1,259,139. Mounting electrical components on circuit boards; angular bending; shearing. UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS CORP. 16 May, 1969 [26 Aug., 1968], No. 25141/69. Headings B3A, B3E and B3W. Apparatus for processing electrical components 3 each having a body and a pair of leads extending from opposite ends thereof comprises; a head assembly 100 having spaced apart first and second sections 101, 101<SP>1</SP>; means for actuating the sections during each operational cycle in such a way that the leads 5a, 5b are operably positioned with the component body 4 between the sections, each section 101, 101<SP>1</SP> when actuated sequentially severing a length from one lead and thereafter deforming a free end portion of the shortened lead to produce a generally L- shaped lead; means for varying the spacing between the sections; and control means for actuating the section spacing varying means. The insertion head assembly 100.-The head sections 101, 101<SP>1</SP> are of mirror image construction and symmetrically disposed about a reference plane 8. Base members 102, 102<SP>1</SP> slidably support sub-assemblies 103, 103<SP>1</SP>, each comprising a driving member 145, 145<SP>1</SP>, a forming member 147, 147<SP>1</SP> and a severing member 150, 150<SP>1</SP>, the forming and severing members being slidably mounted in the driving members. A component lead support subassembly 104, 104<SP>1</SP> is also pivotably supported on each member 102, 102<SP>1</SP>. Considering sub-assembly 103 when it is in the up position, cam pins 153, 154 engage in notches 167, 172 in members 150, 147 respectively so that they move in unison with the driving member 145, see also Fig. 2 (not shown). As the member 145 is driven downwardly the member 150 severs the end of the lead 5a in co-operation with the support 104. Immediately thereafter an abutment 151 on the member 150 engages the base member 102 and a cam plate 118 disengages the cam pin 153. The support 104 is pivoted clear of the path of the members 147, 145 and as they continue downwardly the member 147 bends the end of the lead. The member 147 is disconnected from the driving member 145 in a similar manner to the member 150, and the member 145 drives the lead through a hole 6a in a circuit board 6. As the member 145 moves upwardly, the cam pins re-engage in their respective notches to withdraw the members 147, 150 in unison therewith. The sub-assembly 103<SP>1</SP> operates similarly and at the same time as the sub-assembly 103. A motor driven screw 17 is provided with threads of opposite hands at either end. The threads engage in the members 102, 102<SP>1</SP> so that rotation of the shaft by a motor M4 will move them in opposite directions. Clinching devices 7a, 7b are similarly actuated by a motor M3, which rotates a screw shaft 9, Fig. 4B. The tape guide and feed assembly 200.-The assembly 200 comprises a pair of guiding and feeding sections 201, 201<SP>1</SP>, which are as mirror image of each other, and are mounted on adjustable bracket portions 202, 203 and 202<SP>1</SP>, 203<SP>1</SP>. The components 3 are mounted on tapes 2a, 2b and the spacing of the sections 201, 201<SP>1</SP> is adjusted to suit the spacing of the tapes which are received in rims 218, 218<SP>1</SP> of advancement wheels 217, 217<SP>1</SP>. The component leads are received in slots in the rims 218, 218<SP>1</SP>, and pivotable guides maintain the leads in the slots. The wheels 217, 217<SP>1</SP> are secured on shafts 216<SP>1</SP> together with ratchet wheels 221<SP>1</SP> and freely mounted pivot members 225<SP>1</SP>, which are provided with pawls 227<SP>1</SP> for engagement with the ratchet wheels. The members 225<SP>1</SP> engage second members 231, 231<SP>1</SP> by a pin and slot connection, Fig. 5 (not shown), the second members being secured to a shaft 18. One end of the shaft 18 projects beyond a leg portion 13<SP>1</SP> and carries a flange (235) which is connected to the piston rod of a pneumatic cylinder (C-1), Fig. 3 (not shown). The insertion head actuating mechanism 300.- A shaft 14 is journalled in leg portions 13, 13<SP>1</SP> and a stop bracket 303 mounted on one end of the shaft is actuated by a pneumatic cylinder C-2. The other end of the shaft carries cam members 308, 309 for actuating limit switches LS1, LS2. A bracket 301 is secured to the centre of the shaft 14 and a half-round pin 302 connects the driving members 145, 145<SP>1</SP> to the bracket to reciprocate them during each work cycle. A connecting rod 312 is supported on the bracket 303 and reciprocation thereof oscillates a shaft (19) to bring the sub-assemblies 104, 104<SP>1</SP> into supporting position as the driving members descend Fig. 3 (not shown). A guide shaft 15 freely carries a stop block (401) on which are mounted stop elements (I-VIII). The stop elements are adjusted to correspond with the body diameters of the components to be inserted. The required stop element is moved to the reference positions at each work cycle to control the degree of movement of the stop bracket 303 thereby varying the movement of the members 145, 145<SP>1</SP>, Figs. 4b, 4c, 4d (not shown). Operation.-A punched or magnetic tape indicates an X-Y board position, the distance between component lead axes and the component body portion diameter. A tape reader 501 signals a control mechanism 502 to initiate an insertion cycle by actuating motors M1, M2 to place the board in a required X-Y position. The control 502 simultaneously supplies a comparator 503 with the lead spacing and body diameter so that a signals handler 506 actuates a cylinder C-4 to move the stop elements to the required position, Fig. 6 (not shown). If the lead axes are spaced differently to those of the previous component inserted, the comparator 503 indicates the difference to a translator 504 which actuates motors M3, M4. When the clinching and inserting sections are positioned, translator 504 signals a gate 505, which upon receiving a signal from the control 502 that the circuit board is in position, signals the handler 506 to proceed. Cylinder C-1 is actuated to rotate advancement wheels 217, 217<SP>1</SP> and a limit switch LS3 indicates to the handler 506 when a component is in position. The handler then actuates the cylinder C-2 to drive the members 145, 145<SP>1</SP> to a position previously determined by the actuation of the cylinder C-4. The cam 309 closes limit switch LS2 to signal the handler a component has been inserted, whereupon a cylinder C-3 is actuated to drive the clinching devices 7a, 7b and close a limit switch LS4 Fig. 4B. Closing of switch LS4 signals the handler to deactivate the cylinders C-1, C-2, C-3. As soon as operation of the handler 506 is started, it signals control 502 to initiate feeding of the coded tape to read the control data of the next component. As the members 145, 145<SP>1</SP> return, the cam 308 closes limit switch LS1, whereupon the handler 506 gives a permit signal to the control 502 to proceed with the next cycle.