise a generally cylindrical ring open at the top and having at least one pair of inwardly and downwardly extending resilient tines, said socket contacts comprise an upper cylindrical body portion including a cylindrical socket opening slightly smaller in diameter than the lead clips and a lower square tail portion, said carrier strip comprising an elongate ribbon having a plurality of transversely extending mounting projections said projections being equally spaced from one another a preselected distance and each projection including a finger smaller in breadth than the opening through said lead clips and at least two straight parallel spaced sides, said method comprising the steps of: providing an orientation plate having circular apertures formed in the upper surface with adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance; discharging a quantity of loose randomly oriented clips upon the upper surface of said orientation plate; vibrating said plate while tilting it from the horizontal to cause the loose clips to be positioned with the tines thereof extending into said apertures in linear rows; positioning a carrier strip with mounting projections above a row of oriented lead clips and in axial alignment therewith; moving said carrier strip relative to said clips to cause said clips to become mounted upon said carrier strip; providing an array of oriented socket contacts spaced one from the other in rotational orientation with the longitudinal axis of said carrier strip; positioning said carrier strip above said aligned socket contacts; and moving said carrier strip relative to said aligned socket contacts to secure said contacts thereon.

Claim 18

A method for mounting oriented component lead clips into socket contacts and affixing the oriented contact assembly to a carrier strip, wherein said lead clips comprise a generally cylindrical ring open at the top and having at least one pair of inwardly and downwardly extending resilient tines, said socket contacts comprise an upper cylindrical body portion including a cylindrical socket opening slightly smaller in diameter than the lead clips and a lower square tail portion, said carrier strip comprising an elongate ribbon having a plurality of transversely extending mounting projections said projections being equally spaced from one another a preselected distance and each projection including a finger smaller in breadth than the opening through said lead clips and at least two straight parallel spaced sides, said method comprising the steps of: providing an orientation plate having circular apertures formed in the upper surface with adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance; discharging a quantity of loose randomly oriented clips upon the upper surface of said orientation plate; vibrating said plate while tilting it from the horizontal to cause the loose clips to be positioned with the tines thereof extending into said apertures in linear rows; positioning a carrier strip with mounting projections above a row of oriented lead clips and in axial alignment therewith; moving said carrier strip relative to said clips to cause said clips to become mounted upon said carrier strip; providing an array of oriented socket contacts spaced one from the other in rotational orientation with the longitudinal axis of said carrier strip; positioning said carrier strip above said aligned socket contacts; and moving said carrier strip relative to said aligned socket contacts to secure said contacts thereon.

Claim 21

An apparatus for mounting oriented socket contacts for an electrical connector wherein each of said contacts comprises a socket portion including a lead clip having inwardly and downwardly extending tines in oriented relationship with a lower tail portion of the contact, said apparatus comprising; an orientation plate having adjacent apertures formed in the upper surface, said adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance for arranging said lead clips in a preselected array; means for placing a quantity of loose randomly oriented lead clips, each of said clips comprising a generally cylindrical ring open at the top and downwardly extending resilient tines, on the upper surface of said orientation plate for arrangement upon said plate; means for vibrating said plate to cause the loose clips to be positioned within said aperture and arranged upon said plate; a carrier strip having a plurality of depending projections adapted for engaging and retaining said lead clips thereto; means for orienting said lead clips within said apertures and relative to said carrier strip projections; means for moving said carrier strip relative to said lead clips and securing said lead clips upon said carrier strip in oriented alignment therewith; means for positioning socket contacts in preselected arrangement and rotational orientation beneath said carrier strip; and means for moving said carrier strip relative to said contacts to secure said lead clips within the socket portion of said contacts in select orientation therebetween.

Claim 22

An apparatus for mounting oriented socket contacts for an electrical connector wherein each of said contacts comprises a socket portion including a lead clip having inwardly and downwardly extending tines in oriented relationship with a lower tail portion of the contact, said apparatus comprising; an orientation plate having adjacent apertures formed in the upper surface, said adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance for arranging said lead clips in a preselected array; means for placing a quantity of loose randomly oriented lead clips, each of said clips comprising a generally cylindrical ring open at the top and downwardly extending resilient tines, on the upper surface of said orientation plate for arrangement upon said plate; means for vibrating said plate to cause the loose clips to be positioned within said aperture and arranged upon said plate; a carrier strip having a plurality of depending projections adapted for engaging and retaining said lead clips thereto; means for orienting said lead clips within said apertures and relative to said carrier strip projections; means for moving said carrier strip relative to said lead clips and securing said lead clips upon said carrier strip in oriented alignment therewith; means for positioning socket contacts in preselected arrangement and rotational orientation beneath said carrier strip; and means for moving said carrier strip relative to said contacts to secure said lead clips within the socket portion of said contacts in select orientation therebetween.

Claim 29

An apparatus for orienting component lead engaging clips having inwardly and downwardly extending resilient tines with respect to the longitudinal axis of a carrier strip said apparatus comprising; an orientation plate having adjacent apertures formed in the upper surface, said adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance for arranging said lead clips in a preselected array; means for placing a quantity of loose randomly oriented lead clips, each of said clips comprising a generally cylindrical ring open at the top having downwardly extending resilient tines, on the upper surface of said orientation plate for arrangement upon said plate; means for vibrating said plate to cause the loose clips to be positioned within said apertures and arranged upon said plate; a carrier strip having a plurality of depending projections adapted for engaging and retaining said lead clips thereto; means for orienting said lead clips within said apertures and relative to said carrier strip projections; and means for moving said carrier strip relative to said lead clips to secure said lead clips upon said carrier strip in oriented alignment therewith.

Claim 30

An apparatus for orienting component lead engaging clips having inwardly and downwardly extending resilient tines with respect to the longitudinal axis of a carrier strip said apparatus comprising; an orientation plate having adjacent apertures formed in the upper surface, said adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance for arranging said lead clips in a preselected array; means for placing a quantity of loose randomly oriented lead clips, each of said clips comprising a generally cylindrical ring open at the top having downwardly extending resilient tines, on the upper surface of said orientation plate for arrangement upon said plate; means for vibrating said plate to cause the loose clips to be positioned within said apertures and arranged upon said plate; a carrier strip having a plurality of depending projections adapted for engaging and retaining said lead clips thereto; means for orienting said lead clips within said apertures and relative to said carrier strip projections; and means for moving said carrier strip relative to said lead clips to secure said lead clips upon said carrier strip in oriented alignment therewith.

Claim 36

A system for mounting oriented component lead clips into socket contacts and affixing the oriented contact assembly to a carrier strip, wherein said lead clips comprise a generally cylindrical ring open at the top and having at least one pair of inwardly and downwardly extending resilient tines, said socket contacts comprise an upper cylindrical body portion including a cylindrical socket opening slightly smaller in diameter than the lead clips and a lower square tail portion, said carrier strips comprising an elongate ribbon having a plurality of transversely extending mounting projections said projections being equally spaced from one another a preselected distance and each projection including a finger smaller in breadth than the opening through said lead clips and at least two straight parallel spaced sides, said system comprising; an orientation plate having circular apertures formed in the upper surface with adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance; means for vibrating said plate while tilting it from the horizontal to cause a quantity of loose randomly oriented clips placed upon the upper surface of said orientation plate to be positioned with the tines thereof extending into said apertures in linear rows; means for positioning a carrier strip with mounting projections above a row of oriented lead clips and in axial alignment therewith; means for moving said carrier strip relative to said clips to cause said clips to become mounted upon said carrier strip; means for providing an array of oriented socket contacts spaced one from the other in rotational orientation with the longitudinal axis of said carrier strip; means for positioning said carrier strip above said aligned socket contracts; and means for moving said carrier strip relative to said aligned socket contacts to secure said contacts thereon.

Claim 37

A system for mounting oriented component lead clips into socket contacts and affixing the oriented contact assembly to a carrier strip, wherein said lead clips comprise a generally cylindrical ring open at the top and having at least one pair of inwardly and downwardly extending resilient tines, said socket contacts comprise an upper cylindrical body portion including a cylindrical socket opening slightly smaller in diameter than the lead clips and a lower square tail portion, said carrier strips comprising an elongate ribbon having a plurality of transversely extending mounting projections said projections being equally spaced from one another a preselected distance and each projection including a finger smaller in breadth than the opening through said lead clips and at least two straight parallel spaced sides, said system comprising; an orientation plate having circular apertures formed in the upper surface with adjacent apertures being spaced from one another a preselected distance; means for vibrating said plate while tilting it from the horizontal to cause a quantity of loose randomly oriented clips placed upon the upper surface of said orientation plate to be positioned with the tines thereof extending into said apertures in linear rows; means for positioning a carrier strip with mounting projections above a row of oriented lead clips and in axial alignment therewith; means for moving said carrier strip relative to said clips to cause said clips to become mounted upon said carrier strip; means for providing an array of oriented socket contacts spaced one from the other in rotational orientation with the longitudinal axis of said carrier strip; means for positioning said carrier strip above said aligned socket contracts; and means for moving said carrier strip relative to said aligned socket contacts to secure said contacts thereon.