Patent ID: 7797821

Claim:
Apparatus for assembling a z-axis interconnector into a plurality of aligned vias in a corresponding plurality of stacked printed circuit boards, the interconnector having a leader portion which extends through the aligned vias in a start position upon beginning to assemble the interconnector and also having a connection portion which contacts the aligned vias in a final position upon completing assembly of the interconnector, the apparatus comprising: a pull and cut tool comprising a gripping and cutting subassembly and a longitudinal movement subassembly; the gripping and cutting subassembly including a pair of blades and a first actuator connected to the blades to move the blades laterally toward and away from one another; the longitudinal movement subassembly connected to the gripping and cutting assembly and including a second actuator connected to move the blades longitudinally toward and away from an outer one of the plurality of stacked printed circuit boards; and a control system connected to the tool and to the first and second actuators and operative to control the first and second actuators to: move the blades laterally toward one another to penetrate into opposite sides of the leader portion and grip the leader portion without severing the leader portion, move the blades longitudinally away from the outer one of the printed circuit boards to pull the interconnector a predetermined distance which positions the connection portion in the final position contacting the vias while the leader portion is gripped by the blades, move the blades laterally away from one another to separate the blades laterally from the leader portion and release the grip on the leader portion after the interconnector is pulled into in the final position, move the blades longitudinally toward the printed circuit boards to return the blades to a predetermined location adjacent to the outer one of the printed circuit boards while the blades are separated laterally from the leader portion, and move the blades laterally toward one another to penetrate into the opposite sides of the leader portion sufficiently to sever the leader portion from the connection portion at the predetermined location.