Abstract: A computer controlled facility is provided to detect capacitance, and hence defective connections, between a group of wires in a telephone handset cord and terminal blades of plugs connected at both ends of the cord. The test depends upon ascertaining the capacitance between a properly connected terminal blade and wire and the other terminal blade and wire connections to provide exact indications of the terminal blades and wires which are not properly connected. Capacitance is detected by connecting a good wire and blade connection along with another wire and blade in a capacitance network associated with one stage of a free running multivibrator which produces an output wave in accordance with the capacitance between the connected pairs of wires and blades. A delayed pulse is cyclically generated to act in conjunction with the output wave to control a bank of indicator lights to provide an indication of any defective wire to blade connections.

Abstract: Two stacks of individual loading coils are mounted on the arms of a U-shaped bracket which is supported on a divider wall of a contoured plastic case having a pair of compartments for receiving the coil stacks. The crossarm of the bracket is shaped to fit within a correspondingly shaped notch formed in the divider wall to centrally position the stacks of coils within the compartments. In another embodiment spacer ribs project from the inner walls of the housing to provide means for accurately locating the stacks within the compartments. Encapsulating medium is introduced into the case to protect the coils and provide electrical isolation between the coil stacks.

Abstract: A plurality of individual toroidal loading or inductive coils mounted on a fiberglass dowel are positioned within a D-shaped case so that wiring spaces are provided between the peripheries of the coils and the junctures of the arcuate and straight sections of the case. Terminal strips are laid in the wiring spaces so that coil and stub cable wires may be secured to terminal posts projecting from the strips. The case is provided with openings to permit encapsulation of the coils. The D-shaped configuration of the case permits compact assembly of a number of cases within an outer casing.

Abstract: Solder is forced through an ejector and flow well to impinge a solder fountain against soldered leads extending through a circuit board from a component. The solder on the leads is melted to permit the removal and replacement of the component. Overflowing solder is collected and recirculated by action of the ejector. The construction of the solder fountain is such that there are no close fitting moving parts which may become clogged by solder inclusions.

Abstract: Beam machining methods are disclosed for adjusting the inductance of an inductive device having a core that substantially encloses coil means, and establishes a centrally located air gap. The inductance is adjusted by utilizing a high energy beam for machining a terminating end region of an inwardly extending core leg portion, the end face of which in part defines the air gap. By modifying the geometrical dimensions of the leg portion end face, the reluctance across the air gap may be readily changed by an amount that produces the desired value of inductance exhibited by the device when energized. The disclosed methods advantageously obviate the need for a tuning slug associated with the air gap, and eliminate the need for machine grinding the air gap-defining leg portions of the core prior to the assembly of the device.

Abstract: An open-ended, B-wire type of deformable connector has a thin, perforable insulative liner secured to the inner surface of the inner one of a pair of telescopically coaxially disposed metallic sleeves in accordance with several preferred liner assembly methods. The liner is positioned so as to overlie the distal ends of an array of insulation-piercing protuberances formed in the inner sleeve, and to extend continuously in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions at least to the perimeter of the array. During assembly, while the inner sleeve is being fabricated out of strip stock in a progressive manner, each liner in the form of a section of thin, plastic film stock is positioned on and firmly secured (such as by pressure bonding) to the partially fabricated planar sleeve section along at least the solid wall border regions thereof (surrounding the array of protuberances).

Abstract: Trailing wire ends of a cable supply on a pay-off reel initially are connected to respective matrix points of a controller in a preselected numerical order. The cable then is fed from the reel, and a leading end portion is desheathed, using heat. The desheathed portions of the cable wires then are pressed or "ironed" from a twisted-pair bundle configuration into an individual-wire common plane configuration. As the desheathed portions of the wires next are fanned out of the common plane configuration in random order, they are sorted into two groups, depending on the side of a connector plug on which they are to be located, in response to signals from the controller, which also identifies each wire and stores information as to its random numerical position in its respective group. The cable then is cut to length adjacent the supply reel and a new sequence of operations is initiated.

Abstract: A twisted pair of wires is produced by drawing two insulated wires from two supply reels while rotating one wire supply reel about the other. A capstan and tachometer measure the linear rate at which the twisted pair is being drawn. The output of the tachometer is controllably and variably divided and used to control a power inverter that drives a motor which rotates the one wire supply reel about the other. The variable ratio between the linear wire movement and the rotary or twisting movement is controlled by a random generator producing a series of numbers representing length per twist of the twisted pair, between fixed limits.

Abstract: Several methods and apparatus are disclosed for successively loading a predetermined number of elongated paramagnetic articles out of a temporarily stored mass thereof, initially confined within a magnetic field-defined storage area in parallel relationship, into precisely spaced arrays, with each array thereafter being transferred to an unloading station whereat the articles are simultaneously released to fall by gravity into respectively aligned receiving areas of an associated workpiece positioned therebelow. As a common, reciprocally mounted, article handling mechanism is employed to carry out the loading, transferring and unloading operations, and as no inversion of the articles is required to effect the unloading thereof, the composite apparatus advantageously is of simplified, reliable and rugged construction.

Abstract: A leading end portion of a thermoplastic jacketed cable is desheathed by applying heat from a movable, continuously operating annular radiant heat source to heat-soften a narrow (e.g., on the order of 1/8 of an inch or less) annular section of the jacket without contacting the jacket. A gripper slide assembly is moved parallel to the cable to grip and apply tension on the leading end portion of the jacket to separate the jacket along the heat-softened section and to remove the leading end portion of the jacket from the cable. After the slide assembly has moved sufficiently to cause separation of the jacket, the heat source is moved axially of the cable from the area of jacket separation so as to preclude damage to the insulation on the cable conductors and to permit the heat softened material of the jacket remaining on the cable to reharden and form a smooth edge along the line of separation.

Abstract: A probe for sensing the strength of the magnetic field that surrounds a current-carrying conductor has a square-loop magnetic material wrapped about a conductor which is placed in the magnetic field to be sensed. An alternating signal is applied to the conductor, of sufficient intensity to cause successive reversals of the polarity of the magnetic material. A sense winding around the magnetic material issues a switch signal every time the magnetic material reverses polarity. The switch signal is used to sample the alternating drive signal current in order to store the amplitude of the drive signal at the instant at which the magnetic material reverses polarity. The sampled signal amplitude is averaged over a period of time, and the resultant amplitude is a linear function of the strength of the magnetic field. A second conductor, magnetic material and sense winding are arranged in a position remote from the magnetic field in order to sense the effect of the Earth's magnetic field.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a circuit protective device are disclosed that rely on a unique, spring-biased housing that cooperates with a leaded fusible element to effect a reliable open-circuit condition in response to a predetermined overload condition. The leads not only provide the means for interconnecting the device with associated circuitry, but are specially configured to provide a simplified, inexpensive and reliable way of holding the assembled device together, in opposition to a predetermined closed-circuit tensional biasing force applied thereagainst by the housing, during normal operation. The leads may also advantageously be configured during the assembly of the device to provide the means for directly mounting the device on, and optionally (with pre-formed stops) in spaced relationship with, a circuit board.

Abstract: In order to provide indirect memory addressing for a stored-program digital processor which is not normally equipped with facilities for indirect memory addressing, a multiplexer (electronic gang switch) is interposed between the memory address output register of a central processing unit (CPU) and the address input of the memory. Several memory locations are dedicated to the indirect addressing function. When one of these dedicated locations is addressed, a decoder stops the CPU while the memory fetches the contents of the addressed, dedicated memory location. This dedicated memory location contains the address of the desired data. This actual address of the desired data is read from memory and stored in a register. The multiplexer directs the output of the register to the address input of the memory. The memory then addresses the actual location of the desired data, and the CPU reads the desired data from the memory.

Abstract: A method for use in the on-line monitoring of a geometrical parameter of a continuously advancing elongated article and, more particularly, the measuring and controlling of a geometrical dimension of such articles. The method utilizes fluidics to selectively perform such operating functions as signal responsive measuring, comparing, averaging, sensing and controlling, with the apparatus requiring a minimum of circuit interfaces and moving elements. One preferred application of the method is in measuring and controlling the coating thickness of a plurality of pulp insulated wires during manufacture.

Abstract: Two protective molded plastic hood embodiments are disclosed that are particularly adapted for use in securing multi-conductor cables to connector plugs of the type typically having one or more arrays of terminals of either the soldered or solderless type associated therewith. Each plastic hood, by having a pressure pad integrally connected to a pressure pad-receiving hood extension formed as an integral rearward portion of the main body of the hood, advantageously allows the composite hood not only to be of one-piece construction, but allows the pressure pad to be key-way guided in a telescopic manner into the hood extension. This insures that reliable, diametrically opposed clamping forces, provided by a cable tie, will always be imparted against a section of cable when positioned between the pad and hood extension, regardless of the diameter of the cable (or cables).

Abstract: A circuit component having a solder connection and screw-clamp terminal connection is formed from brass, solder-coated coiled stock with a portion of the brass exposed to separate the solder connection from the area of the screw connection in order to block the molten solder from migrating into the screw connection. The screw connection is cold-formed with radially-oriented, inwardly-sloping projections or fins arranged around a central threaded opening to engage the tines of a terminal lug as it is screw-clamped in place. The radial projections or fins, by being cold-formed, are work-hardened and bite into the U-shaped tines of the terminal lug as the screw is tightened. This prevents the terminal lug from turning as the screw descends and clamps the terminal in place. The inward slope of the projections or fins cams the tines of the terminal lug towards the screw threads, thus preventing the tines from splaying outwardly.

Abstract: A wiring head housing, particularly adapted for use in an automatic cable harness forming machine, incorporates a uniquely mounted, resiliently locked and resettable guide tube assembly that allows a guide tube, while being moved horizontally in accordance with a programmed pattern along an X-Y coordinate plane, for example, to be tilted up to a predetermined maximum degree of inclination, upon hitting an obstruction, in any direction from the predetermined resiliently locked position, while remaining secured to the wiring head. The spring means for resiliently locking the guide tube assembly continuously engages a rotatable member thereof in such a way, and is of such a type, that it is expanded in response to the guide tube being tilted in any direction. Such spring expansion (or displacement) is optionally employed to actuate a machine turn-off switch positioned adjacent thereto.

Abstract: Telephone dial mounting assemblies are disclosed wherein a uniquely constructed pair of resilient mounting elements, such as in the form of spring clips with bifurcated U-shaped leg sections, are secured to and interposed between the dial and associated support structure, permanently secured within a telephone housing, and having suitably dimensioned and positioned spring clip-receiving openings formed therein. Such a modular mounting assembly is not only of simplified, inexpensive and reliable construction, but advantageously allows dials of the same or different types to be rapidly and simply mounted within or removed from a telephone housing regardless of any differences either in the overall structural dimensions, or in the spacing or location of the attachment brackets or tabs, that may exist between alternative dials.

Abstract: Article surface defect detection methods and closed-circuit video systems for use therewith are disclosed for discriminating between different types of light-reflective surface areas on articles. Such methods and systems are particularly adapted to ascertain the presence and absence of, as well as condition of, circuit paths and satisfactory versus unsatisfactory soldered connections on printed circuit boards. In order to optimize the contrast between such two-dimensional and three-dimensional light-reflective surface areas, a specially oriented and polarized screen is interposed between the light source and article surface to be examined, and a rotatably adjustable polarized filter is preferably mounted on the camera, with the axis of the lens system thereof being oriented substantially perpendicularly to both the polarized light rays and the exposed article surface to be examined.

Abstract: A flexible belt carrier is provided for use in an apparatus for spray soldering the ends of roll capacitor blanks. The belt may be constructed of silicon rubber and has apertures extending transversely through the belt which are positioned very near to one of its surfaces. A slit or opening is made at each aperture through the web separating the aperture from the nearest surface of the belt. The belt moves in a sinuous path such that when flexed around a pulley in one direction the edges of the slit spread and gap, allowing ready insertion of a blank. When the belt passes over another pulley, the belt flexes in the opposite direction so as to foreshorten the slit surface. The slits are made at an angle acute to the surface of the belt. Therefore, as their surface foreshortens, the walls of the web formed at the slit cam against one another and overlap, thereby fully and tightly encircling the capacitor blank, exposing only the ends thereof.