Patent ID: 8141238

Claim:
A machine for automatically assembling z-axis interconnectors into columns of aligned vias in stacked printed circuit boards of a circuit module, each interconnector having a leader portion and a connection portion, the leader portion extending through the via column beyond a lower circuit board of the circuit module when the interconnector is inserted into the via column, the connection portion contacting the vias in the column when the interconnector is assembled into the via column, the machine comprising: a pickup subassembly comprising a delivery tube through which to convey individual ones of the interconnectors obtained from a plurality of interconnectors; an insertion subassembly connected to the delivery tube and having an insertion nozzle to direct each interconnector received from the delivery tube into insertion in one via column aligned with the insertion nozzle; a circuit module positioning subassembly having a motor which moves the circuit module and the insertion nozzle relative to one another to align an unoccupied via column with the insertion nozzle for insertion of the interconnector in the via column; a grip and cut subassembly comprising an actuator and a blade which is selectively movable to grip the leader portion and to sever the leader portion from the connection portion of the interconnector; a longitudinal movement subassembly connected to the grip and cut subassembly and having a motor to move the actuator and blade toward and away from the lower circuit board; a leader collection subassembly having an extraction tube which conveys the severed leader portion to a collection chamber; and a control system which controls the aforesaid subassemblies to assemble one interconnector in one unoccupied via column in one assembly cycle by aligning an unoccupied via column with the insertion nozzle, conveying one interconnector through the delivery tube and the insertion nozzle into insertion in the unoccupied via column, gripping the leader portion beyond the lower circuit board, pulling the gripped leader portion until the connection portion contacts the vias of the column, severing the leader portion from the connection portion at a cutoff location adjacent to the lower circuit board, and conveying the severed leader portion through the extraction tube to the collection chamber; and wherein: the control system executes multiple assembly cycles in continuous succession to assemble interconnectors in multiple via columns of the circuit module.