A new type of automatic reset clamp

Abstract

A novel automatic reset fixture, relating to the field of aging testing equipment technology, is used for aging testing of devices. From bottom to top, it includes a base plate, a PCB matching board, and a probe limiting plate capable of supporting the device. The PCB matching board has a number of auxiliary probes, and the probe limiting plate has through holes for the auxiliary probes to pass through. Fixture assemblies are respectively arranged on both sides of the PCB matching board. The fixture assemblies include a lower support plate, an upper pressure plate, a flipping plate, a lower pressure plate, two guide shafts, and two compression springs. This fixture is adapted to the automation, flexibility, and intelligent production needs of modern manufacturing, achieving an overall improvement in production quality, efficiency, safety, and control levels through technological optimization, providing reliable tooling support for the stable and efficient operation of the entire production process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of aging testing equipment technology, and in particular to a novel automatic reset fixture. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, most aging fixtures for HDP and IGBT electronic control modules on the market are manually operated. Due to limitations in prototype design, most manual installation fixtures cannot be directly used in automated testing scenarios. With the manufacturing industry's shift towards intelligent and flexible operations, improved production efficiency, stable product quality, optimized labor costs, and ensured operational safety have become key indicators of a company's core competitiveness. As core tooling equipment in machining, assembly, and testing processes, the performance and automation level of fixtures directly determine the overall operational efficiency of the production line. The upgrade from manual to automatic fixtures is an inevitable choice to meet this industry development need.

[0003] As attached Figure 1 As shown, this is a commonly used manual fixture, consisting of a base plate assembly and a flip-top assembly. One end of the flip-top is hinged to the base plate, and the other end is connected to the base plate via a snap-fit. This structure relies on manual operation to position, clamp, and release components. This method has played a certain role in small-batch, simple-process production scenarios. However, as market demands shift towards multi-variety, large-batch, and high-precision production, the inherent shortcomings of manual fixtures have become increasingly apparent, becoming a core bottleneck restricting the improvement of production efficiency. Manual operation is inefficient, consuming a significant amount of manual time in component loading and unloading, fixture adjustment, and other processes. Especially in mass production scenarios, the pace of manual operation is difficult to match the high-speed operation requirements of machine tools and production lines, resulting in insufficient equipment utilization, inability to increase production cycle time, and restriction of overall capacity release.

[0004] Meanwhile, the industry pain points of continuously rising labor costs and a shortage of skilled workers have further exacerbated the operational pressure on manual fixture operation. Manual fixture operation is labor-intensive, and some work scenarios pose significant safety hazards, easily leading to workplace injuries. This increases the company's safety management costs and makes it difficult to guarantee the occupational health of operators. Furthermore, with the popularization of flexible manufacturing concepts, companies need to frequently switch product types. The adjustment and replacement processes for manual fixtures are cumbersome and time-consuming, making it impossible to quickly adapt to the needs of multi-product production, resulting in insufficient production line flexibility and a slow market response.

[0005] In summary, the upgrade from manual fixtures to automatic fixtures is an inevitable trend for the manufacturing industry to respond to changes in market demand, solve production pain points, and enhance core competitiveness. It is also a key link in promoting the automation, flexibility, and intelligent transformation of the production process, and has significant technological value and practical significance. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a new type of automatic reset fixture that is adapted to the automation, flexibility and intelligent production needs of modern manufacturing. Through technical optimization, it achieves an overall improvement in production quality, efficiency, safety and control level, and provides reliable tooling support for the stable and efficient operation of the entire production process.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A novel automatic reset fixture for device aging testing comprises, from bottom to top, a base plate, a PCB mating board, and a probe limiting plate capable of supporting the device. The PCB mating board has a number of auxiliary probes, and the probe limiting plate has through holes for the auxiliary probes to pass through. Fixture assemblies are respectively located on both sides of the PCB mating board. Each fixture assembly includes a lower support plate, an upper pressure plate, a flipping plate, a lower pressure plate, two guide shafts, and two compression springs.

[0008] The lower support plate, fixed to the PCB matching plate, is elongated and shaped like a "C". Its opening A faces inward, and a rotating pin is located between the two ends of the opening A area. The upper pressure plate, located above the lower support plate, is also elongated and shaped like a "C" with its opening B facing inward. A clearance groove extending towards and connecting to the opening B is located at its bottom, and a guide pin is located between the two ends of the clearance groove area. Essentially, the bottom surface of the upper pressure plate containing the clearance groove is sloped to avoid interference with the flipping plate during flipping. The clearance groove makes the upper pressure plate elongated and downward-opening like a "C", meaning the upper pressure plate presents a "C" shape in both top (or bottom) and side views.

[0009] The two guide shafts are vertically fixed to the bottom of both ends of the upper pressure plate. The base plate, the PCB matching board, and the lower support plate have through holes for the guide shafts to pass through. Two compression springs are respectively sleeved on the two guide shafts and located between the lower support plate and the upper pressure plate. In the initial state without external force, the upper pressure plate is in a high position under the action of the compression springs. Applying a downward force to the upper pressure plate can result in four force points, located at the top of the four guide shafts. The upper pressure plate, guide pins, and guide shafts move downwards, causing the compression springs to contract. The plate returns to its original position after the external force is removed.

[0010] The flipping plate is L-shaped with its opening facing outwards. One end of one section has a through hole for the rotating pin to pass through, and the other end has a strip-shaped guide hole for the guide pin to pass through. As the guide pin moves downwards and upwards, it transmits force to the flipping plate through the strip-shaped guide hole, allowing the flipping plate to flip outwards and inwards by rotating the pin.

[0011] The lower pressure plate is T-shaped or L-shaped, with its outer side connected to the middle turning area of ​​the flip plate, and its inner side located above the side of the probe limiting plate. The combination of the flip plate and the lower pressure plate forms a T-shape. The outward and inward flipping of the flip plate causes the lower pressure plate to flip upward and downward. Flipping upward opens the clamp, facilitating the loading and unloading of components, while flipping downward closes the clamp, clamping the components for aging tests.

[0012] The application of automation technology in manufacturing continues to expand in depth and breadth. Automated fixtures, with their core advantages of high precision, high efficiency, high stability, and integrability, have become key equipment for solving the pain points of manual fixtures and driving the automation upgrade of production lines. Combined with the opening and closing design of automated production lines, automatic reset fixtures can achieve fully automated operation of workpiece positioning, clamping, and releasing without human intervention. This effectively avoids subjective errors caused by manual operation, ensuring clamping accuracy and operational consistency, and significantly improving product quality stability. At the same time, the operating rhythm of automatic reset fixtures can be precisely matched with equipment such as loading / unloading machines and testing equipment, greatly shortening workpiece loading / unloading and fixture adjustment time, improving equipment utilization and production cycle time, and helping enterprises achieve capacity improvement and cost optimization.

[0013] Furthermore, the automatic reset fixture possesses excellent flexibility and adaptability. Through programmable control and a quick mold-changing mechanism, it can rapidly switch between various workpiece types, meeting the operational needs of flexible production lines. Its integrated safety detection unit can monitor the operational status in real time, avoiding safety risks such as loose clamping and misoperation, thus improving the safety of production operations. Under the strategic guidance of Industry 4.0 and intelligent manufacturing, the automatic reset fixture can also be deeply integrated with MES systems, PLC control systems, robots, and other equipment to achieve digital control and intelligent scheduling of the production process, laying a solid foundation for enterprises to build intelligent production lines and achieve industrial upgrading.

[0014] Preferably, an anti-wear plate is fixed to the bottom surface of the inner side of the lower pressure plate. The anti-wear plate contacts the device to prevent damage to the device.

[0015] Preferably, a guide shaft lubrication sleeve is provided in the through hole of the lower support plate through which the guide shaft passes. The guide shaft lubrication sleeve provides guidance and lubrication, making the up-and-down movement of the guide shaft smoother. An annular groove can be provided on the top of the guide shaft lubrication sleeve to accommodate the lower end of the compression spring, which serves as a limit.

[0016] Preferably, both ends of the rotating pin are connected to the lower support plate via pin lubrication sleeves. The pin lubrication sleeves provide lubrication, allowing the rotating pin to rotate more smoothly.

[0017] Preferably, the two ends of the guide pin are connected to the upper pressure plate via a pin lubrication sleeve. The pin lubrication sleeve provides lubrication, allowing the guide pin to rotate and converting the sliding friction with the flipping plate into rolling friction.

[0018] Preferably, countersunk holes are provided at the bottom ends of the upper pressure plate where they connect to the guide shaft, and the upper end of the compression spring is located within the countersunk holes. The countersunk holes serve to limit and guide the compression spring, and also reduce the overall height of the clamping assembly.

[0019] Preferably, the guide shaft is a plug screw. The upper pressure plate is provided with a threaded hole that matches the threaded section at the top of the plug screw, and a compression spring is sleeved on the smooth rod of the plug screw.

[0020] Preferably, the flip plate has an opening groove A at one end where the through hole is located, and an opening groove B at the other end where the strip guide hole is located. The opening grooves, also called U-grooves, create two lugs in the structure containing the through hole (opening groove A) and two lugs in the structure containing the strip guide hole (opening groove B). While ensuring structural strength and functionality, the opening grooves reduce overall weight, lower material costs, reduce the load on subsequent assembly, improve operating efficiency, optimize stress distribution, avoid stress concentration, and enhance service life and operational stability.

[0021] Preferably, the probe limiting plate is provided with at least one positioning pin and several support posts. The positioning pin and support posts are used for positioning and supporting the device, and the support posts can be arranged diagonally.

[0022] Preferably, the flip plate and the pressure plate are integrally formed and are in the shape of a "T".

[0023] The advantages of this invention are: 1. The symmetrical distribution design of the clamping components on both sides can adapt to devices of different widths; the separate design of the flip plate and the pressure plate can adapt to the height and pressing plane of different devices.

[0024] 2. The fixture assembly opens and closes with simple up-and-down movement, making it easy to adapt to the opening and closing design of automated production lines. The large opening and closing angle facilitates the picking and placing of parts.

[0025] 3. The "C"-shaped structure of the upper pressure plate ensures that the downward pressing action at both ends is synchronized, and the countersunk design at both ends ensures the limiting and guiding of the spring.

[0026] 4. The U-shaped groove design of the flip plate ensures that the position of the guide pin is controllable when it moves along the strip guide hole in the U-shaped groove.

[0027] 5. Ensure the stability and consistency of product quality in mass production, and solve the problems of workpiece positioning deviation and uneven clamping force caused by manual operation of manual fixtures.

[0028] 6. Adapt to the operating rhythm of automated production lines, improve overall production efficiency, realize automated linkage of component loading and unloading and fixture actions, shorten non-processing auxiliary time, improve equipment utilization, and ensure stable and controllable production rhythm.

[0029] 7. Reduce reliance on manual labor in production, optimize human resource allocation and operating costs, replace manual operation with programmed control, reduce reliance on skilled workers, reduce human error, and reduce human resource input and management costs.

[0030] 8. To mitigate operational safety risks and protect the occupational health of operators, the system integrates clamping status detection and safety early warning mechanisms to promptly identify risks such as loosening and misoperation and trigger protective responses, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the operation process.

[0031] In summary, the technical design of the automatic reset fixture revolves around the core objective of "compensating for the shortcomings of manual fixtures and adapting to modern production needs." By addressing specific technical issues, it achieves a comprehensive improvement in production quality, efficiency, safety, flexibility, and control capabilities, thus contributing to the high-quality transformation of the manufacturing industry. It adapts to the automation, flexibility, and intelligent production needs of modern manufacturing, and through technical optimization, it achieves an overall improvement in production quality, efficiency, safety, and control levels, providing reliable tooling support for the stable and efficient operation of the entire production process. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 A perspective view of an existing manual clamping device; Figure 2 The three-dimensional representation of the present invention Figure 1 (Initial state, no devices); Figure 3 for Figure 2 The main view; Figure 4 for Figure 2 Side view; Figure 5 for Figure 4 A partial sectional view along the AA direction; Figure 6 The three-dimensional clamping assembly in this invention Figure 1 ; Figure 7 The three-dimensional clamping assembly in this invention Figure 2 ; Figure 8 This invention represents the three-dimensional structure of the lower support plate and the upper pressure plate. Figure 1 ; Figure 9 This invention represents the three-dimensional structure of the lower support plate and the upper pressure plate. Figure 2 ; Figure 10 The three-dimensional form of the flip plate and the pressure plate in this invention Figure 1 ; Figure 11 The three-dimensional form of the flip plate and the pressure plate in this invention Figure 2 ; Figure 12 The three-dimensional representation of the present invention Figure 2 (Open, no components) Figure 13 The three-dimensional clamping assembly in this invention Figure 3 ; Figure 14 The three-dimensional representation of the present invention Figure 3 (Open, components present); Figure 15 for Figure 14 The main view; Figure 16 The three-dimensional representation of the present invention Figure 3 (Off state, device present); Figure 17 for Figure 16 The main view.

[0033] Explanation of key component symbols in the diagram: 10. Base plate; 20. PCB matching board; 21. Auxiliary probes; 30. Probe limiting plate; 31. Positioning pin; 32. Support column; 40. Fixture assembly; 41. Lower support plate; 41.1. Opening A; 42. Upper pressure plate; 42.1. Opening B; 42.2. Clearance groove; 42.3. Countersunk hole; 43. Flip plate; 43.1. Strip guide hole; 43.2. Opening groove A; 43.3. Opening groove B; 44. Lower pressure plate; 45. Guide shaft; 46. Compression spring; 47. Rotating pin; 48. Guide pin; 49. Anti-wear plate; 410. Guide shaft lubrication sleeve; 411. Pin lubrication sleeve; 100. Devices. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To more clearly illustrate the present invention, the invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Example 1: As Figure 2-4 As shown, a novel automatic reset fixture is used for aging tests of device 100. From bottom to top, it includes a base plate 10, a PCB matching plate 20, and a probe limiting plate 30 that can support device 100. The PCB matching plate 20 is provided with a certain number of auxiliary probes 21. The probe limiting plate 30 is provided with through holes for the auxiliary probes 21 to pass through. Fixture assemblies 40 are respectively provided on both sides of the PCB matching plate 20.

[0036] Combination Figure 5-7As shown, the clamp assembly 40 includes a lower support plate 41, an upper pressure plate 42, a flipping plate 43, a lower pressure plate 44, two guide shafts 45, and two compression springs 46.

[0037] Combination Figure 5-9 As shown, the lower support plate 41 is fixed to the PCB matching plate 20 and is shaped like a slender "C". Its opening A41.1 faces inward, and a rotating pin 47 is provided between the two ends of the opening A41.1 area. The upper pressure plate 42 is located above the lower support plate 41 and is shaped like a slender "C" with its opening B42.1 facing inward. Its bottom is provided with a relief groove 42.2 extending towards and communicating with the opening B42.1. A guide pin 48 is provided between the two ends of the relief groove 42.2 area. Two guide shafts 45 are vertically fixed to the bottom of both ends of the upper pressure plate 42. The base plate 10, the PCB matching plate 20, and the lower support plate 41 are provided with through holes for the guide shafts 45 to pass through. Two compression springs 46 are respectively sleeved on the two guide shafts 45 and located between the lower support plate 41 and the upper pressure plate 42.

[0038] Combination Figure 5-7 and Figure 10-11 As shown, the flip plate 43 is L-shaped with its opening facing outwards. One end of one section has a through hole for the rotating pin 47 to pass through, and the other end has a strip-shaped guide hole 43.1 for the guide pin 48 to pass through. The lower pressure plate 44 is T-shaped or L-shaped, with its outer side connected to the middle turning area of ​​the flip plate 43, and its inner side located above the side of the probe limiting plate 30.

[0039] Example 2: Combination Figure 5-7 and Figure 10-11 As shown, based on Embodiment 1, an anti-wear plate 49 is fixed to the bottom surface of the inner side of the lower pressure plate 44.

[0040] Example 3: Combination Figure 5-9 As shown, based on Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, a guide shaft lubrication sleeve 410 is provided in the through hole on the lower support plate 41 through which the guide shaft 45 passes.

[0041] Example 4: Combination Figure 5-9 As shown, based on Embodiment 1, Embodiment 2, or Embodiment 3, the two ends of the rotating pin 47 are connected to the lower support plate 41 via pin lubrication sleeves 411. The two ends of the guide pin 48 are connected to the upper pressure plate 42 via pin lubrication sleeves 411.

[0042] Example 5: Combination Figure 5 and Figure 9As shown, based on Embodiment 1, Embodiment 2, Embodiment 3 or Embodiment 4, countersunk holes 42.3 are provided at the bottom of both ends of the upper pressure plate 42 where it connects with the guide shaft 45, and the upper end of the compression spring 46 is located inside the countersunk holes 42.3.

[0043] In addition, the guide shaft 45 is a plug screw.

[0044] Example 6: Combination Figure 10-11 As shown, based on the above embodiment, an opening groove A43.2 is provided at one end of the through hole on the flip plate 43, and an opening groove B43.3 is provided at the section where the strip guide hole 43.1 is located.

[0045] Example 7: Combination Figure 2-3 As shown, based on the above embodiment, the probe limiting plate 30 is provided with at least one positioning pin 31 and several support columns 32.

[0046] Example 8: The difference from the above examples is that the flip plate 43 and the pressure plate 44 are integrally formed and are in the shape of a "T".

[0047] The operation procedure for the automatic reset fixture is as follows: 1. Combination Figure 2-3 and Figure 5 As shown, in the initial state, the clamp is not subjected to external force and there is no device 100 inside the clamp. The compression spring 46 pushes up the upper pressure plate 42, and the flip plate 43 and the lower pressure plate 44 flip inward, and the entire clamp is closed.

[0048] 2. Combining Figure 12-13 As shown, the fixture presses down on the upper pressure plate 42. The fixture has four force points, located on four guide shafts respectively. The downward pressure acts on the upper pressure plate 42, causing the guide shaft 45 connected to the upper pressure plate 42 to slide downward along the guide shaft lubrication sleeve 410. The compression spring 46 contracts, and the guide pin 48 moves downward, transmitting the force to the flipping plate 43 through the strip guide hole 43.1. The flipping plate 43 flips outward by rotating the pin 47, causing the lower pressure plate 44 to flip upward. At this time, the fixture is in the open state.

[0049] 3. Combining Figure 14-15 As shown, device 100 is placed on probe limiting plate 30 and positioned and supported by positioning pin 31 and support column 32. The freedom of device 100 is restricted to only up and down movement. Auxiliary probe 21 will slightly lift device 100, so pressure needs to be applied to device 100 to ensure good contact between device 100 and auxiliary probe 21.

[0050] 4. Combination Figure 16-17As shown, when the fixture is released, the compression spring 46 returns to its original position, pushing the upper pressure plate 42 upward. This causes the guide shaft 45 connected to the upper pressure plate 42 to slide upward along the guide shaft lubrication sleeve 410. The guide pin 48 moves upward and transmits force to the flipping plate 43 through the strip guide hole 43.1. The flipping plate 43 flips inward by rotating the pin 47, causing the lower pressure plate 44 to flip downward. The two anti-wear plates 49 press down on the device 100 from both sides, ensuring good contact between the device 100 and the auxiliary probe 21. At this time, the fixture is in the closed state, and the fixture has completed the loading process, ready for aging test.

[0051] 5. After the aging test is completed, the unloading process is the same as the loading process. The fixture can be opened by pressing down the tool to remove the component 100. The next component 100 can be put in or the fixture can be restored to its initial state.

[0052] The above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the structural features of the present invention are not limited thereto. The present invention can be used in similar products. Any changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention are covered by the patent scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A novel automatic reset fixture for aging tests of a device (100), comprising, from bottom to top, a base plate (10), a PCB matching board (20), and a probe limiting plate (30) capable of supporting the device (100), characterized in that: The PCB matching board (20) is provided with a certain number of auxiliary probes (21), the probe limiting plate (30) is provided with through holes for the auxiliary probes (21) to pass through, and the PCB matching board (20) is provided with clamping assemblies (40) on both sides respectively. The clamp assembly (40) includes a lower support plate (41), an upper pressure plate (42), a flip plate (43), a lower pressure plate (44), two guide shafts (45), and two compression springs (46). The lower support plate (41) is fixed on the PCB matching plate (20) and is in the shape of a slender "C". Its opening A (41.1) faces inward and a rotating pin (47) is provided between the two ends of the opening A (41.1) area. The upper pressure plate (42) is located above the lower support plate (41), and is in the shape of a slender "C" with the opening B (42.1) facing inward. A clearance groove (42.2) extending into and communicating with the opening B (42.1) is provided at its bottom, and a guide pin (48) is provided between the two ends of the clearance groove (42.2) area. The two guide shafts (45) are vertically fixed to the bottom of both ends of the upper pressure plate (42). The bottom plate (10), the PCB matching plate (20) and the lower support plate (41) are provided with through holes for the guide shafts (45) to pass through. The two compression springs (46) are respectively sleeved on the two guide shafts (45) and located between the lower support plate (41) and the upper pressure plate (42). The flip plate (43) is L-shaped and opens outward. One end of one section is provided with a through hole for the rotating pin (47) to pass through, and the other end is provided with a strip-shaped guide hole (43.1) for the guide pin (48) to pass through. The lower pressure plate (44) is T-shaped or L-shaped, with its outer side connected to the middle turning area of ​​the flip plate (43), and its inner side located above the side of the probe limiting plate (30).

2. A novel self-retracting lifeline according to claim 1, wherein: A wear-resistant sheet (49) is fixed to the bottom surface of the inner side of the lower pressure plate (44).

3. A novel self-retracting lifeline according to claim 1, wherein: A guide shaft lubrication sleeve (410) is provided in the through hole on the lower support plate (41) through which the guide shaft (45) passes.

4. A novel self-retracting lifeline according to claim 3, wherein: The two ends of the rotating pin (47) are connected to the lower support plate (41) by a pin lubrication sleeve (411).

5. A novel self-retracting lifeline according to claim 4, wherein: The two ends of the guide pin (48) are connected to the upper pressure plate (42) through a pin lubrication sleeve (411).

6. A novel self-retracting lifeline according to claim 1, wherein: The bottom of both ends of the upper pressure plate (42) is provided with countersunk holes (42.3) at the connection between the bottom of the upper pressure plate (42) and the guide shaft (45), and the upper end of the compression spring (46) is located in the countersunk holes (42.3).

7. A novel automatic reset fixture according to claim 6, characterized in that: The guide shaft (45) is a stop screw.

8. A novel automatic reset fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that: An opening groove A (43.2) is provided at one end of the through hole on the flip plate (43), and an opening groove B (43.3) is provided at the section where the strip guide hole (43.1) is located.

9. A novel automatic reset fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that: The probe limiting plate (30) is provided with at least one positioning pin (31) and several support columns (32).

10. A novel automatic reset fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flip plate (43) and the pressure plate (44) are integrally formed and are in the shape of a "T".

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