Vacuum suction pick-up device mountable to electrical connector

Details Vacuum suction pick-up device mountable to electrical connector Vacuum suction pick-up device mountable to electrical connector

1999-06-14

2001-01-02

Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With contact preventer or retractable cover part

C439S940000

Utility Patent

active

06168444

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a pick-up device for mounting to an electrical connector to facilitate pneumatic handling of the connector.
2. The Prior Art
Using vacuum suction to support and transfer an electrical connector is well known in the electronics field. A vacuum suction device for picking up and handling the electrical connector usually comprises a suction cup in physical contact with the electrical connector to apply a suction force thereto. The physical contact between the suction cup and the electrical connector requires a substantial flat surface on the electrical connector. Since most connectors do not have a flat surface, a pick-up member is releasably mounted to the connector to provide the flat surface.
Several types of pick-up members are currently available. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,396,245, 5,688,133 and 5,249,977 and are respectively shown in FIGS.
1
-
3
of the attached drawings.
FIG. 1
shows a conventional pick-up member
55
comprising a central projection
551
which is inserted into an electrical connector
5
and pinched by resilient contact elements
51
,
52
located on two opposite sides thereof thereby securing the pick-up member
55
to the connector
5
.
FIG. 2
shows another conventional pick-up member
61
comprising two opposite pairs of resilient legs
62
,
63
simultaneously engaging inside and outside faces of two opposite side walls of a connector
6
, respectively, thereby securing the pick-up member
61
to the connector
6
.
FIG. 3
shows a further conventional pick-up member
71
comprising two legs
72
engaging with two opposite faces of an internal wall
70
of an electrical connector
7
thereby securing the pick-up member
71
to the connector
7
.
There are, however, other ways to secure a pick-up member to an electrical connector and the present invention is aimed to provide a different type of pick-up member for facilitating pneumatic handling of an electrical connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a pick-up device releasably mountable to an electrical connector for facilitating pneumatic handling of the connector.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pick-up device comprising positioning arms for properly positioning the pick-up device on an electrical connector and more securely retaining the pick-up device on the connector.
To achieve the above objects, a pick-up device in accordance with the present invention is mountable to an electrical connector forming a receiving slot defined by two side walls and a bottom wall connecting therebetween for facilitating pneumatic handling of the connector. The pick-up device comprises a base plate having a substantially flat top face engageable by a suction cup and a bottom face positioned on top edges of the side walls of the connector. A post extends from the bottom face of the base plate and is inserted into the receiving slot with a free end thereof received in and interferentially engaging with a bore defined in the bottom wall of the connector thereby securing the pick-up device to the connector. The pick-up device may further include two resilient arms extending from the bottom face of the base plate on opposite sides of the post. Each resilient arm has a J-shaped free end engaging with a corresponding hole defined in the bottom wall of the connector. Each J-shaped free end has an inclined section for guiding the free end into the corresponding hole. The bottom face of the base plate forms contacting means engaging with inside faces of the side walls for firmly supporting the pick-up device on the connector.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5681174 (1997-10-01), Correll, Jr. et al.
patent: 6019617 (2000-02-01), Liu et al.

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