Patent ID: 6062799
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
An apparatus for automatically loading a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) into a jig carrier, each of the PCBs having two opposite plane surfaces, two opposite shorter edges, and two opposite longer edges, said apparatus comprising:a PCB stage where the PCBs are supplied;a jig stage where the jig carrier into which the PCBs will be loaded is supplied, the jig carrier including:receivers for supporting a first shorter edge of the PCBs when the PCBs are loaded into the jig carrier;a support plate for supporting a second edge of the PCBs when the PCBs are provided for the jig carrier; andmovable clamps provided with elastic connectors having elastic force,wherein for loading of the PCBs, the movable clamps are opened by an opening force in a direction opposite that of the elastic force, and wherein the movable clamps are closed by the elastic force in the absence of the opening force, whereby the PCBs when loaded into the jig carrier are fixed to the jig carrier by the elastic force when the clamps are closed;a conveyor belt for transferring the jig carrier from said jig stage;a jig opener located under said conveyor belt, said jig opener applying the opening force to the movable clamps when the jig carrier has been transferred along said conveyor belt, whereby said jig opener opens the movable clamps; anda picker running above said jig opener from said PCB stage, said picker picking up the PCBs from said PCB stage and then placing the PCBs into the jig carrier when the jig carrier is above said jig opener.