Feeding system for electro-chemically polishing contact tips
AssigneesMicro Contacts Inc., A Point Technology Co., Ltd.
InventorPhilip G. Uruburu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electro-chemical polishing of fine wire contacts is facilitated by welding the wire contacts to a mounting element on a continuous, flexible, metal strip. The assembled contact strip is wound on a spool and transported to the electro-chemical polishing site where the contact strip is drawn into the polishing site at a constant rate under the control of a microprocessor. The progress of the assembled contact strip is monitored by metering rollers and pulse generators that inform the microprocessor of the drive speed of the assembled contact strip. The controller then provides signals to control the take-up and supply spools to ensure that a proper tip polishing operation is carried out.
Claims21
A system for providing thin wire contacts to an electro-chemical polishing operation, the system comprising:
- a flexible metal strip having a plurality of detachable metal mounting elements formed along a length of said strip;
- a plurality of thin wire contacts arranged in a plurality of groups, one or more of said groups being attached by welding to each of said plurality of metal mounting element formed along said flexible metal strip;
- a spool having wound thereon said flexible metal strip having said plurality of groups of thin wire contacts separably attached by welding to said plurality of metal mounting elements;
- and
- means for uniformly moving said flexible metal strip having said plurality of groups of thin wire contacts separably attached by welding to said plurality of metal mounting elements from said spool into and through an electro-chemical polishing operation site, whereat tips of said plurality of tin wire contacts are polished.
A system for providing thin wire contacts to an electro-chemical polishing site for tip polishing, the system comprising:
- a flexible metal strip having a plurality of detachable metal mounting elements formed at regular intervals along a length of said strip;
- a plurality of thin spring wires arranged in a plurality of groups, at least one of said groups being attached by welding to each of said plurality of detachable metal mounting elements formed on said flexible metal strip;
- a supply spool having wound thereon said flexible metal strip having said plurality of groups of thin spring wires attached to said plurality of detachable metal mounting elements;
- means for uniformly moving said flexible metal strip having said plurality of groups of thin spring wires attached to said plurality of detachable metal mounting elements from said spool into and through an electro-chemical tip polishing operation site, whereat tips of said plurality of thin spring wires ate polished;
- and
- a take-up spool for taking up said flexible metal strip having said plurality of groups of thin spring wires attached to said plurality detachable metal mounting elements following the electro-chemical tip polishing operation.
A system for providing thin wire contacts to an electro-chemical polishing operation, the system comprising:
- a straight strip formed of flexible metal having a plurality of detachable metal mounting elements arranged at even intervals along a length thereof;
- a plurality of thin wire contacts arranged in a plurality of groups, one or more of said groups being attached by welding to each of said plurality of detachable metal mounting elements formed along said straight strip formed of flexible metal;
- input means for moving said straight strip formed of flexible metal having said plurality of groups of thin wire contacts attached by welding to said plurality of detachable metal mounting elements into an electro-chemical polishing operation, whereat tips of said plurality of thin wire contacts are polished;
- and
- output means for moving said straight strip formed of flexible metal having said plurality of groups of thin wire contacts attached to said detachable metal mounting elements out of the electro-chemical polishing operation site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.