Test fixtures for testing of printed circuit boards
OwnerAllen Aksuinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed a fastener useful for the precise positioning of a plurality of plates in a parallel, spaced-apart array. The fastener has a cylindrical standard with distal fixed abutments and carries a plurality of spacers that are axially adjustable on the standard. At least one spacer is axially extendable, and has a user-adjustable cam to control its axial length, thereby accommodating for variable thicknesses of the intermediate plates. The fastener is disclosed as particularly useful for the precise orientation of the parallel plates of a fixture used in equipment for automated testing of printed circuit boards.
Claims11
In a method for the assembly of a fixture for testing of printed circuit boards wherein a plurality of test pins are placed in a vertical to near vertical spaced apart array corresponding to the locations of test points of a circuit board in aligned through apertures of a plurality of support plates including an uppermost plate, a lowermost plate, and at least one intermediate plate, which are in a spaced apart parallel array, the improvement which comprises:
- a. placing at least one support post having a plurality of axially adjustable plate spacers including at least one axially expandable plate spacer and distal fixed support elements into engagement with said support plates along their side edges by;
- (1) locating one of said distal fixed support elements in abutment with one of the uppermost and lowermost support plates;
- (2) positioning one of said axially adjustable plate spacers between said intermediate plate and one support plate;
- (3) placing said axially expandable spacer between said intermediate support plate and the other of said uppermost and lowermost support plates;
- and
- (4) expanding said axially expandable spacer to abut said other support plate against its respective fixed distal support element and thereby adjust said uppermost and lowermost plates to a controlled spaced apart distance.
A method for the assembly of a plurality of plates comprising an uppermost, a lowermost and at least two intermediate plates in a parallel, spaced apart array which comprises:
- a. providing through apertures in said plates at substantially identical locations along the sides of each plate to provide sets of vertically aligned apertures when said plates are assembled in said parallel array;
- b. assembling and temporarily supporting said plates in said parallel, spaced array at predetermined spacings;
- c. positioning a support post having distal fixed support elements and axially moveable support elements in each set of aligned apertures with the uppermost and lowermost plate of said array being secured in abutment against said distal fixed support elements;
- and
- d. positioning said axially moveable support elements above and below each of said intermediate plates and adjusting the heights of each of said intermediate plates by axial movement of said moveable support elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.