SUPPLYING COMPONENTS FROM A CONTINUOUS MATERIAL TO A PLACEMENT MACHINE

Abstract

A device (150) for supplying components (197) for a placement machine (100) is described, wherein the components (197) are provided in the form of a continuous material (295). The device (150) has (a) a chassis (252); (b) a transport device (260) attached to the chassis (252) for transporting the continuous material (295) along a transport track towards a pick-up position; and (c) a cutting device (270) which is configured to cut off a section (296) at a leading end of the continuous material (295), wherein the cut-off section (296) represents a supplied component (197). Also described is a placement system (BS) having such a component supplying device (150), and a method for supplying components (197) cut off from a continuous material (295) to a placement machine.

Claims

1. A device (150) for supplying components (197) for a placement machine (100), wherein the components (197) are provided in the form of a continuous material (295), the device (150) having a chassis (252); a transport device (260) attached to the chassis (252) for transporting the continuous material (295) along a transport track towards a pick-up position; and a cutting device (270) which is configured to cut off a section (296) at a leading end of the continuous material (295), wherein the cut-off section (296) represents a supplied component (197).

2. The device (150) according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device (270) is arranged relative to the transport track and the pick-up position in such a way that the component (197) is located in the pick-up position immediately after cutting.

3. The device (150) according to claim 1, wherein the pick-up position is in the spatial centre of the separated component (197) in relation to a transport direction defined by the transport track.

4. The device (150) according to claim 1, wherein the transport device (260) and/or the cutting device (270) is configured in such a way that in a first operating state, the cut-off component (397a) has a first predetermined length, and in a second operating state, the cut-off component (397b) has a second predetermined length, wherein the second predetermined length is different to the first predetermined length.

5. The device (150) according to claim 4, wherein the transport device (260) and/or the cutting device (270) is further configured in such a way that in at least a third operating state, the cut-off component (397c) has a third predetermined length, wherein the third predetermined length is different to both the first predetermined length and the second predetermined length.

6. The device (150) according to claim 4, wherein the cutting device (270) is attached to the chassis (252) in a stationary manner and the pick-up position can be changed spatially along the transport track in relation to the chassis (252), wherein each operating state is assigned its own pick-up position.

7. The device (150) according to claim 6, wherein the transport device has a pushing means (280) configured to transport the continuous material (295) a predetermined distance along the transport track.

8. The device (150) according to claim 7, wherein the pushing means has a clamping device (280) configured to engage the continuous material (295) and which is displaceable relative to the chassis (252) along the transport track.

9. The device (150) according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device (270) has two cutting components (272, 274) which are arranged on opposite sides of the transport track, wherein a first cutting component has a cutting blade (272) and the second cutting component (274) has a groove into which the cutting blade (272) can penetrate at least partially after a separation process.

10. The device (150) according to claim 9, wherein the first cutting component (272) has a guide block (273) for the cutting blade (272) and the second cutting component has a clamping block (274), wherein the guide block (273) and the clamping block (274) are displaceable relative to one another such that, (i) in an open state, the continuous material (295) can be transported between the guide block (273) and the clamping block (274) and, (ii) in a closed state, the continuous material (295) can be brought into a form-fitting and/or frictional engagement between the guide block (273) and the clamping block (274).

11. A placement system (BS) for placing electronic assembly parts (192) on an assembly part carrier (190), the placement system (BS) having a device (150) for supplying components according to any one of the preceding claims and a placement machine (100) with a frame structure (102), to which the device (150) for supplying components (197) is attached, and a placement head (125) for (i) receiving at least one supplied component (197), (ii) transporting the at least one received component (197) and (iii) placing the at least one transported component (197) on the assembly part carrier (190).

12. The placement system (BS) according to claim 11, further having at least one assembly part supplying device (110) for supplying electronic assembly parts (192), wherein the at least one assembly part supplying device (110) is also attached to the frame structure (102) of the placement machine (100).

13. A method for supplying components (197) for a placement machine (100), wherein the components (197) are provided in the form of a continuous material (296), using a device (150) according to claim 1, the method having transporting the continuous material (295) along the transport track towards the pick-up position; and cutting off the section (296) of the continuous material (295), wherein the cut-off section (296) represents the supplied component (197).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the component is a pin header (197; 397a, 397b, 397c).

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the section (296) is held by a placement head during cutting.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a placement system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0044] FIGS. 2a to 2h illustrate a method for cutting off a pin header with a predetermined length.

[0045] FIGS. 3a to 3c illustrate the cutting-off of three pin headers of different lengths.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] It is noted that the following described embodiments only represent a limited selection of possible variations of embodiments of the invention. In particular, it is possible to combine the features of individual embodiments in a suitable manner, such that a multitude of different embodiments can be viewed as obviously disclosed for the person skilled in the art with the embodiments explicitly described here.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a placement system BS for the placement of assembly part carriers or printed circuit boards 190 with electronic assembly parts 192 and with components 197, which have been cut off from a continuous material immediately before they were placed. According to the exemplary embodiment shown here, the components are so-called pin headers 197, which have a plurality of pins or contact pins integrated in a plastic body. With such a pin header, an electronic assembly installed on the assembly part carrier 190 in question can be electrically conductively connected to another external electronic assembly or to another peripheral device via a ribbon cable.

[0048] The placement system BS has a placement machine 100 and a supplying system.

[0049] According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the supplying system comprises multiple assembly part supplying devices 110 and a component supplying device 150. According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the assembly part supplying devices 110 are so-called belt conveyors, with which electronic assembly parts 192 packaged in an assembly part belt are sequentially fed to the placement process. Specifically, an electronic assembly part 192 is provided with each belt conveyor 110 in a known manner at an assembly part pick-up position 110a, where it is then picked-up by a placement head 125 and placed on the assembly part carrier 190. After being picked-up by the placement head 125, a subsequent assembly part 192 is made available at the assembly part pick-up position 110a, which can then also be picked-up by the placement head 125.

[0050] In a corresponding manner, a component or pin header 197 is made available at a component pick-up position 150a by means of the component supplying device 150. From there, it can also be picked-up by the placement head 125 or by another placement head, not shown in FIG. 1, with a suitable component holding device, for example a gripper, and placed on the assembly part carrier 190.

[0051] The placement machine 100 has a frame structure 102. Two stationary carrier rails 132 and 133 are attached to the frame structure 102 and each extend along a y-direction. The two carrier rails 132, 133 are part of a positioning system 130 for the placement head 125.

[0052] A movable support arm 140 is attached to the two stationary carrier rails 132 and 133 and extends along a longitudinal axis 140a, which runs parallel to the x-direction in the coordinate system used here. The movable support arm 140 can be moved along the y-direction, driven by drive motors (not shown) in the form of linear motors. The corresponding direction of travel is marked with a double arrow “Y”.

[0053] An assembly component 134 is attached to the support arm 140, which can be, for example, a carriage that is held on a linear guide (not shown) and can be moved along the x-direction by means of a further linear motor (also not shown). The corresponding direction of travel is marked with a double arrow “X”. The placement head 125 is attached to the assembly component 134 in a known manner.

[0054] The two stationary carrier rails 132, 133, the movable support arm 140 and the assembly component 134, together with the linear motors and linear guides (also not shown in FIG. 1) represent the positioning system 130, with which the placement head 125 can be moved or positioned within the xy plane.

[0055] The assembly part carriers 190 are placed in a placement area 104. Before placement, the assembly part carrier 190 to be assembled is transported into the placement area 104 by means of a transport device 106, for example a conveyor belt. After at least partial placement with assembly parts 192 and/or components or pin headers 197, the assembly part carrier 190 is transported away by means of the transport device 106. The corresponding transport directions are each marked with an arrow T in FIG. 1.

[0056] As already mentioned above, the placement head 125 is attached to the assembly component 134. The placement head 125 can be moved between the pick-up positions 110a or 150a and the placement area 110 by suitably controlling the linear motors (not shown). A data processing device 118, which controls the placement process, is communicatively coupled to the various linear motors and the placement head 125 via data lines (not shown). During a placement process, the placement head 125 is moved to the respective pick-up position 110a or 150a, where at least one assembly part 192 and/or one component 197 is/are picked-up. The placement head 125 is then moved into the placement area 110, where the assembly parts 192 or the components 197 are placed on the assembly part carrier 190 provided. After that, the “empty” placement head 125 is moved back to the supplying system, where assembly parts 192 and/or a component 197 are picked-up again.

[0057] It is pointed out that the supplying system can also have more than one component supplying device 150. If necessary, two (or more) components or pin headers can then be picked-up at the same time with a so-called multiple placement head and transported together into the placement area 104.

[0058] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the placement machine 100 further has two cameras. A first stationary camera 120 is used to measure the assembly parts 192 or components 197 picked-up by the placement head 125. For this purpose, the placement head 125 is positioned above the camera 120 so that the assembly parts 192/components 197 picked-up reach the detection range of the camera 120. During this measurement, for example, the exact angular position of an engaged or held assembly part 192 or an engaged or held component 197 can be measured. When the significant assembly part 192 or the relevant component 197 is placed, a deviation in the angular position can then be compensated for in a suitable manner by a suitable rotation of a holding device of the placement head 125, so that the relevant assembly part 192 or the relevant component 197 is placed on the assembly part carrier 190 in a correct angular position.

[0059] A second camera 122 is used for the precise measurement of markings that are attached to the top of the assembly part carrier 190 to be placed. As a result, the exact spatial position of the assembly part carrier 190 within the placement area 104 can be recognized and taken into account when positioning the placement head 125 such that the assembly parts 192 or the components 197 are actually placed exactly at a specific target position on the assembly part carrier 190. According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the second camera 122 is attached to the placement head 125 and is moved together with the placement head 125 to measure the markings on the assembly part carrier 190.

[0060] FIGS. 2a to 2h illustrate a sequence for cutting a pin header of a predetermined length from a continuous material 295, the cutting being carried out in a component supplying device which is also identified by the reference sign 150 in these figures.

[0061] The component supplying device 150 has a chassis 252 and a transport device 260 which is attached to the chassis 252. In addition, the component supplying device 150 has a cutting device 270.

[0062] According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the cutting device 270 comprises two cutting components, a first cutting component 272 and a second cutting component 274. In the embodiment shown here, the first cutting component has a cutting blade 272 which is guided in a guide block 273. The cutting blade 272 can be moved by an actuator (not shown) in the direction of the second cutting component 274 in order to cut off a component or pin header 197 from the continuous material 295. According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the second cutting component is a clamping block 274 with a groove, into which the cutting blade 272 can at least partially penetrate after a cutting process. The cutting device 270 is thus configured to cut off a section 296 at a leading end of the continuous material 295, wherein the cut-off section 296 then represents the pin header 197, which can be supplied by the component supply device 150 to a placement process. In this case, the pin header 197 is picked-up by the placement head at a pick-up position immediately (on the right) next to the cutting device 270. The placement head is not shown here in its entirety. Only FIGS. 2f, 2g and 2h show a component holding device 227 of this placement head designed as a gripper with two gripper jaws.

[0063] According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the component supplying device 150 also has a pushing means 280, which in turn has a clamping device. Controlled by an actuator (not shown), this can engage the continuous material 295 laterally by means of two clamping jaws. Only the clamping device of the pushing means 280 is shown in the figures. The clamping device is therefore also marked with the reference number 280.

[0064] By displacing the clamping device 280, provided that the continuous material 295 is engaged, the continuous material 295 is displaced in the direction of the cutting device 270 and a predetermined distance beyond it. The clamping device 280 is also displaced automatically by means of a drive, which is not shown. The predetermined distance determines the length of the cut-off pin header 197.

[0065] It is pointed out that in other embodiments, the transport device 260 can also assume the function of the pushing means 280. However, this presupposes that the transport device 260 can also move the belt structure 295 in a precise manner by a precisely defined distance (beyond the cutting device 270), so that the pin headers 197 that have been cut off have exactly their respective predetermined length.

[0066] FIG. 2a shows an initial state of the component supplying device 150. An elongate belt structure 295 designed as continuous material was moved by the transport device along a transport track (not shown in detail) (to the right in FIG. 2a) such that a leading end of the belt structure 295 is located exactly on a cutting edge of the cutting device 270. Since, according to the exemplary embodiment shown here, the elongate belt structure 295 is transported exclusively by the transport device 260, the clamping device 280 of the pushing means 280 is (still) in an open state.

[0067] FIG. 2b shows a state in which the clamping device 280 has engaged the belt structure 295.

[0068] FIG. 2c shows a state in which the clamping device 280 has been moved to the right, wherein the travel path corresponds exactly to the aforementioned predetermined distance. This distance will later determine the length of the pin header 197 that has been cut off. During movement of the clamping device 280, the cutting device 270 is in an open state. This means that the guide block 273 and the clamping block 274 are spaced far enough from one another that the continuous material or the elongate belt structure 295 can be transported between the two blocks.

[0069] FIG. 2d shows a state in which the cutting device 270 is in a closed state. This means that the guide block 273 and the clamping block 274 engage the elongate belt structure 295. This enables an extremely robust fixation of the elongate belt structure 295.

[0070] FIG. 2e illustrates the separating of the leading section of the elongate belt structure 295. The cutting blade 272 has separated the belt structure 295 and the blade of the cutting blade 272 is within the groove of the clamping block 274. In addition, preferably after the actual cutting process, the clamping device 280 is moved back into its open position.

[0071] FIG. 2f shows a state in which the cutting blade 272 has been moved back into its starting position. In addition, the placement head, which is not shown, is in a position in which the pin header 197 that has been cut off can be picked-up. In FIG. 2f, the two gripping jaws 227 of the component holding device of the placement head can be seen, which have engaged the cut-off pin header 197.

[0072] FIG. 2g shows a state in which the cutting device 270 is again in its open position. This releases both the “new” leading end of the belt structure 295 and the cut-off pin header 197.

[0073] FIG. 2h illustrates the picking-up of the cut pin header 197. The state of the component supplying device 150 and the (remaining) part of the continuous material 295 is identical to the states shown in FIG. 2a. By repeating the sequence of steps shown in FIGS. 2b to 2h, a further pin header can be made available to the placement head for picking-up.

[0074] It is pointed out that the further pin header that is still to be separated can have the same length as the pin header that has already been separated. In the method described here, the length of the respective pin header depends only on the distance with which the clamping device 280 (in the closed state) is moved to the right (cf. FIGS. 2b and 2c).

[0075] FIGS. 3a to 3c illustrate the cutting-off of three pin headers of different lengths. As is also shown in FIGS. 2a to 2h, all pin headers have two rows of pins. However, it is pointed out that pin headers with only one row or more than two rows can also be provided with the described component supplying device 150 with a predefined length.

[0076] FIG. 3a illustrates operation of the component supplying device in which 2×6 pin headers 397a are cut off. This means that the pin headers 397a have a total of 12 pins in 2 rows. FIG. 3b illustrates an operation of the component supplying device in which 2×12 pin headers 397b are cut off. FIG. 3c illustrates an operation of the component supplying device in which 2×8 pin headers 397c are cut off.

[0077] In all of the variants shown in FIGS. 3a to 3c, the cut-off components 397a, 397b, 397c are picked-up in such a way that they are gripped in the centre by the gripper 227 of the placement head (again, not shown). The corresponding central pick-up position is then, depending on the length of the components 397a, 397b, 397c, more or less far to the right of the cutting device 270. In FIGS. 3a to 3c, the distance between the cutting device 270 and the central pick-up position is given in units of the pitch distance a between two adjacent pins within a row. It is obvious that the distance between the cutting device 270 and the central pick-up position corresponds to the pitch distance a multiplied by half the number of pins in a row.

[0078] It is noted that the term “have” does not exclude other elements and that the word “one or a” does not exclude a plurality. Elements, which are described in connection with different exemplified embodiments, can also be combined. It should also be noted that reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0079] 100 Placement machine [0080] 102 Frame structure [0081] 104 Placement area [0082] 106 Transport device [0083] 110 Assembly part supplying devices/Belt conveyor [0084] 110a Assembly part pick-up positions [0085] 118 Data processing device/Control device [0086] 120 Stationary camera/Assembly part camera [0087] 122 Movable camera/Circuit board camera [0088] 125 Placement head [0089] 130 Positioning system [0090] 132 Stationary carrier rail [0091] 133 Further stationary carrier rail [0092] 134 Assembly component [0093] 140 Movable support arm [0094] 140a Longitudinal axis [0095] 150 Component supplying device [0096] 150a Component pick-up position [0097] 190 Assembly part carrier/Circuit board [0098] 192 Electronic assembly part [0099] 197 Component/Pin header [0100] BS Placement system [0101] T Transport direction [0102] 227 Component holding device/Gripper/Gripper jaws [0103] 252 Chassis [0104] 260 Transport device [0105] 270 Cutting device [0106] 272 First cutting component/Cutting blade [0107] 273 Guide block [0108] 274 Second cutting component/Clamping block (with groove) [0109] 280 Pushing means/Clamping device [0110] 295 Continuous material/Elongate belt structure [0111] 296 Section [0112] 397a Pin header 2×6 [0113] 397b Pin header 2×12 [0114] 397c Pin header 2×8