US3739141A

US3739141A - Fused eyeletting machine

Info

Publication number: US3739141A
Application number: US00166303A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Siegel
Original assignee: W Siegel
Current assignee: Pace Inc
Priority date: 1971-07-26
Filing date: 1971-07-26
Publication date: 1973-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-12

Abstract

This invention relates to a fused eyeletting machine of high flexibility and accuracy. A pair of manually moved opposed tools (22,24), electrically isolated from the machine frame structure carry out eyelet upsetting and fusing operations. Means are provided to adjust the upsetting pressure; centering and leveling accessory is provided to position a workpiece between the tools.

Description

United States Patent 1 Siege] 11 3,739,141 June 12, 1973 FUSED EYELETTING MACHINE 76] Inventor: William Jordan Siegel, 814 East Franklin Avenue, Silver Spring, Md.

[22] Filed: July 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 166,303

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 756,133, Aug. 29, 1968,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl 219/150 V, 219/86, 219/152 [51] Int. Cl. H05b 1/00 [58] Field of Search 219/86, 150, 150 V,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1950 May 219/86 X 11/1933 Achard 219/86 X 10/1959 Cook 2,326,590 8/1943 Weightman 219/86 X 3,562,482 2/1971 Friedberg et al. 219/86 2,470,552 5/1949 Gottschalk 219/86 452,042 5/1891 Ries 219/86 2,879,373 3/1959 Fagge t 219/89 3,436,513 4/1969 Harris"... 219/86 X 3,358,117 12/1967 White 219/86 X Primary Examiner-E. A. Goldberg Assistant Examiner-B. A. Reynolds Att0rneyFidelman, Wolffe & Leitner [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a fused eyeletting machine of high flexibility and accuracy. A pair of manually moved opposed tools (22,24), electrically isolated from the machine frame structure carry out eyelet upsetting and fusing operations. Means are provided to adjust the upsetting pressure; centering and leveling accessory is provided to position a workpiece between the tools.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIED JUN I 21973 SHEEIZUFZ FUSED EYELETTING MACHINE This is a continuation of Ser. No. 756,l 33, filed 8/29/68, now abandoned.

The present invention is directed to an eyeletting machine and more particularly to a manually actuated fused eyeletting machine capable of cold and fused setting of eyelets and funnelets to printed circuit boards.

Complex electronic equipment is often designed and constructed with little or no regard for the maintenance problems involved in efforts to operate the electronic equipment over a reasonable life span. Use of modular elements such as circuit boards, and integrated circuits has been urged on the grounds that modules are capable of the pull and replace type of maintenance. Expressly, or by implication the art is thereby advised that true repairs are not needed. To a very large extent, such an approach to maintenance simply shifts the problem from true repair to a storage and inventory problem, where maintenance requirements involve immediate availability of diverse modules. Ultimately, as circuitry becomes more and more complex, an occasional need for true repair arises if only because the needed module is not at hand. Clearly then, a perhaps substantial need exists for skilled repair craftsman capable of repairing electronic gear and the modular elements therein; he, in turn, must have tools which offer the capability for effecting quality repairs-on component modular elements of electronic equipment. Desirably repairs should have to a degree of quality equaling that of original manufacture. In short the tools used by the repair craftsman should be precision equipment which can be operated within whatever tolerances exist in the module which, for example, may be a printed circuit board. In addition, the tools must be versatile, the repair craftsman will be expected to work on virtually all the component elements in extremely diverse electronic equipment. The diversity is attributable both to differences in electronic gear and to the existence of many different manufacturers of electronic gear. Thus, in terms of the eyeletting machine of the present invention the machine must be capable of use with equal facility on eyelets and funelets of different sizes and on printed circuit boards of different thicknesses and of diverse composition.

The object of the present invention is to provide an eyeletting machine capable of precision work.

A further object to the present invention is to provide an eyeletting machine of general usefulness in placement of eyelets and the like into printed circuit boards.

The construction of the eyeletting machine of the present invention may best be understood by reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the eyeletting machine as a whole;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view thereof taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan section taken along lines 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2.

As may be seen from FIG. 1, the machine for setting eyelets and the like has a C-shaped frame 12 which suitably is a cast member. At the bottom of frame 12 foot members 14 extend sideward, at the front and rear of machine 10, so that eyeletting machine 10 may stand upright on a work table or other flat surface. To hold, eyeletting machine 10 firmly to a suitable opening on the work surface a mounting bracket structure is provided at the bottom of the frame 12 at the rear thereof, the structure being cylindrical opening 16 (see FIG. 5), in which a mounting stud 18 is positioned and a thumb screw 20 (FIG. 1, 2) to tighten the mounting stud 18 inside the opening of the work surface.

Mounted on the opposing upper and

lower arms

15 and 13 of the frame 12 is an upper tool 22 and a lower tool 24, each tool being, removably secured in a suitable support structure as hereinafter explained. The lower tool 24 is positioned inside a cylindrical lower support member 26, and is securely held therein by set screw 28. Support member 26 and an annular insulator bushing 32 therearound fit into a cylindrical passage 30 in lower arm 13 of frame 12. At the base of lower support member 26 is a collar portion 33 formed with a threaded stud segment 34 depending therefrom. An electrical cable 36 is secured by nut 38 on stud portion 34. It may be seen, therefore, that the principal purpose of annular insulator bushing 32 is to electrically isolate or insulate cable 36 from the metal of C-frame 12. A pair of pins 40, one on each side of arm 13, fix annular insulator bushing 32 inside the cylindrical opening 30. Lower tool support member 26 is free to slide up or down inside bushing 32.

As best may be seen from FIG. 5, lower tool support 26 resiliently rests on a rocker arm and spring structure. The setting pressure applied during operation of machine 10 forces tool 24 and its support 26 downward inside insulating bushing 32 and against the forward end of a rocker arm 42, rotating arm 42 on its supporting hinge pin 44. The forward end of rocker arm 42 underlying the base of stud 34, is electrically insulated therefrom by an insulator cap 48. The rear end of rocker arm 42 underlies an upstanding compression spring 50 which seats in and bears against a threaded stop member 52, which screws into a threaded aperture 53 inside lower arm 13 of the C-frame 12. The top of stop member 52 normally is about flush with the upper surface of arm 13. A slot is milled in the upper surface of stop 52 so that the stop may be rotated inward or outward of the threaded aperture 53 in lower arm 13. The position of stop 52 in its aperture 53 determines the compression on spring 50 and therefore the force which must be applied to lower tool 24 and its associated tool support 26 in order to pivot rocker arm 42 on its hinge 44. The structure of rocker arm 43 fits inside an elongated slot 46 extending medially along the bottom of lower arm 13. Slot 46 therefore causes the lower arm 13 of the C-frame structure to be bifurcated. Since setting operations carried out with a workpiece to set for example a funnelet therein, is effected by moving upper tool 22 down toward stationary lower tool 24, the presence of the resilient support provided by rocker arm 42 and compression spring 50 limits the maximum setting force which may be applied to the workpiece. When the force on tool 22 attains a high enough level spring 50 compresses permitting rocker arm 42 to pivot and the lower tool support to move downwardly, proportionate to the applied force. Until such force level is attained spring 50 biases rocker arm 42 against the tool support 26. Collar portion 33 of the tool support is urged against the locked in insulator bushing 30, acting then as a stop member against upward movement.

The support structure for upper tool 22 comprises an upper tool support 62 with a threaded depending stud segment 60 thereon. A nut 64 threaded onto stud portion 60 clamps an electrical cable 66 to the upper tool support structure 62 in good electrical contact therewith.

As may be seen in FIG. 5, tool support 62 is provided with a non-threaded central aperture 67 with a reduced size lower portion closely fitted to the shank of upper tool 22. A set screw 74 serves to lock upper tool 22 inside the lower portion of aperture 67. An internally threaded cup shaped insulator 70 fits in the relatively enlarged upper portion of central opening 67. A set screw 76 disposed in an appropriately threaded side opening in tool support 62 serves to lock insulator cup in place. A tool support rod or mandrel 78 slidably extends through an aperture 80 in upper arm of C-" frame 12 and is threaded to insulator cup 70. Annular insulator member 72 loosely rests on the top of tool support 62. The upper tool support 62 is then electrically insulated from mandrel 78 and the frame 12.

A conventional toggle mechanism 82 is pivotally secured at 84 to the top of mandrel 78 and at 86 to the sides of the upper arm 15 on frame 12. Preferably, the toggle mechanism 82 is of the double locking push-pull type illustrated in the drawing, and for example may be the same as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,463. Such a toggle mechanism provides for stop arrested travel of operating handle 88 in each direction. The stopping point of handle 88 which corresponds to the maximum downward movement of upper tool 22 may then be set according to the relative position of

tools

22 and 24 so that the toggle actuator structure can not force lower tool 24 downward past the spring force limit of rocker arm 42 and spring 50. This co-action between the stop arrested travel of toggle 82 and the spring compression adjustment of stop 52 serves to predetermine the maximum force which can be applied (through toggle 82) upon a workpiece 110 disposed between upper tool 22 and lower tool 24. This co-action is considered highly advantageous, since it avoids damage to the machine or the tools from excessive force and also makes the machine more capable of use on diverse workpieces.

Inside four threaded apertures, one in each of the squared off side faces on upper frame arm 15, is a set of gibs 90, to center support mandrel 78 in the aperture 80 on arm 15. Adjustment at gibs 90 serves to line up the upper tool tip and the lower tool tip at their point of closest contact.

Eyeletting machine 10 may be operated on any flat work surface. Desirably, however, the work surface is provided with a mounting opening into which stud 18 seats and once seated tightening of thumb screw 16 locks machine 10 against movement. The workspace provided for eyeletting machine 10 should, of course, be provided with electrical outlets or terminals to which the free ends of

electrical cables

36 and 66 are connected.

Cables

36, 66 may be conventional high amperage welding cables.

After upper and

lower tools

22, 24 are inserted into the

supports

62, 26 and locked in by

set screws

74 and 28, a stripper accessory 92 may be mounted around lower tool 24 as shown in FIG. 1. Stripper accessory 92 comprises a plastic annulus 94 with a flat upper surface thereon and a spring 96 secured to the plastic annulus 94. Stripper 92 fits around lower tool 24 in the manner shown in FIG. 1 with its essentially flat upper surface, horizontal at the tip end level of tool 24 with its coil spring 96 resting inside a well structure 98 provided therefor at the top of lower tool support 26. The purpose of stripper 92 is to level a workpiece on tool 24 so that the eyelet, funnelet, etc. may be seated and aligned in the workpiece prior to contacting tool 24. During setting operation of machine 10, stripper accessory 92 is, of course, forced downward so its presence does not affect actual operation of

tools

22, 24. To repeat, stripper 22 provides for only squaring the workpiece on the machine and for aligning the eyelet, funnelet etc. to the setting action. If clearances on the workpiece are limited, machine 10 may be operated without presence of stripper 92. However, in such instances a visual check should be made to make sure that the work is held squarely to the setting action, while tool pressure is being applied.

For actual use of the machine 10 to cold set, a properly prepared workpiece e.g. a circuit board with an eyelet hole already therein is placed between upper and

lower tools

22, 24 after the eyelet or funnelet has already been loosely preinserted into the hole with the manufactured head up. The eyelet and workpiece are centered to the tip of upper tool 22 by observation and by feel with or without aid of accessory 92. If tool tip adjustment is necessary the exact position of the upper tool 22 may be shifted laterally through use of gibs 90. In any event the workpiece is hand held square to the setting action, lightly pressed against upper tool 22 and handle 88 operated (with the other hand). As movement of toggle linkage 82 lowers upper tool 22; the end of the eyelet or funnelet engages the tip of lower tool 24, then upsetting and cold setting occurs. Since the full movement stop point of toggle 82 has been pre-set relative to the yield point of spring 50 full movement causes the eyelet to be subjected to a non-damaging (to the machine) pressure level, which may or may not be proper for cold setting. If at this point the eyelet or funnelet may be still rotated in its hole on the workpiece the cold setting pressure was not high enough for proper setting. The pressure adjustment stop 52 should be screwed down e.g. a half turn, and cold setting repeated. When the particular eyelet, funnelet, etc., has been upset to be just tight enough not to rotate in its hole a proper adjustment of the yield point for cold setting pressure has been reached. Since excessive setting pressures are undesirable and may damage the workpiece, the normal procedure would be to work up in pressure setting from a too low pressure level.

Fusing the eyelet or funnelet to the circuit board, pad or run, at the eyelet opening may best be done as a continuous part of the setting sequence. After the eyelet or funnelet has been cold set properly, with the workpiece still in position and with the full setting pressure still applied by toggle 82 to the eyelet, a suitable electric switch (preferably associated with an automatic timer, not shown) in the electrical circuit of

cables

36 and 66 is thrown, powering

cables

36 and 66. A timer automatically halts current flow after whatever predetermined time is deemed adequate for fusing the eyelet or funnelet to the pad on the circuit board workpiece, and for that reason may be preferred to manual switching.

The present fused eyeletting machine 10 provides a high degree of flexibility without sacrificing accuracy. A full set of different sized upper and

lower tool

22 and 24 would normally be provided for use on the various eyelet, funnelet, etc., sizes and types. Mention has already been made of the ability to adjust the maximum pressure setting simply by threading nut 52 in or out. Gimbles 90 provides for ready readadjustment of the relative position of

tools

22 and 24 readjustment their junction. Similarly, the duration of the fusing period is adjustable. The full range of circuit boards and eyelet and funnelet sizes employed in electronic circuitry may be worked on by the machine of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable machine for setting eyelets and the like comprising a C-shaped frame adapted to rest on a work surface; a spring biased lower setting tool resiliently mounted in an aperture on the lower arm of the frame movable relative thereto; an upper setting tool opposing said lower tool movably mounted on the upper arm of the frame, the tool mount for said upper tool including an aperture in said upper arm and a mandrel extending therethrough, said upper tool being secured to the lower end of said mandrel forming a linear extension thereof; and a manually operated stop arrested travel actuating means above said upper arm associated with the upper end of said mandrel for moving said mandrel and upper tool into setting engagement with said lower tool.

2. A portable machine for setting eyelets and the like comprising a C-shaped frame adapted to rest on a work surface; a lower tool resiliently mounted in an aperture on the lower arm of the frame movable relative thereto; an upper tool opposing said lower tool movably mounted on the upper arm of the frame, the tool mount for said upper too] including an aperture in said upper arm and a mandrel extending therethrough, said upper tool being secured to said mandrel forming a linear extension thereof; and a manually operated stop arrested travel actuating means for moving said mandrel and upper tool into setting engagement with said lower too], said lower tool having a tool support structure therefor underlying and resiliently supporting said lower tool from beneath the aperture in said lower arm, said support structure including a rocker arm pivoted to said lower arm of the frame, the tool and tool mounting being seated against one end portion of said rocker arm and an adjustable spring bias means bearing against the other end portion of said rocker arm, whereby adjustment of said spring bias means acts through pivotal movement of the rocker arm to predetermine the maximum setting pressure applied to a workpiece by said opposed upper and lower tools.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein said upper and lower tools are removably mounted.

4. The machine of claim 2 wherein a stripper member is removably positioned concentrically of said lower tool for levelling and positioning a workpiece relative to the tools.

5. The machine of claim 2 wherein a stripper member is removably positioned concentrically of said lower tool for levelling and positioning a workpiece relative to the tools, said stripper member comprising a helical spring adapted to seat on a support member holding said lower tool therein, and an annular member mounted on the unseated end thereof, said annular member having a flat upper surface on which a workpiece may rest, the center of said stripper being open for the lower tool to fit axially therein.

6. The machine of claim 2 wherein an electrical insulating tool support means is provided for mounting each tool therein, the upper tool being thereby electrically isolated from the mandrel and the lower tool being thereby electrically isolated from the lower arm; and wherein electrical cables are secured directly to said tool support means in electrical connection with said tools.

7. The machine of claim 6 wherein said lower tool support further comprises a cylindrical insulator bushing disposed in the aperture on said lower arm and a centrally apertured metallic member wherein said lower tool seats, said metallic member being disposed inside the insulator bushing and extending therethrough to beneath the apertured portion of said lower arm, the electrical cable connection being made to said metallic member at a location thereon beneath the apertured portion of said lower arm.

8. A machine for setting elelets and the like comprising a C-shaped frame adapted to rest on a work surface; a lower tool resiliently mounted on a lower arm of the frame; an upper tool opposing said lower tool movably mounted on an upper arm of the frame and a manually operated stop arrested travel actuating means for moving said upper tool into setting engagement with said lower tool, the lower arm of the C-shaped frame being bifurcated, an elongated slot extending thereby along the underside of said lower arm; a rocker arm pivotally mounted in said slot with one end thereof underlying and supporting the lower tool and tool mounting means and the other end underlying a threaded aperture in said lower arm; a threaded stop member disposed in said aperture; and a compression spring inside said aperture disposed between said top member and said rocker arm, whereby the position of said threaded stop member predetermines the compression on the compression spring and thereby whatever force applied against said lower tool is required to pivotally rock said rocker arm and to further compress the compression spring.

9. A portable machine for setting eyelets and the like comprising a C-shaped frame adapted to rest on a work surface; a spring biased lower tool resiliently mounted in an aperture on the lower arm of the frame movable relative thereto; an upper tool opposing said lower tool movably mounted on the upper arm of the frame, the. tool mount for said upper tool including an aperture in said upper arm and a mandrel extending therethrough, said upper tool being secured to the lower end of said mandrel and a manually operated double stop arrested travel actuating means above said upper arm associated with the upper end of said mandrel for moving said mandrel and upper tool into setting engagement with said lower tool, said travel actuating means further comprising a toggle pivoted to the upper arm of the C- shaped frame and to the uppermost portion of said mandrel and positioned relative thereto for travel arresting contact ofa toggle component against the upper arm of the C-shaped frame in each direction of toggle movement.

10. The machine of claim 9 wherein a set of gibs is mounted in the upper arm of the C-shaped frame at the aperture passageway of the mandrel therethrough to provide centering adjustment for said mandrel and thereby for the upper tool secured thereto.

11. A portable machine for setting eyelets and the like comprising a C-shaped frame adapted to rest on a work surface; a spring biased lower tool resiliently mounted in an aperture on the lower arm of the frame movable relative thereto; an upper tool opposing said lower tool movably mounted on the upper arm of the frame, the tool mount for said upper tool including a aperture in said upper arm and a mandrel extending therethrough, said upper tool being secured to the lower end of said mandrel forming a linear extension thereof; and a manually operated stop arrested travel actuating means above said upper arm associated with the upper end of said mandrel for moving said mandrel and upper tool into setting engagement with said lower tool, said lower tool having an electrically insulating tool support means which further comprises a cylindrical insulator bushing disposed in the aperture on said lower arm and a centrally apertured metallic member wherein said lower tool seats, said metallic member being disposed inside the insulator bushing and extending therethrough to beneath the apertured portion of said lower arm, an electrical cable connecting to said metallic member at a location thereon beneath the apertured portion of said lower arm, the lower tool being thereby electrically isolated from the lower arm, said upper tool having an electrical insulating tool support means which further comprises an apertured generally cylindrical metallic member with means associated therewith for locking said upper tool in the lower portion of the aperture, an electrical cable connecting to the outer surface of said cylindrical member, a cupshaped insulator securely seated in the upper portion of the aperture in said cylindrical member, the lower end of said mandrel being disposed inside said cup-shaped insulator and secured thereto, said mandrel being thereby electrically insulated from the electrical cable by interposition of the cup-shaped insulator,

Claims

2. A portable machine for setting eyelets and the like comprising a C-shaped frame adapted to rest on a work surface; a lower tool resiliently mounted in an aperture on the lower arm of the frame movable relative thereto; an upper tool opposing said lower tool movably mounted on the upper arm of the frame, the tool mount for said upper tool including an aperture in said upper arm and a mandrel extending therethrough, said upper tool being secured to said mandrel forming a linear extension thereof; and a manually operated stop arrested travel actuating means for moving said mandrel and upper tool into setting engagement with said lower tool, said lower tool having a tool support structure therefor underlying and resiliently supporting said lower tool from beneath the aperture in said lower arm, said support structure including a rocker arm pivoted to said lower arm of the frame, the tool and tool mounting being seated against one end portion of said rocker arm and an adjustable spring bias means bearing against the other end portion of said rocker arm, whereby adjustment of said spring bias means acts through pivotal movement of the rocker arm to predetermine the maximum setting pressure applied to a workpiece by said opposed upper and lower tools.

9. A portable machine for setting eyelets and the like comprising a C-shaped frame adapted to rest on a work surface; a spring biased lower tool resiliently mounted in an aperture on the lower arm of the frame movable relative thereto; an upper tool opposing said lower tool movably mounted on the upper arm of the frame, the tool mount for said upper tool including an aperture in said upper arm and a mandrel extending therethrough, said upper tool being secured to the lower end of said mandrel and a manually operated double stop arrested travel actuating means above said upper arm associated with the upper end of said mandrel for moving said mandrel and upper tool into setting engagement with said lower tool, said travel actuating means further comprising a toggle pivoted to the upper arm of the C-shaped frame and to the uppermost portion of said mandrel and positioned relative thereto for travel arresting contact of a toggle component against the upper arm of the C-shaped frame in each direction of toggle movement.

11. A portable machine for setting eyelets and the like comprising a C-shaped frame adapted to rest on a work surface; a spring biased lower tool resiliently mounted in an aperture on the lower arm of the frame movable relative thereto; an upper tool opposing said lower tool movably mounted on the upper arm of the frame, the tool mount for said upper tool including a aperture in said upper arm and a mandrel extending therethrough, said upper tool being secured to the lower end of said mandrel forming a linear extension thereof; and a manually operated stop arrested travel actuating means above said upper arm associated with the upper end of said mandrel for moving said mandrel and upper tool into setting engagement with said lower tool, said lower tool having an electrically insulating tool support means which further comprises a cylindrical insulator bushing disposed in the aperture on said lower arm and a centrally apertured metallic member wherein said lower tool seats, said metallic member being disposed inside the insulator bushing and extending therethrough to beneath the apertured portion of said lower arm, an electrical cable connecting to said metallic member at a location thereon beneath the apertured portion of said lower arm, the lower tool being thereby electrically isolated from the lower arm, said upper tool having an electrical insulating tool support means which further comprises an apertured generally cylindrical metallic member with means associated therewith for locking said upper tool in the lower portion of the aperture, an electrical cable connecting to the outer surface of said cylindrical member, a cup-shaped insulator securely seated in the upper portion of the aperture in said cylindrical member, the lower end of said mandrel being disposed inside said cup-shaped insulator and secured thereto, said mandrel being thereby electrically insulated from the electrical cable by interposition of the cup-shaped insulator.