METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACCURATE POSITIONING OF A SOLID COMPONENT FOR A ROBOTIC PICKUP

摘要

Electrical connectors (12) having terminal pins (20) are transported along a guide track (24) with linear arrays of the pins (20) depending from each connector (12) received in slots (26, 28) formed in the track. Conveyance of each connector (12) is completed when a leading projection (20a) contacts an accurately positioned stop wall (48). An alignment bar (50) presses the pins (20) against a track wall (58) of the slot (26). The pins (20) are thus accurately positioned relative to the robotic pickup arm (52) for transfer of the connector to a mounting station (22) with the pins aligned with receiving holes (23a) in a printed circuit board (23).