Zenith Electronics Corporation

Zenith Radio Corporation

Carl Campisi

Richard G Schmid

Andrew W Kaliszek

David C Kilinskis

Egil Sorlie

Elmer M Klein

Peter C Skerlos

Brian D Kay

Joseph E Josephs

Abraham Lev

Harry F Sron

Thomas J Bradfish

Michael Babicz

A break away video drive circuit board initially manufactured as part of a signal board in the chassis of a television receiver. The chassis includes all receiver circuitry and includes just two circuit boards and a frame standard for all models in a television receiver line. These two boards are called the signal board and the power supply board. The video board is initially part of and located on the left rear of the signal board and is defined by perforated lines that enable the video board to be broken away at final assembly and mounted on the receiver's CRT. The initial location of the video board on the left rear of the signal board accommodates the tapered physical configuration of a rear cover panel on the cabinet.

Break away video board for a television chassis and method of manufacture

A unitary chassis for an entire line of television receivers that permits all chassis components to be tested together. The chassis includes boards slidably mounted in a one piece plastic frame identical for all models. The chassis is easily assembled in a cabinet without the use of screws with a plurality of downwardly and forwardly projecting integral hooks on the frame that drop into and frictionally engage apertures in the bottom of the cabinet. A cabinet rear cover panel holds the frame in these cabinet apertures.

Unitary chassis and frame for television receivers

A unitary chassis for a full line of television receivers that includes only two circuit boards that contain all receiver circuitry and components designed to facilitate more frequent and easier change from manufacturing one model to another in the line. The boards are generally identified as the power supply board and the signal board and both are slidably mounted in a chassis frame identical for all receivers in the line. Only the circuitry on the boards varies from one model to another and the dimensions of the boards remain the same. The boards are made on two assembly lines and because of uniform board size and the use of common components, these lines can be quickly changed from one model to another. A jack pack is also provided, identical for all models and mounted in the same location on the signal board throughout the line.

Unitary chassis for television receivers with two circuit boards and

An electronic component lead or tab crimping apparatus adapted for use with a conveyor system in the assembly of printed circuit (PC) boards includes an upper assembly having an upper interchangeable plate and a lower actuator plate and further includes a pneumatically actuated lower assembly. The interchangeable plate includes a plurality of spaced apertures within each of which is disposed a lead/tab engaging, crimping element. The upper assembly is initially displaced upward by the pneumatically actuated lower assembly to a position in close proximity to and in alignment with the lower surface of a PC board such that each of the crimping elements is disposed in close proximity to a lead, or leads (or tabs), of an electronic component positioned on the PC board. The lower assembly then displaces the actuator plate upward by cam action such that the actuator plate simultaneously engages and pivotally displaces the crimping elements resulting in crimping of the electronic component leads or tabs. The actuator plate of the upper assembly is then lowered by the lower assembly allowing for disengagement of the leads/tabs by the crimping elements, followed by further lowering of the upper assembly by the lower assembly to permit the PC board with crimped leads/tabs to be displaced by the conveyor system and another PC board to be moved in position for lead/tab crimping.

Lead crimping apparatus

A system and method for automatically storing bar coded elements such as containers for electronic components in storage bins such as drawers in a cabinet and for providing access to only the drawer containing a desired element substantially eliminates human error and increases reliability in the handling and processing of these elements and reduces the cost of inventory management and control. The storage and retrieval system includes a bar code reader coupled to a controller which, in turn, is coupled to a plurality of storage cabinets. Each storage cabinet includes a plurality of drawers each coupled to the controller via the combination of an electrical interface and a mechanical drive. Reading of the bar code on an element or on an apparatus into which the elements are deposited for processing or installation into the controller automatically opens a drawer associated with that particular component. Following either deposit of the coded element into the drawer or its removal therefrom, the drawer is manually closed by an operator and remains locked to prevent unauthorized or erroneous access to the contents of the drawer until that code is again read into the controller. Access to a given drawer is prevented so long as any other drawer is open and only that drawer associated with a given coded element is open following reading of the bar code thereon in eliminating the possibility of element handling errors.

Automatic storage and retrieval system and method

A pneumatically actuated, electrically controlled electronic component handling apparatus straightens out the leads of an electronic component, positions and orients the component for engagement by an automatic gripper device, and determines the exact orientation of the component for subsequent testing, assembly or insertion of the component in circuit. As a component exits a vibrating delivery chute, a first pneumatic cylinder places a component stop in position to prevent the exit of additional components from the chute. With the discharged component engaged from above by a second pneumatic cylinder actuated pusher, a third pneumatic cylinder raises a component carriage in engagement with a lower portion of the component. The carriage includes a pair of elongated slots therein having enlarged openings for receiving and straightening a respective component lead inserted therein. A fourth pneumatic cylinder then laterally displaces the carriage to a pick-up point where the component is engaged and removed from the carriage by a robotic gripper. Before removal, an optical senser directs a light beam upon the marked component to determine its relative orientation with respect to the gripper to ensure proper subsequent manipulation of the component. Various optical and electrical sensors are employed to control the sequence of pneumatic operations in the component handling apparatus.

Component handling apparatus

A crimping block is positioned immediately adjacent to one side of a circuit board having predrilled apertures therein through which the electrical leads of a circuit component are inserted. The crimping block includes a plurality of linearly displaceable crimping pins, each having an upper, beveled end adapted to receive, deflect and crimp an associated component lead inserted through an immediately adjacent circuit board aperture. Upon contact with an inserted component lead, the crimping pin is displaced downward a predetermined distance. During downward displacement of the crimping pin the electrical lead is deflected laterally followed by the upward deflection of the electrical lead upon the end of crimping pin travel. Upon the end of crimping pin travel, its beveled, upper end crimps the electrical lead in tight fitting relation with a circuit board-mounted conductor. Each crimping pin forms a conductive element in a sensor circuit which is completed upon positioning of an electronic component on the circuit board and insertion of its leads through the apertures therein in providing component insertion verification and operational testing.

Insertion verification and crimping of leads

A hold down system for use with a generally planar printed circuit (PC) board includes at least one clamp which engages the circuit board and securely maintains it flat upon a circuit board transport mechanism to facilitate the insertion of electronic components upon the board by automatic positioning and insertion apparatus. The movable hold down clamp includes an elongated, generally vertically oriented housing which is positioned beneath the PC board and transport mechanism and is displaced upward above the PC board for engaging the board and pulling it downward upon the transport mechanism as the PC boards are displaced therealong. With an upper portion of the clamp extending above the circuit board either along an edge thereof or through an aperture therein, a pneumatically actuated hold down arm is extended laterally from the housing above the PC board and is displaced downward so as to engage the board's upper surface and pull the board downward and in tight-fitting engagement with the supporting transport mechanism. The PC board is thus securely maintained in a flat configuration and a fixed orientation and position during component insertion, testing, etc. Following component insertion on the PC board, the hold down arm is retracted, releasing the circuit board and the clamp is displaced downward allowing the transport mechanism to position another PC board above the hold down clamp whereupon the hold down procedure is repeated.

PC board hold down system

An electronic component matching system operates in conjunction with a component transport arrangement wherein a component-carrying supply tape from which components are removed for positioning upon a circuit board in a matched manner is linearly displaced. The components are thus sequentially moved to a pick-up point whereupon a predetermined number N of components having similar operating characteristics are incorporated in the same circuit. As the component-carrying supply tape is displaced toward the component pick-up point, an electro-optical sensor detects the presence or absence of components on the supply tape and provides this information to a microcomputer controller. The stationary sensor is positioned in spaced relation from the pick-up point along the component-carrying supply tape displacement path to allow for the detection of the predetermined number of components between the sensor and the pick-up point to ensure that a matched set of N components is available on the tape for incorporation in the same circuit. If the sensor determines that less than N components are present between the sensor and the pick-up point, the microcomputer advances the supply tape to the next group of matched components to prevent components from different matched groups having different operating characteristics from being incorporated in the same circuit. This system is particularly adapted for the automatic positioning of components such as transistors and diodes having matched operating characteristics for incorporation in the same circuit.

Method and apparatus for electronic component matching

In an automatic delivery system for the mounting of electronic components on a circuit board, the components are sequentially delivered to a movable carriage assembly for proper positioning for engagement by a component pick-up device for insertion on the circuit board. Positioned adjacent to the outlet of a delivery tube internally contoured in accordance with the component configuration is a pivoting retaining member which engages the component after it exits the delivery tube and is deposited upon the pneumatically actuated, linearly displaced carriage assembly to ensure proper orientation of the component thereon as it is displaced toward the component pick-up device. The carriage is contoured in a complementary manner relative to the component in providing a 'cradle effect' for maintaining proper component orientation and position with respect to the pick-up device. During the linear displacement of a first component into proper position for engagement by the pick-up device, a second component in the delivery tube is engaged and displaced downward along the tube by means of a component release mechanism so as to exit therefrom and be deposited upon the carriage assembly after it is retracted to an initial, unloaded position. The cycle is then sequentially repeated for each electronic component. The carriage assembly is provided with a telescoping plunger pin or shaft which engages the component and maintains it stably positioned on the carriage assembly during the linear displacement thereof.

Component delivery system

A component delivery system for an automatic insertion mechanism comprises a chute for sequential delivery of components to a platform with a given orientation. A receiver is positioned at the end of the platform for reception of the component when pushed off the platform by operation of an air valve. The receiver includes mounting means, cooperating with the mounting means of the component, that are substantially identical to the component mounting means on the circuit board. The receiver is pivoted into a horizontal position by another air valve, thus presenting the component with a precise orientation to insertion means.

A pair of elongate rail members are secured along opposed edges of a printed circuit board for protecting the solder fillets formed on the foil side of the board and to facilitate convenient screwless mounting of the printed circuit board to a substantially flat platform of a television receiver chassis or the like. Each rail member comprises a printed circuit board supporting surface and a substantially flat base adapted for mounting on the platform, the base being spaced from the supporting surface by a distance greater than the length of the solder fillets. The rail members are secured to the printed circuit board by resilient tabs which snap lock the foil surface of the board in abutment with the supporting surface. At least one locking member depends from the base of each rail and is received for limited longitudinal movement within an elongate slot formed in the platform, the locking members and base forming a bite for capturing an edge of the platform at one limit of longitudinal movement. The back cover of the chassis includes internal projections bearing against the rails to prevent movement away from the limiting position.

PC Board mounting apparatus

Improved cathode ray tube centering and support devices are disclosed for use in a television receiver cabinet having an escutcheon (devices) with an opening for conformally receiving and accomodating the substantially rectangular face panel of the tube. Corner guide devices rearwardly extending from the opening in the escutcheon provide for guiding each corner of the face panel into the opening. A plurality of tapered ribs projecting inwardly from each of the cradling devices provide for exerting a progressively increasing force fit on the face panel. Devices are provided for forcing, or otherwise urging, the corners forwardly into the corner guide devices and the tapered ribs. As the corners of the face panel are forced into the corner guide devices, the tapered crush ribs yield and conform to the contours of the corners, effectively centering the tube in the escutcheon (devices) and the cabinet, and providing for the firm retention of the tube in the cabinet.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Carl Campisi