Apparatus for making personal computer cards

Claim 1

Apparatus for making an accurately dimensioned personal computer card having a generally rectangular plan configuration including longitudinal sides and lateral ends, and a prescribed thickness along the longitudinal sides and lateral ends of the personal computer card from a blank having first and second enclosure members, each enclosure member having a generally rectangular plan configuration and including a panel, longitudinal side edges corresponding to the longitudinal sides of the personal computer card, and lateral end edges corresponding to the lateral ends of the personal computer card, channels integral with the panel of at least the second enclosure member and extending longitudinally along the longitudinal side edges of the second enclosure member, the channels having an external channel width extending altitudinally and corresponding to the prescribed thickness of the personal computer card along the longitudinal sides and the lateral ends of the personal computer card, and an internal channel width, and side walls integral with the panel of at least the first enclosure member and extending longitudinally along the longitudinal side edges of the first enclosure member, the side walls having a side wall width extending altitudinally, the relative dimensions and locations of the internal channel width and the side wall width being such that upon juxtaposition of the first and second enclosure member in opposed arrangement, the panels confront one another and the side walls of the first enclosure member are nested within the channels of the second enclosure member to secure the first and second enclosure members together with the panels opposed to one another and spaced apart to establish an enclosure of prescribed dimensions for accommodating an electronic device between the opposed panels, the apparatus comprising: a frame; a loading station on the frame; a forming station on the frame downstream of the loading station along a longitudinal path of travel; a carrier for holding the blank with the enclosure members juxtaposed with one another; a track on the frame for guiding the carrier along the longitudinal path of travel from the loading station to the forming station; closing elements on the frame and juxtaposed with the track between the loading station and the forming station for nesting the side walls of the first enclosure member with the channels of the second enclosure member as the carrier is moved from the loading station to the forming station; forming dies at the forming station and juxtaposed with the longitudinal side edges when the carrier is located at the forming station; and a press at the forming station for operating the forming dies to deform the nested side walls and channels when the carrier is located at the forming station to thereby qualify the prescribed dimensions of the enclosure and complete the accurately dimensioned personal computer card.