Apparatus for conveying plate-form articles

Abstract

A conveyor apparatus for a plate form article such as a lead frame including: a main conveyor line and a working conveyor line, which convey the lead frame in a direction parallel to the length-wise direction of the lead frame; a sub-conveyor which transfers the lead frame between the main and working conveyor lines in a direction perpendicular to such conveyor lines, the sub-conveyor being made of work-holders for holding the lead frame in such a manner that two ends of the length-wise direction of the lead frame are positioned perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sub-conveyor and supported by the work-holders; a vertical driving cylinder for raising and lowering the work-holders; belt conveyor systems of two different linkages which are connected to the work-holders; and a motor which drives the timing belt systems. Both timing belt system are linked to and driven by the motor, but one of them is driven through the braking and clutch mechanisms. Thus, by way of switching on and off the brake and clutch mechanisms, not only the conveyance of the lead frame but also the width adjustment between the work-holders are accomplished by a single power source which is the motor; in addition, a smooth conveyance of the lead frame by the sub-conveyor is insured.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.