Soft board clamp and soft board clamping method

Abstract

The present invention provides a flexible circuit board clamp and a flexible circuit board clamping method. The flexible circuit board clamp includes a support platform, a clamping device, and an adsorption assembly for temporarily fixing the flexible circuit board. The support platform has multiple ventilation holes in its placement area, and the adsorption assembly communicates with these ventilation holes to adsorb the flexible circuit board on the support platform. The clamping device includes multiple clamping members and multiple lifting drive members. Each clamping member is connected to one of the lifting drive members. The clamping members are respectively disposed at the edge of the placement area, and each clamping member has an extension portion extending outward toward the placement area, forming a clamping space between the extension portion and the placement area for the edge of the flexible circuit board to extend into. The lifting drive members are used to move the clamping members in a direction closer to or farther from the placement area to clamp or release the edge of the flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board clamp of the present invention has a simple structure and a convenient clamping process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of circuit board processing technology, and in particular to flexible circuit board clamps and flexible circuit board clamping methods. Background Technology

[0002] The production and processing of circuit boards involves multiple steps, such as drilling, inspection, and dispensing. During these steps, the circuit boards need to be clamped and positioned. Existing clamping devices are typically general-purpose fixtures, which clamp the four sides of the flexible board. Each side integrates X / Y and Z-axis motion axes, requiring at least eight axes, resulting in a complex motion structure. Furthermore, the clamping process involves: raising the fixture, moving it outside the board placement area, placing the board, vacuum adsorption on the table, moving the fixture to the edge of the flexible board, and lowering the fixture to clamp the board. This complex clamping process further complicates the process. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a flexible board clamp that addresses the issue of the complexity of the existing flexible board clamping mechanism and clamping method.

[0004] On the one hand, the flexible board clamp provided by the present invention includes a support platform, a clamping device, and an adsorption assembly for temporarily fixing the flexible board;

[0005] The support platform has multiple ventilation holes in its placement area, and the adsorption component is connected to the multiple ventilation holes to adsorb the soft board on the support platform.

[0006] The clamping device includes multiple clamping members and multiple lifting drive members. The multiple clamping members are connected to the multiple lifting drive members in a one-to-one correspondence. The multiple clamping members are respectively disposed on the edge of the placement area, and each clamping member has an extension portion extending outward toward the placement area. A clamping space for the edge of the flexible board to extend into is formed between the extension portion and the placement area.

[0007] The lifting drive is used to move the clamping member along a vertical direction close to or away from the placement area to clamp or release the edge of the flexible board.

[0008] Optionally, the clamping device further includes multiple base assemblies, each base assembly including a first mounting plate, a second mounting plate and multiple support columns, the clamping member being mounted on the first mounting plate, the second mounting plate being connected to the lifting drive member; the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are connected by the support columns, the support columns passing through the support platform.

[0009] Optionally, an XYZ axis coordinate system is set in the space where the support platform is located, and the support platform is located on the XY plane;

[0010] The flexible board clamp also includes a first adjustment component, which includes a plurality of first strip holes disposed on the support platform. The plurality of first strip holes are spaced apart along the X-axis direction on one side of the placement area. The first strip holes extend from one side of the support platform along the Y-axis direction. The support column of the base assembly near the first strip hole is disposed in the first strip hole in a displacement-adjustable manner.

[0011] Optionally, the flexible board clamp further includes a second adjustment component, the second adjustment component including a plurality of second strip holes disposed on the support platform, the plurality of second strip holes being spaced apart along the Y-axis direction at one end of the placement area, and the second strip holes extending from one end of the support platform along the X-axis direction; the support column of the base assembly near the second strip hole is disposed in the second strip hole in a displacement-adjustable manner.

[0012] Optionally, a connector and a limiting member are provided between the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate, and at least one of the support columns passes through the connector; the limiting member includes a limiting rod and a limiting ring, the limiting rod is disposed on the connector, and one end of the limiting rod extends into the first strip hole and / or the second strip hole; the limiting ring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the limiting rod, and the limiting ring abuts against the outer wall of the first strip hole and / or the second strip hole.

[0013] Optionally, the first adjustment component further includes an X-axis drive component, which includes a first motor, a first lead screw, and a first connecting block. The first motor is disposed on the side of the support platform opposite to the clamping member and is connected to the first lead screw. The first connecting block is disposed on the first lead screw and is connected to the corresponding connecting member. The first motor is used to drive the connecting member on the first connecting block to move, thereby driving the support column in the first strip hole to move along the Y-axis direction.

[0014] The second adjustment component further includes a Y-axis drive, which includes a second motor, a second lead screw, and a second connecting block. The second motor is disposed on the side of the support platform opposite to the clamping member and is connected to the second lead screw. The second connecting block is disposed on the second lead screw and is connected to the corresponding connecting member. The second motor is used to drive the connecting member on the second connecting block to move, thereby driving the support column in the second strip hole to move along the X-axis direction.

[0015] Optionally, a first guide is provided between every two adjacent first strip holes, and a second guide is provided between every two adjacent second strip holes. The first guide and the second guide are both provided on the side of the support platform away from the clamping member. The first guide and the second guide both include a guide rail and a slider provided on the guide rail. The connecting member is movably mounted on the guide rail via the slider.

[0016] Optionally, the adsorption component includes an air intake channel and an air intake fan, one end of the air intake channel is connected to a plurality of the ventilation holes, and the air intake fan is connected to the other end of the air intake channel.

[0017] On the other hand, the present invention provides a flexible circuit board clamping method, wherein a flexible circuit board is clamped using any one of the aforementioned flexible circuit board clamps, the flexible circuit board clamping method comprising:

[0018] The flexible plate is placed on the support platform, and the adsorption component adsorbs the flexible plate through the vent hole;

[0019] The multiple lifting drive components respectively drive the corresponding clamping components away from the placement area, and the edge of the flexible board slides from the outer extension to the clamping space;

[0020] The plurality of lifting drive components drive the corresponding clamping components to approach the placement area until the clamping components clamp the edge of the flexible board.

[0021] Optionally, the support platform is provided with a plurality of first strip holes and a plurality of second strip holes, and a support column connected to the clamping member is provided in the first strip holes and the second strip holes; the plurality of first strip holes are spaced apart on one side of the placement area, and the plurality of second strip holes are spaced apart at one end of the placement area. The flexible board clamping method further includes the step of adjusting the position of the clamping member, specifically including:

[0022] Adjust the position of the support column inside the first strip hole to adjust the position of the clamping member on one side of the bearing platform;

[0023] And / or,

[0024] Adjust the position of the support column inside the second strip hole to adjust the position of the clamping member at one end of the bearing platform.

[0025] In this invention, clamping members are provided at the edge of the flexible board, and each clamping member is connected to a lifting drive member, which drives the clamping member to move vertically. The adsorption assembly is connected to the vent. When the flexible board is placed on the support platform, the adsorption assembly adsorbs the flexible board onto the support platform through the vent. The lifting drive member drives the clamping member to rise. Due to its own flexibility and the suction force of the adsorption assembly, the edge of the flexible board on the clamping member slides from its outer extension into the clamping space as the clamping member rises. The lifting drive member then drives the clamping member to descend and abut against the edge of the flexible board, thereby achieving adsorption and clamping of the flexible board. Therefore, the flexible board clamp claimed in this invention only requires a vertical motion mechanism to clamp the flexible board. This method of configuring the motion structure is simple and cost-effective. Furthermore, by using this flexible board clamp, the clamping process is reduced compared to the clamping process in the prior art, which not only simplifies the clamping process but also improves work efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a front view of a flexible board clamp provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible board clamp provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the first adjustment component of a flexible board clamp provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0032] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly attached to the other component or there may be an intervening component. When a component is said to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intervening component. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only.

[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0034] In practical applications, the inventors discovered that existing circuit board manufacturing processes involve multiple steps, such as drilling, inspection, and dispensing. During these processes, the circuit board needs to be clamped and positioned. Existing clamping devices are typically general-purpose clamps, which clamp the four sides of the flexible board. Each side integrates X / Y and Z-axis motion axes, requiring at least eight axes, resulting in a complex motion structure. Furthermore, the clamping process involves: raising the clamp, moving the clamp outside the board placement area, placing the board, vacuum adsorption on the table, moving the clamp to the edge of the flexible board, and lowering the clamp to secure it. This clamping process is quite complex. To solve these technical problems, the inventive concept of this application was developed, which will be explained in detail through the following embodiments.

[0035] like Figures 1-4 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a flexible board clamp, including a support platform 10, a clamping device, and an adsorption assembly for temporarily fixing the flexible board. The support platform 10 has a plurality of ventilation holes 11 on its placement area, and the adsorption assembly communicates with the plurality of ventilation holes 11 to adsorb the flexible board on the support platform 10.

[0036] The clamping device includes multiple clamping members 2 and multiple lifting drive members. Each clamping member 2 is connected to one of the lifting drive members in a corresponding manner. The clamping members 2 are respectively disposed at the edge of the placement area, and each clamping member 2 has an extension portion 21 extending outward toward the placement area. A clamping space is formed between the extension portion 21 and the placement area, allowing the edge of the flexible board to extend into it. Specifically, the clamping member 2 is a clamping plate, and the extension portion 21 abuts against the flexible board, thereby achieving clamping of the flexible board.

[0037] The lifting drive is used to move the clamping member 2 in a direction close to or away from the placement area to clamp or release the edge of the flexible board.

[0038] It should be noted that the flexible board mentioned in the above embodiments can specifically be a printed circuit board (PCB). In actual application scenarios, the flexible board fixture can be used to fix the printed circuit board flexible board.

[0039] In this embodiment, clamping members 2 are provided at the edge of the flexible board, and each clamping member 2 is connected to a lifting drive member, so that the lifting drive member drives the clamping member 2 to move in the vertical direction. The adsorption assembly is connected to the vent 11. When the flexible board is placed on the support platform 10, the adsorption assembly adsorbs the flexible board onto the support platform 10 through the vent 11. The lifting drive member drives the clamping member 2 to rise. Due to its own flexibility and the suction force of the adsorption assembly, the edge of the flexible board on the clamping member 2 can slide from the outer extension 21 into the clamping space when the clamping member 2 rises. The lifting drive member further drives the clamping member 2 to descend and abut against the edge of the flexible board, thereby clamping the flexible board. It can be seen that the flexible board clamp of the present invention only needs to provide a motion mechanism in the vertical direction to achieve the clamping of the flexible board. The motion structure configured in this way is simple and cost-effective. Moreover, by using this flexible board clamp to clamp the flexible board, the clamping process is reduced compared to the clamping process in the prior art, which not only simplifies the clamping process but also improves work efficiency.

[0040] Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, the support platform 10 is used to place two flexible boards, and a clamping member 2 is provided between the two flexible boards. The outer extensions 21 on both sides of the clamping member 2 abut against the edges of the two flexible boards respectively.

[0041] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, the clamping device further includes multiple base assemblies. Each base assembly includes a first mounting plate 31, a second mounting plate 32, and multiple support columns 33. The clamping member 2 is mounted on the first mounting plate 31, and the second mounting plate 32 is connected to the lifting drive member. The first mounting plate 31 and the second mounting plate 32 are connected by the support columns 33, which pass through the support platform 10. The first mounting plate 31 and the second mounting plate 32 are located on both sides of the support platform 10, facilitating the connection between the lifting drive member and the clamping member 2.

[0042] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, an XYZ axis coordinate system is set in the space where the support platform 10 is located, and the support platform 10 is located on the XY plane.

[0043] The flexible board clamp also includes a first adjustment assembly, which includes a plurality of first strip holes 41 disposed on the support platform 10. The plurality of first strip holes 41 are spaced apart along the X-axis on one side of the placement area. The first strip holes 41 extend from one side of the support platform 10 along the Y-axis. The support column 33 of the base assembly near the first strip hole 41 is disposed within the first strip hole 41 in a displacement-adjustable manner. By setting the first strip holes 41, the position of the support column 33 within the first strip hole 41 can be manually or automatically adjusted according to the size of the flexible board, thereby adjusting the position of the clamping member 2 on the first mounting plate 31 to clamp the flexible board.

[0044] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, the flexible board clamp further includes a second adjustment assembly. The second adjustment assembly includes a plurality of second strip holes 51 disposed on the support platform 10. The plurality of second strip holes 51 are spaced apart along the Y-axis at one end of the placement area, and the second strip holes 51 extend from one end of the support platform 10 along the X-axis. The support column 33 of the base assembly near the second strip hole 51 is disposed within the second strip hole 51 in a displacement-adjustable manner. By setting the second strip hole 51, the position of the support column 33 within the second strip hole 51 can be manually or automatically adjusted according to the size of the flexible board, thereby adjusting the position of the clamping member 2 on the first mounting plate 31 to clamp the flexible board.

[0045] like Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, a connector 34 and a limiting member are provided between the first mounting plate 31 and the second mounting plate 32, and at least one of the support columns 33 passes through the connector 34. The limiting member includes a limiting rod 61 and a limiting ring 62. The limiting rod 61 is disposed on the connector 34, and one end of the limiting rod 61 extends into the first strip hole 41 and / or the second strip hole 51. The limiting ring 62 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the limiting rod 61, and the limiting ring 62 abuts against the outer wall of the first strip hole 41 and / or the second strip hole 51 to prevent the support column 33 from moving. By providing the connector 34, and having at least one support column 33 pass through the connector 34, the support columns 33 are ensured to move synchronously during movement.

[0046] like Figures 2-4As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, the first adjustment component further includes an X-axis drive component, which includes a first motor 42, a first lead screw 43, and a first connecting block 44. The first motor 42 is disposed on the side of the support platform 10 opposite to the clamping member 2, and is connected to the first lead screw 43. The first connecting block 44 is disposed on the first lead screw 43 and is connected to the corresponding connecting member 34. The first motor 42 is used to drive the connecting member 34 on the first connecting block 44 to move, thereby driving the support column 33 in the first strip hole 41 to move along the Y-axis direction. The position of the clamping member 2 is electrically adjusted by setting the first motor 42 and the first lead screw 43.

[0047] The second adjustment assembly further includes a Y-axis drive component, which comprises a second motor 52, a second lead screw 53, and a second connecting block 54. The second motor 52 is disposed on the side of the support platform 10 opposite to the clamping member 2, and is connected to the second lead screw 53. The second connecting block 54 is disposed on the second lead screw 53 and is connected to the corresponding connecting member 34. The second motor 52 drives the connecting member 34 on the second connecting block 54 to move, thereby causing the support column 33 in the second strip hole 51 to move along the X-axis direction. The position of the clamping member 2 is electrically adjusted by setting the second motor 52 and the second lead screw 53.

[0048] like Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, a first guide member 45 is provided between every two adjacent first strip holes 41, and a second guide member 55 is provided between every two adjacent second strip holes 51. Both the first guide member 45 and the second guide member 55 are located on the side of the support platform 10 facing away from the clamping member 2. Both the first guide member 45 and the second guide member 55 include a guide rail 451 and a slider 452 disposed on the guide rail 451. The connecting member 34 is movably mounted on the guide rail 451 via the slider 452. The first guide member 45 allows the support column 33 within the first strip hole 41 to move smoothly along the Y-axis direction, and the second guide member 55 allows the support column 33 within the second strip hole 51 to move smoothly along the X-axis direction.

[0049] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, the adsorption component includes a suction channel 7 and a suction fan. One end of the suction channel 7 is connected to a plurality of ventilation holes 11, and the suction fan is connected to the other end of the suction channel 7.

[0050] On the other hand, one embodiment of the present invention provides a flexible circuit board clamping method, which uses the flexible circuit board clamp described in any one of the above claims to clamp the flexible circuit board, the flexible circuit board clamping method comprising:

[0051] The flexible plate is placed on the support platform 10, and the adsorption assembly adsorbs the flexible plate through the vent 11.

[0052] The multiple lifting drive components drive the corresponding clamping components 2 away from the placement area, and the edge of the flexible board slides from the surface of the extension portion 21 into the clamping space.

[0053] The multiple lifting drive components drive the corresponding clamping components 2 to move closer to the placement area until the clamping components 2 clamp the edge of the flexible board.

[0054] Compared to the clamping process in the prior art, the flexible board clamping fixture in this embodiment reduces the process of clamping the flexible board by two steps, saving working time and improving work efficiency.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present invention, the support platform 10 is provided with a plurality of first strip holes 41 and a plurality of second strip holes 51, and a support column 33 connected to the clamping member 2 is provided in the first strip holes 41 and the second strip holes 51. The plurality of first strip holes 41 are spaced apart on one side of the placement area, and the plurality of second strip holes 51 are spaced apart at one end of the placement area. The flexible board clamping method further includes a step of adjusting the position of the clamping member 2, specifically including:

[0056] Adjust the position of the support column 33 inside the first strip hole 41 to adjust the position of the clamping member 2 on one side of the bearing platform 10.

[0057] And / or,

[0058] Adjust the position of the support column 33 inside the second strip hole 51 to adjust the position of the clamping member 2 at one end of the bearing platform 10.

[0059] When the size of the flexible circuit board to be clamped changes, the position of the clamping member 2 is adjusted by the first and second adjustment components to clamp the flexible circuit board. It should be noted that the position of the clamping member 2 does not need to be adjusted when clamping flexible circuit boards of the same size.

[0060] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and should all be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible circuit board clamp, characterized in that, Includes a support platform, a clamping device, and an adsorption assembly for temporarily fixing the flexible board; The support platform has multiple ventilation holes in its placement area, and the adsorption component is connected to the multiple ventilation holes to adsorb the soft board on the support platform. The clamping device includes multiple clamping members and multiple lifting drive members. The multiple clamping members are connected to the multiple lifting drive members in a one-to-one correspondence. The multiple clamping members are respectively disposed on the edge of the placement area, and each clamping member has an extended portion extending outward toward the placement area. A clamping space for the edge of the flexible board to extend into is formed between the extended portion and the placement area. The lifting drive is used to move the clamping member in a direction close to or away from the placement area to clamp or release the edge of the flexible board; The support platform is provided with a plurality of first strip holes and a plurality of second strip holes, and a support column connected to the clamping member is provided in the first strip holes and the second strip holes; the plurality of first strip holes are spaced apart on one side of the placement area, and the plurality of second strip holes are spaced apart at one end of the placement area; The flexible board clamp also includes a connector, through which at least one of the support columns passes.

2. The flexible circuit board clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping device further includes multiple base assemblies, each base assembly including a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate, the clamping member being mounted on the first mounting plate, and the second mounting plate being connected to the lifting drive member; the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are connected by a support column, the support column passing through the support platform.

3. The flexible circuit board clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that, An XYZ axis coordinate system is set in the space where the support platform is located, and the support platform is located on the XY plane; The flexible board clamp also includes a first adjustment component, which includes a plurality of first strip holes disposed on the support platform. The plurality of first strip holes are spaced apart along the X-axis direction on one side of the placement area. The first strip holes extend from one side of the support platform along the Y-axis direction. The support column of the base assembly near the first strip hole is disposed in the first strip hole in a displacement-adjustable manner.

4. The flexible circuit board clamp according to claim 3, characterized in that, The flexible board clamp also includes a second adjustment component, which includes a plurality of second strip holes disposed on the support platform. The plurality of second strip holes are spaced apart along the Y-axis at one end of the placement area, and the second strip holes extend from one end of the support platform along the X-axis. The support column of the base assembly near the second strip hole is disposed in the second strip hole in a displacement-adjustable manner.

5. The flexible circuit board clamp according to claim 4, characterized in that, The connecting member and the limiting member are provided between the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate; the limiting member includes a limiting rod and a limiting ring, the limiting rod is disposed on the connecting member, and one end of the limiting rod extends into the first strip hole and / or the second strip hole; the limiting ring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the limiting rod, and the limiting ring abuts against the outer wall of the first strip hole and / or the second strip hole.

6. The flexible circuit board clamp according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first adjustment component further includes an X-axis drive, which includes a first motor, a first lead screw, and a first connecting block. The first motor is disposed on the side of the support platform opposite to the clamping member and is connected to the first lead screw. The first connecting block is disposed on the first lead screw and is connected to the corresponding connecting member. The first motor is used to drive the connecting member on the first connecting block to move, thereby driving the support column in the first strip hole to move along the Y-axis direction. The second adjustment component further includes a Y-axis drive, which includes a second motor, a second lead screw, and a second connecting block. The second motor is disposed on the side of the support platform opposite to the clamping member and is connected to the second lead screw. The second connecting block is disposed on the second lead screw and is connected to the corresponding connecting member. The second motor is used to drive the connecting member on the second connecting block to move, thereby driving the support column in the second strip hole to move along the X-axis direction.

7. The flexible circuit board clamp according to claim 6, characterized in that, A first guide is provided between every two adjacent first strip holes, and a second guide is provided between every two adjacent second strip holes. Both the first and second guides are located on the side of the support platform away from the clamping member. Both the first and second guides include a guide rail and a slider provided on the guide rail. The connecting member is movably mounted on the guide rail via the slider.

8. The flexible circuit board clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption component includes an air intake channel and an air intake fan. One end of the air intake channel is connected to a plurality of air vents, and the air intake fan is connected to the other end of the air intake channel.

9. A flexible circuit board clamping method, characterized in that, The flexible board is held using the flexible board clamp according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the flexible board clamping method includes: A flexible plate is placed on the support platform, and the adsorption assembly adsorbs the flexible plate through the vent holes; The multiple lifting drive components respectively drive the corresponding clamping components away from the placement area, and the edge of the flexible board slides from the surface of the outer extension into the clamping space; The plurality of lifting drive components drive the corresponding clamping components to approach the placement area until the clamping components clamp the edge of the flexible board.

10. The flexible circuit board clamping method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The flexible circuit board clamping method further includes the step of adjusting the position of the clamping member, specifically including: Adjust the position of the support column inside the first strip hole to adjust the position of the clamping member on one side of the bearing platform; And / or, Adjust the position of the support column inside the second strip hole to adjust the position of the clamping member at one end of the bearing platform.

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