Methods of straightening backplane-supported pins

A backplane (22) supporting a plurality of pins (21) is supported in a fixture (84) which is mounted on a movable platform (51). A pair of straightening bars (82 and 83) are attached to a movable holding bar (76) above the backplane-supported pins (21) and are spaced at least a distance equal to the spacing between alternate rows of the pins. The straightening bars (82 and 83) are positioned to capture the tips of alternate rows of pins (21). The fixture (84) is then reciprocated in a first direction and then in a second direction to process the pins (21) through a single straightening cycle. Eventually, the straightening bars (82 and 83) and all of the rows of pins (21) are processed in a similar fashion whereby each of the pair of bars processes each row of pins through a single straightening cycle. In this manner, each pin (21) is processed ultimately through two straightening cycles.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to methods of straightening backplane-supported pins 
and particularly relates to methods of straightening backplane-supported 
pins utilizing a plurality of straightening bars. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the manufacture of some types of rigid pin-populated printed wiring 
boards, as many as 10,000 terminal pins are inserted into apertures of 
each of the boards. The boards are referred to as backplanes and typically 
measure eight inches by twenty-two inches on their sides. Typically, the 
spacing between adjacent apertures on each backplane is extremely small. 
For example, the spacing between apertures on one backplane is 0.125 inch. 
Moreover, each terminal pin typically has a square cross section of, for 
example 0.025 inch except in those areas where the pin is formed with (1) 
lateral ears having a push shoulder and (2) an aperture-engaging portion 
intermediate the ends thereof. The pin is relatively slender and typically 
measures one and one-half inches in length. 
Each of the pins have slender shank portions which extend from opposite 
sides of the backplane. After the pins have been assembled with the 
backplane, the backplane is mounted in a frame where external wiring is 
wire wrapped to the pins on one side of the backplane commonly referred to 
as the wiring side. Other printed wiring boards, referred to as circuit 
packs, have electronic components electrically and mechanically secured 
thereto and have connectors secured to one end thereof. The connectors of 
these boards ultimately are inserted over selected ones of the pins 
extending from the other side of the backplane commonly referred to as the 
component side. 
During the insertion of the pins into the apertures of the backplane and 
during subsequent handling of the pin-populated backplane, some of the 
pins may be bent undesirably. For example, the most severely bent pins may 
deviate from an axial centerline by 0.050 inch in any direction. 
Since the component side of the pins are destined for insertion into a 
connector, and the pins on the wiring side may be wired by an automatic 
wiring facility, it is important that the pins be axially straight and 
perpendicular to the plane of the backplane within an acceptable 
tolerance. Otherwise, a slightly bent pin on the component side, for 
example, could be misaligned with its mating aperture in the connector. As 
the connector is moved into place, the bent pin would engage the face of 
the connector and would be bent further towards the surface of the 
backplane thereby failing to provide the required electrical connection. 
Such bent pins are very difficult to repair after they have been assembled 
and wired. More often, bent pins wear on mating connector surfaces, thus, 
degrading the electrical connection. 
Since the pins are located on a grid spacing of 0.125 inch, and since the 
pins have a square cross section of 0.025 inch, the facing portions of 
adjacent pins are 0.100 inch apart. Consequently, it is most difficult to 
provide a facility for straightening pins which are so closely arranged. 
For example, a straightening facility typically is positionable over the 
tip of the pin to be straightened and is then moved in a selected motion 
whereby the walls of the opening engage and move the pin close to the 
centerline of the opening. To accomplish this straightening operation, a 
pin-receiving opening of the facility must be slightly larger in cross 
section than the cross section of the pin. Further, to insure that a bent 
pin will enter the pin-receiving opening, the mouth of the opening should 
be formed with a tapered or conical lead-in portion of sufficient 
dimension to receive any pin having a deviation as severe as 0.050 inch. 
Thus, the conical lead-in portion of the opening would require additional 
space in the cross section direction. In addition, the facility must have 
some bulk around the pin-receiving opening to provide for the opening and 
the conical lead-in portion. Thus, it is apparent that, with the close 
spacing between adjacent pins, it is most difficult to provide a sturdy 
facility which can accomplish the straightening of the pin. 
Still another problem encountered in straightening the pins is due to 
warpage of the backplane after the pins have been inserted into the 
backplane. Such warpage is due to the pin density and the interfacial 
relationship between the apertures and the pins. Consequently, while any 
pin may be perpendicular with the backplane, if the backplane is warped, 
the tip of the pin would appear to be bent. This would provide an 
indication that the pin requires straightening even though the pin is 
perpendicular with the portion of the backplane surrounding the aperture 
into which the pin is mounted. 
As noted above, as many as 10,000 pins are typically inserted into 
apertures of a single backplane. In a typical manufacturing operation, 
many pin-populated backplanes are assembled within relatively short 
periods of time. Since each pin must be straightened on both sides of the 
backplane, efficiency dictates that pluralities of pins be straightened 
simultaneously. However, when such mass pin straightening is considered, 
the above-mentioned problems resulting from the closeness of adjacent pins 
and warpage of the backplane pose serious difficulties. 
Statistical studies have shown that processing each pin through two 
straightening wiggles provides tighter tolerance control of pin tip 
location. Such control will usually bring the pin tip within an acceptable 
tolerance of .+-.0.009 inch from true axial centerline. 
In one prior system which provides facility for limited mass straightening 
of pins, a single bar has two rows of pin-receiving apertures formed in 
one surface thereof and is referred to herein after as the double-row bar. 
The pin-populated backplane is mounted on a table below the double-row 
bar. The double-row bar is lowered to position the tip ends of two 
adjacent rows of a plurality of rows of the pins into the pin-receiving 
apertures of the bar. Thereafter, the double-row bar is reciprocated, or 
wiggled, in the plane of the rows of pins which is referred to as the "X" 
direction. As the double-row bar is wiggled, the pins engage laterally 
spaced walls of the apertures whereby each of the pins is generally 
aligned in the "X" direction. The table is then reciprocated, or wiggled, 
in a plane referred to as the "Y" direction which is perpendicular to the 
plane of the "X" direction movement whereby the same pins are generally 
aligned in the "Y" direction. Thus, by this action, each of the pins in 
the two rows could be generally aligned with the centerline of the 
respective pin-receiving aperture. The double-row bar is then retracted 
and the table is indexed to locate the next two rows of pins directly 
beneath the two rows of apertures of the double-row bar. The double-row 
bar is then lowered and a straightening operation conducted as described 
above. This process continues until all pins are straightened. This type 
of system performs the straightening operation as described providing the 
grid spacing of the pins in the backplane is sufficiently spaced to avoid 
engagement by the double-row bar with previously straightened pins during 
the wiggle motion in the "Y" direction. 
A prior system of this type is commercially available from Ambrit, Inc. of 
Wilmington, Massachusetts, as their Model No. 218. 
In order to provide for the straightening of pins located on a grid spacing 
of 0.125 inch, a single bar having one row of apertures which is referred 
to hereinafter as the single-row bar, was utilized as described 
hereinabove. The width of the single-row bar measures about 0.125 inch. 
Thus, when the single-row bar is positioned over a single row of pins, the 
sides of the bar are located 0.050 inch from the pins of the immediately 
adjacent rows. A conical lead-in portion of each aperture of the 
single-row bar has a mouth diameter of 0.120 inch to insure that 
drastically bent pins are inserted into the pin-receiving aperture. The 
"X" and "Y" wiggle motion is the same as described above with respect to 
the double-row bar. In order to provide sufficient straightening effect in 
the "Y" direction, the table is wiggled to provide a 0.100 inch movement 
on each side of the centerline of the row of pins within the apertures of 
the single-row bar. Since the pins of the adjacent rows are only 0.050 
inch from the side of the single-row bar, the adjacent pins are bent away 
from the pins located within the bar. 
In order to compensate for this effect, a first row of pins located within 
the single-row bar are initially and properly straightened in the "X" 
direction. Thereafter, the table is wiggled, as noted above, in the "Y" 
direction. However, the pins of the first row are purposely not fully 
straightened in the "Y" direction but are leaning slightly in the "Y" 
direction toward the adjacent or second row of pins which is the next row 
of pins to be straightened. The single-row bar is then retracted and 
positioned over the second row of pins which are then straightened 
properly in the "X" direction. Thereafter, the bar is wiggled in the "Y" 
direction between the first and a third row of pins. 
As noted above, the pins of the first row have been straightened in the "X" 
direction but are leaning slightly in the "Y" direction toward the second 
row of pins, the tip ends of which are now located within the apertures of 
the single-row bar. As the single-row bar is wiggled in the "Y" direction, 
one side of the bar engages the slightly bent pins of the first row and 
bends the pins in the "Y" direction so that the pins are now leaning away 
from the second row of pins. As the single-row bar moves in the wiggle 
motion toward the third row of pins and away from the first row of pins, 
the pins of the first row now tend to return to the initial position of 
leaning toward the second row of pins but only spring to a generally 
straightened position. After the bar has completed its wiggle motion in 
the "Y" direction, the pins of the second row are leaning slightly in the 
"Y" direction toward the third row of pins. In this way, the pins of the 
first row are generally straight but the pins of the second row are 
leaning in the "Y" direction toward the pins of the third row. 
The single-row bar is then retracted and positioned over the tip ends of 
the pins of the third row and the pins are straightened in the "X" 
direction. The bar is wiggled in the "Y" direction whereby the pins of the 
second row are straightened in the "Y" direction in the same manner 
previously described with respect to the pins of the first row. 
This pattern of operation is continued whereby the table is indexed in the 
"Y" direction to position successive rows of pins beneath the single-row 
bar. The single-row bar is then lowered over the tips of the pins and 
wiggled to straighten the pins in the "X" direction. The bar is then 
wiggled in the "Y" direction to effectively straighten the pins of the 
immediately trailing row in the "Y" direction while leaning the row of 
pins positioned within the bar toward the immediately forward row of pins. 
Ultimately, all pins of the backplane are thereby straightened in the "X" 
and "Y" directions. 
The above-described single-row bar straightens one row of pins at a time. 
In addition, due to the closeness of the adjacent rows of pins, the 
single-row system must depend on the side of the bar for straightening the 
pins in the "Y" direction. Further, a limited number of pins is 
straightened using the single-row bar. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In a method of straightening pins supported in rows in a pin-populated 
backplane, in accordance with certain principles of the invention, two 
straightening bars are spacially mounted with a spacing at least equal to 
the distance between the spacing of alternate rows of pins. The 
straightening bars and alternate rows of pins are processed whereby a 
first of the two straightening bars provides a single cycle of 
straightening and a second of the two straightening bars provides a single 
cycle of straightening for each row of pins.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of pins, designated generally by the 
numeral 21, are inserted into a printed wiring board or backplane 22 to 
form a pin-populated backplane assembly, designated generally by the 
numeral 23. Referring to FIG. 2, each pin 21 is formed with an upper shank 
24, a shoulder section 26, an aperture-engaging section 27 and a lower 
shank 28. The shanks 24 and 28 generally have a square cross section 
measuring 0.025 inch on each side while the pin 21 measures one and 
one-half inches in length. 
The backplane 22 (FIG. 1) typically has side dimensions of eight inches by 
twenty-two inches and may be formed with as many as 10,000 apertures 29 
arranged in a grid of 0.125 inch spacing between centers of adjacent 
apertures. Thus, the facing sides of the shanks 24 and 28 of adjacent pins 
21 in the backplane assembly 23 are spaced 0.100 inch apart. 
The aperture-engaging sections 27 of the pins 21 are inserted into 
apertures 29 of the backplane 22 whereby the pins are supported with the 
backplane to form the assembly 23. The upper shanks 24 of the pins 21 are 
ultimately assembled at a high level of assembly with connectors of 
component-containing printed wiring boards (not shown). Therefore, the 
side of the backplane 22 adjacent to the upper shanks is referred to as 
the component side 31. The lower shanks 28 are ultimately connected to 
wiring of external circuits. Therefore, the side of the backplane 22 
adjacent the lower shanks 38 is referred to as the wiring side 32. 
As noted, the upper shanks 24 ultimately mate in a high level assembly 
operation with connectors of printed wiring boards. Therefore, it is 
important that the upper shanks 24 be axially straight and perpendicular 
to the component side 31 of the backplane 22 to facilitate the high level 
of assembly. In addition, the lower shanks 29 are frequently wired by the 
use of automatic wiring facilities (not shown). Therefore, it is important 
that the lower shanks 28 be axially straight and perpendicular to the 
wiring side of the backplane 22. 
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated an apparatus, designated 
generally by the numeral 34, for facilitating the straightening of the 
backplane-supported pins 21. The apparatus 34 includes a horizontal table 
36 supported by four vertical legs 37 which extend to the floor (not 
shown). A platform 38 is mounted for movement on a pair of spaced parallel 
dovetail rails 39 which are mounted to the top of the table 36. As 
illustrated in FIG. 3, a lead screw 41 is supported at opposite ends by 
bearings 42 which are mounted to the top of the table 36. A motor 43 is 
coupled to one end of the lead screw 41 and provides the drive to rotate 
the lead screw. A ball nut 44 is secured to the underside of the platform 
38 and is threadedly positioned about the lead screw 41 for axial movement 
along the lead screw when the lead screw is rotated. Thus, rotation of the 
lead screw 41 provides motion for the platform 38 over the rails 39 in a 
plane of the platform which is referred to as the "X" direction. 
A pair of rubber shades 46 and 47 are each connected at a free end thereof 
to opposite ends of the platform 38. The other ends of the shades 46 and 
47 are attached to spring loaded reels 48 and 49, respectively, which are 
mounted to the top of the table 36. As the platform 38 is moved to the 
left or to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3, the shades 46 and 47 are 
maintained continuously and protectively over facilities located on the 
top of the table 36. 
A second platform 51 is mounted on a pair of spaced dovetail rails 52 which 
are mounted to the top of platform 38. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a lead 
screw 53 is supported at opposite ends by bearings 54 which are mounted to 
the top of the platform 38. A motor 56 is coupled to one end of the lead 
screw 53 and provides the drive to rotate the lead screw 53 and provides 
the drive to rotate the lead screw. A ball nut 57 is secured to the 
underside of the platform 51 and is threadedly positioned about the lead 
screw 53 for axial movement along the lead screw when the lead screw is 
rotated. Thus, rotation of the lead screw 53 provides motion for the 
platform 51 over the rails 52 in a plane of the platform which is referred 
to as the "Y" direction. 
As illustrated in FIG. 4, a pair of rubber shades 58 and 59 are each 
connected at a free end thereof to opposite ends of the platform 51. The 
other ends of the shades 58 and 59 are attached to spring loaded reels 61 
and 62, respectively, which are mounted to the top of the platform 38. As 
the platform 51 is moved to the left or to the right, as viewed in FIG. 4, 
the shades 58 and 59 are maintained continuously and protectively over 
facilities located on the top of the platform 38. 
Referring to FIG. 3, a pair of spaced vertical stands 63 are mounted on and 
extend upwardly from the top of the table 36. A horizontal support 64 
extends between and is supported on the top of the vertical stands 63. A 
pair of bearing housings 66 and 67 are mounted on the horizontal support 
64. A bearing plate 68 extends between and is secured to the bearing 
housings 66 and 67. A pair of lead screws 69 and 71 are mounted vertically 
near lower ends thereof in the bearing plate 68. The upper ends of the 
lead screws 69 and 71 are mounted within a housing 72 which supports a 
motor 73 on the top thereof. A timing belt (not shown) and pulleys (not 
shown) are contained within the housing 72 and facilitate the application 
of driving power from the motor 73 to the lead screws 69 and 71 when the 
motor is operated. Ball nuts (not shown), also contained within the 
housing 72, are threadedly positioned about the lead screws 69 and 71 and 
move axially along the lead screws when the lead screws are rotated. 
The ball nuts are coupled to a pair of shafts 74 and 75 and provide for the 
vertical movement of the shafts when the lead screws 69 and 71 are 
rotated. The shafts 74 and 75 pass through the bearing housings 66 and 67, 
respectively, and support a holding bar 76 at the lower ends of the 
shafts. Thus, as the motor 73 rotates the lead screws 69 and 71, the 
shafts 74 and 75 are moved vertically to selectively move and position the 
holding bar 76 in the plane thereof. A pair of stops 77 and 78 extend 
downwardly from the bearing housing 66 and 67, respectively, to limit the 
upward travel of the holding bar 76. 
A bottom plate 79 extends between and is secured to the bearing housings 66 
and 67. The lead screws 69 and 71, the plates 68 and 79, the housing 72, 
the motor 73, the shafts 74 and 75, the holding bar 76 and the stops 77 
and 78 form a slide assembly designated generally by the numeral 81. 
Vertical movement of the slide assembly 81, wherein the holding bar 76 
moves vertically in the plane thereof, is referred to hereinafter as 
movement in the "Z" direction. 
The portion of the apparatus 34, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and which 
has been described hereinabove, and a system for controlling that portion 
of the apparatus, is a commercially available facility from Ambrit, Inc. 
of Wilmington, Mass., as their Model No. 202. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the apparatus 34 also includes two 
pin-straightening bars 82 and 83. The apparatus 34 further includes a 
backplane support fixture, designated generally by the numeral 84, which 
is illustrated in phantom in FIGS. 3 and 4. Referring to FIG. 5, 
pin-capturing undersurfaces of the bars 82 and 83 (not shown) are each 
formed with a single row of apertures 86 where the row extends generally 
from end to end of the bars. Each of the apertures 86 is formed with a 
conically shaped mouth 87. The bars 82 and 83 are attached to the holding 
bar 76 (FIGS. 3 and 4) for movement therewith and are positionable over 
the tips of the shanks 24 of the pins 21 extending upwardly from the 
pin-populated backplane assembly 23 which is mounted on the fixture 84. 
Referring to FIG. 6, the pins 21 are located on a grid spacing of 0.125 
inch and since the pins have a square cross section of 0.025 inch, the 
facing sides of the shanks 24 and 28 of the adjacent pins are 0.100 inch 
apart. The straightening bars 82 and 83 moved in the "Z" direction and 
positioned over the tips of the pins 21 to be straightened. The platforms 
38 and 51 (FIGS. 3 and 4) facilitate the movement of the fixture-supported 
pins 21 in the "X" and "Y" directions whereby the walls of the apertures 
86 engage and move the pins close to the centerline of the opening. To 
insure that a bent pin 21 will enter apertures 84, the mouth 87 of the 
apertures is formed with a conically lead-in portion of sufficient 
dimension to receive any pin having a deviation as severe as 0.050. 
Consequently, the straightening bars 82 and 83 must have some bulk around 
the apertures 86 to provide for the apertures and the conically shaped 
mouth 87. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the close spacing between rows 
of pins 21 and the necessary size and shape of the straightening bars 82 
and 83 prevent adjacent rows of pins 21 from being straightened 
simultaneously. As noted above, a single straightening bar having two rows 
of apertures will perform the straightening operation provided the grid 
spacing of the pins 21 in the backplane 22 is sufficiently spaced to avoid 
engagement by the double-row bar with previously straightened pins during 
the movement of the fixture supported pins in the "Y" direction. However, 
due to the small grid spacing of the pins 21, such a double row 
straightening bar can not perform the straightening operation without 
bending adjacent straightened pins. 
Statistical studies have shown that processing each pin through two 
straightening cycles provides tighter tolerance control of pin tip 
location. Such control will usually bring the tip within an acceptable 
tolerance of .+-.0.009 inch from true axial centerline. The apparatus 34 
is controlled to process each pin 21 through two straightening cycles as 
described hereinafter. 
For the purpose of describing and illustrating the pin straightening 
operation of apparatus 34, reference will be made to FIGS. 7 through 10. 
The platforms 38 and 51 (FIGS. 3 and 4) are indexed by motors 43 and 56, 
respectively, to move the fixture 84 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and the backplane 22 
supported thereon to position the first row of pins 21 directly beneath 
the straightening bar 82. The motor 73 is then operated to lower the 
holding bar 76 and the straightening bars 82 and 83 in the "Z" direction. 
As the straightening bars 81 and 82 are lowered the tips of all of the 
pins 21 of the first row are guided into and captured within the apertures 
86 of the straightening bar 82 as illustrated in FIG. 7. 
Thereafter, motor 43 (FIG. 3) is operated to rotate lead screw 41 (FIG. 3) 
in a first direction and then is operated to rotate the lead screw in the 
opposite direction. Operation of the motor 43 in the first and opposite 
directions, resulting in the reciprocation of fixture 84 in a wiggle 
movement and the backplane 22 supported thereon in a left-right pattern in 
the plane of the "X" direction as viewed in FIG. 3. In the preferred 
embodiment, the fixture 84 is reciprocated one time in the wiggle movement 
to move each straightening bar aperture 86 in the "X" direction by a 
distance of 0.110 inch in the positive "X" direction and 0.076 inch in the 
negative "X" direction with reference to the centerline of the aperture 86 
which represents the centerline of an ideally straight pin 21. 
Motor 56 (FIG. 4) is then operated to rotate lead screw 53 (FIG. 4) in a 
first direction and then is operated to rotate the lead screw in the 
opposite direction of rotation. Operation of the motor 56 in the first and 
opposite directions results in the reciprocation of fixture 84 in a wiggle 
movement and the backplane 22 supported thereon in a left-right pattern in 
the plane of the "Y" direction as viewed in FIG. 4. Motor 73 is then 
operated to raise the straightening bars 82 and 83 so that the 
undersurfaces of the bars are above the tips of the pins 21. 
Referring to FIGS. 7 through 10, one pin 21 of each of eleven rows of pins 
is illustrated with the first row appearing on the right and the eleventh 
row appearing on the left. As illustrated in FIG. 7, motor 73 is operated 
to lower straightening bars 82 and 83 until the tips of the pins 21 of the 
first row are captured within straightening bar 82. Motors 43 and 56 are 
then operated to wiggle the straightening bar 82 as described above. The 
pins 21 of the first row are purposely not fully straightened in the "Y" 
direction but are leaning slightly in the "Y" direction toward the 
adjacent or second row of pins which is the next row of pins to be 
straightened. The pins 21 are leaned in the "Y" direction toward the 
second row in preparation for a final straightening operation to be 
described hereinafter. Motor 68 is then operated to raise the 
straightening bars 82 and 83 so that undersurfaces of the bars are above 
the tips of the pins 21. 
As illustrated in FIG. 8, motor 56 is operated to index the platforms 51 to 
locate the second row of pins 21 beneath the straightening bar 82. 
Thereafter, motor 73 is operated to lower the bars 82 and 83 to position 
the apertures 86 of straightening bar 82 to capture the tips of the 
second-row pins 21 as illustrated in FIG. 8. Motor 43 is operated to 
wiggle the straightening bar 82 as previously described to straighten the 
pins 21 of the second row in the "X" direction. Motor 56 is then operated 
to wiggle the straightening bar 82 as previously described to straighten 
the pins 21 of the second row in the "Y" direction. 
As noted above, the pins 21 of the first row have been straightened in the 
"X" direction but are leaning slightly in the "Y" direction toward the 
second row of pins, the tip end of which are now located within the 
apertures 86 of the straightening bar 82. As the bar 82 is wiggled in the 
"Y" direction, one side of the bar engages the slightly bent pins 21 of 
the first row and bends the pins in the "Y" direction so that the pins are 
now leaning away from the second row of pins. As the bar 82 moves in the 
wiggle motion toward the third row of pins 21 and away from the first row 
of pins, the pins of the first row now tend to return to the initial 
position of leaning toward the second row of pins but only spring to a 
generally straightened position. Motor 73 is then operated to move the bar 
82 upwardly until the underside of the bar is located above the plane of 
the tips of the pins 21. The pins 21 of the second row are slightly 
leaning in the "Y" direction toward the third row of pins. 
Motor 56 is operated to index the platform 51 to locate the third row of 
pins 21 beneath the straightening bar 82 and the first row of pins below 
the bar 83. Thereafter, motor 73 is operated to lower the bars 82 and 83 
to position the apertures 86 to capture the tips of the first and third 
rows of pins 21 as illustrated in FIG. 9. Motor 43 is operated to wiggle 
the straightening bars 82 and 83 as previously described to straighten the 
pins 21 of the first and third rows in the "X" direction. Motor 56 is then 
operated to wiggle the straightening bars 82 and 83 are previously 
described to partially straighten the pins 21 of the first and third rows 
in the "Y" direction. The first-row pin 21 now have been processed through 
two straightening operations while the second-row pins and the third-row 
pins have been processed through one straightening operation. 
This pattern of operation is continued whereby the platform 51 is indexed 
in the "Y" direction to position row of pins beneath the straightening 
bars 82 and 83. The bars 82 and 83 are then lowered over the tips of the 
pins 21 and the platform 38 is wiggled to straighten the pins in the "X" 
direction. The platform 51 is then wiggled in the "Y" direction to 
effectively straighten the pins of the immediately trailing row in the "Y" 
direction while leaning the rows of pins 21 positioned within the bars 82 
and 83 toward the respective immediate forward row of pins. In order to 
straighten the last row of pins 21 on the backplane 22, one additional 
wiggle pattern in the "Y" direction must be performed in order to 
straighten the pins which are leaning due to the last straightening 
operation of the bar 83. 
As an example, if the backplane 22 supports nine thousand pins 21 arranged 
in sixty rows of one hundred and fifty pins each in the "X" direction, and 
there are at least one hundred and fifty apertures 86 formed in the 
straightening bars 82 and 83, the bars will span the entire length of each 
row of pins during each "X" direction straightening operation. The 
platform 51 will have to be indexed sixty-two times in order to straighten 
each row of pins 21 once by each of the straightening bars 82 and 83. As 
noted above, there must be one additional straightening operation to 
straighten the pins 21 of the last row. Thus, the platform 51 must be 
indexed a total of sixty-three times. It takes approximately three seconds 
to complete one wiggle pattern in the "X" and "Y" directions combined. 
Thus, to straighten nine thousand pins as assembled above, takes one 
hundred and eighty-nine seconds. If this process was completed using a 
single-row bar, as noted above, the platform will have to be indexed a 
total of sixty times but the bar must perform two cycles of straightening 
for each row which gives a total of one hundred and twenty straightening 
operations. As noted above, there must be one additional straightening 
operation to facilitate the straightening of the last row. Thus, for the 
single row bar, there are one hundred and twenty-one straightening 
operations which takes three hundred and sixty-three seconds. By using the 
second straightening bar, there is a time savings of 47.93%. This time 
savings increases with the number of pins straightened and the number of 
bars used. Thus, by the use of the two straightening bars 82 and 83, the 
time required to straighten a plurality of pins 21 supported in rows in 
the pin-populated backplane 22 is nearly 50% less than the time required 
by a single straightening bar. 
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the first three rows of pins have been processed 
through two complete cycles of straightening. The fourth row also have 
been processed through two cycles of straightening and will be fully 
straightened by the edge of straightening bar 83 during the second 
straightening cycle of the fifth row. 
While the above-described number of straightening bars 82 and 83 is 
illustrative of the preferred embodiment, other combinations of the number 
of straightening bars, and the number of apertures in each row of all of 
the bars can be selected without departing from the spirit and scope of 
the invention.