Patent ID: 6098274
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B23Q,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
A combination of a number of rectangular printed circuit boards, each one of said board having a short side and a long side and a machine tool featuring a number of machining heads comprising: A plurality of machining heads in which each of the head operatively associated with one of a corresponding boards; said machine tool including a worktable adapted to support said number of boards and moveable in a first direction; said heads being arranged in two parallel rows distanced along said first direction and being moveable along a second direction perpendicular to said first direction; said boards being arranged on said worktable in two parallel rows associated with said two rows of heads so that each said board presents its short side parallel to said first direction; wherein each of said heads comprises a vertical-axis tool spindle; wherein said two rows of heads are arranged so that the axes of the respective spindles are separated by a distance equal to that between corresponding rows of boards, and said axes in each row of heads are separated by a distance equal to that between two adjacent boards in each row, wherein said boards are arranged in a pack having two locating pins at two edges parallel to said short side (m); at least said long side (M) being of variable length; said pack being aligned and locked, for machining, by means of a fixture fitted to said work table; and said fixture comprising a seat for one of said pins, and a groove for receiving the other of said pins; and wherein said worktable comprises a number of said fixtures of rectangular shape and arranged in two rows; each of said fixtures being associated with one of said heads; and said grooves of said fixtures being parallel to said second direction, so that the grooves of the fixtures in each row are aligned with one another.