Clinch mechanism for assembling a printed circuit board with electronic components

An assembly machine comprising:

• a board handling system configured to move a printed circuit board within the assembly machine;
• one or more assembly heads configured to pick and place components onto the printed circuit board;
• and
• a clinch mechanism that includes:
• a drive shaft configured to move along a vertical axis;
• a stationary anvil configured to remain stationary during movement of the drive shaft;
• a cutter having a cutting tip, wherein movement of the drive shaft along the vertical axis is configured to move the cutter relative to the stationary anvil, wherein the movement of the cutter by the drive shaft is configured to move the cutting tip across the stationary anvil to cut an electronic lead located between the cutting tip and the stationary anvil;
• a toggle configured to rotate about a toggle rotation axis, wherein movement of the drive shaft along the vertical axis is configured to rotate the toggle about the toggle rotation axis, the toggle including a contact portion configured to roll across an engagement portion of the cutter in order to impart movement on the cutter relative to the stationary anvil, wherein a contact portion of the toggle includes an involute gear shaped tooth and wherein the engagement portion of the cutter includes an involute trapezoidal slot;
• and
• a link rotatably attached to and extending between each of the drive shaft and the toggle.

A method of assembling a printed circuit board with electronic components comprising:

• receiving, by a clinch mechanism, at least one component lead between a cutter and a stationary anvil of the clinch mechanism;
• moving, by a drive shaft of the clinch mechanism, along a vertical axis;
• rotating a link that is attached to and extending between each of the drive shaft and the toggle, by the vertical movement of the drive shaft;
• rotating a toggle, by the moving of the drive shaft, about a toggle rotation axis;
• rolling, by a contact portion of the toggle, across a contact portion of the cutter as a result of the rotating of the toggle, wherein the contact portion of the toggle includes an involute gear shaped tooth and wherein the contact portion of the cutter includes an involute trapezoidal slot;
• imparting movement, by the contact portion of the toggle, on the cutter relative to the stationary anvil;
• and
• cutting the at least one component lead by moving a cutting tip of the cutter across the stationary anvil.