Importance

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Abstract

A multi-rail transport system for transporting printed circuit boards along adjacent pairs of rails including first and second brake rods having parallel longitudinal axes and a plurality of brake cylinders slideably mounted on the brake rods, wherein each of the brake cylinders is adapted to be actuated between an engaged condition in which the brake cylinders are fixed in position and a disengaged condition in which the brake cylinders are free to slide along the brake rods. Also provided is a plurality of rails mounted to corresponding pairs of the brake cylinders. The system further includes first and second shuttles movably mounted adjacent to the brake rods, the shuttles being adapted to move in directions substantially parallel to the first and second longitudinal axes and to selectively engage the rails. The present invention also relates a method of adjusting rails including providing a plurality of rails along an axis of movement, each of the rails being adapted to be switched between a first condition in which the rails are fixed in position, and a second condition in which the rails are free to move, and providing a shuttle moveable along the axis of movement, the shuttle being adapted to selectively engage and disengage each of the rails. The method further includes moving the shuttle to a position adjacent to one of the rails, switching the rail to the second condition, engaging the rail with the shuttle, moving the shuttle and the rail to a new position, switching the rail to the first condition, and disengaging the rail with the shuttle. Also described is a custom extruded belt for use in the multi-rail system which includes a substantially flat surface for supporting the printed circuit boards.

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First Claim