International Business Machines Corporation

Richard Michael Williams

Winfried W Wilcke

Robert Barton Garner

A mechanism that automatically achieves alignment of the communications elements during assembly of a modular computer system, without the need for human intervention. The mechanism comprises an alignment frame provided with bumps and depressions. The bumps in the alignment frames mate with the depressions on adjacent alignment frames. Each depression comprises an entrance opening that is wider than the diameter of the bumps. The diameter of the entrance opening is determined by the expected accuracy of the alignment of subsystems or bricks within the modular electronic system. When it is desired to align the communication elements, the alignment frames are brought into engagement by causing alignment guides to slide past each other, and to guide the bumps in the alignment frames into the depressions in the adjacent alignment frames. The mechanism further comprises a set of springs that force the allow the alignment frames to be retained securely by the communications elements.

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Kelso, WA, United States of America

Richard Michael Williams