Abstract: The tension imparted to an advancing strand 11 is regulated by passing the strand about a permanent magnet sheave 13 interposed between a pair of permanent magnet discs 19 and 21. The sheave and discs are axially polarized so that the magnet fields about the sheave are in opposing or repelling relation with the magnetic fields about the discs. By moving (26, 27 and 28) a disc toward or away from the sheave the intensities of the coupled lines of magnetic force are increased or decreased to accordingly vary the magnetic drag placed on the sheave and thus the tension imparted to the advancing strand 11.

Abstract: To test the soldering temperature on the upper surface of an electronic circuit ceramic substrate (16) that is conveyed on a moving belt (12) over a plurality of heater platens (10), a thermocouple (20) is yieldably pressed to the upper surface of the substrate by a pressing mechanism (22). The pressing mechanism (22) comprises two flat springs (54 and 56) that press an insulator (52) down onto the thermocouple (b 20). The flat springs (54 and 56) are in turn pressed toward the upper surface of the substrate (16) by a coil spring (62) which pushes down onto a pressure plate (60). The pre-load of the coil spring (62) is manually adjusted by a nut (64) that has a groove (66) around which the wire (24) of the thermocouple (20) is wrapped for strain relief, as the wire extends to a digital readout device (26) that rides on the belt (12) along with the substrate ( 16).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A multipoint dispensing of viscous material onto a board (23) comprises the monitoring and controlling of several process parameters such as the initial gap (.delta.) between a dispensing tool (20,25) and the board (23), the dispense pressure time cycle within the tool (FIG. 3A) and the tool velocity cycle (FIG. 3B). Also, an improved method for loading solder paste into the dispensing tool includes applying vacuum to two regions of the tool while vibrating it in its axial direction (FIG. 4). Furthermore, improved techniques for preventing crust formation on the paste within the tool, and for controlling the viscosity of the solder paste within the tool, achieve consistent dispensing results in a production environment.

Abstract: A terminal strip 10 (see FIG. 7) is assembled by the method and apparatus so that two tiers of pins 11 are forced fitted into blind holes 13 formed in a plastic strip 12. Two tiers of terminal pins are advanced by two rows of pusher rods 41 and 42 from stacks 16 of pins through holes 31 and 32 in a slide bar 28 into passageways 26 and 27 of a loader block 21 so that the leading end of the pins project from the block while the trailing ends are fully seated within the passageway. The slide block 28 is shifted to block the rear end of the passageways 26 and 27. Next, a work holder nest 51 loaded with a plastic strip 12 is moved toward the now held pins 11 to force seat the pins into the blind holes 13. The nest is withdrawn, and cleats 63, 64 and 58 pull the plastic strip 12 to withdraw the pins 11 from the passageway to permit the subsequent removal of the assembled terminal strip 10.

Abstract: At least one article such as a device (10) is reoriented to achieve uniform orientation of a plurality thereof. The devices (10) typically have a head (12) and a body portion (18) depending therefrom along a plane (26) dividing the head asymmetrically. A portion of head (12) has a fully developed shape typically seen along one side of a disc while another portion of head (12) has at least one segment omitted. A preferably air powered track (30) is utilized to guidably advance the devices (10) in a single file. The body portions (18) are disposed in track (30) with their respective dividing planes (26) lying substantially along a common plane passing through a longitudinal slot (50) in a feed section of track (30). A device (10) is assumed to have a desirable orientation when its flat (24) faces such as to the back of track (30) and an undesirable orientation when flat (24) faces oppositely such as to the front of track (30).

Abstract: The development is an improved elevator hook forming part of an elevator for transferring ceramic substrates in a tray between a magazine and a stepwise indexable rotatable cage in a sputtering chamber. The improved hook has a vertical shank, a vertical arm disposed on one side of the shank and pivotally coupled thereto, a laterally salient horizontal elevator member disposed at the lower end of the arm for supporting the tab of such a tray, a horizontal retainer member laterally and vertically opposite the elevator member and transversely offset therefrom, and a spring urging the elevator member towards the retainer member. The gap is normally small enough to prevent a tray tab dislodged from the elevator member from falling through the gap.

Abstract: A connectorized cable includes a cable having a plurality of conductors (28-28) each of which is disposed in a tortuous path through a conductor-receiving groove (71) and an associated aligned opening between teeth (37-37) of an elongated connector which is made of a dielectric material. The grooves are formed along a shelf (45) which is spaced below the openings between the teeth. Portions (79-79) of the groove walls (73-73) are sheared to form latching tabs which are deflected inwardly into securing engagement with the conductors in the grooves and which cause portions of the conductors to extend into apertures at the bottoms of the grooves. The tortuous path of each conductor and the deflected tab portions of the walls cooperate to cause the conductor to be maintained within its groove and to prevent its inadvertent movement. Because of its connection to a wall of the connector and the interposition of displaced plastic material between it and the wall, each tab is locked in engagement with a conductor.

Abstract: An improved elevator mechanism for transferring ceramic substrates between a magazine and a stepwise indexable rotatable cage in a sputtering chamber includes one or more of the following: (a) a substrate carrying tray having a round pick-up rod engageable by an elevator hook for lifting and lowering the tray into and out of the chamber, (b) a tab on the hook having formed therein a groove for receiving such pick-up rod, (c) a retaining tab on the hook for preventing separation between it and the tray in the event such rod becomes unseated in such groove, (d) an inclined plane for transferring the tray from the hook to the cage to initiate travel of the cage-held tray in the chamber as the cage progressively indexes, and (e) a lifting roller for transferring the tray at the end of such travel back to the hook.

Abstract: A production control process includes a method of highlighting pinholes in a surface layer (37), such as a photoresist layer, of an article (31), such as a semiconductor wafer. The photoresist typically covers a dielectric base layer, such as an oxide layer (28). After a typical photoresist application, a typical test wafer (31) is submitted to an etching operation wherein pinhole sized defects in the photoresist layer (37) cause like defects to be etched through the underlying oxide layer (28). Thereafter, the wafer is submitted to an electrolytic treatment step, wherein the preferred process involves treating a positive photoresist in an alcohol with the wafer being cathodically coupled into the treating circuit. Activating light can be used simultaneously with the treatment. As an alternative, the photoresist is exposed prior to the electrolytic treatment of the wafer.

Abstract: A template (148), having at least one opening (152) therein, is placed in close, spaced, relation to a PCB (30). The opening (152) is circular with a small semicircular notch (154) on the periphery thereof. A chip carrier (10) is positioned in the opening (152) with one corner (22) loosely captured in the notch (154). The PCB (30), template (148) and the loosely captured chip carriers (10) are placed in a condensation soldering facility to reflow the solder. As the solder reflows the chip carrier (10) rotates slightly about the loosely captured corner (22) to self align pads (33) on the PCB (30) to leads (16) on the chip carrier (10) as the bond is being formed.

Abstract: A non-jamming magazine 51 supports bar-like articles 10 in inclined positions so that the lowermost articles may be successively withdrawn and the remainder of the stack will drop without cocking an article between side rails 22 and 23 to jam and preclude further withdrawal of the articles. A parallelogram fixture 50 is used to receive a supply of articles 10 and upon flexing of the fixture, the articles are placed in inclined positions for loading into the magazine.

Abstract: Extruder tooling for directing plastic materials to enclose a conductor (26) being advanced along a path of travel through a core tube (97) and aligned dies includes disc-like flow passages (107, 129) which are disposed concentrically about and perpendicularly to the conductor. This arrangement minimizes conductor tension in a pressure extrusion arrangement by significantly reducing the length of the plastic-to-conductor contact within the extruder. The length and width of each flow passage normal to and along a path of travel are sufficient to provide a uniform distribution of plastic material circumferentially about the conductor and to dissipate stresses which have been induced in the plastic materials. In a tubing arrangement, the length of a cantilevered portion of the core tube is reduced significantly which results in improved concentricity of the plastic material about the conductor.

Abstract: Printed circuit boards having a plurality of circuit layers are produced on a copper-clad substrate by first forming a pattern in a desired configuration to produce the first layer of the printed circuit board, then covering it with an energy-sensitive material comprising a rubber modified epoxy resin, an acrylated epoxy resin and a viscosity modifier; the energy-sensitive material is delineated in a desired pattern and developed to uncover portions of the underlying metallization pattern and the entire substrate is then blanket cured to produce a rigid layer having openings in appropriate places; the openings are metallized and a second copper pattern is produced on the cured polymer by conventional metallization and lithographic techniques. If desired, the process is repeated until a suitable number of copper patterned levels are obtained.

Abstract: A relatively small pair size cable (20) comprising at least one insulated conductor (22) is provided with a flame retardant, smoke suppressive non-metallic sheath system (30). The sheath system has a relatively low thermal conductivity and provides a predetermined delay prior to the thermal decomposition of the conductor insulation. It includes an inner layer (31) of an inorganic cellular material which has a relatively low air permeability and two tapes (41, 42) which are wrapped helically about the inner layer with overlapped sealed seams. Each tape comprises a flame retardant thermosetting material. In an alternative embodiment, the heat absorptivity of the sheath system is increased substantially to facilitate the sealing of the seams as the cable is moved along a manufacturing line. This may be accomplished by using an inorganic cellular material which has a relatively high absorptivity or by facing the inner layer or one of the tapes with a material which is heat absorptive.

Abstract: A cable which provides suitable shielding over a relatively wide range of frequencies includes a core (22), and inner shield (32), an outer shield (34) which engages electrically the inner shield, and a jacket (60). Each shield is a laminate which includes a metallic layer comprising a suitable metallic shielding material and a plastic layer. The inner shield has its plastic layer (38) disposed toward the core whereas the plastic layer (52) of the outer shield is oriented toward the jacket. Also, each shield is formed with an unjoined, longitudinal overlapped seam. In order to insure continued shielding when the cable is flexed, the longitudinal seams of the cable are displaced from each other as measured in a direction circumferentially of the core.

Abstract: A process for separating lead includes the steps of dissolving a water insoluble lead salt in an acetate solution and precipitating the lead by treating the acetate solution with a sulfite so as to form an insoluble lead sulfite. The acetate is recovered by concentrating the solution and precipitating the acetate therefrom, drying the acetate crystals and dissolving them in methanol. The methanol is then evaporated leaving purified acetate crystals. The process is shown as part of a precious metal recovery system in the treatment of tankhouse slime.