Device for aligning a printed circuit board in a press

A device for aligning a printed circuit (PC) board (2) in relation to an anvil (3) and an insertion blade (4) of a manual operated press (50) prior to insertion of at least one electronic component (1) provided with press-fit contact pins (7) into holes (5) of a selected insertion zone (z) of the PC-board (2), whereby the anvil (3) and the insertion blade (4) are substantially aligned to each other along an insertion center line (c) of the manual press, and a position of the selected insertion zone (z) is determined by means of a center point (p) of the insertion zone (z), the device comprising:

• a manually operated X-Y table to which the PC-board (2) is secured for moving the PC-board along an X-axis of the press and along a Y-axis of the press, the X-Y table comprising an X carriage (40) movable along the X-axis of the press and a Y carriage (11) movable along the Y-axis of the press;
• respective correction carriages (21,25) movably mounted to each of the X and Y carriages, the respective correction carriages having corresponding correction motors for moving each of the correction carriages relative to the X and Y carriages;
• and
• encoders (17,18) respectively connected to the X and Y carriages for detecting a position of the X and Y carriages, the encoders being connected to control units for operating the corresponding correction motors of the correction carriages in response to a signal from the encoders indicating the position of the X and Y carriages and moving the correction carriages with the correction motors for automatically aligning the center point (p) of the selected insertion zone (z) in relation to the insertion center line (c) of the anvil (3) and the insertion blade (4).