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 method for pushing memory modules into corresponding memory sockets with an automated memory insertion apparatus, the method comprising:
rotating one or more cam assemblies relative to a frame, each cam assembly having a central shaft extending in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of cams each extending from the central shaft in a respective radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a center of each cam of each of the cam assemblies being offset from centers of adjacent ones of the cams by a pitch distance that is equal to a pitch distance between centers of adjacent ones of the memory sockets; and
applying, by the cams, an insertion force to the memory modules in the corresponding memory sockets.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying includes the one or more cam assemblies together cooperatively performing 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.
3. The method of claim 1 , 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 relative to the second cam assembly, such that during the rotating, each cam of the first cam assembly contacts a first end of a corresponding one of the memory modules before a corresponding cam of the second cam assembly contacts a second end of the corresponding one of the memory modules.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each cam of each of the cam assemblies is offset from an adjacent one of the cams by 120° to 240° about a circumference of the central shaft, such that during the applying, in a sequence, a group of the memory modules, all odd-numbered memory modules in the sequence are inserted into the corresponding memory sockets before any of the even-numbered memory modules in the sequence are inserted into the corresponding memory sockets.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying includes the one or more cam assemblies together cooperatively performing 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.
6. The method of claim 1 , 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 during the rotating, each cam of the first cam assembly contacts a first end of a corresponding one of the memory modules simultaneously with when a corresponding cam of the second cam assembly contacts a second end of the corresponding one of the memory modules.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring a distance between the cam assemblies and the memory module.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the measuring is performed by a non-contact measuring device.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising offsetting each cam of each of the one or more cam assemblies from an adjacent one of the cams by 120° to 240° about a circumference of the central shaft.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising arranging the cams of each of the one or more cam assemblies in sequence having odd-numbered and even-numbered ones of the cams.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein 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.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein 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.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the cam assemblies includes eight cams.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the cams has a rounded generally triangular shape.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more cam assemblies includes an identical number and arrangement of cams.