Abstract: A horizontal oscillatory feeder apparatus is disclosed for feeding a plurality of different types of electrical components of varying mass along respective tracks to component pick-up stations. The components and the tracks are supported on a base plate, which is excited in an oscillatory movement. The movement of the base plate is constrained so that movement is permitted only along an axis parallel to the feeder tracks. An excitation apparatus excites the base plate so that the acceleration forces applied to the components in a desired direction of movement exceeds the frictional force tending to prevent slippage of the components on the tracks; the acceleration forces applied to the components in the opposite direction are limited so that the components do not slip on the track in the opposite direction to the desired movement.

Abstract: An axial lead component feeder is described, which includes a lead cutting and forming station, at which the processed parts are presented at a part pickup location for robotic pickup. Taped axial lead components are fed to a lower process-start location. A cut/form pneumatic cylinder drives a lower die support block upward, directly passing cutting die carried by the support block through captured components leads to cut the leads to a desired length. In the same upward stroke of the cylinder, the leads are formed, and the processed part presented at the pickup location. The feeder has many advantages, including narrow footprint and low Z axis profile, reduced number of change tooling parts, increased part refresh rate and improved scrap tape removal.

Abstract: A component lead cutting apparatus for tape-fed radial lead electrical components is disclosed. The taped components are driven through the machine by a rotary index wheel, with the cutting station element adjacent the wheel periphery. Clamping and cutting die elements are placed at the cutting station, and are actuated by a pneumatic cylinder to clamp and cut the lead components. The apparatus includes adjustment elements readily accessible from the top of the machine to raise or lower the index wheel and thereby adjust for different lead cut lengths, and to position the wheel to accommodate different tape sprocket opening configurations. The machine has a compact, narrow footprint, so that the machine is space-efficient.