Western Electric Company, Inc.

Carl H Herman

Donald M Large

Anderson F Johnson, Jr

Joseph A Tamashasky

Kristen E Bankes

An off-line system for handling elongated magnetic articles such as axially leaded diodes 12 includes a magnetic receiving chute 20, a blocking mechanism 45, a magnetic loading station 75 for supporting at least one tray 55 and for loading diodes 12 therein, and a drive train 115. The chute 20 receives the diodes 12 and guides such diodes downwardly to an outlet 24 and the tray 55. Over a major accessible face of the tray 55 a cover 63 is slidably removable from a second end 60. At the loading station 75, the tray 55 is disposed in an upright manner resting on the second end 60 at a first elevation with a first end 59 extending at least to the outlet 24 of chute 20. An elevating mechanism 80 applied to the end 60 elevates tray 55 to a second elevation, while the cover 63 remains at about the first elevation. A portion of tray 55 is thereby opened adjacent the first end 59 which opening abuts to and registers with the outlet 24 of chute 20. The blocking mechanism 45 has stored diodes 12 in chute 20 while a tray 55 has been changed and mechanism 45 now releases the diodes 12 which are introduced into tray 55. Loading station 75 includes magnetic assemblies 100 and 108 which maintain orientation of the diodes 12 as they are loaded into a tray 55. When a machine count indicates that tray 55 is loaded, the mechanism 45 blocks further advancement of diodes 12 in chute 20. A ram mechanism 95 pushes the tray 55 downwardly to the first elevation while the cover 63 is slidably closed therealong. In a computer controlled operation, the drive train 115 advances the loaded tray 55 away from and an empty tray 55 into the loading station 75 to continue the loading with a minimum of operator attention.

Introducing elongated magnetic articles into containers

Elongated articles (13), having an undesirable shape caused by a bent lead (14), are distinguished from elongated articles (12) which are desirably straight. The bent articles (13) are separated from a mass of articles (12 and 13), most of which are substantially straight. The articles (12 and 13) are typically axially leaded diodes having leads (14) which are magnetic. Such diodes (12 and 13) are successively introduced between sidewalls (11 and 22) of a bin (17) having a magnetic field which orients each article transverse to guide members (28 and 29) extending lengthwise of the bin (17). Each oriented diode (12 and 13) presents a distinctive configuration according to its shape when viewed against a plane transverse to the guide members (28 and 29). The major portion of a bent diode (13) will be disposed lower than the major portion of a straight diode (12). The diodes (12 and 13 ) are advanced in succession along the guide members (28 and 29) and the configurations of the diodes (12 and 13) form substantially parallel pathways through the bin (17). An interposing and separating mechanism (34) is located in the bin (17) adjacent to the pathways of the diodes (12 and 13). The mechanism (34) interposes at least one member (32) between the pathway of a diode (12) which is substantially straight and the pathway of a diode (13) which is unacceptably bent. The bent diode (13) strikes the interposed member (32) and becomes disoriented in the magnetic field of the bin (17). The bent diode (13) falls away from the guide members (28 and 29) and is drawn downwardly through an exit port (18) into an exit chute (44) which has a magnetic field to orient the diode (13). The straight didode (12) passes over the interposing member (32) and continues to advance along the guide members (28 and 29) to an outlet end (21) of the bin (17).

Growing community of inventors

Fleetwood, PA, United States of America

Carl H Herman