Method and apparatus for trimming the leads of electronic components

A system for trimming leads of electronic devices having a body portion and a plurality of leads extending from the body portion comprising a trackway operable for supporting said devices through a plurality of stations, including a loading station, a lead trimming station, and a discharge station, and a singulator system, lead trimmer means in said trimming station, said trimmer means including fixedly mounted and adjustable shear plates on opposite sides of said trackway and disposed outwardly of a said device on said trackway in said trimming station, cutting blades movably mounted below said shear plates, upwardly open slots in said cutting blades, a face of said slot constituting a cutting edge, said blades having an open abutting position with said slots disposed to receive leads of said device on said trackway extended therein, means to outwardly laterally move said blades to a closed position, engaging said extended leads between said cutting edges and said shear plates, and trimming selected end portions of said leads during said outward movement.

Apparatus for trimming leads of electronic devices having a body portion and a plurality of leads extending from the body portion, comprising a trackway operable for movably supporting said devices through a plurality of stations, including a lead trimming station, and a singulator system, lead end trimmer means in said trimming station, said trimmer means including adjustably mounted shear plates disposed on opposite sides of said trackway defining a channel therebetween, and disposed outwardly of a device positioned in said trimming station, cutting blades movably mounted in said trimming station, said blades having an initial position disposed inwardly between said leads, means operable for applying a restraining force on the body portion top and outer lead surfaces, means for moving said blades outwardly to engage said leads between said blades and said shear plates and thereby trim selected end portions of said leads during said outward blade cutting movement.

Apparatus for trimming leads of electronic devices having a body portion and a plurality of leads extending in rows from opposite sides of said body portion, comprising a lead trimming station, a trackway for movably positioning said devices into said lead trimming station, means for applying top and outer side restraining forces on said body and said leads respectively in said trimming station, shear plates adjustably mounted on opposite sides of said trackway and defining a device channel in said trimming station, cutting blades movably positioned in said trimming station, said blades being initially disposed in said trimming station inwardly between said oppositely disposed lead rows, means for outwardly moving said blades, with said restraining forces applied to a said device, to cuttingly engage said leads between said blades and said shear plate and thereby trim selected end portions of said leads during said said outward movement.