Vibration isolation platform
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorRussell Steven Krajec
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The inventive vibration isolation platform is connected between a fixture which supports a device to be tested, and an automatic testing machine. The platform has two positions. In the first position, the fixture is ridgedly locked in a predetermined location for loading and unloading of the device. In the second position, the fixture is in a testing position, wherein the fixture is vibrationally isolated from the testing machine. Therefore, during loading and unloading, the location of the fixture is precisely known to the automatic testing machine. During testing, the fixture is isolated from the automatic testing machine, and hence receives substantially no vibrational energy from the automatic testing machine. Thus, the device can be tested without interference from unwanted vibrations or sounds.
Claims55
An isolation platform for isolating a fixture from vibrations from an automatic testing machine, the platform comprising:
- a first plate for fixedly attaching the platform to the machine;
- a second plate which is movably connected to the first plate, and supports the fixture;
- a positioning mechanism that is connected between the first and second plates, and moves the second plate between a locked position and a testing position;
- and
- a vibration isolation mechanism that isolates the second plate from the first plate and is operative in the testing position, thereby isolating the fixture from the machine;
- wherein the second plate is rigidly attached to the first plate in the locked position.
An automatic testing machine which includes an isolation platform for isolating a fixture from vibrations from the automatic testing machine, the platform comprising:
- a first plate which is fixedly attached to the machine;
- a second plate which is movably connected to the first plate, and supports the fixture;
- a positioning mechanism that is connected between the first and second plates, and moves the second plate between a locked position and a testing position;
- a vibration isolation mechanism that isolates the second plate from the first plate and is operative in the testing position, thereby isolating the fixture from the machine;
- a plurality of bushings;
- and
- a plurality of pins, each pin engages a respective bushing when the platform is in the locked position, and rigidly attaches the first plate and the second plate;
- wherein the machine tests a device supported by the fixture in the testing position, and the machine loads the device into the fixture in the locked position, and the machine unloads the device from the fixture in the locked position.
An isolation platform for isolating a fixture from vibrations from an automatic testing machine, the platform comprising:
- first means for fixedly attaching the platform to the machine;
- second means for supporting the fixture;
- third means for moving the second means between a locked position and a testing position;
- and
- fourth means, operative in the testing position, for vibrationally isolating the second means from the first means and thereby isolating the fixture from the machine;
- and
- fifth means, operative in the locked position, for rigidly attaching the second means to the first means.
A method for isolating a fixture from vibrations from an automatic testing machine, the method comprising the steps of:
- fixedly attaching the platform to the machine via a first plate;
- movably supporting the fixture via a second plate;
- moving the second plate between a locked position and a testing position;
- and
- vibrationally isolating the second plate from the first plate and thereby isolating the fixture from the machine in the testing position;
- and
- rigidly attaching the second plate to the first plate in the locked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.