Kurt R Hill

US Patent:

7231857, Jun 19, 2007

Filed:

Jan 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/348870

Inventors:

Kurt John Hill - Berthoud CO, US
Bob Allen Williams - Wheat Ridge CO, US
Travis Wayne Groves - Longmont CO, US
Allen W. Duck - Fort Collins CO, US

International Classification:

B26D 7/01

US Classification:

83100, 83451, 269 21, 29743

Abstract:

A depaneling system is disclosed for cutting a panel. The depaneling system comprises a tooling apparatus and a cutting apparatus. The tooling apparatus helps hold the panel in place with suction during cutting of said panel and collects dust particles generated by the cutting of the panel. The cutting apparatus is comprised of a housing, a drive motor, a cutting unit, and a drive connector. The housing separates the drive motor from the cutting unit. The housing comprises a first section and a second section separated by a dividing member. The drive connector, such as a belt, passes through the first section of the housing. The second section of the housing forms a path for the dust particles.

US Patent:

7392583, Jul 1, 2008

Filed:

Nov 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/985772

Inventors:

Bob Allen Williams - Wheat Ridge CO, US
Kurt John Hill - Berthoud CO, US
Allen W. Duck - Fort Collins CO, US
Carl Raymond Byers - Longmont CO, US
Travis Wayne Groves - Johnstown CO, US
Dion Joe Casto - Parker TX, US

International Classification:

B23P 19/00
B23P 17/00

US Classification:

29762, 29 33 P, 29415, 29721, 29742, 29830, 29835, 832921

Abstract:

Tooling fixtures and methods are described for securing a solid-matrix panel for cutting. In one embodiment, a tooling fixture includes a first clamping system and a second clamping system. The first clamping system receives a solid-matrix panel of PCBs and secures the solid-matrix panel for cutting of the solid-matrix panel along a first axis. Once secured, a cutting apparatus cuts the solid-matrix panel along the first axis between the PCBs to cut the solid-matrix panel into a plurality of strips. The second clamping system then moves into a position relative to the strips of the solid-matrix panel and secures the strips for cutting of the strips along a second axis. When secured by the second clamping system, the cutting apparatus cuts the individual PCBs from the strips.

US Patent:

7469453, Dec 30, 2008

Filed:

Nov 15, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/273969

Inventors:

Kurt John Hill - Berthoud CO, US

Assignee:

Cencorp USA, Inc. - McAllen TX

International Classification:

B23C 9/00

US Classification:

29 33P, 409164, 269 58

Abstract:

Depaneling systems are disclosed for liberating circuit boards from panels. A depaneling system of the invention includes a cutting apparatus adapted to cut circuit boards from a panel, and a fixture pallet adapted to support a panel of circuit boards for cutting by the cutting apparatus. The fixture pallet is also adapted to tilt toward an operator to allow the operator to register a panel on the fixture pallet.

US Patent:

20070068351, Mar 29, 2007

Filed:

Nov 15, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/273968

Inventors:

Kurt Hill - Berthoud CO, US

International Classification:

B26D 7/02

US Classification:

083100000, 083451000, 269021000, 029743000

Abstract:

Depaneling systems are disclosed for liberating circuit boards from panels. A depaneling system of the invention includes a first fixture pallet adapted to support a first panel of circuit boards for cutting and a second fixture pallet adapted to support a second panel of circuit boards for cutting. The first fixture pallet is positioned above the second fixture pallet in the depaneling system relative to the ground to provide an over-under configuration of the fixture pallets.

US Patent:

58946489, Apr 20, 1999

Filed:

Feb 26, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/606675

Inventors:

Kurt John Hill - Berthoud CO
Douglas Patrick Carr - Boulder CO

Assignee:

Cencorp - Boulder CO

International Classification:

B23Q 700
B23P 1900
H05K 322

US Classification:

29 33P

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.

US Patent:

47281162, Mar 1, 1988

Filed:

May 20, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/865118

Inventors:

Kurt J. Hill - Boulder CO

International Classification:

A63C 908

US Classification:

280618

Abstract:

A releasable foot binding for a snowboard includes a ring secured to a snowboard, a block rotatably mounted on the ring, and boot-engaging plugs at each end of the block.

US Patent:

54387400, Aug 8, 1995

Filed:

Feb 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/202976

Inventors:

D. Patrick Carr - Longmont CO
Kurt J. Hill - Berthoud CO

Assignee:

Cencorp, Inc. - Longmont CO

International Classification:

B23Q 714
B25B 500

US Classification:

29 33P

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.

US Patent:

61925632, Feb 27, 2001

Filed:

Mar 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/033038

Inventors:

Douglas Patrick Carr - Boulder CO
Kurt John Hill - Berthoud CO

Assignee:

PMJ Cencorp LLC - Longmont CO

International Classification:

B23Q 700

US Classification:

29 33P

Abstract:

A system having improved cycle time for removing PC boards from a connected panel. In accordance with the present invention, a pair of walking clamps are used to receive a panel from a subsequent processing system, and a movable receiving nest is used to provide the PC boards to a subsequent processing station. The processes of receiving a panel, depaneling the PC board, and delivering the PC boards do not use common components and are able to operate independently and concurrently to reduce idle time in the system and improve the cycle time. The present invention also provides a secondary vacuums which removes debris from the PC boards as the PC boards are being transporting to a subsequent processing system to improve the removal of debris.