Method and apparatus for straightening an array of terminal pins

An apparatus for straightening a coordinate array of pins projecting from an article;

• a plurality of parallel slides, each of said slides having a row of holes for receiving a row of pins;
• first means for driving said slides to initially move alternate slides in opposite directions to initially bend alternate rows of pins in opposite directions;
• and
• second means for driving said slides to move alternate slides in directions opposite to said initial movement to bend alternate rows of pins in directions opposite to said initial bends.

An apparatus for bending a coordinate array of pins, which comprises:

• a first set of parallel slide members, each of said slide members having a row of holes for receiving a row of pins;
• a second set of parallel slide members interleaved with the first set of slide members, each of said second set of slide members having a row of holes for receiving a row of pins;
• means for reciprocating said first set of slide members;
• and
• means for simultaneously reciprocating said second set of members in opposite directions with respect to said first set of reciprocating slide members.

A pin straightening apparatus, which comprises:

• means for supporting a device with an array of pins projecting in common directions;
• first means having a plurality of holes for receiving one half of the pins;
• second means having a plurality of holes for receiving the remaining one half of the pins;
• and
• means for imparting relative motion between said first and second pin receiving means to bend one half of the pins in a first direction while simultaneously bending the remaining half of the pins in an opposite direction.

An apparatus for straightening a coordinate array of pins extending from an article, which comprises:

• a first set of parallel slides having first holes extending from a top surface thereof, said first holes being formed in a coordinate array of columns and rows for receiving a portion of the pins extending from the article;
• a second set of parallel slides interleaved with the first set of slides and having second holes extending from a top surface thereof, said second holes being formed in a coordinate array of columns and rows with the rows of second holes being aligned with the rows of first holes for receiving the remaining pins extending from the article;
• and
• means for imparting reciprocating motions to said slides to move the first and second slides in opposite directions to initially flex the pins beyond their elastic limits, and then flex pins in opposite directions beyond their elastic limits.