Patent ID: 6799709
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: B23K,H05K

Abstract:
An apparatus for locally applying solder to a plurality of sets of preselected conductive areas on each of printed circuit boards, said apparatus comprising:a flux station including a plurality of flux nozzles for locally applying flux to the sets of preselected conductive areas on each of the printed circuit boards, said plurality of flux nozzles being arranged in a pattern substantially identical to that of the respective sets of preselected conductive areas on each of the printed circuit boards; a preheater station located downstream of said flux station and arranged to preheat the printed circuit boards; a wave solder station located downstream of said preheater station, said wave solder station including a plurality of solder nozzles arranged to locally apply solder to the respective sets of preselected conductive areas on each of the printed circuit boards, said flux station, said preheater station and said wave solder station being arranged in line in the direction of conveyance of the printed circuit boards; and a conveyor system for simultaneously transporting the printed circuit boards from one station to another along a substantially horizontal conveyor path, said conveyor system including a fixed frame extending in the direction of conveyance of the printed circuit boards, an elongate arm carriage carried by and reciprocably moved along said fixed frame, a plurality of pairs of pivot arms pivotably connected to said arm carriage and movable between an inoperative position where said pivot arms are disengaged from the printed circuit boards and an operative position where said pivot arms are engaged with the printed circuit boards, a pair of first rails connected to said fixed frame and located above said flux station and said preheater station, and a pair of second rails connected to said fixed frame and located above said wave solder station.