Amp LLC

The Whitaker Corporation

James A Hogan, Jr

Edward John Bright

Kerry Joseph Stakem

Stephen P Lawruk

A machine and method for attaching a plurality of preassembled connectors to a length of ribbon cable. The machine has at least one separating module in which the connectors are disposed in a selected orientation. Each connector is separated into a cover member and a connector housing member within the respective module. The modules are indexed and transferred to a press where the connector is terminated on the length of ribbon cable. A preassembled connector is disposed in a lead module and is terminated on the first end of the length of ribbon cable. The ribbon cable, with the attached spaced apart connectors, is cut to a desired length and tested electrically.

Machine for attaching preassembled connectors to ribbon cable

A PGA socket (40) and a tool (132) for opening and closing the socket (40) is disclosed. The socket (40) includes a base housing (42) having contact elements (46) disposed in cavities (48). The contact elements (46) include laterally extending cantilever beams (90) which are bent out of the plane of the contact elements (40) to provide a force-free insertion of the leads (120) on the PGA (122). The socket (40) further includes a cover (44) slidably mounted on the housing (42) which when moved, drives the leads (120) into electrical engagement with the cantilever beams (90). The tool (132) includes a pair of spaced-apart jaws (154,156) with one (152) being fixed and the other (156) moveable towards the fixed jaw (154). The tool (132) is placed over the socket (40) with the jaws (154,156) on respective sides of the cover (44) so that as the one jaw (156) moves toward the other (154), it (156) pushes the cover (44) which moves the leads (120) either into or out of electrical engagement with the cantilever beams (90).

Tool for use with a ZIF PGA socket

A PGA socket (40) and a tool (132) for opening and closing the socket (40) is disclosed. The socket (40) includes a base housing (42) having contact elements (46) disposed in cavities (48). The contact elements (46) include laterally extending cantilever beams (90) which are bent out of the plane of the contact elements (40) to provide a force-free insertion of the leads (120) on the PGA (122). The socket (40) further includes a cover (44) slidably mounted on the housing (42) which when moved, drives the leads (120) into electrical engagement with the cantilever beams (90). The tool (132) includes a pair of spaced-apart jaws (154,516) with one (154) being fixed and the other (156) moveable towards the fixed jaw (154). The tool (132) is placed over the socket (40) with the jaws (154,156) on respective sides of the cover (44) so that as the one jaw (156) moves toward the other (154), it (156) pushes the cover (44) which moves the leads (120) either into or out of electrical engagement with the cantilever beams (90).

Growing community of inventors

Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

James A Hogan, Jr