Western Electric Company, Inc.

At&t Technologies, Inc.

William M Chisholm

James C Dougherty

Fred E Thompson

Ralph T Lechner

George S Davis

Donald E Chandler

An article of manufacture having specific utility as a multi-purpose, stackable transport tray for printed-wiring boards and accessories therefor in reusable carrier shuttles and comprising an open-work base with side portions extending upward from the base. A shelf runs the inside length of each side portion with a plurality of fin-shaped support members spaced away from the shelf by an arbitrary amount and extending inwardly from the side portion. A plurality of stiffening members extend from the base to the shelf. A plurality of ribs on the bottom surface of the base extend in a direction parallel with the sides and positioned so as to interlock and engage the support members of an underlying tray. A plurality of transverse ribs on the bottom of the base are also so positioned to engage the support members of an underlying tray.

Multi-purpose transport tray

A fixture (60) for holding a pin-supporting shuttle (54) during assembly therein of terminal pins (20) for later insertion into a rigid board is formed with a sloping work surface (66) including a plurality of locating pins (68 and 70) for holding the shuttle (54) in two dimensions and a plurality of hold-down clips (74) for engagement with a groove (76) in the shuttle. A locking bar (72) positioned above the shuttle (54) is movable toward and away from the shuttle and carries a guide (136) for the location of assemblies (44 or 52) of terminal pins (20) in the shuttle. When the shuttle (54) has been fully loaded, the locking bar (72) is moved toward the shuttle to operate a securing mechanism (116) of the shuttle to secure the terminal pins (20) into the shuttle. A break-off groove (84) is located above a scrap chute (86) and is used for breaking pin-carrier strips (40 and 42) from the shuttle-mounted pin (20) after assembly. A tray (100), containing adjustable compartment, is mounted above the work surface (66) for holding the several pin assemblies (44 and 52) prior to assembly.

Fixture for assembling pins into a shuttle

A plurality of pins (20) are supported by a shuttle (42) with shanks (21) of the pins extending freely from the shuttle. The shuttle (42) is manipulated to insert the shanks (21) into a pin-insertion head (127). The shuttle (42) is then withdrawn from the pins (20) whereby shanks (22) of the pins extend freely from the head (127). The head (127) is then moved toward a board (24) to insert the pins (20) into apertures (23) of the board.

Methods of and apparatus for inserting pins into a substrate

A plurality of pins (20) are supported and held within a pin supporting shuttle (54) by wedging the shank portion (24) of each of the pins between a respective one of a plurality of spaced parallel channels (58) and a ramp (62). The shuttle (54) is then moved to place a free end of each of the pins (20) in a gripped position within an insertion apparatus (55). The shuttle (54) is manipulated so that the shank portion (24) is allowed to return to a normal axis of each respective pin (20). The shuttle (54) is then removed from about the pins (20).

Methods of inserting pins into an apparatus and a pin supporting shuttle

First end portions (22c) of terminal pins (22) are gripped in a gripping means (54) on one side of a substrate (24) and intermediate portions (22cs) of the pins then are inserted into the substrate. In the insertion operation, second opposite end portions (22i) of the pins are extended into a straightening means (74) on the opposite side of the substrate (24). Tip portions of the first pin end portions (22c) then are disposed in the gripping means (54) and tip portions of the second pin end portions (22i) are disposed in the straightening means (74). To straighten the pins (22), relative reciprocating movement then is caused between the pin intermediate portions (22cs) and the pin tip portions to flex and coldwork the first and second pin end portions (22c and 22i) in a lateral direction simultaneously.

Method of and apparatus for straightening terminal pins

Terminal pins (18) in a terminal pin strip (16) are integrally interconnected by webs (22) located intermediate free insertion ends (18i) and free connector ends (18c) of the pins so that when the webs are severed to separate the terminal pins, the severing operation does not disrupt the integrity of smooth finished surfaces on the connector ends of the pins. Each terminal pin (18) also is formed with an intermediate push shoulder (18ps) for applying pressure on the pin to insert the pin into an aperture (20a) in a support structure, such as a printed wiring board (20), without damaging the connector end (18c) of the pin. Assembly of the terminal pins (18) into the printed wiring board (20), utilizing terminal pin strips (16) on respective supply reels (24), is accomplished with apparatus comprising a pair of pin transporter mechanisms (26), a pair of web-severing punch-and-die mechanisms (28), and a pin insertion mechanism 30.

Method of and apparatus for assembling intermediate-web held terminal

A plurality of pins (21) supported by a backplane (22) are initially processed through a straightening operation within a pin straightening apparatus (23) while using a preselected straightening amplitude. The centroids of a statistical sample of the pins (21) are then measured to obtain a measure of pin deviation from nominal. The measured data is then processed by a computer (48) to determine statistical values for mean deviation from nominal and standard deviation. Using the statistical values, a determination is made as to whether another straightening operation is required. If another operation is required, a modified straightening amplitude is determined by using the statistical values and is established within the pin straightening apparatus (23). The pins are then processed through the second straightening operation using the modified straightening amplitude.

Method of straightening backplane-supported pins

A backplane (32) supporting a plurality of pins (31) is clamped to a fixture (86) which is mounted on a movable platform (48). A pin straightening assembly (85) is attached to a movable holding bar (73) above the backplane-supported pins (31). By selective vertical movement of the straightening assembly (85), tips of the pins (31) are captured therein. The assembly (85) is then reciprocated horizontally in the plane of the assembly to straighten the pins (31) in a first plane. The tips of the pins (31) are then captured by other portions of the assembly (85). The platform (48) is reciprocated horizontally in the plane thereof to straighten the pins (31) in a second plane.

Methods of and apparatus for straightening backplane-supported pins

Methods of straightening backplane-supported pins

A pin-removal tool (36) for removing a damaged or defective pin (23a) from a printed wiring board (21) includes a handle (37) and a shaft (38) extending from one end of the handle. The tool (21) further includes a sleeve (58) which is threadedly attached to the shaft (23) to facilitate rotational and axial movements therebetween. A pin-removal member (39) is fixedly attached to the shaft (38). The pin-removal member (39) includes a bore (42), a transverse slot (44) at one end of the member and a pair of shoulder-retaining portions (55) which aid in the removal of the pin (23). Laterally extending shoulders (29) of the pin (23a) are positioned within the slot (44) and the tool (36) is rotated ninety degrees to position the portions (55) adjacent to the shoulders. The sleeve (58) is then rotated while being held axially against the board 10. Upon rotation of the sleeve (58 ), the shaft (38) moves axially within the sleeve whereby the portions (55) pull the pin (23a) axially from the board (21).

Pin removal tool

Intermediate-web held terminal pins

A plurality of pins (24) held at opposite ends by carrier strip (48 and 50) is positioned within a pin applicator (54) where the pins are moved into nests (66) of a stationary jaw (56). As the pins (24) are moved by a movable jaw (58) into the nests (66), the carrier strip (48) engages a stripper bar (70) to separate the strip from the pins. A flared surface (88) of the movable jaw (58) engages portions of the pins (24) to position the pins axially with respect to planar aligned surfaces (68) of the stationary jaw (56). The movable jaw (58) then clamps the pins (24) within the nests (66). The strip (50) is separated from the pins (24) and the stationary and movable jaws (56 and 58) are moved to insert portions of the clamped pins into apertures (26) of a board (22).

Methods of and apparatus for assembling articles with a support

A pin-insertion tool 30 for inserting a replacement pin 12a into a vacant aperture 26a of a wiring board 10 includes a guide member 32 having alignment slots 74 for aligning the tool with a row of in-board pins 12. A pin-insertion member 36 is slidably mounted adjacent to the guide member 32 and includes a pin-retaining means 50 for releasably retaining portion of the replacement pin 12a. The pin-retaining means 50 is positionable in the plane of the alignment slots 74 of the guide member 32 to facilitate insertion of the replacement pin 12a at a uniform orientation with the row of in-board pins 12.

Growing community of inventors

Midlothian, VA, United States of America

William M Chisholm