Manual registration pin alignment system

• US 6,276,676 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Excellon Automation Co.
• Original Assignee: Excellon Automation Co.
• Inventors: Martinez, Henry R., Nguyen, Long D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, LEE D
• Application Number:
  US09/364,429
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 269/305, 269/303, 269/903, 269/312, 269/314, 269/99, 269/41, 269/47, 269/52
• US Class Current: 269/305
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/167 Using mechanical means for positioning, alignment or registration, e.g. using rod-in-hole alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0008 for aligning or positioning of tools relative to the circuit board H05K3/4638, H05K3/4679 take precedence; for manufacturing assemblages of components H05K13/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0047 Drilling of holes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 269/903 Work holder for electrical circuit assemblages or wiring systems

Abstract

A registration alignment system to be used with a printed circuit board drilling machine for registration of PCBs on the tooling plate for drilling and other operations. The registration alignment system includes a registration bar and a registration block that move independently of each other. The movement of the registration bar is constrained to one dimension (i.e., X-axis), and the movement of the registration block is constrained to one dimension (i.e., Y-axis) that is perpendicular to the axis of movement of the registration bar. The registration bar and block contact adjusting screws which are used to control precise movement of the registration bar and block. When the registration pins of the PCB are in position against the registration bar and block, the pins are held in place by clamping bars. When the size of the registration pins change, the registration of the new PCB is still correct and does not have to be adjusted.

Claims

1. A registration alignment system for use with a machine tool comprising:

a. a tooling plate having a channel;

b. a registration block having a first registration surface, said registration block received in said channel, said registration block mounted in said channel for selective movement in at least one first direction;

c. a registration bar having a second registration surface received in said channel, spaced apart from said registration block and mounted in said channel for selective movement in at least one second direction;

d. said first and second registration surfaces forming a registration location;

e. at least one first adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration block, mounted on said tooling plate; and

f. at least one second adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration bar, mounted on said tooling plate.

2. A registration alignment system as described in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of second adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration bar, spaced apart along said registration bar.

3. A registration alignment system as described in claim 1 wherein said second registration surface is a straight edge.

4. A registration alignment system for a machine tool comprising:

a. a tooling plate having a channel;

b. a registration bar received in said channel adapted for movement within said channel in at least one direction;

c. a registration block received in one end of said channel spaced apart from said registration bar, said registration block moveably mounted for adjustable positioning in a direction generally perpendicular to the movement of said registration bar;

d. at least one first adjusting screw mounted on said tooling plate operatively coupled to said registration block for selectively moving said registration block; and

e. at least one second adjusting screw mounted on said tooling plate operatively coupled to said registration bar for selectively moving said registration bar for adjustment.

5. A registration pin alignment and clamping system for a machine tool comprising:

a. a tooling plate having a channel;

b. a registration block having a first registration surface, said registration block received in said channel and mounted in said channel for selective movement in at least one first direction;

c. a registration bar having a second registration surface received in said channel, spaced apart from said registration block, and mounted in said channel for selective movement in at least one second direction;

d. said first and second registration surfaces forming a registration location;

e. at least one first adjusting mechanism engaging and adjustably positioning said registration bar;

f. at least one second adjusting mechanism engaging and adjustably positioning said registration block;

g. a first clamping mechanism for clamping a first registration pin against said first and second registration surfaces in said registration location; and

h. a second clamping mechanism for clamping a second registration pin against said first registration surface.

6. A registration alignment and clamping system as described in claim 5, wherein there are a plurality of adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration bar, spaced apart along said registration bar.

7. A registration alignment and clamping system as described in claim 5, wherein said second registration surface is a straight edge.

8. A registration alignment system for a machine tool comprising:

a. a tooling plate having a channel;

b. a registration block received in one end of said channel and moveably mounted for adjustable positioning in at least one first direction;

c. a registration bar received in said channel, spaced apart from said registration bar, and moveable within said channel in at least one direction generally perpendicular to movement of said registration bar;

d. at least one adjusting screw mounted on said tooling plate operatively coupled to said registration bar for selectively moving said registration bar for adjustment; and

e. at least one adjusting screw mounted on said tooling plate operatively coupled to said registration block for selectively moving said registration block.

9. A registration alignment system for use with a machine tool comprising:

a. a tooling plate having a channel;

b. a registration block having a first registration surface, said registration block received in said channel spaced apart from said registration bar, said registration block mounted in said channel for selective movement in at least one second direction;

c. a registration bar having a second registration surface received in said channel and mounted in said channel for selective movement in at least one second direction;

d. said first and second registration surfaces forming a registration location;

e. at least one adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration block; and

f. at least one adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration bar.

10. A registration alignment system as described in claim 9, wherein there are a plurality of adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration bar, spaced apart along said registration bar.

11. A registration alignment system as described in claim 9, wherein said second registration surface is a straight edge.

12. A registration alignment system for use with a machine tool comprising:

a. a tooling plate having a channel;

b. a registration block received in said channel and moveably mounted for adjustable;

c. a registration bar received in said channel, spaced apart from said registration block and adapted for movement within said channel in a direction generally perpendicular to the movement of said registration block in at least one direction;

d. at least one first adjusting screw mounted on said tooling plate operatively coupled to said registration block for selectively moving said registration block;

e. at least one second adjusting screw mounted on said tooling plate operatively coupled to said registration bar for selectively moving said registration bar;

f. at least one first fastener for selectively fastening said registration block into a fixed position; and

g. at least one second fastener for selectively fastening said registration bar into a fixed position.

13. A registration alignment and clamping system for use with a machine tool comprising:

a. a tooling plate having a channel;

b. a registration block having a first registration surface, said registration block adjustably received in said channel and mounted in said channel for selective movement in at least one first direction;

c. a registration bar having a second registration surface, spaced apart from said registration block adjustably received in said channel for selective movement in at least one second direction;

d. said first and second registration surfaces forming a registration location;

e. at least one first adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration block, mounted on said tooling plate;

f. at least one second adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration bar, mounted on said tooling plate;

g. at least one first fastener for selectively fastening said registration block into a fixed position; and

h. at least one second fastener for selectively fastening said registration bar into a fixed position.

14. A registration alignment system as described in claim 13, wherein there are a plurality of second adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration bar, spaced apart along said registration bar.

15. A registration alignment system as described in claim 13, wherein said second registration surface is a straight edge.

16. A registration alignment system for use with a machine tool comprising:

a. a tooling plate having a channel;

b. at least one registration block received in said channel, moveably mounted for adjustable positioning in at least one first direction;

c. at least one registration bar received in said channel spaced apart from said registration block and moveable within said channel in at least one direction generally perpendicular to movement of said registration block;

d. at least one first adjusting screw mounted on said tooling plate operatively coupled to said registration block for selectively moving said registration block for adjustment;

e. at least one second adjusting screw mounted on said tooling plate operatively coupled to said registration bar for selectively moving said registration bar;

f. at least one first fastener for selectively fastening said registration block into a fixed position; and

g. at least one second fastener for selectively fastening said registration bar into a fixed position.

17. A registration alignment system for use with a machine tool comprising:

a. a tooling plate having a channel;

b. a registration block having a first registration surface, said registration block received in said channel, said registration block mounted in said channel for selective movement in at least one first direction;

c. a registration bar having a second registration surface comprising a straight edge, received in said channel, spaced apart from said registration block and mounted in said channel for selective movement in at least one second direction;

d. said first and second registration surfaces forming a registration location;

e. at least one first adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration block, mounted on said tooling plate; and

f. at least one second adjusting mechanism for adjustably positioning said registration bar, mounted on said tooling plate.