Abstract: Apparatus (20) for imparting stepwise movement to a strip (10) having pilot holes (12) comprising, a frame (27), a carriage (26) mounted by said frame to be longitudinally movable in relation thereto, a pin (22) coupled with said carriage movable therewith and laterally movable in relation to said path between positions at which pin is adapted to enter into and to be retracted from a pilot hole in said strip. A link (30) is adapted to undergo alternate forward and reverse strokes and is coupled to said carriage by a lost motion coupling (46, 57, 56, 57) so that, during a first interval of each such stroke, the carriage and link are uncoupled with the carriage remaining stationary and, during a second interval of each of such strokes, the carriage and link are coupled to move together.

Abstract: A tool for assembling a plurality of conductors into secured engagement with a mandrel of a multicontact electrical connector includes a plurality of spaced combs which are positioned adjacent a nest to hold the conductors transversely above a mandrel which is supported in the nest. In each cycle of operation, a head of the tool is prepositioned with respect to the nest and moved into engagement with the conductors to cause a forming die of the head to partially form the conductors about the mandrel and cooperate with a blade adjacent the nest to sever excess lengths of free end portions of the conductors. The head is repositioned with respect to the next so that when the head is again moved, in a second step of the cycle, forces are applied which are sufficient to form the conductors completely about the mandrel with each conductor being pressed into secured engagement with an associated recess on each side of the mandrel.

Abstract: In order to prevent cutting of inner windings of a film (39) wound on a pair of arbor halves (34 and 38) during sequential withdrawal of the arbor halves following a winding operation, the arbor halves are forge formed with rounded protuberant winding surfaces (51, 52 and 53). The rounded surfaces may be coated with a low friction plastic to enhance sequential arbor withdrawal without pulling the inner convolutions from the wound film plastic (39). Further, the arbor halves are provided with ends (36) bent beyond 90.degree. so that the arbor halves may force seat in holes (42) formed in holders. The arbor bent end construction will also allow an operator to strike the bent end of the arbor half in a hole to quickly remove a defective arbor to permit quick replacement with a new arbor half.

Abstract: Magnetic articles (10) are advanced in single file within a tube (14) for dispensing therefrom. A first magnetic device (20) establishes a magnetic field to releasably seize the leading article (10) such that trailing articles (10) are stopped in the tube (14). A second magnetic device (22) operates at a fixed location along the tube (14) and establishes a magnetic field to releasably seize the next trailing article (10) in the tube (14). A mechanism (40) then indexes the device (20) with the seized, leading article (10) a sufficient distance away from attraction of the second device (20) such that, when the leading article (10) is released by device (20), it is also released from tube (14).

Abstract: A conical end portion of a connector plug and an end portion of a lightguide fiber which is encapsulated by the plug are prepared to form a conical end portion which is suitable for interconnection with a conical end portion of another plug within a sleeve with precise end separation of opposing end portions of the fibers. The conical portion of the plug is seated in engagement with a surface which is mateable with the outwardly facing surface of a conical end portion of the plug with an end portion of the fiber extending beyond the plug. In order to prepare the lightguide fiber, a disc which is mounted for rotation about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the end portion of the lightguide fiber is moved along a path of travel obliquely transverse of the lightguide fiber. This disc is rotated to cause its peripheral edge surface to sever the portion of the lightguide fiber that extends from the plug to form an end surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating a vertically suspended preform from which lightguide fiber is drawn includes a torch having a plurality of ducts that open to a surface adjacent to a lower end of the preform. Fuel and oxidizing gases flow from the ducts, mix at the surface and flame about a necked-down, lower portion of the preform to form a melt cone from which the fiber is drawn. The ducts and the preform are positioned to cause a combustion zone of each flame to impinge upon the preform. In a preferred embodiment, the openings of the ducts are arrayed in a circle which is referred to as a pitch circle and which has a diameter that is less than that of the preform. Also, the ducts are arranged so that the gases are directed at a predetermined angle to the axis of the preform.

Abstract: The walls 41 (FIG. 4) of thru holes 11 in a printed wiring board substrate 12 are coated with a liquid 24 by inserting fingers 22 into the thru holes. Each of the fingers has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the associated thru hole and has a length no greater than the thickness of the substrate 12. After ink 24 has been applied to the top surface of the substrate, the inserted fingers 22 are withdrawn, thereby drawing the ink down into the thru holes and coating the walls 41. In another embodiment, fingers 62 are aligned with selected portions 52 of an edge 55 of the substrate 50 to coat the portions of the edge as the fingers are moved by the edge after the heads of the fingers have been coated with the ink 24.

Abstract: Several flat cable embodiments (10, 10', 10", 10'", 10"") are disclosed, as are methods and apparatus (30) for the selective manufacture and connectorization of same. In accordance with one preferred flat cable embodiment (10), adapted for telephone under carpet applications, two precisely offset arrays of rectangularly shaped conductors (13, 14) are separated by a center film (16), with each array being adhesively bonded through an associated adhesive coating (21 or 22) to only the respectively adjacent one of two outer films (18 or 19).

Abstract: A hybrid integrated circuit (121) is coupled to an adapter circuit (151) to facilitate trimming of film resistors (126, 127, 128 and 129) formed on the hybrid circuit. The adapter circuit (151) includes a plurality of safety resistors (156, 157 and 158) which are to be selectively added in series with the film resistor (126) to be trimmed. A computer (145) facilitates the measurement of (1) the resistance of the untrimmed film resistor (126) and (2) the gain of the hybrid circuit (121). Depending upon the measured gain, the safety resistors (156, 157 and 158) are selectively added in series with the film resistor (126) to establish a basic resistance value. Thereafter, the film resistor (126) is trimmed by a laser (144) until the resistance value of the film resistor (126) is equal to the basic resistance value. Other safety resistors are used during the trimming of the remaining resistors (127, 128 and 129).

Abstract: A method of making solder spheres having non-oxidized surfaces by introducing solder into a flux composition comprising an activator and an antioxidant. Molten solder (12) is extruded into a flux composition (24) maintained at ambient temperature or solder powder (40) is sifted into hot flux (46) and then cooled.

Abstract: The magnetic intensity in a succession of strips (12) in an article (10) is measured by producing relative motion between the article (10) and a magnetic sensing head (23) to produce a succession of first voltage waveforms. Each such waveform has a shape substantially characterized by the positions of the poles (13 and 14) in a respective strip (12). Each incremental portion of the shape has an amplitude proportional to the magnetic intensity sensed along the surface of the strip (12) and to the instantaneous speed of the relative motion between the sensing head (23) and such surface. By coupling a generator (31) to the article (10), a second voltage waveform is produced having a shape for each strip, wherein each incremental portion has an amplitude proportional to an instantaneous speed equivalent to the speed producing the first voltage waveform for the respective strip (12).

Abstract: A technique for elevating the temperature of a heat transfer liquid is disclosed. The liquid, at a low temperature (e.g., 70.degree. F.), is directed through a coil (72) located in the upper portion of an enclosed chamber (71). Condensing, hot vapor on the coils (72) heats the liquid (e.g., 200.degree. F.) passing therethrough. The heated liquid from the coil (72) passes, via a conduit (73) into a reservoir in the lower portion of the chamber (71) where immersion heaters (76-76) heat the liquid (e.g., 400.degree. F.) to the desired temperature. The heated liquid is then discharged from the chamber (71) via an outlet pipe (74). Advantageously, the vapor from the heated liquid in the reservoir is the same vapor which condenses on the coils (72).

Abstract: A telephone cord includes a length of cordage having each end terminated with a modular plug with the plug at one end disposed within a specially designed, easily identifiable cavity of a unipartite housing of a coupler jack of this invention. The coupler jack also includes a conventional plug-receiving cavity and a plurality of wire-like contact elements having retroflexed end portions which are positioned in the cavities to engage terminals of inserted plugs. The plug that is disposed within the specially designed cavity is held in such a manner that its disconnection from the coupler jack is encumbered to prevent withdrawal without the use of a mechanical expedient. Forces must be applied to a tab of the plug in a particular manner to cause the tab to assume an essentially linear rather than a conventional arched configuration which occurs when the free end of the tab is depressed.

Abstract: In terminating a ribbon which comprises an array of lightguide fibers, a substrate having a plurality of parallel grooves is positioned in a nest and supported at its end portions after which an end portion of the ribbon is moved longitudinally to cause the fibers to be separated by a comb-like device adjacent one end of the nest after which the ribbon is secured with a clamp adjacent the other end of the nest. Another substrate having aligned grooves is placed over the fibers so that the fibers are held in channels formed by the opposing grooves after which the assembly of substrates and fibers are secured together with a temporary clamp which applies compressive forces to end portions of the assembly along a longitudinal centerline of the assembly. Then a vise which includes jaws having parallel surfaces for engaging the substrate is moved toward the assembly to position a lower jaw under the lower substrate and an upper jaw above the upper substrate.

Abstract: A self-supporting aerial cable includes an undulated core enclosed in an aluminum, inner shield, a plastic inner jacket enclosed in a steel, outer shield having an unjoined longitudinal overlapped seam, and a plastic outer jacket. The outer plastic jacket includes a first portion which encloses the steel shield and a second portion which encloses a steel support strand that extends longitudinally but which is spaced from the first portion, said first and second portions of the outer jacket being connected by a web. The unjoined seam of the outer shield allows forces which are imparted to the steel shield by its formation to be transferred to the inner jacket and the inner shield which causes the inner shield to engage portions of the core to maintain the core coextensive with the inner and the outer jackets.

Abstract: A connector housing (10) with projecting terminal pins (11) is moved through a set of blades (41-45) which act to align the columns of terminal pins. At an assembly area (38), a group of aligning pins (111) are advanced through openings in the blades to align the rows of terminal pins (11). A jaw device (62) advances an apertured block (13) into the position above the terminal pins, whereafter a pusher (103) advances an apertured retainer card (24) onto the block (13). A multi-fingered insertion tool (121) is moved to push the retainer card (24) and the block (13) onto the coordinately aligned terminal pins.

Abstract: A method of forming a flexible printed wiring board having a metal substrate includes the steps of etching through-holes in the metal substrate by means of an etch resistant ferro electric mask placed over the substrate and employing a viscous sealant such as polyethylene or polypropylene glycol between the mask and the substrate. The mask is held to the substrate with the sealant therebetween by means of a magnetic field. The substrate is then treated with a ferric chloride etch solution to etch away the desired through-holes in the metal substrate. Thereafter, the substrate may be coated with a polymeric coated by means of fluidized bed or electrostatic coating techniques as taught in the prior art.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer (31) is placed in a holder (10) and then positioned on a polishing pad (35) in a polishing machine (40). A mechanical force is applied to the holder (10) to cause a predetermined pressure on the wafer (31) therein as the polishing pad (35) is rotated. Simultaneously, water at a pressure slightly higher than the pressure applied to the wafer (31) is injected into the holder to form a water bearing layer between the wafer and the holder that permits free floating rotative motion of the wafer as it is being polished.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling high speed strand takeup reel shrouds during reel crossover by moving the shrouds once the output speed of the reel motors have deaccelerated to a preselected rate.

Abstract: A telephone cord which is particularly suited for use with some models of decorative telephones includes a plurality of individually insulated conductors, a plastic jacket which encloses the plurality of individually insulated conductors, and a braid which encloses the plastic jacket. While the braid is comprised of a woven band of cloth of a natural material or a synthetic material, in a preferred embodiment it is made of cotton which is dyed to a color which is compatible with that of portions of the decorative telephone. An end portion of the cord which is terminated with a modular plug that is capable of being inserted into a jack in the telephone is treated to cause the braid to be bonded to the plastic jacket so that when the jacket is removed to expose the conductors for purposes of plug termination, the braid will not fray.