Apparatus and method for feeding card edge connectors and connector magazines

An electrical connector magazine feeder for feeding magazines have electrical connectors therein, the feeder comprising:

• worm gear means comprising at least two worm gears for holding and moving connector magazines therebetween, each worm gear comprising a center shaft and at least one helical flight extending therefrom;
• means for holding a connector magazine received from said worm gear means for dispensing of individual connectors, said holding means comprising a gate means have a plate positioned under said flights of each of said worm flights and being mounted for lateral movement relative to a central feeding axis formed between said worm gears, each of said plates comprising a center aperture for passage of a portion of one of said center shafts therethrough and for operably receiving a keying portion from one of said worm gears, said keying portions and said center apertures cooperating to move said plates as said worm gears are rotated, said gate means having a first position for holding a connector magazine and a second position for allowing an empty connector magazine to be ejected from said holding means;
• and
• means for operably moving said at least two worm gears and said gate means such that said worm gears can support connector magazines individually and can controllably advance connector magazines towards said holding means, and said gate means can be moved from said first position to said second position and back to said first position to allow an empty connector magazine to be ejected from said holding means for replacement with a new connector magazine from said worm gear means.