Abstract: The invention relates to an exposure machine for printed circuit panels. The machine comprises: a support (26) for said panel (24); a moving artwork support (10) comprising a substantially rectangular frame (12) and a transparent plate (14) suitable for receiving said artwork; means (22) for establishing peripheral sealing; means for establishing suction in the volume; at least one deformable leaktight balloon (30, 32) disposed between said support and said transparent plate around at least a portion of said panel; and a source of gas under pressure at a pressure greater than the pressure of said suction for the purpose of feeding said balloon, thus that when suction is established in said volume, the periphery of said transparent plate presses against said balloon.

Abstract: An exposure assembly and an exposure installation for exposing a double-sided printed circuit panel to light through a first and a second artwork, including at least one exposure assembly having a frame, a first and a second artwork support, means for moving closer/separating for the artwork supports, and means for holding the printed circuit panel. The installation furthermore includes an optical detection device for detecting position errors, a light source, and an optical device for directing a light beam emitted by said light source. The exposure assembly furthermore has a common displacement device making it possible to jointly displace the artwork supports, and a separate displacement device making it possible to displace the second artwork support with respect to the first artwork support.

Abstract: The invention relates to an exposure machine for printed circuit panels. The machine comprises: a support (26) for said panel (24); a moving artwork support (10) comprising a substantially rectangular frame (12) and a transparent plate (14) suitable for receiving said artwork; means (22) for establishing peripheral sealing; means for establishing suction in the volume; at least one deformable leaktight balloon (30, 32) disposed between said support and said transparent plate around at least a portion of said panel; and a source of gas under pressure at a pressure greater than the pressure of said suction for the purpose of feeding said balloon, thus that when suction is established in said volume, the periphery of said transparent plate presses against said balloon.

Abstract: An exposure assembly and an exposure installation for exposing a double-sided printed circuit panel to light through a first and a second artwork, including at least one exposure assembly having a frame, a first and a second artwork support, means for moving closer/separating for the artwork supports, and means for holding the printed circuit panel. The installation furthermore includes an optical detection device for detecting position errors, a light source, and an optical device for directing a light beam emitted by said light source. The exposure assembly furthermore has a common displacement device making it possible to jointly displace the artwork supports, and a separate displacement device making it possible to displace the second artwork support with respect to the first artwork support.

Abstract: A holder for exposing both faces of a panel to light in order to make a double-sided printed circuit using first and second flexible artworks. The holder has a first frame with no transparent plane support member for receiving the first flexible artwork, and a second frame with no transparent plane support member for receiving the second flexible artwork. The holder includes a system for positioning and fixing the peripheries of the artworks to their respective frames. The holder further includes a mechanism for positioning and holding the panel between the frames. There is an approach mechanism for causing the frames to move towards the faces of the panel. There is also a system for establishing suction in the volume defined between the frames having the panel therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring relative position error between a laser beam and a target. The target is provided with a circular orifice occupying a reference position relative to said target. The device has means for focusing the laser beam in the plane of said target, means for taking an image of said circular hole and of the beam focused in the plane of said target, and means for calculating the components of the segment joining said point of impact and the center of said hole.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer and support device for a double-sided panel, in particular a printed circuit panel. The device comprises a bottom slab having a top reference surface that is plane and horizontal for receiving the bottom face of panel; a top slab having a bottom reference surface that is plane and horizontal for receiving the top face of panel; and for moving slabs separately in two respective horizontal planes, each of being provided with controllable for pressing a face of panel against the reference surface of slab when they are activated. The device also has controllable for lifting panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for exposing a light sensitive surface (e.g., a printed circuit board) to light. An optical processor subsystem, which includes a reflector and an integrator-collimator assembly, processes light from a light source to produce a uniform and collimated light beam having a mean angle of incidence relative to the light sensitive surface of less than or equal to 2° and having illumination uniformity that departs by less than ±10% from a mean value. An optical light shaper subsystem transforms the uniform and collimated light beam into a uniform and collimated light strip. A displacement mechanism provides relative movement between the light strip and the light sensitive surface. A speed matching mechanism matches the speed of relative displacement to the brightness of the light strip and to the sensitivity of the light sensitive surface. The light source remains stationary in one construction and moves relative to the light sensitive panel in another construction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for generating a plurality of laser beams. The device comprises: a laser source emitting an initial beam at P wavelengths; a wavelength splitter assembly for splitting the initial beam into N intermediate beams where N≦P, each intermediate beam containing a group of wavelengths comprising at least one wavelength; and N′ energy splitter assemblies where N′≦N for splitting an intermediate beam into ni divisional beams, each of the ni divisional beams having substantially the same energy, whereby K divisional beams are obtained with K = N - N ′ + ∑ i = 1 i = N ′ ⁢ n i .

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for exposing a face of a panel, in particular a printed circuit panel, the device including a light source.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for exposing a double-sided printed circuit card to light through artworks. The installation comprises a first artwork-support (10) that is fixed, a second artwork (14) that is movable, vertical displacement means (26, 28) for moving the second support, and mechanical connection means between the displacement means and the second support, the first and second supports having relative positioning members (12, 24) suitable for mutual co-operation when the two supports are in the working position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a holder for exposing both faces of a panel (P) to light in order to make a double-sided printed circuit using first and second flexible artworks (CA, CP).

Abstract: An apparatus for exposing a light sensitive surface (e.g., a printed circuit board) to light. An optical processor subsystem, which includes a reflector and an integrator-collimator assembly, processes light from a light source to produce a uniform and collimated light beam having a mean angle of incidence relative to the light sensitive surface of less than or equal to 2° and having illumination uniformity that departs by less than ±10% from a mean value. An optical light shaper subsystem transforms the uniform and collimated light beam into a uniform and collimated light strip. A displacement mechanism provides relative movement between the light strip and the light sensitive surface. A speed matching mechanism matches the speed of relative displacement to the brightness of the light strip and to the sensitivity of the light sensitive surface. The light source remains stationary in one construction and moves relative to the light sensitive panel in another construction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a punch machine for punching a panel in which the position of each hole to be made is identified by a mark. The machine comprises a structure for receiving said panel, said structure presenting X and Y directions; means for holding said panel relative to the structure; at least four punch blocks secured to a support, each punch block having at least one punch carrier tool and at least one matrix carrier assembly; means for displacing each punch block separately in the X and Y directions and in rotation; optical means for comparing the position of each punch block with said mark; and means for separately controlling the displacement means in response to position error information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for exposing a panel to laser radiation, said panel having a working length L in a first direction Y, and being subdivided into N successive segments. The machine has a fixed structure; a horizontal panel support that is movable relative to the structure; device for generating and modulating N laser beams; and N optical units which are fixed relative to the structure. Each optical unit has deflector device for generating a continuously deflected beam, and a mirror for directing the deflected beam towards the panel, the length l1 of the mirror being greater than L/N.

Abstract: A device is provided for holding a printed circuit panel having two substantially parallel margins. The device has a frame and employs two grasping jaws to hold the first and second margins of the panel, respectively. An actuator coupled to one of the grasping jaws provides a force that tends to move away one grasping jaw with respect to the other grasping jaw and thereby provides a tension to keep the printed circuit panel plane. Since the printed circuit panel is grapsed by and traction is exerted on the two parallel margins, the panel is held with highly accurate planeness regardless of its dimensions and of its thickness. In This manner, the device for holding a printed circuit panel may accommodate panels with a wide variety of sizes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light exposure installation of a double-sided printed circuit plate through a first and a second artwork equipped with a location mark. It includes a first (10) and a second fixed supporting structure in a horizontal plane, a first and a second support of the first and second artworks (12), optical means for detecting the positioning errors between said circuit and said first and second supports, means for moving perpendicularly to its plane, one of said supports towards the other support, means (26, 28) arranged outside the unit made up of said supports and said circuit to maintain said circuit fixed in its plane with respect to said supporting structure; and means (20, 22) for moving independently said first support (12) with respect to said circuit and said second support with respect to said circuit depending on the detected positioning errors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for punching a printed circuit plate. The machine comprises a plurality of punch blocks that are movable relative to the structure. Each block comprises a frame that is movable relative to the structure, displacement means for positioning each frame relative to the structure as a function of instructions received, a non-removable punch die secured to the moving frame and located beneath the plane corresponding to said plate, a punch tool support secured to said frame and disposed above the plane of said plate and positioned relative to the die, said support including means for removably receiving one of a plurality of punch tools adapted to the characteristics of said plate and for positioning said tool relative to the support, and means for controlling vertical displacement of said tool in said support.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for aligning and supporting an artwork for a light exposure installation of a printed circuit board, whereby the device includes a fixed horizontal supporting structure. The device also includes an artwork support constituted by a rectangular frame and a glass that is integral with the rectangular frame and suitable for receiving an artwork. The device is capable of supporting and lifting the artwork support suitable for maintaining the artwork support horizontal in a given plane and for producing a co-operation which is substantially without any friction between the artwork support and the supporting structure, temporarily securing the supporting structure to the frame of the artwork support, and aligning the artwork support with respect to the supporting structure in a horizontal plane in two orthogonal directions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light exposure installation of a double-sided printed circuit plate through a first and a second artwork equipped with a location mark. It includes a first and a second fixed supporting structure in a horizontal plane, a first and a second support of the first and second artworks, optical means for detecting the positioning errors between said circuit and said first and second supports, means for moving perpendicularly to its plane, one of said supports towards the other support, means arranged outside the unit made up of said supports and said circuit to maintain said circuit fixed in its plane with respect to said supporting structure; and means for moving independently said first support with respect to said circuit and said second support with respect to said circuit depending on the detected positioning errors.