Abstract: When any of facilities of a film producing and packaging system suffers a failure, a film processing controller shuts off the film producing and packaging system. The operator repairs a failing facility and manually discharges a length of an elongate film which may possibly be defective. After the failing facility is repaired, the film processing controller is restarted to operate the film producing and packaging system, which then automatically discharges a length of the elongate film corresponding to a preset number of sized films. It is possible to easily and quickly discard a portion of the elongate film which has been made defective by the facility failure.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for compliant positioning of an object during an assembly operation wherein the apparatus includes a base plate, a locator plate for mounting an object such as a clamp or a tool spaced from the base plate and a plurality of linear actuators connected between the base plate the locator plate by universal joints providing six degrees of freedom of movement. According to the apparatus and the method a control is connected to the actuators for selectively moving the locator plate to a predetermined position relative to the base plate for contacting a component to be assembled with an object mounted on the locator plate. Tow or more of the actuators can be mechanically coupled to move the locator plate with less than six degrees of freedom. The control is responsive to a force applied to the locator plate through the object during assembly of the component for actuating the linear actuators to change the applied force.

Abstract: A method of producing and checking a screw connection of parts by a screw under the effect of a predetermined initial tension force. Moreover, a connecting device controls the sequence of process steps automatically. A screw is especially designed for the use together with the connecting device. The effective initial tension force within the screw shaft is measured during production of the connection by a pulling force measuring device, for instance a wire strain gauge, arranged at a screw head pulling device of the connecting device. A predetermined initial tension force can be produced first by pulling on a screw head, and then maintained by tightening the screw so far that the screw head contacts a contact area outside of one of the parts to be connected.

Abstract: The method for quality assurance of crimping connections made by a crimping device having an exchangeable tool with two tool parts uses a tool that is provided with an electronic data storage device. The electronic data storage device stores tool-specific nominal data derived from a nominal force-stroke characteristic line of a nominal crimping action of the tool. A crimp connector is fastened to the end of an electrical cable by placing the end of the electrical cable and the crimp connector between the two tool parts and moving the two tool parts relative to one another for carrying out the crimping action. The force-stroke characteristic line of the two tool parts is measured during the crimping action. The measured force-stroke characteristic line is compared to the stored nominal data.

Abstract: An arrangement for exercising (or burnishing) the intake and exhaust valves in the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine employs a plurality of out-of-phase eccentric cams coupled to a source of rotatory motion. The eccentric cams engage with respective linear drive arrangements that are urged into out-of-phase reciprocation with respect to each other. The linear drives urge the valves into repeated open and closed states where, in combination with valve rotators, burnishing of the sealing portion of the valves with the valves seats to improve the seal therebetween is effected. The use of eccentric cams to effect linear reciprocating motion achieves control over both directions of movement of the linear drive arrangements. The cylinder head is maintained in fixed relation to the linear drive arrangements by a hydraulic, pneumatic, or other form of ram, the ram also creating a test chamber.

Abstract: Indoor air conditioner units are manufactured by pre-assembling evaporators and supplying the evaporators to a plurality of unit assembling stations, whereby at each unit assembling station, the evaporators are assembled with other air conditioner elements to form finished indoor air conditioner units. The evaporators can be assembled at an evaporator assembling station which supplies all of the unit assembling stations with evaporators. Alternatively, the evaporators can be assembled at each of the unit assembling stations.

Abstract: In a method for joining workpieces, in particular press fittings (24) to a pipe (23), the pressing device (1) is placed with its at least two pressing jaws (21, 22) in the open position against the joining point of the workpieces 23, 24), and the pressing jaws (21, 22) are then moved with respect to one another by means of a jaw drive (7, 50), while the workpieces (23, 24) deform plastically, into a terminal pressed position in which, at the latest, the application of power to the press jaws (21, 22) ends. According to the invention, the power of the jaw drive (7, 50) is controlled in such a way that, at least toward the completion of pressing, the pressing jaws (21, 22) have less kinetic energy than without a power controller. The invention further concerns a pressing unit (1) for carrying out said method.

Abstract: An assembly system and method thereof for manufacturing an outdoor unit of a dual-unit type air conditioner employs an assembly system in which the outdoor unit is assembled, a refrigerant charging section in which the assembled outdoor unit is charged with a refrigerant, a testing section in which the outdoor unit charged with the refrigerant is tested, and a packaging section in which the outdoor unit after passing the test in the testing section is packaged and forwarded. The outdoor unit is carried on a mobile cart through the assembly section, the refrigerant charging section, and the testing section.

Abstract: An assembly system and method thereof for manufacturing an outdoor unit of a dual-unit type air conditioner employs an assembly system in which the outdoor unit is assembled, a refrigerant charging section in which the assembled outdoor unit is charged with a refrigerant, a testing section in which the outdoor unit charged with the refrigerant is tested, and a packaging section in which the outdoor unit after passing the test in the testing section is packaged and forwarded. The outdoor unit is carried on a mobile cart through the assembly section, the refrigerant charging section, and the testing section.

Abstract: A method of verifying a predetermined lead alignment of a component having a physical asymmetry corresponding to an alignment of the leads is provided. The method includes placing the component in a recess in a surface of a nest, wherein the recess corresponds to and mates with the physical asymmetry on the component and detecting whether the physical asymmetry has mated with the recess.

Abstract: The computer manufacturing system includes an assembly unit wherein various assembly parts are assembled into a main chassis according to a process order to complete the assembly of a computer body, an aging and test unit for testing and checking the performance of the computer body transferred from the assembly unit, and a package unit for packaging the computer body transferred from the aging and test unit. The assembly unit, the aging and test unit, and the package unit are sequentially aligned in accordance with process sequences. The assembly unit and the package unit are aligned to the opposite facing each other while the aging and test unit is located between the assembly unit and the package unit.

Abstract: An assembly system and method thereof for manufacturing an outdoor unit of a dual-unit type air conditioner employs an assembly system in which the outdoor unit is assembled, a refrigerant charging section in which the assembled outdoor unit is charged with a refrigerant, a testing section in which the outdoor unit charged with the refrigerant is tested, and a packaging section in which the outdoor unit after passing the test in the testing section is packaged and forwarded. The outdoor unit is carried on a mobile cart through the assembly section, the refrigerant charging section, and the testing section.

Abstract: A roller turret including a turret body having a plurality of mounting holes formed therein such that the mounting holes are arranged in a rotating direction of the turret body, a plurality of roller shafts each including a roller support portion and a stud portion eccentric with respect to the roller support portion and fitted in the corresponding mounting hole, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the roller support portions of the respective roller shafts, and a device provided for each mounting hole, for fixing the stud portion to the turret body, at a desired angular position of the corresponding roller shaft.

Abstract: A method for preventing collisions between robots by causing a first robot to stop or pause so that a second robot may safely pass by or perform a specified operation. Once the second robot has completed its operation then the first robot is allowed to resume operation. Each robot automatically stops when it reaches a certain point in its job. The robots communicate with a central controller which allows the robots to resume operation when the central controller has determined that all of the robots have reached their respective correct positions. This prevents collisions between robots which are operating in the same area, especially those robots operating on the same workpiece. This method works with existing robot welders, does not require modifications to the robots, and does not require expensive spatial analysis computer programs, which may not even be available for the type of processor used in a particular robot.

Abstract: Indoor air conditioner units are manufactured by pre-assembling evaporators and supplying the evaporators to a plurality of unit assembling stations, whereby at each unit assembling station, the evaporators are assembled with other air conditioner elements to form finished indoor air conditioner units. The evaporators can be assembled at an evaporator assembling station which supplies all of the unit assembling stations with evaporators. Alternatively, the evaporators can be assembled at each of the unit assembling stations.

Abstract: A crimping press having a motor, a gear and first guides, at which a crimping ram is guided, arranged at a frame. A shaft driven by the gear has an eccentric spigot at one end and a resolver for the detection of the rotary angle coupled on at the other end. The crimping ram includes a sliding member guided in the first guides and a tool holder with force sensor and retaining fork. The sliding member stands in loose connection with the eccentric spigot, wherein the rotational movement of the eccentric spigot is translated into a linear movement of the sliding member. The tool holder usually actuates a tool which, together with an anvil belonging to the tool, produces the crimped connection. For calibration of the force sensor, a crimping simulator is used in place of the tool. For input of operational data and commands to a control, an operating terminal has a rotary knob and a keyboard. A display is provided for visualization of data.

Abstract: Two polygon shaped articles having walls of different thicknesses are mated and welded together. Specimens cut from this composite part are used to evaluate the performance of welded joints with the influence of design, processing conditions such as welding, molding, and the like, and material composition. The evaluation advantageously provides an accurate predictor for linear vibration, orbital vibration, hot plate, hot gas, hot gas extrusion and infrared welding at a variety of bead thicknesses.

Abstract: A process for producing packaged products from a film roll includes the steps of detecting whether an elongate film is defective or not, detecting whether a spool is defective or not, detecting whether an assembled cartridge is defective or not, and detecting whether a case is defective or not. Various defective products detected in these steps are removed without being fed to subsequent steps. By thus detecting various defects in the process for producing packaged products from a film roll, high-quality packaged products can efficiently be manufactured.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a print board assembly, which is implemented in a system having a computer for storing parts insertion instruction diagrams and displaying parts insertion instructions, and a soldering unit for soldering a printed circuit board, includes the steps of: assembling different types of the printed circuit boards from pieces of parts and inspecting them in a multitude of cells; installing different types of the printed circuit boards in carriers to assemble them separately according to the parts insertion instructions displayed by the computer of each cell, and moving them to the soldering unit through a transfer conveyor line; and returning the carriers having the printed circuit boards completely soldered to each cell identified for the carriers through a return conveyor line.

Abstract: A process for assembling an engine from an engine frame includes the steps of defining a plurality of work steps necessary to assemble the engine. Each of the work steps has associated therewith a time period for carrying out that work step. A sequence of work steps is established to effect complete assembly of the engine. A plurality of work stations is defined, including a first work station and a last work station, for carrying out the work steps. Each work station includes at least one of the work steps and defines an assembly sequence. Work steps are allocated within the work stations in the assembly sequence to effect an aggregate of the time periods at each station for carrying out the work steps within that work station. The aggregate is about equal to respective aggregates of time periods at each of the other stations for carrying out the work steps within these other work stations.

Abstract: A sequence of manufacturing operations performed to manufacture products (22) may be analyzed and modified, as appropriate, by first encoding the operations into tokens, each indicative of a separate operation (and its attributes). The tokens are then assembled into strings, each representing the operations on an individual product. A pattern scanner and recognizer (26) reads each string to recognize whether one or more prescribed token patterns are present. Based on the token patterns that are recognized, a rule is established representing a variation in the sequence of manufacturing operations. After the rule is established, the sequence of manufacturing operations is modified accordingly.

Abstract: An automatic assembling system for assembling a product constituted by a plurality of parts, includes a group cell having a plurality of assembling cells and inspecting cells, pallets loaded with the same type of parts or products, at least one buffer for holding a plurality of pallets, and at least one pallet hand-over mechanism for transferring pallets between the buffer and each cell. At least one of the buffers is provided in common for a plurality of cells, and at least one of the pallet hand-over mechanisms is provided to the common buffer.

Abstract: An electronic component mounting apparatus for sucking up an electronic component and placing it onto a board with a suction nozzle, includes a step of switching over air pressure switching timings for the suction nozzle when the component is sucked with the suction nozzle and when the sucked component is mounted on the board. The air pressure switching timings are switched according to a velocity of up and down movement of the suction nozzle and independently for each of when the component is sucked with the suction nozzle and when the sucked component is mounted on the board.

Abstract: Stator coils having lead wires inserted into temporary wire clamps (36) at a winding station are electrically tested before the coil lead wires are removed from the temporary clamps. In one aspect, the clamps each include a jaw (54) formed with a wire-engaging surface (88) which scrapes the insulating coating off from a lead wire as it is inserted therein. The clamps are electrically connected to terminal members (90) which are engageable by electrical test terminal members (100). In a modification, the clamps include a wire-scraping jaw having, in addition to a body formed with a sharpened or knife edge, a shield having wire-guiding surfaces engageable by a lead wire being inserted into the clamp. The wire-guiding surfaces are located adjacent the knife edge and are so positioned that the depth of the insulated wire scraped or cut away by the knife edge is only a few thousandths of an inch.

Abstract: A wafer handling apparatus and method includes a wafer carrier station for supporting a wafer carrier, such as an enclosed pod, that holds one or more wafers. A grounded interface panel is provided between the carrier station and a clean testing or processing environment. A z-movement mechanism moves the carrier station and the wafer carrier in a z-direction. A door opening mechanism removes a door from said carrier through a door opening in the interface panel. A handler mechanism includes a wafer holding device, such as a flat end effector, that moves into the wafer carrier at a separate access opening to load or unload a wafer to or from the wafer carrier. Wafer carriers holding different amounts of wafers can be used with no major structural changes to the apparatus.

Abstract: A conveyorized system and method of use therefor for disassembling, inspecting, reconditioning and testing a brake actuator is disclosed. The disassembly area includes a spring removal fixture and a torque removal fixture. The conveyor system includes multi-level conveyor portions to eliminate the need for operators to lift awkward, heavy components. The test area includes a fixture adapted to pressure test and leak test a reconditioned brake actuator and to test for slack adjuster travel. The disclosed conveyor system is specially adapted to disassemble, inspect, recondition and test air brake actuators for trains, such as disc actuators and tread actuators.

Abstract: A process for producing packaged products from a film roll includes the steps of detecting whether an elongate film is defective or not, detecting whether a spool is defective or not, detecting whether an assembled cartridge is defective or not, and detecting whether a case is defective or not. Various defective products detected in these steps are removed without being fed to subsequent steps. By thus detecting various defects in the process for producing packaged products from a film roll, high-quality packaged products can efficiently be manufactured.

Abstract: An inserting device for automated assembling of cone half-bits on the stem of a valve of an internal combustion engine, has an inner chamber at one end which is isolated from outside due to the engagement of the inserting device on the end of the valve when this device carries out the assembling of the cone half-bits. Immediately after assembling, pressurized air is introduced into this chamber and a check is carried out on whether there are any pressure losses in this chamber caused by air leakages due to improper assembling of the cone half-bits.

Abstract: A semi-automated machine for singulating individual surgical needles from an bulk supply and attaching a suture to the surgical needle is described. Each of the surgical needles has a suture receiving opening formed therein for receiving a suture. The machine includes a singulation station having a sliding surface that assists an operator in singulating needles and depositing them in a pair of drop locations for subsequent automatic handling. Indexing conveyors, an articulated robot and a precision conveyor are used with a precise positioning station for orienting each needle for automatic handling. A universal gripper mounted on a rotary indexing device automatically receives each individual needle in a predetermined orientation and conveys the needle for sequential processing from station to station to form the needle-suture assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for covering a plurality of permanent magnets on a rotor with a cylindrical sleeve has a movable jig, a holder jig having a plurality of insertion grooves for inserting therein the permanent magnets disposed in grooves of the rotor, the holder jig and the movable jig being pressable partly into an insertion end of the cylindrical sleeve, a plurality of resilient members disposed in the insertion grooves for pressing the permanent magnets against the outer circumferential surface of the rotor, and a presser device for inserting the movable jig, together with the rotor and the permanent magnets into the cylindrical sleeve under the guidance of the holder jig. The permanent magnets on the rotor are reliably and efficiently covered with the cylindrical sleeve without the need for an adhesive to secure the permanent magnets to the rotor.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a needle attached suture manufacturing apparatus, with a simple construction and reduced cost, capable of assuredly inserting the lead end of a suture in an insertion hole formed in the end of a needle before the end of the needle is swaged. In order to accomplish the above object, a needle swaging device 20 of this apparatus includes die support members 101 and 102 on which swaging dies 111 and 112 are mounted to be movable toward and away from each other. Suture guide plates 95 and 96 are mounted on the die support members 101 and 102 and are formed with guide grooves 95a and 96b, respectively. Before a swaging operation of the needle end by the swaging dies 111 and 112, the suture guide plates 95 and 96 move to a contact state or to a close contact state with each other when the swaging dies 111 and 112 are set to a pre-swaging position in contact with or in close contact with the end of the needle.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for evaluating a crimped electrical connection measures the crimping force over a range of positions of the crimping apparatus ram and derives a statistical envelope of acceptable forces. Each crimp is measured and the force measurements are compared against that envelope to determine the acceptability of the crimp. Acceptable crimps are then further evaluated to determine whether their data should be added to the data base.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing laminated parts from a plurality of laminas, in which the laminas for forming the laminated parts are blanked from strip stock material. The laminas and are then cut and stacked to form the laminated part. The apparatus includes a measuring device, such as a linear variable differential transducer, for measuring the thickness of successive sections of the strip stock at a first location of each section. The measuring device also measures the thickness of the strip stock sections at a second location of each section. A controller, such as a computer or a programmable logic controller, receives the thickness values at the first location and second location of the strip stock sections from the measuring device and computes a value of a difference therebetween. The controller also computes a running sum of the difference values for the strip stock sections and compares the difference values sum to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A device that automatically engages a contact, having a tip portion and a barrel portion, to a stripped end of an insulated wire. The apparatus includes a crimping gun having at least a pair of opposing jaws, and a push rod having a distal end that engages the tip portion of the contact and moves the contact to a pre-determined position between the jaws of the crimping gun. The device also includes a detector that sends out a signal upon sensing that the stripped end of the insulated wire has made contact with a rear most portion inside of the barrel portion of the contact, and a CPU in communication with the crimping gun and the detector. The CPU directs the crimping gun to crimp the contact to the stripped end of the insulated wire upon receipt of the signal from the detector.

Abstract: A method of controlling a terminal press attaching device by providing a elevating crimper for crimping terminals onto exposed conductors of the cables, setting an anvil opposite to the crimper, and elevating the drive means including a servo motor. More specifically, the crimp height for press attached terminals is monitored, a detected height and the predetermined set value are compared to control said drive means such that the detected height is made equal to the set value. Thus, the crimp height of the terminal to be attached (or the crimper height) is automatically and easily adjusted.

Abstract: A method of controlling the terminal crimping device is proposed by providing an elevating crimper for crimping terminals onto exposed conductors of cables, positioning an anvil opposite to said crimper, elevating the drive means including a servo motor. The standard value for determining whether or not the crimper height is out of conformity with the standard value, the administration value for administering the crimper height, and the decision value for determining whether or not the crimping performance is good or not on the basis of the crimper height are recorded such that an alarm is issued when the crimper height is out of conformity with said standard value, said administration value, and said decision value at the time of terminal crimping operation.

Abstract: A pickup device comprises a memory for storing therein positional data for parts, a camera for detecting a position of the parts, a displacement rate computing section for computing a displacement rate between the positional data stored and a position detected, a hand for picking up parts, a inserting posture deciding section for deciding a posture of the hand such as an inserting position or an inserting direction against the parts, a moving section for moving the hand according to the decided posture, a up-movement pin selecting section for selecting pins required for pushing up only desired parts, an interfering pin removing section for removing pins interfered by the hand, and a pin up-movement control section for raising the selected pins.

Abstract: A terminal crimping device includes an elevating crimper for crimping terminals onto exposed conductors of cables and an anvil positioned opposite to said elevating crimper so that the ascend/descend of the crimper is carried out by a servo motor. The terminal crimping device further includes a height sensor for outputting a crimp height at the time of crimping said terminals, a data storage unit for storing a pressing time range for determination on whether or not terminal crimping is normal and a crimper height value for determination of said pressing time; and determining unit for time measuring the time during which an output from said height sensor is not larger than the crimper height and determining that crimping is normal if the measured time is within said pressing time range. Thus, the determination on whether or not the terminal crimping is normal can be surely made.

Abstract: The gram load of head gimbal assemblies (HGA) of a head stack assembly (HSA) is adjusted before the HSA is installed in a disk drive. Each HGA includes an elongated flexible member having a bend that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the HGA. The apparatus includes means for removably mounting the HSA for movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the selected HGA to a Gram Load Adjusting (GLA) station, means to restrain movement of the HGA during gram load adjustment, a force-transmitting bar having an elongated bearing edge, means for positioning the bar with the edge parallel to the bend and in force-transmitting contact with the bend area of the flexible element, and means for moving the edge to adjust the gram load to a desired value.

Abstract: An improved method of monitoring the quality of a crimping machine includes setting the boundaries based upon the mean and standard deviation of a number of learned samples. By setting the boundaries based on actual samples, the system is better able to identify whether a particular sample is in fact defective or acceptable. In the prior art, the boundaries have been preset subjectively. By utilizing learned samples, the present invention is able to insure that the particular boundaries are proper given the particular size of wire, the particular type of connector, and particular arrangement of machinery that is being monitored.

Abstract: A cassette (110), to be loaded with a photo film strip, has a photo film passageway (119) through which a leader (123) of the photo film strip (23, 111) is drawn out of a cassette shell. On a spool (112) is retained a trailer (124) of the photo film strip. A loader apparatus has a light-tight dark compartment (147). A rotary barrel (163) is rotatable, and partially fitted in an opening formed in a downstream wall of the dark compartment. Two cassette holders (164, 165) are disposed on the barrel and in respective positions opposite about a rotational axis (163a) of the barrel, and hold the cassette removably. The barrel is rotated to move the cassette holders into and out of the dark compartment. The cassette is supplied to one of the cassette holders located outside the dark compartment. The trailer of the photo film strip is passed into the photo film passageway in the cassette in one of the cassette holders located inside the dark compartment.

Abstract: Procedures for adjusting or reseting the pressure used to swage needles to suture at a needle swaging station. The forces required to break the sutures from the needles are measured and added to a data base; and each time a value, or sample, is added to that data base, an average of all the sample values in the data base is calculated. Each time an average value is calculated, that value is compared to a first range, referred to as a reject range. If any calculated average value falls outside that reject range, then the swaging pressure is adjusted and the procedure is restarted, with a new, or empty, data base. Also, once the sample reaches a given size, such as eight or nine samples, the calculated average values are also compared to a second range, referred to as an accept range, and which is within and narrower than the reject range. If a calculate average value is within this accept range, the swaging pressure is considered acceptable and the procedure terminates immediately.

Abstract: An error reduction and accommodation method and system can be used in an automated assembly environment. This method and system use a simple localized calibration process devised to improve similarity between an actual device and a simulated model when an off-line programming technique is used. The system uses grid-hole tables with modular fixtures holding the workpieces. The grid-hole table has round holes instead of screw holes or T-slots and allows modular fixtures with round pins to be placed on the grid-hole table with greater precision. A compliant coupling which is able to accommodate any small error in the system and when used with any end-tool, allows the assembly robot to carry out tasks within the modular system. The use of the grid-hole table and modular fixtures allows the robot, once taught the grid-hole table and the modular fixtures, to be subsequently programmed off-line to carry out any tasks with any standardized modular fixture placed any where on the grid-hole table.

Abstract: A new electrode is joined to a consumed electrode of the electric furnace according to a method comprising the steps of lifting and transporting the new electrode suspended from a joining apparatus by a crane, aligning both electrodes by throwing a laser beam from a projector disposed to the crane on a positioning marker disposed on a deck plate provided in the vicinity of the electric furnace, screwing a screw thread of the new electrode into a threaded hole of the consumed electrode by actuating an electric motor disposed in the joining apparatus, and tightening both electrodes at desired tightening torque by operating the motor in a stalled state with a small electric current of low frequency.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) and method for bonding together coils of an electrical wire forming windings (W) of a stator assembly (54) employed in making an electric motor. The apparatus includes a fixture (22) on which the stator assembly is installed during a bonding operation, the fixture also holding the stator assembly during a surge test which precedes the bonding operation. Electrical connectors (38) are used to electrically connect the stator windings to the apparatus, and these electrical connections are used for both the surge test and the bonding operation. A power supply unit (16) is responsive to an indication that the stator windings have successfully passed a surge test to apply a predetermined voltage to the windings. The current flowing through the stator windings as a result of the applied voltage is measured. A bonding control unit (50) controls the bonding operation.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a multiple component article such as an optical fiber connector and inspecting assembled multiple component articles. The apparatus includes a fixture or nest for retaining an elongated body of the connector in a selected orientation. Stations of the apparatus are included for placing the elongated body in the fixture in a selected orientation, placing a biasing component on the elongated body, placing a coupling nut on the elongated body over the exposed end and abutting the biasing component, and applying a retaining component to an outside surface of the elongated body for retaining the biasing component between the elongated body and the coupling nut in a compressed state. The inspection system includes a fixture for retaining the multiple component article in a selected orientation in which a portion of the elongated body and a portion of the coupling nut are exposed for inspection.

Abstract: Electronic parts are mounted onto a substrate. A parts supply device holds a plurality of electronic parts and moves to be positioned at a predetermined parts take-out position. The parts supply device includes a readable and writable memory for storing data indicative of the plurality of electronic parts held therein. A reading device reads the data stored in the readable and writable memory provided in the parts supply device when the parts supply device moves relative to the reading device to the predetermined parts take-out position. The electronic part is extracted from the parts supply device position at the predetermined parts take-out position and mounted on a substrate.

Abstract: An auto-handler system is constructed by a supply device, a measurement device and a storage device, through which a carrier circulates. A plurality of IC sockets are arranged on the carrier; and an identification mark, such as a bar-code mark, is attached to the carrier. The supply device supplies ICs to the carrier in accordance with the identification mark so that the ICs are mounted respectively on the IC sockets. The carrier is transported to the measurement device wherein measurement is performed on the ICs. After the measurement, the carrier is transported to the storage device wherein the ICs are removed and classified storage is performed on the ICs. Thereafter, a vacant carrier is returned to the supply device. If defective decision is made on the carrier based on result of measurement, the measurement device creates defective information representing position of an defective IC socket of the carrier.

Abstract: A device for crimping a plastically deforming metal pole shoe (1) around the end (2) of a cable that has been inserted into it. The device comprises an anvil (3), a die (4), a sensor (5), and a comparator (6). The shoe is placed on the anvil and the die is advanced toward it, deforming the shoe. The sensor emits a signal once the shoe has been deformed to the maximum, and the comparator compares the signal with a reference and emits either an "accept" signal or a "reject" signal. The "reject" signal emitted by the comparator actuates a cable-end trimmer that cuts part-way or all the way through the cable. Consequently, the device will always either acceptably crimp pole shoes to the ends of cables or reliably indicate defective connections.