Support device with floating pins

• US 6,293,534 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DFL Tool Inc.
• Original Assignee: DFL Tool Inc.
• Inventors: Leban, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHANLEY, DANIEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/548,338
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 269/47, 269/903, 269/296, 269/53, 269/54, 269/54.1
• US Class Current: 269/309
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/032 characterised by properties of the support surface
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2421 the parts having a linear movement
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/00 Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders for holding or positioning work for welding, soldering, or cutting by applying heat locally B23K37/04; specially adapted to machine tools B23Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 269/903 Work holder for electrical circuit assemblages or wiring systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49998 Work holding

Abstract

A device particularly adapted to engage an irregular bottom surface of an object and then carry that object includes a support block. In the support block is a set of longitudinally spaced apart upright bores. On each side of the bores in a top wall of the block is a guide channel for a slide bar. Ends of these bars operatively connect with a reciprocating mechanism attached to one end of the block. In each bore is a sleeve having an inner opening formed with an upper section for a spring. An upper and lower end coil of a coil portion of each spring connects with an arm that projects outwardly. The upper arms fit respectively in upward facing slots in one slide bar while the lower arms fit respectively in downward facing slots in the other slide bar. In the sleeve inner openings and extending respectively through the coil portion of each springs is a support pin. Top ends of these pins fit in openings in a top cover plate fastened to the support block top wall. A bottom end of each pin then seats on one end of a transversely positioned conduit in a top surface of a bottom cover plate fastened to a bottom wall of the support block. Opposite ends of these conduits connect with a distribution channel in the block bottom wall. For use, the device distribution channel is connected to an air supply. At the same time, the reciprocating mechanism is activated to move the slide bars and rotate the end coils of the springs. Movement of the end coils transfers to the remaining coils of each spring to increase a diameter of each spring coil portion and shift each spring from a locking mode to a release mode. Air from the distribution channel then floats the pins upward to selectively engage the bottom surface of the object above. The reciprocating device then is deactivated allowing the springs to return to a locking mode about the pins.

Claims

1. A device particularly adapted to engage an irregularly configured bottom surface of an object and then support that object, said device comprising:

a support block,

an upright bore formed in said support block,

a spring disposed in said support block bore, said spring having a coil portion comprising a first end coil and a second end coil connected by remaining coils,

a pin extending through said spring and held in said spring in a locking mode or a release mode, and

air ducting carried by said device, said ducting connecting an inlet of said ducting with said bore below a bottom end of said pin,

wherein for use, said spring first end coil may be connected to operative means and said spring second end coil may be connected to said support block, said operative means may be activated to rotate said spring first end coil and said remaining coils to enlarge a diameter of said spring coil portion so that said spring may shift from said locking mode to said release mode about said pin, said ducting inlet may be connected to an air supply to float said pin upward to engage said object bottom surface, and said operative means then may rotate said spring first end coil to return said spring to said locking mode so that said pin supports said object.

2. A support device as defined by claim 1 and further characterized by said ducting including,

a transversely positioned supply duct extending through one end of said support block,

a distribution channel formed in a bottom wall of said support block with an open end of said channel connecting with said supply duct,

a transversely positioned conduit formed in a top surface of a bottom cover plate attached to said support block bottom wall, said conduit having one end connecting with said distribution channel and an opposite end positioned below said bottom end of said pin, and

a valve carried by said support block end, said valve positioned adjacent to said distribution channel open end,

wherein said valve may adjust air flowing to said bore so that said pin floats upward to engage said object bottom surface in a damage-free and dislocation-free manner.

3. A support device as defined by claim 1 and further characterized by including,

a guide channel formed in a top wall of said support block and positioned on one side of said bore, and

a slide bar fitting in said guide channel, said slide bar having a slot holding an arm connected to said spring first end coil,

wherein said spring end coil rotation may be effected by connecting said slide bar to said operative means and then activating said operative means.

4. A support device as defined by claim 1 and further characterized by including,

a sleeve disposed in said support block bore, said sleeve having an inner opening to carry said spring and said pin.

5. A support device as defined by claim 4 and further characterized by said sleeve including,

said inner opening formed with a lower, small diameter section for said pin bottom end and an upper large diameter section form said spring, and

a top end formed with a peripheral ledge to partially encase said first end coil of said spring and a cutout in said ledge for an outward extending arm connected to said spring first end coil.

6. A support device as defined by claim 4 and further characterized by,

said sleeve including an upper portion joined to a lower portion with inner openings of said sleeve portions forming an inner space,

a pair of spaced apart end walls formed in said inner space, and

said spring disposed in said sleeve inner space with ends of said first and second end coils of said spring in respective operative contact with said inner space end walls,

wherein rotation of one said sleeve portion transfers through said sleeve end wall to said spring to enlarge said spring.

7. Apparatus including a first support device comprising:

a support block,

a set of longitudinally aligned, spaced apart upright bores formed in said support block,

a sleeve disposed in each bore with each said sleeve having an inner opening divided into a small diameter lower section and large diameter upper section,

springs carried one each in said sleeve inner opening upper sections, said springs defined in part by coil portions having end coils connecting respectively with upper arms extending outwardly respectively through cutouts formed in top ends of said sleeves and with lower arms extending outwardly respectively through horizontal slits in said sleeves,

pins carried one each in said sleeve inner openings and extending upward in said sleeve inner opening lower sections and through said spring coil portions,

a pair of slide channels formed in a top wall of said block and spaced apart by said bores,

a first slide bar and a second slide bar carried respectively in said slide channels, said first slide bar having a set of upward facing slots to hold ends of said upper arms, and said second slide bar having a set of downward facing slots to hold ends of said lower arms,

a reciprocating device operatively connected to said slide bars, and

an air distribution channel formed in a bottom wall of said block, said channel having an open end connecting with a supply duct in said block,

a set of conduits in a bottom cover plate attached to said block bottom wall, said conduits having first ends connecting with said distribution channel and second ends located below respective bottom ends of said pins,

wherein said reciprocating device is selectively used to vary arcuate spacing of said arms so that said springs release said pins so said pins may move to engage said object and then said springs lock said pins so that said pins support said object.

8. Apparatus as defined by claim 7 and further characterized by said apparatus including,

a second support device, said second support device being identical to said first support device and positioned next to said first support device,

said support blocks of said support devices formed with spaced apart, transversely positioned openings therethrough,

a set of rods extending through said block openings, and

said supply duct in said first support device having an outlet port and said supply duct in said second support device having an inlet port with said first support device outlet port connected to said second support device inlet port,

wherein one or more said support devices may be joined to form said apparatus providing a matrix of pins to support said object.

9. A device particularly adapted to support printed circuit boards during high speed production of such, said device comprising:

a block formed with a set of upright bores,

sleeve means carried in said bores with said sleeve means having respective first inner holding spaces connecting with respective second inner holding spaces,

gripping means disposed in said respective sleeve means first inner holding spaces with said gripping means connecting with actuating elements to place said gripping means in locking modes or release modes,

pins having first ends carried respectively in said sleeve means second inner holding spaces and opposite ends carried respectively by said gripping means, and

ducting means to provide a flow path for an air media from an air media source to points in said sleeve means where said air media may cause pin movement from a retracted position to an extended position upon said actuating elements placing said gripping means in said release mode,

wherein with said pins in said retracted position and said gripping means in said release mode, one said board is slid over said support device, said air media is supplied to said ducting means to move said pins to said extended position to selectively engage a bottom surface of said board, and then with said gripping means in said locking mode said pins support said board.

10. A device to selectively engage a bottom surface of a printed circuit board and then support that board, said device comprising:

a support block,

a set of bores formed in said support block,

pins carried one each in said support block bores,

springs positioned one each about said pins in said bores with said pins selectively locked in place by said springs to maintain top ends of said pins in respective supporting positions,

a bar slidably carried by said device and connected to respective end coils of said springs, and

air ducting carried by said support device, said ducting connecting an air inlet of said ducting respectively to said bores below said pins,

wherein for use, air may be introduced into said ducting through said inlet to float said pins upward to engage said circuit board bottom surface and then said bar may be moved so that said springs lock said pins in said engaging positions.