Assembly method of flexible substrate and clamping fixture

Abstract

An assembly method of flexible substrate includes providing a flexible substrate including a flexible substrate body and a reinforcing plate disposed at the flexible substrate body, wherein the flexible substrate body includes an end, and the reinforcing plate includes a attaching part and a holding part, the attaching part is attached to the end, and the holding part is tilted and separated from the flexible substrate body; using a clamping fixture to clamp the holding part of the reinforcing plate; and moving the clamping fixture, so that the reinforcing plate moves together with the flexible substrate body, and the end of the flexible substrate body is plugged into a connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for assembling a sheet metal part and a clamping fixture, and more particularly to a method for assembling a flexible substrate and a clamping fixture. Prior Technology

[0002] Currently, because flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) or flexible flat cables (FCCs) are flexible components, assembling them into connectors is quite difficult. Therefore, on production lines, flexible printed circuit boards or flexible flat cables are manually inserted into connectors. How to enable the insertion of flexible components into connectors without manual assembly is a research direction in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides a method for assembling a flexible substrate, which can use a clamping fixture to assist in inserting the flexible substrate body into a connector.

[0004] The present invention provides a clamping fixture that can be applied to the above-mentioned assembly method.

[0005] An assembly method for a flexible substrate according to the present invention includes providing a flexible substrate, the flexible substrate including a flexible substrate body and a reinforcing plate disposed on the flexible substrate body, wherein the flexible substrate body includes an end, the reinforcing plate includes an attachment portion and a holding portion, the attachment portion is attached to the end, and the holding portion is raised and separated from the flexible substrate body; clamping the holding portion of the reinforcing plate with a clamping fixture; and moving the clamping fixture to move the reinforcing plate together with the flexible substrate body, and inserting the end of the flexible substrate body into a connector.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the clamping fixture includes a base and a clamp disposed on the base. The base includes a pivot hole and a limiting hole disposed along a first direction and communicating with each other. The clamp includes a clamping part, a counterweight, and a rotating shaft located between the clamping part and the counterweight. The rotating shaft is movably disposed in one of the pivot hole and the limiting hole.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned limiting hole includes two opposing limiting surfaces, the distance between the two limiting surfaces is less than the diameter of the pivot hole, the rotating shaft includes two opposing planes and two arc surfaces connected between the two planes, the distance between the two arc surfaces is greater than the distance between the two limiting surfaces, and the distance between the two limiting surfaces is greater than the distance between the two planes.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned clamp further includes a push-receiving part located between the clamping part and the rotating shaft. In the step of clamping the holding part of the reinforcing plate with the clamping fixture, the rotating shaft is further positioned in the pivot hole, and the base and the clamp move toward the reinforcing plate along a second direction opposite to the first direction. The reinforcing plate pushes the push-receiving part, the clamping part rotates relative to the rotating shaft to clamp the reinforcing plate, the rotating shaft moves from the pivot hole to the limiting hole, and the two planes of the rotating shaft face the two limiting surfaces of the limiting hole respectively. The limiting hole is used to restrict the rotation of the rotating shaft relative to the base.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, after the steps of moving the clamping fixture to move the reinforcing plate together with the flexible substrate body and inserting the end of the flexible substrate body into the connector, the method further includes: releasing the holding portion of the reinforcing plate from the clamping fixture. The step of releasing the holding portion of the reinforcing plate from the clamping fixture further includes moving the base along the first direction to move the pivot from the limiting hole to the pivot hole, so that the clamp is adapted to rotate relative to the base to release the reinforcing plate.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the torque of the counterweight block with the pivot as the fulcrum is greater than the torque of the clamping part with the pivot as the fulcrum. When the pivot moves from the limiting hole to the pivot hole, the clamp rotates under the torque of the counterweight block and releases the reinforcing plate.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned clamp further includes an elastic pad disposed on the clamping part to increase the friction between the reinforcing plate and the clamping part.

[0012] A clamping fixture of the present invention is suitable for clamping a flexible substrate having a reinforcing plate, comprising a base and a clamp disposed on the base. The base includes a pivot hole and a limiting hole disposed along a first direction and communicating with each other, wherein the limiting hole includes two opposing limiting surfaces, and the distance between the two limiting surfaces is less than a diameter of the pivot hole. The clamp is disposed on the base and includes a clamping part, a counterweight, a rotating shaft located between the clamping part and the counterweight, and a pushing part located between the clamping part and the rotating shaft, wherein the rotating shaft is movably disposed in one of the pivot hole and the limiting hole, and the rotating shaft includes two opposing planes and two arcuate surfaces connecting the two planes, the distance between the two arcuate surfaces is greater than the distance between the two limiting surfaces, and the distance between the two limiting surfaces is greater than the distance between the two planes.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the rotating shaft is located within the pivot hole, and the base and clamp move towards the reinforcing plate along a second direction opposite to the first direction, the reinforcing plate pushes against the pushed portion, and the clamping portion rotates relative to the rotating shaft to clamp the reinforcing plate. The rotating shaft moves from the pivot hole to the limiting hole, and the two planes of the rotating shaft face the two limiting surfaces of the limiting hole, which restricts the rotation of the rotating shaft relative to the base. When the base is moved along the first direction, causing the rotating shaft to move from the limiting hole to the pivot hole, the clamp is adapted to rotate relative to the base, thereby adapting the clamping portion to release the reinforcing plate.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the torque of the counterweight block with the pivot as the fulcrum is greater than the torque of the clamping part with the pivot as the fulcrum. When the pivot is located in the pivot hole and the pushed part is not pushed, the counterweight block normally contacts a bottom wall of the base.

[0015] Based on the above, the assembly method of the flexible substrate of the present invention involves using a clamping fixture to hold the holding portion of the reinforcing plate, and then moving the clamping fixture to move the reinforcing plate together with the flexible substrate body, thereby inserting the end of the flexible substrate body into the connector. Since the end of the flexible substrate body is moved by the clamping fixture holding the holding portion of the reinforcing plate and then inserted into the connector, the operation of the clamping fixture can be performed in a non-manual manner, thus improving assembly efficiency through automation. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a flexible substrate. Figures 2 to 4 are schematic diagrams from different angles of a clamping fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the portion to be held before the reinforcing plate is clamped. Figures 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams of the clamping fixture in Figure 2 holding the reinforcing plate from different angles. Figures 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams from different angles showing how the clamping fixture in Figure 2 moves the reinforcing plate and the flexible substrate body to be inserted into the connector. Figure 9 is a schematic flowchart of an assembly method for a flexible substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a flexible substrate. Referring to Figure 1, the flexible substrate includes a flexible substrate body 10 and a reinforcing plate 20 disposed on and connected to the flexible substrate body 10. The flexible substrate body 10 is, for example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC). Of course, the type of flexible substrate body 10 is not limited to this. The flexible substrate body 10 includes an end 12.

[0018] The reinforcing plate 20 includes a bonding portion 22 and a holding portion 24. The bonding portion 22 is bonded to the end 12, and the holding portion 24 is raised and separated from the flexible substrate body 10. The reinforcing plate 20 is rigid, and its structural strength is greater than that of the flexible substrate body 10. Providing the reinforcing plate 20 at the end 12 of the flexible substrate body 10 can help increase the structural strength of the end 12, so as to facilitate subsequent insertion into the connector 30 (Figure 8).

[0019] Figures 2 to 4 are schematic diagrams from different angles of a clamping fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the portion to be held before the reinforcing plate is clamped.

[0020] Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the clamping fixture 100 of this embodiment is adapted to clamp a flexible substrate with a reinforcing plate 20, for example, to clamp the holding portion 24 of the reinforcing plate 20. The clamping fixture 100 includes a base 110 and a clamp 120 disposed on the base 110. The base 110 includes an inclined platform 111, and the holding portion 24 of the reinforcing plate 20 is located above the inclined platform 111, so the holding portion 24 is tilted and separated from the flexible substrate body 10.

[0021] The base 110 includes a pivot hole 112 (located on the left side of Figure 2) and a limiting hole 114 (located on the right side of Figure 2) disposed along a first direction D1 (towards the right in the figure) and communicating with each other. The pivot hole 112 and the limiting hole 114 are located on the side arm of the base 110. As can be seen from Figure 4, the limiting hole 114 includes two opposing limiting surfaces 116, and the distance X2 between the two limiting surfaces 116 is smaller than the diameter X1 of the pivot hole 112.

[0022] The clamp 120 includes a clamping part 121, a counterweight 122, a rotating shaft 123 located between the clamping part 121 and the counterweight 122, and a pushing part 126 located between the clamping part 121 and the rotating shaft 123. In this embodiment, the clamp 120 further includes an elastic pad 127 disposed on the clamping part 121. The elastic pad 127 is, for example, a rubber or silicone pad, which can increase the contact area during clamping and improve the friction between the reinforcing plate 20 and the clamping part 121. Of course, the material of the elastic pad 127 is not limited to this. In one embodiment, the elastic pad 127 may also be omitted.

[0023] The rotating shaft 123 is movably disposed in one of the pivot hole 112 and the limiting hole 114, so that the clamp 120 can rotate or move relative to the base 110. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 123 includes two opposing planes 124 and two arc surfaces 125 connected between the two planes 124. The distance X3 between the two arc surfaces 125 is greater than the distance X2 between the two limiting surfaces 116, and the distance X2 between the two limiting surfaces 116 is greater than the distance X4 between the two planes 124.

[0024] When the rotating shaft 123 is located within the pivot hole 112, the rotating shaft 123 can rotate within the pivot hole 112. In this embodiment, the torque of the counterweight 122 with the rotating shaft 123 as the fulcrum is greater than the torque of the clamping part 121 with the rotating shaft 123 as the fulcrum. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 123 is located within the pivot hole 112, as shown in FIG4, the counterweight 122 normally contacts a bottom wall of the base 110.

[0025] Specifically, in this embodiment, the lever arm between the counterweight 122 and the rotating shaft 123 is greater than the lever arm between the clamping part 121 and the rotating shaft 123, and the weight of the counterweight 122 is greater than the weight of the clamping part 121. Of course, in other embodiments, the lever arm between the counterweight 122 and the rotating shaft 123 may be less than or equal to the lever arm between the clamping part 121 and the rotating shaft 123, or the weight of the counterweight 122 may be less than or equal to the weight of the clamping part 121. The key is that the torque of the counterweight 122 is greater than the torque of the rotating shaft 123.

[0026] Figures 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams from different perspectives of the clamping fixture of Figure 2 clamping the holding portion of the reinforcing plate. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, when the clamping fixture 100 is used to clamp the holding portion 24 of the reinforcing plate 20, the base 110 and the clamp 120 are moved toward the reinforcing plate 20 along a second direction D2 (towards the left of the figure) opposite to the first direction D1.

[0027] As the pushed part 126 moves to the left together and comes into contact with the holding part 24 of the reinforcing plate 20, the holding part 24 of the reinforcing plate 20 pushes the pushed part 126, and forms a counterclockwise torque relative to the rotating shaft 123, causing the clamping part 121 to rotate relative to the rotating shaft 123 and clamp the reinforcing plate 20.

[0028] The rotating shaft 123 moves from the pivot hole 112 to the limiting hole 114, and the two planes 124 of the rotating shaft 123 face the two limiting surfaces 116 of the limiting hole 114 respectively. The limiting hole 114 restricts the rotation of the rotating shaft 123 relative to the base 110. Therefore, the holding part 24 of the reinforcing plate 20 is held by the clamp 120 and the inclined stage 111.

[0029] Figures 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams from different angles showing the movement of the reinforcing plate and the flexible substrate body driven by the clamping fixture of Figure 2, and their insertion into the connector. Referring to Figures 7 and 8, since the holding portion 24 of the reinforcing plate 20 is clamped by the clamp 120 and the inclined stage 111, as long as the clamping fixture 100 is moved, the reinforcing plate 20 and the flexible substrate body 10 are moved together, and the end 12 of the flexible substrate body 10 is inserted into the connector 30.

[0030] After assembly, when the base 110 is moved along the first direction D1 (to the right of the figure), causing the rotating shaft 123 to move from the limiting hole 114 to the pivot hole 112, the rotating shaft 123 is no longer restricted and can rotate within the pivot hole 112. Therefore, the clamp 120 can rotate relative to the base 110. In particular, since the torque of the counterweight 122 about the rotating shaft 123 is greater than the torque of the clamping part 121 about the rotating shaft 123, when the rotating shaft 123 is no longer restricted, the clamp 120 will rotate clockwise, causing the clamping part 121 to release the reinforcing plate 20.

[0031] Since the end 12 of the flexible substrate body 10 is driven and inserted into the connector 30 by clamping the holding part 24 of the reinforcing plate 20 through the clamping fixture 100, it can be operated in a non-manual manner to improve assembly efficiency. The pushing of the clamping fixture 100 can be machine-operated, so as to achieve the effect of fast clamping and assembly in an automated manner.

[0032] Figure 9 is a schematic flowchart of an assembly method for a flexible substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 9, the assembly method 200 of the flexible substrate in this embodiment includes the following steps. First, as in step 210, a flexible substrate is provided. The flexible substrate includes a flexible substrate body 10 and a reinforcing plate 20. The flexible substrate body 10 includes an end 12, and the reinforcing plate 20 includes an adhesive portion 22 and a holding portion 24. The adhesive portion 22 is attached to the end 12, and the holding portion 24 is raised and separated from the flexible substrate body 10.

[0033] Next, as in step 220, a clamping fixture 100 clamps the holding portion 24 of the reinforcing plate 20. Step 220 further includes positioning the rotating shaft 123 within the pivot hole 112, and moving the base 110 and the clamp 120 toward the reinforcing plate 20 along a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1. The reinforcing plate 20 pushes against the pushed portion 126, and the clamping portion 121 rotates relative to the rotating shaft 123 to clamp the reinforcing plate 20. The rotating shaft 123 moves from the pivot hole 112 to the limiting hole 114, and the two planes 124 of the rotating shaft 123 face the two limiting surfaces 116 of the limiting hole 114, thereby restricting the rotation of the rotating shaft 123 relative to the base 110.

[0034] Next, as in step 230, the clamping fixture 100 is moved, so that the reinforcing plate 20 and the flexible substrate body 10 are moved together, and the end 12 of the flexible substrate body 10 is inserted into a connector 30.

[0035] Finally, as in step 240, the clamping fixture 100 releases the holding portion 24 of the reinforcing plate 20. Step 240 further includes moving the base 110 along the first direction D1, so that the rotating shaft 123 moves from the limiting hole 114 to the pivot hole 112, so that the clamp 120 is adapted to rotate relative to the base 110 to release the reinforcing plate 20.

[0036] It should be noted that the assembly method 200 of the flexible substrate in this embodiment is not limited to using the clamping fixture 100 in FIG2, but may also be other types of clamping fixtures.

[0037] In summary, the assembly method of the flexible substrate of the present invention involves using a clamping fixture to hold the holding portion of a reinforcing plate, and then moving the clamping fixture to move the reinforcing plate together with the flexible substrate body, thereby inserting the end of the flexible substrate body into the connector. Since the end of the flexible substrate body is moved by the clamping fixture holding the holding portion of the reinforcing plate and then inserted into the connector, the operation of the clamping fixture can be performed in a non-manual manner, thus improving assembly efficiency through automation.

[0038] D1: First Direction D2: Second Direction X1: Diameter X2, X3, X4: Distance 10: Flexible substrate body 12:End 20: Reinforcing plate 22: Fitting Part 24: The Section for Holding 30: Connector 100: Clamping fixture 110: Base 111: Inclined platform 112: Pivot hole 114: Limiting hole 116: Limiting surface 120: Fixture 121: Clamping part 122: Counterweight 123: Shaft 124: Plane 125: Curved surface 126: The part being pushed 127: Elastic Pad 200: Assembly method of flexible substrate 210~240: Steps

Claims

1. A method for assembling a flexible substrate, comprising: A flexible substrate is provided, the flexible substrate including a flexible substrate body and a reinforcing plate disposed on the flexible substrate body, wherein the flexible substrate body includes an end, the reinforcing plate includes an attachment portion and a holding portion, the attachment portion is attached to the end, and the holding portion is raised and separated from the flexible substrate body; a clamping jig clamps the holding portion of the reinforcing plate; and the clamping jig is moved to move the reinforcing plate together with the flexible substrate body, and the end of the flexible substrate body is inserted into a connector.

2. The assembly method of the flexible substrate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping fixture includes a base and a clamp disposed on the base, the base including a pivot hole and a limiting hole disposed along a first direction and communicating with each other, the clamp including a clamping part, a counterweight, and a rotating shaft located between the clamping part and the counterweight, the rotating shaft being movably disposed in one of the pivot hole and the limiting hole.

3. The assembly method of the flexible substrate as claimed in claim 2, wherein the limiting hole includes two opposing limiting surfaces, a distance between the two limiting surfaces being less than a diameter of the pivot hole, the rotating shaft includes two opposing planes and two arc surfaces connected between the two planes, a distance between the two arc surfaces being greater than the distance between the two limiting surfaces, and the distance between the two limiting surfaces being greater than the distance between the two planes.

4. The assembly method of the flexible substrate as described in claim 2, wherein the clamp further includes a push portion located between the clamping portion and the pivot, and the step of clamping the holding portion of the reinforcing plate by the clamping fixture further includes: The rotating shaft is positioned within the pivot hole, and the base and the clamp move toward the reinforcing plate along a second direction opposite to the first direction. The reinforcing plate pushes against the pushed part, and the clamping part rotates relative to the rotating shaft to clamp the reinforcing plate. The rotating shaft moves from the pivot hole to the limiting hole, and the two planes of the rotating shaft face the two limiting surfaces of the limiting hole, which is used to restrict the rotation of the rotating shaft relative to the base.

5. The method for assembling a flexible substrate as claimed in claim 2, further comprising, after the steps of moving the clamping fixture to move the reinforcing plate together with the flexible substrate body, and inserting the end of the flexible substrate body into the connector: The step of releasing the holding portion of the reinforcing plate by the clamping fixture further includes: moving the base along the first direction, thereby moving the pivot from the limiting hole to the pivot hole, so that the clamp is adapted to rotate relative to the base to release the reinforcing plate.

6. The assembly method of the flexible substrate as claimed in claim 5, wherein the torque of the counterweight about the pivot is greater than the torque of the clamping part about the pivot, and when the pivot moves from the limiting hole to the pivot hole, the clamp rotates under the torque of the counterweight and releases the reinforcing plate.

7. The method for assembling a flexible substrate as claimed in claim 2, wherein the clamp further includes an elastic pad disposed on the clamping portion to increase the friction between the reinforcing plate and the clamping portion.

8. A clamping fixture adapted to clamp a flexible substrate having a reinforcing plate, comprising: A base includes a pivot hole and a limiting hole arranged along a first direction and communicating with each other, wherein the limiting hole includes two opposing limiting surfaces, and a distance between the two limiting surfaces is less than a diameter of the pivot hole; and a clamp disposed on the base and including a clamping part, a counterweight, a rotating shaft located between the clamping part and the counterweight, and a pushing part located between the clamping part and the rotating shaft, wherein the rotating shaft is movably disposed in one of the pivot hole and the limiting hole, the rotating shaft includes two opposing planes and two arcuate surfaces connecting the two planes, the distance between the two arcuate surfaces is greater than the distance between the two limiting surfaces, and the distance between the two limiting surfaces is greater than the distance between the two planes.

9. The clamping fixture as claimed in claim 8, wherein when the pivot is located within the pivot hole and the base and the clamp move toward the reinforcing plate along a second direction opposite to the first direction, the reinforcing plate pushes against the pushed portion, the clamping portion rotates relative to the pivot to clamp the reinforcing plate, the pivot moves from the pivot hole to the limiting hole, and the two planes of the pivot face the two limiting surfaces of the limiting hole, and the limiting hole is used to restrict the rotation of the pivot relative to the base; wherein when the base is moved along the first direction, causing the pivot to move from the limiting hole to the pivot hole, the clamp is adapted to rotate relative to the base, thereby adapting the clamping portion to release the reinforcing plate.

10. The clamping fixture as claimed in claim 8, wherein the torque of the counterweight about the pivot is greater than the torque of the clamping part about the pivot, and when the pivot is located in the pivot hole and the pushed part is not pushed, the counterweight normally contacts a bottom wall of the base.

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