Support device with floating pins

A device particularly adapted to engage an irregular bottom surface of an object and then carry that object includes a support block. In the support block is a set of longitudinally spaced apart upright bores. On each side of the bores in a top wall of the block is a guide channel for a slide bar. Ends of these bars operatively connect with a reciprocating mechanism attached to one end of the block. In each bore is a sleeve having an inner opening formed with an upper section for a spring. An upper and lower end coil of a coil portion of each spring connects with an arm that projects outwardly. The upper arms fit respectively in upward facing slots in one slide bar while the lower arms fit respectively in downward facing slots in the other slide bar. In the sleeve inner openings and extending respectively through the coil portion of each springs is a support pin. Top ends of these pins fit in openings in a top cover plate fastened to the support block top wall. A bottom end of each pin then seats on one end of a transversely positioned conduit in a top surface of a bottom cover plate fastened to a bottom wall of the support block. Opposite ends of these conduits connect with a distribution channel in the block bottom wall. For use, the device distribution channel is connected to an air supply. At the same time, the reciprocating mechanism is activated to move the slide bars and rotate the end coils of the springs. Movement of the end coils transfers to the remaining coils of each spring to increase a diameter of each spring coil portion and shift each spring from a locking mode to a release mode. Air from the distribution channel then floats the pins upward to selectively engage the bottom surface of the object above. The reciprocating device then is deactivated allowing the springs to return to a locking mode about the pins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 This invention relates generally to support devices and more particularly
 to a support device having a set of pins that may be floated upward to
 engage an irregular bottom side of an object and then support that object.
 2. Prior Art
 Devices to engage and then support objects having varying configurations
 are well known and been in use for many years. Four such devices are
 described below.
 A first support device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,985,901. This device
 is adapted for bonding soles to footwear. The device includes an I-shaped
 base having a series of aligned, vertically positioned cylinders. In each
 cylinder is a piston of a T-shaped bar that is pushed upward by a spring
 in a bottom of the cylinder. Upward movement of the cylinders is
 restrained by springs on bolts that are secured to respective ends of the
 bars and extend upward through openings in ends of a top flange of the
 base. For use, a bottom sole of a shoe is placed on the T-bars. The bars
 then are forced upward by oil pressure in the cylinders until the shoe
 sole engages an upper portion of the shoe. Because the sole has an
 irregular bottom surface, the distance that individual T-bars move depends
 on the distance between that T-bar and the point of contact with the shoe
 sole.
 A variable contour securing system, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,312, is
 the second support device. This device includes a housing formed by
 joining a set of blocks. Each block has a bottom space that connect to
 form a vacuum chamber. A lower end of a vertical bore in each block then
 connects with the chamber. In each bore is a movable cylinder having a
 bottom end that seats on a spring in the chamber. On a top end of each
 cylinder is a suction cup that extends above the housing. Respective
 passageways in the cylinders link the cups to the vacuum chamber. For use,
 a vacuum source is activated so that the cups may fasten to a bottom side
 of an object. Where the object has an irregular shaped bottom side, the
 respective vertical positions of the cups vary. Once the cups are engaged,
 the location of the cylinders is secured by air activated locking plugs
 located in cavities in the housing.
 The third device, set out in U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,707, is particularly
 adapted to support a face panel of a cathode ray tube and includes a
 box-shaped base. This base is divided into an upper and lower chamber by
 an intermediate partition. In a top wall of the base and the partition is
 a set of pairs of vertically aligned openings. Positioned in each opening
 pair is a sleeve formed with four radially spaced apart, vertical slits.
 These slits then are covered by a flexible tube fitting about the sleeve.
 In each sleeve is a pin having a bottom end located in the lower chamber
 and a top end that extends above the base top wall. For use, the lower
 chamber is pressurized forcing the pins upward to engage the face panel of
 a cathode ray tube. Once contact has been made, the base upper chamber is
 pressurized to force the flexible tubes into the sleeve slots and into
 contact with the pins. This contact produces a frictional interface that
 inhibits further pin movement.
 The last example is holding apparatus set out in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,293.
 This apparatus is particularly adapted to support printed circuit boards
 and comprises a base formed with a plurality of vertical chambers. In
 these chambers are respective springs, for example, to upwardly bias
 bottom foot portions of support pins carried in the chambers. Upper ends
 of the pins extend through respective aligned openings in a lock plate and
 a top plate. For use, a board is placed in contact with the pin upper ends
 so that the pin ends engage a bottom side of the board and electronic
 components on the board bottom side. The pins are selectively depressed
 depending on the particular point of engagement. Once the pins are in
 place, the locking plate is shifted horizontally so that sidewalls of the
 locking plate openings interact with the pins to secure pin location.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 A support device on this invention is particularly adapted to engage an
 irregularly configured bottom surface of an object and then carry that
 object. The device includes a support block having a set of upright bores.
 In each bore is a sleeve for a spring carried in an upper section of an
 inner opening in the sleeve. A support pin having a bottom end slidably
 disposed in a lower section of the sleeve inner opening then extends
 upward through a coil portion of the spring where the pin is held tightly
 by coils of the spring. Next to the bores in a top wall of the support
 block is a first guide channel for a movable slide bar. One end of the
 movable slide bar operatively connects with a reciprocating mechanism
 attached to one end of the support block.
 An uppermost end coil of each spring connects with an upper arm, and the
 lowermost end coil of the spring connects with a lower arm. The upper
 arms, for example, are operatively connected to the movable slide bar. The
 lower arms then are connected to the block or operatively joined to a
 second slide bar. Where the respective arms joined to the spring end coils
 vertically align, the second slide bar is located below the first slide
 bar in the first guide channel. Where the upper and lower arms are
 arcuately offset, the second arms may be connected to the block or
 operatively connected to the second slide bar now carried in a second
 guide channel located in the block top wall on an opposite side of the
 bores. The slide bars, springs, and sleeves are held in place by a top
 cover plate attached to the top wall of the support block. This cover
 plate includes a set of openings for top ends of pins.
 The bottom ends of the pins fit one each over one end of a set of
 transversely positioned conduits formed in a top surface of a bottom cover
 plate fastened to a bottom wall of the support block. Opposite ends of
 these conduits intersect with an air distribution channel in the support
 block bottom wall. An open end of this channel then connects with a
 transversely positioned air supply duct in an opposite end of the support
 block.
 For use, the device supply duct is connected to an air supply. Air flowing
 from the duct to the distribution channel is regulated by a valve carried
 by the support block and located to extend into the distribution channel
 open end. To allow the pins to float upwardly, the reciprocating mechanism
 is activated to move the arms and thereby rotate the coils of the springs.
 Where, for example, the coils of the springs are wound clockwise from the
 uppermost end coil to the lowermost end coil, a clockwise rotational
 movement of the uppermost end coils transfers to the remainder of the
 coils to effect a diameter increase of each spring coil portion.
 Counterclockwise movement of the spring lowermost end coils produces a
 like effect. Were the springs wound counterclockwise, the direction of the
 spring upper and lowermost end coil rotation is reversed to produce a like
 effect. The arms connected to the spring end coils facilitate the transfer
 of force needed to effect coil rotation and the resulting coil
 enlargement. As the spring coils are enlarged, the springs shift from a
 locking mode to a release mode. Once the springs are in a release mode,
 the pins float upward from air flowing through the conduits and under the
 pin bottom ends. Respective upward movement of the pins terminates when
 the top end of a pin contacts a particular point on the bottom surface of
 the object thereabove. The reciprocating mechanism then is deactivated so
 that the arms return to the arcuate spacing that places the spring coil
 portions in their locking mode so that the pins support the object.
 The support device with floating pins of the invention provides several
 advantages over like devices known or in use.
 A first advantage is that pin support can be readily tailored to support
 objects having varying bottom surface configurations. Where, for example,
 this inventive device is used to support a printed circuit board during
 connection of various electronic components attached on a bottom surface
 of the board, the pins engage the board surface, electronic components
 attached to the board, and component connections. Because the flow of air
 that floats the pins upward is slight, there is no damage to or
 dislocation of an electronic component if a pin engages a component.
 Additionally, there is no component dislocation when the pins are locked
 in place.
 A second advantage is that the pattern of pin support can be readily
 customized to support a second object having a different bottom surface
 configuration. By disconnecting the air supply to the pins and unlocking
 the pins, the pins retract under the force of gravity. Support of the
 second object may be effected simply by reconnecting the air supply to
 float the pins upward until the pins engage the second object bottom
 surface. The pins then are locked in place by allowing the springs to
 return to their locking mode. Note that because the pins may be readily
 withdrawn and then reset, objects may be slide over and away this support
 device. There is no need for an object to be lifted on to or off the
 device.
 A further advantage is that top ends of the pins may be shaped to engage
 the object bottom surface in a precise complementary manner. Where the
 irregularity of the object bottom surface is pronounced, it may be
 advantageous for a top end of a pin to be pointed to engage only a small
 area of this surface. Additionally, once the pins of this device are
 locked in place, these pins may carry heavy loads. Thus, with adequate
 support from below, substantial workloads may be applied to a top surface
 of the object.
 A next advantage is that a series of devices may be joined to form an
 apparatus having varying matrices of supporting pins. Apparatus formation
 is facilitated by extending aligning rods transversely through openings in
 the support blocks of the devices and then connecting an outlet port of
 one device supply duct to an inlet port of the supply duct of an adjacent
 device. Note that where the apparatus comprises more than one support
 device of this invention, only one reciprocating device is needed to lock
 and unlock the springs.
 Lastly, the support device of this invention has an extended useful life.
 Models of the device have been cycled more a one million times without a
 failure. Since the device has application in continuous, high production
 manufacturing, device failure must be infrequent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Apparatus 10 comprising a pair of support devices with floating pins of
 this invention is shown generally in FIG. 1. As shown, the support devices
 are designated 12a, 12b. Since the devices 12a, 12b are identical, the
 structure of only one device is described, and the device then simply is
 designated 12. Each device 12a, 12b of the apparatus 10 includes a support
 block 14 formed with a set of spaced apart, transversely positioned,
 horizontal openings 16. As seen in FIG. 1, rods 18 have been inserted
 through the openings 16 in the support blocks 14 of the devices 12a, 12b.
 Joining a series of support devices 12 to create an apparatus, like
 apparatus 10, having a matrix of floating pins is discussed below in
 greater detail.
 As seen in FIGS. 1-3, attached to a top wall 20 of the support block 14 is
 a top cover plate 22 and attached to a bottom wall 24 of the block 14 is a
 bottom cover plate 26. Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, on a first end 28
 of the block 14 is a guide post 30 that fits into a recess 32 formed in an
 inner end 34 of an operative mechanism 36. This mechanism 36 preferably is
 an air operated cylinder that produces a reciprocating action.
 Extending transversely through a second end 38 of the block 14 is an air
 supply duct 40. The supply duct 40 intersects with an open end 42 of a
 distribution channel 43 extending longitudinally along one side of the
 bottom wall 24 of the block 14. Aligned with a longitudinal axis L--L of
 the block 14 is a set of spaced apart, upright, cylindrical bores 44. As
 shown, the block 14 has six bores 44. Bottom ends 46 of the bores 44 are
 connected respectively to the distribution channel 43 by a set of
 semicircular shaped conduits 48 formed in a top surface 50 of the bottom
 cover plate 26, see FIGS. 3, 5 and 10.
 As best understood by viewing FIGS. 8-10, disposed in each support block
 bore 44 is a cylindrically shaped sleeve 52 having an inner opening 54.
 Each sleeve inner opening 54 is divided into a lower, small diameter
 section 56 and an upper, large diameter section 58. A top end 60 of the
 sleeve 52 includes a peripheral ledge 62 formed with a cutout 64. The
 cutout 64 is defined by aligned end walls spaced about 170 degrees apart.
 Opposite the sleeve top end cutout 64 in the peripheral ledge 62 is a key
 way slot 66. Vertically aligned with the cutout 64 and horizontally
 aligned with a circular offset 68 formed at a joinder of the sleeve inner
 opening lower and upper sections 56, 58 is a horizontally slit 70. One end
 of the slit 70 includes an opening 72 having a size at least twice the
 vertical height of the slit 70, see FIGS. 8 and 9.
 Disposed in each sleeve inner opening upper section 58 is a coil portion 74
 of a spring 76. Coils 77 of the spring coil portion 74 are wound clockwise
 from an uppermost end coil 78 to a lowermost end coil 80. The end coils
 78, 80 of each spring 76 connect respectively with a tangentially
 extending upper arm 82 and lower arm 84. These arms 82, 84 are positioned
 about 110 degrees apart. The upper arms 82 extend respectively through the
 sleeve top end cutouts 64 and spaced apart recesses 86 formed in the block
 top wall 20 on one side of the bores 44. The lower arms 84 extend
 respectively through sleeve slits 70 and then through spaced apart,
 vertical openings 88 formed in block top wall 20 on an opposite side of
 the bores 44. Note that except for the sleeve top end cutouts 64, the
 uppermost end coils 78 of the springs 76 are encased by the sleeve top end
 peripheral ledges 62. The purpose of the opening 72 in each sleeve 52 is
 to facilitate initial location of the lower arm 84 in the sleeve slit 70.
 Slidably carried in each sleeve inner opening lower section 56 and
 extending through each spring coil portion 74 is a pin 90. A bottom end 92
 of each pin 90 is formed with peripheral flange 93. A length of each pin
 90 is such that bottom ends 92 of the pins 90 rest on the top surface 50
 of the bottom cover plate 26. Top ends 94 of the pins 90 then extend
 through openings 96 in the block top cover plate 22.
 As seen in FIGS. 2 and 10, in the top wall 20 of the block 14 and
 positioned on respective sides of the bores 44 are guide channels 98a, 98b
 for slide bars 100a, 100b. Structure of the slide bar 100b is shown in
 detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. Each slide bar 100a, 100b has an elongated body
 102. In a wall 104 of the bar body 102 is a set of six angularly
 positioned slots 106. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10, the slots 106 in the
 slide bar 100b face up; then as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the slots 106 in
 the slide bar 100a face down. Regardless, these slots 106 are spaced apart
 at a distance substantially equal to the spacing of the support block
 bores 44. One end 108 of each slide bar body 102 is formed with an offset
 110 for an upstanding pin 112.
 The slide bar 100b is carried in the guide channel 98a so that its slots
 106 face up. As located, outer ends of the upper arms 82 fit respectively
 in the slots 106 of slide bar 100b. The slide bar 100a then is carried in
 the guide channel 98a so that its slots 106 face down. Outer ends 114 of
 the lower arms 84 fit respectively in the slots 106 of the slide bar 100a.
 As seen in FIG. 2, operatively joined to the inner end 34 of the
 reciprocating mechanism 36 is a body portion 116 of a yoke 118. Arms 120
 of this yoke 118 fit respectively in the offsets 110 of the slide bars
 110a, 100b so that the slide bar pins 112 may fit in end openings 122 in
 the yoke arms 120.
 Operation of the device 12 requires connecting the device reciprocating
 mechanism 36 and an inlet 124 of the block supply duct 40 to an air supply
 in a known manner. While the air supply to the mechanism 36 would include
 external valving, pressure of air from the block supply duct 40 is
 regulated by a control valve 126 carried in the block second first 38, see
 FIG. 1 wherein the device 12b is shown fitted with a valve 126. The value
 126 has a valve stem (not shown) that selectively locates in the open end
 42 of the distribution channel 43 to regulate air flow to the sleeves
 inner openings 54.
 Where only one device 12 is to be used, an outlet port 130 of the supply
 duct 40 is plugged. Where more than one device 12 are combined, for
 example two device's 12a, 12b to form apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. 1, the
 outlet port 130 of the device 12b is connected to the inlet port 124 of
 the device 12a. This joinder is facilitated by the rods 18 inserted
 through the support block openings 16 in the devices 12a, 12b that
 maintain the adjacent air duct outlets 130 and air duct inlets 124
 alignment.
 As discussed above, the device 12 is particularly adapted for connecting a
 set of like devices 12 to form apparatus providing a matrix of pins 90.
 FIG. 1 shows a pin matrix comprising two six-pin columns and six two-pin
 rows. Note that the devices 12a, 12b may be closely packed in a
 side-by-side relationship or spaced apart.
 Where the apparatus is used to support printed circuit boards, for example,
 six devices 12 typically are closely packed to provide a 36-pin matrix of
 six columns and six rows. With a circuit board positioned above the
 apparatus comprising six devices 12, air is introduced to the now
 connected supply ducts 40 of six devices 12 to charge the respective
 distribution channels 43. At the same time, the mechanism 36 of each
 device 12 is activated to move the slide bars 100a, 100b of each device 12
 away from the mechanism 36 (toward the block second end 38). End walls of
 the slide bar slots 106 interact with the outer ends 114 of the upper and
 lower arms 82, 84 to rotate the spring uppermost end coils 78 clockwise
 and the spring lowermost end coils 80 counterclockwise. This movement
 transfers from the spring uppermost end coils 78 and lowermost coils 80 to
 the remaining coils 77 of each spring coil portion 74. As the spring coils
 77-80 now are rotated, a diameter of the coils 77-80 of each spring 76
 increases so that the springs 76 change from a locking mode to a release
 mode. Uniformity of this diameter enlargement is enhanced in part by
 containment of the uppermost end coil 78 of each spring 76 by the sleeve
 top end peripheral ledge 62. Once the springs 76 are their release mode,
 the pins 90 are free to float. Charged air from the distribution channel
 43 then flows through the bottom cover plate conduits 48 forcing the pins
 90 upward. Each supply duct control valve 126 is set to produce a minimum
 impacting force when the top ends 94 of the pins 90 contact a bottom side
 of the board, components extending downward from the board bottom side, or
 connections between components. When pin contact is complete, the device
 reciprocating mechanisms 36 are deactivated so that the springs 76 return
 to their pin locking mode.
 When locked in place, one pin 90 may support up to about 10 pounds. Note
 that the pins 90 may be returned to their retracted position by shutting
 off the air supply to the supply ducts 40 and activating the mechanisms 36
 to place each spring 76 in its release mode.
 To prevent sleeve rotation during operation of the device 12, in each block
 top wall 20 is a set of key way recesses 132. These recesses 132
 respectively intersect the bores 44 and align with the sleeve key way
 slots 66. Compressively inserted keys 134 in these sleeve key way slots 66
 and block recesses 132 inhibit any sleeve rotational movement. FIG. 2
 shows the structure of one typical key-slot-recces combination.
 It should be understood that when the operative mechanism 36 is in a
 deactivated state, the slide bar slots 106 may be positioned maintain the
 springs 76 in an expanded release mode. The mechanism 36 then is activated
 to allow the spring coils 77-80 to rotate so that the springs 76 shift to
 a contracted locking mode. The useful life of the springs 76 appears
 improved by using the first described procedure.
 Using the procedure described above, the pins 90 of the device 12 joined to
 form an apparatus 10 can be readily reset. As reset, the pins 90 may
 engage the bottom side of most any circuit board or other object in a
 damage-free and dislocation-free manner regardless of irregularity of the
 bottom side configuration of the object to be supported. Then, depending
 on the size and weight of that object, the number of devices 12 joined is
 selected so that pin support of the object is evenly distributed.
 A modified sleeve-spring-pin assembly is shown generally in FIGS. 11-13 and
 designated 140. Like reference numbers are used to identify like
 structure, and previously used reference numbers are used to identify
 previously identified structure.
 A sleeve 142 of the assembly 140 includes an upper portion 144 and a lower
 portion 146 with a top end 148 of the sleeve lower portion 146 abutting a
 bottom end 150 of the sleeve upper portion 144. The sleeve lower portion
 146 has an inner opening 154 defined by a lower small diameter section 156
 and an upper large diameter section 158. As seen in FIG. 13, a peripheral
 ledge 160 at a joinder of the sections 156, 158 is cutout to form a
 vertical end wall 164 in the sleeve lower portion ledge 160.
 The sleeve upper portion 144 also has a like inner opening 154 defined by a
 lower large diameter section 166 and an upper small diameter section 168.
 A peripheral ledge 160 at a joinder of the sections 166, 168 also is
 cutout to form a vertical end wall 164 in the sleeve upper portion ledge
 160.
 As seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, a spring 170 is disposed in an inner space 172
 defined when the large diameter section 158 of the sleeve lower portion
 146 is joined to the large diameter section 166 of the sleeve upper
 portion 144. As located, an end 174 of a lowermost end coil 80 of the
 spring 170 abuts the end wall 164 of the sleeve lower portion 146, and an
 end 174 of an uppermost end coil 78 of the spring 170 abuts the end wall
 164 of the sleeve upper portion 144.
 For use, first outward extending arms 176a respectively attached to the
 sleeve lower portions 146 fit in respective downward facing slots 106 of
 the slide bar 100a of the device 12. Second arms 176b attached
 respectively to the sleeve upper portions 144 then fit in respective
 upward facing slots 106 of the slide bar 100b. Additionally, top ends 178
 of the sleeve upper portions 144 fit respectively in openings 180 in the
 top cover plate 22.
 Movement of the slide bars 100a, 100b, as discussed earlier, transfers
 respectively to the sleeve lower and upper portions 144, 146 to rotate the
 lowermost and uppermost end coils 80, 78 of the springs 170. Rotation of
 the end coils 78, 80 of the springs 170 then transfers to the remaining
 coils 77 of the springs 170. The resulting enlargement in diameter of the
 spring coil portion 74 of each spring 170 shifts each spring 170 from a
 locking mode to a release mode. With air then flowing into the sleeve
 lower portion inner openings 154 from the conduits 48 in the bottom cover
 plate 26, the pins 90 contained by the sleeves 142 may floats upward. As
 noted above, mode shifting of the springs 170 may be effected by rotating
 of only one spring end coil, end coil 78 or end coil 80.
 While embodiments, uses and advantages of this invention have been shown
 and discussed, it should be understood that this invention is limited only
 by the scope of the claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that
 various modifications or changes may be made without departing from the
 scope and spirit of the invention, and theses modifications and changes
 may result in further uses and advantages.