Abstract: A technique for moving and presenting an article to a work station is described. A plurality of articles, loaded onto a conveyor system, are moved so that a leading article is positioned at a pick-up and elevating station (46). A separating mechanism (44) is activated to lift (via 90, 91) from the conveyor system (42) all of the articles which trail the leading article, and to move them a predetermined distance behind and away from the elevating station (46). Next, the leading article is elevated above the plane of the conveyor system in order to facilitate its removal therefrom (FIG. 3).

Abstract: A hand-operated device 10 is disclosed for inserting or extracting the dual-in-line leads (14) of a circuit module (12), particularly of the type having a relatively fragile circuit-supporting substrate (18), into or out of respective lead-engaging through-holes of a circuit board (17), or a board-mounted socket. The device (10) comprises a pair of mutually disposed, longitudinally extending, and spring-biased gripping jaws (21, 22), interconnected by a spaced pair of guide rods (26, 27). Each guide rod is fixedly secured at one end within a bore (24a or b) of one jaw-supported boss (24), with the other end being slidably received within an aligned bore (29a or b) of an other jaw-supported boss (29) so as to allow precisely controlled, relative linear displacement of the jaws.

Abstract: A manually operated device (10) adapted to facilitate the removal of a solderless type flat cable connector (15) from the terminated end of a flat cable (19) and, more particularly, to effect the release and pivotal separation of a first connector housing section (17) from a mating second housing section (18) normally snap-lock-secured thereto. The device (10) comprises a pair of pivotally connected, plier-like gripping members (21, 22) that are, in turn, respectively pivotally connected, as well as cross-coupled, to a pair of fixture-supporting gripping jaws (28, 34). As interconnected, the jaws advantageously move in parallel relationship in clamping a third connector housing section (16), fixedly secured to the second housing section (18), between two mutually disposed jaw-supported nesting blocks (42, 44), one (42) being mounted to the associated jaw (28) in a spring-biased manner.

Abstract: A device for removing leads (14) of a circuit module (12) from sockets (16) mounted in a circuit board (18) includes a first assembly (51, 52 and 54) having two depending arrays of fingers which engage the socket (16) and a second assembly (34) having two arrays of pivotally mounted jaws (31 and 32) which are manipulated to grip opposite sides of the circuit module. The second assembly is movably mounted within the first assembly, and when moved upwardly away from the circuit board, acts to pull the circuit module to extract the leads from the sockets while the fingers hold the sockets from dislodgement from the board. The fingers are longitudinally grooved (61) to guide the leads during extraction from the sockets.