US3500709A

US3500709A - Cutoff device

Info

Publication number: US3500709A
Application number: US679389A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dirk Landman
Original assignee: Berg Electronics Inc
Current assignee: Berg Electronics Inc
Priority date: 1967-10-31
Filing date: 1967-10-31
Publication date: 1970-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1987-03-17

Description

March 17, 1970 v D. LANDMAN 3,500,709

CUTOFF DEVICE Filed Oct. 31, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TERMINAL FEED FINGER TERMINAL FEED FIG.2 26 08 I4 we I [O0 58 E? 7464 104 I02 n4 1 H6 76 1 T- 42 3 52 22 20-U LI IL; L, w I2 24 w 44 T so i 62 86 I 54 2a I 0 I l f I] l l l I ll 34 I l INVENTOR l DIRK LANDMAN ATTORNEYS March 17, 1970 Q'LANDMAN I 3,500,709

- CUTOFF DEVICE Filed 001:. 31. 1967 I26 0 44 Q a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I4 '06 no l V m DIRK LANDMAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,500,709 CUTOF F DEVICE Dirk Landman, Mechanicsburg, Pa., assignor to Berg Electronics, Inc., New Cumberland, Pa., :1 corporation of Pennnsylvauia Filed Oct. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 679,389 Int. Cl. B26d 5/20, 5/16 U.S. Cl. 83278 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cut-0h. device is provided for severing a terminal from a chain of terminals. The severed terminal is subsequently staked onto a terminal board. The cut-off device includes a fixed cutting blade structure and a movable cutting blade structure which coact to sever the terminal. An actuator is pivotally mounted on the movable cutting blade structure. The actuator has a cam follower. A cam having a pair of cam surfaces is caused to move through a forward stroke and contact the cam follower to drive the actuator and movable cutting blade structure to sever a terminal. The cam passes by the cam follower on the forward stroke. Upon the return stroke, the cam again contacts the cam follower. However, the actuator is free to pivot in the reverse direction and does not cause movement of the movable cutting blade structure on the return stroke of the cam.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is adapted for use in connection with a staking machine. The type of staking machine referred to is one which provides automatic means for staking a plurality of terminals onto a terminal board. Such machines are designed for mass production and desirably operate at relatively high speeds in order to permit an operator to produce a maximum number of finished boards per unit of time.

The terminals are normally fed into the staking machine in the form of a terminal chain. Each terminal must be severed from the chain in order to permit staking thereof onto the terminal board. The staking device includes a fixed anvil and movable punch. In the past, a movable cutting blade structure had been directly associated with the punch to sever the terminal upon movement of the punch to stake the terminal onto the terminal board. The direct association of the cutting blade with the punch limits the operations which may be performed on the terminal, such as bending a portion of a terminal before staking it onto a board. The present invention provides a cut-off device for severing the terminal from the chain which is isolated from the punch. This isolation permits other operations to be performed on the terminal prior to staking of the terminal onto the terminal board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A cut-off device is provided for severing a terminal from a chain of terminals. The cut-off device comprises support means for a chain of terminals. A fixed cutting blade structure and a movable cutting blade structure are provided. The blade structures are positioned to coact to sever a terminal from the chain. An actuator is mounted on the movable cutting blade structure. A cam structure is provided in operable relation to the actuator. Means are provided to drive the cam structure through a forward stroke and return stroke. The cam structure contacts the actuator on both strokes. The actuator is operably connected to the movable blade structure upon contact of the actuator by the cam structure on the forward stroke to cause severing of a terminal. The actua- 3,500,709 Patented Mar. 17,1970

tor is operably disconnected from the movable blade structure upon contact thereof by the cam structure on.

the return stroke.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of the cut-ofi device of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIGURE 1 with portions in section for the purpose of clarity;

FIGURES 3-6 are side elevational views similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating one cycle of operations.

The cut-off device 10 is adapted for, but not restricted to, use in connection with a staking machine such as illustrated in co-pending United States patent application Ser. No. 679,675 filed Nov. 1, 1967, for Staking Machine. The staking machine disclosed in the co-pending application functions to successively stake terminals onto an arcuate or semi-circular terminal board 12. The terminal board is of the type used in electrical apparatus. The staking structure is provided in a punch press which has a lower fixed die shoe and an upper movable die shoe. The lower die shoe carries a support structure for the terminal board 12.

A staking mechanism is provided. The staking mechanism includes a punch element 14 mounted on the upper die shoe and an anvil element 16 mounted on the lower.

die shoe. A terminal 18 having a tubular staking portion 20 is positioned in alignment with the punch and in alignment with an opening 24 in the terminal board. The terminal 18 is the lead terminal of a chain of terminals 22. In operation of the staking machine, the punch is driven downwardly to engage the terminal and carry the terminal towards the terminal board whereupon the tubular portion 20 is moved through the opening 24 in the terminal board and into contact with anvil 16. The punch is then moved further downwardly to take over the tubular portion.

The cut-off device 10, which is mounted on the lower die shoe, is actuated by a cam 26 mounted on the upper die shoe to sever the terminal 18 from the chain 22 after engagement of the terminal by the punch 14 and before driving the projecting portion 20 through the opening 24 in the terminal board.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 1 and 2, the cut-off device 10 includes a support yoke 28 which serves as a base. The yoke 28 is fixedly mounted on the lower die shoe of a punch press. The yoke 28 comprises a pair of upstanding spaced apart

side walls

30, 32 interconnected at the forward portion thereof by a bottom wall 34. A recess 36 is provided in the bottom wall 34 for reception of the lower end of a spring 37. An

upstanding ear

38, 40 is provided on the rearward portion of each

side wall

30, 32. Openings are provided in the ears to receive an axle 42 on which is pivotally mounted a carrier member 44. The axle 42 is held in place by set

screws

46, 48.

The carrier member 44 is received in the space between the

side walls

30, 32 and extends for substantially the length thereof. The carrier member 44 comprises a pair of upstanding spaced apart

side walls

50, 52 interconnected by a bottom wall 54. A recess 60 is provided in the bottom wall and forms a guideway for the terminal chain 22. An upwardly extending

ear

56, 58 is provided on the rearward end of each of the side Walls, The cars have openings therethrough, through which the axle 42 projects. A recess 62 is provided in the underside of the bottom wall 54 in alignment with the recess 36 provided in the support yoke 28 and receives the upper end of the spring 37. The spring 37 biases the carrier to the position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. A pair of

stop members

63, 65 are provided on the support yoke 28 to limit upward movement of the carrier.

A cutting blade holder 64 is secured on the upper edges of the

side walls

50, 52 of the carrier member 44 at the forward end thereof by means of screws 66. The holder 64 is accurately located by means of a dowel pin 70 and projections 72 which are received in notches provided in the side walls of the carrier. A recess 74 is provided on the underside of the holder 64 forwardly and centrally thereof. A cutting blade 76 is secured in the recess by means of a screw 78. The forward end of the cutting blade extends outwardly from the recess 74 so as to project forwardly of the holder.

The cutting face of the blade 76 is concave and comprises an upper forwardly and downwardly inclined portion 80 and a lower generally vertical portion 82. The concave cutting edge 84 results in a curved cut of the terminal 18 from the chain 22. Flat

narrow portions

86, 88 adjoin the

concave portions

80, 82 to form the marginal edges of the cutting face.

The blade 76 coacts with a fixed cutting blade 90 which is integral with a U-shaped member 92. The member 92 is mounted on the support yoke 28 by screws 93 and extends around the forward portions of the carrier 44 and the holder 64. A groove 94 extends forwardly from the cutting blade 90. The groove 94 serves to receive. the terminal 18 after it has been severed from the chain 22. The cutting face 96 of the blade 90' is convex to mate with the concave portion 82 of the blade 76. The cutting edge 96 consequently mates with the cutting edge 84 to result in the desired curved cut. It will be noted that the surface portion 80 of the cutting blade 76 falls away from the cutting face 96 to thus provide a relief for the terminal which is severed from the chain.

An actuator element 100 is provided to drive the carrier 44 and consequently the cutting blade 76 downwardly to sever the terminal 18 from the chain 22. The actuator 100 is L-shaped. One leg 102 normally rests on the carrier 44. The forward end of the leg 102 is received in a recess 104 provided in the holder 64, The leg 102 is pivotally connected to the holder 64 by means of a pin 106. The other leg 108 extends upwardly and has, on one side thereof, a cam follower roller 110. The cam follower 110 is in alignment with the cam 26. A spring 112 extends between

pins

114, 116 mounted respectively on the actuator 100 and support yoke 28. The spring 112 biases the actuator 100 into the position shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

Operation of the device may now be understood by reference to FIGURES 3-6. FIGURE 3 illustrates the condition of the cut-off device and associated components before the cutting operation takes place. It will be noted that the forward end of the carrier 44 is inclined slightly upwardly as is the forward end of the chain 22. This arrangement permits feeding of the chain 22 forwardly without interference with the U-shaped member 92.

Referring to FIGURE 4, upon initiation of a cycle, the Punch element 14 and cam 26 descend, respectively, towards the terminal 18 and cam follower 110. The punch 14 has a pick-up pin 118 which enters the tubular portion of the terminal 18 and seats the terminal in the groove 94. At the same time, the cam 26 engages the cam follower 110. It will be noted that the cam 26 has an upwardly inclined lower cam surface 120 and a downwardly inclined upper cam surface 122. When the lower cam surface 120 contacts the cam follower 110, the actuator 100 tends to pivot clockwise about the pin 106 as viewed in FIGURE 4. When the cam 26 engages the follower 110, clockwise movement is not possible and the carrier 44 and actuator 100 are pivoted downwardly about axle 42 to move the follower out of the path of the cam. Downward pivoting of the carrier compresses spring 37 and moves cutting blade 76 past cutting edge 96 of blade 90 to sever the lead terminal 18 from chain 22.

As shown in FIGURE 5, after the cam 26 has passed by the cam follower 110, the carrier 44, holder 64 and actuator 100 are free to return to their initial positions. The spring 37 biases these components back to the original position. Further downward movement of the punch 14 results in driving the terminal 18 downwardly. The punch 14 has a fiat surface 124 which is spaced from but in alignment with the fiat surface 126 of the member 92. The portion 128 of the terminal 18 is wiped between these surfaces resulting in a substantially bend in the terminal.

Further downward movement of the punch 14 results in staking the terminal 18 to the board 12 as shown in FIG. 6. Upon the upward return stroke of the punch 14 and cam 26, the upper surface 122 of the cam contacts the cam follower 110'. This tends to pivot the actuator counter-clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 6. The actuator pivots in the counter-clockwise direction without effecting any movement of the carrier 44. Consequently, the cam 26 is allowed to pass by the actuator 100 upon the upward stroke without causing any movement of the carrier 44. When the cam 26 has passed by the cam follower 110, the spring 112 causes the actuator 100 to return to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

After the punch 14 has risen above the cutting blades, the chain 22 is fed forwardly to place a new terminal in position for staking. Upon return of all the components to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, the cycle may be repeated.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A cut-off device for severing a terminal from a chain of terminals comprising means for supporting a chain of terminals, a fixed cutting blade structure, a movable cutting blade structure to coact with the fixed blade structure to sever a terminal from the chain, an actuator mounted on the movable cutting blade structure, cam structure in operable relation to the actuator, means to drive said cam structure through a forward stroke and a return stroke, said cam structure contacting said actuator on both strokes, said actuator being operably connected to the movable blade structure upon contact thereof by the cam structure on the forward stroke to cause severing of a terminal and operably disconnected from the movable blade structure upon contact thereof by the cam structure on the return stroke.

2. A cut-off device for severing a terminal from a chain of terminals comprising means for supporting a chain of terminals, a fixed cutting blade structure, a movable cutting blade structure positioned to coact with the fixed blade structure to sever a terminal from the chain, an actuator pivotally mounted on the movable cutting blade structure, said actuator being free to pivot in one direction and contacting and driving said movable blade structure to coact with the fixed blade structure to sever a terminal from the chain upon movement tending to pivot said actuator in the other direction, cam structure in operable relation to the actuator, means to drive said cam structure through a forward stroke and a return stroke, said cam structure driving the actuator and movable blade structure in said other direction on the forward stroke to cause severing of a terminal and pivoting the actuator in said one direction away from the movable blade structure on the return stroke.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in the provision of a base, said movable blade structure comprising a carrier pivotally mounted on the base, a cutting blade on said carrier, said actuator being pivotally mounted on said carrier and contacting and pivoting said carrier on the forward stroke of the cam structure and pivoting away from the carrier on said return stroke of the cam structure.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that said carrier includes the means for supporting the chain of terminals, means for successively moving the endmost terminal of the chain into position for severing from the chain, spring means biasing said carrier to a position offset from said fixed cutting blade 5 structure, whereby said chain of terminals may be moved without interference with the fixed blade structure.

5. A device as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that said actuator comprises an L-shaped member having one leg normally resting on the carrier, said one leg being pivotally mounted at one end to the carrier, the other leg of said actuator extending away from the carrier, and a cam follower on the end of said other leg for engagement with said cam structure.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 and further characterized in that said cam structure comprises a cam element having a pair of oppositely disposed, oppositely inclined cam surfaces, one of said cam surfaces contacting said cam follower upon the forward stroke of the cam and the other of said cam surfaces contacting said cam follower on the return stroke.

7. A device as defined in claim 5 and further characterized in the provision of spring means biasing said actu- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1934 Yates 83-611 1/1959 Rosenberg 83-610 X JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.