Depaneling systems

• US 20030164077A1
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PMJ Automec USA Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PMJ Automec USA Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Bob Allen, Hill, Kurt John, Duck, Allen W., Groves, Travis Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/100
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/032 characterised by properties of the support surface
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0046 by sucking
• 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 3/0052 Depaneling, i.e. dividing a panel into circuit boards; Working of the edges of circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53191 Means to apply vacuum directly to position or hold work part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/207 By suction means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2181 Active delivery means mounted on tool support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/748 With work immobilizer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7693 Tool moved relative to work-support during cutting

Abstract

A depaneling system is disclosed for cutting a panel. The depaneling system comprises a tooling apparatus and a cutting apparatus. The tooling apparatus helps hold the panel in place with suction during cutting of said panel and collects dust particles generated by the cutting of the panel. The cutting apparatus is comprised of a housing, a drive motor, a cutting unit, and a drive connector. The housing separates the drive motor from the cutting unit. The housing comprises a first section and a second section separated by a dividing member. The drive connector, such as a belt, passes through the first section of the housing. The second section of the housing forms a path for the dust particles.

Claims

1. A tooling apparatus for a depaneling system, said tooling apparatus for supporting a panel for cutting by a cutting apparatus, said tooling apparatus comprising:

an vacuum chamber having at least one opening on a top side of said vacuum chamber and configured to provide suction to said at least one opening; and

a vacuum channel having a first side configured to interface with said top side of said vacuum chamber, having a second side configured to interface with said panel, and having at least one opening to interface with said at least one opening of said vacuum chamber;

said vacuum chamber and said vacuum channel configured to help hold said panel in place with said suction during cutting of said panel by said cutting apparatus;

said vacuum chamber and said vacuum channel configured to collect dust particles generated by said cutting of said panel with said suction.

2. The tooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vacuum chamber comprises:

a vacuum hose connector configured to couple to a vacuum hose.

3. The tooling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a pliable material on said second end of said vacuum channel configured to interface with said panel.

4. The tooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said panel is to be cut in a pattern and wherein said vacuum channel is configured to correspond with said pattern.

5. The tooling apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one opening in said vacuum chamber comprises:

a plurality of holes that corresponds with said pattern.

6. The tooling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a fixture configured to couple to said vacuum chamber, said fixture comprising;

a base having a first side and a second side, said first side configured to interface with said top side of said vacuum chamber, said base further having at least one opening that corresponds with said at least one opening of said vacuum chamber;

said vacuum channel having said first side of said vacuum channel configured to interface with said second side of said base, having said second side of said vacuum channel configured to interface with said panel, and having said at least one opening of said vacuum channel interface with said at least one opening of said base; and

at least one registration pin extending perpendicular from said base to support said panel.

7. The tooling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one registration pin coupled to vacuum chamber and configured to support said panel.

8. The tooling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a pivot apparatus connected to a bottom side of said vacuum chamber and configured to allow said tooling apparatus to pivot about an axis.

9. The tooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said top side of said vacuum chamber is removable.

10. A depaneling system for cutting a panel, said depaneling system comprising:

a tooling apparatus configured to support a bottom side of said panel and help hold said panel in place with suction during cutting of said panel, and to collect dust particles generated by cutting of said panel with said suction; and

a cutting apparatus configured to cut said panel supported by said tooling apparatus.

11. The depaneling system of claim 10 wherein said tooling apparatus comprises:

a vacuum chamber having at least one opening on a top side and configured to provide suction to said at least one opening; and

a vacuum channel having a first side configured to interface with said top side of said vacuum chamber, having a second side configured to interface with said panel, and having at least one opening to interface with said at least one opening of said vacuum chamber;

said vacuum chamber and said vacuum channel configured to help hold said panel in place with said suction during cutting of said panel by said cutting apparatus;

said vacuum chamber and said vacuum channel configured to collect said dust particles generated by said cutting of said panel with said suction.

12. The depaneling system of claim 11 wherein said vacuum chamber comprises:

a vacuum hose connector configured to couple to a vacuum hose.

13. The depaneling system of claim 11 further comprising:

a pliable material on said second end of said vacuum channel to interface with said panel.

14. The depaneling system of claim 11 wherein said panel is to be cut in a pattern and wherein said vacuum channel is configured to correspond with said pattern.

15. The depaneling system of claim 14 wherein said at least one opening in said vacuum chamber comprises:

a plurality of holes that corresponds with said pattern.

16. The depaneling system of claim 11 further comprising:

a fixture configured to couple to said vacuum chamber, said fixture comprising;

a base having a first side and a second side, said first side configured to interface with said top side of said vacuum chamber, said base further having at least one opening that corresponds with said at least one opening of said vacuum chamber;

said vacuum channel having said first side of said vacuum channel configured to interface with said second side of said base, having said second side of said vacuum channel configured to interface with said panel, and having said at least one opening of said vacuum channel interface with said at least one opening of said base; and

at least one registration pin extending perpendicular from said base to support said panel.

17. The depaneling system of claim 10 wherein said tooling apparatus further comprises:

at least one registration pin configured to support said panel.

18. The depaneling system of claim 10 further comprising:

a pivot system connected to a bottom side of said tooling apparatus and configured to allow said tooling apparatus to pivot about an axis.

19. A cutting apparatus for a depaneling system, said cutting apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a first section and a second section separated by a dividing member, said first section extending from a first end of said housing to a second end of said housing, said second section forming an enclosure between said second end of said housing and a vacuum hose connector;

a drive motor coupled to said first end of said housing;

a cutting unit coupled to said second end of said housing; and

a drive connector configured to couple said drive motor to said cutting unit to rotate said cutting unit, said drive connector extending from said drive motor through said first section to said cutting unit.

20. The cutting apparatus of claim 19 wherein said second section is configured to provide suction to said second end of said housing to collect dust particles around said cutting unit.

21. The cutting apparatus of claim 19 wherein said drive motor is configured to rotate said cutting unit at a speed less than 3000 rpm.

22. The cutting apparatus of claim 19 wherein said cutting unit comprises a saw blade.

23. The cutting apparatus of claim 19 wherein said drive connector comprises a belt.

24. The cutting apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

an air cylinder configured to connect to said depaneling system and balance the weight of said cutting apparatus.

25. A depaneling system for cutting a panel, said depaneling system comprising:

a tooling apparatus configured to support said panel to facilitate cutting of said panel; and

a cutting apparatus configured to cut said panel supported by said tooling apparatus, said cutting apparatus comprising;

a housing comprising a first section and a second section separated by a dividing member, said first section extending from a first end of said housing to a second end of said housing, said second section forming an enclosure between said second end of said housing and a vacuum hose connector;

a drive motor coupled to said first end of said housing;

a cutting unit coupled to said second end of said housing; and

a drive connector configured to couple said drive motor to said cutting unit to rotate said cutting unit, said drive connector extending from said drive motor through said first section to said cutting unit.

26. The depaneling system of claim 25 wherein said tooling apparatus is configured to support a bottom side of said panel and help hold said panel in place with suction during cutting of said panel, and to collect dust particles generated by cutting of said panel with said suction.

27. The depaneling system of claim 25 wherein said second section is configured to provide suction to said second end of said housing to collect dust particles around said cutting unit.

28. The depaneling system of claim 25 wherein said drive motor is configured to spin said cutting unit at a speed of less than 3000 rpm.

29. The depaneling system of claim 25 wherein said cutting unit comprises a saw blade.

30. The depaneling system of claim 25 wherein said drive connector comprises a belt.

31. The depaneling system of claim 25 wherein said cutting apparatus further comprises:

an air cylinder connected to said depaneling system and said cutting apparatus and configured to balance the weight of said cutting apparatus.