Terminal detection platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12598398-B2
Application number	US-202118335484-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2021
Priority date	Dec 15, 2020
Publication date	Apr 7, 2026
Grant date	Apr 7, 2026

Abstract

A terminal detection platform for detecting terminals on a terminal strip includes a base, a first and second feeding rail mounted on the base, and at least one detection mechanism installed on the base. The first feeding rail and the second feeding rail extend parallel to each other in a first direction to define a feeding channel therebetween through which the terminal strip carrying the terminals is conveyed along the first direction. At least one of the first feeding rail or the second feeding rail is movable relative to the base such that a width of the feeding channel in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is adjustable. The at least one detection mechanism is adapted to detect the terminals on the terminal strip passing through the feeding channel to determine whether the terminals are qualified.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A terminal detection platform for detecting terminals on a terminal strip, comprising:
a base; a first feeding rail and a second feeding rail mounted on the base, the first feeding rail and the second feeding rail extend parallel to each other in a first direction to define a feeding channel therebetween through which the terminal strip carrying the terminals is conveyed along the first direction, at least one of the first feeding rail or the second feeding rail is movable relative to the base such that a width of the feeding channel in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is adjustable; at least one detection mechanism installed on the base and adapted to detect the terminals on the terminal strip passing through the feeding channel to determine whether the terminals are qualified; a driving mechanism mounted on the base driving the terminal strip to move along the feeding channel, the driving mechanism is removable and replaceable, the driving mechanism accommodating different specifications of terminal strips; and a rail adjusting mechanism having a first seat fixed to the base and a first bracket connecting and supporting the second feeding rail, the first bracket is movably mounted to the first seat and is movable relative to the first seat.

2 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 1 , wherein the rail adjusting mechanism is adapted to move at least one of the first or second feeding rails relative to the base to adjust the width of the feeding channel.

3 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 2 , wherein the first adjusting member includes an adjusting screw which drives the first bracket and the second feeding rail to move in the second direction away from or toward the first feeding rail.

4 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism comprises:
a first driving mechanism arranged at an outlet end of the feeding channel and including:
a driving wheel adapted to engage with and drive the terminal strip to move along the feeding channel by rotation; and
a motor connected to the driving wheel to drive the driving wheel to rotate and adapted to adjust at least one of conveying speed, conveying time, acceleration and stopping time of the terminal strip; and
a second driving mechanism arranged at an inlet end of the feeding channel and including:
a driven wheel adapted to engage with the terminal strip and be rotated by a movement of the terminal strip along the feeding channel; and
an encoder connected to the driven wheel to determine a position of the terminal on the terminal strip according to the rotation of the driven wheel.

5 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 4 , wherein positions of the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism are adjustable according to the width of the feeding channel.

6 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 5 , wherein each of the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism is movably mounted on the base through a frame.

7 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 6 , wherein the frame includes:
a second bracket that connects and supports the corresponding driving mechanism and is movable relative to the base; and a second adjusting member connected to the second bracket and operable to adjust a position of the second bracket and the position of the corresponding driving mechanism relative to the base in the second direction according to the width of the feeding channel.

8 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one detection mechanism is independently mounted on the base relative to the first feeding rail and the second feeding rail, and includes an image capture device for capturing an image of the terminals on the terminal strip conveyed in the feeding channel.

9 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one detection mechanism comprises a plurality of image capture devices positioned at different orientations to capture images of different parts of the terminal.

10 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 8 , wherein a position of the at least one detection mechanism relative to the base is adjustable.

11 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 10 , wherein the position of the at least one detection mechanism relative to the base in the second direction is adjustable according to the width of the feeding channel.

12 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one detection mechanism includes at least one of:
a first image capture device movably mounted on the base and positioned to face the terminal in a horizontal direction to capture an image of the terminal in the horizontal direction; or a second image capture device movably mounted on the base and positioned to face the terminal in a vertical direction to capture an image of the terminal in the vertical direction.

13 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 8 , further comprising a backlight adapted to at least partially illuminate the terminal to be captured by the corresponding image capture device.

14 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 2 , wherein the rail adjusting mechanism further includes:
a first adjusting member connected to the first bracket, the first adjusting member adjusts positions of the first bracket and the second feeding rail relative to the first seat to adjust the width of the feeding channel.

15 . A terminal detection platform, comprising:
a base; a feeding channel having an adjustable width and adapted to receive a terminal strip including a plurality of terminals; a first imagine capturing device movably mounted relative to the base in a width direction of the feeding channel and positioned to capture an image along a first direction of at least one of the plurality of terminals on the terminal strip passing through the feeding channel; a driving mechanism mounted on the base driving the terminal strip to move along the feeding channel, the driving mechanism is removable and replaceable, the driving mechanism accommodating different specifications of terminal strips; and a rail adjusting mechanism having a first seat fixed to the base and a first bracket connecting and supporting a second feeding rail, the first bracket is movably mounted to the first seat and is movable relative to the first seat.

16 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 15 , further comprising a second image capturing device movably mounted relative to the base and positioned to capture an image of at least one of the plurality of terminals along a second direction, distinct from the first direction.

17 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 15 , further comprising a first driving mechanism arranged at an outlet end of the feeding channel and including a driving wheel adapted to engage with and drive the terminal strip to move along the feeding channel, and a motor connected to the driving wheel to drive the driving wheel to rotate.

18 . The terminal detection platform according to claim 15 , wherein the feeding channel is defined between a first feeding rail and the second feeding rail mounted on the base, at least one of the first feeding rail or the second feeding rail is movable relative to the base such that a width of the feeding channel is adjustable.

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd
• TE Connectivity Services Gmbh
• Te Connectivity Solutions Gmbh

Inventors

• Yang An (Joshua)
• Zhou Lei (Alex)
• Hu Lvhai (Samuel)
• Zhang Dandan (Emily)
• Lu Roberto Francisco-Yi

Classifications

• G01B11/14

  for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00) · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• G01N21/8806

  Specially adapted optical and illumination features · CPC title

• G01N21/95684

  Patterns showing highly reflecting parts, e.g. metallic elements · CPC title

• G01N2021/845

  Objects on a conveyor · CPC title