Abstract: A thermode comprising: a shank; a tip; and a transition zone between the shank and the tip, the transition zone configured to provide resistance gradients to improve containment of heat in the tip. The thermode may also include an integrated cooling jet. The shank, tip, transition zone and integrated cooling jet may all be formed from a single workpiece. The thermode may also be formed with a compact mount that is integrated with the shank and that can be combined with a clamping arrangement to provide efficient replacement of the thermode from the clamping arrangement.

Abstract: A method for aligning a stent with a stent support includes the steps of (1) placing a stent support and a stent mounted on the stent support in a vertically position with the stent support's first support element at a lower position and the stent support's second support element at an upper position; (2) obtaining a digital image of the stent support and stent; (3) analyzing the digital image of the stent support and stent to compute the vertical position of the stent's upper end; (4) computing a desired position of the second support element based on the position of the stent's upper end; and (5) using a positioning device to move the second support element to the desired position. The movement of the second support element causes the conical sections of the first and second support elements to engage the respective ends of the stent to center the stent around a core element of the stent support and to secure the stent in a longitudinal direction of the stent support.

Abstract: An apparatus for winding stator teeth includes at least one fly winder for winding wire around stator teeth. At least one stator teeth holder includes stator tooth retainers at spaced locations for retaining stator teeth thereon. The at least one stator tooth holder and fly winder are moveable relative to one another to present each stator tooth to the at least one fly winder for winding a wire coil thereon. The stator tooth retainers are relatively positioned on the at least one stator teeth holder to control a span of wire extending between the stator teeth after the stator teeth have been presented to the at least one fly winder and wound.

Abstract: A cooling device is provided for dissipating heat from a heat source such as, e.g., an integrated circuit. The cooling device includes a heat sink having a fin structure, a blower assembled with the heat sink for moving air through the fin structure, and a spring attachment mechanism for clamping the heat sink to the heat source.

Abstract: A folded fin heat sink assembly and a method of fabricating a folded fin heat sink assembly for use as a cooling solution in micro-electronics and/or telecommunication applications. The heat sink assembly is formed by placing a sheet or paste of Sn—Zn solder upon a copper base plate, placing one or more aluminum folded fin assemblies on the solder sheet or paste, heating the base plate, the folded fin assembly and the solder to a temperature exceeding the liquidus temperature of the solder and allowing the solder to flow, and cooling the solder to form a soldered joint between the base plate and the folded fin assembly.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for manufacturing of folded-fin heat sink assemblies provide laser welding of the folded-fin assembly to the base, core or other heat-absorbing mass, at selected locations, prior to brazing or otherwise bonding. This ensures proper positioning of the folded-fin assembly relative to the heat-absorbing mass, and proper spacing between adjacent fins.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for measuring and adjusting the pitch and roll angle in the suspension head for magnetic readers for disk drives. The system includes a linear advancement system, a measurement system, an adjustment and heat treatment system and control algorithms TO measure, adjust and correct the roll and pitch in a suspension head.

Abstract: The modular conveyor system comprises N interconnected track sections, forming a continuous track, wherein each track section features a plurality of individually controlled coils stretching along the length thereof. Plural pallets, each having thrust producing magnets, travel independently alone the track. The track also comprises multiple linear encoder readers spaced at fixed positions therealong, and each pallet includes a linear encoder strip having a length R greater than the spacing E between the readers. Track section controllers associate the encoder strips with only one reader at any time in order to resolve the position of the pallets based on the fixed position of the readers and the relative positions of the strips in relation thereto. The section controllers also regulate and commutate the coils of the corresponding track sections in order to independently control each pallet. Communication links interface adjacent section controllers situated in adjacent track sections.

Abstract: In a device for winding coils from at least two parallel guided winding wires in axial grooves arranged on the outer circumference of rotationally symmetrical bodies of electric equipment and for looping the winding wires around two contact hooks that are annularly arranged on the end surface of the body and separated from one another, the winding wires are inserted into the grooves by a winding arm that can be turned about a rotational axis (y) which lies perpendicular to the rotational axis (x) of the body. A wire guide with separated wire outlets for the two winding wires is arranged on the free end of the winding arm. The wire guide can be turned between a winding position in which the winding wires adjoin one another in essentially parallel fashion so as to insert the wires into the grooves, and a looping position, in which the winding wires are spread apart so as to loop the wires around the contact hooks.

Abstract: A dual mode coil hitching device used in the coil winding process is disclosed. The device operates in either a clamping or a tie-off mode. The device includes a sleeve and an actuated plunger. The sleeve has a first and second opening. The first opening has a coil scrapping surface adjacent thereto, and the second opening has an upper clamping surface. The plunger has a lower clamping surface opposing the upper clamping surface and a tie-off member disposed thereon. The plunger is slidably mounted within the sleeve and is positionable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the second opening of the sleeve and the lower clamping surface of the plunger define an exposed gap, and the tie-off member is completely positioned within the sleeve. In the extended position, the tie-off member extends outside the sleeve via the first opening, and the lower clamping surface confronts the upper clamping surface.

Abstract: The apparatus accurately and automatically orients a shaft with an eccentric end portion for positioning in an eccentric chuck. An unoriented shaft is deposited on a support assembly. The shaft is supported by the eccentric and adjacent the end remote from the eccentric. The shaft is rotated, preferably by a magnet, to orient the eccentric at a precise angular orientation. Preferably, a proximity sensor verifies that successful orientation has been achieved. Once the shaft is properly oriented, it is removed by a pick and place robot, for insertion into the chuck.

Abstract: In a process for the winding of coils into axial slots disposed on the outer perimeter of rotationally symmetric bodies of electrical devices, at least one wire, guided by a winding arm movable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the body, is laid into the slots via a winding form. The body is turned about its axis of rotation by the space of at least one slot after each laying of the wire into an initial slot, accomplished by an initial swinging motion of the winding arm about its axis of rotation, with the wire being laid into a second slot by a second swinging motion opposite to the first and guided back to the start of the first slot after the laying into the second slot for the formation of a coil winding by additional turning. A suitable winding form has a wire-guiding slit that ends in an undercut slot whose undercut surfaces fix the wire on the base of the slot until the completion of the following swinging motion of the winding arm.

Abstract: A system for operation of pneumatic tooling has a plurality of pneumatically operable tools (2). A servo-controller (21) is switchable to actuate any of the plurality of tools, to move that tool to a desired position. A position transducer (4) includes an element (9, 10) which is displaced from a home position by such actuation of any one of the tools. The position transducer sends a position feedback signal to indicate to the servo-controller when the desired tool position has been reached. The servo-controller is switchable by virtue of having its output connected to a number of valves (22), i.e. one valve per tool, where preferably only one valve is energized at a time. When a valve is at rest, the pneumatic circuit is such that the tool is held in its home position. When energized, the servo-controller outputs are routed to the tool to operate the tool.

Abstract: The system is for loading or unloading parts onto or from trays. The same system may be used for either function. A stack of trays loaded on a cart is wheeled into a first cart docking bay. A second cart is positioned in a second cart docking bay beside the first bay, to receive processed trays. A first tray elevator lifts the first cart and trays, or just the trays, to align the uppermost tray with a tray singulator and clamping mechanism. The tray is singulated, i.e. first supported at a lip by retractable opposing support rails and then separated from the stack by operation of the elevator to lower the tray stack, and is then clamped in a precise position. It is subsequently unclamped and shuttled laterally into alignment above the second cart, onto identical retractable support rails, where it is similarly clamped in a precise position.

Abstract: The robot has a first rail which extends in one direction and has a first slide mounted thereon, the first slide being slidable along the rail. A second rail extends away from the first rail, and has one end secured to the first slide. First and second motors are mounted in fixed positions relative to the first rail, the motors driving first and second drive belts. The first drive belt is attached to the first slide, thence routed around a first pulley at one end of the first rail, thence around a second pulley at the other end of the first rail, and thence back to the first slide. This produces movement of the first slide along the first rail.

Abstract: The apparatus uses a gripper mounted on a moveable arm to pick up an optical fiber at a pickup location, with the free end of the optical fiber extending from the gripper. The arm is moved to position the free end generally in the region of the target location, but slightly displaced therefrom. An image of the region of the target location is obtained from a camera directed to receive the image, where the region is backlit by diffused light from a light source. Where the target is a component on a translucent substrate, the substrate may act as the diffuser for the light source. The image from the camera is analyzed to determine the position of the free end in relation to the target location, and the arm is moved to accurately position the free end at the target location based on the determination of relative positions. The gripper has a downwardly-opening inverted V-shaped groove running longitudinally, to which a vacuum is supplied.

Abstract: A molding apparatus utilizes two conventional single-injection molding machines and a rotatable disk positioned between those machines. The disk has four workstations, a first one and a second one opposite respective molding machines, and a third one at which molded items are removed. The molding apparatus has the advantages of lower cost and greater flexibility over double-injection molding machines.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing around an insert in a molded part to avoid the escape of flash including a mold cavity cooperatively defined by at least two mold blocks, at least one of the mold blocks having at least one insert opening communicating with the cavity. A plunger chamber is substantially co-axial to the insert opening and communicates with the cavity via the insert opening, the plunger chamber having generally greater radial dimensions than the insert opening, thereby defining a generally inwardly-directed flange with respect to the walls of the plunger chamber. The surface of the flange remote from the cavity constitutes a seating surface within the insert opening. A resilient seal is fitted within the plunger chamber against the seating surface in proximity to the insert. A plunger is positioned within the plunger chamber for relative movement generally towards and away from the cavity to compress the resilient seal against the seating surface.

Abstract: The modular conveyor system comprises N interconnected track sections, forming a continuous track, wherein each track section features a plurality of individually controlled coils stretching along the length thereof. Plural pallets, each having thrust producing magnets, travel independently alone the track. The track also comprises multiple linear encoder readers spaced at fixed positions therealong, and each pallet includes a linear encoder strip having a length R greater than the spacing E between the readers. Track section controllers associate the encoder strips with only one reader at any time in order to resolve the position of the pallets based on the fixed position of the readers and the relative positions of the strips in relation thereto. The section controllers also regulate and commutate the coils of the corresponding track sections in order to independently control each pallet. Communication links interface adjacent section controllers situated in adjacent track sections.