Abstract: A mechanism for sensing whether the leads of a dual-in-line electrical component are in their proper position projecting through the appropriate openings in a printed circuit board. The sensor uses fiber optics to indicate whether the leads are properly positioned by using light reflected from the lead to activate a photo transducer which indicates to the computer controlling the machine operation whether the leads are properly positioned. The sensor fiber optics has light emitting and light receiving filaments operative parallel to the board surface so that the sensor only responds to the presence or absence of a component lead.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically loading and unloading printed circuit boards from a electrical component insertion machine comprising an elevator for vertically moving and positioning conveyors adjacent a board storage, one of the conveyors being adapted to extract a board from the storage and convey the board to the insertion machine and the other conveyor being adapted to receive the assembled board from the insertion machine and insert the assembled board back into the storage. A conveyor is mounted on the table of the insertion machine and a bridge conveyor transfers the board from the table conveyor to the vertically movable conveyors to transport the boards onto and off from the insertion machine table.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for checking on the presence or absence of inserted leads of a component into the openings of a printed circuit board. The system is utilized within a component insertion machine wherein a plurality of optical lead sensors are preferably located within the cut and clinch mechanism. A computer system associated with the optical lead sensors compares the optical readings of the lead sensors with predefined data relating to the presence or absence of leads for each particular component being inserted.

Abstract: A conveyor for supporting a substrate having a substrate support guided in a track for linear movement, the support being the sole support for transporting the substrate.

Abstract: A mechanism for sensing that all the leads of a dual-in-line electrical component are in their proper position projecting through the appropriate openings in a printed circuit board. The sensor uses fiber optics to indicate that all the leads are properly positioned by using light reflected from the lead to activate a photo transistor which indicates to the computer controlling the machine operation that all the leads are properly positioned.

Abstract: A mechanism for cutting and clinching a long lead of an electrical component where the cut-clinch head is displaced from its support surface a sufficient distance to accommodate a long lead, the head support being mounted for rotational movement and adapted to coact with a X-Y table carrying a substrate so that a single lead of a multiple lead component can be cut even though there is minimal clearance between the component leads. Further, after such a single lead has been cut, the head support can be repositioned to cut a second lead regardless of whether that lead is properly aligned.

Abstract: A wire feed control device having driven rolls to pull wire from a reel type wire source, the driven rolls pass the wire through a housing, with the wire coacting with a control to the roller drive so that as the wire is accumulated in the housing, the control is operated terminating the drive to the rollers until wire is removed from the housing. The wire source also has dampening means to inhibit rotation of the reel of wire.

Abstract: A cut-clinch mechanism with a movable knife that is arranged to be slidably attached to a piston rod so that when the cutting edge of the knife engages a lead-in wire, a sensor will be contacted to indicate the lead-in wire is in a proper position for cutting and clinching.