Automatic feeding and sorting equipment for electrical components
First Claim
1. A testing and sorting machine for processing electrical components responsive to electrical test results comprising:
- alignment and feeding means for moving a plurality of components into a test position;
a testing wheel for supporting the components during a test and sorting operation, said testing wheel being supported at its periphery by at least two fluid streams moving perpendicular to the wheel surface for supporting the wheel and for dampening rotary vibrations of said wheel;
a loading means including a clamping finger for securing each of said components to the edge of said testing wheel in a test position;
a stepper motor coupled to the testing wheel for moving the wheel by angular increments and for advancing the components through loading, test, and sorting positions;
a test circuit including input terminals for making contact with a component and for determining a value responsive to the test results;
a memory circuit connected to said test circuit for storing the results of a testing operation; and
, a sorting means responsive to the memory circuit for sorting the tested components into bins.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic testing machine which picks up electrical components such as transistors from a feed mechanism and feeds them to spaced clamped positions at the periphery of a test wheel. The test wheel is turned by a stepper motor and the electrical devices are tested at one or more positions by clamping their terminals between two jaws, which contain contact fingers connected to test circuits. After testing, the results are registered in an electronic memory circuit and made available for a sorting action. A series of chutes and bins is positioned around the test wheel and the tested devices are discharged into the bins according to the results of the tests. A fast stepping motor and a low inertia test wheel permit test proceedures of high speed.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A testing and sorting machine for processing electrical components responsive to electrical test results comprising:
- alignment and feeding means for moving a plurality of components into a test position;
a testing wheel for supporting the components during a test and sorting operation, said testing wheel being supported at its periphery by at least two fluid streams moving perpendicular to the wheel surface for supporting the wheel and for dampening rotary vibrations of said wheel;
a loading means including a clamping finger for securing each of said components to the edge of said testing wheel in a test position;
a stepper motor coupled to the testing wheel for moving the wheel by angular increments and for advancing the components through loading, test, and sorting positions;
a test circuit including input terminals for making contact with a component and for determining a value responsive to the test results;
a memory circuit connected to said test circuit for storing the results of a testing operation; and
, a sorting means responsive to the memory circuit for sorting the tested components into bins. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- alignment and feeding means for moving a plurality of components into a test position;
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5. A testing and sorting machine for processing electrical components responsive to electrical test results comprising:
- alignment and feeding means for moving a plurality of components into a test position;
a testing wheel for supporting the components during a test and sorting operation;
a loading means including a clamping finger for securing each of said components to the edge of said testing wheel in a test position;
said clamping finger being an integral part of a rotary clamp having a first stable position for clamping the component and a second stable position wherein the component is released;
a stepper motor coupled to the testing wheel for moving the wheel by angular increments and for advancing the components through loading, test, and sorting positions;
a test circuit including input terminals for making contact with a component and for determining a value responsive to the test results;
a memory circuit connected to said test circuit for storing the results of a testing operation; and
, a sorting means responsive to the memory circuit for sorting the tested components into bins. - View Dependent Claims (6)
- alignment and feeding means for moving a plurality of components into a test position;
Specification