Automatic lead straightening of axial leaded components

Abstract

Axial leads extending from opposite ends of electronic components are straightened by two pairs of fingers having pads which press on the leads and are rotated in opposite directions while they are driven along the leads. The straightening fingers have pads on their ends which are made of a soft resilient material, such as nylon. The fingers each have a cam follower on their ends away from the pads which allows the fingers to be opened and closed by the longitudinal motion of a cam on the end of a rod that is slideably positioned in a rotating tube. One end of the tube is attached to a support member and the fingers are secured to the support member. The finger pads are preferably shaped so that they overbend the lead by a small amount, such as 5°.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
       1. A straightening mechanism for an elongated cylindrical element having an elongated axis comprising a pair of gripping means for engaging diametrically opposite sides of the periphery of said element and a cam follower coupled to .[.a second end of.]. each of said gripping means, an elongated hollow tube, a support member secured to a first end of said tube with each of said gripping means being pivotally mounted on said support member .[.intermediate said pad and said cam follower.]., an elongated rod slideably positioned inside of said tube so as to be capable of reciprocation back and forth along said elongated axis, coupling means constructed to limit the amount of said reciprocation of said rod and to couple together said rod and said tube so that they will rotate in unison, a cam secured to a first end of said rod which engages said cam .[.followers.]. .Iadd.follower .Iaddend.and which is shaped so that when said rod is positioned in a first position said gripping means are pivoted to an open position at which said gripping means are not in engagement with said element and when said rod is positioned in a second position said gripping means are pivoted to a closed position at which said gripping means are in engagement with said element, an operating member having first and second control surfaces secured to the second end of said rod which is remote from said cam, control means constructed to interact with said operating member for controlling the position of said rod and drive means for rotating said tube, said rod, said support member and said gripping means as a unit about said element while simultaneously drawing said unit along said cylindrical element while said gripping means engage said cylindrical element, wherein said drive means comprises a carriage that carries said .[.rod.]. .Iadd.tube .Iaddend.and a carriage reciprocation means for driving said carriage back and forth along said elongated axis in a reciprocating manner and said control means comprises a .[.stationary.]. frame member, an opening member secured to said frame member that engages said first control surface of said operating member to force said rod to said first position at a first time and a closing member secured to said frame member that engages said second control surface of said operating member to force said rod to said second position at a second time as said carriage and said rod reciprocate back and forth. 
     
     
       2. A straightening mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprises a pair of resilient pads that are positioned on diametrically opposite sides of said elongated element and said pads are constructed to overbend said elongated element approximately 5°. 
     
     
       3. A straightening mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame member is moveable to a limited extent along said elongated axis and comprises an additional cam follower and said drive means further comprises an additional cam which interacts with said additional cam follower to insure that said closing member retains said rod in said second position for a predetermined time while said unit is being rotated and drawn along said elongated element.