EP0374459A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic loading mechanism
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1989-11-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-11-10
Abstract
Abstract An automatic loading mechanism (10) for use in the manufacture of thin, metallic circuit board panels. The invention includes a lower drum unit (14) which accepts the metallic panels from a conveyor system. The lower drum unit is rotatably mounted within a frame assembly (12), and includes a plurality of clamp means which can automatically receive several metallic panels of varying size. The lower unit includes automatic clamp control means, and has the capability of rotating the panels from a horizontal to a vertical position or vice-versa. The lower drum unit guidingly feeds the metallic panels, through a spline assembly, to an upper unit (16). The upper unit includes a plurality of clamp means, in diametrically placed pairs, which delicately handle only the peripheral edge of the metallic panels while feeding them automatically into a rack assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Albert Bartlett
- 👤 Dominic Anthony Casale
- 👤 John Joseph Konrad
- 👤 James Michael Larnerd
- 👤 Donald Roger Olson
- 👤 Jr. Charles Robert Pigos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:33
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/0061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
An automatic loading apparatus (10), comprising: frame means (12); lower unit drum means (14), said drum means being movably secured within said frame means; upper unit means (16), said upper unit means being movably secured within said frame means; and rack means (18), said rack means being movably secured within said frame means; said drum means including rotation means (38) to rotate said drum means about its longitudinal axis, said drum means including a plurality of clamp means (42), said clamp means being adapted to receive a plurality of panel members (50); said drum means being vertically movable within said frame means; said upper unit means including a plurality of clamp means (62), said upper unit means being vertically movable within said frame means and aligned with respect to said drum means; said drum means receiving said panel members and reorientating said panel members from a horizontal to a vertical position, said drum means inputting said panel members into said upper unit means, said upper unit means positioning said panel members within said rack means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
An automatic loading apparatus (10), comprising: frame means (12); lower unit drum means (14), said drum means being movably secured within said frame means; upper unit means (16), said upper unit means being movably secured within said frame means; and rack means (18), said rack means being movably secured within said frame means; said drum means including rotation means (38) to rotate said drum means about its longitudinal axis, said drum means including a plurality of clamp means (42), said clamp means being adapted to receive a plurality of panel members (50); said drum means being vertically movable within said frame means; said upper unit means including a plurality of clamp means (62), said upper unit means being vertically movable within said frame means and aligned with respect to said drum means; said drum means receiving said panel members and reorientating said panel members from a horizontal to a vertical position, said drum means inputting said panel members into said upper unit means, said upper unit means positioning said panel members within said rack means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: stabilizing means (28) and positioning means (22), said stabilizing means and positioning means being secured within said rack means, said drum means and said upper unit means being stabilized by said stabilizing means; said drum means and said upper unit means being movable about said positioning means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said stabilizing means vertically aligns said drum means and said upper unit means within said rack means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said drum means is generally rectangular in cross section having four independent surfaces, said drum means including a plurality of said clamp means on each individual surface, said clamp means being selectively positioned about said drum means to accommodate panel members of varying size, wherein by rotating said drum means, said drum means can automatically receive said panel members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of said clamp means comprises a pneumatically actuated clamp, said clamp having a first movable, generally U-shaped section (44), and a second, permanently positioned, generally T-shaped section (46), said U-shaped section guidingly receiving said T-shaped section and capable of grasping a panel member therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said clamp means further comprises clamp control means (48) which pneumatically or hydraulically actuates said clamp means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said drum means includes mounting means (32), wherein said drum means is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said mounting means including slide means (34) positionable about said frame stabilizing means (36), and assembly means, said assembly means threadably receiving said frame positioning means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said plurality of upper unit clamp means includes a plurality of discrete pairs of air cylinder clamps (62), each said pair having diametrically positioned members, each said pair contacting said panel members at corresponding, opposite points about the outer periphery of said panel members, said plurality of clamp pairs securing said panel members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said upper unit means further comprises panel guide means (68), said panel guide means initially receiving and guiding said panel members toward said clamp means; and rack clamp means (70), said rack clamp means maintaining said rack means in a previously selected position; said panel guide means and said rack clamp means being aligned about said clamp means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said upper unit means further comprises slide means (58), said slide means positionable about said frame stabilizing means, and thread means, said thread means threadably receiving said frame positioning means, wherein said upper unit means is vertically positionable within said frame means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rack means is comprised of a plurality of spline members (72), said spleen members positioned to receive said panel members, said spline members movably securing said panel members within said rack means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each said spleen contains spring clip means (74) for movably securing said panel members.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said drum means, and said upper unit means are independently movable within said frame means.
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