Patent ID: 7377028

Claim:
A connector insertion and removal tool for inserting and removing an electrical connector onto and from a circuit board having opposite first and second surfaces, said tool comprising: an installation mechanism configured to be positioned proximate the first surface of the circuit board, the installation mechanism being configured to insert the connector onto the first surface of the circuit board such that pins on the connector are inserted into a pin aperture field formed through the circuit board; and an extraction mechanism configured to be positioned proximate the second surface of the circuit board, the extraction mechanism being configured to remove the connector from the first surface of the circuit board, said installation and extraction mechanisms being coupled to one another; wherein at least one of said installation and extraction mechanisms comprises an actuator adapted for movement toward and away from the circuit board to insert and remove the connector onto and from the circuit board, said actuator comprising a plurality of extraction pins that are configured to align with and extend into the pin aperture field from the second surface toward the first surface of the circuit board, the extraction pins engaging the pins of the connector in the pin aperture field to force the connector from the first surface of the circuit board; wherein said extraction mechanism includes front and rear support plates, said actuator including an actuator element, an actuator block and an extractor block located between the front and rear support plates, the actuator block being held stationary with respect to the front and rear support plates, the actuator element moving the extractor block toward and away from the second surface of the circuit board when the actuator element is rotated, the extractor block including the extraction pins.