Machine insertion of circuit module terminals

A process for the automatic insertion of terminals into a substrate having a means for receiving terminals, comprising the steps of:

• (a) supplying terminal carrier means with terminals to a means for inserting said terminals, said terminal inserting means including means for separating terminals from said terminal carrier means;
• (b) periodically orienting and supplying each of a plurality of substrates to the means for inserting terminals;
• (c) moving said separating means in a direction perpendicular to the direction of supply of said terminal carrier means whereby said separating means separates a predetermined plurality of terminals from said terminal carrier means and disposes said separated terminals into said means for inserting terminals for transmittal to said substrate terminal receiving means;
• and
• (d) introducing a compressed medium into said terminal inserting means to propel the separated end of the terminals along a direction perpendicular to the direction of supply of said terminal carrier means whereby said separated terminals are propelled into said substrate terminal receiving means, to effect insertion therein.

A terminal insertion apparatus for the automatic insertion of terminals into a substrate having terminal receiving means, which comprises:

• (a) guideway means for receiving and conveying a plurality of substrates to the substrate side of said terminal insertion apparatus;
• (b) means for supplying a continuous terminal carrier with terminals disposed thereon to the terminal side of said terminal insertion apparatus;
• (c) means for periodically advancing said terminal carrier toward the terminal side of said terminal insertion apparatus;
• (d) means for periodically advancing said substrates from said guideway means into alignment with a plurality of transmittal barrels located traversely between said substrate side and said terminal side in said terminal insertion apparatus, said means for advancing substrates operatively connected to said means for advancing said terminal carrier to coordinate movement therebetween;
• (e) means for periodically securing said terminal carrier with terminals disposed thereon in preparation for separation of a predetermined number of terminals therefrom;
• (f) means for periodically separating said predetermined number of terminals from said secured terminal carrier to dispose said separated terminals upon a plurality of longitudinal transmittal slots disposed on said terminal side of said transmittal barrels on said terminal insertion apparatus, with said separated end of said separated terminals positioned towards said aligned substrate, said means for separating said terminals moves perpendicularly relative to the movement of the terminal carrier to periodically separate said terminals;
• (g) means to cover said disposed terminals in said transmittal slots, operative with said separation means;
• (h) means to align said covered transmittal slots with the plurality of transmission barrels in said terminal insertion apparatus;
• (i) means for periodically supplying a compressed medium to said covered transmittal slots, whereby the separated terminals are forceably propelled by the compressed medium through the transmittal barrels to insert and anchor the separated end of the terminal into the aligned terminal receiving means of the substrate;
• and
• (j) means for removal of said substrate with terminals inserted from said terminal insertion apparatus.

A process for the pneumatic insertion of a plurality of terminals into a plurality of terminal receiving means within an aligned substrate, comprising:

• (a) progressively advancing a terminal carrier means having regularly spaced terminals projecting from an edge thereof;
• (b) progressively separating a predetermined quantity of the terminals from the terminal carrier means;
• (c) positioning each separated terminal within a relatively fluid tight passageway, with the separated end of each separated terminal positioned towards the aligned substrate;
• and
• (d) pneumatically propelling each said separated terminal through each said passageway at high linear speed sufficient to penetrate and anchor the separated end of each separated terminal within one of said terminal receiving means of said aligned substrate.