Driving board folding machine and method of using a driving board folding machine to fold a flexible circuit

• US 9,862,561 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Martinez, Juan Jose Montiel, Cruz, Guillermo Armando Martinez, Ruiz, Mario Lopez
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul D
• Application Number:
  US14/094,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20140150252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 29745, 29829
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/06 for folding
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/051 Rolled
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/532 Conductor

Abstract

A driving board folding machine comprises a machine housing, a movable table and one or more pre-folding stations for holding an unfolded flexible circuit and a circuit housing. When the driving board folding machine is activated, the one or more pre-folding stations are moved to a folding station located within the machine housing and the flexible circuit is folded and inserted within the circuit housing. The driving board folding station is able to comprise multiple pre-folding stations on one or more sides of the movable table. A holding pin holds the flexible circuit in place while a forming press moves in order to preform the flexible circuit, fold the flexible circuit and move the circuit housing to insert the flexible circuit into the housing.

Claims

1. A driving board folding machine comprising:

a. a machine housing;

b. a movable table, wherein the movable table comprises a first end and second opposite the first end, and wherein each of the first end and the second end comprise one or more pre-folding stations;

c. each of the one or more pre-folding stations for holding a circuit housing and an unfolded flexible circuit, wherein the one or more pre-folding stations are rotatably inserted into the machine housing; and

d. an apparatus for moving each of the one or more pre-folding stations to a folding station located within the machine housing where the unfolded flexible circuit is folded and inserted into the circuit housing.

2. The driving board folding machine of claim 1 wherein the one or more pre-folding stations are slidably inserted into the machine housing.

3. The driving board folding machine of claim 1 wherein the flexible circuit is folded before the flexible circuit is inserted into the circuit housing.

4. The driving board folding machine of claim 1 wherein the unfolded flexible circuit is folded at a force less than 50N.

5. The driving board folding machine of claim 1 wherein the unfolded flexible circuit comprises a circuit for a LED lamp.

6. The driving board folding machine of claim 1 wherein the folding station includes a holding pin, a forming press, and a circuit support, wherein the circuit support is adapted to hold the unfolded flexible circuit between the holding pin and the forming press.

7. A pre-folding station for a driving board folding machine, the pre-folding station comprising:

a. a circuit support coupled to and extends from a movable table and for receiving an unfolded flexible circuit and a circuit housing such that, when the unfolded flexible circuit and the circuit housing are received, the circuit housing surrounds the circuit support and the unfolded flexible circuit is positioned over a top of the circuit support and the circuit housing.

8. The pre-folding station of claim 7 wherein the circuit support comprises one or more apertures for receiving one or more circuit connector pins.

9. The pre-folding station of claim 7, wherein the circuit support includes at least one aperture formed on a top planar surface, wherein each of the at least one aperture formed on the top planer surface is configured to receive a connector pin of the flexible circuit when the flexible circuit is placed on top of the circuit support and the circuit housing.

10. A method of using a driving board folding machine to fold a flexible circuit and insert the flexible circuit within a circuit housing, the method comprising:

a. coupling the circuit housing with a circuit support;

b. placing an unfolded flexible circuit on a top of the circuit support and the circuit housing; and

c. activating the machine,

wherein when the machine is activated, the unfolded flexible circuit and the circuit housing are moved and rotated to a folding station wherein the unfolded flexible circuit is folded and inserted into the circuit housing.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the unfolded flexible circuit is held in place by a holding pin while a forming press moves upward in order to fold the unfolded flexible circuit and insert the flexible circuit into the circuit housing.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the unfolded flexible circuit is folded before the flexible circuit is inserted in the circuit housing.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the unfolded flexible circuit comprises a circuit for a LED lamp.