TWI911070B - Fpc clamping fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

An FPC clamping fixture is suitable for clamping an FPC. The FPC clamping fixture comprises a fixing base, a push rod, two sliding blocks and two magnetic metal parts. The push rod is movably arranged on the fixing base, and a magnet is arranged at one end thereof. The two sliding blocks are movably connected to the fixing base via two elastic members. The two magnetic metal parts are respectively arranged on one of the sliding block. The push rod is adapted to be moved by force to a position where the magnet is aligned to the two magnetic metal parts, so that the two sliding blocks are moved closer to each other by the magnetic attraction between the magnet and the two magnetic metal parts to clamp the FPC from opposite sides.

Description

Soft plate clamping fixture

This disclosure relates to a flexible circuit board (PCB) clamping fixture, particularly a PCB clamping fixture that can mechanically clamp and assemble PCBs in an automated manufacturing process.

Due to the flexible and deformable nature of flexible printed circuits (FPCs), they are currently assembled manually on production lines, resulting in high labor and time consumption. This also hinders the improvement of full production line automation.

In view of the above, this disclosure provides a flexible board clamping fixture in one embodiment for clamping a flexible board. The flexible board clamping fixture includes a fixed base, a push rod, two sliders, and two magnetic metal parts. The push rod is movably disposed on the fixed base, and a magnet is provided at one end. The two sliders are movably connected to the fixed base via two elastic members. The two magnetic metal parts are respectively disposed on one slider. The push rod is adapted to be moved under force until the magnets are aligned with the two magnetic metal parts, so that the two sliders move closer to each other by the magnetic attraction between the magnets and the two magnetic metal parts, thereby clamping the flexible board from opposite sides.

In this way, a force can be applied to the push rod by a robotic arm or other means, causing the push rod to move under the force, which in turn causes the two sliders used to clamp the flexible plate to move relative to each other. When the flexible plate needs to be moved, the flexible plate clamping fixture is moved above the flexible plate, so that the two sliders of the flexible plate clamping fixture are positioned on opposite sides of the flexible plate. Then, the robotic arm applies a forward force to the push rod, causing the two sliders to move closer together from opposite sides of the flexible plate to clamp the flexible plate, thereby moving the flexible plate. After the flexible circuit board is moved to the desired position, a force in the opposite direction of the push rod can be applied by the robotic arm. This causes the two sliders to return to their original position under the action of the two elastic components after the magnetic attraction between the magnets and the magnetic metal is lost, thus releasing the clamping of the flexible circuit board. Although the flexible circuit board is made of a soft material, by controlling the distance between the two sliders and the magnetic attraction between the magnets and the magnetic metal components, the sliders can apply appropriate force to clamp the flexible circuit board. This allows the assembly of the flexible circuit board to be carried out mechanically, achieving production line automation and reducing the required labor time and assembly manpower.

The following embodiments are provided for detailed description; however, these embodiments are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of protection intended by this disclosure. Furthermore, some components are omitted from the figures in the embodiments to clearly show the technical features of this disclosure. The same reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar components in all figures.

Please refer to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flexible circuit board clamping fixture according to an embodiment of this disclosure, Figure 2 is an exploded view of a flexible circuit board clamping fixture according to an embodiment of this disclosure, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a flexible circuit board according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The flexible circuit board clamping fixture of this embodiment is suitable for clamping the flexible circuit board 100 shown in Figure 3. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the flexible circuit board clamping fixture includes a fixed base 10, a push rod 20, two sliders 30, two elastic elements 40, and two magnetic metal elements 50. The push rod 20 is movably disposed on the fixed base 10, and a magnet 22 is provided at one end 21. The magnet 22 can be fixed to the end 21 of the push rod 20 by means of adhesive, locking, or clamping. Two sliders 30 are movably connected to the fixed base 10. Two elastic members 40 respectively abut against one slider 30 and the fixed base 10. As shown in Figure 1, there is an elastic member 40 between one slider 30 and the fixed base 10, and there is also an elastic member 40 between the other slider 30 and the fixed base 10. Two magnetic metal members 50 are respectively disposed on a corresponding slider 30. As shown in Figure 1, a magnetic metal member 50 is respectively assembled on the opposite side of the two sliders 30.

Next, please refer to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a flexible plate clamping fixture according to an embodiment of this disclosure, showing the two sliders being relatively far apart. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a flexible plate clamping fixture according to an embodiment of this disclosure, showing the two sliders being relatively close together and clamping the flexible plate. For ease of explanation, the extension direction of the push rod 20 is defined as the first direction X, the direction perpendicular to the first direction X is defined as the second direction Y, and the direction perpendicular to both the first direction X and the second direction Y is defined as the third direction Z. When the flexible plate clamping fixture is placed in an appropriate position above the flexible plate 100, as shown in Figure 4, the two sliders 30 are relatively far apart in the second direction Y and are located on opposite sides of the flexible plate 100 without clamping the flexible plate 100. At this time, the push rod 20 is moved under force until the magnet 22 is positioned opposite the two magnetic metal parts 50, as shown in Figure 5. This causes the two sliders 30 to move closer to each other due to the magnetic attraction between the magnet 22 and the two magnetic metal parts 50, thus clamping the flexible plate 100 from opposite sides. In this embodiment, the push rod 20 moves forward under the force in the first direction X until the magnet 22 at end 21 moves between the two magnetic metal parts 50. At this time, the magnet 22 attracts the two magnetic metal parts 50 closer to it, causing the two magnetic metal parts 50 to move closer to each other in the second direction Y due to the magnetic attraction, until the flexible plate 100 is clamped.

In this way, a force can be applied to the push rod 20 by means of a robotic arm or other means, causing the push rod 20 to move under the force, which in turn causes the two sliders 30 used to clamp the flexible plate 100 to move relative to each other. When the flexible plate 100 needs to be clamped and moved, the flexible plate clamping fixture is moved above the flexible plate 100, so that the two sliders 30 of the flexible plate clamping fixture are positioned on opposite sides of the flexible plate 100. Then, the robotic arm applies a forward force to the push rod 20, causing the two sliders 30 to move closer together from opposite sides of the flexible plate 100 to clamp the flexible plate 100, thereby moving the flexible plate 100 and setting it in the desired position. Furthermore, although the flexible board 100 is made of a soft material, the distance between the two sliders 30, the magnetic attraction between the magnets 22 and the magnetic metal parts 50 can be controlled so that the sliders 30 can clamp the flexible board 100 with appropriate force, so that the assembly of the flexible board 100 can be carried out mechanically, thereby achieving production line automation and reducing the required working hours and assembly manpower.

Returning to Figures 1 and 2, the flexible plate clamping fixture further includes a spring 60 connected between the fixed base 10 and the end 21 of the push rod 20. As shown in Figure 2, the fixed base 10 extends forward along a first direction X to form a component coaxial with the push rod 20, allowing one end of the spring 60 to abut against it. The spring 60 can be connected at one end to the fixed base 10 and at the other end to the push rod 20. When the push rod 20 is forced forward and compresses the spring 60, upon cessation of force or receipt of a reverse force, the compressed spring 60 provides a force for the push rod 20 to return to its original position under the action of elastic restoring force.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the fixing base 10 includes an adjusting rod 11 and two base plates 12. The two base plates 12 are adjustablely connected to both sides of the adjusting rod 11 and can be positioned close to or far from each other. As shown in Figure 2, the adjusting rod 11 extends along a first direction X, while the two base plates 12 are mirror-symmetrical and identical in shape, and are arranged on both sides of the adjusting rod 11 in a second direction Y, and can be respectively arranged at the desired positions on the adjusting rod 11. Two sliders 30 are movably connected to one base plate 12 via an elastic member 40. Since the positions of the two substrates 12 arranged on the adjusting rod 11 can be freely adjusted, the distance between the two substrates 12 in the second direction Y can be adjusted according to the width of the flexible board 100 to be clamped, until the distance between the two sliders 30 connected to the two substrates 12 in the second direction Y is suitable for clamping the flexible board 100.

In this embodiment, although the fixing seat 10 is formed by detachable multiple components such as the adjusting rod 11 and the two base plates 12, in other embodiments, the fixing seat 10 can also be integrally formed. In the case of integral forming, multiple fixing seats 10 can be used, and each fixing seat 10 has a second direction Y width corresponding to clamping flexible boards 100 of different sizes, so as to be suitable for clamping flexible boards 100 with different width dimensions.

Furthermore, the adjusting lever 11 includes a guide portion 111 and two positioning portions 112. The two positioning portions 112 are disposed on both sides of the guide portion 111. As shown in Figure 2, the two positioning portions 112 are arranged along the second direction Y on opposite sides of the guide portion 111. The push lever 20 is movably disposed on the guide portion 111. In this embodiment, the push lever 20 has a through hole 23 in the first direction X that is larger than the length of the guide portion 111, and the size of the through hole 23 in the second direction Y is approximately equal to the width of the guide portion 111. After the through hole 23 of the push rod 20 is fitted onto the guide part 111, a cover plate 113 with a length greater than the first direction X or the second direction Y of the through hole 23 can be locked on top, preventing the push rod 20 from disengaging from the guide part 111 in the third direction Z. Under the limitation of the guide part 111, the push rod 20 will only move in the first direction X when subjected to force.

Two substrates 12 are disposed on two positioning portions 112 and can move and be fixed along the two positioning portions 112. There are various ways in which the two substrates 12 are disposed on the two positioning portions 112. For example, each positioning portion 112 can be provided with multiple locking holes according to the commonly used size of the flexible board 100, and each substrate 12 is locked to the required locking holes by screws to adjust the distance between the two substrates 12 in the second direction Y. In this embodiment, each positioning portion 112 includes a guide hole 1121, and each substrate 12 includes a protrusion 121 and a locking fastener 122. The guide hole 1121 is an elongated slot, and the direction of the long side of the elongated slot is perpendicular to the moving direction of the push rod 20. As shown in Figure 2, the direction of the long side of the elongated slot of the guide hole 1121 is the second direction Y. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the direction of the push rod 20 moving under force is the first direction X. The two directions are perpendicular to each other.

A protrusion 121 extends through one side of the positioning portion 112 into the guide hole 1121, and a locking fastener 122 extends through the guide hole 1121 from the other side of the positioning portion 112 and is locked to the protrusion 121. The locking fastener 122 can be directly locked to abut against the positioning portion 112 to confirm a tight fixation. Furthermore, the guide hole 1121 provides more precise adjustment possibilities, allowing the spacing between the two substrates 12 to accommodate a wider range of flexible printed circuit boards 100 sizes. In addition, the positioning portion 112 may have a recess along the circumference of the guide hole 1121 corresponding to the upper surface of the positioning portion 1122, allowing the screw head of the locking fastener 122, such as a screw, to be positioned in this recess, providing a limiting effect in the first direction X.

Referring again to Figure 3, the flexible plate clamping fixture further includes a fixing plate 70. The fixing plate 70 is fixed to the flexible plate 100, and the two sliders 30 are clamped to the fixing plate 70 from opposite sides to hold the flexible plate 100. In cases where the flexible plate 100 is narrower or more flexible, the fixing plate 70 can be added to one end of the flexible plate 100 or at any position where it is to be clamped to increase the rigidity of the clamping point and prevent the flexible plate 100 from deforming due to excessive force after clamping. The fixing plate 70 can be fixed to the flexible plate 100 by adhesive, snap-fit, or clamping.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, each slider 30 includes a limiting recess 31, and the fixing plate 70 includes two opposing positioning protrusions 71. When the two sliders 30 clamp the fixing plate 70, each limiting recess 31 corresponds to one positioning protrusion 71, so that one positioning protrusion 71 is accommodated in one limiting recess 31. In this way, when the fixing plate 70 of the flexible plate 100 is clamped in the first direction X, it can be clamped at the desired position in the second direction Y, thereby providing an alignment effect in both the first direction X and the second direction Y.

Furthermore, each slider 30 includes a plate 32 disposed on the lower surface of a slider 30 and located at a corresponding limiting recess 31 to cover the lower opening of the limiting recess 31. After clamping the soft plate 100 as shown in Figure 5, if it is necessary to move the soft plate 100 upward along the third direction Z, the plate 32 can provide assistance in the third direction Z, avoiding the possibility that the soft plate 100 may fall downward under the action of gravity if the clamping force is insufficient.

In addition, please also refer to Figure 6, which is a bottom view of a flexible plate clamping fixture of an embodiment disclosed herein when placed on a flexible plate. The fixing plate 70 includes two oppositely arranged stop portions 72, and the fixing seat 10 includes two limiting members 123 respectively oppositely arranged and located on one side facing the fixing plate 70. When the fixing seat 10 is disposed on the fixing plate 70, the two limiting members 123 abut against the two stop portions 72. When the flexible plate clamping fixture shown in Figure 1 is to clamp the flexible plate 100, a force can be applied to the push rod 20 in the first direction X, so that the entire flexible plate clamping fixture is moved towards the fixing plate 70 of the flexible plate 100. As shown in Figure 6, when the flexible plate clamping fixture moves along the first direction X until the limiting member 123 abuts against the stop 72, the fixed seat 10 will no longer be able to move forward along the first direction X. If a force is applied to the push rod 20 at this time, the fixed seat 10 will remain stationary while the push rod 20 will be moved forward, thus completing the subsequent clamping action as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The stop 72 allows for more precise positioning of the flexible plate clamping fixture, and the limit member 123 ensures that the slider 30 is in the desired position before clamping. Specifically, the limiting recess 31 at the front end of the slider 30 corresponds to the second positioning protrusion 71 of the fixed plate 70, facilitating subsequent clamping operations.

In summary, this invention allows for the application of force to the push rod 20 via a robotic arm or similar device. This force causes the push rod 20 to move, thereby moving the two sliders 30 that hold the flexible plate 100 relative to each other. Furthermore, after the flexible plate 100 is moved to the desired position, the robotic arm can apply a force in the opposite direction to the push rod 20, causing the two sliders 30 to return to their original position under the influence of the two elastic elements 40 after losing the magnetic attraction between the magnet 22 and the magnetic metal part 50, thus releasing the clamping force on the flexible plate 100. Therefore, the assembly of the flexible plate 100 can be performed mechanically, achieving production line automation and reducing required labor time and assembly manpower.

100: Flexible plate 70: Fixed plate 71: Positioning protrusion 72: Stopper 10: Fixed base 11: Adjusting rod 111: Guide part 112: Positioning part 1121: Guide perforation 113: Cover plate 12: Base plate 121: Protrusion 122: Locking fastener 123: Limiting member 20: Push rod 21: End 22: Magnet 23: Perforation 30: Slider 31: Limiting recess 32: Plate 40: Elastic member 50: Magnetic metal member 60: Spring X: First direction Y: Second direction Z: Third direction

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flexible plate clamping fixture according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 2 is an exploded view of a flexible plate clamping fixture according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a flexible plate according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of two sliders in a flexible plate clamping fixture according to an embodiment of this disclosure, with their distance from each other. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of two sliders in a flexible plate clamping fixture according to an embodiment of this disclosure, with their distance from each other, clamping the flexible plate. Figure 6 is a bottom view of a flexible plate clamping fixture according to an embodiment of this disclosure placed on the flexible plate.

10: Fixture

11: Adjustment lever

111: Guidance Department

112: Positioning Department

113: Cover plate

12:Substrate

20: Push

21:End

22: Magnets

23: Perforation

30: Slide

31: Limiting recess

32: Plate Parts

40: Elastic component

50: Magnetic metal parts

60: Spring

X: First direction

Y: Second direction

Z: Third-party direction

Claims (10)

A flexible board clamping fixture, suitable for clamping a flexible board, comprises: a fixed base; a push rod movably disposed on the fixed base, with a magnet at one end; two sliders movably connected to the fixed base; two elastic members abutting against one of the sliders and the fixed base respectively; and two magnetic metal members respectively disposed on one of the sliders, the push rod is adapted to be moved under force until the magnet aligns with the two magnetic metal members, causing the two sliders to move closer to each other by the magnetic attraction between the magnet and the two magnetic metal members, thereby clamping the flexible board from opposite sides. The flexible plate clamping fixture as described in claim 1 further includes a spring connected between the fixed base and the end of the push rod. The flexible board clamping fixture as described in claim 1, wherein the fixing base includes: an adjusting rod; and two base plates adjustablely connected to both sides of the adjusting rod and movable toward or away from each other, the two sliders being movably connected to one of the base plates via an elastic member. The flexible plate clamping fixture as described in claim 3, wherein the adjusting rod includes a guide portion and two positioning portions, the two positioning portions being disposed on both sides of the guide portion, the push rod being movably disposed on the guide portion, and the two base plates being disposed on the two positioning portions. As described in claim 4, each of the positioning portions includes a guide hole, and each substrate includes a protrusion and a locking fastener. The protrusion passes through the guide hole from one side of the positioning portion, and the locking fastener passes through the guide hole from the other side of the positioning portion and is locked to the protrusion. The flexible plate clamping fixture as described in claim 5, wherein the guide hole is an elongated slot, and the direction of the long side of the elongated slot is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the push rod. The soft board clamping fixture as described in claim 1 further includes a fixing plate fixed to the soft board, and the two sliders clamping the soft board from opposite sides of the fixing plate. As described in claim 7, in the soft plate clamping fixture, each slider includes a limiting recess, and the fixing plate includes two positioning protrusions disposed opposite each other. When the two sliders clamp the fixing plate, each limiting recess corresponds to a positioning protrusion, such that a positioning protrusion is accommodated in a limiting recess. The flexible plate clamping fixture as described in claim 8, wherein each slider further includes a plate disposed on the lower surface of one slider and located at a corresponding limiting recess to cover the lower opening of the limiting recess. The flexible plate clamping fixture as described in claim 7, wherein the fixing plate includes two oppositely disposed stop portions, and the fixing seat includes two limiting members respectively disposed opposite to each other and located on one side facing the fixing plate, wherein when the fixing seat is disposed on the fixing plate, the two limiting members abut against the two stop portions.