GB2190314A

GB2190314A - Workpiece insertion apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2190314A
Application number: GB08710267A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jr Edward F Nolte
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1986-05-16
Filing date: 1987-04-30
Publication date: 1987-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-30
Also published as: DE3716212C2; GB2190314B; GB8710267D0; DE3716212A1

Description

GB2190314A

SPECIFICATION and the ram.

For accurately aligning the hole in the work Workpiece insertion apparatus piece holder, with the ram, a workpiece holder support may be provided which is constructed This invention relates to apparatus for insertnot only to move the workpiece holder along ing a workpiece, for example an electrical X-Y axes extending at right angles to one spring socket, into a hole in a workpiece hol- another, but is articulated for fine adjustment der, for example a printed circuit board. of the position of the workpiece holder along There is described in GB-A-1,330,136, these axes.

apparatus for inserting a workpiece into a hole 75 Where the apparatus is to be fed with in a workpiece holder, the apparatus compris- workpieces in strip form, the workpiece trans ing a workpiece feed track, means for trans- ferring means may comprise a sprocket wheel ferring the workpiece from the feed track to a for driving the strip of workpieces, the workpiece insertion position, a ram for driving sprocket wheel being in turn driven by a pawl the workpiece from the insertion position into 80 and ratchet arrangement, the stroke of the the hole, when the hole is located in register pawl being adjustable to take account of with the ram, and a tubular guide through workpiece size.

which the ram passes, for guiding the work- For a better understanding of the invention piece from the insertion position into the hole and to show how it may be carried into ef in the workpiece holder. 85 fect, reference will now be made by way of In the case of some workpieces, for example to the accompanying drawings in example electrical spring sockets, especially which:

where these are of miniature size, precise po- FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of apparatus sitioning of the socket relative to the hole is in the form of a machine for inserting electri required, if proper insertion of the socket is to 90 cal spring sockets into holes in a printed cir be effected. If the workpiece is driven to- cuit board; wards the hoie, even in very slight misalign- FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front view of the ment therewith, damage to the material sur- machine; rounding the hole is likely to occur. The inven- FIGURE 3 is a side view taken from the tion is intended to provide apparatus as de- 95 right hand (as seen in Figure 1) side of the fined in the second paragraph of this specifi- machine; cation, in which this disadvantage is avoided. FIGURE 4 is a front view of the machine According to the invention, therefore, the showing a socket insertion and socket strip tubular guide is longitudinally divided into a advance mechanism subassembly of the ma- plurality of parts which can be splayed away 100 chine; from one another to a limited extent, against FIGURE 5 is a view taken from the right the action of resilient means. hand (as seen in Figure 4) side of the subas- Since the workpiece is not rigidly contained sembly; in the guide tube, damage to the workpiece FIGURE 6 is a view taken on the lines 6-6 holder is unlikely to result, in the event that 105 of Figure 5 showing the insertion mechanism the workpiece is driven against the workpiece in a start position; holder by the ram. FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of Figure Conveniently, the parts of the tubular guide 6, but showing the insertion mechanism in a are mounted at the end thereof nearest to the full insertion end position; workpiece insertion position, for siight pivotal 110 FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary sec movement relative to one another, tional view showing, in greater detail, part of transversely of the iength of the tubular guide, the insertion mechanism in said full insertion the said parts being resiliently urged towards position, and also showing a locator pin as- one another by elastomeric rings surrounding sembly; the tubular guide proximate to its end remote 115 FIGURE 9 is an exploded, isometric view of from the workpiece insertion position. the insertion mechanism and guide means as- Especially where the workpiece is a minia- sociated therewith; ture electrical spring socket, having a head FIGURE 10 is an exploded, isometric view thereon for engaging the workpiece holder of an inserter guide shown in Figure 9; when the remainder of the socket has been 120 FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sec inserted thereinto, the said remote end of the tional view showing said guide and electrical tubular guide is internally restricted so that the spring sockets after their insertion into holes head causes the parts of the tubular guide to in a printed circuit board by means of the be splayed slightly apart at said remote end insertion mechanism; and thereof to allow the socket to pass from the 125 FIGURE 12 is a schematic diagram of a tubular guide towards the workpiece, under pneumatic control circuit of the machine.

the action of the ram. As shown in Figure 1, the insertion ma The ram may be driven by a pneumatic pis- chine, which is generally referenced 10, has ton and cylinder unit, shock absorbing means thereon a reel 13 about which is wound a being provided between the piston of the unit 130strip 11 of workpieces in the form of minia- 2 GB2190314A 2 ture electrical spring sockets 12 (which are an anticlockwise (as seen in Figure 4) sense, described in detail in US-A-3,803,537), a through a predetermined angular distance.

guide roller 16 being provided for the strip Since the sockets 12 may be of various sizes, 11. A frame 15 which is articulated for move- the advance stroke of the pawl 51 is adjusta ment along horizontal X and Y axes extending 70 bie by means of a screw 30. The wheel 52 at right angles to one another, supports a carries indexing sprockets 53, which are en workpiece holder in the form of a printed cir- gageable in index holes (not shown) in the cuit board 14 for guiding and locating it rela- strip 11 to advance it, appropriately to posi tive to the machine 10 for the insertion of the tion the sockets 12 thereof for insertion by sockets 12 in the holes H in the board 14. 75 the mechanism 26.

The machine has a C-frame 21 comprised of a The pawl 51 pivots about a pin 54 and is base 21 a, an upright post 21b and a horizon- urged by a spring 55 positively to engage the tal cantilever arm 21 c at the top of the post pawl 51 with teeth 57 of a rotary ratchet 58 21 b. Figure 1 also shows a board locator pin coupled to the wheel 52, so that the ratchet assembly 22 for locating the board 14, a sup- 80 58 is driven by the piston and cylinder unit 50 port bracket 24 for the assembly 22, exten- to drive the wheel 52. Upon each leftward (as ders 25 for the base 21a, an insertion mecha- seen in Figure 4) stroke of the pawl 5 1, the nism 26 for the sockets 12, a feed mecha- strip 11 is fed forward by said predetermined nism 27 for the strip 11, and a housing 28 distance. A block 60 pivoted to a pin 61 is covering these mechanisms and pneumatic 85 urged by a spring 69, shown in Figure 5, to and electrical supply lines therefor. press the strip 11 against the sprocket wheel Figure 2 further shows a bracket 19 sup- 52 so that the sprockets 53 are always posi porting the reel 13, a bracket 20 supporting tively engaged in index holes in the strip 11.

the strip guide roller 16, a pneumatic piston The wheel 52 and ratchet 58 are rotatable and cylinder unit 50 (also shown in Figure 4) 90 about the axis of a common shaft 63. As which forms a part of the advance mechanism shown in Figure 5, the spring 69 extends 27, and a lamp 31 for aiding the operator in about the pin 61 of the block 60, a position manually locating a hole H in the printed cir- ing spring 70 extending about the shaft 63 to cuit board 14, relative to the machine 10. hold the ratchet 58 against a collar 71 to There is also shown in Figure 2, a bracket 32 95 align the strip 11 with a ram 84 (Figure 6).

fixed to the base 21a of the frame 21 and The ratchet 58 comprises a mechanical siip slidably housing a iower rod 33 for articulating clutch (not shown) which prevents rearward the frame 15 and for movement both for- movement of the strip 11.

wardly and rearwardly as well as from right to Both of the mechanisms 26 and 27 are left and vice versa. Left hand and right hand 100 mounted on a bracket 67 fixed to a bracket board guide channels 34 mounted on an up68, attached to the arm 21 c of the frame 21.

per rod 35 of the frame 15, support a work- A pneumatic piston and cylinder unit 65 has a piece holder in the form of a printed circuit piston 65a carrying a piston rod 66 of the board 14 for movement with the rod 33 from insertion mechanism 26 which will now be left to right and vice versa (as seen in Figure 105 described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 2) along the X axis, articulated arms 36 on to 9.

the frame 15 allowing fine alignment of board The piston rod 66, which is hollow (as 14 along that axis. The guide channels 34 can shown in Figures 6 and 7), is arranged to be be adjusted lengthwise of the rod 35 by set driven in vertical reciprocating motion. Within screw means 37, shown in Figure 3. As 110 the rod 66 is an inner rod 80 which was shown in Figures 1 and 2, guide rods 38, introduced into the rod 66 through its upper slidable in a housing 39 on the bracket 32, open end 81 (Figure 9) and is secured in the allow the lower rod 33 of the frame 15 to be rod 66 by means of a set screw 82 and lock moved forwardly and rearwardly, and thus the nut 83. The rod 80 drives a ram 84 consist guide channels 34 and the frame 15 to be 115 ing of a ram head 85 and a ram shaft 86.

moved along the Y axis, the articulated arm The ram shaft 86 is guided by a ram shaft 36 allowing fine adjustment of the board guide 87 supported by a ram shaft guide sup along that axis. port 88. Thus the rod 80, the ram 84, the The manualiy operated X-Y system de- guide 87 and the support 88 are all mounted scribed above, may be replaced by an elec- 120 within the piston rod 66 of the unit 65. In tronicaiiy guided X-Y table, which is fully auto- order to accommodate differences in length of matic, although printed circuit boards 14 must the ram 84, a spring 89 acts between the be loaded onto, and removed from, it, by the upper (as seen in Figure 9) end of the guide operator. 87 and the lower face of the head 85.

The insertion and feed mechanisms 26 and 125 The ram shaft 86 is guided in a ram guide 27, respectively, will now be described with 91 by a guide bushing 90 mounted centrally reference to Figures 4 and 5. The piston and in the guide 91. The guide 91 defines a strip cylinder unit 50 of the mechanism 27 drives a guide channel 92, which is of inverted T, reciprocating pawl 51 which, upon each cross-sectional shape, as seen in Figure 9, stroke thereof, rotates a sprocket wheel 52 in 130 with the upright 93 of the T providing a guide 3 GB2190314A 3 channel for the heads 12' (best seen in Figure 99b to splay slightly, as the head of a socket 8) of the sockets 12. The guide bushing 90 12 passes through the socket exit opening serves to locate the ram shaft 86 over each 114 at the bottom of the guide 99. The 0 socket 12 as the strip 11 is intermittently fed rings 104 allow sufficient splaying of the forward. The ram guide 91 is in turn mounted 70 halves 99a and 99b to avoid damage to the on a strip guide 94 by means of screws, not tooling where a socket 12 is incorrectly ori shown, inserted through openings 97 in the ented in the channel 111, or where the socket ram guide 91 and openings 97a of the strip 12 is incorrectly aligned with the hole H in the guide 94, into tapped openings (not shown) in printed circuit board 14.

a feed bracket plate 107 shown in Figure 5. 75 The resilient restraining effect of the 0-rings A socket insertion guide 99 is mounted in a 140 allows for considerable lateral movement cup-shaped guide bushing 100 mounted in an of the ram shaft 86 and the socket 12 as outer bushing 98 for vertical reciprocating they are moved through the guide 99, and the movement with the ram shaft 86. frustoconical lower part 115 of the head 109 The guide 99, which is tubular, is divided 80 is received in the bushing 100, so that the axially into two halves 99a and 99b which halves 99a and 99b of the guide 99 can pivot meet along the longitudinal central plane of slightly about the pins 101 relative to the the guide 99 and which are held together by bushing 100 to accommodate lateral move the bushing 100. Pins 101 extending through ment of the shaft 86 or the socket 12.

apertures 102 in the bushing 100 engage with 85 Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate, in axial section, slight play in transverse pin channels 103 in the insertion of a socket 12 into a hole in the the guide 99, to retain the head 109 of the circuit board by means of the insertion mecha guide 99 in the bushing 100. The head 109 nism 26. Figure 6 shows the piston rod 66 in has a downwardly tapering, frustoconical its fully raised starting position. During a cycle lower lower part 115. At the end of the guide 90 of operation of the machine, the rod 66, and 99, remote from the head 109, the two with it the rod 80, are driven through a down halves 99a and 99b are held together resili- ward working stroke and an upward return ently by elastomeric 0-rings 140, as best stroke whereby the ram 84 is also driven seen in Figure 11, which restrain undue splay- through a downward working stroke and an ing apart of the halves 99a and 99b and urge 95 upward return stroke, the spring 89 acting as them against a socket 12 when such is re- a shock absorber upon each upward stroke of ceived in the guide 99. The guide 99 has a the rod 66.

bottom, socket exit opening 114 above which The ram shaft 86 is guided in the ram shaft is a downwardly tapered, annular cam surface guide 87, although the shaft 86 is primarily 116. The bushings 98 and 100 and the guide 100 supported by the ram shaft guide support 88.

99 are received in a tube guide stop 104 As the rod 66 is moved upwardly, the ram (best seen in Figure 9), the upper end of a shaft 86 remains in the guide bushing 90 and spring 105 abuts the bottom of the bushing is thereby positioned over the leading socket 100, the lower end of the spring 105 acting 12 in the strip guide slot 96, which termi against a shoulder 106 in the guide stop 104. 105 nates, as best seen in Figure 9, in an enlarged The assembly just described is shown in opening 96a into which the shaft 86 can axial section in Figure 7 with the ram shaft 86 move freely, as it can through the frustoconi in its bottom, full insertion position. As shown cal opening 110 in the guide 99 (Figure 10).

in Figure 7, this assembly is mounted on the At the beginning of the working stroke of feed bracket plate 107 which constitutes a 110 the ram 84, the spring 105 urges the bushing bottom plate of the bracket 67 shown in Fig- 100 and thus the guide 99 against the strip ure 5. As a safety precaution, a guard 108 guide 94 as shown in Figure 6. As the rod 66 (Figures 6 and 7) is provided for the inserter descends, the leading socket 12 of the strip guide 99. 11 (which may be of a plastics material) is As will be apparent from Figure 10 the two 115 severed therefrom by the ram shaft 86, which halves 99a and 99b of the guide 99 coop- then pushes the severed socket 12 from a erate to define the head 109, which is formed socket insertion position in the opening 96a, with a frustoconical opening 110 for guiding into the opening 110 of the guide 99 and the ram shaft 86 to guide it into the central down along the channel 111 as shown in Fig channel 111 of the guide 99 to traverse the 120 ure 8 so that the socket 12 protrudes through entire iength of the channel 111 as described the opening 114 in the bottom of the guide below. 99 and thus into the hole 8 in the circuit The 0-rings 140 extend, as shown in Fig- board 14, as shownin Figure 10.

ures 9 and 11, between shoulders 112 defin- As the shaft 86 descends, it pushes the ing a neck 113, at the lower end of the guide 125 inserter guide 99 with the socket 12 therein, 99. As mentioned above, the 0-rings 140 re- and thus the inner bushing 100, down in the strain the guide 99 from being unduely spla- outer bushing 98. The frustoconical cam sur yed during the insertion of a socket 12 into a face 116 at the bottom of the guide 99 is hole in the printed circuit board, although the engaged by the shaft 86 so as to splay the 0-rings 140 allow the two halves 99a and 130 halves 99a and 99b of the guide 99 apart 4 GB2190314A 4 against the resilient action of the 0-rings 140. position. When the piston of the unit 50 has As shown in Figure 8, during the downward achieved full travel, a threshold sensor 146 working stroke of the shaft 86 the play, detransfers line pressure P to the valve 143 scribed above, between the frustoconical part causing it to apply line pressure to the up 115 of the head 109 of the guide 99, and the 70 stroke side of the cylinder of the unit 65, to bushing 100, which allows some pivotal cause it to retract its piston 65a. A threshold movement of the halves 99a and 99b about sensor 147 now transfers line pressure P to the pins 101, provides scope for some lateral the valve 145 which applies line pressure P to movement, in all directions, for the guide 99. the feed side of the cylinder of the unit 50 to Similarly, play is allowed for between the 75 cause the strip 11 to be fed to position the guide 99 and the guide stop 104 so that pro- next following socket 12 in line with the ram per alignment of the ram shaft 86, upon the 84.

completion of its working stroke, is accommo- The operating cycle of the machine 10 can dated at all times. not be repeated until the switch 141 has been As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a drag plate 80 released and is activated again. If the ram 84 assembly 120 is provided for pressing down cannot complete its operating stroke, for on the strip 11 as it is being advanced by the example if it is obstructed by the failure of a sprocket wheel 52 so that the strip 11 is socket 12 to be inserted into its hole in the correctly positioned in the strip guide 94. The board 14, the speed of the ram 84 will be drag plate assembly 120 comprises a drag 85 reduced to the extent that the sensor 144 plate 121 pivoted to a pin 122, and a spring acts to cause completion of the operating cy 123 in a hole in a bracket 125 mounted on cle of the machine 10 before damage is the inserter bracket 67, urging the plate 121 caused to the board 14.

against the strip 11.

Claims

The strip 11 is supported in a guide channel 90 CLAIMS

126 in the bracket 125, the channel 126 be- 1. Apparatus for inserting a workpiece into ing aligned with the channel 96 in the strip a hole in a workpiece holder, the apparatus guide 94. comprising a workpiece feed track, means for As best seen in Figure 8, the board locator transferring the workpiece from the feed track pin assembly 22 comprises a locator pin 95 to a workpiece insertion position, a ram for bushing 131 in which is a locator pin 130 driving the workpiece from the insertion posi having a head 130a engaged by a spring 133 tion into the hole, when the hole is located in urging the pin 130 upwardly (as seen in Figure register with the ram, and a tubular guide 8). The spring 133 is accommodated in a through which the ram passes, for guiding the housing 134 formed integrally with the bush- 100 workpiece from the insertion position into the ing 131 and is vertically adjustable by means hole in the workpiece holder; wherein the tu of a set screw and lock nut (not shown), the bular guide is longitudinally divided into a plu set screw being received in a blind hole 135 rality of parts which can be splayed away at the bottom of the housing 134. from one another to a limited extent against A cycle of operation of the machine 10 is 105 the action of resilient means.

initiated as described below, when the locator
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein pin 130 has been seated in a hole in the the parts of the tubular guide cooperate to circuit board 14, to locate the latter relative to provide a head at the end of the tubular guide the ram 84. nearest to the workpiece insertion position, As shown in Figure 12, a pneumatic circuit 110 the head being received in a bushing in which for operating the machine 10 comprises a each part of the tubular guide is mounted for pneumatic switch 141, which may be in the limited pivotal movement transversely of the form of a foot switch, and which, when actu- tubular guide.

ated, applies air pressure P to a one shot
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein valve 142 which, in turn, applies air pressure 115 an end portion of the tubular guide remote P, for approximately one second, to a four from the head is surrounded by a resilient way valve 143 which in turn applies air pres- member urging said parts towards one sure P to the downstroke side of the cylinder another.

of the unit 65 to drive the ram 84 through its
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, working stroke. As the piston 65a descends, 120 wherein pins extending through the bushing the air flow restriction on the exhaust side of are received in channels in the head to pro the cylinder of the unit 65 maintains some air vide fulcrums for the pivotal movement of the pressure therein. When, however, the piston parts of the tubular guide, the head being 65a slows to an extent that the exhaust side mounted with clearance in the bushing.

air pressure drops below 10 percent of the 125
5. Apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4, line air pressure, a threshold sensor 144 wherein the bushing is slidable in a second transfers line air pressure to a four-way valve bushing and is urged towards the workpiece which operates the piston and cylinder insertion position by a spring, the ram having unit 50 of the strip feed mechanism 27, to a starting axial position in which it is withposition it for feeding the strip 11 to its next 130drawn from the tubular guide to a location GB2190314A 5 beyond the workpiece insertion position, the accompanying drawings.

spring urging the first mentioned bushing and the head, in said starting axial position of the ram, against a stop proximate to the work- CLAIMS piece insertion position, and the ram, as it 70New claims or amendments to claims filed on moves through the tubular guide driving it 21 July 1987.

along the second bushing towards the work- Superseded claims 1 to 3.

piece holder against the action of the spring. New or amended claims:
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein 1. Apparatus for inserting a workpiece into said stop is constituted by a strip guide for a 75 a hole in a workpiece holder, the apparatus strip of the workpieces which strip is driven comprising a workpiece feed track, means for by the transferring means along a channel in transferring the workpiece from the feed track the strip guide, to said workpiece insertion to a workpiece insertion position, a ram for position. driving the workpiece from the insertion posi-
7. Apparatus according to any one of the 80 tion into the hole, when the hole is located in preceding claims, wherein the end of the tuburegister with the ram, and a tubular guide lar guide remote from the workpiece insertion through which the ram passes, for guiding the position is internally restricted, the workpiece workpiece from the insertion position into the thereby splaying the parts of the tubular guide hole in the workpiece holder; wherein the tu- away from one another against the action of 85 bular guide is longitudinally divided throughout the resilient means as the workpiece is driven its length into a plurality of parts which are by the ram from the tubular guide into the pivotally mounted proximate to said workpiece hole in the workpiece holder. insertion position so that they can be splayed
8. Apparatus according to any one of the away from one another to a limited extent preceding claims, wherein the ram is driven by 90 against the action of resilient means engaging a piston and cylinder unit having a hollow pis- said parts at positions remote from said work ton rod containing an insert fixed in the piston piece insertion position.

rod, the piston rod also having therein a guide 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein sleeve receiving the ram with a head of the the parts of the tubular guide cooperate to ram between the guide sleeve and the insert, 95 provide a head at the end of the tubular guide a shock absorbing spring acting between the nearest to the workpiece insertion position, ram head and the guide sleeve. the head being received in a bushing in which
9. Apparatus according to any one of the each part of the tubular guide is mounted for preceding claims, further comprising a support limited pivotal movement transversely of the frame for the workpiece holder, said frame 100 tubular guide.

comprising a pair of workpiece holder sup- 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, ports spaced from one another to receive the wherein said resilient means comprise at least workpiece holder between them, each work- one resilient ring surrounding said parts.

piece holder support being carried by a first Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office rod, said first rods extending in a direction by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd, Dd 8991685, 1987.

away from one another, each first rod being Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, articulated to a second rod extending parallel London, WC2A l AY, from which copies may be obtained.

to the first rods, the second rod being mounted for movement along a first axis and also being mounted for movement along a second axis extending at right angles to the first axis, the articulation between the first rods and the second rod being such as to allow fine adjustment of the workpiece holder along said axes for aligning the hole in the workpiece holder with the ram.
10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the workpiece transferring means comprises a sprocket wheel mounted for rotation about the axis of a shaft and carrying sprockets for engaging in index holes in a strip of workpieces, a ratchet wheel being mounted on the shaft to rotate the sprocket wheel step by step, to feed one work piece at a time, to the workpiece insertion position, under the action of a paw[ provided with means for adjusting its stroke.
11. Apparatus for inserting a workpiece into a hole in a workpiece holder, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the