Automatic insertion universal work holding system.

摘要

The invention is a work holding system (79) for adjustably receiving and holding printed circuit boards (325, 804) for automatic machine component insertion. It includes a frame and a plurality of mutually cooperative adjustable board holders. The frame is U-shaped and is made up of framing members (101, 102, 103) each having a linear scale (301, 302, 303) affixed thereto. An adjustably positionable framing member (104) extends across the U and is slidable along the opposed framing members (101, 102) toward and away from the base framing member (103) forming the bottom of the U. Means (171, 173) are provided for indexing, locking the adjustably positionable member (104) to the frame in any desired position. A linear scale (304) is also carried by the adjustably positionable member and all scales have a common datum. The frame carries indexing means (81, 82, 83, 84) to index it to the machine which inserts components. A number of adjustable board holders (321, 335, 601, 602) are slidably carried by the base framing member (103) and the adlustably positionable framing member (104) to receive circuit boards (325) therebetween. The board holders (321, 335, 601, 602) are indexed and locked to the respective framing members in the proper positions for attaching the boards to the frame, and indexing means are carried by at least one of the receiving board holders for indexing the boards to the frame and consequently to the machine for component insertion. Another embodiment of the invention includes a second pair of adjustably positionable framing members (105, 106) slidable along the opposed framing members (101, 102) between the first adjustably positionable framing member (104) and the mouth of the frame. This pair is equipped with similar structure, as previously described, in order that second or further circuit boards (804) may be indexably received and supported between the further pair of adjustably positionable framing members. The plurality of adjustable board holders is universal in ability to receive and index any type of circuit board. Also, the provision of the second pair of adjustably positionable framing members (105, 106) permits 90 DEG of circuit boards from one side of the frame to the other side of the frame for insertion of components at 90 DEG to those inserted at the first location.