Abstract: A shielding apparatus for a portion of a printed circuit board is provided comprising a cover for shielding a selected portion of the printed circuit board. The cover includes an edge, wherein a sidewall is molded about the edge of the cover. The sidewall includes a first and second ledge for supporting the edge of the cover. The shielding apparatus is further shown to include an inner wall extending from a first portion of the sidewall to a second portion of the sidewall for defining discrete areas of the printed circuit board being shielded. In this arrangement, the cover may define apertures in the cover along the abutment with the inner wall to improve flow during the insert molding process and provide a mechanical bond between the cover and the inner wall.

Abstract: A part carrier strip in combination with a part for insertion therein. A flexible planar part carrier strip includes a plurality of part-receiving apertures define by a plurality of side edges. Each of the aperture side edges includes an inwardly projecting and resiliently deflectable tab. Each part is adapted for securement in a corresponding one of the apertures and includes a closed top side, an open bottom side having a peripheral flange, and a plurality of interconnecting sidewalls. Each sidewall is disposed adjacent a corresponding one of the aperture side edges, and each sidewall further includes an outwardly projecting retaining member spaced upwardly from the peripheral sidewall. The retaining members and the sidewall define therebetween a capture area adapted to receive therewithin an adjacent one of the side edge tabs to thereby retain each part on the strip.

Abstract: A supply feedstock intended for use in a workpiece finishing machine wherein individual workpieces are successively separated and presented in a predetermined fashion to an automated loading means. The feedstock includes a plurality of individual workpieces arranged in side-by-side order in the form of a continuous belt, or bandolier, of workpieces, each of the workpieces being interconnected at head and tail portions of the workpieces by integral webs, successive workpieces being trimmed from the bandolier and presented to a loading means, while the separated webs are discharged to waste.

Abstract: A supply feedstock intended for use in a workpiece finishing machine wherein individual workpieces are successively separated and presented in a predetermined fashion to an automated loading means. The feedstock includes a plurality of individual workpieces arranged in side-by-side order in the form of a continuous belt, or bandolier, of workpieces, each of the workpieces being interconnected at head and tail portions of the workpieces by integral webs, successive workpieces being trimmed from the bandolier and presented to a loading means, while the separated webs are discharged to waste.

Abstract: A workpiece finishing machine feeds a plurality of interconnected workpieces, in the form of a feedstock bandolier, to a cutting cylinder wherein individual workpieces are separated from the bandolier by a cutting punch. The separated workpiece is subsequently moved into engagement with a reciprocating presentation carriage which removes the workpiece from the cutting cylinder and presents it in a predetermined position to a robotic loader or assembly device. The machine includes a plurality of sensors which detect various aspects of the feedstock and workpiece.