Patent US4573263A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4573263A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic contact-pin setting apparatus for testing an "off-grid" printed circuit
Assignee: CIRCUIT LINE Srl A CORP OF ITALY
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Filing: 1984-10-03
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Granted: 1986-03-04
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Expires: 2004-10-03
Abstract
Abstract This machine essentially comprises: a contact-pin feeding head which drives contact-pins through holes in the adaptor having a pair of frames made fast with each other, but mutually movable, each of which carry one of two parallel superimposed perforated plates. The relative mobility of the two frames, and accordingly of the two adaptor plates, enables alignment, as the case may be during the step of inserting each contact-pin, of two homologous holes along the vertical line through the contact-pin feeding head. The various steps are controlled by a processor which has the configurations of the holes formed in the two plates, respectively, stored therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivo De Rossi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:59
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K13/0478; H05K13/0482; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53174; Y10T29/53183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
An automatic contact-pin setting apparatus for testing an off-grid printed circuit, the apparatus having a contact-pin feeding head, a scanning unit, and an adaptor including a bed of plugs which are accommodated in respective holes formed in a basic plate according to a standard grid configuration and electrically connected to the circuit scanning unit, a reference plate which has a plurality of through holes arranged in the same "off-grid" configuration as the "off-grid" printed circuit to be tested and is located facing the basic plate, characterized in that the said adaptor comprises a first frame bearing the said basic plate and a second frame supporting the said reference plate movably mounted one with respect to the other so as to shift the said basic and reference plates one with respect to the other and to the said contact-pin feeding head across parallel planes spaced from one another, drive means for actuating the said first and second frames, and a processing unit arranged to control the said contact-pin feeding head and the said drive means to sequentially move holes in the reference plate to an operative position with respect to the said contact-pin feeding head and to shift the plug hole nearest to it in the basic plate in alignment with it to receive a contact-pin from the said contact-pin feeding head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
An automatic contact-pin setting apparatus for testing an off-grid printed circuit, the apparatus having a contact-pin feeding head, a scanning unit, and an adaptor including a bed of plugs which are accommodated in respective holes formed in a basic plate according to a standard grid configuration and electrically connected to the circuit scanning unit, a reference plate which has a plurality of through holes arranged in the same "off-grid" configuration as the "off-grid" printed circuit to be tested and is located facing the basic plate, characterized in that the said adaptor comprises a first frame bearing the said basic plate and a second frame supporting the said reference plate movably mounted one with respect to the other so as to shift the said basic and reference plates one with respect to the other and to the said contact-pin feeding head across parallel planes spaced from one another, drive means for actuating the said first and second frames, and a processing unit arranged to control the said contact-pin feeding head and the said drive means to sequentially move holes in the reference plate to an operative position with respect to the said contact-pin feeding head and to shift the plug hole nearest to it in the basic plate in alignment with it to receive a contact-pin from the said contact-pin feeding head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second frame comprises a pair of parallel stacked decks the bottom one whereof is slidable, along straigth runways fast with a stationary carrying structure, along a first direction and the top one whereof is slidable along straight runways fast with said bottom deck in a second direction extending orthogonally to said first direction, said top deck being provided peripherally with vertical uprights delimiting an inner space and carrying at the top thereof the said reference plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the said first frame comprises a pair of stacked parallel decks located within said inner space, the bottom deck being slidably mounted relatively to the top deck in said first frame along said first direction and the top deck being slidably relatively to the bottom deck in said second frame along said second direction, said top deck in said frame supporting the said basic plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said drive means for said second frame comprises rotatively powered threaded bars, and said drive means for said first movable frame comprises kinematic linkages including step-driven face cams and rolling members attached to said second frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said face cams kinematically linked to said rolling members are effective to allow for movements of said first frame relatively to said second frame equal to approximately 1/2 the pitch of said regular grid on said reference plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE2448960A1
Cited
US4327483A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-03 | 1989-09-02 | 1990-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-03 | 1993-09-02 | 1994-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-03 | 1997-09-02 | 1998-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |