Drilling equipment

Abstract

A drilling equipment and a drilling method are disclosed. The drilling equipment include a plurality of drilling units arranged in a row, and each drilling unit includes a base, a drilling tool module and a clamping member. The base includes a base body, a moving module and a positioning module, a drilling processing area and a lining plate placement area. The base body moves between a feed end and a discharge end, and the movable mold The group is arranged on the base body, the drilling processing area is respectively arranged on one side of the moving module, the positioning module is arranged corresponding to the drilling processing area, the moving module and the positioning module move the processing plate to the drilling processing area. The drilling tool module performs drilling processing on a predetermined position of the processing plate and the backing plate. The clamping member clamps a lining plate from the lining plate placement area to the drilling processing area. The clamping member allows the drilled hole position of the liner plate to avoid the predetermined drilling position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of equipment and process for drilling holes in sheet metal, and particularly to a drilling equipment and drilling method. Prior Technology

[0002] The circuit board manufacturing process involves laminating copper foil onto both sides of an insulating substrate, followed by exposure, development, and etching processes. This creates a target pattern for drilling on the circuit board. Drilling equipment uses image recognition and other technologies to locate the target pattern and perform the drilling process. As the drill gradually removes material from the circuit board to form a hole, when the drill is about to penetrate the board, the remaining material before the hole is formed is quite thin. The pressure of the drill on the remaining material may cause direct peeling, resulting in the peeling of the non-drilled area adjacent to the hole. This damages the surface of the circuit board adjacent to the hole, rendering it a defective product.

[0003] Therefore, the solution to the above problem is to place a backing plate under the circuit board to support the remaining board material that has not yet been drilled, thus avoiding the problem of circuit damage on the circuit board surface caused by direct peeling of the board material. A backing plate can be used multiple times. The existing method is to rotate the backing plate so that the drilled holes on the backing plate avoid the current desired drilling position, thus achieving multiple uses. However, this rotation method can only provide the drilling positions required for multiple uses on a one-circuit trajectory of the backing plate. However, there are still usable drilling positions outside the circumference of the backing plate, but they cannot be used due to the limitation of the backing plate being rotated for multiple uses. This results in the backing plate not being fully utilized, increasing the manufacturing cost of the circuit board process. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a drilling device and a drilling method, which uses linear movement to make the formed hole position avoid the predetermined position of the drilling hole position, thereby enabling the backing plate to be used multiple times.

[0005] An embodiment of the drilling equipment of the present invention includes multiple drilling units arranged in a row, and each drilling unit includes a base, a drill module, and a clamping member. The base includes a base body, a moving module, a positioning module, a drilling processing area, and a backing plate placement area. The base body moves between a feed end and a discharge end. The moving module is disposed on the base body. The drilling processing areas are respectively disposed on one side of the moving module. The positioning module is disposed corresponding to the drilling processing area. The moving module moves a processing plate along a first direction, and the positioning module moves the processing plate from the moving module to the drilling processing area along a second direction. The drill module is disposed corresponding to the drilling processing area and moves closer to or further away from the drilling processing area along the second direction and a third direction, respectively, to drill holes in a predetermined position of the processing plate and the backing plate. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are orthogonal to each other. The clamping member is positioned corresponding to the drilling area and the backing plate placement area. It clamps a backing plate from the backing plate placement area to the drilling area along the second and third directions, with the backing plate located on the side of the workpiece away from the drill module. The clamping member moves the backing plate in the third direction along the first or second direction with a predetermined position corresponding to the workpiece as a reference, so that the holes already drilled on the backing plate avoid the predetermined positions.

[0006] In another embodiment, the moving module includes a plurality of rollers arranged in at least one row along a first direction from the feed end to the discharge end, and the processed sheet material is conveyed by the rollers.

[0007] In another embodiment, the drilling processing area is located on one side of the roller axis, and the drilling processing area includes a plurality of die holes arranged in an array, with a predetermined position aligned with one of the die holes.

[0008] In another embodiment, the backing plate is located between the processed plate and the drilling area.

[0009] In another embodiment, the distance between the position where the roller contacts the processing plate and the drilling area is greater than or equal to the thickness of the backing plate.

[0010] In another embodiment, the positioning module includes at least one first driving member, at least one second driving member, at least one pushing member, and at least one positioning member. The at least one first driving member drives the at least one pushing member to move along a third direction and protrude from the moving module. The at least one second driving member drives the at least one first driving member to move along a second direction. The at least one positioning member is disposed on the side of the drilling processing area away from the moving module. The at least one pushing member pushes the processing plate to the at least one positioning member.

[0011] In another embodiment, at least one pushing member includes an engaging recess into which the processed plate engages, and at least one positioning member includes a stop surface into which the processed plate abuts.

[0012] In another embodiment, at least one pusher is located between two adjacent rollers.

[0013] In another embodiment, the positioning module further includes a third driving member that drives the positioning member to move parallel to a third direction. The positioning member has a radial flange that abuts against the processing plate.

[0014] In another embodiment, the positioning module further includes an ejector and a fourth drive. The ejector is disposed in the drilling area, and the fourth drive drives the ejector to move parallel to a third direction to protrude from the drilling area.

[0015] In another embodiment, the base further includes a pad plate placement area, which is located at the discharge end. The pad plate placement area includes a preparation area, a use area, and a waste area. The preparation area holds multiple unused pad plates, the use area holds pad plates in use, and the waste area holds pad plates that have become waste.

[0016] An embodiment of the drilling method of the present invention includes the following steps: providing a backing plate; placing the backing plate in a drilling processing area; conveying a processing plate along a first direction; moving the processing plate conveyed along the first direction along a second direction to the drilling processing area and above the backing plate, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; moving a drill module along a third direction to drill holes in the processing plate and the backing plate, the third direction being perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction respectively; and continuing to move the processing plate with drilled holes along the first direction to discharge the material; wherein a clamping member moves each backing plate along the first direction or the second direction in the third direction with a predetermined position corresponding to the processing plate as a reference, so that the drilled holes on the backing plate avoid the predetermined position.

[0017] In another embodiment, a pad plate that cannot be moved to avoid a predetermined position even when moved along a first or second direction is moved to a waste area; and a pad plate with a drilled hole in the middle of a preparation area is moved to a use area.

[0018] The drilling equipment and drilling method of the present invention move each backing plate in a third direction along a first or second direction with reference to a predetermined position corresponding to the hole to be drilled in the processed material, so that the holes already drilled on the backing plate avoid the predetermined position. In this way, each position of the backing plate that can be used for drilling can be fully utilized, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the drilling process. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the drilling equipment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the drilling equipment in Figure 1 from another angle. Figure 3 is a partially enlarged view of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of the base of the drilling equipment in Figure 1, the drilling tool module and the clamping components. Figure 5 is a side view of the drilling equipment shown in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a top view of the base in Figure 4. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the clamping device holding the pad plate from the pad plate placement area to the drilling area. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the processing sheet being conveyed from the feed end by the moving module along the first direction. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the positioning module moving the processed sheet material along the second direction to the drilling processing area. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the drilling module drilling holes in the processing plate and backing plate in the drilling processing area. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the processed plate with drilled holes being discharged from the discharge end along the first direction. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing that the pad moves along the second direction, so that the pre-drilled hole on the pad avoids the predetermined position with reference to the predetermined position corresponding to the hole to be drilled on the processed plate. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the clamping device holding the pad plate from the drilling area back to the pad plate placement area. Figure 14 is a schematic diagram showing that the liner plate has been fully utilized with holes drilled along both the first and second directions. Figure 15 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the drilling method of the present invention. Figure 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the positioning module of the drilling equipment of the present invention. Figure 17 is a partial exploded view of the ejector component of the positioning module in Figure 16. Figure 18 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the positioning component of the positioning module in Figure 16, where the processed sheet metal abuts against it. Figure 19 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the positioning component of the positioning module in Figure 16 clamping the processing plate. Figure 20 is a side view of Figure 18. Figure 21 is a side view of Figure 19. Implementation

[0020] Please refer to Figures 1, 2, and 3, which illustrate an embodiment of the drilling equipment of the present invention. The drilling equipment 1 of this embodiment includes multiple drilling units 5, each drilling unit 5 including a base 10, a drill module 20, and a clamping member 30. The drill module 20 and the clamping member 30 are movably disposed above the base 10, which is movably disposed on a machine platform 6. The machine platform 6 includes a feed end 61 and a discharge end 62. A processing plate P (e.g., a circuit board) is conveyed from the feed end 61 to the base 10. After drilling is completed, the processing plate P is conveyed from the base 10 to the discharge end 62.

[0021] Please refer to Figures 4, 5, and 6. The base 10 includes a base body 11, a moving module 12, a positioning module 13, a drilling processing area 14, and a pad placement area 15. The two opposite ends of the base body 11 correspond to the feed end 61 and the discharge end 62, respectively. The base body 11 can move along a first direction L1 on the machine base 6, moving from a feed end 61 to a discharge end 62. The moving module 12 is disposed on the base body 11, allowing the processed plate P to move between the opposite ends of the base body 11. The drilling processing area 14 is disposed on one side of the moving module 12. The positioning module 13 is disposed corresponding to the drilling processing area 14, and the positioning module 13 allows the processed plate P to move along a second direction L2 from the moving module 12 to the drilling processing area 14.

[0022] The mobile module 12 of this embodiment includes multiple rollers 121 arranged in a plurality of columns along the first direction L1. The rollers 121 are driven to rotate by a motor. The processing plate P is placed on the rollers 121 and is transported by the rollers 121 to move along the first direction L1, so that the processing plate P moves relative to the drilling processing area 14. In this way, the portion of the processing plate P with a predetermined hole can be moved to the corresponding position in the drilling processing area 14.

[0023] The positioning module 13 includes two first driving members 131, two second driving members 132, two pushing members 133, and two positioning members 134. Each first driving member 131 drives a pushing member 133 to move along a third direction L3 and protrude from the moving module 12 or return to the moving module 12. The second driving members 132 drive the first driving members 131 and the pushing members 133 to move along a second direction L2. The positioning members 134 are located on the side of the drilling processing area 14 away from the moving module 12. In this embodiment, the pushing member 133 is located between two adjacent rollers 121. When the processing plate P is moved from the moving module 12 to a predetermined position, the first driving member 131 drives a pushing member 133 to move along a third direction L3 and protrude from the moving module 12. The pushing member 133 abuts against the processing plate P and pushes the processing plate P along the second direction L2 until it abuts against the positioning member 134. The pushing member 133 includes a locking recess 1331, and the processed plate P is locked in the locking recess 1331. The positioning member 134 includes a stop surface 1341, and the processed plate P abuts against the stop surface 1341.

[0024] The drill bit module 20 and the clamping member 30 are disposed above the machine base 6. They can move along the second direction L2 and the third direction L3 via a first slide rail R1 and a first support B1 extending along the second direction L2, and a second slide rail R2 and a second support B2 extending along the third direction L3, respectively. The drill bit module 20 and the clamping member 30 are disposed on the second support B2, with two parallel second slide rails R2 disposed on the second support B2. The drill bit module 20 and the clamping member 30 move along the third direction L3 via the two second slide rails R2. The second support B2 moves along the second direction L2 on the first support B1 via the first slide rail R1. The clamping member 30 is closer to the drilling processing area 14 than the drill bit module 20. The first direction L1, the second direction L2, and the third direction L3 are orthogonal to each other.

[0025] The drilling processing area 14 is located on one side of the roller 121 along the axis, and the drilling processing area 14 includes a plurality of die holes 141 arranged in an array. When the processing plate P moves to the drilling processing area 14, the predetermined position of the hole to be drilled on the processing plate P is aligned with one of the die holes 141.

[0026] The pad plate placement area 15 is located on the side of the base body 11 near the discharge end 62. The pad plate placement area 15 includes a preparation area 151, a use area 152 and a waste area 153. The preparation area 151 holds multiple unused pad plates L, the use area 152 holds pad plates L in use, and the waste area 153 holds pad plates L that have become waste.

[0027] Please refer to Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. When the drilling unit 5 of this embodiment is to drill a hole in the processing plate P at a predetermined position, the clamping member 30 clamps a pad plate L from the material area 152 of the pad plate placement area 15 to the drilling processing area 14. Then, the processing plate P is placed from the feed end 61 of the machine tool 6 onto the base 10. The moving module 12 of the base 10 moves the processing plate P along the first direction L1 to the predetermined position. Then, the positioning module 13 pushes the processing plate P along the second direction L2 to the drilling processing area 14, with the pad plate L located on the side of the processing plate P away from the drilling module 20. Finally, the drilling module 20 moves along the second direction L2 to above the predetermined position of the drilling hole, and then moves along the third direction L3 to drill the hole in the processing plate P, while simultaneously forming a drilling mark T on the pad plate L. The processed sheet P, after completing the drilling process, is moved from the base 10 to the discharge end 62 of the machine tool 6 for discharge.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 12. During each drilling process, the clamping member 30 moves the pad plate L in the third direction L3 with the predetermined position corresponding to the hole to be drilled on the processing plate P as a reference along the first direction L1 or the second direction L2, so that the hole already drilled on the pad plate L avoids the predetermined position. In this way, when drilling a hole at the predetermined position on the processing plate P, the same pad plate L can still be used.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 13. After the pad L is used, it is clamped and moved back to the material area 152 by the clamping member 30.

[0030] Please refer to Figure 14. After each available position of the pad plate L along the first direction L1 and the second direction L2 has been used, the pad plate L is fully utilized. The fully utilized pad plate L becomes waste and is clamped by the clamping member 30 and moved to the waste area 153 of the pad plate placement area 15.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 15, which illustrates an embodiment of the drilling method of the present invention.

[0032] In step S1, a pad is provided, and then the process proceeds to step S2.

[0033] In step S2, the backing plate is placed in a drilling area, and then the process proceeds to step S3.

[0034] In step S3, a processing plate is conveyed along a first direction, and then the process proceeds to step S4.

[0035] In step S4, the processing plate conveyed along the first direction is moved along a second direction to the drilling processing area and located above the backing plate, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and then the process proceeds to step S5.

[0036] In step S5, a drilling module is moved along a third direction to drill holes in the processing plate and the backing plate. The third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, respectively. Then, the process proceeds to step S6.

[0037] In step S6, the processed plate with drilled holes continues to move along the first direction to be discharged, and then the process proceeds to step S7.

[0038] In step S7, check if there is still a usable position for the pad. If there is a usable position, proceed to step S8; otherwise, proceed to step S9.

[0039] In step S8, the clamping member moves each pad plate in the third direction along the first or second direction with reference to the predetermined position corresponding to the hole to be drilled on the processing plate, so that the hole already drilled on the pad plate avoids the predetermined position on the processing plate, and then proceeds to step S3.

[0040] In step S9, the pad plate that cannot be moved to avoid the predetermined position even when moved along the first or second direction is moved to a waste area, and then the process proceeds to step S10.

[0041] In step S10, the pad plate with the drilled hole in the middle of a material preparation area is moved to a material use area, and then the process proceeds to step S2.

[0042] Please refer to Figures 16 and 17, which illustrate another embodiment of the positioning module of the present invention. The positioning module 13 of this embodiment includes a first driving member 131, a second driving member 132, a pushing member 133, a positioning member 134', an ejector member 135', a third driving member 136', and a fourth driving member 137'. The structures of the first driving member 131, the second driving member 132, and the pushing member 133 are the same as in the previous embodiment, therefore their description is omitted. In this embodiment, the positioning member 134' is connected to the third driving member 136', and the ejector member 135' is connected to the fourth driving member 137'. The third driving member 136' drives the positioning member 134' to move vertically along L3 parallel to the third party. The fourth driving member 137' drives the ejector member 135' to move vertically along L3 parallel to the third party. The positioning member 134' has a radial flange 134a' at its top end. In this embodiment, both the third drive component 136' and the fourth drive component 137' are cylinders.

[0043] Please refer to Figures 18, 19, 20, and 21. When the processing plate P moves from the pusher 133 along the second direction L2 to the drilling processing area 14, the third drive member 136' drives the positioning member 134' to rise parallel to the third direction L3, and the fourth drive member 137' drives the ejector 135' to rise parallel to the third direction L3. In this way, the ejector 135' supports the processing plate P and prevents the processing plate P from tilting. The edge of the processing plate P abuts against the positioning member 134'. Then, the third drive member 136' drives the positioning member 134' to descend along the third direction L3, while the fourth drive member 137' drives the ejector 135' to descend along the third direction L3, so that the radial flange 134a' of the positioning member 134' abuts against the surface of the processing plate P, thereby clamping the processing plate P. This allows the processing plate P to be stably positioned in the drilling processing area 14 when the drill module 20 performs the drilling process on the processing plate P.

[0044] When the drilling process of the processed plate P is completed, the third driving component 136' drives the positioning component 134' to rise and release the processed plate P. At the same time, the fourth driving component 137' drives the ejector component 135' to rise, so that the processed plate P is raised to facilitate the conveying of the roller 121 of the moving module 12 along the first direction L1.

[0045] The drilling equipment and drilling method of the present invention move each backing plate in a third direction along a first or second direction with reference to a predetermined position corresponding to the hole to be drilled in the processed material, so that the holes already drilled on the backing plate avoid the predetermined position. In this way, each position of the backing plate that can be used for drilling can be fully utilized, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the drilling process.

[0046] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims and description of the present invention are still within the scope of the patent. Furthermore, no embodiment or claim of the present invention needs to achieve all the objectives, advantages, or features disclosed in the present invention. In addition, the abstract and headings are merely for assisting in patent document searches and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., used in this specification or claims are only used to name elements or implementation steps or to distinguish different embodiments or scopes, and are not used to limit the upper or lower limit of the number of elements, nor to limit the order in which the implementation steps are performed.

[0047] 1: Drilling equipment 5: Drilling Unit 6: Machine 10: Base 11: Base Body 12: Mobile Module 13: Positioning Module 14: Drilling Processing Area 15: Pad Placement Area 20: Drill Module 30: Clamping component 61: Feed end 62: Discharge end 121: Roller 131: First driving component 132: Second drive unit 133: Pushing component 134, 134': Positioning components 134a': Radial flange 135': Top-out component 136': Third drive unit 137': Fourth drive unit 141: Die Hole 151: Material Preparation Area 152: Material Usage Area 153: Waste Area 1331: Engagement recess 1341: Stop surface B1: First support B2: Second support L: Pad plate L1: First direction L2: Second direction L3: Third-party P: Processing sheet metal R1: First slide rail R2: Second slide rail T: Drilling marks S1~S10: Steps

Claims

1. A drilling apparatus comprising a plurality of drilling units (5) arranged in a row, wherein each drilling unit (5) comprises: A base (10) includes a base body (11), a moving module (12), a positioning module (13), a drilling processing area (14), and a pad placement area (15). The base body (11) moves between a feeding end (61) and a discharging end (62). The moving module (12) is disposed on the base body (11). The drilling processing area (14) is disposed on one side of a roller (121) of the moving module (12) along the axial direction. The positioning module (13) is disposed corresponding to the drilling processing area (14). The moving module (12) moves a processing plate (P) along a first direction (L1), and the positioning module (13) moves the processing plate (P) from the moving module (12) to the drilling processing area (14) along a second direction (L2). A drilling module (20) is provided corresponding to the drilling processing area (14) and moves closer to or further away from the drilling processing area (14) along the second direction (L2) and a third direction (L3) to drill holes in a predetermined position of the processing plate (P) and a backing plate (L). The first direction (L1), the second direction (L2) and the third direction (L3) are orthogonal to each other. A clamping member (30) is provided corresponding to the drilling processing area (14) and the pad plate placement area (15) to clamp a pad plate (L) from the pad plate placement area (15) to the drilling processing area (14) along the second direction (L2) and the third direction (L3) and located on the side of the processed plate (P) away from the drill module (20); wherein the clamping member (30) causes the pad plate (L) to move along the first direction (L1) or the second direction (L2) in the third direction (L3) with reference to the predetermined position corresponding to the processed plate (P) so that the hole already drilled on the pad plate (L) avoids the predetermined position.

2. The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning module (13) includes a plurality of engaging recesses (1331) arranged in at least one row along the first direction (L1), and the processing plate (P) is conveyed by the rollers (121).

3. The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drilling processing area (14) includes a plurality of die holes (141) arranged in an array, the predetermined position being aligned with one of the die holes (141).

4. The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the backing plate (L) is located between the processing plate (P) and the drilling processing area (14).

5. The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the distance between the position where the roller (121) contacts the processing plate (P) and the drilling processing area (14) is equal to the thickness of the backing plate (L).

6. The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the positioning modules (13) includes at least one first drive member (131), at least one second drive member (132), at least one pusher member (133), and at least one positioning member (134), the at least one first drive member (131) drives the at least one pusher member (133) to move along the third direction (L3) and protrude from the moving module (12), the at least one second drive member (132) drives the at least one first drive member (131) to move along the second direction (L2), the at least one positioning member (134) is disposed on the side of the drilling processing area (14) away from the moving module (12), and the at least one pusher member (133) pushes the processing plate (P) to the at least one positioning member (134).

7. The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one pusher (133) includes an engagement recess (1331) into which the workpiece (P) engages, and the at least one positioning member (134) includes a stop surface (1341) into which the workpiece (P) abuts.

8. The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one pusher (133) is located between two adjacent rollers (121).

9. The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the positioning module (13) further includes a third drive member (136') that drives the positioning member to move parallel to the third direction (L3), the positioning member (134') having a radial flange (134a') abutting against the processing plate (P).

10. The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the positioning module (13) further includes an ejector (135') and a fourth drive (137'), the ejector (135') being disposed in the drilling processing area (14), and the fourth drive (137') driving the ejector (135') to move parallel to the third direction (L3) to protrude from the drilling processing area (14).

11. The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pad plate placement area (15) is located near the discharge end (62), the pad plate placement area (15) includes a preparation area (151), a use area (152) and a waste area (153), the preparation area (151) holds a plurality of unused pad plates (L), the use area (152) holds pad plates (L) in use, and the waste area (153) holds pad plates (L) that have become waste.

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