# US 2014/0150252 A1 · Driving board folding machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150252 A1 - Document ID: US20140150252A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/094,557 - Filed: 2013-12-02 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: Flextronics AP, LLC - Applicants: Flextronics AP, LLC - Inventors: Juan Jose Montiel Martinez; Guillermo Armando Martinez Cruz; Mario Lopez Ruiz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150252A1 ## CPC - B65H 37/06: for folding - H05K 1/189: characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits - H05K 2201/051: Rolled - H05K 2201/10106: Light emitting diode [LED] - Y10T 29/49124: On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc. - Y10T 29/532: Conductor - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A driving board folding machine comprises a machine housing, a movable table and one or more pre-folding stations for holding an unfolded flexible circuit and a circuit housing. When the driving board folding machine is activated, the one or more pre-folding stations are moved to a folding station located within the machine housing and the flexible circuit is folded and inserted within the circuit housing. The driving board folding station is able to comprise multiple pre-folding stations on one or more sides of the movable table. A holding pin holds the flexible circuit in place while a forming press moves in order to preform the flexible circuit, fold the flexible circuit and move the circuit housing to insert the flexible circuit into the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A driving board folding machine comprising: a. a machine housing; b. a movable table; and c. one or more pre-folding stations for holding a circuit housing and an unfolded flexible circuit, d. an apparatus for moving each pre-folding station to a folding station located within the machine housing where the flexible circuit is folded and inserted into the circuit housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The driving board folding machine of claim 1 wherein the one or more pre-folding stations are slidably inserted into the machine housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The driving board folding machine of claim 1 wherein the movable table comprises a first end and second opposite the first end, and wherein each of the first end and the second end comprise one or more pre-folding stations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The driving board folding machine of claim 3 wherein the one or more pre-folding stations are rotatably inserted into the machine housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The driving board folding machine of claim 1 wherein the flexible circuit is preformed before it is inserted into the circuit housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The driving board folding machine of claim 1 wherein the flexible circuit is folded at a force less than 50N. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The driving board folding machine of claim 1 wherein the flexible circuit comprises a circuit for a LED lamp. ### Claim 8 A pre-folding station for a driving board folding machine, the pre-folding station comprising: a. a circuit support coupled to a movable table and for receiving a flexible circuit and a circuit housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pre-folding station of claim 8 wherein the circuit support comprises one or more apertures for receiving one or more circuit connector pins. ### Claim 10 A folding station for a driving board folding machine, the folding station comprising: a. a holding pin; b. a forming press; and c. a circuit support, wherein the circuit support is adapted to hold an unfolded flexible circuit between the holding pin and the forming press. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The folding station of claim 10 wherein the holding pin and the forming press are each actuated by a pneumatic cylinder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The folding station of claim 10 wherein the holding pin is configured to hold the flexible circuit in place while the forming press moves upward in order to fold the flexible circuit and insert is into the circuit housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The folding station of claim 10 wherein the flexible circuit and the circuit housing are held by a circuit support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The folding station of claim 10 wherein the forming press is shaped in order to preform the flexible circuit before the flexible circuit is folded and inserted within the circuit housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The folding station of claim 10 wherein the forming press is actuated at a force less than 50N. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The folding station of claim 10 wherein the flexible circuit comprises a circuit for a LED lamp. ### Claim 17 A method of using a driving board folding machine to fold a flexible circuit and insert it within a circuit housing, the method comprising: a. coupling a circuit housing with a circuit support; b. placing an unfolded flexible circuit on a top of the circuit support and the circuit housing; and c. activating the machine, wherein when the machine is activated, the flexible circuit and the circuit housing are moved to a folding station where the flexible circuit is folded and inserted into the circuit housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the flexible circuit and the circuit housing are rotated to the folding station where the flexible circuit is folded and inserted into the circuit housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the flexible circuit is held in place by a holding pin while a forming press moves upward in order to fold the flexible circuit and insert is into the circuit housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the flexible circuit is preformed before it is inserted in the circuit housing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the flexible circuit comprises a circuit for a LED lamp.