Radial lead component insertion machine

The radial lead component insertion machine for selection of radial leaded components from storage and insertion of the leads of said components into predrilled holes in a printed circuit board, comprising:

• means for supporting and laterally positioning a printed circuit board, whereby the x-y positions of said printed circuit board are determined;
• a storage unit, holding a component strip, said component strip including a backing strip with the component leads transversely attached thereto with the component bodies extending away from said backing strip, said components being of one size and type and spaced uniformly along said backing strip, and perforations in said backing strip, one perforation located between each of said components, one end of said component strip being accessible at an interface;
• a shuttle, said shuttle, when directed, moving between said interface and a pick-up area adjacent said circuit board, said shuttle including a pulling finger for engaging one of said perforations in said component strip and pulling one of said components adjacent said interface into said shuttle, said pulling motion advancing the remainder of said component strip toward said interface, whereby said machine can be directed by said control means to repetitively select components adjacent said interface from said component strip and insert said components in said circuit board;
• first cutting means for severing said component strip at said interface whereby said component in said shuttle is separated from the remainder of said component strip in said storage unit, said first cutting means including a cutter on said shuttle and a cutter block for shearing against, mounted on said storage unit;
• an insertion head adjacent said pick-up area, said insertion head having a gripper for clasping the leads of said shuttle-head component and means for inserting said component into said predrilled holes in said circuit board, and for releasing said component from said gripper;
• said gripper including a plurality of individual jaws, one for each component lead, said plurality of jaws being unilaterally positioned, side by side, whereby the `footprint` of the gripper at said circuit board during component insertion is reduced;
• said means for insertion including a pusher rod for acting on the top of said component to drive said component leads into said circuit board holes;
• second cutting means mounted on said shuttle for severing the leads of said component in said shuttle whereby said component in said shuttle is separated from said backing strip, said second cutter means including ridges positioned to drive said component leads into said gripper jaws for clasping during the cutting stroke of said second cutting means;
• and control means to direct said means for positioning said circuit board, said shuttle, said cutting means, and said insertion head whereby said circuit board is positioned;
• said shuttle moves to said interface and draws in one of said components from storage, and advances said component strip, said first cutting means severs said one component from the remainder of said component strip, said shuttle moves with said selected component to said pick-up area;
• said insertion head grips said component by its leads and said second cutting means separates said component from said backing strip;
• said insertion head pushes said component leads into said predrilled holes in said circuit board and withdraws.