Machine tool for assembling and installing very small and lightweight parts

Abstract

A machine-tool module for inserting and staking very small and lightweight contacts in a support member such as an electrical switch finger is disclosed and claimed. The device comprises a rotatable escapement element having a transporter adapted to receive a contact at an escapement receiving position from a first guide. The escapement element bearing the contact then rotates between the receiving position and an escapement delivery position to deliver the contact to a second guide. An impeller system urges the contact along the second guide to the contact installation point. A fluid pressure differential across the contact when the contact is in the guide impels the contact to move along the guide.

1 . A device for inserting and staking a rivet-like contact into a support piece, comprising, in combination, a first guide for carrying contacts in single file fashion to an escapement receiving position,
 a rotatable escapement mechanism adapted to receive a contact from the first guide at the escapement receiving position, to rotate between the receiving position and an escapement delivery position, and to deliver the contact at the delivery position to a second guide, and   a second guide for carrying a contact from the escapement delivery position to a contact installation point.   
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1  further including an impeller system for urging the contact along the second guide from the escapement delivery position to the contact installation point. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 2  further including a staking mechanism for securing the contact into a support piece. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said first guide comprises a track having a cross-sectional shape adapted to carry the contacts in a head-down, shank-up configuration. 
   
   
       5 . A mechanism according to  claim 3  wherein the staking mechanism includes an anvil member and a ram member each located at the installation point,
 the anvil being positioned to engage and support a contact head at a relatively lower location, and   the ram being positioned to engage a free end of a contact shank at a relatively upper location and to deform that shank free end into an enlarged head so as to secure the rivet-like contact in the support piece.   
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said escapement mechanism has an escapement element mounted for reciprocal rotary motion between the escapement receiving position and the escapement delivery position. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 6  wherein said escapement element includes a transporter arranged to receive, engage and transport a contact from the escapement receiving position to the escapement delivery position. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 6  further including an escapement drive slide and a connecting rod pivotally mounted to the escapement element and the escapement drive slide. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 8  wherein said mechanism includes a ram cam mounted for reciprocal motion, and wherein said escapement drive slide has a beveled cam surface adapted and positioned for at least intermittent engagement by the ram cam. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 8  further including a biased element for urging the drive slide through at least part of its reciprocal motion. 
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 7  wherein said impeller system includes a number of fluid passages which are positioned so as to be in registry with one another to provide fluid communication between a fluid source and said escapement element transporter when the escapement element is in its escapement delivery position,
 the fluid passages being out of registry with one another so as to obstruct fluid communication between the fluid source and said escapement element transporter when the escapement element is not in its escapement delivery position.   
   
   
       12 . A device for inserting and staking a rivet-like contact into a support piece at an insertion point, comprising, in combination,
 a rotatable escapement element having a transporter adapted to receive a contact at an escapement receiving position, the escapement element being adapted to rotate between the receiving position and an escapement delivery position, and to deliver the contact at the escapement delivery position to a second guide,   a guide for carrying a contact from the escapement delivery position to a contact installation point,   and an impeller system for urging the contact along the guide from the escapement delivery position to the contact installation point,   the impeller system including at least first and second fluid passages, the first and second fluid passages being in fluid communication with one another and with the escapement element transporter when the escapement element is in its escapement delivery position so as to deliver a contact from the escapement element transporter to the insertion position.   
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12  further including a staking mechanism having an anvil member and a ram member each located at the contact installation point,
 the anvil member being positioned to engage and support a contact head at a relatively lower location, and   the ram being positioned to engage a free end of a contact shank at a relatively upper location and to deform that shank free end into an enlarged head so as to secure the rivet-like contact in the support piece.   
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 13  further including an escapement drive slide and a connecting rod pivotally mounted to the escapement element and the escapement drive slide for driving the escapement element in an at least partially oscillatory motion. 
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 14  wherein said mechanism includes a ram cam mounted for reciprocal motion, and wherein said ram cam has a beveled cam surface adapted and positioned for at least intermittent engagement by the drive slide. 
   
   
       16 . A device according to  claim 15  wherein said mechanism includes a ram cam mounted for reciprocal motion, and wherein said escapement drive slide has a beveled cam surface adapted and positioned for at least intermittent engagement by the ram cam. 
   
   
       17 . A device according to  claim 16  further including a biasing element for urging the drive slide through at least part of its reciprocal motion. 
   
   
       18 . A method for inserting and staking a rivet-like contact into a support piece, comprising the steps of:
 providing a single contact to an escapement mechanism at an escapement receiving position,   rotating the escapement element and the provided contact from the escapement receiving position to an escapement delivery position,   delivering the contact from the escapement mechanism to a guide,   impelling the contact along the guide to a contact installation point, and staking the contact in a support piece.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18  including the step of causing a fluid pressure differential across the contact when the contact is in the guide so as to impel the contact to move along the guide to the contact installation point. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18  further including the step of causing a staking ram member to move in oscillatory manner in synchronization with oscillatory rotational movement of the escapement member.