All lead sensor

Claim 1

In a component inserting machine, a sensor for indicating that leads of the component are located down through their proper opening in the printed circuit board, comprising: a. a cut-clinch mechanism carried by the machine and located below the printed circuit board and adapted to cut and clinch the component leads to attach the component to the board; b. said cut-clinch mechanism comprising a block carrying opposed fixed knives angularly disposed below the board and movable knives coacting with the fixed knives to cut and clinch the component leads extending down through the board; c. a fiber optics sensor associated with the cut-clinch mechanism and adapted to sense whether the component leads are in position down through the board prior to the operation of the cut-clinch mechanism; d. said sensor comprising a housing carried on said block between said fixed knives, said housing having a plurality of openings spaced the approximate spacing of the component leads with fiber optic input and output filaments positioned in said openings to sense the presence of the component leads wherein the fiber optic sensor is located within the cut-clinch mechanism and said input and output filaments transfer light to reflect off the component leads and coact with a machine control for proper functioning of the machine.