Abstract: An apparatus for forming brush contacts from spools of wire and holders for angular ended wire segments cut from said wires, has a wire feeding means for feeding spools thereof independently of each other, a cutting device for cutting segments from the wires and feeding the segments to a common collection point where the segments are loaded into the holders provided, and a crimping device for crimping the holder to retain the wires therein without causing flaring of the exposed ends. A checking station is provided to determine whether each brush contact contains the requisite number of wire segments and ejection means to eject defective contacts. The completed contacts are collected in such a manner as to prevent damage thereto.

Abstract: A connection wire manufacturing system is provided in which a number of pairs of press-connecting terminals are formed in a hoop material, each being coupled at the heads with each other, and the hoop material with the pairs of press-connecting terminals is transferred to a press-connecting step where those pairs of terminals are separated into individual pairs of terminals and those individual ones are press-connected to connection wires with given lengths properly prepared into a continuous connection wire line which is allowed to be taken up by a take-up drum.

Abstract: Block loader for inserting a plurality of terminated wire leads one at a time into a connector block by delivering wires laterally of their axes to a pair of feed wheels which engage the wire to drive it through a tunnel formed by the closure of a profiled lid against a platform and into a terminal receiving cavity in a connector block. Operations of lateral wire delivery, lid closure, and engagement of feed wheels to wire are effected by the linear motion of a single cam carriage in a single stroke without the use of switches or pneumatic actuators.

Abstract: A method of assembling a motor starting relay whereby a series of open-ended cases are advanced in sequence to an assembly station, a pair of contacts which are assembled by providing two lines of terminals and two lines of springs and having each head spring and head terminal become an integral unit, are placed into the case and after a resistor wafer is placed between the parallel placed contacts, lids are placed on each housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembling integrated circuits to a printed circuit board wherein integrated circuits with protective carriers are selectively dispensed from a rotary magazine, are removed from the carriers and positioned by the leads on magnetic holders on a continuous conveyor which moves the integrated circuits, thus mounted on the holders, to a lead-forming and trim assembly wherein the leads are bent downwardly and outwardly to form feet and trimmed. Thereafter the integrated circuits are moved, thus mounted on the holders, to a flux-applying assembly wherein flux is applied to the lead feet, then to a solder-applying assembly wherein solder is applied to the lead feet, and then to a program activated X-Y axis table which mounts the printed circuit board. The integrated circuits, with tinned leads, are transferred through magnetic fingers to the printed circuit board wherein electrodes solder the leads to pads on the Board.

Abstract: A wire stuffer mechanism removes wires successively from a jig at a first operating station (e.g. terminating) and then transfers them to a second station (e.g. contact inserting) spaced from the first station. The jig is annular and has closely spaced wire locating slots on one side. The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of widely circumferentially spaced jaws mounted for stepped rotation between the station in synchronism with incremental movement of the jig. The contact insertion mechanism comprises contact guides of complementary shape to the contact and insertable into a housing cavity from one side of the housing to mate with and guide a contact into the cavity from the other side of the housing.

Abstract: A wire stuffer mechanism removes wire successively from a jig at a first operating station (e.g. terminating) and then transfers them to a second station (e.g. contact inserting) spaced from the first station. The jig is annular and has closely spaced wire locating slots on one side. The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of widely circumferentially spaced jaws mounted for stepped rotation between the station in synchronism with incremental movement of the jig. The contact insertion mechanism comprises contact guides of complementary shape to the contact and insertable into a housing cavity from one side of the housing to mate with and guide a contact into the cavity from the other side of the housing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for press-fitting caps on electric parts and the like. The apparatus has a device for feeding component rods of electric parts to a rod-conveying wheel provided on its circumference with lateral equally spaced grooves for receiving the rods fed from the rod-feeding device one by one, and a cap-feeding device for feeding caps to a pair of cap-conveying wheels each provided on its circumference with lateral equally-spaced grooves for receiving the caps fed from the cap-feeding device, the cap-conveying wheels being arranged symmetrically and obliquely with respect to the rod-conveying wheel so that the lower ends thereof come in contact with the lower end of the rod-conveying wheel thereby to press-fit the caps on the rods successively, and the rod-conveying and cap-conveying wheels being rotated in synchronization with one another.

Abstract: An article placement system for applying a plurality of articles to a substrate, each article placed in a different location and perhaps at a different angular orientation on said substrate. The system includes a base with a walking beam mounted to the base which has an axis of bi-directional movement, and a direction of length along the axis. A plurality of article transfer members is mounted to the walking beam at axially spaced-apart locations from one another. Conveyor means extends axially beneath the article transfer means for conveying substrates to positions beneath successive ones of the article transfer means. A plurality of article supply members is mounted to the base. Each has a respective delivery point where it provides an article to a respective one of the article transfer means. Positioning means is provided for locating the article transfer members and the article supply members relative to each other to provide for selectively adjustable placement of the articles.

Abstract: An assembly line for parts of electronic and other equipment having a plurality of assembling stations, each station including a conveyor belt for successively conveying articles from the adjacent station, a drive source for the conveyor belt, means for stopping each of the articles including a stop lever for engaging a boss attached to each article for stopping each article in an operating position, means for positioning each article including a positioning pin for insertion in a hole formed in each article for positioning the article stopped in the operating position, a picking and placing unit for assembling each part with one of the articles after parts are successively fed by a supplying device, and an assembly line base machine provided with an operating panel for operating the drive source, article stopping means, article positioning means and picking and placing unit. Shifting of the stations and reorganization of the assembly line itself can be readily carried out.

Abstract: An assembly machine, preferably, for winding an electrolytic cell roll, for transporting a roll after winding from the winding station to a roll canning station and for inserting the cell roll into a can at the canning station. The transport is a conveyor with a plurality of nests thereon in which the cell roll is initially wound at the winding station and then carried on the conveyor to the canning station.

Abstract: A method of inserting and fixing, by means of a machine, lead wires of the electronic components to a printed circuit board having a number of lead-wire-inserting holes, wherein a movable member relative to the printed circuit board is abutted to an electronic component which is already planted (or inserted) in the neighboring space of the targeted lead-wire-inserting holes for the component-to-be-planted, in order to slightly push away the already planted component for clearing or expanding the neighboring space, by means of causing a deformation to the lead wires of the already planted component. This invention includes the provision of apparatuses for realizing the above-mentioned method into practical use.

Abstract: A rotary indexing apparatus for automatic insertion of devices on printed circuit boards has a main support member attached to the insertion machine and a circular locating and supporting member rotatably supported by the main support member. Apertures are provided in the circular member over which can be positioned printed circuit boards. Generally four such locations are provided, particularly for insertion machines with an inserting head which inserts devices at two positions successively. By indexing the table between each complete cycle, devices are inserted in two directions, at right angles to each other, by insertion occurring first at one location and then at another location after the circular member has been indexed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly machine having a frame, an upper plate vertically displaceable, a table, an annular transfer plate, a cam-shaft and a driving device for said cam-shaft. Said machine comprises working units of three kinds, the one fixed onto the upper plate and the others fixed onto the table either inside or outside of the transfer plate. All working units fixed to the upper plate and the ones fixed to the table inside the transfer plate are controlled by cams carried by the cam-shaft and corresponding mechanical linkages passing through a control opening provided in the table of the frame.

Abstract: A wire stuffer mechanism removes wires successively from a jig at a first operating station (e.g. terminating) and then transfers them to a second station (e.g. contact inserting) spaced from the first station. The jig is annular and has closely spaced wire locating slots on one side. The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of widely circumferentially spaced jaws mounted for stepped rotation between the stations in synchronism with incremental movement of the jig. The contact insertion mechanism comprises contact guides of complementary shape to the contact and insertable into a housing cavity from one side of the housing to mate with and guide a contact into the cavity from the other side of the housing.

Abstract: Sealing apparatus for the automatic assembly of integrated circuit packages. The semiconductor device package is comprised of an upper and lower ceramic cover, and a metal lead frame having mounted thereon the integrated circuit. The automatic ceramic sealing apparatus provides a good quality hermetic seal of the integrated circuit within the ceramic covers by including continuously heated sealing presses mounted on a rotary dial table.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for assembling a stack having a precise height from a plurality of individual laminates having varying thicknesses are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises seven colinearly aligned dispensing stations for storing a stack of laminates and for dispensing a predetermined number of laminates from the first six stations and a variable number of laminates in the last seventh station; three walking beam assemblies for transporting the plates between the dispensing stations, and a means for controlling the number of laminates dispensed by the last, seventh dispensing station. The controlling means comprises a vertically extending engaging block resiliently mounted on the third walking beam for engaging the laminates to be dispensed and a resiliently mounted cut-off blade depending into and varying the height of a slot located at the bottom of the stored stack of laminates in the last dispensing station.

Abstract: This invention relates to a high speed machine which can automatically insert radial lead electronic components onto the printed circuit board one-by-one. A combination of such machines installed at a work station can automatically insert many components onto one printed circuit board at the same time. In a similar way, the combination of such machines installed at many work stations can be arranged into a conveyorized assembly line which can automatically insert many components onto many printed circuit boards simultaneously. The apparatus and method for producing this result will significantly save labor in manufacturing electronic equipment.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an electrical harness comprising wires connected to electrical terminals of a plurality of electrical connectors, according to a desired wiring pattern, each terminal comprises a wire connecting portion in the form of a slotted plate formed integrally with a contact portion in the form of an electrical receptacle. The wires are laid out on a wiring layout board with the aid of wire guiding posts to form a desired wiring pattern, with portions of the wires extending through notches in the housings of the connectors. The terminals are then inserted into through openings in the housings so that the wires received in the notches are captured by the slots of the terminals so that electrial connection is made between the terminals and the wires.