Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-23
2001-01-09
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
C198S817000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170647
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a conveyer and a reflow device using the same, for conveying a printed circuit board, a lead frame, or the like, and in particular, to a conveyer and a reflow device which prevents jamming or falling of an article to be conveyed by a pair of article-supporting belts provided between a pair of conveyer chain belts movable in the direction of transportation of the article by means of rollers.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 10-181132, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Background Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, a conventional reflow device has a reflow furnace
1
, and a conveyer
10
for conveying a workpiece
3
through the reflow furnace
1
. The workpiece
3
is a printed circuit board on which electronic parts are provided on copper foil pads (lands) provided with solder beforehand.
In general, the conveyer
10
employs a pair of chain belts (conveyer chain belts) to convey the workpiece
3
. The chain belts are endless, and are rotated by driving rollers (not shown). From the joints of the chain belts
2
, pins
2
a
for supporting the workpiece
3
protrude inwardly between the chain belts. This technique is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Applications, First Publications Nos. Hei 6-255736 and Hei 9-159368.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application, First Publication No. Sho 60-043612 discloses a conveyer which can adjust the interval between and the height of the chain belts according to the characteristics and size of the workpiece.
In the conventional reflow device, the workpiece
3
is supported on the pins
2
a
protruding from the conveyer chain belts
2
, and, by rotating the conveyer chain belts in the same direction as each other with the roller, is transferred into the reflow furnace
1
.
In the conventional reflow device, the pins
2
a
for supporting the workpiece to be conveyed are arranged separately (at even intervals). Therefore, when the workpiece
3
is conveyed by driving the rollers, the workpiece
3
may accidentally slide between, be jammed between, or fall from the pins
2
a.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a conveyer and a reflow device which prevents the article from jamming and falling.
In order to accomplish the above object, the conveyer of the present invention comprises: a pair of conveyer belts movable in the direction of transportation of an article by rollers; and a pair of article-supporting belts for supporting an article, the article-supporting belts being positioned between and interlocked with the conveyer belts, wherein upper portions of the conveyer belts are positioned above the article-supporting belts.
In the conveyer of the present invention, the article-supporting belts are attached to holder pins projecting from the joints of the conveyer belts. The conveyer belts and the article-supporting belts are chain belts. The conveyer belts and the article-supporting belts may be mesh belts.
In another aspect of the present invention, the conveyer of the present invention, further comprises: a first frame which is horizontally movable, one of the pairs of the conveyer belts and the article-supporting belts being supported by the first frame; and a second frame which is vertically movable, all the conveyer belts and the article-supporting belts being supported by the second frame.
Because the workpiece is supported by a pair of the article-supporting belts, the workpiece does not slide into the intervals between the pins of the belts. Further, because the article-supporting belts are considerably smaller than the conveyer belts, the vibration of the workpiece is decreased and jamming or falling of the workpiece is prevented. Furthermore, because the upper portion of the conveyer belts is positioned above the article-supporting belts, the conveyer belts work as side guides, preventing the workpiece from shifting, jamming, or falling.
In another aspect of the present invention, the reflow device of the present invention comprises: a pair of conveyer belts movable in a direction of transportation of an article by rollers; and a pair of article-supporting belts for supporting an article, the article-supporting belts being positioned between and interlocked with the conveyer belts, wherein upper portions of the conveyer belts are positioned above the article-supporting belts.
In the reflow device of the present invention, the article-supporting belts are attached to holder pins projecting from joints of the conveyer belts. The conveyer belts and the article-supporting belts are chain belts. The conveyer belts and the article-supporting belts may be mesh belts.
In another aspect of the present invention, the reflow device of the present invention, further comprises: a first frame which is horizontally movable, one of the pairs of the conveyer belts and the article-supporting belts being supported by the first frame; and a second frame which is vertically movable, all the conveyer belts and the article-supporting belts being supported by the second frame.
Because the workpiece is supported by the pair of article-supporting belts, the workpiece does not slide into the intervals between the pins of the belts. Further, because the article-supporting belts are considerably smaller than the conveyer belts, the vibration of the workpiece is decreased and jamming or falling of the workpiece is prevented. Furthermore, because the upper portion of the conveyer belts is positioned above the article-supporting belts, the conveyer belts work as side guides, preventing the workpiece from shifting, jamming, or falling.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3897869 (1975-08-01), Michael
patent: 4917233 (1990-04-01), Tsuda et al.
patent: 5791453 (1998-08-01), Schmits et al.
patent: 5871325 (1999-02-01), Schmidt et al.
patent: 60-43612 (1985-03-01), None
patent: 6-255736 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 9-159368 (1997-06-01), None
patent: 87/05538 (1987-09-01), None
Bidwell James R.
McGinn & Gibb, P.C.
NEC Corporation
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