Method and apparatus for aligning mating form tools

A tooling alignment apparatus comprising:

• a punch comprising a plurality of alignment tracks formed in the surface adjacent to the bottom surface of the punch and extending from the bottom surface of the punch upwardly in the direction of movement of the punch, and
• a lead form anvil comprising a plurality of alignment rods extending upwardly, wherein the alignment rods contain the same curvature as the tracks and the alignment rods are positioned to engage in slidable contact with the tracks as the punch moves towards the lead form anvil.

In a punch and lead form anvil apparatus, with a rectangular lower punch surface designed to coact with a rectangular upper lead form anvil surface, for forming the outer leads of an electronic component mounted on a tape automated bonding tape wherein the improvement comprises:

• alignment tracks with curved interiors formed in the corners of the punch extending upwards in the punch sides from the punch lower surface, and
• alignment rods with domed tops positioned in the corners of the lead form anvil upper surface and extending above the surface, wherein the alignment rods are curved to correspond to the curvature of the tracks, and the alignment rods are positioned to slidably engage the alignment tracks as the punch and lead form anvil are brought together so that the punch and lead form anvil are aligned.

A method for aligning two mating tools comprising:

• positioning a first mating tool above a second mating tool wherein the first mating tool contains a plurality of alignment tracks formed in the exterior sides in the direction normal to the movement between the tools, and wherein the second mating tool contains a plurality of alignment members extending upwardly towards the first tool, the alignment members being shaped and positioned to engage in slidable conntact with the alignment tracks, and
• moving the alignment tools towards each other so that the alignment members slidably engage the alignment tracks and thereby align the mating tools.

A method of aligning a punch and lead form anvil comprising:

• positioning a punch above a lead form anvil, wherein a plurality of alignment tracks formed in the punch exterior surfaces adjacent the bottom surface of the punch extend upwardly from the bottom surface in a direction normal to the movement between the punch and lead form anvil, and wherein a plurality of alignment rods placed directly beneath the alignment tracks extend upwardly from the lead form anvil and are shaped so that the alignment rods will slidably engage the alignment tracks as the punch and lead form anvil are brought together, and
• moving the punch and lead form anvil together so that the alignment rods slidably engage the alignment tracks and the punch and lead form anvil are thereby aligned.

A method of aligning a punch and lead form anvil with rectangular coacting surfaces for forming the outer leads of an electronic component mounted on a tape comprising:

• positioning the punch above the lead form anvil so that tracks with curved interiors formed in the four corners of the punch and extending upwards from the punch coacting surface are positioned directly above cylindrical rods having the same diameter as the curved interiors of the tracks and having domed tops, wherein the rods are located in the corners of the lead form anvil and positioned to engage in smooth slidable contact with the alignment tracks on the punch as the punch is brought towards the lead form anvil, and
• actuating the punch towards the lead form anvil so that the rods slidably engage the tracks while creating no significant mechanical resistance to the movement of the punch so that the punch and lead form anvil will be aligned.