Abstract: Stamping and forming machine of the type having opposed tooling assemblies which are reciprocable towards and away from each other has toggle mechanisms for moving the tooling assemblies along their paths of reciprocation. Each toggle mechanism has one toggle link pivoted to a tooling assembly and another toggle link pivoted at a fixed pivot location. The fixed location pivots are adjustable in order to control the position of the tooling assemblies when they are in their closed positions. Additionally, adjustable wear plates are provided in the passageway in which the tooling assemblies are mounted. Advantages achieved include reduced manufacturing cost for the machine, potential for high operating speeds, and compactness when desired.

Abstract: Strip feeding mechanism intended for use in a stamping and forming machine comprises an intermittently rotated sprocket wheel which is located adjacent to the operating zone of the machine in which the stamping and tooling is located. The strip material is held against the periphery of the sprocket wheel by a retaining shoe so that the sprocket teeth will enter pilot holes in the strip and advance the strip during feeding intervals. During non-feeding intervals, the pilot pins which are part of the stamping and forming tooling, will adjust the position of the strip relative to the tooling performing the operation thereon. The construction of the biasing shoe and the sprocket wheel is such that the strip is not firmly held by the feeding mechanism and can be moved by a very slight amount by the pilot pins in order to position the strip precisely in the operating zone.

Abstract: Strip retainer and stripper which is used on a stamping and forming machine for stripping or removing the stock material from the pilot pins and punches when the punches and pilot pins move from their closed positions to their open positions, comprises one or more wires in the operating zone of the machine. Each wire extends transversely across, and intersects, the path of reciprocation of the punch assmebly. The wire does not intersect the path of reciprocation of the pilot pins or the punches and is located between the punches and pilot pins and the surface of the stock material. The ends of the wires extend beyond the path or reciprocation of the punch assembly and are secured by fixed securing devices.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a socket (2) having an improved contact area (24) which allows a pin (4) to be inserted therein at an improper orientation relative to the axis of the socket (2). Coined edges (28) of beams (16, 18) prevent the corners (32) of the pin (4) from contacting the beam (16, 18), thereby ensuring that electrical engagement is provided between the embossments (24) provided on the beam (16, 18) and the flat, highly finished surfaces (26) of the pin (4). The embossments (24) are configured to be easily reproducible and durable to last over many cycles. A lead in surface (44) provided on the embossments (24) prevents excessive wear on the embossments (24), as well as providing for easy insertion of the pin (4) into the socket (2).

Abstract: Slug retainer for the die assembly of a stamping and forming machine comprises a thin sheet of resilient metal which is on the rear end of the removable portion of the die assembly. Slugs produced by the punch and die are pushed through a slug passageway in the die assembly and through a slug opening in the sheet. The metal sheet has an integral ear which bears agains the endmost slug and which is flexed when the endmost slug is ejected. Slugs are thereby prevented from spilling when the removable portion of the die assembly is removed.

Abstract: Stamping and forming machine has first and second tooling assemblies which are movable relatively towards and away from each other. Pilot pins are mounted on, and moved with, the first tooling assembly. The pilot pins enter pilot holes in the strip material and are movable on the first tooling assembly between extended positions and retracted positions. When the tooling assemblies are in their open, or separated, positions, the pilot pins are in their retracted positions and clearance is provided to permit feeding of the strip between the two tooling assemblies. As the tooling assemblies move to their closed positions, the pilot pins move to their extended positions and perform their piloting function. The pilot pins are actuated by an actuator which is separate from the actuator which moves the tooling assemblies.

Abstract: Tooling system for a forming machine has a continuous guide passageway in which first and second tooling assemblies are contained for movement towards and away from each other. The passageway has passageway surfaces which serve as bearing and guiding surfaces for the tooling assemblies. Each of the tooling assemblies has a ram member and a tool holder mounted on the ram member. Additionally, a face plate is provided on one of the tooling assemblies at the leading end thereof and is movable relative to the leading end between a retracted position and an extended position. When in its extended position, it is spaced from the ram so that tools, such as punches have their ends in openings in the face plate. When the tooling assemblies move against strip material positioned therebetween, the punches or similar tools move from the face plate and perform operations on the strip. The face plate then serves as a stripper plate during reverse movement of the ram.

Abstract: A scrap removal system is disclosed for a stamping and forming machine in which strip material is fed in a vertical plane through a tooling assembly having punches and dies therein so that holes are punched in the strip when the punches move through the strip and into the die openings. Such punching operations produce small bits of scrap material commonly referred to as slugs. The die block is mounted against a supporting structure which has passageways extending therethrough in alignment with the die openings so that as the slugs are produced, they are pushed into the passageways and form stacks of aligned slugs. The passageways extend to outlets, past which a slug removing device in the form of an endless belt continuously moves. As the slugs are pushed from the slug outlets, the endless belt carries them laterally and disposes of them at a location beside the tooling assembly. A detecting means is also disclosed which stops the machine in the event of failure of the scrap removal system.

Abstract: A retaining plate (30) is provided to insure that leads (4) secured in a protective carrier (2) are maintained in electrical engagement with conductive areas of a substrate (18). The configuration of the retaining plate (30) also insures that as the retaining plate (30) is installed onto posts (12) without exerting harmful stresses to the substrate (18). Projections (48) and openings (40) cooperate with recesses (54) and posts (12) respectively, to provide a failsafe manner to provide the contact pressure required without damaging any part of the socket (10), protective handler (2), or retaining plate (30).

Abstract: A bell crank type strip feeding apparatus is disclosed in which one arm of the bell crank is coupled to an actuator and the other arm has a feed pawl thereon for feeding the strip. The actuator is a crank pin which is moved along a circular path about a fixed center. The intermediate pivot of the bell crank is mounted for movement along an arcuate path in response to the circular motion of the crank pin. The intermediate pivotal axis of the bell crank is yieldingly supported so that it can move laterally of the arcuate axis path when the feed pawl engages a fixed stop. A shearing mechanism is also disclosed for shearing the strip material at the conclusion of the feeding stroke.

Abstract: A connector, method and alignment device for connecting single-mode optical fibers are provided. The connector is characterized by a deformable, elongated base for supporting two coaxial fibers and a meltable slug which secures the fibers to the base in a nondamageable manner upon melting and resolidification. The method addresses employing the connector to affix the fibers. The device, employed in combination with the connector, includes two translatable clamps to distort the connector base thereby aligning the fibers optical cores in a substantially coaxial relationship.

Abstract: Continuous strip material for bundle ties comprises two identical sections. The material is ladder-like in form and each section comprises a side piece and rung parts extending from the side pieces. The rung parts are coupled by a coupling system to form the rungs and the coupling system is disengageable to permit movement of the side pieces away from each other. Ratchet type latching ears are provided on the side pieces. In use, the side pieces are moved apart at the leading end of the strip of material to permit placement of an intermediate portion of the strip between the side pieces at the leading end. The side pieces are moved back together and the intermediate portion can be tightened onto the bundle in a ratchet-like manner.

Abstract: Continuous strip material for bundle ties comprises two identical sections. The material is ladder-like in form and each section comprises a side piece and rung parts extending from the side pieces. The rung parts are coupled by a coupling system to form the rungs and the coupling system is disengageable to permit movement of the side pieces away from each other. Ratchet type latching ears are provided on the side pieces. In use, the side pieces are moved apart at the leading end of the strip of material to permit placement of an intermediate portion of the strip between the side pieces at the leading end. The side pieces are moved back together and the intermediate portion can be tightened onto the bundle in a ratchet-like manner.

Abstract: A modular insertion unit is disclosed for use in an assembly machine for sequentially inserting electrical terminals into respective cavities of connector housings. The assembly machine has a drive means, a control module, an indexing means, and a dereeling mechanism. The modular insertion unit is connected to the machine singly or in groups, on one or both sides of a terminal strip feed path. Each modular insertion unit has a housing adapted to be selectively positioned on the assembly machine and is connected to be driven by the drive means. A terminal feed means portion of the modular insertion unit is actuated by the drive means to feed a strip of terminals from the dereeling mechanism to a severing station within the unit where a terminal is clamped, severed from carrier strips, moved to an insertion position and stuffed into a respective cavity of a connector housing. The housing is indexed with respect to the stuffing station until all cavities thereof are filled.

Abstract: A device for connecting leadless integrated circuit packages to a chip carrier housing or socket and then to a printed circuit board is taught. Briefly stated, a mask is selectively disposed on a printed circuit board. Locating ribs are correspondently disposed on a chip carrier housing so as to cooperatively engage the slots created by the absence of the mask on the printed circuit board. Additionally, barriers for separating contacts contained in the chip carrier housing are maintained at the interior and the exterior portion of the chip carrier housing walls with no material disposed therebetween thereby minimizing capacitive as well as inductive effects which may come about.

Abstract: A high speed socket housing having a relatively simple manner of contact inspection and/or replacement is taught. Briefly stated, the device includes a chip carrier housing having a portion which is removable therefrom and which thereby exposes the contacts contained in slots or partitions in the housing. Thereby, upon removal of a portion of the housing an inspection, replacement, and/or testing of individual contacts may be accomplished without disturbing the remainder of the contacts or removal of the entire chip carrier housing from a printed circuit board.

Abstract: Machine for performing operations on strip material comprises a plurality of modules on a supporting bed. Each module has a strip feeder, a tooling assembly, and an actuating assembly. Strip is fed through the modules by the feeder and in each module the tooling assembly performs an operation such as stamping, forming, marking, etc. The modules feed the strip in a vertical plane and the modules are symmetrical with respect to the vertical plane of the strip. Preferably the actuating assembly and the tooling assembly is dynamically balanced. Advantages achieved include high speeds, reduced power requirements, reduced noise, and reduced tooling cost.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for fabricating an electrical crossover wire harness, the apparatus including, a wire holder, a known wire shuttle for feeding wires to the wire holder, a pressure plate for guiding and inserting the wires into the wire holder, a carriage for mounting and transporting an electrical connector relative to the wire holder a wire stuffer for transferring selected wires into selected wire positions of the connector assembly, and the wire holder holding wires elevated from the connector assembly and the wires previously transferred thereto.

Abstract: Strip feeding apparatus comprises a feed screw having a feeding thread on its surface. The thread is received in notches in one edge of the strip so that rotation of the screw advances the strip. Guides are provided for guiding the strip along the feed path and maintaining the strip in engagement with the thread. The thread may have a portion of each turn which causes no feeding during each revolution so that strip is fed intermittently. The feeding apparatus may be used under a wide variety of circumstances and is disclosed in conjunction with a stamping and forming or similar machine.

Abstract: A miniature circuit board edge connector assembly includes an insulative housing 2, electrical spring blades 12A in the housing, conductor portions 12B pivotally interlocked with the spring blades 12A and pivotally impinged against corresponding conductive post portions 11, a cam 30 resiliently flexes the spring blades 12A, causing the conductor portions to pivot and engage circuit conductors 37 of a circuit board 38, and to provide circuit paths, from this circuit conductors 37 to the post portions 11, that are shorter than the lengths of the spring blades 12A.