US2896208A - Component inserting machines - Google Patents

Description

July' 28, 1959 L..`D. ALDERMAN ET AL v 2,896,208

COMPONENT INSERTING MACHINES Filed sept. s, 195e 1o sheets-sheet 1 J.llvlY 28,' 1959 l.. D. ALDERMAN ET A| l y 2,896,208

COMPONENT INSERTING MACHINES Filed sept. 5, 1956 1o sheets-sheet s .i3 nvenzofs Leon D. 'Alderman Ra [ph E Hobbs, Jr.- M [ef/1 MQeser B their' A Hor/'ley July 28, 1959 L. D. ALDERMAN ETAL 2,896,208

COMPONENT INSERTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 5, 1956 l 1o sheets-sheet 4 In venors eOnD Alderman l Fal/2h Eh'obbs; Jr- Meh Maeserv Bg zzer Aomey MMM July 28,' 1959 L. D. ALDERMAN ET AL 2,896,208

COMPONENT INSERTING MACHINES 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 5, 1956 MLM.;

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[n ven tors Leon D. Alderman Ralph E. HobbS,Jf: 408 Miei/'L Maeser n.. .rw

July 28, 1959 D. ALDERMAN ET AL 2,896,208

COMPONENT INSERTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 5.` 1956 lO Sheets-Sheet 7 E' 15 Q E914 L9 [56 94 64 Q 64 2% 165 i [36 i .QZ

y i 48 l i 5 44 mel i v 90 [Z8 lm Z4 168 66"\ J. l 50/ I l 79 77 35% i ii 76 E l 60` nl ei@ mlb- 1 9 ,70 y, [6 y 5X/ V,

C 78 nz/enors 34 Leon, D. Alderman L L Ralph E. HobbJr July 28, 1959 L. D. ALDERMAN r-:TAL '2,896,208

COMPONENT INSERTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 5, 1956 n 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 [n1/e nzons' Leon D Alderman Ralph E Hobbs, J5.

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July 28 1959 L. D. ALDERMAN ET AL 2,896,208

COMPONENT INSERMNG MACHINES Filed Sept. 5, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 N E9 zo 453 July 2s, 1959 L. D. ALDERMAN ETAL COMPONENT INSERTING MACHINES 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed' Sept. 5. 1956 CUMPONTENT INSERTING MACHINES ;Leon D. Alderman, Magnolia, Ralph E. Hobbs, Jr.,

A Salem, and Mieth Maeser, Beverly, Mass., assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 5, 1956, Serial No. 608,131

3 Claims. (Cl. 1 2) {This invention relates to machines for assembling componentsV on work piece. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the provision of a machine for mounting electronic components of the type having a plurality of projections or leads, these terminations to be inserted in, and electrically connected to, predetermined portions of circuits reproduced on chassis. Although the invention is accordingly herein illustrated as applied to a machine `for securing on printed wir-ing boards components vof the type having generally parallel terminations and 3 sometimes known,- for instance, as couplates, or printed wiring or module assemblies, the terminations being in- ,serted endwise and then usually clinched, it will be understood that in various aspects the invention is not thus limited.

A rather large variety of electronic components and component assemblies have a series of tabs, leads, or other bendable terminations (which hereinafter may simply be termed leads) projecting from an edge or face oftheir respective bodies. The latter may also be of different shapes and sizes. vA widely used type of socalled printed assembly or couplate, for example, has a flat, rectangular body of ceramic or other non-conducting material in which two or more printed and electrically yconnected components are encapsulated, the required terminations (generally from two to nine in number) nor- `mally being staggered and projecting in two generally parallel rows. These components can be mounted manually and clinched Iby a hand tool, although the task .becomes an arduous and tedious one, especially in view of the large quantities employed, the large numbers of `terminations per assembly, and the high degree kof reliability required in effecting terminal connections in correct relation to the circuitry. If the chassis for receiving the components tbe resilient as is the case with plastic wiring boards, for example, the receiving zone may be easily displaced heightwise of the leads during insertions,

unless precaution be taken, and hence make diiiicultA an accurate and reliable installation by mechanical means.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object vof this invent-ion yto provide a dependable and improvedmachine for mounting on chassis, components having a plurality of generally parallel terminations to be accurately secured thereto To this end, and in accordance with a feature 'of the invention, the illustrative machine is provided with novel mechanism for insuring insertion of the leadsV of successive components in their respective receiving holes, each of which affords only a few thousands of an inch in clearance, said mechanism including a pair-of respective leads, a reciprocable inserting tool mounted for movement between said jaws to engage said successive Abodies to seat the leads in their channels-while, thejaws serve as holddowns` inengagementwithfthe Work ,piece and then to thrust the leads into the Work pieces, and

Ratented July 28, 1959 "ice .2 means associated with .saidl tool .for openingA said jaws in the course of the insertion of the leads intofthe work piece to release the inserted component and for holding said jaws open during their retraction from the work Y piece.

A further feature of the invention is to be recognized in the novel clinchingf mechanism provided herein. for cooperation, for example, with said inserting mechanism. As herein illustrated, this clinching mechanism is embodied-in a novel combination for securing leads'substantially in row ,formation comprising: -a plurality of lead-clinching anvils arranged in ,side-by-side relation, some `of said anvils being pivotally mounted for movement about one of two parallel axes between an inoperative and a clinching position, means for movingthe anvils to and-from a fixed distance from a chassis against which the leads are to be clinched, and means movable between lthe axes for/substantially simultaneous engagenovel `details of construction and arrangement of parts, kwill now be described withV more particularly in connection with an illustrative embodiment thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings, inV which:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of an exemplary machine in which the invention is embodied, portions-of the machine frame and a magazine turret being broken away, and the machine being shown in rest position and as adapted to install components of the 7-termina1 couplate variety in vchassis such as wiring boards;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of -the-machine shown in Fig. l, portions of the frame-being b roken away to indicate anvil-operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram indicating electrical meansl for controlling operation of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, with portions broken away, of anvily mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig, 5 is aV perspective view of interdigitated anvil wiping lingers and portions of chassis-engaging s'pacers'shown in Fig. 4; Y

Fig. 6 isA a sectional viewoffa switch 'indicated in Fig. 2 and having operative'v connection with the anvil mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the base of the magazine turret and itsindexing mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of details of theturret indexing mechanism shown in Fig. 7, the parts being shown in their rest-position; n

Fig. 9 isJ a vertical section of the magazine turret and means, shown at rest, for feeding successive couplates into a raceway;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line X-X-of Fig.'vr 9 and indicating turret-operating means;

Fig. 1l is a bottom view of certain feed and raceway l parts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a View in elevation of mechanism for indexing the magazine turret; A

Fig. 13 is a view in elevation and partly in section 'and corresponding to Fig.A 9, butshowing acomponentbeing ejected Afrom the magazine turret; A

Fig. 14 is a vertical section of the inserting head of the machine, the operating parts' being indicated in their rest positions; j

Fig. 15 is a detail view of mechanism as seen when viewed in the direction of the arrow XV in'Fig. 1;

'Fig 16 is a sectionjtakenlon a liner Fig. 15; v

Fig. 20 is a detail viewof certain parts as seen when looking in the direction of the arrow XX in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a section taken on the line XXI-XXI of Fig. 4, showing the anvil mechanism at rest in relation to a wiring board, and indicating in phantom the relative positions of anvil fingers, a component, and the inserting jaws just prior to clinching action; and

Fig. 22 is a view corresponding with Fig. 21, but showing the various elements in their respective positions when clinching action is completed.

The illustrative machine shown herein may be adapted for individual mounting on a bench or for occupying a station in a conveyorized assembly line such as is disclosed, for example, in United States Letters Patent No. 2,772,416, granted December 4, 1956, upon an application tiled in the names of Adolph S. Dorosz and Thomas W. Snow. For present purposes the machine may be assurned to have its hollow, C-shaped frame 24 adjustably secured in operating position at a station by means of a clamping bolt 26 (Figs. 1 and 2) threaded into a bracket 27 intergral with its base, and a chassis herein shown as a wiringboard 28 (Fig. 2) mounted on a pallet 30 will be assumed to have been positioned appropriately (by means fully described in said application) above contive positions of parts at that later stage in the cycle of operations when leads have been fully inserted;

The jaws 54, 56 are yieldingly held against separation by a pair of flat springs 70, 72 which respectively carry at their lower ends a roll 73 arranged to be engaged by an adjacent side of the jaws. The spring 72 is ahxed at its upper end to a block 74 which is adjustably mounted on a horizontal pin 75 supported in means for holding a stationary raceway 82. The spring 70 is affixed to a lever 76 pivotally connected to a member 77 secured to the guide bracket 50. Threaded through the upper end of the lever 76 is a screw 79 anchored against endwise movement in the member 77. Rotation of the screw will accordingly adjust gripping pressure of the jaws as cooperatively exerted via the rolls 73. As shown in Fig. 14, the closed jaws are formed at their slender lower end portions to provide an internal pocket 78 adapted to receive and hold upright the body C of a component to be installed, the leads L then respectively extending down- 4ward and only partly into semi-conical channels or guide groove 80 (Fig. 17). The latter are formed and spaced 0 to straighten (if necessary) and position the leads L for veyor belts 32, 32' in readiness to receive a multi-ter- I minal type component, for example, a couplate 34 (Figs. 17 and 22). It will be understood that any suitable means for supporting a chassis in appropriately registered position with respect to operating parts o fthe machine may be employed. The frame 24 houses an air motor 36 having connecting linkagelater described for operating a machine head generally designated 38 adjustable about a vertical axis, for actuating anvil mechanism 40 in appropriate time relation to inserting instrumentalities of the head 38, and for operating an indexing magazine turret generally characterized 42, rotatable above the head to supply comopnents successively to said instrumentalities. The body of each couplate may be designated C and its leads or other type of conductive termination identified by the letter L.

For supporting the head 38 (Figs. 1, l4 and 18) for vertical reciprocation from and toward Vthe wiring board 28, an overhanging portion of theframe 24 is provided with confronting clamping cheeks 44, 44 formed to receive a anged sleeve bearing 46, the latter being peripherally grooved to receive snap ring 48 bearing on the C-frame. A U-shaped guide bracket 50 is iixedly secured, as by bolts 51 (Figs. 17 and 18), to the lower end of the bearing 46 for a purpose shortly to be mentioned. The

with an annular slot 64 in its upper end and a peripheral groove 66 (Fig. 18) on its lower end. .A 'screw 68 threaded into the jaw block 60 lies in the groove 66 to couple the block and plunger forvertical movement as a i Y unit, the jaw block being in sliding engagement with, and

accordingly guided by, the bracket 50.

accurate register with the proper preformed receiving holes of the positioned wiring board 28. When said driver bar is retracted relatively to the jaws by means later Y explained, a side of the jaw 56 is open above the pocket portion for communication with the lower end of the iixed raceway or supply chute 82 through which the components to be installed are successively fed. It should be noted that at the start of a normal cycle of operations one component 34 already occupies the pocket 78, as shown in Fig. 14, and the driver bar is in its retracted position. More exactly to insure accurate register of leads L with the guide grooves for any particular form of component 34, two spacers 84 (Figs. 17 and 22) are removably mounted on keach of the jaws 54, 56, as by `screws 86. When necessary, these spacers are changed for others of appropriate shape to adapte them to engage, respectively, an end-face or corner portion of other diierently shaped bodies C to be fed into the pocket 78. The lower end of the driver bar 52 is preferably formed with a V-shaper centering notch 88 (Figs. 14 and 17) adapted to bear on the upper portion of each body C, and the upper end of the driver bar is connected by means of a screw 90 (Figs. 14 and 18) to the lower end of a cylindrical slide 92, the screw being recessed in the latter to permit relative vertical movement of the slide within the plunger 62.

For actuating the just-mentioned inserting instrumentalities of the head in a cycle of operations, and for operating the anvil mechanism 40 and the turret 42, as will later be described, a piston rod 94 (Figs. 1, 2, and 19) is caused by the motor 36 and a return spring 96 to be moved upwardly in a single, continuous operating stroke and then allowed to descend to its lower or starting position.V The motor is connected to a source of air under pressure by means of a pipe 98 (Fig. 1), and admission of air under pressure via the pipe to the motor is controlled by a two-way solenoid valve 1.00 (Figs. 1 and 3). The upper end of the rod 94 threadedly carries a coupling 102 (Fig. 2), the upper end of which is formed with a vertical bore and a pair of oppositely disposed vertical slots 104. Mounted for relative heightwise movement in the just-mentioned bore is the lower end of a rod 106 carrying a pin 108 which projects through the slots 104 to limit the heightwise movement. The pin 108 is normally caused yieldingly to engage the upper ends of the slots 104, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of a compression spring 110, the lower end of which abuts the coupling 102 and the upper end of which abuts a washer `112 (Fig. 19). A pair of spaced, parallel actuating arms 114, 114 engaged by the washer is xedly secured on the rod 106 by means of a nut 118 threaded on the upper end of this rod. For adjustably determining the limit of upward movement of the actuating arms 114v a vertical stop screw 120 (Figs. 2 and 19) extends a bore formed in a spacer secured between the arms. 114-:and is threaded into a bracket 122 secured by ,.,screws toa .U-shaped support 124 mounted irl-:the main 4 frame 24. When the piston `rod V94 is in its lowermost or rest position, as shown in Fig. v2, the lowervend of a spring-presseddetent 126 pivotally carried bythe coupling ,Y they upper lend of the detent extends into thebore formed in the coupling and engages the lower end of the rod 106, thus normally maintaining the pin 108 in engagement with the upper ends of the slots 104. Upon ener- Vgivzation of the solenoid valve 100, for example by the Irneans hereinafter to be described, the piston rod 94 is caused by air pressure to move upward, the. actuating .armsz 114 accordingly being thereafter moved upwardly, as will next be explained, to effect insertion of a component by the head 38.

' |In the rst portion of the upward movement of the piston rod 94the detent 126 rides upwardly in engagement with the bracket 122 and the rod 106, the latter scribed, the initial upward movement of the rod 94 is -eiective to move the driver bar 52 downward from its 1 position shown in Fig. l and into engagement with the top ofthe component 34 in the pocket y78, as shown in phantom in Fig. 17. Thus, the slide92 isv formed at its upper end with a spherical recess for receiving the lower ball-shaped end of a link 134, the ball joint being secured by a clamping plate 136 (Fig. v18) screwed to .slide and recessed to accommodate a portion of said ballshaped end. The upper end of the link 134 haspivotal connection with the front end of a link 138 pivotally connected at 140 (Figs. l and 19) to an upstanding s forked arm of the head-operating lever 128. 'A bolt 142 (Figs. l and 19) extending through a bore formed in the ..6 .the levers 1.5.2,. 1154- ..',Ihe lower. limitV of'` rnf venft ir1tV of ,jthe v jaws` 54, r56 (which corresponds` with their engage- Y ment ,with the, upper surface of thewiring board) yis `adjustably determined bywa stopAscrew 165 (Figs. 14 and 7, 5 ."18) threaded through thelever 150 and engageable end- ,102 is biased clockwise against the bracket 122 so that` `wise with the frame 24. Threadedly extending in a bore formed in the rearward endof the lever 152 is a rod .,166 (Figs. 1, l5 and 19) threadedly carrying at its upper Lend, a lock nut 168-engageable with the lever 152. As

l indicated in Fig. 19, a compression spring 170 is mounted on the lower end of the rod` 166, the upper end of this ,spring abutting the lever 152 and the lower end abutting a ange 172 of a sleeveon the rod 166. Heightwise yp ositioning of the sleeve on the rod to adjust the comk` pression of the spring 170 is effected by means of anut 173. 'Ihe rearward end ofthe head-operating lever 1 28 has secured thereto a pairof spaced bracket arms 17.4, .,174 (Figs. 15, 16 and 20). Each of the arms 174 is .forked at its upper lend pivotally to support on coaxial 20 pins 180,a,togg1e lever 182. By meansof a tension vspring 184 having its ends: connected lrespectively to pins 186 in the levers 182, respectively, the latter are normally `maintained in a Y.straightened condition, their adjacent redge faces abutting as shown in Fig. 15. With the driver rbar. engaging the component andwhile the levers 182 ane thus in unbroken toggle relation, their respectively (recessed seats 188 (Figs. 16 and 20) are positioned ysubsequently to` engage the'ange 172, as indicatedin j phantom in Fig. 16. The upwardly ymoving seats 188 upon engaging the flange 1,72 act yieldingly on the lever r152 through the spring 170 to urge the lever 152 clockwise, vas viewed in Fig. 1, and thereby cause the stop .screw 165 to descend to .its lower limit of movement, Vas shown in Fig. 18. Accordingly, after the jaws 54, 56

`,have engagedmthe wiring board thus to serve as holdr4.0 the .wiring board holes.

' link 138 is threaded into the front lend of the lever 128 v l to enable the angular relation between the latter and the link 138 to be adjusted as desired. A bolt 144 threaded 1 through the link 138 extends to engage the lever 128 endy,wise and accordingly serves adjustably to limit clockwise ywith respect to the lever 128, the head of the bolt 142 vserving to limit relative counterclockwise movement of the link 138.

Next in the course of the machine cycle the driver 5 1 bar 52 and the inserting jaws 54, 56 are caused to move .Y downward as a unit with the component 34 which is to 1 be inserted. Thus, thelower end of the detent 126 rides VVup `on an inclined portion 146 ofthe bracket 122 causing .the detent toV be moved counterclockwise, as viewed in v'Figs. 2 and 19. The detent is accordinglydisengaged from the lower end of the rod `106, and the upward -thrust of the piston rod V94 is now yieldingly imparted tothe head-operating arms 114` through the spring 110.

(as seen in Figs. 1 and 19) movement of the link 138 Y Y 1,54Y pivoted on the pin 132 and spaced to straddle the .lever 128. The front ends ofthe levers 152, 154 respectively carry trunnion blocks 156 (Figs. 14 and 18) arranged to be received in thev slot 64 in the plunger 62. The normal rest position and upper limit of movement of the latter and the jaws is adjustably determined Aby means of an eyebolt 158 (Fig. 14) carrying a washer 160 and nuts 162, 162, the washer being engageable with the frame 24 and the eyebolt slidably extending through downs andrv cannot bevfurther lowered, the spring -170 is loaded, and the `driver bar 52 is yieldingly urged to move the vcomponent downward torcause its leads to be thrust throughthe straightening `grooves V and part way'into Adjoining shoulders 190 A of the levers 1,82, when in straightened condition, are dis- .posed to be engaged by the rounded lower end .ofl a Vtoggle-actuating bar 192 (Figs. l,l 15, and 19) adjustably lsecured in a bore formed inthe lever 152. Thev last portion oftheup'ward stroke ofthe arms 114 is effective through the spring 1,70 to Vcomplete the downward inserting stroke of the driver bar, the component leads thus being fullyjthrust .through theA wiring board to install the component as indicated by phantom lines in Fig. 21. The arrangement is such that just as the driver .bar has'thus fullydescendedthe spring 170 has become further compressed until the toggle-actuating bar l192 bearing on the yshoulders 190will overcome the resistance ofthe spring 1.84 and break the toggle relation ofthe 5 levers 182, pivoting'them, as shown in Fig. 20, and per- O positions. y The rod 166 is adjusted heightwise so that its engagement with the lever 128 is timed to occur at substantially the same time as the head of the stop screw l is engaged by the arms 114. In completing its inj serting stroke, the driver vbar carries into engagement AAwith'internal shoulders 198,- 1,98 formed on the jaws, a pair of cams 196, 196 which operate to spread the jaws apart and release thecomponent as they bear on the J wiringboard. As shown in Fig. 17 each cam 196 is adjustably' secured heightwise to a llateral wing of Vthe driver bar 52. A pair of preloaded tension springs 194,

194 (Figs. l, 15 and 19), have their lower ends connected to the pinr andA their upper endsY connected to an arm of the lever 152 vfor a purpose later mentioned.

The upward-movement of the piston rod 94 is now 75 further continued to its upper limit rduring compression frontof the frame 24.

i of the `spring 1107to actuate theanvilclinching mecha- `nism'40. Referring to Fig. 2, a pin 200 extending trans- Uversely through the coupling .102 carries at each.Y of its extremities a depending link 202. A bell crank lever Y 204 pivoted in theframe 24 at 206 has forked arms 208 links 216, 218. The lower end of the link 218 is piv-Y otally carried by an adjusting lever 220, one end of vwhich is pivoted in the bracket 27 of the machine frame v24 and the other end of which threadedly receives a vertical setscrew 222 engageable endwise with a hardened insert 224 in the frame'l By means ofthe screw 222 the heightwise operating'range of clinching mechanism to be described, and which is carried by the toggle link 216, is determined. The upperend of the 216 has pivotal connection with a plunger 226 (Figs. 2l and 22) that is secured by means of a screw 228 and a washer 229 to an internal shoulderv formed on a tubular sleeve s 232. A valve block 230 is secured to the tubular sleeve 232 by a screw 233. During toggleV straightening a tlange of the sleeve bears upwardly on one end of a compression spring 234 that engages at its.other end an inturned shoulder of a cylindrical anvil support 236. The latter is adjustable about a vertical axis to provide for clinching, as will be described, and as angularly appropriate in the event that the machine head is also adjusted about a corresponding vertical axis. Thus the support 236 is provided with an annular recess 238 for 'receiving endwise a locking screw 240 which is threaded through a bore formed in a cylindrical spacer 242. This spacer is slidable heightwise in a bearing 244 formed in the bracket 27, the spacer moving upward with the support 236 until the latter engages a stop 246 (Figs: 1, 2 and 22) adjustably secured by a screw 248 to the Integral with the support 236 and disposed at opposite ends of the block 230 are two pairs of upstanding arms 250, 250 and 252, 252,(Figs.

4, 5 and 21), each pair of arms being bored to support a fulcrum pin 254`on which is pivotally mounted in parallel relation a plurality of anvil lingers256. Each finger has an upwardly extending rounded and grooved For a purpose soon to be explained the block 230 is provided with a central, horizontal bore 262 having connection with tubing 264 (Figs. 4 and 6) in communication with a source (not shown) of air under pressureA and with an outlet conduit 266 connecting with a butway 274 connecting with the bore 262. A cover 276- secured to the block 230 by screws 278 (Fig. 4) retains the leaf springs and isl slidably tted with a series of hardened inserts 280 which have their lower anged ends .respectively in engagement with the central portion of a leaf spring. Each insert 280 is normally arranged to engage an anvil linger projection 260,` as shown in Fig. 21,

and, as indicated by phantom lines therein, when the support 236 engages theA stop 246, the clinching lingerA ends 25,8 have not quite reached the level of the under- A side of the wiring board, but a series of spaced boardbacking members 282 has just come into contact with the wiring boardto, reinforce it against downward ,prese sure which might be exerted by the inserting head. 'Ihe y clinching end 258 arranged to engage an inserted termiv nation, and a downwardlyextending projection 260. 50

,members 282 are of inverted T-shape, their opposite ends being mounted on pins 284, 284, respectively held inA coaxial bores formed in holders 286, 286 screwed to opposite sides of the support 236. The pins 284 are contained in their holders by cotter pins 288 (Fig. 4).

.Upon final straightening of the toggle 216, 218, the

spring 234 is compressed, and the block 230 is yieldingly elevated relative to the support 236 until a stop shoulder Y290 (Figs. 21 and 22) on the sleeve 232 engages the support 236, the inserts 280 thus being caused to bear upwardly on the respective projections 260 and swing the anvil fingers 256 simultaneously from their inoperative positions into lead-wiping positions. The grooved Y ends 258 of lingers pivoting on one pin 254 clinch their leads in a direction opposite to that effected by the ends 258 of anvil ngers pivoted on the other pin 254. The construction of the anvil operating means described is such thatthis final toggle straightening wherein clinching occurs is timed to follow immediately after the completion of lead insertion by the machine head and while the driver bar and separated jaws 54, 56 serve as holddowns. A tension spring 292 (Fig. 2) connecting the bracket 27 and a spacer secured between the links 212 operates, when air from the motor 36 is allowed by the valve 100 to exhaust, to restore the toggle 216, 218 to normal broken condition in readiness for the next installation. The anvil lingers 256 normally resume their starting positions by reason of their own weight, though light springs (not shown) may be employed to insure their return if desired; in certain instances heavier return springs (not shown) are applied to selected anvil fingers fora purpose later explained.

In the course of the clinching of the seven leads of a component 34 the seven leaf springs 272 are depressed bythe reaction of the inserts 280 with the anvil fingers and hence the passageways 274 are all closed thereby, the full pressure of inlet air accordingly being elective through the conduit 266 to move the button 268 (to the left 'as viewed in Fig. 6) and close the contact 270. For present purposes of description it may be assumed that the machine is under the control of an operator who will cause a normally open main switch 294 (Fig. 3) to be closed throughout an operating cycle, By closing the switch 294 the solenoid valve 100 is energized through a normally closed contact Kl-A. Consequently, a relay f K1 is energized upon closure of the anvil switch 270 through the means just described, the relay K1 then being effective to open the contact Kl-A, deenergize the solenod valve 100, and close a contact Kl-B. The motor redidV not get fully thrust through its wiring board hole so that a leaf spring 272 did not during the clinching action "close olf its passageway 274, there would be no buildup in the air pressure in the conduit 266 effective to displace the ,button 268, and the anvil switch 270 would accordingly remain open. In these circumstances the relay 'K1 does not get energized, and hence the solenoid valve 100 remains renergized with the anvil and headoperating parts remaining in extended position adjacent to' or' in contact with the wiring board until the main switch 294V is reopened and the component installation p corrected. Thus, the machine may be provided with ausideredV to be a necessary or desirable precaution., If

components having a smaller number of leads substantiallyv in a row are to be installed by the illustrative machine,the heavier return springs above referred to may be connected between the no longer needed anvil lingers i 256'and suitable `straps (not shown)` extending between arms 250, 250 and 252, 252 to hold the proper inserts '306 in each instance until a magazine is in register f pivoted'to each clamp the axis of the adjacent stud 336 tov aposition wherein;

Y- 280 and leaf springs 272 permanently depressed and ythusnot lmpair the eifectiveness of the pneumatic testing'mechanism. Upon release of air from the motor 36 throughthe valve 100 the driver bar retracts upwardly `along with thejaws 54, 56by reason of the counterclockwise movement (as-viewed in Fig. 19) of the levers '128 and 138. It is to be noted that preferably the springs 194 are not of suflicient strength to overcome the springs 170, but are of sufficient strength to raise the jaws while openascthe driver bar is being retracted. In the course of the inal retraction of thehead-operating parts to their startmg positions'by the spring 96 as above mentioned,

when thelever 150 can no longer pivot due to engagecment of thewasher 160 with the frame 24, retraction of Tthe: jaws v54, 56 is arrested and thereafter the bar 192 'is'raised relatively to the toggle levers 182, and accordinglyprojections 296, 296 (Fig. 20) on the bar 192 contact shoulders 298, 298, respectively formed on the toggle levers to pivot and restore them to their normal straightened condition.

For automatically supplying a component 34 from a magazine supply to the raceway 82 each time the jaws 54,

.56 descend, means about to be described is provided.

The forked lower end of an upright bracket 300 (Figs. 1

and 9) is secured to the machine frame 24 by screws 302., and its upper end isvertically bored to provide a spllt bearing-for a spindle 304 (Figs. 7, 9 and 10).

AMounted on this spindle is =a base 306 on which a turret 308 is mounted for rotation as permitted by indexing means to be described. Thus, a coil or clock spring V310 (Fig. 9) recessed in the bottom of the turret has its inner end secured by a pin 312 to the turret and an outer end coupled by a pin 314' to the base 306, the pin 314 extending through a bore formed in a spring-retaining spacer 316 which lloats on the base. A disk 318 (Figs. 8, L9 and 10) screwed to the underside of the turret is formed with six equally spaced and radial indexing teeth "320. Trailing faces of these teeth are inclined to the horizontaL'and their leading faces extend vertically to l-serve as stops when engaging an abutment surface 322 (Fig. 8) formedona lever 324. By automatic means later explained this lever 324 is actuated to release the surface 322 lfrom a tooth 320 when a turret-mounted magazine 326 (Figs. l, 7,` 9 and 12) in'register with the upper end of the raceway 82 becomes empty, the coil` spring 310 thus being permitted to rotate the turret308 to bring an adjacent magazine 326 loaded with components into register rwith the raceway. Each of the six magazines 326 is open-ended and similarly detachably v mounted, as will next be described, the vertical stack of` components in-each magazine being supported on the base with the raceway and the stack there being allowed to descend past the base for feeding. 'Referring to Figs. 7 and 9,

each magazine 326 is releasably secured to an upper and a lower disk portion ofthe turretr 308 by a pair of manually operable clamping devices generally designated 328,

P328. Each device consists of an arm 330 secured by fa screw-332 to the turret, an L-shaped clamp 334 for normally engaging the outer face of a magazine and Yyieldingly slidable on a spring-pressed stud 336 threaded into' a portion 338.0f the arm 330, and an L-shaped -*block 340 for'engaging the inner face and a par-t of one yside of the magazine, Vthe block 340 being adjustably secured-to the arm 330 by a rabbet joint and by means of a screw 342 extending through a slot in the block and lthus f affording accommodation for different sizes of vmagazines. loading, its clamps 334 may and retracted from the magazine against resistance of lythe springs on'the from the clamping position shown in Fig. 7 tothe release Convenientlyrto release a magazine for rebe grasped, one in each hand,

studs 336 and then turned 90 (i.e.,

a spring-backed detent lever 344 -po'sition there shown),

334 thus being swung around Azo r.t-hewdetent is ,permitted .to `engage endwise the portion 33.84 and therebyfholdthe clamps retracteduntil a load- -,ing ymagazine can beremounted.

The magazine 326 in register Withvthereceiving Zend loftheraceway rests on a pair of spaced blocks 346, 3 48 4flush `with Ithe base306 and securedthereto, the block 1348 being formed with a slot 350 for a purpose later mentioned. .For supportingtthestack of components to befed .apair of spaced restsY 352 engageable with opposite mar- :gins Yof ,the vbottommost component is adjustably secured yby screws 354, 356 (Fig. 1l) `extending through slots lin .theerest,s, the screws 354Qbeing threaded upwardly Vinto .blocks 346, 348, respectivelyand the screws 356.being j threaded upwardly into therturret. base 306, all of said screws extending through, andthus clamping, a U-shaped spacer358to thebase 306. Successive bottommostcomponents 34 oftheA stack yare fed` into kthe raceway by means `of partsV shown in their rest positions in Fig.` 9, and indicatedintheir relative 'feeding positions in Fig. 13. Thus,

tanoscillatory feedingnger' 360 (Figs. 9, 11, 12, and 13) has a ratherthin upper end arranged to engage only the bodyofthe vlowermostgcomponent to. eject it, the finger y360 being adjustably secured to an arm of a bell crank .levert 362 which is fulcrumed on a forked bracket 364 vscrewed to ,theV base 306. For swinging the finger 360, to [feed components in time relation to the insertingopera Ationsjof the head,l the lever 362 is bored slidably to receive afeed,rodf36 movable endwise by reason of the `pivotal connection of its lower end with an arm 368 (Fig. f1) mountedon the .jaw block 60. A compressionspring 370 of the rod 366 abuts at its upper end a stop collar 372 land at its lowerend `ak Washer 374 which is thus yieldingly ,held in engagement'with the lever362, the limit of'downwardmovementeof the latter relatively to the rod 366 being adjustably determined by a collar 376.

'.tainingpguide`382, athin upstanding edge of whichQis adapted( to extend between selected corresponding leads of` several of Ithe components ,in the stack just abovethe bottommost component.l To aline opposite ends ofthe vlower componentsgin thestack with the raceway 8.2, a

lpair of guide blocks^384,-386 (Figs. lland 12), respectivelyarranged to-extendrin guide slots of theY blocks 346,348, is each adjustably secured thereto by a screw "387, theblockj386 having an inclined face 388 (Figs.- 7

vand 12) 'to urge descending componentsinto stacked verr' tical alinement. l For assuring that the lower components remain free ofoneanother and that the bottommost component assumes a position on the rests 352 such that V*the feeding nger can properly engage it, a reciprocable pusher -390 (Figs. 9 and 13) is actuated, as will now be described. "The'upper end of this pusher is disposed to yengage each bottommost component adjacent to its leads, asindicated in Fig. 11,'-and its lower end is secured to a U-,shaped lever 392-`pivoted at 394 on the bracket 364.

-Adjustably secured to each leg of the lever 392 is a piece l*396 having a cam-"398 formed thereon. The cams 398 are disposed-to rideV on an actuating pin 400 carried by the'feed iinger 360, cooperative relation between the cams andther pin beingl yieldingly maintained by a tension spring-V402 couplingv the lever 392 with the raceway 82. h @The -lever 324fis pivotedat one end on a` pin 404 Figs. 7. and. 8) xedzin the turret base 306 and yieldiatfingly'. vsuspendedxfromthe base vby a spring 406. In

t ordento `ioperate; this lever 1324 and thereby cause vthe turret i308 to; swing .an` empty `magazine 326 Vfrom delivery position and move Va loaded' magazine into the delivery position, means now to be explained .is provided. A horizontally reciprocable probe 408 (Figs. 7, 8 and 12) is reciprocably mounted in the slot 350 and rhas one end arranged to engage and displace to the right, as viewed in Fig. 12, each component 34,V if any, just beneath the lower end of the magazine in vdelivery posin tion. The other end of this probe is connected .to the upper arm of a bell crankrlever 410 fulcrumed on al bracket 412 axed tothe turret base.' The lower arm of the lever 410 slidably receives a vertical rod 414, the limit of downward movement ofthe lever relative to the rod being xed by a stop collar 416 adjustably mounted thereon. ,j counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 8) into engagement with the collar 416 by-means of a compression spring 418, the upper end of which engages ahead 420 formed on the rod 414 and the lower lend of which engages a washer 422 on the rod. The lowerend of the rod 414 has operative connection with the arm 368, and accord- -ingly each descent of the jaws 54, 56 with a component to be installed is effective, both to rock `the feed finger 360 to supply a component -toQthe raceway in position next to be installed and yieldinglyY to operate l the probe 408. The lever 410 is connected by a link 424 (Figs. 8 and 12) to one of two Vparallel depending crank arms 426 (Figs. 7, 8 and 12) ofja composite, forked bell crank lever 428, the other arm 426 having pivotal connection with a latch-operating lever 430. The bell crank lever 428 is pivotally carried by the turretbase306. Y

When the probe 408 does not engage a component in the stack, as when the magazine supply is exhausted, the probe is permitted to travel in a longer stroke, the spring 418 compressing to a lesser extent than normal, and accordingly the latch-operating lever 430 will be moved more to the left (as viewed in Fig. 8) than normal. Inso moving, a member 432 pivoted at 434 on the lever 430 and having both a cam surfacel436 and a detent surface 438 will be carried to the left, the cam surface 436 riding over a pin 440 fixed in the lever 324 'to depress it and so unlatch its`abutment surface 322 from engagement with a tooth 320. The latchoperating lever 430 carries a snubber roll 442 disposed to n'de, if need be, on a machined undersurface of the base 306. As indicated in Fig. 8, the member432 is yieldingly prevented from pivoting clockwise during the action of the cam 436 in depreing Ythe lever 324 by a tension spring 444 connecting the adjacent arm 426 with a pin 446in the member 432. The arrangement is such that, as soon as the cam surface 436 has passed the pin 440, the spring 406 causes the pin 440 to rise in contact with the detent surface 438 to the extent permitted by the undersurface of the latch-operating lever 430, the abutting surface 322 now being positioned to contact and index the next tooth 320. In the course of the retractive stroke of the jaws 54,56 the lever 430 is returned to the right (as Viewed in Fig. 8) to its normal position, the member 43,2V accordingly now bearing on the pin 440 and thus being caused to pivot clockwise against the resistance of the spring 444 and thereby freeing the pin 440 and the member 432 for return to their normal relative positions shown in Fig. 8.

Brielly to review a cycle of operations of the illustrative machine, assuming its'magazines 326 are loaded and a wiring board is suitably positioned, as shown in Fig. 14, to receive the terminals of a component 34 held by the jaws 54, 56, an operator will close the main switch 294 (Fig. 3) and reopen it at the close of that cycle, or hold it closed for continuous cyclical operation.

circuit of the type disclosed in the above-cited Dorosz etal. patentfpreferably is' employed in the case of a s conveyorized mounting ofthe machine, the circuit shown The lever 410 is yieldingly biased* means. rIlle piston rod 94, as a consequence of the admission of air under pressure tothe motor 36, which is permitted by the energized valve 100, moves upward in a continuous operating stroke against the resistance of the return spring 96. In the iirst portion of this upward stroke,` head operation occurs until the stop screw 120 prevents further upward movement of the arms 114, 114, the jaws 54, 56 being caused to descend with the driver bar and the component from the position shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in Fig. 18. The

' jaws are then at their lower limit of movement determined by the screw 165, and the leads are inserted into the jaws. Prior to lead insertion, it should be noted, the members 282 will have been raised into contact with the board 28 closely adjacent to the localities of insertion to resist any undue depression thereof by reason of thrust from above. Because of lost motion connections no movement of the toggle links 216, 218 had beenv derived from initial upstroke of the piston rod 94; but'thereafter (through the spring 210 and the pin and slot connection of the lever 208) these links had been partly straightened to lift the plunger 226 and hence carry the supportV 236 upwardly to engage the stop 246 at the same time as, or very shortly after, the members 282 reached the board. Thus the jaws 52, 54 and the members 282 cooperate accurately to position the wiring board localities heightwise prior to insertion and clinching, an especially advantageous feature should a board be warped. The grooves 80 act on the respective leads to straighten them, if necessary, as they are funneled into their wiring board holes. In the last portion of the upward movement of the arms 114, 114 the driver bar 52 is caused by upward pressure of the seats 188 acting on the lever 152 fully to insert the leads, and the spring 170 is stiiened to the extent that the toggle relation of the levers 182 is broken by the bar 192. Though the jaws 54, 56 are now spread by the cams 196, 196 to release the component, the rod 166 is now engaged endwise by the lever 128 to maintain the jaws in their holddown positions and thus prevent the inserting zone of the wiring board from rising on the inserted leads during clinching. Accordingly, the wiring board is prevented from breaking the component body byexerting an excessive pressure thereon and better control is obtained of the tightness of lead clinch.

With the driver bar continuing to bear downward on the inserted component, and the jaws bearing on the work piece, and other head-operating parts for the moment being stationary, the remainder of the upward stroke of the piston rod 94 is utilized to operate the lead-clinching anvils as described.V Final straightening of the toggle 216, 218 causes the anvil lingers 256 to be swung about their respective pins 254, selected fingers thus clinching to the left, as viewed in Fig. 22, and the other ngcrs olinching to the right securely to anchor the component.

. During the downward movement of the jaws 54, 56, to

' the jaws, the driver bar; the Vjaw block, and the rod 366 Y are raised, and accordinglyY the component next Vto be It will be understood that an automatic control installed is allowed to enter the empty jaw pocket 78, and the'feed finger 360 returns to its initial position. Simultaneously with the feeding action, the rod v41,4 is

operated to reciprocate the probe 408 and thus determines, V`by theA means above. explained, if the indexing mechanism should, throughthe spring 310, rotate the 13 turret to substitute a full magazine for an empty one in the delivery position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that this invention aiords a reliable and versatile machine for installing large quantities of multi-terminal type components successively, uniformly and accurately.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. -In a machine for mounting electrical components respectively having leads projecting from corresponding portions of their bodies, a pair of jaws movable into and away from engagement with a work piece on which a component is to be mounted, said jaws being yieldable separable from the component and formed to provide a pocket for receiving and slidably carrying the body of the component and to provide individual channels for guiding its leads, means for feeding a component into the pocket when said jaws are retracted `from the work piece, a driver bar operable between said jaws to thrust the leads of a component in said pocket through their respective channels and into the work piece While said jaws are in engagement with the work piece, a surface formed on the driver and arranged thereafter to interact with at least one of said jaws to separate them laterally from that component while the jaws are thus engaging and determining the lead-receiving level of the work piece and while being retracted, and means -for thus operating said jaws and driver bar.

2. I n a machine for mounting electrical components on work pieces, a main frame, means for supporting a work piece provided with preformed holes in position to receive the leads of `a component, a pair of cooperative jaws mounted on the frame for movement toward and from engagement with a work piece supported by said means, said jaws being formed to guide the leads of successive components endwise into said work piece holes, a driver bar mounted for relative movement between said jaws and toward and from said supported work piece, means for controlling the relative movements of said driver bar and jaws, and mechanism including a cam formed on the driver bar and responsive to operation 14 of the last mentioned means for causing said jaws to be released from a component as it is being inserted by the driver bar, said mechanism holding said jaws sepa rated during the latter portion of their engagement with the work piece and during their retraction therefrom. 3. In a machine `for mounting electrical components on work pieces, and having a driver bar movable to eject each component, leads foremost, from the formed guideway afforded by a pair of cooperative jaws, a frame, cam means adjustably mounted on the driver bar, `a pair of levers pivotally mounted on the frame, one of which is operatively connected to said jaws vand the other of which is operatively connected to said driver bar, means for sequentially pivoting said levers, first to cause the jaws and driver bar to carry a component to a work piece and then to cause the driver bar to thrust the leads of the component into the work piece, and means for arresting the lever operating said jaws as they en `gage the work piece to serve as holddowns, said cam means being arranged to spread the jaws as the driver bar ejects the component therefrom.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 354,885 Brown Dec. 28, 1886 709,002 Draper Sept. 16, 1902 1,184,030 Schmitz May 23, 1916 1,192,628 Havener July 25, 1916 1,458,161 Walter June 12, 1923 1,632,374 Havener June.14, 1927 1,859,951 Blevney May 24, 1932 2,127,357 Gualtiere Aug. 16, 1938 2,180,484 Sims Nov. 21, 1939 2,214,953 Cook Sept. 17, 1940 2,278,013 Nicholson Mar. 31, 1942 2,497,748 Von Stroeser Feb. 14, 1950 2,640,986 Blumensaadt June 9, 1953 2,713,878 Stahl July 26, 1955 2,726,394 Lowell Dec. 13, 1955 2,746,041 Heeley May 22, 1956 2,762,046 Wright Sept. 11, 1956 2,827,630 Kwasniewski Mar. 25, 1958

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