Method and apparatus for stopping and clamping substrates

摘要

In a facility for conveying PWBs in a path of travel, two stop/clamp devices are magnetically clamped along the path to be spaced in its length and to be within the path width occupied by the traveling board. Each of the devices has stop and clamp elements shiftable as a unit between out positions at which they are disposed in the path and in positions at which they and the rest of their device do not interfere with the travel in the path of the boards. When in the out position, the leading device is adapted to stop the travel of such a board, and both devices are then selectively operable to grip and then release the stopped board. Sensors on the leading device are used to detect the presence of a board near to and at such device. A computer is responsive to such sensors and is used to produce a desired sequence of operations of such two devices and of other units.