Abstract: Individual printed circuit boards are routed from a panel comprised of an array of printed circuit boards. The individual printed circuit boards are moved as a group, after being routed from the panel, to a registration nest for holding the individual printed circuit boards. The printed circuit boards rest in the registration nest until a subsequent processing station is ready to receive a printed circuit board. At the appropriate time, each printed circuit board is moved one at a time to a subsequent processing station. A second group of printed circuit boards is routed from a second panel while the first group of printed circuit boards rests in the registration nest and is moved one at a time to the subsequent processing station. A sensor reads features on the panel or on individual printed circuit boards and the routing program is modified or stopped in response to certain panel features.

Abstract: The instant invention is particularly directed to a method and apparatus for automated handling of panels comprising a plurality of interconnected substrates in order to control and separate the circuit boards in a continuous processing line. One embodiment incorporates two shearing stations and a rotary transfer device therebetween in order to transfer a panel portion from the first station to the second station while controlling and rotating the panel for subsequent feed to the second station such that the panel portion is cut on a line of the substrate which is perpendicular to the original line of cut of the substrate. Throughout the handling of the panels and panel portions, sensing, gripping, and indexed feeding of the panels and panel portions are under the control of a programmable computer.

Abstract: The instant invention is particularly directed to a method and apparatus for automated handling of panels comprising a plurality of interconnected substrates in order to control and separate the circuit boards in a continuous processing line. One embodiment incorporates two shearing stations and a rotary transfer device therebetween in order to transfer a panel portion from the first station to the second station while controlling and rotating the panel for subsequent feed to the second station such that the panel portion is cut on a line of the substrate which is perpendicular to the original line of cut of the substrate. Throughout the handling of the panels and panel portions, sensing, gripping, and indexed feeding of the panels and panel portions are under the control of a programmable computer.