Machine for assembling components

The combination with a component lead inserting machine having an inserter movable on a fixed operating axis, of automatic means for successively positioning lead receiving holes of at least one board predeterminedly in a plane and in exactly corresponding relation to said axis, said means comprising a board holding member constrained for X-Y movement in a plane normal to said axis and for selected angular rotation in either direction about a Z-axis parallel to said operating axis, said lead hole-positioning means including data-controlled power mechanism for selectively determining successive X-Y positions of the board holding member relative to the operating axis, and orienting mechanism responsive to operation of the data-controlled mechanism for automatically camming the member and the holes of the at least one board thereon to a predetermined angle about said Z-axis whereby component insertions may be differently oriented on each cammed circuit board or in successive cammed boards without removing either of two adjacent boards from said member.

A machine for inserting coaxial leads of components into a predetermined pattern of spaced lead receiving holes preformed in circuit boards, said machine comprising a cyclical lead forming and inserting means operable along a first axis, a lead clinching means aligned with said axis for cutting and clinching end portions of the leads when projecting through said holes, a carriage mounted for X-Y movement in a plane normal to said first operating axis and between the inserting means and said clinching means, computer controlled means for positioning the carriage predeterminedly in said plane between operating cycles of the inserting means, a rotary board holding means mounted on the carriage for clockwise and counter-clockwise movement about a second axis parallel to said first operating axis, and mechanism responsive to X-Y programming of the computer controlled means for effecting rotation of the board holding means a predetermined angle about a third axis parallel to said first and second axes angularly to align the next lead receiving holes with respect to said first operating axis.

In a machine for assembling components having leads to a printed circuit board, mechanism operable along an axis for inserting the leads of successive components in predetermined holes in the board, at least one cross slide-mounted disc rotatable in a plane substantially normal to said operating axis and angularly about an axis parallel to the operating axis, means on the disc for releasably holding the board, means for cooperating with the disc to permit its rotation in either of two directions and for releasably holding it in selected angular position, and computer controlled means operative between cycles of said mechanism for determining for successive components to be inserted (a) X-Y registration of the disc with the operating axis;

• (b) a selected angular rotation of the disc and hence of the board about that axis, and (c) actuation of a cycle of the inserting mechanism, the computer controlled means comprising, to effect the function specified in (b), a pivot means for the disc disposed between its periphery and the board holding means, and a member cooperative with the pivot means when the latter is located on a predetermined X or Y ordinate a fixed distance from said operating axis.