Method and apparatus for inserting multi-leaded articles into a substrate

A method for automatically inserting a lead on an article into an aperture in a substrate comprising the steps of:

• selectively presenting one of a plurality of different articles, each having a lead thereon, to a rotatable member;
• removably engaging the presented article in the member;
• moving the member to position the article engaged thereby in registration with the substrate;
• simultaneously rotating the member during the movement thereof so that the lead on the article is positioned for insertion in a predetermined aperture in the substrate;
• and
• urging the article from the member and displacing the article towards the substrate to insert the lead into the predetermined aperture.

A method for inserting leads on an edge connector into apertures in a backplane comprising the steps of:

• engaging an edge connector in a rotatable member;
• moving the member to position the edge connector in registration with the backplane;
• simultaneously rotating the member during the movement thereof so that the leads on the edge connector engaged by the member are positioned for insertion into predetermined apertures in the backplane;
• and
• urging the edge connector from the member and towards the backplane to insert the leads of the edge connector into the predetermined apertures.

A method for inserting leads on an edge connector into apertures in a backplane comprising the steps of:

• loading a plurality of different types of edge connectors onto separate sides of a multi-sided carousel;
• indexing the carousel to present a selected one of the sides thereof to a rotatable nest;
• removably engaging in the nest one of the edge connectors stored on said selected side of the carousel;
• moving the nest to position the edge connector engaged thereby in registration below a ram and above a set of predetermined apertures in the backplane;
• simultaneously rotating the nest during the displacement thereof so that the leads on the edge connector are positioned for insertion in the predetermined apertures in the backplane;
• and
• displacing the ram towards the nest to urge the edge connector therefrom and towards the substrate to insert the leads of the edge connector into the predetermined apertures.

Apparatus for inserting a lead on an article into a corresponding aperture in a substrate comprising:

• a rotatable member adapted to engage at least one article therein;
• means for moving the member so that the article engaged thereby is positioned in registration with the substrate;
• means for simultaneously rotating the member during the movement thereof so that the lead on the article is positioned in alignment with a corresponding aperture in the substrate;
• and
• means for disengaging the article engaged by the member and for displacing the article towards the substrate so that the lead is inserted in the corresponding aperture.

An apparatus for inserting leads on an edge connector into predetermined apertures in a substrate comprising:

• a nest for removably engaging an edge connector therein;
• means for selectively presenting one of a plurality of different types of edge connectors for engagement in said nest;
• means for moving the nest to position the article engaged therein in registration with the substrate;
• means for simultaneously rotating the nest during the displacement thereof so that the leads on the edge connector are positioned for insertion into predetermined apertures in the substrate;
• and
• means for urging the edge connector from the nest and displacing the edge connector towards the backplane to insert the leads into the predetermined apertures.

An apparatus for inserting leads on an edge connector into predetermined apertures in a backplane comprising:

• a frame;
• a table slidably mounted to said frame, said table carrying the backplane thereon;
• a multi-sided carousel rotatably mounted to said frame for storing a plurality of different types of edge connectors on separate sides thereof;
• means for indexing the carousel on said frame to position a selected side thereof opposite said table;
• a ram slidably mounted to said frame above said table for reciprocal movement to and from said table along an axis normal to the path of table movement on said frame;
• a nest for removably engaging an edge connector on said selected side of said carousel;
• means for displacing said nest on said frame between said selected side of said carousel and a position interposed between said ram and said table;
• and
• means for simultaneously rotating the nest during the displacement thereof so the leads on the edge connector engaged in the nest are positioned for insertion into predetermined apertures in the backplane.