Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for inserting components into workpieces, particularly for insertion of electrical components into printed circuit boards. Multiple component magazines are provided on a shuttle which places the desired component beneath an inserter. The inserter moves through a limited reciprocation to pick up a component from the shuttle, and the shuttle is withdrawn from the path of the inserter. The inserter then moves downward to insert the component. The inserter includes an ejector which maintains contact with the inserted component during withdrawal of the inserter. The ejector includes a shock absorber which gives way if unusual resistance is met during insertion. The shock absorber is spring-biased, and the degree of stiffness of the spring is adjustable.

Abstract: An insulated metal edge guard of generally U-shaped cross section is provided with beads at the distal ends of the legs. In order to achieve metal-to-metal contact in the formation of the beads insulating material on one surface of the flat metal strip from which the edge guard is formed is omitted along the margins of the strip and the margins are sufficiently wide to guarantee that there will be metal-to-metal contact when the beads are formed. This leaves exposed metal which is covered by applying a further insulating material. Various color combinations are possible and the exterior surface of the edge guard can present a color coordinated appearance while being fully insulated so that underlying metal is not exposed.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an ink jet apparatus of the type having a plurality of variable volume chambers arranged in an array, each of the chambers adaptive to receive ink from a reservoir and including an orifice for ejecting droplets of ink-on-demand, is facilitated by utilizing a ganged array of transducer feet which are inserted into the chambers, joined to the respective transducer and unganged by lapping off an interconnecting web flushed with the forward face of the image head.

Abstract: A roll (20) comprises a rotating hollow roll (1) and a stationary crosspiece (5) which extends through the hollow roll (1) lengthwise and the ends of which protrude from the hollow roll (1) and are supported there. The crosspiece (5) comprises a support shoe (10) which is closed against a supporting part (6) of the crosspiece (5) except for feedlines, which is held at the crosspiece (5) in the circumferential direction but is movably guided in the action plane (9) of the roll (20) against the inside circumference (4) of the hollow roll (1) and can be pressed against the inside circumference (4) of the hollow roll (1) under the pressure of the pressure liquid. On the side facing the inside circumference (4) of the hollow roll (1), the support shoe (10) carries longitudinal seals (7) and guiding surfaces (12) which divide off a longitudinal chamber (8) for receiving pressure liquid generating the line pressure, and leakage chambers (15) for receiving leakage liquid.

Abstract: A tubular upset extension apparatus which prolongs the usefulness of upsetted tubing joints used in drilling oil, gas and water well bore holes. The upset extension apparatus is fitted onto hollow bore tubing having shortened and specially threaded box and pin joints and a beveled peripheral shoulder at the inner terminal of the threads. The upset extension apparatus likewise has a hollow bore and specially threaded male and female ends which are rotatably engagable with the shortened tubing upsets. An exterior, non-bore penetrating circumferential groove is defined by the point of intersection of the shoulders of the upset extension and the shortened tubing upset. The circumferential groove receives a cosmetic weld, non-thread and non-bore penetrating weld which rigidly secures the upset extension to the shortened upset and maintains the internal and external integrity of the engaged sections.

Abstract: A pipe scraping tool for cleaning scale and other deposits from the exterior surfaces of pipes. The tool includes a plurality of inverted "U"-shaped scraper members each of which is carried by one of a series of interconnected hinged links, each link (preferably rectangular in shape) having a straight edge at each end thereof. These straight edges and the type of links used avoid excessive lateral movement of the links. The inverted "U"-shape of the scraper members provides relatively closely spaced cutting edges. The substantial length of the legs of the inverted "U"s helps avoid clogging of the tool by providing substantial exit spaces, for scale and other debris removed from the pipe exterior surfaces, between the cutting edges and the structure supporting those cutting edges, as well as between the cutting edges and the hinges that interconnect the links that carry the scraper members.

Abstract: Pins are inserted sequentially into a component by an insertion punch. A shuttle reciprocally mounted to move in a direction normal to the movement of a punch, moves pins to a position for insertion. In one form of apparatus, pins are fed singly to the shuttle at a loading position, the shuttle then moving to a dispensing position where the punch grips the pin, removes it from the shuttle and inserts it. While moving from the loading position to the dispensing position, the pin can pass beneath a solder preform station at which an annular preform is placed over the pin. In an alternative arrangement, pins are mounted on a bandolier and moved by the shuttle. Pins are removed one at a time from the bandolier and inserted by the insertion punch.

Abstract: A device for the lining of slots of stator or rotor lamination packs for electrical machines with slot liners. The device includes a matrix having two slots therein, a die plate including at least two forming dies, a cutting plate, structure for causing the slot liners to be aligned flush with slots in the lamination pack, and an insertion punch for simultaneously pushing slot liners out of the forming slots and through the forming structure.

Abstract: A method for temporarily sealing holes in a printed circuit board laminate during processing is disclosed. A sheet of deformable material is placed on one side of the PCB and then deformed so that the material extends into each hole to form a protectively sealing plug therein. Thereafter, the other side of the PCB is coated with a suitable resist for subsequent processing. The resist can be either photo-imagable or non-photo-imagable, such as silk screening inks, lacquers and varnishes. After conventional processing of the resist coated PCB, the deformed sheet material that forms the protectively sealing plugs is removed from the PCB. In the preferred embodiment, deformation of the sheet material is accomplished by thermally deforming a thermodeformable sheet material with a pressure differential applied across the thickness of the sheet material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preparing conductive bridges to electrically couple discrete electrical conductors arranged on opposed surfaces of a common substrate. The method and apparatus utilized includes subjecting the bore or opening in the substrate to the force of vacuum applied through a vacuum diffusion barrier. The substrate is exposed to the vacuum source through a plurality of spaced-apart bores of relatively small diameter, with the vacuum diffusion layer being in the form of a web of filter paper tracking and moving in synchronism with the substrate. Conventional silk screening techniques are utilized to form the conductors and bridges, with polymer thick conductive fluids being employed as the printing medium. Multiple layers of conductors may be formed, with dual-sided circuitry being applied to the substrate.

Abstract: Are disclosed a method of detecting a hold-position of an electronic component in which the component is held by an electronic-component holding apparatus, an electronic-component holding apparatus having a hold-position detecting device, and an electronic-component mounting apparatus for mounting an electronic component on a printed-circuit board. The above method includes the steps of emitting light beams in a direction toward the electronic component (W) held by the electronic-component holding apparatus (58, 70), so as to take a projection of the component, and of detecting a position of the projection, thereby detecting the hold-position of the component.

Abstract: An assembly device for assembling a member having plural and spaced end segments thereon to a workpiece having plural and spaced sets of end segment receiving openings thereon, the spacing between the end segment receiving openings in each set corresponding to the spacing of the end segments from each other. The assembly device includes a frame on which is mounted a transport device for transporting the member from a supply thereof to a workpiece mounted on a workpiece holder. The member is oriented so that the end segments thereon are vertically aligned with the end segment receiving openings on the workpiece to facilitate an insertion of the end segments into the end segment receiving openings upon a movement of the transport structure into a working zone. Thereafter, the member is released by the transport mechanism to enable the transport mechanism to return back to its initial position thereof to await the receipt of a new member therein.

Abstract: An automatic assembly apparatus or robot holds a pin in an instrumented gripper, moves open loop to the "detection region" in which airflow forces, primarily lateral forces, in the vicinity of the hole may be dependably sensed. Relatively large lateral airflow forces in the detection region are sensed and the pin is moved toward the hole. The airflow forces exhibit an abrupt force change as the pin reaches the insertion point within the "capture region" of the hole defined by the mechanical chamfer or significantly extended as a result of the virtual chamfer of airflow through the hole. The insertion point is the point where lateral X,Y force vectors balance to a null, where Z force readings change from complex X,Y,Z force vectors to simple Z force vectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for belling and expanding the tubes of a plate fin heat exchanger that involves a gripper for gripping the tube during the belling operation and a clamp for clamping a tube sheet during the tension expanding operation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for releasing blossom pollen from its outer skin by a combination of drying and size reduction pressure treatment steps.

Abstract: In a standard binder, the improvement comprising the provision of a closure connected by a hinge to one of the covers at an outside edge thereof, a ledge on the closure and having an upper surface, the surface located at a distance from the cover to which the closure is connected approximately equal to the distance between the inner faces of the two covers at the spine, whereby the covers are maintained in substantially parallel relationship to each other regardless of the amount of paper in the binder. In alternate forms of the binder, a flap is provided which is releasably secured to one of the covers. The flap may overlie or be tucked under the other cover, and the closure and ledge are so arranged that the covers are approximately parallel when the binder is closed and secured.

Abstract: A device which regulates the retention time of material ground in a grinding mill is disclosed. The device comprises a cylindrical casing, a wall in the casing having a plurality of apertures therethrough, a reservoir chamber defined between the wall and a side of the casing, lifting structure in the reservoir chamber, and a reservoir scoop spaced from the casing and extending into the resevoir chamber. The discharge scoop comprises a hollow longitudinal member including a first opening on its upper surface and a second opening on its lower surface, with the openings being spaced longitudinally from each other.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wire harness with nipped connectors uses a work table having connector holding tools and wiring/nipping tools in a predetermined pattern thereon and a robot with a hand which can be freely moved on the work table. The hand can selectively hold at least a connector holding head for loading connectors in the connector holding tools and a wiring/nipping head for performing wiring between the connectors to prepare a wire harness.

Abstract: A pin which has a compressive strength less than the tensile strength of a substrate can be fixed into a hole in the substrate when the substrate is held between a stopping block and a clamp by transporting the pin into the hole with sufficient kinetic energy that the pin is forged into a shape defined by the hole upon impacting the stopping block.The pin can be retained in the substrate by forging it into a headed and bulged shape defined by recesses in the stopping block and the clamp on either side of the hole.

Abstract: A method of packaging solid members having rigid projections, e.g., electrical connectors, on a flexible foam substrate assembly. The method generally includes disposing a portion of the substrate at a workstation and causing the solid member to move toward the substrate so that the projections penetrate the substrate to removably mount said solid member therein. This procedure is repeated as different portions of the substrate are presented to the workstation until a desired number of solid members have been mounted on the substrate. The substrate can then be reeled or arranged in such a manner to be mounted within a suitable container for future removal of the solid members from the substrate.