JPH0414199B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a rack device that can automatically mount and remove printed circuit boards.

[Conventional technology]

Regarding the racks (contact jigs) used in the electroplating/electroless plating process for printed circuit boards, or the electrodeposition process of photosensitive electrodeposition resists for printed circuit boards, conventionally, for example, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, and There is one as shown in FIG.

The rack shown in Fig. 6 is currently in general use, and is provided with hanging plate pieces 10' facing each other on parallel side bars 4' hanging down from the power supply horizontal bars (cathode bars). 4' and the hanging plate piece 10', there is a printed circuit board 11'
It is inserted and held. The rack in Figure 7 can be installed automatically by a robot.
Hanging plate pieces 10', 1 provided opposite to the side rod 4'
The upper and lower ends or both ends of the printed circuit board 11' are sandwiched between the two ends. The rack shown in FIG. 8 has a thin hooking piece 10' protruding from the side beam 4', and is hooked by inserting the hooking piece 10' into a small hole 14 formed in a printed circuit board 11'. This is what I did.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Among the above-mentioned conventional printed circuit board racks, those shown in FIGS.
Due to adhesion of plating to the plate and deformation of the retaining plate piece 10', it becomes difficult to insert and hold the printed circuit board 11'.
In addition, the printed circuit board 11' may fall off due to weakening of its spring properties, and even when automatically mounted by a robot, it is necessary to manually adjust the retaining plate piece 10' from time to time. Furthermore, the one in Figure 8 is a thin hanging piece 1.
Plating adheres to 0', making it difficult to insert it into the small hole 14' of the printed circuit board 11', or conversely, make it difficult to remove it from the small hole 14'. Moreover, none of the above racks can accommodate different widths of the printed circuit board 11', and must be replaced with another rack.
There were other problems.

The present invention aims to solve the problems of the conventional printed circuit board racks mentioned above. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic printed circuit board mounting/removal type rack device which can automatically firmly hold and release a printed circuit board, and which can readily accommodate printed circuit boards of different widths.

Structure of the Invention [Means for Solving the Problems] The printed circuit board automatic attachment/detachment type rack device of the present invention is composed of a rack body 1 and opening/closing operation means 2, 2. A pair of side bars 4, 4 vertically installed therefrom are formed with elongated holes 6, 6 and a large number of uneven parts 7, 7 in the longitudinal direction of the power feeding horizontal bar 3, and a pair of side bars 4, 4 are formed vertically thereon. Forming concavo-convex portions 8, 8 that can engage with the concavo-convex portions 7, 7 of the power feeding horizontal rod 3, engaging both concave-convex portions 7, 8, 7, 8 at any position, and opening the elongated holes 6, 6. They are each tightened and fixed with bolts 9, 9 through them, and clip-type latching parts 10, 10 are provided at opposing positions of both rods 4, 4, which are normally closed by spring force and can be opened when pressed; The opening/closing operation means 2, 2 are connected to the rack body 1.
A pressing means capable of opening the latching parts 10, 10 against the spring force is used to hold the printed circuit board 11 in the rack body 1
It is provided at the mounting position and the detachment position.

In the above configuration, the power supply horizontal rod 3 and each side rod 4, 4
The uneven portions 7, 7 and the uneven portions 8, 8 of the fixed portions 5, 5 are, for example, serrated in cross section as shown in the figure, but are not limited to this. The uneven parts 7, 7 are lined up, and the uneven parts 7,
It is only necessary that convex and concave portions 8, 8 that can be engaged with 7 are formed on the side bars 4, 4. The locations where these uneven portions 7, 7 and uneven portions 8, 8 are provided are as shown in the illustrated example.
4 may be a vertical surface when in a vertical state, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the power supply horizontal rod 3 may be provided on the upper surface, and the side rods 4, 4 may be provided with a horizontal portion on the upper surface and formed on the lower surface, and the unevenness may be formed on the lower surface. The portions 7, 7 and the concave and convex portions 8, 8 may be engaged with each other.

The latching parts 10, 10 are of the clip type that are normally closed as described above, and are provided at opposing positions on both sides of the rod so that they can be opened oppositely. Therefore, it is best to use something with a strong clamping force.

The opening/closing operation means 2, 2 are, for example, air cylinders as shown in the figure, and the rods thereof are connected to the above-mentioned latching portions 10,
10 can be opened by pressing against the spring force. The opening/closing means 2, 2 are provided at the mounting position of the printed circuit board on the rack main body 1 and the position at which it is removed, such as an electroplating/electroless plating processing tank, an electrodeposition processing tank for photosensitive electrodeposition resist, etc. It is the position before and after.

Note that the printed circuit board 11 is placed in the same plane as the side bars 4, 4 when it is loaded into and removed from the rack main body 1. In other words, the printed circuit board 11 is placed on the same plane as the side bars 4, 4, so that it enters from the side of the latching parts 10, 10. Good. For this purpose, for example, a rack body rotation means (not shown) for horizontally rotating the rack body 1 at that position and a rack body rotating means (not shown) for transporting the printed circuit board 11 in the same plane as the rack body 1 to the printed circuit board mounting position and removal position are provided. Possible board loading means 12
It is only necessary to provide a transport means 13 and a transport means 13.

[Effect]

Next, the state of use of the printed circuit board automatic mounting/detachable rack device of the present invention will be explained.

Place the printed circuit board 11 on both sides of the rack body 1.
4, the interval between the side bars 4, 4 is first adjusted according to the width of the printed circuit board 11, before the printed circuit board 11 is held between the hooking parts 10, 10.

To do this, loosen the bolts 9, 9 at the fixed portions 5, 5 between the power supply horizontal bar 3 and the upper portions of the side bars 4, 4, and then
7. Release the engaged state between the uneven parts 8, 8, and the hanging parts 10, 10 of each side rod 4, 4 are attached to the printed circuit board 11.
Slide it to a width that allows it to be held (see arrows a and b in Figures 2 and 3), engage the uneven parts 7, 7 and 8, 8 with that width, and then tighten the bolts 9, 9 again. Just tighten and fix it.

Then, at the position where the printed circuit board 11 is to be mounted on the rack body 1, the rack body 1 is horizontally rotated to be in the same horizontal plane as the board loading means 12, as shown in FIG. In this case, the lower ends of the side bars 4, 4 of the rack body 1 face toward the direction of the substrate carrying means 12, in other words, toward the rear.

An opening/closing actuating means 2 is provided at this position, and after the opening/closing actuating means 2 approaches the latching parts 10, 10 from both sides as shown by arrow c in FIGS. 1 and 5, By pressing the latching parts 10, 10 as shown by the arrow d, the latching parts 10, 10 are opened. The printed circuit board 11 is transported by the carrying means 12.
It is sent horizontally from the rear side and enters between the open hooking parts 10, 10. Thereafter, when the pressing of the opening/closing actuating means 2 is stopped, the latching parts 10, 10
Since the opening is closed, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, each of the latching parts 10, 10 firmly clamps the end portion of the printed circuit board. Now, printed circuit board 1
1 is automatically and firmly attached to the rack body 1.

Subsequently, the rack body 1 is vertically rotated as shown in FIG. 2, and moved to a position where the printed circuit board 11, which has been immersed in the processing tank and subjected to processing, is removed.

At the board removal position, the rack body 1 becomes horizontal again, similar to the board mounting position shown in FIG. 1 above.
Here, the lower end portions of the side rods 4, 4 face the direction of the carrying-out means 13, in other words, the front. In this state, the opening/closing actuating means 2 is inserted into the locking portion 1 of the rack body 1 from both sides.
0, 10 and presses the latching parts 10, 10, thereby opening the latching parts 10, 10. Therefore, the board carrying out means 13 may hold the front end of the printed circuit board 11 and pull it out from the hooking parts 10, 10.

This means that the printed circuit board 11 has been automatically removed from the rack main body 1. After that, the printed circuit board 11 is transferred to the next processing step, such as an exposure machine (not shown).
All you have to do is transport it to. Further, the empty rack body 1 is returned to the initial printed circuit board mounting position again by another conveying means (not shown).

In addition, when transporting printed circuit boards 11 with different widths, loosen the bolts 9, 9 in the same manner as above to release the engaged state between the uneven parts 7, 7 and the uneven parts 8, 8, and move each side rod 4. , 4 is adjusted to a width that allows the printed circuit board 11 to be clamped, the uneven parts 7, 7 and the uneven parts 8, 8 are engaged with each other at that width, and then the bolts 9, Tighten and secure with step 9. This allows immediate adaptation to printed circuit boards 11 with different widths.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above, the printed circuit board automatic attachment/detachment rack device of the present invention has the following effects.

() In the present invention, printed circuit boards can be automatically and firmly attached and detached for transportation.

In other words, with conventional racks of this type, for example, plating may adhere to the board retaining plate pieces or the retaining plate pieces may become deformed, making it difficult to insert and hold the printed circuit board, or the springiness may weaken and the printed circuit board may fall off. I had something to do. Also, when using a thin hooking piece to hook a small hole in a printed circuit board, plating adhered to the small piece, making it impossible to insert it into the hole, or conversely, making it difficult to pull out from the small hole. When automatically installed by a robot, there are problems such as the need to manually adjust the retaining plate pieces from time to time.

However, in the present invention, since the latching portion of the rack body is opened and closed at a predetermined position by the opening/closing operation means, a strong clip-type latching portion can be used. Further, the present invention is configured such that the printed circuit board is entered from the side of the open hooking portion and closed and clamped, or the printed circuit board is opened and the printed circuit board is pulled out and conveyed to the next process. Therefore, unlike conventional rack devices, the rack device of the present invention is capable of automatically and firmly mounting printed circuit boards, removing them, and transporting them.

() The rack device of the present invention can readily handle the transportation of printed circuit boards of different widths.

That is, in the conventional rack, since the power feeding side beam and the side beam are not removable, only printed circuit boards of a certain size could be mounted and transported.

On the other hand, in the present invention, the fixed part between the power feeding horizontal bar and the side bar is fixed by loosening the bolt to remove the engagement between the uneven parts and the uneven parts, and then using the hooking part of each side bar to connect the printed circuit board. It has a structure that allows you to adjust the width to a width that allows it to be held, engage the concave and convex portions at that width, and then tighten and fix with bolts again. Therefore, the present invention is different from conventional ones in that it can be mounted and transported in response to printed circuit boards of different widths.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of the present invention when the rack body is in a horizontal state, Fig. 2 is a front view when the rack main body is in a vertical state, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional plane of the fixed portions of the power feeding horizontal rod and the side rod. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the fixed part, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the relationship between the latching part and the opening/closing operation means, and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are each of the conventional FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view when the printed circuit board is mounted on the rack. Drawing code, 1...Rack body, 2...Opening/closing operation means, 3...Power feeding horizontal bar, 4...Side bar, 5...Opening portion, 6...Long hole, 7...Irregular portion, 8... uneven parts,
9... Bolt, 10... Latching part, 11... Printed circuit board, 12... Board carrying-in means, 13... Board carrying-out means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Comprised of a rack body 1 and opening/closing actuating means 2, 2, the rack body 1 connects a power feeding horizontal beam 3 and a pair of side beams 4, 4 vertically disposed therefrom. Elongated holes 6, 6 and a large number of uneven portions 7, 7 are formed in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal rod 3, and each side rod 4, 4 has uneven portions that can engage with the uneven portions 7, 7 of the power feeding horizontal rod 3. portions 8, 8 are formed, both uneven portions 7, 8, 7, 8 are engaged at arbitrary positions, and fixed by tightening with bolts 9, 9 through the elongated holes 6, 6, respectively, and both side rods 4, 4 are provided with clip-type latching portions 10, 10 which are normally closed by a spring force and can be opened when pressed;
A pressing means capable of opening the latching parts 10, 10 against the spring force is used to hold the printed circuit board 11 in the rack body 1
A rack device for automatically attaching and detaching printed circuit boards, which is installed at the installation and removal positions.