Patent · US Expired

Pin receptacle inspection apparatus and method

US4264202A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
3References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 4, 1979
Grant dateApr 28, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 4, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R43/00
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus and method are disclosed for inspecting a row of hollow pin receptacles in a housing to determine whether or not pins have been properly mounted in the receptacles. A collimated inspection light beam is directed toward one surface of the housing as it passes through an inspection position, so that the inspection beam successively impinges on the receptacles. A photodetector is disposed to face the opposing surface of the housing to receive light, if any, which has passed through the receptacles. Means responsive to the photodetector are provided for generating an output signal indicative of whether or not the pin has been properly mounted in the receptacle. The output signal generating means preferably comprises a threshold detector for detecting when the output of the photodetector exceeds a predetermined threshold. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a collimated gating light beam is directed toward the inspection position so that a housing blocks the gating beam when a housing is at the inspection position. In this embodiment, a second photodetector is positioned to receive the gating beam when no housing is preset at the inspection position. Means responsive…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.