Patent GB-842448-A (GB)
Title: Electronic component assembly apparatus
IPC: H05K13/04
Filed: 1956-10-08
Abstract: 842,448. Assembling electrical components on circuit boards. SYLVANIA ELECTRIC PRODUCTS Inc. Oct. 8, 1956 [May 1, 1956], No. 30681/56. Class 83 (2). Apparatus for assembling electrical components on to circuit boards comprises an adhesive tape to which the components are secured, means for moving the tape through a position close to a circuit board and means for forcing a component off the tape at that position and on to the board and for there fixing it to the board. The apparatus comprises a C-frame 33 carrying a component feed device 37, a component handling device 39, a lead clinching member 41 and conveyer tracks 29, 31 for printed circuit boards 11 passing between the devices 39 and 41. The various parts of the apparatus are actuated by pneumatic pressure supplied from a chamber 43 to reciprocating motors 45, 47 through valves which are electrically controlled from the conveyer. Electrical components 17 are mounted in parallel spaced relation on a strip of adhesive tape 67 wound on a supply drum 57 and held thereon by a weighted strap 173. As the tape leaves the drum it passes between opposed guide surfaces 73, 75, over a guide-roll 61 and on to a receiving- drum 63, the components being stripped therefrom one by one while the tape is stationary beneath the inserting device 39. A verticallymoving part of the inserting-device is coupled through a link 87, cam 81 and two clutches 93 and 95 (not shown), to the shaft 83 of the drum 63 so that the tape is fed forward during the upward movement of the part. The device 39 comprises a housing 115 within which is an ejecting member 105 vertically movable from the motor 45 through a block 101 and slidable between side-plates 113 of a lead-forming member 109 operated through springs 111 of a strength such that members 105 and 109 move down together until the latter encounters a stop 121. In an aperture 120 in the lower part of the housing is pivoted a component-holding arm 123 having a cam surface 127 at its upper end and at its lower end, a pair of spaced fingers 129 with circular recesses 131 for the axially-extending leads of the components 17. Stop-blocks 133 positioned behind the recesses 131, engage the ends of the components while allowing the tape to pass between. As the motor 45 begins to move members 105 and 109 downwardly, a cam surface 110 on a vertical face of the member 105 is in contact with the cam surface 127 of the arm 123 and recesses 131 are in engagement with the lead wires of a component. A stop-plate 135 is moved down by a spring 139 so that stopfingers 137 move into position between the component at the work station and the preceding one. While the component is so held, the member 109 moves down to bend the ends of the leads into vertical grooves 153 formed in the inner sides of its walls. The component is thus held frictionally in the member 109 and its downward movement towards the board 11 is assisted by horizontal grooves 154 formed in the bifurcated end of the member 105 and bearing on the upper surfaces of the unbent portions of the leads. Mounted beneath the board 11 and raised into position by air motor 47 is a member 41 carrying two clinching fingers 159 which co-operate with the extended portions of the lead after they have been inserted through holes in the board. The final part of the downward movement of the component is effected by the member 105 only. In practice, a number of component assembling machines are arranged along the track of the conveyer.