Patent ID: 6346154
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: H05K,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for holding in position a printed circuit board during a printing process, comprising:a suction plate having a plurality of cavities arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, an encasing arrangement including movable sidewalls and expandable, movable sidewalls attached to said suction plate and establishing a vacuum chamber for holding said printed circuit board at a height above said suction plate, at least one support post mounted in at least one of said cavities of said suction plate for supporting said printed circuit board inside said vacuum chamber, a plurality of cavity plugs for closing unused ones of said plurality of cavities in said suction plate and, wherein said cavities have a first cross-section, and wherein each support post includes a stem having a second cross-section, larger than said first cross-section, and a foot having a third cross-section, said third cross-section being smaller than said second cross-section and said first cross-section.