International Business Machines Corporation

John G Baumberger

James R Petrozello

Kishor V Desai

Thomas G Macek

Alan D Knight

Fletcher W Chapin

Fraser P Donlan, Jr

William C Miller

James R Bentlage

James J Kershaw

Michael A Gazy

An electrical interconnector for interconnecting two circuit members wherein the interconnector comprises a dielectric member and at least one conductive element. The conductive element includes a base portion retained within the dielectric and at least one projecting helical portion for engaging a conductor of one of the circuit members. Preferably, dendritic elements (e.g., palladium) are formed on the terminal ends of the helical portions for providing debris removal. The form of connection between the helical portion and the conductor is of the non-wiping type. An electrical assembly including this interconnector is also described.

Electrical interconnector with helical contacting portion and assembly

A connector assembly has a plurality of electrical circuit members and interposer frames with resilient contact members pressed together by a centrally located actuation screw. The actuation screw is supported within a threaded hole in an actuation bar on one side of one of the circuit members. Turning the actuation screw in its threaded hole causes various parts of the connector assembly to be pressed together simultaneously under an evenly distributed load. A load distribution plate located between the actuation screw and the nearest circuit member reduces the bending stresses in that circuit member. Alignment bushings and pins extending through openings in the circuit members maintain the various parts of the assembly in proper alignment while the actuation screw is being turned.

Electrical connector alignment and actuation assembly

An electrical contact and connector assembly utilizing same wherein the contact includes a first, highly conductive element (e.g., oxygen-free copper) having a first modulus of elasticity and including a pair of contacting portions each of which is designed for engaging respective conductors on first and second circuit members, and a second, spring element (e.g., stainless steel) operatively coupled to the first conductive element and having a second modulus of elasticity greater than that of the first, conductive element. A connector assembly is also defined which includes a common housing for having the contact (preferably several) located therein. The housing is metallic (e.g., stainless steel) and includes a coating of suitable dielectric material on appropriate surfaces thereof so as to prevent electrical shorting with the internally contained contacts. A preferred coating for this purpose is polyimide.

Dual element electrical contact and connector assembly utilizing same

An electrical connector for interconnecting opposed circuit members (e.g., modules, printed circuit boards) using an interim housing on which are positioned a pair of flexible circuit members which are capable of being expanded to provide desired connections. Expansion is accomplished through the application of pressurized fluid to the housing to cause expansion. Such a fluid (liquid or gas) may also cool the structure during operation. The respective conductors of the expandable flexible circuit members are electrically coupled using a common circuitized element (e.g., a thin dielectric having opposed arrays of conductive members thereon). Means for aligning the connector of the invention with the respective electrical circuit members being connected is also provided.

Fluid pressure actuated connector

Document feeding apparatus for feeding original documents of varying length to the copying station of a copier machine. If the document is less than or equal to a predetermined length, the document is moved to the copying station, a corresponding copy is made, and the original document is then transported to an exit stacker. If the original document exceeds the predetermined length, which length is slightly less than the length of a copy document, then the feed moves the original document to and through the copy station in increments slightly shorter than the length of the copy document, until the entire length of the original document has been copied. A particular use of the invention is in connection with the copying of adding machine tapes.

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Johnson City, NY, United States of America

John G Baumberger