Automated system and method for inserting memory modules into motherboards
The technology relates to a memory insertion apparatus for pushing memory modules into corresponding memory sockets on a circuit board. The memory insertion apparatus may include a frame and an actuation assembly coupled to the frame, and one or more cam assemblies each rotatably coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the actuation assembly. Each cam assembly may include a central shaft extending in a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of cams each having a tip configured to engage one of the memory modules, the tip extending from the central shaft in a respective radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A center of each cam may be offset from centers of adjacent ones of the cams by a pitch distance that is about equal to a pitch distance between centers of adjacent ones of the memory sockets.
1. A memory insertion apparatus configured to push memory modules into corresponding memory sockets, the memory insertion apparatus comprising:
a frame and an actuation assembly coupled to the frame;
one or more cam assemblies each rotatably coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the actuation assembly, each cam assembly having:
a central shaft extending in a longitudinal direction; and
a plurality of cams each having a tip configured to engage one of the memory modules, the tip extending from the central shaft in a respective radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,
wherein a predetermined point of each cam of each of the cam assemblies is offset from corresponding predetermined points of adjacent ones of the cams by a pitch distance that is about equal to a pitch distance between adjacent ones of the memory sockets.
2. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the cams has a rounded generally triangular shape.
3. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly includes a motor, pulleys including a drive pulley and one or more cam assembly pulleys, each cam assembly pulley corresponding to one of the one or more cam assemblies, and a belt extending at least partially around an outer circumference of each of the pulleys, the motor being configured to rotate the drive pulleys, each of the one or more cam assembly pulleys being rotatably fixed to a respective one of the one or more cam assemblies, such that rotation of the one or more cam assembly pulleys rotates the respective cam assembly in a same rotational direction.
4. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a non-contact measuring device that is configured to measure a distance between the cam assemblies and the memory modules.
5. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the cam assemblies includes eight cams.
6. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tip of each cam includes a ball bearing concentrically located by a dowel pin.
7. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tip of each cam includes a compliant material that is configured to partially compress when an external force is applied thereto.
8. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more cam assemblies includes an identical number and arrangement of cams.
9. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the one or more cam assemblies comprise a first cam assembly and a second cam assembly, and wherein the first cam assembly is rotationally offset 45° to 90° relative to the second cam assembly, such that when each cam assembly is rotated in a same rotational direction, a predetermined point of each cam of the first cam assembly passes through a first vertically oriented contact position 45° to 90° before a corresponding predetermined point of each corresponding cam of the second cam assembly passes through a second vertically oriented contact position.
10. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the one or more cam assemblies comprise a first cam assembly and a second cam assembly, and wherein the first cam assembly is rotationally aligned in a same orientation relative to the second cam assembly, such that when each cam assembly is rotated in a same rotational direction, a predetermined point of each cam of the first cam assembly passes through a first vertically oriented contact position simultaneously with when a corresponding predetermined point of each corresponding cam of the second cam assembly passes through a second vertically oriented contact position.
11. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cam assemblies are together configured to cooperatively perform a rocking push-in of each of the memory modules into the corresponding memory sockets, such that a first end of each of the memory modules is pushed before a second end thereof.
12. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each cam of each of the one or more cam assemblies is offset from an adjacent one of the cams by 120° to 240° about a circumference of the central shaft.
13. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cams of each of the one or more cam assemblies are arranged in a sequence having odd-numbered and even-numbered ones of the cams, each odd-numbered cam of each of the cam assemblies is offset from a closest one of the odd-numbered cams by 15° to 45° about a circumference of the central shaft, and each even-numbered cam of each of the cam assemblies is offset from a closest one of the even-numbered cams by 15° to 45° about a circumference of the central shaft.
14. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cam assemblies are together configured to cooperatively perform an in-phase push-in of each of the memory modules into the corresponding memory sockets, such that a first end and a second end of each of the memory modules is pushed simultaneously.
15. The memory insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each cam of each of the one or more cam assemblies is offset from an adjacent one of the cams by 15° to 45° about a circumference of the central shaft.