Abstract: A fixturing pallet is removably registered on the table of a programmable routing machine and provides a platform to which tooling is registered and repositionably attached. The tooling is used according to registration, supporting, and routing requirements of each multi-board panel and its individual boards; and it serves to support and establish and maintain registration of each panel and/or board on the pallet during: (i) transporting of the multi-board panels from a load/unload station to the routing station, (ii) depaneling at the routing station, and (iii) transporting of liberated boards and scrap back to the load/unload station.

Abstract: Each board of a multi-board panel is gripped and registration is established by engagement with tooling of the transfer arm of an in-line machine in preparation for a routing process by which the boards are to be liberated from the panel (depaneled). The tooling supports each board and maintains registration therewith during liberation of the board from the multi-board panel and also during transfer of the liberated board to a selected one of several sites of a subsequent station via repositioning of the transfer arm. In one embodiment of the invention, registration is accomplished by inserting lengthwise-bifurcated locator pins into corresponding locator holes in the boards and expanding the bifurcated legs into locking engagement with the panel by longitudinal displacement of a tapered rod which is disposed between the legs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for handling multi-board panels in order to liberate therefrom individual circuit boards which may or may not have been prepopulated with the electrical components. Each panel is supported above a receiving tray on a top shuttle and transported from a load/unload station to a routing station at which tabs or webs which retain the circuit boards in the panel are removed. Removal of the boards is facilitated by X-positioning of the panel and Y-positioning of the router according to a programmable controller. The tray receives liberated boards from the top shuttle which is then cycled back to the load/unload station for unloading scrap, acquiring another tray, and reloading the shuttle with another multi-board panel. During subsequent translation of the loaded top shuttle to the routing station, a bottom shuttle transfers the first tray and liberated circuit boards to the load/unload station for unloading thereof.

Abstract: A manufacturing line along which PCB's are fed and operated on includes a processing fixture for receiving an individual board and displacing it clear of the line toward a router bit. The router bit is shiftable transverse of the line, and the processing fixture is shiftable parallel to the line and in an underlapping relation to adjacent stations so as to address the whole area of the board with the router bit without increasing the length of the manufacturing line.

Abstract: Routing a circuit board from the bottom side allows board removal from areas not generally accessible from the top side, such as board areas which are overhung by top side, such as board areas which are overhung by electrical connector "headers", as well as variable potentiometer and capacitor controls which may not be easily accessible from the top side. One embodiment combines such routing with shearing to merge their respective advantages.

Abstract: Routing a circuit board from the bottom side allows router access to areas not generally accessible from the top side, such as board areas which are overhung by electrical connector "headers", as well as variable potentiometer and capacitor controls which may not be easily accessible from the top side. One embodiment combines such routing with shearing to merge their respective advantages.