US3616984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic soldering machine having circuit board protection member
Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corp
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Filing: 1970-01-14
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Granted: 1971-11-02
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Expires: 1990-01-14
Abstract
Abstract An automatic soldering machine having one or more strips positioned in the solder pool to prevent the application of solder to selected areas of a circuit board. The strip is of a material which has stable dimensions and is heat resistant to a temperature at least equal to melting temperature of the solder utilized, is resistant to the accumulation of solder, and is preferably of a low-friction material.
Inventors
- 👤 William Louis Voroba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:36
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K3/00; B23K3/06; B23K3/0646; B23K3/0653; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/3452; B23K2101/00; B23K2101/36; B23K2101/42; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/11; H05K1/117; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/05; H05K2203/0548; H05K2203/0557; H05K3/3465; H05K3/3468
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A soldering machine for a circuit board which has an upper and a lower surface with at least one area of said lower surface to which solder is not to be applied, said machine having means for generating a solder pool of a predetermined height; and means for moving said board over said solder pool with the surfaces of said board parallel to said solder pool, said board being at a height such that only the lower surface of said board contacts said solder; characterized by the inclusion, in said solder pool of a strip formed of a material which has stable dimensions and is heat resistant to a temperature at least equal to that at which said solder melts, and is resistant to the accumulation of solder flux, said strip being positioned (a) to extend over the entire length of said solder pool, (b) to cover an area of said pool having a width and oriented in said pool so as to be passed over by said board surface area to which solder is not to be applied as said board passes over said pool, but not to be passed over by any other areas of said board, and (c) to extend to a height which does not exceed the height of said solder pool, but is of sufficient height so that the surface tension of the solder does not break down permitting solder to flow over the top of said strip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A soldering machine for a circuit board which has an upper and a lower surface with at least one area of said lower surface to which solder is not to be applied, said machine having means for generating a solder pool of a predetermined height; and means for moving said board over said solder pool with the surfaces of said board parallel to said solder pool, said board being at a height such that only the lower surface of said board contacts said solder; characterized by the inclusion, in said solder pool of a strip formed of a material which has stable dimensions and is heat resistant to a temperature at least equal to that at which said solder melts, and is resistant to the accumulation of solder flux, said strip being positioned (a) to extend over the entire length of said solder pool, (b) to cover an area of said pool having a width and oriented in said pool so as to be passed over by said board surface area to which solder is not to be applied as said board passes over said pool, but not to be passed over by any other areas of said board, and (c) to extend to a height which does not exceed the height of said solder pool, but is of sufficient height so that the surface tension of the solder does not break down permitting solder to flow over the top of said strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A machine of the type described in claim 1 wherein said area to which solder is not to be applied is along one edge of said board; and wherein said strip is secured along one side of said pool and projects out into said pool a distance at least as great as the width of said area to which solder is not to be applied.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A machine of the type described in claim 2 including means for permitting the distance which said strip projects into the said pool to be varied so as to compensate for variation in the width of said area on different circuit boards.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A machine of the type described in claim 2 wherein there are areas to which solder is not to be applied along both edges of said board; and wherein there is a strip secured along each side of said pool, each of said strips projecting into said pool a distance at least as great as the width of the board area which is to pass over it.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A machine of the type described in claim 1 wherein the material which said strip is formed is of a low-friction material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A machine of the type described in claim 5 wherein said low-friction material is tetrafluorethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine of the type described in claim 1 wherein said material has stable dimensions and is heat resistant to a temperature of at least 600* F.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A machine of the type described in claim 1 wherein the height of said strip is not less than the height of said solder pool by more than 3/8 inch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A machine of the type described in claim 1 wherein said machine is a wave soldering machine; and wherein said pool is a continuously moving wave.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
10. A machine of the type described in claim 9 wherein said board-moving means is a pair of movable tracks adapted to carry said board over said solder wave.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-01 | 1975-05-03 | 1975-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-01 | 1979-05-03 | 1979-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-01 | 1983-05-03 | 1983-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |