Abstract: A plurality of pins (20) are supported and held within a pin supporting shuttle (54) by wedging the shank portion (24) of each of the pins between a respective one of a plurality of spaced parallel channels (58) and a ramp (62). The shuttle (54) is then moved to place a free end of each of the pins (20) in a gripped position within an insertion apparatus (55). The shuttle (54) is manipulated so that the shank portion (24) is allowed to return to a normal axis of each respective pin (20). The shuttle (54) is then removed from about the pins (20).

Abstract: A second-incoming call appears at an attendant facility (34) within a PBX system (20) while the attendant is awaiting a response on a first-incoming call. The attendant activates an overlap button (35) to facilitate the conversion of the first-incoming call into a listen-only connection. The attendant then establishes a two-way connection between the attendant and the second-incoming call to be served by the PBX system (20). Thereafter, the attendant monitors the first-incoming call on a listen-only basis while simultaneously serving the second-incoming call associated with the two-way connection.

Abstract: Articles (12) are loaded onto a movable article holder such as pedestals (18) mounted to a rotary table (20). The table is indexed to advance the articles (12) first to a centering station (41) and then to a work station (49) which may be, for example, a lead frame bonder. At the centering station (41) a typical centering mechanism (22) urges the articles to a predetermined center location. While the centering mechanism may be adjusted to and fixedly located in a position to center the articles (12) to a theoretical center removed by precisely one step or a multiple thereof from the bonding position, the centering station (41) provides for tangentially shifting the theoretical center with respect to the table (20). Any shift of said theoretical center is made to offset an anticipated error of alignment of the articles, even though such error may be unique to each of the pedestal positions.

Abstract: An escapement apparatus of this invention accepts a contiguously arrayed plurality of conductors and dispenses them into a carrier spaced apart on centers to facilitate their assembly to a ribbon connector. The escapement apparatus includes a guideway having a first portion which receives the conductor array and which is inclined at an angle to the horizontal. The array is received in the first portion of the guideway and a second, more steeply inclined portion and is biased toward an exit. The exit communicates with a passageway along which is moved a toothed carrier. The carrier includes a plurality of nests having a spacing which corresponds to that of the connector. As the carrier is moved at a velocity which is controlled relative to forces applied to the conductor array in the guideway, the nests are aligned seriatim with the exit to facilitate the movement of a conductor into each nest.

Abstract: A coordinate array of terminal pins are straightened and aligned in precise rows and columns by flexing one-half of the pins in one direction while flexing the other half of the pins in an opposite direction. This coordinate alignment is attained by inserting first rows of pins (13) into apertures (31) formed in a first set of slide bars (36) and second rows of pins (13) into apertures (32) formed in a second set of slide bars (37) which are interleaved with the first bars. A pair of air cylinders (81 and 89) are programmed to operate to reciprocate the slide bars (36 and 37) in opposite directions to flex the terminal pins beyond elastic limits and back to their origin point. The flexing operation is effective to align the pins in a coordinate array without introduction of detrimental stresses in a terminal pin support, such as a connector housing (11) or a printed circuit board (102).

Abstract: A predetermined sequence of multifrequency signals are fed to a multifrequency dialing board (24) and are separated into their component signals by high and low filter circuits (50 and 52). The component signals are converted into (1) square wave signals by zero crossing detectors (54 and 56) and (2) d.c. signals having amplitudes proportional to their respective frequencies by converters (72 and 74). The d.c. signals are then converted by analog-to-digital converters (80 and 82) into digital signals having values equivalent to the amplitude of the d.c. signals. A microprocessor circuit (60) monitors the digital signals to determine the amplitude of the signals. The microprocessor circuit (60) determines the frequency of the component signals by monitoring the time required for eight cycles of the respective square wave signals.

Abstract: An electronic device such as an integrated circuit is encapsulated within a silicone resin formulation having a protonated heterocyclic compound contained therein. The compound complexes with free anionic contaminants to form a non-migratory, non-corrosive protonated heterocyclic compound-anion complex, thereby preventing anionic attack of metallic circuit elements.

Abstract: A conveyor system that may be driven in a forward or a reverse direction is provided with jam detectors that are effective to interrupt the operation of the conveyor chain (10) upon encountering a jam condition in either direction of drive. The chain (10) is driven about idler sprockets (19 and 53) mounted in housings (21 and 51) that are slidably mounted on a T-bar frame (22). When the chain is driven in a forward direction A, a jam condition causes housings (21) to slide and operate a switch (23) to interrupt power to a motor (18). When the direction of drive is reversed, housing (21) is held from movement by a lock (47), and a lock (54) associated with housing (51) is released to allow the housing (51) to shift in response to a jam condition to operate a switch (58) to again interrupt the power applied to the motor (18).

Abstract: Connector housings (12) are pushed into a succession of nests (26) formed in workholders (17) mounted on an incrementally advanced turntable (15). Subsequent advance of a workhokder from the connector load station causes a cam follower (42) of a spring-biased lever arrangement (37) to react with a cam track (19) to pivot and move locating pins (31 and 32) into holes (13 and 14) formed in the connector housing. Further advance of the turntable (15) causes a cam follower (64) to ride onto a high portion of a cam track (21) to pivot a second lever arrangement (37) to move a spring-biased, pivotally mounted clamping arm (51) into engagement with the precisely positioned connector housing.

Abstract: In the growth of gadolinium gallium garnet monocrystals, a crucible is charged with a preformed body (65) of oxide powders to form a melt. In preparation therefor, the oxide powders are formulated into a typical particulate material (16) which is compacted into a body (65) having a desired size and shape. For holding material (16), there is provided a pouch (38) of a first size having elastic walls expandable to a second size, larger than body (65). The pouch (38) is disposed within a chamber (36) having inside walls conforming to the desired shape of the body (65) but of the second size. An open neck (42) of the pouch (38) extends through and is sealed to an opening (60) in chamber (36). Then a vacuum is drawn between the pouch (38) and chamber (36) to expand pouch (38) to said shape and second size formed by the chamber walls. As the particulate material (16) is introduced into the expanded pouch (38), such material conforms to the shape and second size of such expanded pouch.

Abstract: An enclosed electrical device (42) includes an electrical circuit (50) having elements (48-68) which lie substantially in and along a plane (115). A member (70) is applied to a one side and a member (85) is applied to another side of the circuit (50) for at least partially enclosing the same. Conductors (48) and (49) of circuit (50) are fixedly penetrated, preferably by pins (74) which are fixedly engaged to enclosure members (70) and (85). Such engagement is advantageously provided by making the pins (74) an integral part of member (70), for example by including pins (74) in a premolded member (70). Such engagement is also advantageously provided by making pin-engaging sockets (94) an integral part of member (85), also for example by including the sockets (94) in a premolded member (85). By a preferred friction fit of pins (74) and sockets (94), the enclosure members (70) and (85 ) and circuit elements (48-68) are sufficiently fixed relative to one another to resist forces applied thereto in service.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of this invention are used to maintain a predetermined arrangement of stranded multi-conductor pair cable units (23--23) within a first group (24) of units while controlling the formation of a laminate (30) comprising a plastic-coated metallic strip (31) into an internal shield which is disposed between the first group and a second group (26) of the units. A device (100) is interposed between faceplates (71, 82) through which the units and the strip are advanced prior to their advance through closing dies (131, 132) and apparatus which encloses the core with a sheathing system. The device controls the formation of the internal shield from the strip and is effective to prevent any buckling of the strip as it is formed into a configuration having arcuate end portions that partially enclose the groups of the units.

Abstract: Molten material is fed into an elongated outwardly open mold, moving in a predetermined path, and is thereafter conveyed by the mold movement at least partway through a region of such path over which a closure for the outward opening of the mold moves along therewith, the material concurrently being cooled to become solidified. The movements of such mold and closure cause the solidified material to be extruded through stationary die means disposed in such region. Such material may solder metal formed into a tube into which is inserted rosin, the same heat exchange medium being used both to cool the metal prior to its extrusion and to keep the rosin molten prior to such insertion thereof.

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.

Abstract: A row of connectors 14 is assembled on a printed circuit board 11 by inserting a leg section 41 of each terminal 14 into a mounting aperture 32 and bending a flat contact portion 42 of each terminal 14 to fit into a pocket 47 formed in the surface of the board. Printed circuit conductors 13 are next screened onto the board 11 with a portion of the conductors positioned over some of the contact portions 42 of terminals 14 to provide edge connections for the printed circuits 12. Metal strips conductors 13 are then fastened to the board 11 and end portions thereof are welded to the contact portions 42 of other terminals 14 to provide edge connections for the metal strips conductors 13.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and methods are disclosed for preparing the terminated end of a flat cable (25) for connectorization wherein the cable is of the type having two arrays of overlying/underlying conductors (27, 28) separated by an insulative center film (31), with each array being bonded directly to only the respectively adjacent one of two mutually disposed outer insulative films (33, 34), and wherein an aligned pair of isolating members (36, 37) are respectively positioned between, and transversely of, a different side of the center film the associated array of conductors at each predetermined terminating end of the cable, as fabricated. The apparatus includes a cross-slide assembly (12, 41), a flare-out die mechanism (14, 97), an optional trimming die mechanism (16, 134, 136) and a fold-back roller mechanism (18, 151, 167, 168).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for applying lubricant to articles such as connectors. The connectors 10 with projecting terminals 12 are loaded into a holder 19 enclosed within a housing 16 having an entry door 23. The door is shut and lubricant is pumped into a tank 28 to overflow into a catch receptacle 66 whereafter the holder is moved to dip the terminal ends into the lubricant. During the dipping operation a pair of locking members 98 and 133 are positioned to block opening of the door. Following the dipping operation the locking member 98 is withdrawn while the lubricant is drained from the receptacle. Upon completion of the draining of the receptacle, facilities 126-132 are operated to withdraw the locking member 133 thus permitting an attending operator to open the door without exposure to any noxious frames emanating from the lubricant.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the index of refraction profile of a stepped or graded index type optical fiber having a core encased within a surrounding cladding. An interferogram is formed with a beam of radiant energy passed transversely through the optical fiber. Fringe line shift is measured at a series of points corresponding to a series of mutually parallel ray chord paths extending through the core at mutually diverse minimum radial distances from the core axis. That portion of the measured fringe line shift attributable to discrete differences in indices of refraction of cylindrical core ring portions of thicknesses defined by successive minimum radial distances in the series of ray paths and that of the cladding is sequentially calculated from the outermost core ring portion inwardly towards the core center.

Abstract: A system (20) for providing clean air to an apparatus (24) for drawing lightguide fiber (21) from a preform (22) includes a plenum (52) and ducts through which room air is pulled and filtered. The filtered air is flowed into each of a plurality of stacked enclosures (66, 67, and 68) each of which surrounds partially the drawing apparatus and portions of the preform and/or fiber. Also, the filtered air is directed transversely past the fiber and preform at a velocity which is sufficiently low to avoid undue flutter of the fiber. Filters are arranged in ascending magnitude of efficiency proceeding from an intake (41) for the room air to the vicinity of the preform and fiber. A delivery system which is associated with each drawing apparatus is considerably less expensive than a clean room and allows maintenance of any one system or its associated drawing apparatus without discontinuing the drawing operation of other systems in the same room.

Abstract: A method of growing a semiconductor layer by liquid phase epitaxy utilizing a slide type apparatus comprising a substrate carrier having a recess for holding a substrate and a source material carrier slidably arranged over the surface of the substrate carrier and including a well around the recess, comprises the steps of filling said well with material selected from a thermally insulating material and a material which is molten at the temperature of crystal growth and then cycling the temperature of the apparatus in a manner so as to form an epitaxial layer on a substrate in the recess which layer is essentially free of excess edge growth.