Method and apparatus for carrying and locating sheet frame
AssigneeMitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHideji Aoki, Hidetaka Yamasaki, Kazuhisa Hiroshige
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to efficiently carry and locate a plurality of types of sheet frames having different dimensions, it is possible to change and adjust positions of lower guide rails in response to a width of a supplied lead frame in a shorter-side direction (X). A carrier device and a stop device can adjust and change a carriage distance in a carriage direction and a stop position in response to a longitudinal width of the lead frame respectively. Thus, it is possible to carry and locate sheet frames in response to various dimensions thereof.
Claims4
A method of carrying and locating a sheet frame for carrying a sheet frame, which is substantially in the form of a flat plate, along a direction of a first axis in a major surface of said sheet frame by a prescribed distance, and holding the sheet frame at a prescribed position, said method of carrying and locating a sheet frame comprising:
- (a) a guiding step which comprises supporting said sheet frame in a manner to permit the supported sheet frame to be slidable along said direction of said first axis;
- (b) a width adjusting step which comprises adjusting a supporting position for supporting said sheet frame in said guiding step (a) in a direction of a second axis, which is perpendicular to said first axis, in said major surface in correspondence to a first width of said sheet frame in said direction of said second axis;
- (c) a carrying step which comprises carrying said supported sheet frame in said direction of said first axis by a prescribed distance in correspondence to a second width of said sheet frame in said direction of said first axis;
- and
- (d) a stopping step which comprises stopping said supported sheet frame at a prescribed position in correspondence to said second width;
- wherein:
- said guiding step (a) comprises:
- (a-1) a step of guiding a first major surface of said sheet frame at an end portion of said sheet frame or in a vicinity of said end portion in said direction of said first axis;
- (a-2) a step of guiding a second major surface of said sheet frame at said end portion or in a vicinity of said end portion in said direction of said first axis;
- and
- (a-3) a step of guiding an edge surface of said sheet frame at said end portion in said direction of said first axis, wherein;
- said guiding step (a-1) comprises:
- (a-1--1) a step of preparing first means for guiding said first major surface of said sheet frame at said end portion or in the vicinity of said end portion in said direction of said first axis;
- (a-1-2) a step of approaching said first means to said first major surface from a substantially opposite direction;
- and
- (a-1-3) a step of guiding said first major surface of said sheet frame in said direction of said first axis through said first means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.