# US 2008/0187429 A1 · Efficient Delivery and Placement Systems For Switch Contacts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0187429 A1 - Document ID: US20080187429A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/793,887 - Filed: 2005-02-22 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2004-12-23 - Assignees: Snaptron, Inc. - Inventors: Kevin N. Albertsen; Troy Diaz; Josh Lowery; Earl R. Tatman; Brett A. Tatman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187429A1 ## CPC - H05K 13/046: {Surface mounting (surface mounted components H05K3/341)} - B23P 19/001: {Article feeders for assembling machines (screws or nuts being carried by a disposable strip or disc B25B23/045)} - B23P 19/003: {Escapement mechanisms used therewith} - H05K 13/0434: {with containers} - H01H 13/7006: {comprising a separate movable contact element for each switch site, all other elements being integrated in layers} - H01H 2205/024: Means to facilitate positioning - H01H 2205/026: Adhesive sheet - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract Hand-held placement dispenser element (6) and automated dispenser elements (18) are provided for placement of items such as metal domes or the like onto a placement position (21), such as right-side-up or upside-down, perhaps by allowing only a single item or predetermined number of items to eject from a dispenser element at a time. A dispenser element may include a trigger (7) allowing for non-complication in use. A dispenser element could accept a cartridge (1), such as a slotted cartridge (3). A dispenser element and cartridge may be interchangeable. Once a cartridge is empty, it may be desirable to remove the empty cartridge and replace it with a full one. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for distributing metal domes onto a surface comprising the steps of: providing a cartridge having at least one dispenser end; holding a plurality of arranged metal domes in said cartridge; locating said dispenser end of said cartridge and said plurality of arranged metal domes above at least one metal dome placement position; releasing one metal dome from said dispenser end of said cartridge onto said at least one metal dome placement position; and moving said plurality of arranged metal domes towards said dispenser end of said cartridge in preparation for a next dispensing step. ### Claim at position 2 2-76. (canceled) ### Claim 77 A method for distributing metal domes onto a surface comprising the steps of: providing a cartridge having at least one dispenser end; holding a plurality of arranged metal domes in said cartridge; locating said dispenser end of said cartridge and said plurality of arranged metal domes above at least one metal dome placement position; separating one metal dome from said plurality of arranged metal domes prior to dispensing said separated metal dome; unidirectionally dispensing said separated metal dome from said plurality of arranged metal domes at said dispenser end of said cartridge onto said at least one metal dome placement position; and moving said plurality of arranged metal domes towards said dispenser end of said cartridge in preparation for a next dispensing step. ### Claim 78 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 wherein said step of unidirectionally dispensing said separated metal dome from said plurality of arranged metal domes at said dispenser end of said cartridge onto said at least one metal dome placement position comprises the step of unidirectionally releasing said separated metal dome from said plurality of arranged metal domes at said dispenser end of said cartridge onto said at least one metal dome placement position. ### Claim 79 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 wherein said step of unidirectionally dispensing said separated metal dome from said plurality of arranged metal domes at said dispenser end of said cartridge onto said at least one metal dome placement position comprises the step of unidirectionally dropping said separated metal dome from said plurality of arranged metal domes at said dispenser end of said cartridge onto said at least one metal dome placement position. ### Claim 80 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 wherein said step of unidirectionally dispensing said separated metal dome from said plurality of arranged metal domes at said dispenser end of said cartridge onto said at least one metal dome placement position comprises the step of providing a metal dome placement position selected from an electronic device surface, a non-electronic device surface, a printed circuit board, a circuit board, a flexible circuit, a membrane switch, a rotary switch, a tact switch, a keyboard, a keypad, polyester overlay, electroluminescence lighting panel and shielding layers. ### Claim 81 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 wherein said step of wherein said step of moving said plurality of arranged metal domes towards said dispenser end of said cartridge in preparation for said next dispensing step comprises the step of moving said plurality of arranged metal domes towards said dispenser end with a spring mechanism. ### Claim 82 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 and further comprising the step of testing said metal dome after it has been placed onto said placement position. ### Claim 83 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 and further comprising the step of attaching a dispenser element to said dispenser end of said cartridge. ### Claim 84 (depends on 83) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 83 and further comprising the step of holding said plurality of arranged metal domes in said cartridge with at least part of said dispenser element. ### Claim 85 (depends on 84) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 84 wherein said step of holding said plurality of arranged metal domes in said cartridge with at least part of said dispenser element comprises the step of holding said plurality of arranged metal domes in said cartridge with a matched offset profile surface. ### Claim 86 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 wherein said step of locating said dispenser end of said cartridge and said plurality of arranged metal domes above at least one metal dome placement position comprises the step of manually moving said dispenser end and said plurality of arranged metal domes above said at least one metal dome placement position. ### Claim 87 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 wherein said step of unidirectionally dispensing said separated metal dome onto said at least one metal dome placement position comprises the step of manually dispensing said separated metal dome onto said at least one metal dome placement position. ### Claim 88 (depends on 87) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 87 wherein said step of manually dispensing said separated metal dome onto said at least one metal dome placement position comprises the step of engaging a trigger. ### Claim 89 (depends on 88) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 88 wherein said step of engaging said trigger comprises the step of engaging a metal dome rotation mechanism. ### Claim 90 (depends on 89) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 89 wherein said step of engaging said metal dome rotation mechanism comprises the steps of: moving a ring link attached to said trigger; moving a ring responsive to said ring link; moving a rotation plate attached to an inside of said ring; and rotating a last metal dome with said rotation plate. ### Claim 91 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 wherein said step of separating said one metal dome from said plurality of arranged metal domes comprises the step of rotating said one metal dome. ### Claim 92 (depends on 83) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 83 and further comprising the steps of: providing matched offset dome profile surfaces in said dispenser element; moving a last metal dome into a first profile surface; holding said last metal dome in said dispenser element with a second offset profile surface; and rotating said last dome clear of said second offset profile surface. ### Claim 93 (depends on 90) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 90 and further comprising the step of disengaging said metal dome rotation mechanism. ### Claim 94 (depends on 93) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 93 wherein said step of disengaging said metal dome rotation mechanism comprises the steps of: reversely moving said ring link attached to said trigger; reversely moving said ring responsive to said ring link; and reversely moving said rotation plate attached to said inside of said ring. ### Claim 95 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 and further comprising the steps of: manually moving said cartridge and said plurality of arranged metal domes above another metal dome placement position; engaging a trigger; unidirectionally dispensing a last metal dome; and releasing said trigger. ### Claim 96 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 and further comprising the step of attaching an automated dispenser element to said dispenser end of said cartridge. ### Claim 97 (depends on 96) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 96 and further comprising the step of placing said automated dispenser element into an automated housing of a robot arm. ### Claim 98 (depends on 96) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 96 wherein said step of locating said dispenser end of said cartridge and said plurality of arranged metal domes above at least one metal dome placement position comprises the step of automatically moving said automated dispenser element above said at least on metal dome placement position. ### Claim 99 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 wherein said step of unidirectionally dispensing said separated metal dome comprises the step of automatically unidirectionally dispensing said separated metal dome. ### Claim 100 (depends on 99) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 99 wherein said step of automatically unidirectionally dispensing said separated metal dome comprises the step of automatically engaging said one metal dome with a metal dome rotation mechanism. ### Claim 101 (depends on 100) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 100 wherein said step of automatically engaging said one metal dome with a metal dome rotation mechanism comprises the steps of: automatically moving a ring; automatically moving a rotation plate attached to an inside of said ring; and rotating a last metal dome with said rotation plate. ### Claim 102 (depends on 96) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 96 and further comprising the steps of: providing matched offset dome profile surfaces in said dispenser element; moving a last metal dome into a first profile surface; holding said last metal dome in said dispenser element with a second offset profile surface; and rotating said last dome clear of said second offset profile surface. ### Claim 103 (depends on 101) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 101 and further comprising the step of guiding said last metal dome as it drops onto said metal dome placement position. ### Claim 104 (depends on 100) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 100 and further comprising the step of automatically disengaging said metal dome rotation mechanism. ### Claim 105 (depends on 104) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 104 wherein said step of automatically disengaging said metal dome rotation mechanism comprises the steps of: reversely moving a ring; and reversely moving a rotation plate attached to an inside of said ring. ### Claim 106 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 wherein said step of unidirectionally dispensing said separated metal dome from said dispenser end of said cartridge onto said at least one metal dome placement position comprises the step of moving said one metal dome through an axially symmetric opening. ### Claim 107 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 wherein said step of providing said cartridge having at least one dispenser end comprises the step of providing a slotted cartridge. ### Claim 108 (depends on 107) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 107 wherein said step of providing said cartridge comprises the step of provide a c-shaped cartridge. ### Claim 109 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 and further comprising the step of visually indicating an amount of metal domes in said cartridge. ### Claim 110 (depends on 77) The method for distributing metal domes according to claim 77 and further comprising the step of further comprising the step of guiding said one metal dome when releasing onto said at least one metal dome placement position. ### Claim at position 37 111-172. (canceled) ### Claim 173 A metal dome distribution apparatus comprising: a cartridge having at least one dispenser end; a plurality of arranged metal domes in said cartridge; a metal dome separator; and a metal dome dispenser removably attached to said dispenser end of said cartridge capable of unidirectional dispensing of each of said arranged metal domes from said cartridge onto a metal dome placement position. ### Claim at position 39 174-209. (canceled)