Excellon Automation Company

Gyrex Corp.

Richard Polacek

Robert J Watkinson

Dennis M Pumphrey

Dan Popovich

In a tool changer system comprising one or more tool grippers together with a pressure foot insert change pod supported on a U-V slide which is independent of the machine work table. The slide services a tool magazine mounted on the machine tool in close proximity to the work table. Because the tool changer is independent of the machine table, the selection and retrieval of the next tool to be used is performed while the machine tool is working. Similarly, the replacement of the tool back into its storage location is done while the machine tool is working. The exchanging of the pressure foot insert is done as part of the tool change process. Time is saved because the work table does not have to be moved to position the tool changer under the spindle. In fact, the work table may be moved to the next work location while the tool changer changes the tool in the spindle. An alternative embodiment of this invention avoids complex adjustment of certain types of tools when loading the same into the machine spindle where the precise location of the tool tip is unknown. Such adjustment occurs whenever tools without positioning collars are stored in the magazine. The instant invention permits such adjustment 'off line' while the machine tool is working on an work piece by including a new dual piston gripper mechanism and a coarse axial adjustment pad thereby saving additional time and increasing the output of the machine. Also shown in the patent is a cartridge for tool magazines which accepts the EURO cassette without the need to separately unload tools from the cassette and load the typical tool cartridge.

Tool gripping apparatus

A tool changer system is disclosed comprising one or more tool grippers together with a pressure foot insert change pod supported on a U-V slide which is independent of the machine work table. The slide services a tool magazine mounted on the machine tool in close proximity to the work table. Because the tool changer is independent of the machine table, the selection and retrieval of the next tool to be used is performed while the machine tool is working. Similarly, the replacement of the tool back into its storage location is done while the machine tool is working. The exchanging of the pressure foot insert is done as part of the tool change process. Time is saved because the work table does not have to be moved to position the tool changer under the spindle. In fact, the work table may be moved to the next work location while the tool changer changes the tool in the spindle. An alternative embodiment of this invention avoids complex adjustment of certain types of tools when loading the same into the machine spindle where the precise location of the tool tip is unknown. Such adjustment occurs whenever tools without positioning collars are stored in the magazine. The instant invention permits such adjustment 'off line' while the machine tool is working on an work piece by including a new dual piston gripper mechanism and a coarse axial adjustment pad thereby saving additional time and increasing the output of the machine. Also shown in the patent is a cartridge for tool magazines which accepts the EURO cassette without the need to separately unload tools from the cassette and load the typical tool cartridge.

Tool change apparatus

A retractable registration pin to be used on the tooling plate of a printed wire board drilling machine for alignment of PWB panels on the tooling plate for drilling. In the instant invention, a soft plug which receives a registration pin is mounted on a spline shaft. The bottom of the ball spline shaft is attached to a link which is coupled to a pneumatic cylinder. The pneumatic cylinder is driven by a pneumatic valve which raises and lowers the registration pin on the ball spline assembly. The pneumatic cylinder may either fully retract the registration pin to a position below the surface of the tooling plate, or fully extend the ball spline shaft so that the upper surface of the soft plug holding the registration pin, is parallel to and lies in the same plane as the upper surface of the tooling plate. When the registration pin is in the raised position, work panels may be placed over the registration pin until a suitable number have been prepared for drilling. If the registration pin protrudes above the surface of the upper work panel work piece, a pneumatic valve is opened allowing the pneumatic cylinder to be opened to the atmosphere and the spindle of the machine tool may be used to push down the registration pin to a position that is flush with the surface of the upper work piece, thereby preventing interference with the spindle. When drilling of the panels is completed, the pneumatic valve may be engaged again, to retract the registration pin below the surface of the tooling plate allowing easy removal of the work from the machine.

Retractable registration pin apparatus

A clamp for dipping printed circuit boards into a solder bath of a solder coater machine is disclosed. The clamp comprises first and second interdigitated, coplanar fingers connected respectively at common ends thereof to a pair of spaced, parallel first and second plates. Pivot pins respectively connect adjacent first and second fingers to each other to define a pivot axis extending parallel to and between the distal ends of fingers and the first and second plates. The second plate is spring biased from and movable towards the first plate under an applied actuating force to pivot the second fingers out the plane of the first fingers enabling insertion of a printed circuit board between clamping surfaces defined by the distal ends. The pivot pins and spring mechanism are spaced a sufficient distance from the distal ends to avoid contamination by solder particles and flux during the coating process and to avoid interference with air leveling knives closely spaced to the coated board upon removal from the bath.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Richard Polacek