# US 10,455,719 B2 · Systems and methods for attaching printed circuit board to pallet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,455,719 B2 - Document ID: US10455719B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/823,503 - Filed: 2017-11-27 - Published: 2019-05-30 - Granted: 2019-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-27 - Assignees: Western Digital Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Western Digital Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Landdell Gregory; Dinesh Segar Gnanasagaran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455719B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/1405: {by clips or resilient members, e.g. hooks} - H05K 3/0097: {Processing two or more printed circuits simultaneously, e.g. made from a common substrate, or temporarily stacked circuit boards (H05K3/0052 takes precedence)} - H05K 7/1402: {for securing or extracting printed circuit boards} - H05K 7/1417: {having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards (H05K7/1461 takes precedence)} - H05K 13/0069: {Holders for printed circuit boards} - H05K 3/00: Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits - H05K 2203/0165: Holder for holding a Printed Circuit Board [PCB] during processing, e.g. during screen printing - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract Aspects of the disclosure provide a pallet and a method for supporting a printed circuit board (PCB) during a circuit board assembly process. The pallet includes a panel having a frame area surrounding a depression area for receiving a PCB. The pallet includes at least one fixed tooling pin attached to the panel at a first location in the depression area. The pallet further includes at least one movable tooling pin positioned at a second location in the depression area, and the movable tooling pin is movable between a release position for installing the PCB in the depression area and a secure position for securing the PCB in the depression area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pallet for supporting a printed circuit board (PCB) in a PCB assembly process, comprising: a panel having a frame area surrounding a depression area for receiving a PCB; at least one fixed tooling pin attached to the panel at a first location in the depression area; and at least one tooling pin assembly comprising: a base having a first end and a second end; a biasing element between the first end and the second end; and a movable tooling pin protruding from the first end of the base, wherein the movable tooling pin is positioned at a second location in the depression area, and movable between a release position for installing the PCB in the depression area and a secure position for securing the PCB in the depression area, and wherein the second end is configured to apply a compression force to the biasing element when the movable tooling pin is at the secure position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1, wherein the movable tooling pin in the secure position biases the PCB, at a first tooling hole of the PCB, in a first direction toward an outside edge of the panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pallet of claim 2, wherein the fixed tooling pin biases the PCB, at a second tooling hole of the PCB, in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises an elastic member configured to push the base to move in a translational motion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pallet of claim 4, wherein when the movable tooling pin is at the release position, the elastic member is compressed to an extent greater than when the movable tooling pin is at the secure position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises a cavity partially underneath the PCB for receiving the base of the tooling pin assembly and guiding the base in a direction of a translational motion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pallet of claim 6, wherein the cavity comprises a first section and a second section that is wider than the first section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1, wherein the tooling pin assembly further comprises: a bracket positioned across the base in a first direction for retaining the base during a translational motion in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 9 A pallet for supporting a printed circuit board (PCB) in a PCB assembly process, comprising: a panel having a frame area surrounding a depression area for receiving a PCB, and a cavity partially underneath the PCB; at least one fixed tooling pin attached to the panel at a first location in the depression area; a tooling pin assembly comprising: a base having a first end and a second end, the base received in the cavity of the panel and guided by the cavity in a direction of a translational motion; a biasing element between the first end and the second end; a movable tooling pin protruding from the first end of the base, wherein the movable tooling pin is positioned at a second location in the depression area, the movable tooling pin being movable between a release position for installing the PCB in the depression area and a secure position for securing the PCB in the depression area; and a bracket positioned across the cavity for retaining the tooling pin assembly in the cavity during the translational motion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pallet of claim 9, wherein the biasing element is compressed by the bracket and the second end of the base when the movable tooling pin is at the release position. ### Claim 11 A pallet for supporting a printed circuit board (PCB) in a PCB assembly process, comprising: a panel having a frame area surrounding a depression area for receiving a PCB; at least one fixed tooling pin attached to the panel at a first location in the depression area; and a tooling pin assembly comprising: a base having a first end, a second end, and a middle section between the first end and the second end; a movable tooling pin protruding from the first end of the base, wherein the movable tooling pin is positioned at a second location in the depression area, and movable between a release position for installing the PCB in the depression area and a secure position for securing the PCB in the depression area; and a first biasing element and a second biasing element on opposite sides of the middle section, the first biasing element and the second biasing element configured to be compressed by the second end of the base when the movable tooling pin is in the release position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pallet of claim 11, wherein the second end is wider than the first end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The pallet of claim 11, wherein the base has a T shape.