Patent ID: 7758028
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: H05K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for assembling printed circuit boards, including: a first support plate having an inner face and an outer face, the first support plate having a first attachment rail disposed horizontally on its inner face and running substantially from a first edge to a second edge of the first support plate at a selected height above a bottom edge of the first side plate, an inner surface of the first attachment rail and the inner face of the first support rail defining a first side-plate attachment channel running substantially from the first edge to the second edge of the first support plate; a second support plate spaced apart from the first support plate and having an inner face and an outer face, the second support plate having a second attachment rail disposed horizontally on its inner face and running substantially from a first edge to a second edge of the second support plate at a selected height above a bottom edge of the second side plate, an inner surface of the second attachment rail and the inner face of the second support rail defining a second side-plate attachment channel running substantially from the first edge to the second edge of the second support plate; a first side plate oriented perpendicular to the first and second support plates, the first side plate having a top edge with a height less than the height of the first and second support plates and having a first recess on a first edge that mates with the first attachment rail and a biased member that engages the first side-plate attachment channel, and a second recess on a second edge that mates with the second side-plate attachment channel and a biased member that engages the second side-plate attachment rail; a second side plate oriented perpendicular to the first and second support plates, the second side plate having a top edge with a height equal to the height of the first side plate and having a first recess on a first edge that mates with the first attachment rail and a biased member that engages the first side-plate attachment channel, and a second recess on a second edge that mates with the second side-plate attachment channel and a biased member that engages the second side-plate attachment rail, the first and second support plates and the first and second side plates forming a vacuum box; and at least one substrate support device having a height less than the difference between the height of the first and second side plates and the first and second support plates, and resting on the top edges of the first and second side plates.