Tester incorporating opening and closing mechanism

ABSTRACT

A tester incorporating an opening and closing mechanism includes a base (), a cover () pivotably attached to the base, and a pair of master cylinders () pivotably attached to the base and cover. The base includes a top wall () and a control panel (). Three spaced lower hooks () are formed on the top wall. A first sensor is mounted on one lower hook. A pair of actuators () is mounted behind two lower hooks. The control panel receives and sends signals. Three spaced upper hooks () are pivotably fixed on the cover, for engaging with the lower hooks respectively. A second sensor is mounted on the cover behind one upper hook. A third sensor () is mounted on one master cylinder. The master cylinders and the actuators are controlled by the control panel, for opening and closing the cover.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tester incorporating an opening and closing mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base , a cover , a pair of first cylinders and a pair of second cylinders .

The base comprises a top wall and a control panel . The control panel is arranged at a front wall of the base , and is for receiving and sending signals. The top wall is for supporting a printed circuit board (not shown) to be tested. Three aligned and spaced lower hooks are upwardly formed at a front portion of the top wall . Each lower hook is L-shaped, and comprises a vertical part and a horizontal part. A first sensor is mounted on the vertical part and under the horizontal part of a middle one of the lower hooks . The first sensor sends signals to the control panel . A pair of actuators is respectively positioned behind the two lower hooks that are at opposite sides of the middle lower hook . Each actuator comprises a slidable shaft extending through a middle part thereof. A pair of holes is defined in the two side lower hooks respectively, corresponding to the shafts of the actuators . The actuators are controlled by the control panel . The actuators can push the shafts through the respective holes . A pair of pivot pedestals is upwardly formed near each of opposite side edges of the top wall . Three aligned and spaced rear pivot pedestals are upwardly formed near a rear edge of the top wall , and are pivotably attached to the cover .

The cover is generally box-shaped, and is adapted to accommodate a testing device (not shown). A horizontal beam is formed on a front face of the cover . Three spaced L-shaped blocks protrude upwardly from the beam . A spring pin protrudes forwardly from a vertical part of each of the blocks . A second sensor is mounted on a middle one of the blocks , and over a middle one of the spring pins . The second sensor sends signals to the control panel . Three spaced posts depend from the beam . The posts contact the horizontal parts respectively of the lower hooks , for supporting the cover when the cover is in a closed position. Three upper hooks are pivotably attached in the beam , corresponding to the three lower hooks . Each upper hook is L-shaped, and comprises a horizontal part and vertical part. The upper hooks contact the spring pins respectively. A connecting bar connects between the upper hooks below the beam . A pair of pivot pedestals is formed on opposite side faces of the cover respectively, corresponding to the pairs of pivot pedestals of the base .

Each first cylinder comprises a cylinder casing and a piston rod . A medium such as gas or oil is pumped into the cylinder casing , for pushing the piston rod along the cylinder casing . One end of each first cylinder is pivotably fixed to a corresponding pivot pedestal of the cover , and an opposite end of each first cylinder is pivotably fixed to a corresponding forward one of the pivot pedestals of the base . The piston rods are movable in the respective cylinder casings . A third sensor is mounted at a predetermined position on an outer surface of one of the cylinder casings , and a fourth sensor (not shown) is mounted on the corresponding piston rod . When said piston rod reaches the predetermined position in said cylinder casing , the third sensor is activated by the fourth sensor of the piston rod , and the third sensor sends a signal to the control panel . Each second cylinder is pivotably fixed to a corresponding pivot pedestal , and to a corresponding rearward one of the pivot pedestals . Each second cylinder comprises a cylinder casing (not labeled) and a piston rod (not labeled). The second cylinders are hermetically filled with compressed gas.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, in operation, a user at the control panel starts the actuators . The shafts of the actuators are moved outwardly, and extend through the holes of the side lower hooks . The shafts push the side upper hooks forwardly, and the upper hooks rotate outwardly to begin disengaging from the lower hooks . The upper hooks press the spring pins inwardly toward the blocks until the upper hooks disengage from the lower hooks . At this moment, the middle upper hook contacts the second sensor of the middle block . The second sensor sends a signal to the control panel indicating that the upper hooks have disengaged from the lower hooks . Then the control panel sends a signal to the first cylinders . The medium is pumped into the cylinder casings , and the piston rods extend and push the cover open. The spring pins rebound back against the upper hooks . When the piston rod having the fourth sensor reaches said predetermined place, the third sensor of the corresponding first cylinder is activated by the fourth sensor of the piston rod . The third sensor sends a signal to the control panel indicating that the cover is fully opened. The control panel operates to stop pumping of the medium into the first cylinders , the piston rods stop, and the cover is maintained in the fully open position.

A printed circuit board (not shown) is placed on the top wall of the base for testing. Then the user at the control panel sends a “close” signal to the first cylinders . The piston rods retract back into the cylinder casings , and the cover rotates down toward the base . The posts contact the lower hooks to support the cover , and the upper hooks engage with the lower hooks . The horizontal parts of the upper hooks are located under the horizontal parts of the lower hooks , and the middle upper hook contacts the first sensor of the middle lower hook . The first sensor sends a signal to the control panel . The control panel then sends a “test” signal to the testing device in the cover . The testing device starts testing the printed circuit board.

During opening and closing of the cover , the second cylinders act as springs. When the cover is opened, the compressed gas in the cylinder casings of the second cylinders expands and extends the corresponding piston rods. This helps open the cover quickly. When the cover is closed, the gas is compressed once again so as to make the cover close steadily. In alternative embodiments, the second sensor of the cover can be mounted on any of the blocks . The first sensor of the base can be mounted on any of the lower hooks . If desired, more than one second sensor can be mounted on the cover , and more than one first sensor can be mounted on the base .

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of preferred embodiments thereof, and while the preferred embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a tester in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the tester in a closed position; and

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing the tester in an open position.

CLAIMS

1. A tester comprising: a base comprising a top wall and a control panel, at least one first fastener provided at the top wall adjacent the control panel, a first sensor arranged on the at least one first fastener for sending signals to the control panel, and an actuator arranged adjacent the at least one first fastener, the control panel being adapted to receive and send signals; a cover pivotably attached to the base, at least one second fastener provided on the cover to engage with the at least one first fastener of the base, a second sensor arranged on the cover for sending signals to the control panel; and at least one first cylinder pivotably attached to the base and the cover respectively to open and close the cover with respect to the base; wherein the actuator is controlled by the control panel to disengage the at least one first fastener from the at least one second fastener, and the first and second sensors are respectively activated by the at least one second fastener to indicate to the control panel if the at least one second fastener is in engagement with the at least one first fastener or not, thereby accordingly controlling the at least one first cylinder to open and close the cover with respect to the base.

2. The tester as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of spaced first fasteners are arranged on the top wall, each of the first fasteners is a first hook, and the first sensor of the base is mounted on a middle one of the first hooks.

3. The tester as claimed in claim 2, wherein a hole is defined in each of side first hooks located at opposite sides of the middle first hook, a pair of actuators is arranged behind the side first hooks, and each of the actuators comprises a slidable shaft extending through a corresponding hole.

4. The tester as claimed in claim 2, wherein a beam is arranged at a front of the cover, a plurality of spaced posts depends from the beam, and the posts are supported on the first hooks respectively when the cover is in a closed position.

5. The tester as claimed in claim 4, wherein a plurality of second fasteners is provided on the cover, each of the second fasteners is a second hook, and the second hooks are pivotably attached to the beam for engaging with the first hooks respectively.

6. The tester as claimed in claim 5, wherein a bar connects between the second hooks.

7. The tester as claimed in claim 6, wherein a plurality of blocks is upwardly arranged on the beam corresponding to the second hooks, the blocks are positioned behind the second hooks respectively, the second sensor of the cover is arranged on a middle one of the blocks, and a plurality of spring pins is connected between the blocks and the second hooks respectively.

8. The tester as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tester comprises a pair of first cylinders, each of the first cylinders is attached to lateral sides of the tester respectively, and each of the first cylinders comprises a cylinder casing and a piston rod.

9. The tester as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of second cylinders.

10. A tester comprising: a base comprising a top wall and a control panel, at least one first fastener on the top wall, a first sensor arranged on the at least one first fastener for sending signals to the control panel, an actuator arranged adjacent the at least one first fastener, the control panel being adapted to receive and send signals; a cover pivotably attached to the base, at least one second fastener provided on the cover to engage with the at least one first fastener of the base, a second senior arranged on the cover for sending signals to the control panel; and at least one first cylinder attached to the base and the cover respectively for opening and closing the cover with regard to the base; wherein the actuator is controlled by the control panel to disengage the at least one first fastener from the at least one second fastener, and the first and second sensors are respectively activated by the at least one second fastener so as to control the at least one first cylinder to open and close the cover relative to the base.

COPYRIGHT

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