US3739446A

US3739446A - Apparatus for inserting terminals into panel members

Info

Publication number: US3739446A
Application number: US00220860A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Long; M Shughart
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1972-01-26
Filing date: 1972-01-26
Publication date: 1973-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-19
Also published as: FR2169238A1; AT329134B; NL149356B; NL7300617A; HK63579A; BE794427A; AU5068273A; FR2169238B1; IT973311B; ATA41773A; CA987890A; AU472797B2; DE2301811A1; SE376330B; AR195816A1; ES410842A1; BR7300570D0; GB1366059A

Abstract

Apparatus for inserting terminals, in the form of a continuous strip, into a panel-like member comprises strip feeding means, a means for partially severing the individual terminals from the strip, and a means, in the form of an inserting ram, which completes the severing operation and inserts a terminal into a panelboard.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Long, Jr. et al.

[ APPARATUS FOR INSERTING TERMINALS INTO PANEL MEMBERS [75] Inventors: Alden Owen Long, Jr.; Mervin Leonard Shughart, both of Carlisle, Pa.

[73] Assignee: AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. [22] Filed: Jan. 26, 19,72

[21] Appl. N0.: 220,860

[52] US. Cl. 29/203 B [51] Int. Cl. H05k 13/04 [58] Field of Search 29/203 B, 203 D,

29/203 TS, 203 DT, 203 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,496,626 2/1970 Ullman et al. 29/203 D 1 June 19, 1973 3,553,836 1/1971 Cootes 29/203 D Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-William J. Frederick W. Raring et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for inserting terminals, in the form of a continuous strip, into a panel-like member comprises strip feeding means, a means for partially severing the individual terminals from the strip, and a means, in the form of an inserting ram, which completes the severing operation and inserts a terminal into a panelboard.

7 Claims, 11 Drawing; Figures W E i 48 Keating, Gerald K. Kita.

PATENTED 1 9m 3. 739.446

IIO

PATENTE m 1 9 ms SHEEISBF'! MW Lill BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to the achievement of an improved apparatus for inserting terminals, in the form of a continuous strip, into a panel-like member such as a printed circuit board or the like.

A known type of electrical terminal adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board comprises a boxlike receptacle having a post portion extending therefrom, the post portion being adapted to be inserted through a hole in the printed circuit board and soldered to a conductor on the board. The receptacle portion of the terminal is adapted to receive a conductor which may extend from a conventional dual in-line integrated circuit device or a similar solid state device. Dual inline circuit devices are manufactured in accordance with strict dimensional tolerances so that their two rows of leads are spaced apart by a precisely predetermined distance and the leads are also spaced apart by a predetermined distance. It follows that two rows of receptacles at predetermined locations are provided on a printed circuit board for each dual in-line device. Accordingly, electrical receptacles of the type described above are manufactured in the form of a continuous strip which comprises two separate rows of receptacles, one row being disposed on each side of a central continuous carrier strip.

The instant invention is specifically directed to the achievement of an improved apparatus for inserting the terminals of such a dual terminal strip into a printed circuit board and specifically to an apparatus capable of inserting two terminals during each operating cycle so that after several operating cycles, a sufficient number of terminals will have been inserted into the board to accomodate a dual in-line integrated circuit device.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for inserting terminals into printed circuit boards. A further object provides an inserting device which is capable of inserting, during each operation cycle, two receptacles into the circuit board. A still further object is to provide an inserting apparatus which is specifically adapted to insert terminals which are manufactured in the form of a continuous terminal strip composed of two rows of terminals and a separate carrier strip extending between the rows. A still further object is to provide an inserting apparatus having improved severing means for severing the individual terminals from the strip prior to insertion into the printed circuit board.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment thereof which is briefly described in the foregoing abstract, which is described in detail below, and which is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa preferred form of apparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the frontal portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the positions of the insertion rams, the severing blades, and the terminal strip at the beginning of an operating cycle.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to FIG. 2 but showing the positions of the parts at an intermediate stage and at the completion of an operating cycle.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary frontal view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the positions of the parts at the completion of the inserting operation.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view illustrating engagement of the feed finger with the terminal strip.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of one of the insertion rams illustrating the manner in which the terminal is held during the insertion operation.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the lower portion of the insertion ram.

FIG. 9 is a view taken along the lines 9-9 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the shear block having the movable shear blades thereon for partially severing individual receptacle terminals from the strip.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view which illustrates the severing and bending steps carried out by an apparatus in accordance with the invention during the insertion operation.

The disclosed embodiment of the invention is adapted to insert individual receptacle devices 2 into holes 4 in a printed circuit board 6. Each receptacle has a generally rectangular

portion comprising sidewalls

8, 10, 12, the wall 12 having an axially extending open seam as shown. A mounting post 114 extends from the wall 8 and is formed to have a relatively snug fit in the hole 4. The specific terminal device shown is more fully described in application Ser. No. l I 1,402 filed Feb. I, 1971 although it will be apparent that the principles of the invention can be applied to applicators adapted to insert other types of terminal devices. The individual receptacles are manufactured in the form of a continuous strip 16 comprising a central carrier strip 18 which has spaced apart pilot holes 20 and which has laterally extending arms 22 on each side thereof at regular intervals. Each individual terminal is contained between an adjacent pair of arms and has its forward end integral with one of the arms 42 and is connected to the adjacent arm by means of a connecting section 26. As previously mentioned, the strip is advantageously dimensioned such that the individual receptacles 2 are spaced apart by a distance equal to the spacing between the leads on the opposite sides of a dual in-line integrated circuit device.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a preferred form of apparatus 28 in accordance with the invention comprises a frame consisting of an upper arm 30, a lower arm 32, and a vertically extending frame section 34. An anvil plate 36 is mounted on the end of the lower arm 32 against a spacer plate 38 by means ofa suitable fastener 40 threaded through the anvil block, through spacer plate 38, and into the arm. A pair of notches 44 are provided on the upper end of the anvil plate 36 and these notches define support surfaces 42 which are adapted to support the underside of the printed circuit board during the insertion operation, the notches 44 providing clearance for reception of the post portions of the receptacles being inserted.

The terminal strip is fed from a suitable supply reel 48 over a guide plate 50 and through an opening, not specifically shown, in the upper frame arm 30. The strip emerges from the lower side of frame arm 30, is guided across and over an additional guide plate 52 and towards the rearward end of a terminal applicator 56 mounted, as will be described below, on the upper frame arin 30.

The applicator 46 comprises a housing casting having

side walls

74, 76 and a front wall 78. Sidewall 76 is secured by suitable fasteners 56 to a side support plate 54 which in turn is secured to one arm of a bracket 60. This bracket is also secured to a front cover plate 58 which is described below. The two arms of this bracket extend rightwardly as viewed in FIG. 1 and are adjustably secured by suitable fastening means as shown to a plate 64 clamped between the arms of another bracket 56 which is permanently secured to the end of the frame arm 30. By virtue of this arrangement, the applicator can be lowered or raised by incremental amounts to precisely position it relative to a printed circuit board supported on the surfaces 42.

The accuating means for the applicator 46 comprises a pneumatic piston cylinder 68 mounted on the rearwardly facing side of the front cover plate 58. This piston cylinder has a piston rod (not specifically shown) which is coupled to the upper end of the applicator ram 70 which is slidably contained in the applicator housing 72. The side walls of the housing have suitable side grooves 80 for the sides of this ram and a tool mounting plate 82 is secured to the forwardly facing side of the ram 70 by means of a fastener 86 that extends through the plate 82 and into the ram. A pin fixed to the ram 84 is received in a suitable slot in the upper end of the plate 82. Plate 82 has lower end portions 88 extending beneath the lower end of the ram as shown in FIG. 2 and rearwardly underneath the downwardly facing side of the ram.

A shear block 90, FIGS. 2 and 10, is secured by fasteners in a suitable recess in the portion 88 of the tool mounting plate and has two downwardly projecting shearing blades 92 which are spaced apart by a distance equal to the spacing between the two columns of terminals in the strip 16. As will be explained below, these shearing blades 92 cooperate with fixed shearing blades in the applicator bed to sever the forward ends 24 of the mounting post portions of the terminals from the40 associated strip arms 22.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, two inserting rams 94 are mounted on the forwardly facing side of the lower end of the tool plate by means of fasteners 96. These rams are again spaced apart by a distance equal to the spacing between the two columns of terminals in the strip 16 so that during each operating cycle, two terminals will be removed from the strip and inserted into the printed circuit board. The lower portion of each insertion ram 94 is recessed on its rearwardly facing side as shown at 98, FIG. 7, this recess being closed on the lefthand side of the ram as viewed in FIG. 7 by a leaf spring 100. This spring has an upper end portion 102 of reduced width which is received in a shallow slot on the sides of the insertion ram and is secured to this side of the ram by suitable fasteners 104. The lower portion of the spring 100 is normally biased against a shoulder surface 105 adjacent to the recess but when a receptacle portion of a terminal is positioned in the recess, the spring is flexed slightly outwardly as shown in FIG. 9 so that the receptacle will be firmly held during the inserting operation.

The applicator has a horizontally extending lower support plate 106 which is integral with the lefthand side wall 76 and on which there is mounted a guide plate assembly 108 by means of fasteners 110 which extend upwardly through the support plate 106. A suitable guide channel is provided between the upper surface of the plate 108 and a cover plate 120 for guiding the terminal strip 16 along a precisely predetermined path towards the terminal insertion station. The strip is fed by means ofa suitable feed pawl 112 which extends through an opening 119 in cover plate 120 (see FIG. 6) and which is mounted on the end of an arm 114 which in turn is pivotally connected to the lower end of an lever 1 16. The lever is oscillated during each operating cycle by a suitable cam mechanism, not specifically shown, which is actuating in turn by the applicator ram, the arrangement being such that the lever is oscillated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 during descent of the insertion rams and is returned to its normal position as shown in FIG. 2 by a suitable spring means during ascent of the insertion rams. The clockwise movement of the lever 116 which takes place during the ascent of the insertion advances the terminal strip a distance equal to the spacing between two adjacent terminals in each column whereby the leading terminals of the strip are located precisely beneath the insertion rams 94.

The plate 108 has a recess 124 adjacent to, and directly beneath, the shearing blades 92. The location of this recess is such that the leading ends of a pair of terminals, that is, the ends of the post portions of the terminals, will be located precisely at the edge 125 of this recess so that when the ram reaches the lower limit of its stroke, the shearing blades 92 will cooperate with 0 these edges to shear the leading ends of the terminals from the associated carrier arms 22.

The plates 108 are also recessed at their lefthand ends as viewed in FIG. 2 to define another fixed shearing edge 126 for each column of terminals. This edge 126 is located precisely beneath the rightwardly facing side of each insertion ram to effect shearing of the trailing ends of the terminals from the strip.

The operation of the disclosed embodiment is as follows:

At the beginning of the operating cycle, the operatingparts will be in the positions of FIG. 2 with the leading terminals of the strip precisely positioned adjacent to the edges 126 and beneath the lower ends of the insertion rams 94. The operator actuates a suitable control switch, not specifically shown, to cause pressurization of the upper end of the pneumatic piston cylinders 68. Pressurization of the cylinder causes downward movement of the applicator ram and downward travel of the insertion rams 94 and the shearing blades 92. The lower ends of the insertion rams first engage the two leading receptacle terminals of the strip and bend them downwardly until they are against the forwardly facing sides 129 of the plate 108. Upon further downward movement of the insertion rams, the rams move over the receptacle portions of the terminals until the terminals are disposed in the recesses on the lower ends of the rams and held by the spring members as shown in FIG. 9. As the rams continue to move downwardly, a clean shear of the trailing ends of the terminals from the forward ends of the connecting strap portions 26 of the strip is achieved and the terminals are then carried downwardly and inserted into the openings 4 in the I printed circuit board. At the limit of the downward stroke of the ram 70, the shearing edges 92 will move past the edges 124 and sever the second row of terminals which are upstream from the leading terminals from the associated carrier arms of the strip.

During upward or return of the ram 70 to its initial position, the terminal strip will be fed as previously described and the next adjacent row of two terminals will be located precisely beneath the ram. The scrap carrier strip is fed through a suitable guide tube 130 to a scrap container.

An advantageous feature of the invention is that it permits the use of an extremely durable type of terminal strip having the central carrier strip 18, the laterally extending carrier arm and the connecting strap portion 26. Terminal strip of this type has the advantage of protecting the individual terminals during handling and shipment and during feeding of the strip from the reel to the operating or insertion zone of the applicator. At the same time, the terminals are effectively severed from the strip in two separate stages, the first severing operation which is carried out by the blades 92 serving to prepare the strip for the actual insertion operation and the severance of the trailing terminals from the strip by the insertion ram.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for inserting electrical connecting devices into a panel-like member such as a printed circuit board, said electrical connecting devices being in the form of a continuous strip comprising a carrier strip having transversely extending supporting ears extending from at least one side edge thereof at periodic intervals, said connecting devices being on one side of said carrier strip, each connecting device extending between two adjacent supporting ears and being integral at each end with a supporting ear, said apparatus comprising:

supporting means for supporting said panel-like member in a first plane,

strip feeding means for intermittently feeding said strip along a first path extending parallel to, and spaced from said first plane.

first severing means on said first path for severing the leading end of each of said connecting devices from its associated ear during feeding of said strip,

severing and inserting means for severing the leading connecting device of said strip at its trailing end from said strip and inserting said leading connecting device into a panel-like member supported on said supporting means,

a ram reciprocable along a predetermined second path, said path, extending transversely of said first path and said plane,

said first severing means comprising a movable severing blade on said ram and a fixed severing member on said second path, said movable and fixed severing members constituting a cooperating pair of severing members for severing the said leading end of one of said connecting devices from one of said ears,

said severing and inserting means comprising a severing and inserting punches on said ram and a fixed trailing end severing member, said severing and inserting punches having gripping means on its end and having a severing edge cooperable with said trailing end severing member, said punches being effective to bend said leading connecting device along said second path with concomitant severing thereof from said strip and to insert said device into a panel-like member supported on said supporting means.

2. Apparatus for inserting electrical connecting devices into a panel-like member such as a printed circuit board, said electrical connecting devices being in the form of a continuous strip comprising a carrier strip having laterally extending ears extending therefrom at spaced-apart intervals, said connecting devices being on one side of said carrier strip and each connecting device being disposed between two adjacent ears with its leading and trailing ends integral with said two adjacent ears, said apparatus comprising:

supporting means for supporting said panel-like member in a reference plane,

strip feeding means for feeding said strip along a first path which is spaced from, and which extends parallel to, said reference plane,

a ram, said ram being reciprocable along a second path which extends towards and away from a panel like member supported on said supporting means and which intersectssaid first path,

first severing means for severing the leading end of each of said connecting devices from its associated ear, said first severing means comprising a first movable shearing means on said ram and a first fixed shearing means on said path whereby said leading end is severed when said first movable shearing means moves past said first fixed shearing means,

a second fixed shearing means on said path located downstream, relative to the direction of strip feed, from said first fixed shearing means, punch on said ram, said punch having on its lower end bending means for bending the leading connecting device of said strip out of the plane of said strip so that said leading connecting device is parallel to said second path, second movable shearing means cooperable with said second fixed shearing means, and connecting device holding means for holding said leading connecting device during movement of said punch towards said panel-like member whereby, during each operating cycle of said apparatus, the leading end of a connecting device which is upstream from the said leading connecting device is severed from its associated arm, and leading connecting device of said strip is bent out of the plane of said strip, the trailing end of said leading connecting device is severed from said strip, and said leading connecting device is carried to, and inserted into, said panel-like member.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bending means, said second movable shearing means,

, and said holding means comprise the end of said punch and a recess in said end, said end of said punch being adapted to engage and bend said leading connecting device during movement of said ram, said recess being adapted to receive said leading connecting device after bending thereof, and edge portions of said recess being' movable past said second fixed shearing means to sever said trailing end of said leading connecting device from said associated arm.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said strip having said laterally extending ears extending from both sides of said carrier strip and having said connecting devices on both sides of said carrier strip, said apparatus having an additional first severing means, an additional bending means, an additional second fixed and movable shearing means, and having an additional connecting device holding means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including terminal strip feeding means for feeding said strip, said feeding means comprising a reciprocable feed arm engageable with said carrier strip.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including spring means on said end of said punch for retaining said leading connecting device in said recess.

7. Apparatus for inserting electrical connecting devices into a panel-like member such as a printed circuit board, said electrical connecting devices being in the form of a continuous strip comprising a central carrier strip having transversely extending supporting ears extending from both side edges thereof at periodic intervals, said connecting devices being in two parallel columns with one column on each side of said carrier strip, each connecting device extending between two adjacent supporting ears and being integral at each end with a supporting ear, said apparatus comprising:

supporting means for supporting said panel-like member in a first plane,

strip feeding means for intermittently feeding said strip along a first path extending parallel to, and spaced from said first plane,

first severing means on said first path for severing the leading end of each of said connecting devices from its associated ear during feeding of said strip, severing and inserting means for severing said connecting devices at the trailing ends thereof from said strip and inserting said connecting devices into a panel-like member supported on said supporting means,

a ram reciprocable along a predetermined second path, said path extending transversely of said first path and said plane,

said first severing means comprising two spaced apart said severing and inserting means comprising two spaced apart severing and inserting punches on said ram and two spaced apart severing members at the intersection of said first and second paths, said severing and inserting punches each having gripping means on its end and having a severing edge cooperable with one of said trailing end severing members, each of said punches each being effective to bend a leading connecting device of said strip out of said first path and into said second path, to grasp one of said leading connecting devices, and to move one of said connecting devices along said second path with concomitant severing thereof from said strip and to insert said devices into a panel-like member supported on said supporting means.

Claims

1. Apparatus for inserting electrical connecting devices into a panel-like member such as a printed circuit board, said electricaL connecting devices being in the form of a continuous strip comprising a carrier strip having transversely extending supporting ears extending from at least one side edge thereof at periodic intervals, said connecting devices being on one side of said carrier strip, each connecting device extending between two adjacent supporting ears and being integral at each end with a supporting ear, said apparatus comprising: supporting means for supporting said panel-like member in a first plane, strip feeding means for intermittently feeding said strip along a first path extending parallel to, and spaced from said first plane. first severing means on said first path for severing the leading end of each of said connecting devices from its associated ear during feeding of said strip, severing and inserting means for severing the leading connecting device of said strip at its trailing end from said strip and inserting said leading connecting device into a panel-like member supported on said supporting means, a ram reciprocable along a predetermined second path, said path, extending transversely of said first path and said plane, said first severing means comprising a movable severing blade on said ram and a fixed severing member on said second path, said movable and fixed severing members constituting a cooperating pair of severing members for severing the said leading end of one of said connecting devices from one of said ears, said severing and inserting means comprising a severing and inserting punches on said ram and a fixed trailing end severing member, said severing and inserting punches having gripping means on its end and having a severing edge cooperable with said trailing end severing member, said punches being effective to bend said leading connecting device along said second path with concomitant severing thereof from said strip and to insert said device into a panel-like member supported on said supporting means.

2. Apparatus for inserting electrical connecting devices into a panel-like member such as a printed circuit board, said electrical connecting devices being in the form of a continuous strip comprising a carrier strip having laterally extending ears extending therefrom at spaced-apart intervals, said connecting devices being on one side of said carrier strip and each connecting device being disposed between two adjacent ears with its leading and trailing ends integral with said two adjacent ears, said apparatus comprising: supporting means for supporting said panel-like member in a reference plane, strip feeding means for feeding said strip along a first path which is spaced from, and which extends parallel to, said reference plane, a ram, said ram being reciprocable along a second path which extends towards and away from a panel like member supported on said supporting means and which intersects said first path, first severing means for severing the leading end of each of said connecting devices from its associated ear, said first severing means comprising a first movable shearing means on said ram and a first fixed shearing means on said path whereby said leading end is severed when said first movable shearing means moves past said first fixed shearing means, a second fixed shearing means on said path located downstream, relative to the direction of strip feed, from said first fixed shearing means, a punch on said ram, said punch having on its lower end bending means for bending the leading connecting device of said strip out of the plane of said strip so that said leading connecting device is parallel to said second path, second movable shearing means cooperable with said second fixed shearing means, and connecting device holding means for holding said leading connecting device during movement of said punch towards said panel-like member whereby, during each operating cycle of said apparatus, the leading end of a connecting device which is upstream from the said leading connecting device is Severed from its associated arm, and leading connecting device of said strip is bent out of the plane of said strip, the trailing end of said leading connecting device is severed from said strip, and said leading connecting device is carried to, and inserted into, said panel-like member.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bending means, said second movable shearing means, and said holding means comprise the end of said punch and a recess in said end, said end of said punch being adapted to engage and bend said leading connecting device during movement of said ram, said recess being adapted to receive said leading connecting device after bending thereof, and edge portions of said recess being movable past said second fixed shearing means to sever said trailing end of said leading connecting device from said associated arm.

7. Apparatus for inserting electrical connecting devices into a panel-like member such as a printed circuit board, said electrical connecting devices being in the form of a continuous strip comprising a central carrier strip having transversely extending supporting ears extending from both side edges thereof at periodic intervals, said connecting devices being in two parallel columns with one column on each side of said carrier strip, each connecting device extending between two adjacent supporting ears and being integral at each end with a supporting ear, said apparatus comprising: supporting means for supporting said panel-like member in a first plane, strip feeding means for intermittently feeding said strip along a first path extending parallel to, and spaced from said first plane, first severing means on said first path for severing the leading end of each of said connecting devices from its associated ear during feeding of said strip, severing and inserting means for severing said connecting devices at the trailing ends thereof from said strip and inserting said connecting devices into a panel-like member supported on said supporting means, a ram reciprocable along a predetermined second path, said path extending transversely of said first path and said plane, said first severing means comprising two spaced apart movable severing blades on said ram and two spaced-apart fixed severing members on said second path, each of said movable and fixed severing members comprising constituting a cooperating pair of severing members for severing the said leading end of one of said connecting devices from one of said ears, said severing and inserting means comprising two spaced apart severing and inserting punches on said ram and two spaced apart severing members at the intersection of said first and second paths, said severing and inserting punches each having gripping means on its end and having a severing edge cooperable with one of said trailing end severing members, each of said punches each being effective to bend a leading connecting device of said strip out of said first path and into said second path, to grasp one of said leading connecting devices, and to move one of said connecting devices along said second path with concomitant severing thereof from said strip and to insert said devices into a panel-like member supported on said supporting means.