Printed circuit board support

• US 20050011724A1
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian F. Gordon, John S. Godfrey, Tony M. Teitenberg
• Original Assignee: Brian F. Gordon, John S. Godfrey, Tony M. Teitenberg
• Inventors: Gordon, Brian F., Godfrey, John S., Teitenberg, Tony M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,971,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/345.200
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0069 Holders for printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49144 by metal fusion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53174 Means to fasten electrical component to wiring board, base, or substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53196 Means to apply magnetic force directly to position or hold work part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53265 with work-holder for assembly

Abstract

A printed circuit board conveying system is provided comprising a printed circuit board conveyor and a printed circuit board support. The printed circuit board support is positioned to support a major portion of the printed circuit board between opposite lateral edge portions of the board and comprises a support base, a spacer, and a spacer securement. A printed circuit board processing system including the conveying system is also provided. The conveying system couples a printed circuit board loader to a stencil printer, a pick and place machine, and a reflow oven.

Claims

1. A printed circuit board conveying system comprising:

a conveyor configured to convey a printed circuit board along a conveyor path; and

a printed circuit board support positioned to support a major portion of said printed circuit board between opposite lateral edge portions of said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board support comprising a support base, a spacer, and a spacer securement, wherein

said support base defines a support surface,

said spacer securement includes a projection and a recess,

said projection is mounted to or formed integrally with one of said support base and said spacer,

said recess is formed in the other of said support base and said spacer,

said projection extends into said recess, and

said projection and said recess are configured such that said extension of said projection into said recess limits movement of said spacer relative to a plane parallel to said support surface.

2. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said projection is mounted to or formed integrally with said spacer and said recess is formed in said support base.

3. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said printed circuit board support comprises at least two spacer securements.

4. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said projection comprises a substantially cylindrical pin and said recess comprises a cylindrical recess having a diameter slightly larger than said pin.

5. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spacer defines an upper spacer surface spaced from and substantially parallel to said support surface.

6. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said upper spacer surface is sized and configured to support and engage a major portion of said printed circuit board.

7. A printed circuit board conveying system comprising:

a conveyor configured to convey a printed circuit board along a conveyor path;

a printed circuit board support positioned to support a major portion of said printed circuit board between opposite lateral edge portions of said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board support comprising a support base wherein

said support base defines a support surface,

said support base defines a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a pair of lateral edges,

said support base defines a cut-out formed therein, and

said cut-out is positioned between said opposite lateral edge portions and extends from said leading edge in the direction of said trailing edge to a position between said leading edge and said trailing edge, wherein said cut-out transects the thickness of said support base; and

a stop mechanism positioned to engage said printed circuit board support at a point within said cut-out.

8. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said leading edge, said trailing edge, and said pair of lateral edges are defined in a substantially planar surface of said support base.

9. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said cut-out is formed in said support surface of said support base.

10. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said printed circuit board support further comprises:

a spacer including an additional cut out formed therein, wherein said additional cut-out transects the thickness of said spacer; and

a spacer securement arranged to secure said spacer to said support surface with said additional cut-out aligned with said cut-out formed in said support base.

11. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said additional cut-out and said cut-out in said support base are coextensive.

12. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said additional cut-out is formed in an upper spacer surface of said spacer.

13. A printed circuit board conveying system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stop mechanism includes an actuator and a pin and is configured to selectively extend and retract said pin to and from a position engaging said printed circuit board support at said point within said cut-out.

14. A printed circuit board processing system including a printed circuit board conveying system coupling a printed circuit board loader to a stencil printer, a pick and place machine, and a reflow oven, wherein said printed circuit board conveying system comprises:

a conveyor rail configured to convey a printed circuit board along a conveyor path; and

a printed circuit board support positioned to support a major portion of said printed circuit board between opposite lateral edge portions of said printed circuit board within an operating envelope of said pick and place machine, said printed circuit board support comprising a support base, a spacer, and a spacer securement, wherein

said support base defines a support surface,

said spacer securement includes a projection and a recess,

said projection is mounted to or formed integrally with one of said support base and said spacer,

said recess is formed in the other of said support base and said spacer,

said projection extends into said recess, and

said projection and said recess are configured such that said extension of said projection into said recess limits movement of said spacer relative to a plane parallel to said support surface.

15. A printed circuit board processing system including a printed circuit board conveying system coupling a printed circuit board loader to a stencil printer, a pick and place machine, and a reflow oven, wherein said printed circuit board conveying system comprises:

a conveyor configured to convey a printed circuit board along a conveyor path;

a printed circuit board support positioned to support a major portion of said printed circuit board between opposite lateral edge portions of said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board support comprising a support base wherein

said support base defines a support surface,

said support base defines a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a pair of lateral edges,

said support base defines a cut-out formed therein, and

said cut-out is positioned between said opposite lateral edge portions and extends from said leading edge in the direction of said trailing edge to a position between said leading edge and said trailing edge, wherein said cut-out transects the thickness of said support base; and

a stop mechanism positioned to engage said printed circuit board support at a point within said cut-out.