Apparatus for locating and supporting ceramic substrates
AssigneeNorthern Telecom Limited
InventorDaniel A. Woodward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ceramic substrate is held in position, while being processed, by vacuum. The substrate is positioned on an intermediate plate and held down by a vacuum. The intermediate plate is supported on an air bearing while being moved into correct location on a support member, after which the intermediate plate is held in position by a vacuum. The locating of the intermediate plate can be caused to move into position during movement of the support member to a processing position. Typical processing is the screen printing of circuits and other features.
Claims7
Apparatus for locating and supporting a substrate comprising:
- a support member;
- a intermediate plate movably supported on said support member;
- means mounted on said support member for contacting and locating a substrate resting on a top surface of said intermediate plate relative to said support member;
- means for applying a vacuum to said top surface of said intermediate plate;
- means for alternately applying a pressure source and a vacuum to a support surface of said support member;
- means for urging said intermediate plate towards said locating means;
- means for supporting said support member on a table;
- and
- means mounted on said support member for retracting said intermediate plate from said locating means, said retracting means engaging said intermediate plate to a cam member mounted on said table, said cam member and said support member being movable relative to each other.
Apparatus for locating and supporting a substrate comprising:
- (a) a support member;
- (b) means for supporting said support member on a table;
- (c) an intermediate plate movably supported on said support member;
- (d) means for urging said intermediate plate towards a substrate locating means;
- (e) said substrate locating means being mounted on said support member and contacting said substrate when said intermediate plate is urged toward said locating means;
- (f) means mounted on said support member engaging said intermediate plate to a cam member mounted on said table, comprising a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its length on said support member, said lever including a cam engaging surface at one end for engagement with said cam member, said lever in engagement at its other end with said intermediate plate;
- (g) means for applying a vacuum to a top surface of said intermediate plate;
- and
- (h) means for alternately applying a pressure source and a vacuum to a support surface of said support member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.