Terminal frame used to manufacture electronic devices and manufacturing system of terminal frames
AssigneeMurata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
InventorsYasushi Inagaki, Daisaku Kugou, Kunikazu Nakahara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A terminal frame used to manufacture electronic devices, the terminal frame having a metal strip and a plurality of stick-like metal terminals. The metal terminals are joined to the metal strip by resistance welding. A manufacturing system of such terminal frames includes a device used for resistance welding, where the device has an electrode which holds each terminal at a portion near a joint portion, and a current is supplied to the terminal through the electrode.
Claims29
A terminal frame for electronic devices, the terminal frame comprising:
- a metal strip having at least one substantially planar portion, the planar portion having first and second spaced apart major surfaces and at least one side surface connecting the first and second major surfaces at respective edges;
- and
- a plurality of elongated metal terminals, each having first and second opposing ends, the first end of each terminal being resistance welded to the side surface of the planar portion of the metal strip.
A terminal frame manufacturing system provided with a device for joining a plurality of elongated metal terminals to a metal strip by resistance welding,
- the metal strip having at least one substantially planar portion, the planar portion having first and second spaced apart major surfaces and at least one side surface connecting the first and second major surfaces at respective edges,
- each elongated metal terminal having first and second opposing ends, the first end of each terminal to be resistance welded to the side surface of the planar portion of the metal strip,
- the manufacturing system comprising:
- an electrode for supplying a current to each of the metal terminals, the electrode holding a portion of the terminal near the first end thereof to be resistance-welded to the metal strip;
- and
- a power source connected in series with the electrode and the metal strip.
A terminal frame for electronic devices, the terminal frame comprising:
- a metal strip having at least one substantially planar portion, the planar portion having first and second spaced apart surfaces and at least one side surface connecting the first and second surfaces at respective edges, the first, second and side surfaces each having respective first, second and side surface areas, the side surface area being smaller than either of the first and second surface areas;
- and
- a plurality of elongated metal terminals, each having first and second opposing ends, the first end being resistance welded to the side surface of the planar portion of the metal strip.
An apparatus for joining a plurality of elongated metal terminals to a metal strip by resistance welding,
- the metal strip having at least one substantially planar portion, the planar portion having first and second spaced apart major surfaces and at least one side surface connecting the first and second major surfaces at respective edges,
- each elongated metal terminal having first and second opposing ends, the first end of each terminal to be resistance welded to the side surface of the planar portion of the metal strip,
- the manufacturing system comprising:
- an electrode adapted to couple to a portion of at least one of the metal terminals proximate to the first end thereof;
- and
- a power source adapted to couple in series with the electrode and the metal strip such that a current is provided through the terminal and the metal strip for resistance welding the first end of the terminal to the side surface of the metal strip.
A method of joining a plurality of elongated metal terminals to a metal strip,
- the metal strip having at least one substantially planar portion, the planar portion having first and second spaced apart major surfaces and at least one side surface connecting the first and second major surfaces at respective edges,
- each elongated metal terminal having first and second opposing ends,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- holding the first end of the terminal against the side surface of the planar portion of the metal strip;
- and
- resistance welding the first end of each terminal to the side surface of the planar portion of the metal strip.
A terminal frame for electronic devices, the terminal frame comprising:
- a metal strip having at least one substantially planar portion, the planar portion having first and second spaced apart surfaces and at least one side surface connecting the first and second surfaces at respective edges, the side surface defining at least one first distance between the first and second surfaces;
- and
- a plurality of elongated metal terminals, each having first and second opposing ends, the first end of each terminal having at least one second distance spanning the first end, the first end being resistance welded to the side surface of the planar portion of the metal strip,
- the second distance of the metal terminals being greater than the first distance of the metal strip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.