Press head for a press machine

A press head for a press machine used to press-fit a connector to a printed circuit board, the press head comprising:

• a press motor operable in a pressing operation;
• a driver assembly operably coupled to the press motor and movable during the pressing operation;
• and
• a press anvil operably coupled to the driver assembly and movable by the driver assembly during the pressing operation, the press anvil having a load cell housing holding a load cell, the press anvil having a contact plate engaging the load cell, the press anvil having a preload screw and a preload counterbalance spring operably coupled to and directly engaging the preload screw to press against the preload screw, the preload screw and the preload counterbalance spring being coupled between the contact plate and the load cell housing to preload the contact plate against the load cell, the contact plate having a contact surface configured to fit and hold the connector or a seating tool for the connector and configured to press the connector toward the printed circuit board during the pressing operation, the load cell measuring a pressing load of the contact plate during the pressing operation.

A press machine used to press-fit a connector to a printed circuit board, the press machine comprising:

• a frame having a receptacle and a support surface at a bottom of the receptacle, the support surface supporting the printed circuit board and the connector in the receptacle;
• and
• a press head coupled to the frame and positioned above the support surface to operably engage the connector to press-fit the connector onto the printed circuit board, the press head comprising:
• a press motor operable in a pressing operation;
• a driver assembly operably coupled to the press motor and movable during the pressing operation;
• and
• a press anvil operably coupled to the driver assembly and movable by the driver assembly during the pressing operation, the press anvil having a load cell housing holding a load cell, the press anvil having a contact plate coupled to the load cell housing and engaging the load cell, the press anvil having a preload screw and a preload counterbalance spring connecting the contact plate and the load cell housing, the preload counterbalance spring operably coupled to and directly engaging the preload screw to press against the preload screw, the preload screw and the preload counterbalance spring being operably coupled between the contact plate and the load cell housing to preload the contact plate against the load cell, the contact plate having a connector contact surface sized and shaped complementary to the connector to fit and hold the connector or a seating tool for the connector, the contact plate driving the connector contact surface into the connector to press the connector toward the printed circuit board during the pressing operation, the load cell measuring a pressing load of the contact plate during the pressing operation.