Process and apparatus for automatic positioning of a substrate on a worktable

Claim 1

Apparatus for automatically positioning a piece such as a support (2) for electronic components comprising a worktable (4), a reference system (3) defined on the table by three fixed stops (G1, G2, G3), said reference system including a first axis (X'X) of the reference system passing through two of the three stops, and a second axis (Y'Y) perpendicular to the first axis and passing through the third stop (G3) and cutting the first axis at a point O outside of the part of the first axis situated between the two first stops (G1, G2); the support (2) having the general form of a rectangular parallelopiped presenting four lateral sides (C1, C2, C3, C4), means for positioning the support (2) on the worktable (4) in the quadrant (X O Y) of the reference system (3) with the half-axis (O X) passing through the two first stops (G1, G2) and the half axis (O Y) passing through the third stop (G3), two arms (20, 21) extending in horizontal planes and respectively connected at one extremity with two vertical axes (25, 26) driven in rotation and in opposite directions with one respect to the other, and a single motor means (22) for driving said arms (20, 21), said single motor means (22) comprising at least two elements (31 and 32) movable in two opposite directions and respectively associated with the said two axes (25, 26), a jack (22) having a body (23) and piston rod (24) floatingly mounted, the rod (24) of the jack (22) being connected to a first movable rack (31) arranged to engage a first pinion (29) for rotation of the driving axis (25) of one of the positioning arms (20) and the body of the piston (23) being connected to a second movable rack (32) parallel to the first rack (31) and which engages a second pinion (30) fixed for rotation of the driving axis of the other positioning arm (21), the two driving axes (25, 26) being coaxial, first means for controlling the displacement of the first arm (20) so as to cause the first arm to contact the support (2) and position the lateral side (C1) of the support (2) against the first stops (G1, G2) of the reference system (3), the first arm (20) contacting the lateral side (C3) of the support opposed to that side in contact with the two first stops (G1, G2), second means for controlling the displacement of the second arm (21) so as to cause the second arm to contact the support (2) and position it in a movement of translation parallel to the axis (X' O X) and bring the lateral side (C2) of support (2) adjacent the third stop (G3) of the reference system (3) and causing it to bear against the third stop, this second arm (21) contacting the lateral side (C4) of the support opposed to that coming in contact with the third stop (G3) of the system of reference (3), and means for maintaining the support (2) against the stops (G1, G2, G3) of the reference system (3) during mounting the electronic components on the support.