Automatic apparatus for downsetting lead frame strips
OwnerCarl E. Bernardiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic apparatus for downsetting lead frame strips includes a die set mounted in a punch press, two parallel guide rails for guiding the lead frame strips into the die set, a placing mechanism for placing lead frame strips onto the guide rails one at a time, a slide mechanism for advancing a lead frame strip along the guide rails and into the die set and for unloading a downset lead frame strip from the die set, a retractable stop and a slot in the die set for positioning the lead frame strip within the die set, and a stacker mechanism for neatly stacking downset lead frame strips on an output stack as they are unloaded from the die set.
Claims37
An automatic apparatus for loading objects into a die set prior to a forming operation and for unloading said objects from said die set subsequent to said forming operation, where said forming operation includes sequential steps of closing and opening said die set by a punch press and said die set includes a fixed die portion and a moveable punch portion, said apparatus comprising:
- a support base to support said die set and said punch press;
- guide rails means attached directly to said fixed portion for guiding said objects into said die set;
- placing means attached directly to said moveable punch portion for placing one of said objects onto said guide rail means;
- advancing means for transferring said one of said objects along said guide rail means into said die set;
- positioning means for positioning said one of said objects within said die set;
- and
- unloading means coupled to said advancing means for transferring said one of said objects out of said die set.
A method for automatically downsetting lead frame strips in a die set having a stationary die and a moveble punch, said method comprising the steps of:
- manually placing an input stack of lead frame strips to be downset into an input stack positioning mechanism;
- spreading the guide rails apart as the die set is closed;
- lowering a vacuum platen through the spread-apart guide rails and onto the top of the input stack as said die set is closed;
- grasping the uppermost lead frame strip by vacuum force applied through said vacuum platen;
- raising said vacuum platen and said lead frame strip as said die set is opened;
- stripping said lead frame strip from said vacuum platen by rakes affixed to said guide rails and closing said guide rails as the die set is opened;
- advancing said lead frame strip along said guide rails and into said die set until the forward edge of said lead frame strip contacts a stop within said die set;
- downsetting the die pads of said lead frame strip by closing and then opening said die set;
- unloading said lead frame strip from said die set in the same direction as said step of advancing said lead frame strip into said die set;
- and
- stacking said lead frame strip onto an output stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.