Apparatus and method for feeding card edge connectors and connector magazines
US4950120A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1989 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05K13/0434
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A robotic feeding mechanism for feeding electrical connectors. Connector magazines having a plurality of electrical connectors therein can be held in a magazine feeder which comprises at least two worm gears for holding and moving connector magazines therebetween. The magazine feeder also comprises gates for holding a connector magazine received from the worm gears for dispensing individual connectors and means for operably moving the worm gears and gates for controllably advancing connector magazines towards the gates and moving the gates to replace an empty magazine with a new magazine. The feeding mechanism also comprises a device for feeding and inverting individual electrical connectors comprising a sloped feed path; a gate for holding a row of connectors; means for holding the row of connectors while a leading connector is allowed to advance along the feed path; and a tipping ledge and curved guide for inverting the lead connector as it advanced along the feed path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.