CIRCUIT BOARD MAGAZINE HAVING RETENTION BAR WITH A LOCKING MECHANISM

A circuit board magazine for carrying electronic articles, such as printed circuit boards and the like having a plurality of slots arranged in stacked parallel relationship for receiving the electronic articles is provided. The plurality of slots are formed as a pair of oppositely facing recessed regions extending along the length of the device. Each of the slots includes a recessed region that receives an edge of the printed circuit boards. An engagement mechanism is mounted at an open end face of the device. The engagement mechanism includes a retention bar and a spring-loaded lever that is pivotally mounted for automatic movement to a raised inoperative position to disengage the retention bar and permit the bar to swivel freely. In a retracted position, the retention bar permits passage of the printed circuit boards through the open end face. In the closed position, the retention bar prevents movement of the circuit boards from the interior of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure describes a circuit board magazine that is constructed to enable one or more self-supporting articles such as circuit boards and the like to be held firmly in the magazine but readily removable therefrom. As used in this specification and the concluding claims, it is understood that the term self-supporting means a thin member having appreciable width and depth that can be supported generally horizontally at its edges without collapsing under its own weight and the weight of other objects that it is intended to carry.

FIGS. 1,2,3show an embodiment of a magazine of the present disclosure for carrying self-supporting articles.FIG. 1is a front perspective view of the magazine,FIG. 2is an exploded front perspective view of the magazine ofFIG. 1, andFIG. 3is a top perspective view of the magazine. For convenience, the following description will be made with reference to use of the magazine specifically for circuit boards. The magazine will normally accommodate a plurality of self-supporting articles in a stacked relationship, although for the sake of clarity only one circuit board is shown inFIG. 1, this circuit board being shown partially inserted. However, it will be understood that this magazine may be used to store or otherwise support other self-supporting, sheet-like articles, such as a thin member having appreciable width and depth that can be supported generally in a single plane, e.g., horizontally, at its edges without collapsing under its own weight and the weight of other objects that it is intended to carry.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, a magazine2generally includes a top panel4and a bottom panel6coupled to opposing first and second side panels8. The side panels8meet with the top panel4and bottom panel6at about90degree angles. The top panel4, bottom pane6, and first and second side panels8generally define a hollow rectangular frame10with an open front face and an open back face. The top panel4, bottom pane6, and first and second side panels8provide structural rigidity for the magazine2to prevent damage to circuit board(s)1that are placed within the rectangular frame.

The top and bottom panels4,6support the side panels8in a face-to-face relation, spaced apart by a defined distance. The distance may be defined based on a width of the articles for which the magazine2is to be used. In other words, the dimensions, in particular, width, for the top panel4and bottom panel6can be configured to support any desired width for the circuit boards. Alternatively, the coupling of the side panels8may be dynamically adjustable based on the width of the circuit boards. Such a feature makes it possible to select the spacing between the side panels8to accommodate circuit boards of various dimensions. The side panels8may be secured to the top and bottom panels4,6in any suitable manner such as by welding or screws.

Two or more pairs of mutually opposed horizontal slots14aand14bare formed on the side panels8. The slots14a,14bare formed having a width that is at least equal to or greater than the width of the circuit boards. In use, each opposing slot14a,14bdefines a track onto which each circuit board1can be inserted into and withdrawn from the magazine through the interaction of the edges of each board1engaging with the corresponding slots14a,14bof the magazine2. The circuit board edges having been slid as such on opposing side panels8are securely carried by the magazine2. The slots14a,14bin each pair are formed at an identical height on the side panels8. Each opposing slot of the pair14a,14breceives one edge of a circuit board. The slots14a,14bextend from the front to the back of the magazine2in the embodiment ofFIG. 1and the opposing slots14a,14bin opposing side panels8thereby define a plurality of parallel edge supports for the circuit boards.

Two brackets16a,16bare coupled to the first (or second) side panel8. The brackets16are aligned to permit a shaft to be received therethrough. The brackets may facilitate conveying of the magazine2, for example, along an assembly line. It will be appreciated that the brackets16, in addition to providing an easy means for transportation of the magazine, can be used to suspend it for storage, and also provide extra rigidity in the side-to-side direction. The positioning of the brackets16may also facilitate holding of the magazine2securely in complementary portions of a loader or off-loader, making it possible to insert the circuit boards into the magazine.

Each of the top panel4, bottom panel6, and side panels8in the embodiment ofFIG. 1is preferably a substantially planar element, made of a sheet metal or any other suitably rigid sheet-like material including iron, aluminum, brass and stainless steel.

An engagement mechanism20may be provided to secure the circuit board(s) within the magazine2. The engagement mechanism20includes a retention bar22, a pair of pivot members24, and a lock lever28. Unlike the end caps of the prior art, the retention bar22is formed as part of the magazine. Therefore, it is just swiveled to lock the components in place or in the opposite direction to unload the components from the magazine. The retention bar22is coupled at first and second ends to the pivot members24in a fixed relation. Such coupling may be achieved through welding, for example. A pivot shaft30a,30bis provided for fixedly coupling to each of the pivot members24. The pivot members24include an opening that is sized to receive the pivot shaft30. The opening of the pivot member24includes dimensions that are sized to freely permit rotation of the pivot members24about the pivot shaft30while the pivot shaft30is inserted through the opening.

The lock lever28may be coupled to the panel4through a torsion spring assembly32that may include a shaft coupled to the side panel8onto which a spring is mounted. The torsion spring assembly32enables the lock lever28to be selectively engaged and disengaged from the pivot member24. In turn, the engagement of the locking lever28with the pivot member24inhibits movement of the retention bar22and disengagement of the locking lever28from the pivot member24permits free movement of the retention bar22about the pivot shaft30.

The materials for the constituent components of the engagement mechanism20may be selected to match the materials of the panels. Such materials may include metals such as iron, brass, stainless steel, aluminum or any other rigid material that will not permit flexing against the weight of the circuit boards disposed within the magazine2and that is compatible with the material of the panels to enable the aforementioned coupling to the top and bottom panels.

Turning to the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, portions of the engagement mechanism are illustrated. In particular, the pivot member24is shown having first and second grooves26a,b. The pivot member24swivels about a generally circumferential plane so that the lock lever can be inserted into one of the first and second grooves26a,b.

When inserted into either one of first or second grooves26a,b, the swiveling movement of the pivot member24is inhibited. As illustrated inFIGS. 1,2, and3, the retention bar22is fixedly coupled to the pivot member24such that the swiveling motion of the pivot member24is directly translated into movement in the same direction of the retention bar22. Similarly, inhibiting the movement of the pivot member24causes the retention bar22to remain in a fixed location. When positioned in the closed position, the retention bar22secures the circuit boards within the magazine2.

In an embodiment, one such engagement mechanism20is provided at the front open end and another engagement mechanism20may be provided at the back open end.

Each engagement mechanism20is independently operable to permit insertion of the circuit boards through the front open end or the back open end and removal through either open ends.

The lock lever28is inserted into the first groove26awhich coincides with the retention bar22being in a retracted position. In the retracted position, the retention bar22allows circuit boards to be inserted into or removed from the slots14of the side panels8. When the circuit boards have been loaded, the lock lever is raised to disengage from the first groove26aand the retention bars22on the front open end and the back open end are swiveled inward toward the open ends to contact the immediately-adjacent edges of the circuit boards. The lock lever28is inserted into the second groove26bto again engage the retention bar22. Once this has been done, the retention bars22function as stops to prevent the circuit boards from falling out of the magazine2.

The locking action of the retention bar22is advantageous in that no sliding action occurs when securing the circuit boards1. Rather, the swiveling action simply causes the retention bar22to abut the circuit boards1. As such, no shaving of the circuit boards occurs.

In another embodiment, the engagement mechanism20includes a detent40that prevents placement of the magazine2onto a handler of the onloader or offloader with the retention bar(s)22in a closed position. The detent40abuts with a feature of the handler to prevent the magazine2from being inadvertently placed within the onloader or offloader with the retention bar(s)22in the closed position. This prevents the risk of accidently offloading the boards with the retention bar in the closed position which would damage the boards.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications may be made without departing from what is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “having,” “including,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.