Floating locator head for application tooling

Abstract

An apparatus is provided to enable a press to automatically apply an electrical connector to a printed circuit board. A locator block is secured to a floating pin holder plate which is mounted to a press ram, the connector is placed in position and partially inserted on the board and the board is secured and accurately disposed below the locator block. The locator block has a recess which surrounds the connector when the locator is lowered by the ram, urges the connector to the vertical and in turn urges the floating plate a slight but important two-dimensional horizontal increment to be precisely positioned and oriented with the connector. When the position of the locator block/floating plate assembly is thus adjusted, the locator block retracts exposing push pins mounted in the floating plate which enter cavities in the connector, engage the terminals therein, and push the terminals fully into plated through-holes of the board. A pre-load block/mounting plate assembly may be placed between the ram and the locator block/floating plate assembly, the pre-load block spaced an incremental distance from the mounting plate held apart by high spring force so that when the connector is fully mounted on the board, the springs compress and the pre-load block does not continue downward during the remainder of the ram's downstroke; and excessive ram force is prevented from being applied to the connector.