Apparatus for adjusting a vacuum selector

• US 7,152,271 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Pfautz, Douglas Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/391,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 153/092, 153/28, 153/31, 154/19, 153/01, 251/319, 137/625.48, 137/872, 406/181
• US Class Current: 15/309.2
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0228 Cutting, sawing, milling or shearing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/082 Suction, e.g. for holding solder balls or components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/1572 Processing both sides of a PCB by the same process; Providing a similar arrangement of components on both sides; Making interlayer connections from two sides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0052 Depaneling, i.e. dividing a panel into circuit boards; Working of the edges of circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/26 Cleaning or polishing of the conductive pattern

Abstract

A vacuum selector is provided. The vacuum selector includes a housing having first and second faces, the first face including first and second openings, the second face including a primary opening that communicates with the first and second openings along a flow path through the housing. The vacuum selector further includes a slider member movably provided in the housing and traversing the flow path, the slider member including a selector opening therethrough, the slider member being movable transversely to the flow path such that the selector opening changes the flow path to adjust flow communication between the primary opening and the first and second openings.

Claims

1. A vacuum selector comprising:

a housing having first and second faces, said first face including first and second openings, said second face including a primary opening that communicates with said first and second openings along a flow path through said housing; and

a slider member movably provided in said housing and traversing said flow path, said slider member including a selector opening therethrough, said slider member being movable transversely to said flow path such that said selector opening changes said flow path to adjust flow communication between said primary opening and said first and second openings, wherein said housing includes a spring loaded member that extends into a channel formed in said housing, said channel receiving said slider member, said slider member having a detent that engage said spring loaded member when said slider member is adjusted between a plurality of positions.

2. The vacuum selector according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes first and second housing plates joining to slidably retain said slider member therebetween, the first and second housing plates having the first and second faces, respectively.

3. The vacuum selector according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes first and second housing plates, said first and second openings extending through said first housing plate, said primary opening extending through said second housing plate, the first and second housing plates having the first and second faces, respectively.

4. The vacuum selector according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a channel traversing said flowpath, said slider member being slidable within said channel.

5. The vacuum selector according to claim 1, wherein said slide member is adjusted between a plurality of positions include a first position wherein only said second opening is in flow communication with said selector opening and said primary opening, a second position wherein both of said first and second openings are in flow communication with said selector opening and said primary opening, and a third position wherein only said first opening is in flow communication with said selector opening and said primary opening.

6. The vacuum selector according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes at least one recess adjacent said primary opening with an arcuate perimeter that aligns with an outer perimeter of said first opening, such that, when said slider member is aligned only with said first opening positions, said arcuate perimeter of said recess communicates with said outer perimeter of said first opening.

7. A vacuum selector comprising:

a housing having first and second faces, said first face including first and second openings, said second face including a primary opening that communicates with said first and second openings along a flow path through said housing; and

a slider member movably provided in said housing and traversing said flow path, said slider member including a selector opening therethrough, said slider member being movable transversely to said flow path such that said selector opening changes said flow path to adjust flow communication between said primary opening and said first and second openings, wherein said housing includes a channel that joins a recess extending substantially along a portion of said channel, said slider member has a tab that is received within said recess and slidable in said recess as said slider member is moved.

8. The vacuum selector according to claim 7, wherein said recess has a first stop at one end of said recess and a second stop at another end of said recess, such that said tab is slidable between said first and second stops.

9. A system for depaneling circuit boards from a panel, comprising:

a router station receiving a panel having a circuit board connected thereto, the router station severing the circuit board from the panel, the router station producing debris during a depaneling operation; and

a debris removal system for removing debris from the router station, comprising;

a vacuum source;

a vacuum selector comprising;

a housing having first and second faces, said first face including first and second openings, said second face including a primary opening that communicates with said first and second openings along a flow path through said housing; and

a slider member movably provided in said housing and traversing said flow path, said slider member including a selector opening therethrough, said slider member being movable transversely to said flow path such that said selector opening changes said flow path to adjust flow communication between said primary opening and said first and second openings;

an upper conduit having one end coupled to said first opening and another end adapted for removing debris from above the router station; and

a lower conduit having one end coupled to said second opening and another end adapted for removing debris from below the router station.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said housing includes first and second housing plates joining to slidably retain said slider member therebetween, the first and second housing plates having the first and second faces, respectively.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said housing includes first and second housing plates, said first and second openings extending through said first housing plate, said primary opening extending through said second housing plate, the first and second housing plates having the first and second faces, respectively.

12. The system according to claim 9 wherein said housing includes a channel traversing said flowpath, said slider member being slidable within said channel.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein said housing includes a channel that joins a recess extending substantially along a portion of said channel, said slider member has a tab that is received within said recess and slidable in said recess as said slider member is moved.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said recess has a first stop at one end of said recess and a second stop at another end of said recess, such that said tab is slidable between said first and second stops.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein said housing includes a spring loaded member that extends into a channel formed in said housing, said channel receiving said slider member said slider member having detent that engage said spring loaded member when said slide member is adjusted between a plurality of positions.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein said slide member is adjusted between a plurality of positions include a first position wherein only said second opening is in flow communication with said selector opening and said primary opening, a second position wherein both of said first and second openings are in flow communication with said selector opening and said primary opening, and a third position wherein only said first opening is in flow communication with said selector opening and said primary opening.

17. The system according to claim 9, wherein said housing includes at least one recess adjacent said primary opening with an arcuate perimeter that aligns with an outer perimeter of said first opening, such that, when said slider member is aligned only with said first opening, said arcuate perimeter of said recess communicates with said outer perimeter of said first opening.

18. The system of claim 9, further comprising a feeder station that receives the panels and delivers the panels to the router station.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the debris collection system includes a router sub-base adapted for connection to the router station, the upper and lower conduits being arranged to remove debris from above and below the router sub-base, respectively.

20. The system of claim 9, wherein the slider member is switched between first and second positions to select between the upper and lower conduits.