US3799216A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Straightening machine for elongated workpieces
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-09-06
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-09-06
Abstract
Abstract A machine for simultaneously straightening leads extending in opposite directions from the central portion of a member such as a diode including a base, a plurality of substantially parallel roll series mounted on said base for defining a space for receiving the leads for simultaneously rolling said leads therebetween, a conveyor in the form of a feed wheel for magnetically engaging the central portion of a member at a vibrating hopper and carrying the member to said space and for holding said member at said space for a period of time sufficient to effect the straightening of the leads and thereafter carrying the member to a station where it is removed from the feed wheel and deposited on a conveyor for carrying to a subsequent packaging station. The feed wheel can be driven by a Geneva gear mechanism in an intermittent stepwise manner, or, alternatively, the feed wheel can be driven by a gearing arrangement in a continuous manner which causes the workpiece to be carried from the hopper at a relatively high speed to the space between the rolls where it slows down for a very short period of time and thereafter is carried at a relatively high speed to the conveyor which carries it to the packaging section. Certain of the rolls of the straightening machine are mounted in a cantilevered manner so that the feed wheel passes between axially aligned cantilevered rolls. The straightening machine includes either a series of rolls or a cam arrangement which cooperates with the straightening rolls so as to guide the workpiece through the space in which the leads are straightened, with this series of rolls or the cam means operating in timed relationship to the movement of the feed wheel through suitable gearing. The workpiece can be tested while at the straightening space by passing an electric current through it to check its electrical characteristics. Ejection mechanism is provided for removing the workpiece from the feed wheel before it reaches the conveyor which carries it to the packaging station if the workpiece tests unsatisfactorily.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kopczynski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:37
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/02; H05K13/023; H05K13/024; H05K13/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A machine for simultaneously straightening the leads extending in opposite directions from the central portion of a workpiece comprising a base, a plurality of substantially parallel roll means mounted on said base for defining a space for receiving said leads for simultaneously rolling said leads therebetween, feed means for maintaining engagement with said workpiece while carrying said workpiece to and from said space, and first moving means for moving said roll means apart to permit insertion of said workpiece into said space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A machine for simultaneously straightening the leads extending in opposite directions from the central portion of a workpiece comprising a base, a plurality of substantially parallel roll means mounted on said base for defining a space for receiving said leads for simultaneously rolling said leads therebetween, feed means for maintaining engagement with said workpiece while carrying said workpiece to and from said space, and first moving means for moving said roll means apart to permit insertion of said workpiece into said space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1 including second moving means for moving said roll means apart to permit removal of said workpiece from said space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said roll means comprise first, second and third series of rolls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said feed means include engagement means for maintaining engagement with said central portion while said workpiece is in said space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first moving means comprise means for moving said third roll series away from said first and second roll series to permit said insertion of said workpiece into said space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second moving means comprise means for moving said second roll series away from said first roll series to permit said removal of said workpiece from said space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
A machine for simultaneously straightening the leads extending in opposite directions from the central portion of a workpiece comprising a base, a plurality of substantially parallel roll means mounted on said base for defining a space for receiving said leads for simultaneously rolling said leads therebetween, feed means for maintaining engagement with said workpiece while carrying said workpiece to and from said space, said feed means comprising conveyor means, said roll means comprising first and second roll means, said first roll means including first axially aligned portions defining a first gap therebetween and said second roll means including second axially aligned portions defining a second gap therebetween, and said conveyor means being mounted to pass through said first and second gaps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
121 words
A machine for simultaneously straightening the leads extending in opposite directions from the central portion of a workpiece comprising a base, a plurality of substantially parallel roll means mounted on said base for defining a space for receiving said leads for simultaneously rolling said leads therebetween, feed means for maintaining engagement with said workpiece while carrying said workpiece to and from said space, said feed means comprising conveyor means, said roll means comprising first and second roll means, said first roll means including first axially aligned portions defining a first gap therebetween and said second roll means including second axially aligned portions defining a second gap therebetween, and said conveyor means being mounted to pass through said first and second gaps.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine as set forth in claim 7 including means for mounting said first aligned portions of said first roll series in cantilevered relationship on said base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said conveyor means comprises a wheel, and wherein said engagement means comprise means on the periphery of said wheel for engaging said central portion of said workpiece.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine as set forth in claim 7 including means for causing said conveyor means to feed said workpieces into said space with an intermittent stepwise motion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine as set forth in claim 7 including second conveyor means, means positioning said second conveyor means proximate said conveyor means for receiving said workpiece therefrom, and means for advancing said second conveyor means in timed relationship to the depositing of said workpieces thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine as set forth in claim 11 including means for selectively removing certain of said workpieces from said conveyor means prior to the depositing thereon on said second conveyor means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein said feed means includes hopper means for containing a plurality of said workpieces, and means for mounting said hopper means proximAte said conveyor means to permit said conveyor means to remove individual workpieces from said hopper means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A machine as set forth in claim 13 wherein said engagement means comprise magnets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
123 words
A machine for simultaneously straightening the leads extending in opposite directions from the central portion of a workpiece comprising a base, a plurality of substantially parallel roll means mounted on said base for defining a space for receiving said leads for simultaneously rolling said leads therebetween, feed means for maintaining engagement with said workpiece while carrying said workpiece to and from said space, said feed means comprising conveyor means for picking up a workpiece at a first position remote from said space and carrying said workpiece to said space and thereafter carrying said workpiece to a second position remote from said space, and said feed means including a Geneva gear movement for causing said conveyor means to move with an intermittent stepwise movement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
A machine for simultaneously straightening the leads extending in opposite directions from the central portion of a workpiece comprising a base, a plurality of substantially parallel roll means mounted on said base for defining a space for receiving said leads for simultaneously rolling said leads therebetween, feed means for maintaining engagement with said workpiece while carrying said workpiece to and from said space, said feed means comprising conveyor means for picking up a workpiece at a first position remote from said space and carrying said workpiece to said space and thereafter carrying said workpiece to a second position remote from said space, and said feed means including a Geneva gear movement for causing said conveyor means to move with an intermittent stepwise movement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
151 words
A machine for simultaneously straightening the leads extending in opposite directions from the central portion of a workpiece comprising a base, a plurality of substantially parallel roll means mounted on said base for defining a space for receiving said leads for simultaneously rolling said leads therebetween, feed means for maintaining engagement with said workpiece while carrying said workpiece to and from said space, said feed means comprising conveyor means for picking up a workpiece at a first position remote from said space and carrying said workpiece to said space and thereafter carrying said workpiece to a second position remote from said space, and said feed means including a gear arrangement for causing said conveyor means to move with a substantially continuous movement with a relatively slow speed as said workpiece is positioned in said space and with a relatively high speed as said workpiece is carried to and from said space.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
151 words
A machine for simultaneously straightening the leads extending in opposite directions from the central portion of a workpiece comprising a base, a plurality of substantially parallel roll means mounted on said base for defining a space for receiving said leads for simultaneously rolling said leads therebetween, feed means for maintaining engagement with said workpiece while carrying said workpiece to and from said space, said feed means comprising conveyor means for picking up a workpiece at a first position remote from said space and carrying said workpiece to said space and thereafter carrying said workpiece to a second position remote from said space, and said feed means including a gear arrangement for causing said conveyor means to move with a substantially continuous movement with a relatively slow speed as said workpiece is positioned in said space and with a relatively high speed as said workpiece is carried to and from said space.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein said conveyor means comprises a feed wheel including a plurality of workpiece engaging portions circumferentially positioned in its periphery.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine as set forth in claim 17 wherein said roll means comprise first and second rolls, guide means, and means for causing said guide means to operate in timed relationship to the rotation of said feed wheel to guide said workpiece through said space.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein said guide means comprise cam means for selectively engaging said leads while said workpiece passes through said space.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
90 words
A machine for straightening a lead extending outwardly from a workpiece comprising a base, first and second roll means mounted on said base, said roll means having substantially parallel axes and outer cylindrical surfaces, a space for receiving said lead between said outer cylindrical surfaces to permit rolling of said lead while said lead is in said space, and feed means for maintaining engagement with said workpiece while carrying said workpiece to and from said space and while said lead is being rolled when it is positioned in said space.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
90 words
A machine for straightening a lead extending outwardly from a workpiece comprising a base, first and second roll means mounted on said base, said roll means having substantially parallel axes and outer cylindrical surfaces, a space for receiving said lead between said outer cylindrical surfaces to permit rolling of said lead while said lead is in said space, and feed means for maintaining engagement with said workpiece while carrying said workpiece to and from said space and while said lead is being rolled when it is positioned in said space.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |