Semiautomatic machine for swaging connector pins

Abstract

A machine that is used to automate the assembly of a circuit board assembly is provided. The machine includes a rotating indexer, at least one anvil holder, a punch, and an activation switch. The at least one anvil holder is carried by the rotating indexer and is configured to receive a connector pin. The anvil holder is rotatable relative to the punch, such that the at least one anvil holder may be aligned with the punch. A circuit board may be located about the connector pin, after which the activation switch may be activated to cause movement of the punch towards the anvil holder. When this occurs, the connector pin is compressed, which causes the connector pin to be secured to the circuit board. More specifically, a top section of the connector pin is compressed to form a top lip, where the circuit board is located between the top lip and a shoulder of the connector pin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine for automated assembly of a workpiece and at least one connector pin comprising:
 an indexer;   at least one anvil holder positioned by the indexer, wherein the at least one anvil holder is configured to receive a connector pin when the at least one anvil holder is at a first position; and   a punch,
 wherein the punch is configured to move along an axis; and 
 wherein the punch is configured to press against the at least one anvil holder to secure the connector pin to the workpiece when the at least one anvil holder is at a second position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuation switch;
 wherein the actuation switch is configured to move the punch along the axis towards the indexer when actuated.   
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a feeding bowl for containing connector pins; and   a track extending from the feeding bowl to the indexer;   wherein the track is configured to accept the connector pins from the feeding bowl and deposits the connector pin into the at least one anvil holder at the first position, and   wherein the connector pins comprise the connector pin.   
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first vibrator attached to the feeding bowl to encourage movement of the connector pins towards the track; and   a second vibrator attached to the track to encourage movement of the connector pins along the track toward the indexer.   
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first control input associated with the first vibrator attached the feeding bowl configured to increase or decrease a first amount of vibration of the feeding bowl; and   a second control input associated with the second vibrator attached to the track configured to increase or decrease a second amount of vibration of the track.   
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 3 , wherein the track is adjustable to accept connector pins of different dimensions. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the track is adjustable in at least one of a first direction based on a height of the connector pins, a second direction based on a diameter of the connector pins, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 3 , further comprising an adapter attached to the track, wherein the adapter is configured to enable the track to accept connector pins of different dimensions. 
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein in the connector pin comprises:
 a top section;   a bottom section; and   a shoulder located between the top section and the bottom section;   wherein when the punch presses against the at least one anvil holder the top section of the connector pin is compressed to form a top lip and the workpiece is secured between the shoulder and the top lip of the connector pin.   
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 1 , the workpiece is a circuit board. 
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the punch is pneumatically powered. 
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 1 , comprising multiple anvil holders, wherein when a first of the multiple anvil holders is at the first position a second of the multiple anvil holders is at the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein the multiple anvil holders are equally spaced about the indexer. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the indexer is a rotary indexer. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 1 , comprising a pin insertion tool, wherein the pin insertion tool inserts the connector pin into the at least one anvil holder when the at least one anvil holder is at the first position. 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising means for delivering the connector pin to the at least one anvil holder. 
     
     
         17 . A method for using a machine for automated assembly of a workpiece assembly, the method comprising:
 feeding a connector pin into an anvil holder, wherein the anvil holder is position by an indexer at a first position;   moving, by the indexer, the anvil holder from the first position to a second position, wherein in the second position the connector pin is aligned with a punch which is offset from the indexer;   supplying at least a first workpiece between the punch and the connector pin; and   swaging the connector pin to at least the first workpiece by compressing the punch against the connector pin in the anvil holder at the second position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 feeding a second connector pin into a second anvil holder, wherein the second anvil holder is positioned by the indexer at the first position while the anvil holder is positioned by the indexer at the second position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising steps for supplying the connector pin to the anvil holder at the first position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 assembling a circuit board by connecting at least the first workpiece to another workpiece via the connector pin.