Transport and positioning mechanism

摘要

Substrates such as printed circuit boards are transported between and precisely indexed at work stations by means of a gas cushion formed on a plate. The substrate is transported and shifted from position to position by means of ducted gas jets or sweeps while indexing of the substrate is achieved by means of movable stops controlled by electromagnets or pneumatic means. The system finds particular use in the drilling of printed circuit boards and for component insertion, especially of integrated circuit chips, thereon.