A row pin connector production and assembly device

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of electrical element processing, and discloses a pin connector production and assembly equipment, which comprises a glue shell and a straight pin terminal, a workbench, a blanking station and an assembly station on the workbench, a vertical feeding component on the blanking station, the vertical feeding component being used for feeding the straight pin terminal in an axial vertical posture, a pressing component on the assembly station, the pressing component being used for vertically pressing the straight pin terminal into a corresponding hole of the glue shell to complete assembly, the vertical feeding component comprising a blanking pipe arranged in a vertical direction, the inner diameter of the blanking pipe being matched with the straight pin terminal to constrain the straight pin terminal to keep an axial vertical posture during blanking, and realizing directional vertical feeding of the straight pin terminal, and the pipe wall is used for forming circumferential limiting of the slender straight pin terminal, effectively inhibiting shaking, dumping or rotation of the straight pin terminal during falling under gravity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of electrical component processing technology, and specifically relates to a pin header connector production and assembly equipment. Background Technology

[0002] A typical pin header connector consists of an insulating housing made of engineering plastic and straight metal terminals embedded in holes within the housing. In traditional manufacturing processes, the straight terminals need to be inserted into the housing using automated or semi-automated equipment to complete assembly. Based on the insertion direction of the straight terminals, existing technologies are mainly divided into two categories: horizontal insertion and vertical insertion. For example, a pin header connector assembly device (CN202020391450.9) uses a vertical insertion method for the automatic assembly of straight pin header connectors. While this solution improves assembly efficiency to some extent, the following prominent problems still exist in practical applications:

[0003] First, the technology for feeding vertically inserted straight-leg terminals is still immature, generally relying on manual intervention or semi-automatic feeding. Although some equipment has attempted to introduce vibratory feeders or simple material channels for conveying straight-leg terminals, the slender shape, high center of gravity, and tendency to tip over of straight-leg terminals make it difficult to achieve stable, continuous, and individually separated automatic feeding in a vertical position, especially for small-pitch straight-leg terminals.

[0004] Secondly, straight-leg terminals lack an effective positioning and guiding mechanism during insertion, making them highly susceptible to misalignment, tilting, or even bending. During vertical pressing, if the tip of the straight-leg terminal is not precisely aligned with the center of the housing hole, even a slight positional deviation will generate a lateral force at the moment of insertion, causing elastic or plastic deformation of the slender straight-leg terminal. Existing equipment often uses rigid push rods for direct pressing without buffering, floating, or self-centering structures, failing to compensate for hole position deviations caused by injection molding shrinkage, warping, or burrs, further exacerbating the insertion failure rate. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment to solve the problems existing in the background art.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution of the present invention is a pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment. The pin header connector includes a housing and straight-leg terminals. The equipment includes a worktable with a blanking station and an assembly station. A vertical feeding component is provided at the blanking station for feeding the straight-leg terminals in an axially vertical orientation. A pressing component is provided at the assembly station for pressing the straight-leg terminals vertically into corresponding holes in the housing to complete the assembly. The vertical feeding component includes a blanking tube arranged vertically, the inner diameter of which is adapted to the straight-leg terminals to constrain them to maintain an axially vertical orientation during blanking, thereby achieving directional vertical feeding of the straight-leg terminals.

[0007] Preferably, the bottom end of the feeding pipe is provided with an intermittent dropping pipe, the inner diameter of which is the same as that of the feeding pipe. The inlet and outlet ends of the intermittent dropping pipe are respectively provided with a first isolation element and a second isolation element. The first isolation element and the second isolation element are configured to open and close alternately: when the first isolation element is open and the second isolation element is closed, a single straight-leg terminal enters the intermittent dropping pipe from the feeding pipe; then the first isolation element closes and the second isolation element opens, causing the straight-leg terminal to fall out of the intermittent dropping pipe. The axial length of the intermittent dropping pipe is equal to the length of the straight-leg terminal, ensuring that only one straight-leg terminal is accommodated at a time, thereby realizing the single, intermittent vertical dropping of straight-leg terminals.

[0008] Furthermore, at least one end of the straight-leg terminal is provided with a pointed tip. When the straight-leg terminal has only one pointed tip, the pointed tip faces downward during the feeding process, so that the pressing component can guide the pointed tip of the straight-leg terminal into the corresponding hole of the housing, reducing insertion resistance and improving alignment accuracy. The upper surface of the first isolator is provided with an inclined guide slope. When the first isolator switches from the open state to the closed state, the guide slope contacts the pointed tip of the straight-leg terminal and lifts the straight-leg terminal axially during the closing process of the first isolator, so that the pointed tip is disengaged from the movement path of the first isolator, thereby avoiding interference between the pointed tip and the first isolator and ensuring reliable closure of the first isolator.

[0009] Furthermore, the intermittent feeding pipe has an upper opening and a lower opening at positions corresponding to the first and second isolators, respectively. The first isolator passes through the upper opening, closing the feeding end when entering the pipe and opening the feeding end when retracting out of the pipe. The second isolator passes through the lower opening, closing the discharge end when entering the pipe and opening the discharge end when retracting out of the pipe. Through the alternating movement of the first and second isolators at the upper and lower openings, the intermittent opening and closing control of the feeding and discharge ends of the intermittent feeding pipe is achieved.

[0010] Furthermore, in option one for selecting the first and second isolators: both the first and second isolators are arc-shaped baffles, coaxially mounted on a drive shaft located outside the intermittent feeding tube; the rotation of the drive shaft drives the first and second isolators to rotate synchronously; when the arc-shaped baffle rotates to enter the upper or lower opening and is embedded inside the intermittent feeding tube, the corresponding feed end or discharge end is closed; when the arc-shaped baffle rotates to exit the upper or lower opening and is completely outside the intermittent feeding tube, the corresponding feed end or discharge end is opened; the phase difference between the first and second isolators in the circumferential direction is set to 180° to achieve alternating opening and closing of the feed end and the discharge end.

[0011] Furthermore, in option two for selecting the first and second isolators: both the first and second isolators are push blocks, which are slidably arranged along the radial direction of the intermittent feeding tube; a control rod is rotatably mounted on the worktable, located outside the intermittent feeding tube, and the rotation of the control rod is located between the first and second isolators, with the two ends of the control rod respectively movably connected to the first and second isolators; through the reciprocating swing of the control rod within a preset angle range, the first and second isolators are driven to slide synchronously in opposite directions radially; when the first isolator slides into the upper opening and embeds itself inside the intermittent feeding tube, the feeding end is closed, and at the same time, the second isolator slides out of the lower opening and opens the discharge end; when the second isolator slides into the lower opening and embeds itself inside the intermittent feeding tube, the discharge end is closed, and at the same time, the first isolator slides out of the upper opening and opens the feeding end; thereby realizing the alternating opening and closing of the feeding end and the discharge end of the intermittent feeding tube, completing the intermittent vertical feeding of a single straight-leg terminal.

[0012] Preferably, the workbench is equipped with a pressing seat that can reciprocate between the unloading station and the assembly station. A carrier tube is positioned above the pressing seat, and a material placement cavity is located below it. The carrier tube extends vertically through the material placement cavity. The inner diameter of the carrier tube is the same as that of the unloading tube to ensure that the terminals maintain an axially vertical orientation during transfer. The material placement cavity is used to position and place the housing, ensuring that the terminal mounting hole of the housing is aligned with the lower outlet of the carrier tube. When the pressing seat moves to the unloading station, the upper end of the carrier tube connects with the lower end of the intermittent unloading tube, allowing a single straight-leg terminal to fall into the carrier tube via the intermittent unloading tube and be temporarily stored inside. Subsequently, the pressing seat moves to the assembly station, where the pressing component vertically presses the straight-leg terminal out of the carrier tube from above and simultaneously presses it into the corresponding hole of the housing, completing the assembly of the pin header connector.

[0013] Furthermore, the vertical feeding components are arranged in a linear array on the worktable, with each feeding pipe, intermittent feeding pipe and bearing pipe corresponding and coaxially aligned, for synchronously realizing the intermittent feeding of multiple straight-leg terminals.

[0014] Furthermore, a stop block is provided at the bottom end of the support tube, and the stop block is slidably disposed within the tube wall along the radial direction of the support tube; the stop block is used to extend from the inside of the support tube and abut against the bottom end of the straight-leg terminal during the movement of the pressing seat from the unloading station to the assembly station, to prevent the straight-leg terminal from falling off due to gravity or vibration during transportation; a control component is provided at the top of the support tube, and the control component is slidably disposed within the support tube along the axial direction of the support tube; the lower end face of the control component is flush with the stop block. A first inclined surface is formed between the upper surfaces to form a mating surface. The inclination direction of the first inclined surface is such that when the control component moves downward under external force, it can push the stop block to retract radially outward. When the pressing component moves downward and presses the control component, the control component moves downward axially. Through the wedge-shaped action of the first inclined surface, the stop block is driven to retract into the wall of the bearing tube, thereby releasing the restriction on the straight-leg terminal. Under the continued action of the pressing component, the straight-leg terminal is vertically pressed into the corresponding hole of the housing, completing the insertion operation.

[0015] Furthermore, the bearing tube includes a bottom component fixed to the pressing seat and an opening / closing component slidably disposed on the bottom component; a second inclined surface that cooperates with each other is provided between the upper end surface of the bottom component and the lower end surface of the opening / closing component; the stop block is installed on the bottom component, and the control component includes a driving component and a transmission component; the driving component is slidably disposed axially inside the bottom component, and the top of the driving component is used to receive the pressing of the pressing component; the transmission component is slidably disposed axially inside the opening / closing component, and the lower end surface of the opening / closing component is a first inclined surface; a third inclined surface that cooperates with each other is formed between the lower end surface of the driving component and the upper end surface of the transmission component, and the third inclined surface is parallel to the second inclined surface; in the initial state, the third inclined surface is located above the second inclined surface, the opening / closing component is in the closed position, and the end face of the opening / closing component and the bottom component together enclose... The components are combined to form a continuous tubular channel, which provides circumferential restraint on the bottom and sidewalls of the straight-leg terminal during the initial pressing phase, preventing the terminal from bending due to cantilever force. When the pressing component moves downward and presses the driving component, the driving component drives the transmission component to move downward synchronously. First, the first inclined surface pushes the stop block back, releasing the support on the bottom end of the straight-leg terminal. During this stage, the opening and closing component remains in contact with the bottom component, continuing to provide lateral restraint on the terminal to ensure its vertical entry into the housing hole. When the driving component continues to move downward until the third inclined surface contacts and aligns with the second inclined surface, the lower end face of the pressing component directly acts on the top surface of the opening and closing component. Subsequently, the pressing component continues to move downward, directly pushing the opening and closing component to slide upward axially, disengaging it from the bottom component, thereby opening the upper channel of the bearing tube and avoiding mechanical interference during the process of the terminal being fully pressed into the housing.

[0016] The main technical effects of this invention are reflected in the following aspects:

[0017] This invention designs the feeding pipe and the intermittent feeding pipe as vertical channels with the same inner diameter and aligned axially. The pipe walls provide circumferential restraint for the slender, straight-legged terminals, effectively suppressing their swaying, tipping, or rotation during gravity-induced descent. Simultaneously, the axial length of the intermittent feeding pipe is precisely set to equal the length of a single terminal, physically limiting it to accommodating only one terminal at a time. Combined with the alternating opening and closing control of the first and second isolation components, this fundamentally eliminates the phenomena of multiple terminals stacking, jamming, or leakage, achieving highly reliable intermittent single-terminal feeding.

[0018] To address the issue of rigid interference between terminals and isolation mechanisms, this invention cleverly utilizes a tapered tip at one end of the terminal as a functional geometric feature. During feeding, the tip is forced downwards, and an upward-facing guide ramp is provided on the upper surface of the first isolation member. When the isolation member closes, the ramp contacts the tip and slightly lifts it, causing the tip to disengage from the movement path, thus preventing jamming or damage. This design requires no additional sensors or drive units; automatic avoidance can be achieved solely through mechanical geometry, significantly improving feeding continuity and equipment operational stability.

[0019] The bottom of the support tube is equipped with a radially sliding stop that extends to support the bottom of the terminal during the movement of the pressing seat, preventing it from falling due to vibration or acceleration. Simultaneously, the top control component is linked to the stop via a first inclined surface. When the pressing component presses the control component, the stop retracts under wedge action, immediately releasing the limit and allowing the terminal to be smoothly pressed out. This fully mechanical "lock-release" mechanism is responsive and reliable, resolving the conflicting needs of slender terminals under both dynamic transport and static pressing conditions. The support tube is further divided into a bottom component and an upper opening / closing component, which cooperate via a second inclined surface. Initially, the two components close to form a complete cavity, providing circumferential support to the terminal and preventing bending due to cantilever effect during the initial pressing phase. When the stop is released, the pressing component continues to descend and directly pushes the opening / closing component upward to open the channel, preventing friction or impact at the edge when the terminal is fully pressed in. This two-stage action is triggered by a single pressing stroke, achieving a "stabilize first, then release" intelligent response, significantly improving the insertion success rate of high aspect ratio terminals.

[0020] This invention supports both an arc-shaped baffle structure driven by an external drive shaft (suitable for single-row high-stability scenarios) and a compact solution using radial push blocks in conjunction with an external swing control lever. The latter, due to the minimal lateral space occupied by the moving parts, allows for multi-row compact arrays, meeting the synchronous feeding requirements of dual-row or multi-row high-density pin header connectors. Both modes can be flexibly selected according to product specifications, balancing equipment versatility and production line flexibility. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Structural diagram of the middle worktable and vertical feeding component;

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A structural diagram of the vertical feeding component using an arc-shaped baffle.

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 2 The vertical feeding component uses a pusher block structure diagram;

[0025] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Structural diagram of the central bearing tube;

[0026] Figure 6 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the bearing tube;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of a pin header connector;

[0028] In the diagram: 1. Workbench; 11. Unloading station; 12. Assembly station; 2. Vertical feeding component; 21. Unloading pipe; 22. Intermittent drop pipe; 23. Top opening; 24. Bottom opening; 25. First isolation component; 26. Second isolation component; 27. Guide slope; 281. Arc-shaped baffle; 282. Drive shaft; 283. Push block; 284. Control lever; 3. Pressing component; 31. Pressing seat; 32. Bearing pipe; 33. Material placement chamber; 34. Stop block; 35. Bottom component; 36. Opening and closing component; 37. Drive component; 38. Transmission component; 391. First inclined surface; 392. Second inclined surface; 393. Third inclined surface; 41. Housing; 42. Straight-leg terminal; 43. Tip. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to make the technical solution of the present invention easier to understand and master. In the embodiments, it should be understood that the terms "middle," "upper," "lower," "top," "right side," "left end," "above," "back," "center," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. In addition, unless otherwise specified in this specific embodiment, the connection or fixing method between components can be achieved by bolt fixing, pin fixing, or pin connection commonly used in the prior art, etc., and therefore will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0030] The pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment provided by this invention is mainly applied to the vertical automatic insertion process of straight-pin terminals 42 and housings 41, and is particularly suitable for the efficient and high-yield manufacturing of small-pitch, high-density pin header connectors. However, it should be understood that the application of this invention is not limited thereto; the technical solution of this invention can be applied to any automated assembly scenario of electronic connectors, pin devices, or other components requiring precise axial insertion that adopt the same or similar vertical feeding and pressing principle, and the corresponding technical effects can be obtained.

[0031] Furthermore, as is common knowledge in this field, the pin header connectors, vibratory feeder systems, carrier tape feeding mechanisms, servo-driven pressure devices, housing positioning fixtures, and timing coordination systems based on PLCs or motion controllers mentioned above are all standard components of automated connector assembly equipment. Their basic working principles, structural forms, and control logic are widely used and fully disclosed in the industry; therefore, this article will not elaborate on their specific construction and operating mechanisms.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] This embodiment discloses a pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment. (See also...) Figure 7 The pin header connector includes a housing 41 and straight-leg terminals 42, at least one end of the straight-leg terminals 42 being provided with a pointed tip 43; see also Figure 1 The system includes a workbench 1, which has a material unloading station 11 and an assembly station 12. The material unloading station 11 is equipped with a vertical feeding component 2, which is used to feed straight-leg terminals 42 in an axially vertical posture. The assembly station 12 is equipped with a pressing component 3, which is used to press the straight-leg terminals 42 vertically into the corresponding holes of the housing 41 to complete the assembly.

[0034] See Figure 2 The vertical feeding component 2 includes a vertically oriented feeding pipe 21. The inner diameter of the feeding pipe 21 is adapted to the straight-leg terminal 42 to constrain the straight-leg terminal 42 to maintain its axial vertical posture during feeding, thus achieving directional vertical feeding of the straight-leg terminal 42. The upper end of the feeding pipe 21 is connected to an automatic feeding system for continuously supplying the straight-leg terminal 42 into it. Specifically, the straight-leg terminal 42 is placed in a vibratory feeder hopper in bulk. The vibratory feeder, through electromagnetic vibration and track design, orients and arranges the terminals one by one, and transports them to the outlet along a spiral track. A guide chute is provided at the outlet, precisely connecting with the upper end of the feeding pipe 21. Under the assistance of gravity and micro-vibration, the terminals enter the feeding pipe 21 sequentially, maintaining their axial vertical posture. To prevent the terminals from stacking at the inlet, a photoelectric sensor and an air-blowing rejection device can be installed at the end of the chute to ensure that each terminal enters individually.

[0035] Preferred, see Figure 2To achieve intermittent feeding of single terminals, an intermittent drop pipe 22 is provided at the bottom end of the feeding pipe 21. The inner diameter of the intermittent drop pipe 22 is the same as that of the feeding pipe 21 to ensure smooth transition of the terminals. The inlet and outlet ends of the intermittent drop pipe 22 are respectively provided with a first isolation member 25 and a second isolation member 26; the two are opened and closed alternately: when the first isolation member 25 is open and the second isolation member 26 is closed, a single straight terminal 42 enters the intermittent drop pipe 22 from the feeding pipe 21; then the first isolation member 25 is closed and the second isolation member 26 is opened, so that the straight terminal 42 falls out of the intermittent drop pipe 22 and is released to the next station. Crucially, the axial length of the intermittent drop tube 22 is equal to the length of the straight-leg terminal 42, thus physically limiting it to only one terminal at a time. This fundamentally eliminates the risk of multiple terminals stacking or getting stuck, achieving true single, intermittent, and vertical drop. It ensures that only one straight-leg terminal 42 is accommodated at a time, thereby achieving single, intermittent, and vertical drop of the straight-leg terminal 42.

[0036] Further, see Figure 2 To address the issue of interference between terminals and mechanisms, this solution cleverly utilizes the structural characteristics (tip 43) of the terminal itself for optimized design. Specifically, when the straight-leg terminal 42 has only one end with a tip 43, the tip 43 faces downwards during feeding, allowing the pressing component to guide the tip 43 of the straight-leg terminal 42 into the corresponding hole in the housing 41, reducing insertion resistance and improving alignment accuracy. Furthermore, the upper surface of the first isolator 25 is provided with an inclined guide slope 27. When the first isolator 25 switches from the open state to the closed state, the guide slope 27 contacts the tip 43 of the straight-leg terminal 42 and, during the closing process of the first isolator 25, axially lifts the straight-leg terminal 42, causing the tip 43 to disengage from the movement path of the first isolator 25, thereby preventing interference between the tip 43 and the first isolator 25 and ensuring reliable closure of the first isolator 25. This design requires no additional drive or complex sensors. It can achieve automatic avoidance simply by the coordinated action of the terminal's shape and the inclined surface of the mechanism. This effectively avoids mechanism failure or terminal damage caused by tip jamming or rigid collision, and significantly improves the stability of the feeding process and the reliability of equipment operation.

[0037] Further, see Figure 2To ensure stable operation of the isolating elements and to maintain the integrity of the material feeding channel, the intermittent feeding pipe 22 has an upper opening 23 and a lower opening 24 at positions corresponding to the first isolating element 25 and the second isolating element 26, respectively. The first isolating element 25 passes through the upper opening 23, closing the feeding end when entering the pipe and opening the feeding end when retracting out of the pipe; the second isolating element 26 passes through the lower opening 24, closing the discharge end when entering the pipe and opening the discharge end when retracting out of the pipe. The first and second isolating elements 26 respectively move linearly or rotary through the openings, switching between "entering the pipe" and "retracting out of the pipe" to achieve the opening and closing function. Through the alternating movement of the first isolating element 25 and the second isolating element 26 at the upper opening 23 and the lower opening 24, the intermittent opening and closing control of the feeding end and the discharge end of the intermittent feeding pipe 22 is achieved.

[0038] Further, see Figure 3 The two isolation components adopt an arc-shaped baffle 281 structure. The first isolation component 25 and the second isolation component 26 are coaxially mounted on a transmission shaft 282, which is located outside the intermittent feeding pipe 22. The rotation of the transmission shaft 282 drives the first isolation component 25 and the second isolation component 26 to rotate synchronously. When the arc-shaped baffle 281 rotates to enter the upper opening 23 or the lower opening 24 and is embedded inside the intermittent feeding pipe 22, the corresponding feed end or discharge end is closed. When the arc-shaped baffle 281 rotates to exit the upper opening 23 or the lower opening 24 and is completely outside the intermittent feeding pipe 22, the corresponding feed end or discharge end is opened. The phase difference between the first isolation component 25 and the second isolation component 26 in the circumferential direction is set to 180° to realize the alternating opening and closing of the feed end and the discharge end. It should be noted that the use of the arc-shaped baffle 281 as the first isolation element 25 and the second isolation element 26 is necessary because the baffle needs to have sufficient radial dimensions to completely close the opening of the intermittent feeding pipe 22, and its rotation requires a large space. Sufficient installation clearance must be maintained between adjacent channels to avoid collisions or interference between the baffles during rotation. Therefore, the vertical feeding component 2 based on the arc-shaped baffle 281 structure is generally suitable for low-density feeding scenarios with a single feeding channel or a single linear arrangement.

[0039] In this embodiment, to address the problem of terminals easily becoming misaligned or bent due to the lack of an effective guiding and buffering mechanism during insertion, preferably, see... Figure 5The workbench 1 is equipped with a pressing seat 31 that can reciprocate between the unloading station 11 and the assembly station 12. A support tube 32 is provided above the pressing seat 31, and a material placement cavity 33 is located below the pressing seat 31. The support tube 32 extends vertically through the material placement cavity 33. The inner diameter of the support tube 32 is the same as the inner diameter of the unloading tube 21 to ensure that the terminals maintain an axially vertical posture during transmission. The material placement cavity 33 is used to position and place the plastic shell 41, so that the terminal mounting holes of the plastic shell 41... The lower end of the support tube 32 is directly opposite the outlet. When the pressing seat 31 moves to the unloading station 11, the upper end of the support tube 32 is connected to the lower end of the intermittent unloading tube 22, so that the single straight-leg terminal 42 falls into the support tube 32 through the intermittent unloading tube 22 and is temporarily stored inside it. Subsequently, the pressing seat 31 moves to the assembly station 12, and the pressing component 3 presses the straight-leg terminal 42 vertically out of the support tube 32 from above, and simultaneously presses it into the corresponding hole of the housing 41, completing the assembly of the pin header connector.

[0040] To improve production efficiency, the vertical feeding components 2 are arranged in a linear array on the workbench 1, with each feeding pipe 21, intermittent feeding pipe 22 and bearing pipe 32 corresponding and coaxially aligned, to simultaneously realize the intermittent feeding of multiple straight-leg terminals 42.

[0041] Further, see Figure 6 To prevent the terminals from falling off due to vibration or gravity during the transfer of the pressing seat 31, a stop block 34 is provided at the bottom end of the bearing tube 32. The stop block 34 is slidably disposed inside the wall of the bearing tube 32 along the radial direction of the bearing tube 32. The stop block 34 is used to extend from the inside of the bearing tube 32 and abut against the bottom end of the straight-leg terminal 42 during the movement of the pressing seat 31 from the unloading station 11 to the assembly station 12, so as to prevent the straight-leg terminal 42 from falling off due to gravity or vibration during the transfer. During the movement of the pressing seat 31, the stop block 34 extends from the inside of the tube and abuts against the bottom end of the straight-leg terminal 42 to form a reliable support. Meanwhile, a control component is provided at the top of the support tube 32. The control component is slidably disposed inside the support tube 32 along the axial direction of the support tube 32. The lower end face of the control component and the upper end face of the stop block 34 form a first inclined surface 391 that cooperates. The inclination direction of the first inclined surface 391 is such that when the control component is moved downward by an external force, it can push the stop block 34 to retract radially outward. When the pressing component 3 moves downward and presses the control component, the control component moves downward along the axial direction. Through the wedge action of the first inclined surface 391, the stop block 34 is driven to retract into the tube wall of the support tube 32, thereby releasing the restriction on the straight-leg terminal 42. Under the continued action of the pressing component 3, the straight-leg terminal 42 is vertically pressed into the corresponding hole of the housing 41, completing the insertion operation.

[0042] Further, see Figure 6 The bearing tube 32 includes a bottom component 35 fixed to the pressing seat 31 and an opening / closing component 36 slidably disposed on the bottom component 35; a second inclined surface 392 is provided between the upper end surface of the bottom component 35 and the lower end surface of the opening / closing component 36; the stop block 34 is installed on the bottom component 35; the control component includes a driving component 37 and a transmission component 38; the driving component 37 is slidably disposed axially inside the bottom component 35, and the top of the driving component 37 is used to receive the pressing of the pressing component 3; the transmission component 38 is slidably disposed axially inside the opening / closing component 36, and the lower end surface of the opening / closing component 36 is a first inclined surface 391; a third inclined surface 393 is formed between the lower end surface of the driving component 37 and the upper end surface of the transmission component 38, and the third inclined surface 393 is parallel to the second inclined surface 392;

[0043] Regarding the entire operation of the bearing tube 32: In the initial state, the third inclined surface 393 is located above the second inclined surface 392, the opening and closing member 36 is in the closed position, and the end face of the opening and closing member 36 and the bottom member 35 together form a continuous tubular channel, which is used to provide circumferential restraint on the bottom and side wall of the straight-leg terminal 42 in the initial pressing stage to prevent the terminal from bending due to cantilever force; when the pressing member 3 moves down and presses the driving member 37, the driving member 37 drives the transmission member 38 to move down synchronously, first pushing the stop 34 to retract through the first inclined surface 391, releasing the straight-leg terminal 4 2. Support at the bottom end; During this stage, the opening and closing member 36 remains in contact with the bottom member 35, continuing to provide lateral restraint for the terminal, ensuring its vertical entry into the hole of the housing 41; When the driving member 37 continues to descend until the third inclined surface 393 contacts and aligns with the second inclined surface 392, the lower end face of the pressing member 3 directly acts on the top surface of the opening and closing member 36; Subsequently, the pressing member 3 continues to descend, directly pushing the opening and closing member 36 to slide upward axially, causing it to disengage from the bottom member 35, thereby opening the upper channel of the bearing tube 32 and avoiding mechanical interference during the process of the terminal being fully pressed into the housing 41.

[0044] Example 2

[0045] As mentioned earlier, while the arc-shaped baffle type 281 isolation mechanism used in Embodiment 1 is structurally reliable and operates smoothly, it requires a large radial rotation space and sufficient installation clearance between adjacent feeding channels. Therefore, it is generally only suitable for low-density feeding scenarios with a single feeding channel or a single-row linear arrangement. For high-density, multi-row, or multi-row synchronous assembly requirements (e.g., dual-row through-hole pin headers, 2×10P and above specifications), a more compact and densely arrayable isolation drive solution is needed. Therefore, this embodiment provides a vertical feeding component 2 based on the pusher block type 283 isolation mechanism, significantly improving the integration and adaptability of the equipment in multi-channel parallel feeding.

[0046] For details, see Figure 4 The first isolation member 25 and the second isolation member 26 are both push blocks 283, which are slidably arranged along the radial direction of the intermittent material drop tube 22. The push block 283 switches between "extending into the tube to close the channel" and "retracting out of the tube to open the channel" through the opening. The key is that the control rod 284 is rotatably installed on the worktable 1. The control rod 284 is located outside the intermittent material drop tube 22. The rotation of the control rod 284 is located between the first isolation member 25 and the second isolation member 26. The two ends of the control rod 284 are movably connected (through connecting rods, hinge pins or sliding groove structures) to the first isolation member 25 and the second isolation member 26 respectively. By driving the control rod 284 to swing back and forth within a preset angle range through a driving device (such as a stepper motor or cam), the two push blocks 283 can be synchronously driven to slide in opposite directions radially.

[0047] The specific working process is as follows: When the first isolating member 25 slides into the upper opening 23 and is embedded inside the intermittent feeding tube 22, the feeding end is closed, and at the same time, the second isolating member 26 slides out of the lower opening 24 and opens the discharging end; when the second isolating member 26 slides into the lower opening 24 and is embedded inside the intermittent feeding tube 22, the discharging end is closed, and at the same time, the first isolating member 25 slides out of the upper opening 23 and opens the feeding end; thereby realizing the alternating opening and closing of the feeding end and the discharging end of the intermittent feeding tube 22, completing the intermittent vertical feeding of a single straight-leg terminal 42. This cycle is repeated to achieve strict alternating opening and closing of the feeding end and the discharging end, ensuring that only one straight-leg terminal 42 is fed at a time, achieving highly reliable single-terminal intermittent feeding.

[0048] Because the pusher block 283 only slides radially with a short stroke, and the control rod 284 and linkage mechanism are all arranged outside the tube body, the entire isolation assembly occupies very little space in the lateral direction (i.e., the multi-channel arrangement direction), and multiple feeding units can be arranged closely side by side without the risk of mutual interference. Therefore, this structure is particularly suitable for the synchronous automated assembly of double-row, multi-column, or high-pin-count pin header connectors, effectively solving the space bottleneck problem in high-density feeding scenarios.

[0049] Of course, the above are just typical examples of the present invention. In addition, the present invention may have many other specific embodiments. All technical solutions formed by equivalent substitution or equivalent transformation fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment, wherein the pin header connector includes a housing and straight-pin terminals, characterized in that, The device includes a workbench with a feeding station and an assembly station. The feeding station is equipped with a vertical feeding component for feeding straight-leg terminals in an axially vertical orientation. The assembly station is equipped with a pressing component for pressing the straight-leg terminals vertically into corresponding holes in the housing to complete assembly. The vertical feeding component includes a feeding tube arranged vertically, the inner diameter of which is adapted to the straight-leg terminals to constrain them to maintain an axially vertical orientation during feeding, thus achieving directional vertical feeding of the straight-leg terminals. The bottom end of the feeding pipe is provided with an intermittent discharge pipe, the inner diameter of which is the same as that of the feeding pipe. The inlet and outlet ends of the intermittent discharge pipe are respectively provided with a first isolation element and a second isolation element. The first isolation element and the second isolation element are configured to open and close alternately: when the first isolation element is open and the second isolation element is closed, a single straight-leg terminal enters the intermittent discharge pipe from the feeding pipe; then the first isolation element closes and the second isolation element opens, causing the straight-leg terminal to fall out of the intermittent discharge pipe. The axial length of the intermittent feeding tube is equal to the length of the straight-leg terminal, ensuring that only one straight-leg terminal is accommodated at a time, thereby realizing the single, intermittent vertical feeding of straight-leg terminals.

2. The pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At least one end of the straight-leg terminal is provided with a pointed tip. When the straight-leg terminal is provided with a pointed tip at only one end, the pointed tip faces downward during the feeding process, so that the pressing component can guide the pointed tip of the straight-leg terminal into the corresponding hole of the housing, thereby reducing the insertion resistance and improving the alignment accuracy. The upper surface of the first isolator is provided with an inclined guide slope. When the first isolator switches from the open state to the closed state, the guide slope contacts the tip of the straight-leg terminal and lifts the straight-leg terminal axially during the closing process of the first isolator, so that the tip is disengaged from the movement path of the first isolator, thereby avoiding interference between the tip and the first isolator and ensuring that the first isolator is reliably closed.

3. The pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The intermittent feeding pipe has an upper opening and a lower opening at positions corresponding to the first and second isolation members, respectively. The first isolation member passes through the upper opening and closes the feeding end when entering the pipe and opens the feeding end when retracting out of the pipe. The second isolation member passes through the lower opening and closes the discharge end when entering the pipe and opens the discharge end when retracting out of the pipe. The intermittent opening and closing control of the feed end and discharge end of the intermittent discharge pipe is achieved by the alternating movement of the first and second isolation members at the upper and lower openings.

4. The pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment as described in claim 3, characterized in that, Both the first and second isolation components are arc-shaped baffles, and the first and second isolation components are coaxially mounted on a drive shaft, which is located outside the intermittent feeding pipe; The rotation of the drive shaft drives the first and second isolation components to rotate synchronously; when the arc-shaped baffle rotates to enter the upper or lower opening and is embedded inside the intermittent material drop tube, the corresponding feed end or discharge end is closed; when the arc-shaped baffle rotates to exit the upper or lower opening and is completely outside the intermittent material drop tube, the corresponding feed end or discharge end is opened. The phase difference between the first and second isolation components in the circumferential direction is set to 180° to achieve alternating opening and closing of the feed end and the discharge end.

5. The pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment as described in claim 3, characterized in that, Both the first and second isolation components are push blocks, which are slidably disposed along the radial direction of the intermittent feeding pipe; The control rod is rotatably mounted on the workbench. The control rod is located outside the intermittent feeding pipe. The rotation of the control rod is located between the first isolation member and the second isolation member. The two ends of the control rod are respectively movably connected to the first isolation member and the second isolation member. By reciprocating the control lever within a preset angle range, the first and second isolation components slide synchronously in opposite directions radially. When the first isolation component slides into the upper opening and embeds itself inside the intermittent feeding tube, the feeding end is closed, while the second isolation component slides out of the lower opening and opens the discharging end. When the second isolation component slides into the lower opening and embeds itself inside the intermittent feeding tube, the discharging end is closed, while the first isolation component slides out of the upper opening and opens the feeding end. This achieves the alternating opening and closing of the feeding and discharging ends of the intermittent feeding tube, completing the intermittent vertical feeding of a single straight-leg terminal.

6. The pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The workbench is equipped with a pressing seat that can reciprocate between the unloading station and the assembly station. A bearing tube is provided above the pressing seat, and a material placement cavity is provided below the pressing seat. The bearing tube extends vertically through the material placement cavity. The inner diameter of the bearing tube is the same as the inner diameter of the unloading tube to ensure that the terminals maintain an axially vertical posture during the transfer process. The material placement cavity is used to position and place the plastic shell, so that the terminal mounting hole of the plastic shell is aligned with the lower end outlet of the bearing tube. When the pressing seat moves to the unloading station, the upper end of the bearing tube connects with the lower end of the intermittent dropping tube, so that a single straight-leg terminal falls into the bearing tube through the intermittent dropping tube and is temporarily stored inside it. Subsequently, the pressing seat moves to the assembly station, and the pressing component presses the straight-leg terminal vertically out of the carrier tube from above, and simultaneously presses it into the corresponding hole of the housing, completing the assembly of the pin header connector.

7. The pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The vertical feeding components are arranged in a linear array on the worktable, with each feeding tube, intermittent feeding tube and bearing tube corresponding and coaxially aligned, to synchronously realize the intermittent feeding of multiple straight-leg terminals.

8. The pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment as described in claim 6, characterized in that: A stop block is provided at the bottom end of the bearing tube. The stop block is slidably disposed inside the wall of the bearing tube along the radial direction of the bearing tube. The stop block is used to extend from the inside of the bearing tube and abut against the bottom end of the straight-leg terminal during the process of the pressing seat moving from the unloading station to the assembly station, so as to prevent the straight-leg terminal from falling off due to gravity or vibration during the transfer. The top of the bearing tube is provided with a control component, which is slidably disposed inside the bearing tube along the axial direction of the bearing tube; the lower end face of the control component and the upper end face of the stop block form a first inclined surface for cooperation, and the inclination direction of the first inclined surface is such that when the control component is subjected to an external force and moves downward, it can push the stop block to retract radially outward. When the pressing component moves downward and presses the control component, the control component moves downward along the axis. Through the wedge action of the first inclined surface, the stop block is driven to retract into the wall of the bearing tube, thereby releasing the restriction on the straight-leg terminal. Under the continued action of the pressing component, the straight-leg terminal is vertically pressed into the corresponding hole of the housing, completing the insertion operation.

9. The pin header connector manufacturing and assembly equipment as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The bearing tube includes a bottom component fixed to the pressing seat and an opening and closing component slidably disposed on the bottom component; a second inclined surface that cooperates with each other is provided between the upper end surface of the bottom component and the lower end surface of the opening and closing component. The stop block is mounted on the bottom component, and the control component includes a drive component and a transmission component; the drive component is slidably disposed inside the opening and closing component along the axial direction, and the top of the drive component is used to receive the pressing of the pressing component; the transmission component is slidably disposed inside the bottom component along the axial direction. The lower end face of the driving member and the upper end face of the transmission member form a mutually cooperating third inclined surface, which is parallel to the second inclined surface. In the initial state, the third inclined surface is located above the second inclined surface, the opening and closing member is in the closed position, and the end face of the opening and closing member and the bottom member together form a continuous tubular channel, which is used to provide circumferential restraint on the bottom and side wall of the straight-leg terminal in the initial stage of pressing down, so as to prevent the terminal from bending due to cantilever force. When the pressing component moves downward and presses the driving component, the driving component drives the transmission component to move downward synchronously. First, the first inclined surface pushes the stop block to retract, releasing the support on the bottom end of the straight terminal. During this stage, the opening and closing component remains in contact with the bottom component, continuing to provide lateral restraint for the terminal and ensuring that it enters the housing hole vertically. When the driving member continues to descend until the third inclined surface contacts and aligns with the second inclined surface, the lower end face of the pressing member directly acts on the top surface of the opening and closing member; subsequently, the pressing member continues to descend, directly pushing the opening and closing member to slide upward along the axial direction, causing it to disengage from the bottom member, thereby opening the upper channel of the bearing tube and avoiding mechanical interference during the process of the terminal being fully pressed into the housing.

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