Abstract: A section (21) of tape (20), having an adhesive side (22), is advanced from a roll (18) and is held tautly beneath a plurality of tubes (86). The section (21) of tape (20) is vacuumly gripped on the adhesive side (22) by the tubes (86) and is thereafter severed from the roll (18). The tubes (86) are then moved to accurately place the severed section (21) of the tape (20) onto a tape support surface (44). Vacuum is removed from the tubes (86) and is applied to the surface (44) to facilitate the transfer of the severed section (21) of the tape (20) to the surface.

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: In an accumulating and a splicing apparatus (30), a nearly exhausted tape (31) is advanced at a line speed along a path which extends between two groups (49, 51) of rollers. One of the groups of rollers is moved upwardly to a position above the other group of rollers and a length of the nearly exhausted tape is accumulated in a sinusoidal path just prior to splicing. The nearly exhausted tape is clamped at an input side of the accumulator after which a severing device (104) is moved transversely across that tape to form a trailing end portion. The severing device is allowed to be spring-returned to a position above the nearly exhausted tape and to one side thereof which permits joining facilities to carry a leading end of a tape (35) of a new supply downwardly to be spliced to the trailing end portion of the nearly exhausted tape.

Abstract: In methods of and apparatus (28) for indexing a repetitively patterned strip (12) past a plurality of work stations, such as, for example, a bonding station (33) and a dewebbing station (65) of a lead frame bonder, a cyclical, automated adjustment of the strip (12) with respect to the bonding station (33) eliminates repeated meticulous manual fine adjustments of the strip. An adjustment of the position of the strip (12) is achieved by adjusting the positions of travel limit stops (109 and 111) of an incremental feed mechanism (46). Simultaneously with the adjustment of the travel limit stops (109 and 111), an adjustment is made in the same magnitude and in the same direction as the adjustment to the limit stops in the position of the dewebbing station (65). Similar adjustments may be made to any other station, an accurate position of which with respect to the position of the strip (12) is desirable.

Abstract: A device (26) for softening the insulation of a wire (21) having a pair of opposed rollers (28, 30) and means (22) for mounting the rollers. The rollers (28, 30) are mounted in such a manner as to be movable away from one another to enable an insulated wire (21), to be wire wrapped on a terminal, to be passed therebetween. The rollers (28, 30) are also movable towards each other for engaging and softening the wire insulation.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electroplating apparatus in which a plurality of anodes and twice-as-large plurality of first and second cathodes are disposed in a cell such that each anode has on its opposite sides a first cathode and a second cathode, respectively. First and second adjustable constant current sources supply current to, respectively, all first cathodes and such anodes and all second cathodes and such anodes. A plurality of current adjusting units respective corresponding to the anodes are connected on the positive side of each such current source between that source and each respective anode. The anodes are permanently installed in the cell, while the cathodes are carried by a holder fitting over the top of the cell and removable therefrom. The cathodes may be selectively inserted into guideways in their holder and then locked in place in these guideways until removal of the cathodes is desired, when they are unlocked.

Abstract: A protector module (30) for protecting tip and ring conductors of a telephone loop includes a pair of protector assemblies (40-40') which are supported within a common housing (32). A voltage protection subassembly (42) of each protector assembly is connected electrially to a grounding subassembly (44) for causing current associated with excessive voltage surges to be conducted to ground. Each protector assembly also includes a current protection subassembly (41) which comprises a dielectric base and a line pin (61) and a central office pin (57) with the line and central office pins being connected together electrically to establish electrical contact between a conductor of the circuit and its protector assembly. A shunting element (62) is disposed concentrically about the line pin and is releasably secured to one end of the line pin in an initial position by a fusible bonding material.

Abstract: In manufacturing a circuit which includes the step of etching a polymeric material in the presence of exposed metallic conductors, the polymer is etched with an aqueous solution comprising chromic acid [which may be added in the form of chromic oxide (CrO.sub.3)], sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and water wherein the water added does not exceed 55 volume percent of the total volume.

Abstract: A frequency counter (20) measures and displays a plurality of frequencies appearing on input channels (22, 24, 26 and 28) of an analog circuit (30). A program switch (32) is coupled to a decoder logic circuit (34) which facilitates the operation of counter (20) in one of a plurality of selectable program modes. A steering logic circuit (36) is coupled to circuit (34) and facilitates the selection and order of the input channels (22, 24, 26 and 28) during a measurement cycle. Toggle switches (38, 40 and 42) are coupled to circuit (36) to facilitate the establishment of a sign bit, a channel order and a channel select, respectively. A channel display circuit (46) provides visual indication of the sign, channel select and channel order.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for double crucible Czochralski crystal growth comprises an inner crucible fixed within an outer crucible wherein the inner crucible contains an extra volume or reservoir of semiconductor melt when flow of semiconductor melt from the outer crucible into the inner crucible through means interconnecting the crucibles ceases.

Abstract: The bond strength of electrical leads (12) bonded to a device (13), such as a silicon integrated circuit chip, is tested by mounting the device (13) onto a pedestal (22) and then pulling on such lead with a freely manipulatable grasping tool (52). The pedestal (22) is coupled to a load sensitive mechanism, such as a simple balance arm (19), or a movable element (21) coupled to a load cell (56). Such mechanism is adjusted to register that part of the pulling force exerted by the grasping tool (52), which is transmitted through the interface between the lead (12) and the device (13).

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a twisted pair (21) of conductors includes contact means (60) in the form of a generally semi-circular rocker. One diametrical end portion of the rocker rides on portions of the twisted pair of conductors as they are advanced over a sheave (34). The opposite diametrical end portion of the rocker is caused to be supported in alignment with a sensor (81). Should one of the conductors be missing, perhaps because of a break or equipment malfunction, the rocker is no longer caused to be maintained in a position such that the opposite end portion is aligned with the sensor. This causes the sensor to provide a signal indication of a break and because of its changed position to provide a visual indication to an operator.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting a drop wire splice comprises an enclosure having a pair of channels with each channel extending from an entrance end to an exit end. A partition is located between the channels and a ramped surface is located on a wall of each channel opposite the partition with the ramped surface widening each channel as it extends from its entrance to exit end. Embedded in the partition are a pair of electrically conductive terminals each of which comprises tangs extending into each channel at an angle inclined toward the exit end. The apparatus further comprises a pair of wedges for insertion into the exit end of each channel.

Abstract: A high frequency induction furnace (10) for reflowing a portion of a lightguide preform (44) in order to draw a fiber (52) therefrom. The furnace (10) has a centrally located tubular susceptor (34) therein having a thin coating of the preform material (e.g., silica) on at least a portion of the inside surface thereof. A cylinder (62) is positioned in concentric, spaced relation about the susceptor (34) and is surrounded by an insulating grain (36). A high frequency coil (38) is energized to couple its electromagnetic field to the susceptor (34) to heat and reflow a portion of the preform (44) in order to draw the fiber (52) therefrom. The thin coating prevents contaminating particulates from migrating from small cracks in the inside surface of the susceptor (34) onto the preform (44) while the cylinder (62) prevents small particulate emanating from the insulating grain (36) from being drawn through larger cracks in the susceptor and onto the preform and/or the fiber 52.

Abstract: First components such as lids (9) are assembled to second components such as electronic chip carriers (10). Each lid (9) has an external surface opposite a first mating face and each carrier (10) has a second mating face complementary with the first mating face of the lid (9). An assembly station contains a first frame (30) having first walls (31-35) for confining and first ledges (37-38) for supporting a lid (9). Frame (30) has an advantageous peripheral opening (39) suitable for passing therethrough portions of devices for transferring lids (9). Preferably such stations (25) are established in an array suitable for access by an array of lids (9) transferred by a first device (35). A first magazine (70) holds files of lids (9) with external surfaces of leading ones in an array for contact, pickup and transfer.

Abstract: Keying members (42--42), used to permit mating connectors (32--32) to be inserted onto the proper locations on a backplane (22) of a PCB mounting shelf (10), are initially inserted in a transfer member (62). The transfer member (62) is then positioned proximate the backplane (22) and the keying members (42--42) are urged therefrom onto the backplane (22) by an ejection apparatus (60).

Abstract: A contact element for establishing an electrical connection between two insulated conductors includes a tubular member having at least one open end and being made of an electrically conductive material. The tubular member includes surfaces that define a slot which extends from the open end and which has a width that is less than the diameter of the conductive elements of the insulated conductors. The tubular member has sufficient stiffness and the slot is configured to cause at least portions of the surfaces that define the slot to nick the conductive element of each of one or more conductors that are moved into and along the slot. Any deflection of the slot surfaces which accompanies the movement of one or more insulated conductors into the slot is substantially negligible.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a lightguide fiber cable (21) in which a lightguide fiber core (32) is loosely disposed in a composite sheath 40 it is important to control the ratio of the lengths of the core and sheath. A core which is shorter than the sheath and which follows a shortened path on a reel may be unduly strained when the cable is installed in the field. This problem is overcome by coupling the core to the sheath by a system (25) which includes a constant speed linear capstan (146) and a relatively large variable speed sheave (150) that is positioned between the linear capstan and a takeup reel (154). The coupling of the core to the sheath is accomplished on the sheave after the sheath is elongated between the linear capstan and the sheave. The coupling and the elongation cooperate to compensate for the inherent shortfall in core length which otherwise would occur when the cable is wound on a reel.

Abstract: A multi-unit telecommunication cable is disclosed in which the twisted wire pairs of the unit are presented adjacent the conductive cable sheath at irregularly spaced locations. The cable may be made by modulating the amplitude and/or frequency of the oscillations of the faceplate employed in twisting the wire pairs together in forming the cable units.

Abstract: During the manufacture and/or packaging of insulated conductors, insulation defects are detected, measured, and classified by the methods and apparatus of this invention. As a twisted pair of insulated conductors (21-21), for example, is advanced along a manufacturing line (25), the insulation covers (23-23) are engaged by a probe (32) which is connected to a source of electrical power and to an electrical circuit (30). The circuit is adapted to process signals received from the probe and to make comparisons with stored signals to indicate the occurrence of pinholes, faults or bare wire in the insulation covers. In order to be accurate in its comparison and classification, the circuit includes provisions for correcting for current flow between the probe and the metallic conductors prior to and subsequent to the pair being moved through the probe and for the thickness of the probe.