Supporting pin for supporting substrates in automatic equipment units

• US 6,775,904 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Duebel, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MINH N
• Application Number:
  US09/535,489
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 297/60, 297/59, 297/65, 292/811, 297/90, 297/44, 297/43, 269/54.1, 269/54.3, 269/54.5, 269/70, 269/53, 269/903, 269/266, 269/296, 269/22, 414/737, 414/752
• US Class Current: 29/760
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0069 Holders for printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 269/903 Work holder for electrical circuit assemblages or wiring systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53191 Means to apply vacuum directly to position or hold work part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53265 with work-holder for assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53396 by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53961 with work-holder for assembly

Abstract

Substrates are supported by height-adjustable supporting pins in automated equipping units. The supporting pins are composed of a tip and a foot part that is spring-borne relative to the tip. When the supporting pins are placed against an underside of the substrate, the supporting pins individually adapt to the contour of the underside of the substrate. The height position of the supporting pins is subsequently fixed. As a result, substrates having position and surface variations can be protected against sagging upon placement of components on the substrates during an automated equipping process.

Claims

1. A supporting pin for supporting substrates in automatic equipping units, the supporting pin comprising:

adjustable relative to the base plate and so that the tip can be fixed at a set height to any position relative to the base plate by a switchable clamp mechanism that is coaxially arranged between the foot part and the tip, wherein the foot part includes the switchable clamp mechanism and wherein the switchable clamp mechanism is a pneumatic brake and is connected to an activatable compressed air source.

2. A supporting pin for supporting substrates in automatic equipping units, the supporting pin comprising:

adjustable relative to the base plate and so that the tip can be fixed at a set height to any position relative to the base plate by a switchable clamp mechanism that is coaxially arranged between the foot part and the tip, wherein an upper side of the tip that contacts the substrates includes a rubber plug.

3. A supporting pin for supporting substrates in automatic equipping units, the supporting pin comprising:

adjustable relative to the base plate and so that the tip can be fixed at a set height to any position relative to the base plate by a switchable clamp mechanism that is coaxially arranged between the foot part and the tip, wherein the foot part is a tube and the tip is a tube, the tip is telescopically received over and laterally surrounds the foot part.

4. A supporting pin for supporting substrates in automatic equipping units, the supporting pin comprising:

adjustable relative to the base plate and so that the tip can be fixed at a set height to any position relative to the base plate wherein the supporting pin is individually set in terms of height by a respective switchable clamp mechanism that is coaxially arranged between the foot part and the tip, wherein the foot part includes the switchable clamp mechanism that is a pneumatic brake and is connected to an activatable compressed air source.

5. A supporting pin for supporting substrates in automatic equipping units, the supporting pin comprising:

adjustable relative to the base plate and so that the tip can be fixed at a set height to any position relative to the base plate wherein the supporting pin is individually set in terms of height by a respective switchable clamp mechanism that is coaxially arranged between the foot part and the tip, wherein an upper side of the tip that contacts the substrates includes a rubber plug.

6. A supporting pin for supporting substrates in automatic equipping units, the supporting pin comprising:

adjustable relative to that the tip can be fixed at a set height to any position relative to the supporting pin is individually set in terms of height by a respective switchable clamp mechanism that is coaxially arranged between the foot part and tip, wherein the foot part which is a tube and the tip is a tube, and wherein the tip is telescopically received over and laterally surrounds the foot part.