Continuous carrier to SMT pins
US6244899A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S439/937
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A plurality of discrete SMT pins are carried in bandoleer fashion. Each SMT pin has a base formed on its underside with solder flux vapor venting channels and a shaft with a longitudinal axis connected to the base. A consecutive series of identical pin holding segments are arranged in side-by-side or end-to-end fashion to provide a flexible strip windable about a reel. The strip is continuously injection molded of plastic as a plurality of strings each made up of a predetermined number of part holding segments with a forward portion of each string, except for leading string of the strip, being molded over a trailing portion of a preceding string. Each pin holding segment has a receptacle formed by a pair of opposing resilient fingers for frictionally removably holding a shaft of a corresponding SMT pin so that the pin can be inserted and removed in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of its shaft. Each pin holding segment is configured as a substantially rectangular body spaced from and parallel to an adjacent pin holding segment. At least one shoulder of each body provides a drive surface for engagement by a drive member or sprocket of a feeder for advancing …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.