Method and apparatus for automatic loading and unloading of printed circuit boards on machines for electrical testing

摘要

A method is described for automatic loading and unloading of printed circuit boards on machines for electrical testing, consisting of feeding the circuits to be tested into a pick-up area (16), detecting the position of the single circuits and comparing the position detected with a correct reference position, transferring the circuits from the pick-up area (16) to a loading area (4) on the test machine, taking into account during transfer any deviation of the actual position of the circuit board from the reference position, so that the circuit is always picked up in the same way, to be set down in the pre-established region of the loading area (4), and unloading the tested circuits from said area (4) of the machine onto a discharge line (7) for good circuits and a magazine (17) for faulty circuits, depending upon the test result. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.