FPC flexible circuit board via hole forming device and method

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of printed circuit processing, and discloses a FPC flexible circuit board through hole forming device and method, which comprises a drilling machine, a carrier table and a moving mechanism, the moving mechanism drives the drilling machine to move along the plane of the carrier table, a turnover frame is rotatably installed above the carrier table, parts are placed on the turnover frame, after the drilling of the parts is completed, the turnover frame moves backward with the carrier table and turns over to discharge the parts, the parts are placed on the turnover frame, and the turnover frame is rotatably installed above the carrier table; the drilling machine is driven by the moving mechanism to move along the plane of the carrier table to drill the parts; after the drilling of the parts is completed, the carrier table is controlled to move backward, and the turnover frame is controlled to turn over to discharge the parts. Two carrier tables are arranged in an upper-lower staggered mode, the two carrier tables are reversely and alternately moved, one carrier table drills parts below the drilling machine, and the other carrier table displaces and discharges materials at the rear, so that the overall processing efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of printed circuit processing technology, and in particular to a device and method for forming vias in flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs). Background Technology

[0002] Flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs), commonly known as "flexible boards," are highly reliable and bendable printed circuit boards made of flexible substrates such as polyimide (PI). Through a special process, copper foil traces are attached to a flexible insulating layer. This not only allows them to replace traditional rigid PCBs (FR-4) for three-dimensional wiring but also maintains electrical continuity during dynamic bending, twisting, or repeated folding (such as in mobile phone flip covers or display screen connections). They are also lightweight, thin, and small in size, making them widely used in smartphones, wearable devices, automotive electronics, and precision medical devices.

[0003] Flexible printed circuit board (FPC) via forming equipment is a key piece of equipment in the manufacture of flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs). It is specifically designed for high-precision machining of micro-holes (vias / conducting holes) on flexible substrates to achieve electrical connections between multi-layer circuits. This type of equipment mainly uses ultraviolet lasers (or high-precision mechanical / punching) as processing methods. It utilizes non-contact processing to avoid damaging the thin and fragile flexible material and can achieve micron-level control over hole diameter and position. It is a core manufacturing tool that supports high-density interconnect (HDI) in electronic products such as mobile phones and wearable devices.

[0004] The general processing steps for existing FPC flexible circuit boards include material cutting, drilling, black hole drilling, and electroplating, with the drilling process also described.

[0005] Research on the aforementioned existing technologies and other technologies on the market reveals that existing technologies for forming vias in flexible circuit boards with high precision requirements typically employ laser drilling machines, and can process multiple sets of equipment simultaneously, thus improving processing efficiency. However, before processing vias with laser drilling machines, existing technologies require placing the circuit board on a processing table and bonding it with adhesive tape (as shown in the aforementioned existing technologies). Therefore, the adhesive tape needs to be fixed during loading and unloading, resulting in overall processing efficiency that still needs improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this section is to outline some aspects of embodiments of the present invention and to briefly describe some preferred embodiments. Simplifications or omissions may be made in this section, as well as in the abstract and title of this application, to avoid obscuring the purpose of these documents; however, such simplifications or omissions should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0007] This invention provides a device and method for forming vias in flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs), which can solve the problem of existing processing efficiency. The specific solution is as follows:

[0008] On one hand, the present invention provides an FPC flexible circuit board through-hole forming equipment, including a drilling machine, a stage and a moving mechanism. A base is provided below the drilling machine. The moving mechanism drives the drilling machine to move along the plane of the stage. A flipping frame is rotatably installed above the stage. The part is placed on the flipping frame. After the part is drilled, the flipping frame moves backward with the stage and flips to discharge the part.

[0009] The platform has two stacks arranged vertically, with a first rack fixed to the end of each stack. The two racks are meshed with a first gear. The rotation of the first gear drives the two racks and the two stacks to move in opposite directions. When one stack is drilling below the drilling machine, the other stack is discharging material behind the drilling machine. By setting two stacks that are staggered vertically and driven by the meshing of the first racks and the first gear, the two stacks can move alternately in opposite directions. This allows the other stack to discharge material while one stack is drilling below the drilling machine, achieving parallel drilling and material discharge operations. This significantly reduces equipment waiting time and thus significantly improves overall processing efficiency.

[0010] Preferably, a hinge shaft is fixedly connected to the rear end of the flipping frame, and a hinge ear is fixedly connected to the top of the platform. The hinge shaft and the hinge ear are hinged together. A second gear is located in the middle of the hinge shaft, and a second rack is fixedly connected to the rear end of the machine base. The second rack is located below the second gear. When the second gear in the middle of the hinge shaft meshes with the second rack and the platform continues to move backward, the hinge shaft drives the flipping frame to flip, causing the parts on the flipping frame to fall out, thus completing the material discharge. By setting up a flipping frame, and the flipping frame engaging with the second rack on the machine base via the hinge shaft and the second gear, when the platform moves backward, the second gear meshes with the second rack to drive the flipping frame to flip, causing the parts to fall out automatically without manual intervention. This achieves automatic material discharge after drilling, simplifies the operation process, and improves the automation level of the equipment.

[0011] Preferably, in order to avoid the stage, there is only one second rack, which can mesh with the second gears on the two stages respectively. Specifically, the bottom of the second rack is connected to the top of the machine base through a telescopic rod, and the telescopic rod is configured to mesh with the second gear on the upper stage when it is at its longest state, and to mesh with the second gear on the lower stage when it is at its shortest state.

[0012] Preferably, a placement groove is provided around the top of the flip frame, and the parts are placed in the placement groove. A feed port is provided at the front end of the flip frame.

[0013] Preferably, a cavity is formed in the middle of the stage, and a support platform is fixed to the top of the stage. The top surface of the support platform is flush with the placement slot, so that the bottom of the part contacts the support platform. Several adsorption holes are formed at the top of the cavity, extending to the top of the support platform. The cavity is connected to a negative pressure pump through a hose. The negative pressure pump creates a negative pressure in the cavity and adsorption holes, thereby adsorbing and fixing the part and preventing it from shifting during the drilling process. Initial positioning is achieved by creating a placement slot on the flip frame that matches the specifications of the part. The stage has a cavity and adsorption holes. The negative pressure pump generates negative pressure through the hose to firmly adsorb the part onto the support platform, ensuring that the part does not shift during the drilling process, guaranteeing the accuracy of the hole position, and improving the product processing quality.

[0014] Preferably, the platform is connected to limit blocks at both ends, and the base is fixedly connected to a limit rod. The limit blocks and the limit rod are slidably connected, and the limit blocks can be fastened to the outer wall of the limit rod to maintain the limit state. A motor is installed at one end of the first gear, and the output end of the motor is fixedly connected to the first gear. The motor is installed on the base, and the moving mechanism has a structure to avoid the motor.

[0015] Preferably, the moving mechanism includes two longitudinal moving frames that are slidably mounted on both sides of the base, a transverse rail connecting the two longitudinal moving frames, a movable seat that is slidably mounted on the transverse rail, and a drilling machine that is fixedly mounted below the movable seat.

[0016] Preferably, the drilling machine is a laser drilling machine, a rotary mechanical drilling machine, or a punching machine.

[0017] Preferably, a control unit is mounted on one side of the base.

[0018] On the other hand, the present invention provides a method for forming vias in an FPC flexible circuit board, comprising the following steps:

[0019] S1. Place the part on the flip frame, and rotate the flip frame to be mounted above the stage;

[0020] S2. The drilling machine is moved along the plane of the platform by the moving mechanism to drill holes in the parts;

[0021] S3. After the part is drilled, control the stage to move backward and control the flip frame to flip to discharge the part.

[0022] The platform has two platforms arranged vertically. The ends of the two platforms are fixedly connected to a first rack. The two first racks are meshed with a first gear. By rotating the first gear, the two first racks and the two platforms move in opposite directions, so that when one platform is drilling below the drilling machine, the other platform is discharging material behind the drilling machine.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the present invention can achieve at least one of the following beneficial effects:

[0024] 1. This invention sets up two staggered platforms, which are driven by the meshing of a first rack and a first gear, so that the two platforms move alternately in opposite directions. When one platform is drilling a hole below the drilling machine, the other platform moves behind to discharge material, achieving parallel operation of drilling and material discharge, greatly shortening the equipment waiting time, and thus significantly improving the overall processing efficiency.

[0025] 2. This invention sets up a flipping frame, which engages with a second rack on the machine base via a hinge shaft and a second gear. When the platform moves backward, the second gear meshes with the second rack to drive the flipping frame to flip, causing the parts to fall out automatically without manual intervention. This achieves automatic material discharge after drilling, simplifies the operation process, and improves the automation level of the equipment.

[0026] 3. This invention achieves initial positioning by opening a placement slot on the flip frame that matches the specifications of the part. The stage is equipped with a cavity and an adsorption hole. A negative pressure pump generates negative pressure through a hose to firmly adsorb the part onto the support stage, ensuring that the part does not shift during the drilling process, guaranteeing the accuracy of the hole position, and improving the product processing quality.

[0027] 4. This invention achieves a material discharge mechanism that accommodates the material discharge needs of both platforms by distributing the two platforms vertically in a staggered manner and using a single second rack with an adjustable height via a telescopic rod to mesh with second gears on platforms of different heights. This reduces the number of parts, makes the equipment structure compact, and enhances the adaptability of the equipment by allowing the telescopic rod to adapt to different heights.

[0028] 5. The moving mechanism of the present invention includes a longitudinal moving frame and a transverse track. The movable seat drives the drilling machine to move flexibly in the plane to achieve precise positioning and drilling. At the same time, the platform is slidably connected to the limit block and the limit rod to ensure smooth movement, avoid shaking that affects the drilling accuracy, and improve the stability and reliability of the equipment operation.

[0029] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the structures particularly pointed out in the written description and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of 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. Wherein:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the entire invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the other side of the invention;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the present invention with the controller removed;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the moving mechanism of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the two support platforms of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the two support platforms and the first gear of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the reset state of the flip frame in this invention;

[0038] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the flipping frame in the flipping state of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the flip frame of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of the support platform of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the base of the present invention.

[0042] The reference numerals in the attached figures are as follows:

[0043] 1. Drilling machine; 2. Platform; 3. Moving mechanism; 4. Base; 5. Flipping frame; 6. Parts; 7. Longitudinal moving frame; 8. Transverse track; 9. Movable seat; 10. First rack; 11. First gear; 12. Motor; 13. Limit block; 14. Limit rod; 15. Hinge shaft; 16. Hinge ear; 17. Second gear; 18. Second rack; 19. Telescopic rod; 20. Placement slot; 21. Feed inlet; 22. Cavity; 23. Support platform; 24. Suction hole; 25. Hose; 26. Equipment cavity; 27. Groove; 28. Interface; 29. ​​Control unit. Detailed Implementation

[0044] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the present invention and, together with the embodiments of the present invention, serve to illustrate the principles of the present invention.

[0045] Example 1: As Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3As shown, this embodiment provides an FPC flexible circuit board through-hole forming equipment, including a drilling machine 1, a platform 2, and a moving mechanism 3. A base 4 is provided below the drilling machine 1. The moving mechanism 3 drives the drilling machine 1 to move along the plane of the platform 2. A flipping frame 5 is rotatably installed above the platform 2. The part 6 is placed on the flipping frame 5. After the part 6 is drilled, the flipping frame 5 moves backward with the platform 2 and flips, thereby discharging the part 6 and completing the drilling process.

[0046] It should be noted that after the drilling process is completed, part 6 in the above scheme can be transported to the next process via a conveyor.

[0047] like Figure 4 As shown, the moving mechanism 3 includes two longitudinal moving frames 7 that are slidably mounted on both sides of the base 4. A transverse rail 8 is connected between the two longitudinal moving frames 7. A movable seat 9 is slidably mounted on the transverse rail 8. The drilling machine 1 is fixedly mounted below the movable seat 9.

[0048] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, in order to improve the utilization efficiency of the drilling machine 1 and the overall processing efficiency, there are two platforms 2. The two platforms 2 are staggered vertically. The ends of the two platforms 2 are fixedly connected to the first racks 10. The two first racks 10 are meshed with the first gear 11. The rotation of the first gear 11 drives the two first racks 10 and the two platforms 2 to move in opposite directions. When one platform 2 is drilling under the drilling machine 1, the other platform 2 is discharging material behind the drilling machine 1, so that the two platforms 2 can run alternately, which can greatly improve the drilling efficiency.

[0049] A motor 12 is installed at one end of the first gear 11. The output end of the motor 12 is fixedly connected to the first gear 11. The motor 12 is fixedly installed on the base 4. A clearance groove is provided on the longitudinal moving frame 7 to avoid the motor 12. Limiting blocks 13 are connected to both ends of the platform 2. A limiting rod 14 is fixedly connected to the top of the base 4. The limiting block 13 is slidably connected to the limiting rod 14. The limiting block 13 can be fastened to the outer wall of the limiting rod 14 and maintain the limiting state, so that the limiting rod 14 will not detach from the limiting block 13.

[0050] like Figure 7 , Figure 8As shown, a hinge shaft 15 is fixedly connected to the rear end of the flipping frame 5, and a hinge ear 16 is fixedly connected to the top of the platform 2. The hinge shaft 15 is hinged to the hinge ear 16. A second gear 17 is located in the middle of the hinge shaft 15. A second rack 18 is fixedly connected to the rear end of the base 4. The second rack 18 is located below the second gear 17. When the second gear 17 in the middle of the hinge shaft 15 meshes with the second rack 18 and the platform 2 continues to move backward, the hinge shaft 15 drives the flipping frame 5 to flip, causing the parts 6 on the flipping frame 5 to fall out, thereby completing the material discharge.

[0051] like Figure 7 As shown, in order to avoid the platform 2, there is only one second rack 18, which can mesh with the second gear 17 on the two platforms 2 respectively. Specifically, the bottom of the second rack 18 is connected to the top of the base 4 through the telescopic rod 19. The telescopic rod 19 is configured in its longest state to allow the second rack 18 to mesh with the second gear 17 on the upper platform 2, and in its shortest state to allow the second rack 18 to mesh with the second gear 17 on the lower platform 2.

[0052] like Figure 9 As shown, a placement groove 20 is provided around the top of the flip frame 5. The part 6 is placed in the placement groove 20. The specifications of the placement groove 20 match the specifications of the part 6, so that the part 6 can be in close contact with the side wall of the placement groove 20. A feed port 21 is provided at the front end of the flip frame 5.

[0053] like Figure 10 , Figure 11 As shown, a cavity 22 is provided in the middle of the stage 2, and a support platform 23 is fixedly connected to the top of the stage 2. The top surface of the support platform 23 is flush with the bottom of the placement groove 20, so that the bottom of the part 6 contacts the support platform 23. Several adsorption holes 24 are provided on the top of the cavity 22, and the adsorption holes 24 extend to the top of the support platform 23. The cavity 22 is connected to a negative pressure pump (not shown in the figure) through a hose 25. The negative pressure pump creates a negative pressure inside the cavity 22 and the adsorption holes 24, thereby adsorbing and fixing the part 6, preventing the part 6 from shifting during the drilling process and causing inaccurate drilling position.

[0054] like Figure 11 As shown, an equipment cavity 26 is provided inside the base 4. The top of the equipment cavity 26 is connected to the top of the base 4 through a slot 27. The negative pressure pump can be installed inside the base 4. Then, the hose 25 on the negative pressure pump is led out from the slot 27 and connected to the platform 2. Specifically, an interface 28 is provided on the side of the platform 2, and the hose 25 is connected to the interface 28.

[0055] In the above scheme, part 6 is first placed into the placement slot 20 of the flipping frame 5 through the feed port 21. Since the placement slot 20 matches the specifications of part 6, initial positioning is achieved. Then, the negative pressure pump is started, and negative pressure is generated in the cavity 22 and suction hole 24 of the platform 2 through the hose 25 and interface 28, which firmly adsorbs part 6 onto the support platform 23 to prevent displacement during drilling. The drilling machine 1 moves under the drive of the moving mechanism 3: the longitudinal moving frame 7 slides longitudinally along the machine base 4, and the movable seat 9 slides laterally along the transverse track 8, thereby accurately positioning the drilling machine 1 to the drilling position. After drilling is completed, the motor 12 drives the first gear 11 to rotate, driving the two first racks 10 to move in opposite directions, so that the two platforms 2 move in opposite directions with vertical misalignment. The platform 2 moves backward, while another platform 2 moves below the drilling machine 1 for the next round of drilling. When the rear platform 2 moves to the rear end of the base 4, the second gear 17 on its flipping frame 5 meshes with the second rack 18. As the platform 2 continues to move backward, the second gear 17 rolls on the second rack 18, driving the hinge shaft 15 to rotate, thereby causing the flipping frame 5 to flip upward around the hinge ear 16. The part 6 falls out of the placement slot 20 under the action of gravity, completing the material discharge. The height of the second rack 18 is adjusted by the telescopic rod 19 to adapt to the second gear 17 on the platform 2 at different heights. After the material discharge, the platform 2 can move forward to reset and wait for the next cycle. Throughout the process, the limit block 13 and the limit rod 14 cooperate to ensure that the platform 2 moves smoothly.

[0056] Example 2: The technical solution of this example differs from that of Example 1 in that the drilling machine 1 in this example is a laser drilling machine, a rotary mechanical drilling machine or a punching machine, and a control machine 29 is installed on one side of the machine base 4.

[0057] The working principle of a laser drilling machine is to use a high-energy-density laser beam as a "heat source" to remove materials through thermal ablation. The process is as follows: a laser (such as a CO2 or ultraviolet laser) generates a pulsed beam, which is focused by an optical system to form a tiny spot on the surface of the workpiece, instantly generating a high temperature of thousands of degrees. This high temperature causes the material to melt, vaporize, or sublimate rapidly, thereby "burning" microholes into substrates such as FPC flexible boards. The entire process is controlled by a precision CNC system to move the laser spot, achieving high-precision, non-contact drilling.

[0058] Example 3: This example differs from Example 1 or Example 2 in that it provides a method for forming vias in an FPC flexible circuit board, including the following steps:

[0059] S1. Part Positioning and Fixing: During operation, part 6 is first placed into the placement slot 20 of the flip frame 5 through the feed port 21. Since the specifications of the placement slot 20 match those of part 6, the side wall of part 6 is in close contact with the slot wall, completing the initial physical limitation. Then, the negative pressure system is activated: the negative pressure pump (not shown in the figure) is connected to the interface 28 on the side of the platform 2 through the hose 25 to evacuate the cavity 22 inside the platform 2. The suction hole 24 at the top of the cavity 22 extends to the top of the support platform 23. Since the top surface of the support platform 23 is flush with the bottom of the placement slot 20, the bottom of part 6 fits perfectly against the support platform 23. The negative pressure causes suction at the suction hole 24, firmly adsorbing part 6 onto the support platform 23, ensuring that part 6 will not shift due to vibration during the subsequent high-speed drilling process, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the machined hole position.

[0060] S2. Drilling Operation: After part 6 is fixed, the drilling machine 1 begins to execute the drilling command. The movement of the drilling machine 1 is controlled by the moving mechanism 3: First, the longitudinal moving frame 7 installed on both sides of the machine base 4 can slide back and forth, driving the transverse track 8 connected between them to move longitudinally as a whole; Second, the movable seat 9 slidably installed on the transverse track 8 can move left and right. The drilling machine 1 is fixedly installed under the movable seat 9. Therefore, through the coordinated movement of the longitudinal moving frame 7 and the movable seat 9, the drilling machine 1 can accurately position each preset drilling coordinate in the plane of the platform 2 and complete the drilling of the through hole.

[0061] S3. Dual Platform Alternating Mechanism: To improve efficiency, this equipment is equipped with two sets of staggered platforms 2. When one platform 2 (e.g., the upper one) is drilling below the drilling machine 1, the other platform 2 (the lower one) is discharging material from behind. The power for this alternating operation comes from the first gear 11 driven by the motor 12. The first gear 11 meshes with the first rack 10 fixed at the ends of the two platforms 2. When the motor 12 rotates forward or backward, the first gear 11 drives the two first racks 10 to move in the opposite direction, thereby causing the two platforms 2 to move in opposite directions, one in front and one behind. At this time, the platform 2 that has completed drilling moves backward into the discharge area, while the unloaded platform 2 moves forward to below the drilling machine 1, ready to receive new parts 6. To ensure the smoothness of movement, the limiting blocks 13 at both ends of the platform 2 are fastened to the limiting rod 14 and slide, which serves as a guide and prevents detachment.

[0062] S4. Automatic Tilting and Discharging: When the rear platform 2, carrying the drilled part 6, continues to move backward to the end of the machine base 4, the discharging action is automatically triggered. The tilting frame 5 is hinged to the hinge lug 16 on the top of the platform 2 via the hinge shaft 15 at the rear end, allowing it to tilt up and down. A second gear 17 is fixed in the middle of the hinge shaft 15, and a second rack 18 is fixed at the rear end of the machine base 4, located below the second gear 17. When the platform 2 continues to move backward, the second gear 17 and the second rack 18 begin to mesh. Since the rack is fixed, the gear rolls on the rack, thereby driving the machine. The movable hinge shaft 15 rotates, which in turn drives the flipping frame 5 to flip upward. As the tilt angle of the flipping frame 5 increases, the parts 6 on it slide off the placement groove 20 under the action of gravity, completing the automatic material discharge. In order to adapt to the two platforms 2 with different heights, a telescopic rod 19 is installed at the bottom of the second rack 18. When the upper platform 2 moves backward, the telescopic rod 19 extends and lifts the second rack 18 to mesh with the upper second gear 17; when the lower platform 2 moves backward, the telescopic rod 19 retracts and lowers the height of the second rack 18 to mesh with the lower second gear 17.

[0063] S5. Reset and Cycle: After the material is discharged, the platform 2 stops moving backward. Then, the motor 12 reverses again and pulls the unloaded platform 2 back to its original position through the first gear 11 and the first rack 10, ready to receive the new part 6. At the same time, another platform 2 has completed drilling and moved backward to discharge the material. Through the repeated cycle of the above steps, the equipment realizes the complete parallelism of drilling and material discharge, which greatly improves the processing efficiency of the through holes of the FPC flexible circuit board.

[0064] In summary, this invention, by setting two staggered platforms 2 and driving them through the meshing of a first rack 10 and a first gear 11, enables the two platforms 2 to move alternately in opposite directions. This allows one platform 2 to drill below the drilling machine 1 while the other platform 2 moves behind to discharge material, achieving parallel drilling and material discharge operations. This significantly reduces equipment waiting time and thus greatly improves overall processing efficiency. By setting a flipping frame 5, which engages with a second rack 18 on the machine base 4 via a hinge shaft 15 and a second gear 17, when the platform 2 moves backward, the second gear 17 meshes with the second rack 18 to drive the flipping frame 5 to flip, causing the part 6 to automatically fall out without manual intervention. This achieves automatic material discharge after drilling, simplifies the operation process, and improves the automation level of the equipment. Preliminary positioning is achieved by opening a placement slot 20 on the flipping frame 5 that matches the specifications of the part 6. The platform 2 has a cavity 22 and a suction... The auxiliary hole 24 uses a negative pressure pump to generate negative pressure through the hose 25 to firmly adhere the part 6 to the support platform 23, ensuring that the part 6 does not shift during drilling, guaranteeing hole position accuracy, and improving product processing quality. By distributing the two platforms 2 vertically in a staggered manner, and using a single second rack 18 whose height can be adjusted via a telescopic rod 19 to mesh with the second gear 17 on the platforms 2 at different heights, a single material discharge mechanism can accommodate the material discharge needs of both platforms 2, reducing the number of parts, making the equipment structure compact, and the telescopic rod 19 adaptable to different heights, enhancing the equipment's adaptability. The moving mechanism 3 includes a longitudinal moving frame 7 and a transverse track 8. The movable seat 9 drives the drilling machine 1 to move flexibly in the plane, achieving precise positioning and drilling. At the same time, the platform 2 is slidably connected to the limiting rod 14 via the limiting block 13, ensuring smooth movement, avoiding shaking that affects drilling accuracy, and improving the stability and reliability of the equipment operation.

[0065] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "example," "specific example," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0066] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc. (if present) in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented, for example, in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0067] The devices or elements referred to in the embodiments of this application or implied herein must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise precisely specified.

[0068] The preferred embodiments of the present invention disclosed above are merely illustrative of the invention. These preferred embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the invention to the specific implementations described. Clearly, many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of the invention, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize the invention. The invention is limited only by the claims and their full scope and equivalents.

Claims

1. A through-hole forming device for FPC flexible circuit boards, comprising a drilling machine, a stage, and a moving mechanism, wherein a base is provided below the drilling machine, and the moving mechanism drives the drilling machine to move along the plane of the stage, characterized in that: A flip frame is rotatably mounted on top of the stage. The part is placed on the flip frame. After the part is drilled, the flip frame moves backward with the stage and flips to discharge the part. The platform has two platforms arranged vertically. The ends of the two platforms are fixed with first racks. The two first racks are meshed with a first gear. The rotation of the first gear drives the two first racks and the two platforms to move in opposite directions. When one platform is drilling below the drilling machine, the other platform is discharging material behind the drilling machine. A hinge shaft is fixed to the rear end of the flipping frame, and a hinge ear is fixed to the top of the platform. The hinge shaft is hinged to the hinge ear. A second gear is located in the middle of the hinge shaft, and a second rack is fixed to the rear end of the machine base. The second rack is located below the second gear. When the second gear in the middle of the hinge shaft meshes with the second rack and the platform continues to move backward, the hinge shaft drives the flipping frame to flip, causing the parts on the flipping frame to fall out and completing the material discharge. The top of the flip frame is provided with a placement slot, and the parts are placed in the placement slot. The front end of the flip frame is provided with a feeding port. The stage has a cavity in the middle and a support platform is fixed to the top of the stage. The top surface of the support platform is flush with the placement groove so that the bottom of the part contacts the support platform. Several suction holes are opened at the top of the cavity and extend through to the top of the support platform. The cavity is connected to a negative pressure pump through a hose.

2. The FPC flexible circuit board through-hole forming equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the second rack is connected to the top of the base via a telescopic rod. The telescopic rod is configured in its longest state to engage with the second gear on the upper platform, and in its shortest state to engage with the second gear on the lower platform.

3. The FPC flexible circuit board through-hole forming equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Limiting blocks are connected to both ends of the platform, and a limiting rod is fixed to the top of the base. The limiting blocks and the limiting rod are slidably connected. The limiting blocks can be fastened to the outer wall of the limiting rod to maintain the limiting state. A motor is installed at one end of the first gear, and the output end of the motor is fixedly connected to the first gear. The motor is mounted on the base, and the moving mechanism has a structure to avoid the motor.

4. The FPC flexible circuit board through-hole forming equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The moving mechanism includes two longitudinal moving frames that are slidably mounted on both sides of the machine base. A transverse rail connects the two longitudinal moving frames, and a movable seat is slidably mounted on the transverse rail. The drilling machine is fixedly mounted below the movable seat.

5. The FPC flexible circuit board through-hole forming equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The drilling machine can be a laser drilling machine, a rotary mechanical drilling machine, or a punching machine.

6. The FPC flexible circuit board through-hole forming equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A control unit is installed on one side of the base, which can control the drive sources of the drilling machine, the moving mechanism, the platform, and the tilting frame.

7. A method for forming vias in an FPC flexible circuit board, using any one of the FPC flexible circuit board via forming equipment according to claims 1-6, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Place the part on the flip frame, and rotate the flip frame to be mounted above the stage; S2. The drilling machine is moved along the plane of the platform by the moving mechanism to drill holes in the parts; S3. After the part is drilled, control the stage to move backward and control the flip frame to flip to discharge the part. The platform has two platforms arranged vertically. The ends of the two platforms are fixedly connected to a first rack. The two first racks are meshed with a first gear. By rotating the first gear, the two first racks and the two platforms move in opposite directions, so that when one platform is drilling below the drilling machine, the other platform is discharging material behind the drilling machine.

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