DE102019123099B3 - Device and method for producing switching modules with a housing and at least one electronic component inserted therein - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for introducing at least one electronic component (50) into a housing (40) to form a switching module, in particular for top-hat rail mounting, the housing (40) having a housing opening (43), two housing cheeks (41) aligned parallel to one another and connecting them Housing sides (42) comprising: guide rails (20) for positioning the housing (40) and the electronic component (50) for introducing the electronic component (50) into the housing (40), wherein the housing (40) and the electronic component (50 ) are movable relative to one another in a longitudinal direction; at least one expansion element (10, 14) for automatically expanding the parallel housing cheeks (41) of the housing (40) to a defined distance (A) by moving the housing (40) in the longitudinal direction relative to the spreading element (10, 14).

Description

The disclosure relates to both a device and a method for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing. The housing is an empty electronics housing, in particular for top-hat rail mounting.

A manual assembly of housings with electronic components to form switching modules is known from the prior art.

The problem here is that housing cheeks and / or housing sides can change their positioning relative to one another due to different factors such as gravity or instability of the material used. This change in position leads, among other things, to the fact that the size of the housing opening changes and, on the one hand, the electronic components cannot be positioned exactly, and damage to the electronic component and the housing can also occur when the electronic component is inserted into the housing. Already when the electronic component is inserted through the housing opening into the housing, but also when the electronic component is moved in the housing, blockages can occur. An additional problem is the increased costs of manual assembly and the increased time required for manual assembly.

For example, from the EP 0 235 320 A1 a stackable installation housing is known, in which in the cover section of the frame part surrounding the installation space there is a passage opening for a plug-in card-like circuit board provided with a handle, which is guided and held in guide slots and which is inserted with its lower end into a connector located in the bottom area of the installation housing so that this circuit board can be replaced without any assembly work on the installation housing.

From the DE 10 2017 129 251 A1 A modular system for producing an electronic device with a housing that forms a receiving space and a printed circuit board that can be inserted into the receiving space of the housing along an insertion direction and is received in an assembly position in the receiving space is known. Attachment parts that can be connected to the printed circuit board each have a division, viewed along the insertion direction, which corresponds to a predetermined smallest division unit or an integral multiple of the predetermined smallest division unit. Each attachment part has a first guide device for guiding on a second guide device of the housing. A combination of attachment parts can be lined up along the direction of insertion and connected to the circuit board.

US 2006/0 232 940 A1 relates to a method for producing a housing. First, the housing body is separated from a hollow profile and then a circuit board is inserted into the housing body. Then the housing body is closed laterally with the help of cover elements.

According to the DE 10 2019 110 325 A1 An electronic device comprises a housing having a slot, a circuit board, a first connector provided at one end of the circuit board in an insertion direction, a second connector provided in the slot and configured to be mated with the first connector when the circuit board is inserted into the slot, pairs of guide rails provided in the slot and associated with both ends of the circuit board in a direction transverse to the direction of insertion of the circuit board, each pair of the guide rails having a first guide rail and a second guide rail extending in the insertion direction on both surface sides of the circuit board inserted into the slot, and a pair of pressing members configured to press the circuit board to hold and pinch the circuit board between them when the circuit board is inserted into the slot t will.

In the DE 10 2011 017 314 A1 a mounting method for a printed circuit board is specified. In the assembly process, the circuit board provided with catch holes is placed on catch pins of a (assembly) tool that correspond to the catch holes, so that the catch pins protrude beyond the circuit board on a side facing away from the tool. The tool is then shifted against a circuit board receptacle in the housing, in such a way that the catch pins engage positively in corresponding centering holes in the circuit board receptacle. After the circuit board has subsequently been fixed in the housing, the tool is withdrawn from the catch holes, releasing the catch pins, the circuit board remaining in the circuit board holder. The tool includes, in particular, an upper plate to which the catch pins are assigned and a lower plate which has a housing receptacle for positioning the housing. The printed circuit board can be placed on the catch pins with the catch holes provided therein. Furthermore, the circuit board can be inserted into the circuit board receptacle of the housing by moving the top plate against the bottom plate.

The present invention is therefore based on the technical object of providing a device and a method for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing which do not have the disadvantages specified above.

The object on which the present invention is based is achieved by a device with the features of claim 1 and a method with the features of claim 14. Advantageous embodiments of the device are described in the dependent claims 2 to 13.

More precisely, the object on which the present invention is based is achieved by a device for inserting at least one electronic component into a housing to form a switch module, in particular for top-hat rail mounting, the housing having a receiving opening, two housing cheeks aligned parallel to one another and sides connecting them.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that it has guide rails for positioning the housing and the electronic component for introducing the electronic component into the housing. The housing and the electronic component can be moved relative to one another in a longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the device has a spreading element for automatically spreading the housing cheeks of the housing arranged in parallel to a defined distance by moving the housing in the longitudinal direction relative to the at least one spreading element.

The inventive device for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing has the advantage that housing cheeks and / or housing sides, which can change their positioning relative to one another due to different factors such as gravity or an instability of the material used, are at a precisely defined distance from one another be spread open. Compared to manual assembly, the at least one electronic component can thus be introduced through the housing opening and also positioned in the housing in a simplified manner. The risk of damage to the housing and / or the electronic component during assembly is reduced compared to manual assembly. Furthermore, a quick and inexpensive assembly of housings with electronic components and thus a high assembly turnover is made possible.

An electronic component is preferably to be understood as a circuit board, an electrical switching element or a circuit board. A switching module with an electronic function can thereby be provided. These can be various functions that are not subject to any restrictions.

The housing is preferably to be understood as a cup-shaped housing with housing cheeks arranged in parallel, the side edges of which are at least partially connected to one another via connecting sides of the housing. This type of housing is known, for example, from the applicant as an ICS housing. The housing is still unstable before assembly due to its structure, in particular due to lateral openings between the housing cheeks and the housing opening on the end face. The lateral openings of the housing can be closed after at least one electronic component has been inserted. For this purpose, connection contacts or operating elements can be attached to the connecting sides of the housing, for example. In principle, several electronic components can also be inserted into the housing. A clamping receptacle is preferably arranged on the housing, by means of which the housing can be attached to a top-hat rail.

Guide rails are preferably to be understood as meaning at least two parallel rails for attaching and moving the at least one electronic component and / or the housing. The guide rails preferably additionally have lateral guides and / or grooves which provide lateral support when the attached electronic component and / or the housing are moved. The guide rails do not have to be continuous in the longitudinal direction. There can be separate guide rails for the housing as well as separate guide rails for the electronic component. At least two guide rails arranged in parallel are preferably provided. In principle, adjacent guide rails can be connected to one another. For example, U-profiles or trough-shaped guide rails can be used. Furthermore, the guide rails are preferably aligned in such a way that the electronic component is positioned in a defined 3D positioning in the housing and / or the housing is positioned in a defined 3D positioning, which facilitates the insertion of the electronic component.

Several expansion elements usually allow the housing to be expanded evenly.

The at least one expansion element can act in different ways on the housing, in particular on the side walls / housing cheeks, in order to expand the housing. In addition, the housing opening of the housing can also be spread open. Spreading the housing takes place, for example, automatically by moving the housing into the assembly position by the at least one expansion element. Further details are described below.

The spreading to a defined distance is defined as a normal distance, which represents, for example, the distance between the housing cheeks in the fully assembled housing.

Alternatively, the housing cheeks can also be spread apart to a distance that goes beyond the normal distance in order to further facilitate the insertion.

An advantageous embodiment of the device for inserting at least one electronic component into a housing is designed in such a way that the at least one expansion element is rotatably mounted and experiences a rotary movement by moving the housing into the assembly position, so that the at least one expansion element acts on the housing and expands it. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that it is particularly easy to use. In addition, the spreading is easily adjustable via the rotary movement. The at least one expansion element preferably has expansion hooks and / or expansion jaws. The at least one expansion element can alternatively or additionally be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the housing and thereby come into contact with the housing and act on it. This results in two main alternatives, on the one hand the housing being moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the at least one spreading element and thereby spread apart, and on the other hand the at least one spreading element being moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the housing and thereby spreading the housing. In both cases, access to the housing opening is possible.

Further preferably, the device for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing is designed such that the at least one expansion element acts on the connecting sides of the housing and / or on the housing cheeks in order to spread the housing cheeks. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that a housing with electronic components can be manufactured particularly easily with it. Preferably, the at least one expansion element can act both frontally on the housing and on the side walls / housing cheeks in order to spread open the housing cheeks and thus the opening of the housing.

Further preferably, the device for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing is designed such that the device has at least one return spring which returns the at least one expansion element to its original position after the housing with the electronic component has been removed before the housing cheeks are expanded. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that it enables a simplified and accelerated assembly process in that there is no need to manually reset the at least one expansion element.

More preferably, the device for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing is designed in such a way that the at least one expansion element is replaceably mounted on the guide rails for replacement with a expansion element with different dimensions for expanding housing cheeks of housings with different dimensions. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that it enables the production of housings of different sizes with electronic components of different sizes. The spreading elements are therefore also provided in different sizes in order to spread the casing cheeks to a defined distance to match the casing sizes. For this purpose, sets of devices with a plurality of expansion elements of different sizes or, alternatively, sets of housings with suitable expansion elements are each provided together.

Further preferably, the device for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing is designed in such a way that the at least one spreading element is designed as a funnel-shaped, lateral guide element. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that it is particularly easy to manufacture and enables an assembly process that is less prone to failure. The funnel-shaped, lateral guide element is designed as an inherently immovable element which tapers in the longitudinal direction relative to the electronic component. The lateral guide element can preferably be displaced as a whole in order to realize the movement in the longitudinal direction relative to the housing.

Further preferably, the device for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing is designed in such a way that the at least one expansion element is designed and arranged to act laterally or vertically on the housing. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that it enables a particularly simple assembly process. The housing can be arranged on the guide rails both via the housing cheeks and housing sides. A lateral action on the housing is preferably as a compression of the Understand the housing on its side surfaces and leads to the housing cheeks spreading.

Further preferably, the device for inserting at least one electronic component into a housing is designed in such a way that the device has a carrier device for attaching the guide rails and the carrier device and / or guide rails have mounting elements by means of which the guide rails can be mounted parallel to one another at different predetermined distances. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that the support device enables stable positioning of the guide rails. In addition, the device according to the invention has the advantage that the guide rails can be spaced differently from one another in the transverse direction due to the mounting elements on the carrier device. They are preferably displaceable away from or towards one another. This enables housings of different sizes to be produced in a simple manner with electronic components of different sizes. Mounting elements are preferably to be understood as grooves or elevations into which the guide rails can be inserted, but also bores with respective screw elements to which the guide rails can be attached.

Further preferably, the device for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing is designed in such a way that the guide rails can be mounted on the carrier device in an at least partially height-adjustable manner. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that housings with electronic components can be manufactured at different heights in the housing. For example, a housing or an electronic component can be removed from different levels of a housing or electronic component magazine and fed to the guide rails. In addition, the height of insertion of the electronic component into the housing can be variably adjusted.

Furthermore, the device for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing is preferably designed in such a way that the device has at least one housing and / or electronic component magazine for feeding housings and / or electronic components to the guide rails. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that through the use of housing and / or electronic component magazines, an increased throughput can be achieved in the manufacture of housings with electronic components.

Further preferably, the device for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing is designed such that the device has a feed device for feeding the housing from the housing magazine and / or the electronic component from the electronic component magazine to the guide rails. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that it enables simple and automated production of the housing with the electronic component. The device enables a defined movement and an exact positioning of the electronic component and / or the housing. Furthermore, a higher throughput is possible in the manufacture of housings with electronic components compared to individual assembly. The feed device is to be understood in particular as a device which automatically feeds the housing from the housing magazine or the electronic component from the electronic component magazine to the guide rails, for example by pushing, pulling or lifting. Furthermore, an interchangeable magazine with housings and / or electronic components with the feed device is preferably used. The magazine is preferably exchanged to provide further housings or electronic components.

Further preferably, the device for inserting at least one electronic component into a housing is designed such that the device has a transfer device for transferring the housing with the electronic component inserted therein into a magazine. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that it enables simple and automated production of the housing with the electronic component. A higher throughput is also possible in the manufacture of housings with electronic components. The transfer device is to be understood in particular as a device which automatically removes the housing with the electronic component from the guide rails and transfers it into a magazine by pushing, pulling and / or lifting.

Furthermore, the device for introducing at least one electronic component into a housing is preferably designed in such a way that the device has an electronic control device which is designed to control the device partially or fully automatically. The correspondingly designed device has the advantage that it can introduce electronic components into housings inexpensively, quickly and with a high throughput. The removal of the housing from the housing magazine and / or the removal of the electronic component from the electronic component magazine and / or the positioning of the housing on the guide rails and / or the positioning of the electronic components on the preferably run Guide rails and / or the movement of the housing on the guide rails and / or the expansion of the housing opening and / or the return of the at least one expansion element to its starting position and / or the introduction of the electronic component into the housing and / or the transfer of the housing with the electronic component into a magazine and / or the height adjustment of the guide rails with the carrier elements. In one embodiment, the device is designed with a fully automatic control. From an electronic component magazine and a housing magazine, the electronic components and the housing are automatically fed to the guide rails by a feed device. The housing and the electronic components are automatically moved towards one another on the guide rails, for example by the feed device, the housing being automatically expanded by the at least one spreading element. The electronic component is automatically inserted into the housing. The housing with the electronic component is then in turn automatically transferred into a magazine by means of a transfer device, for example, and the process is repeated automatically. In principle, different levels of the magazines can be controlled via automatically height-adjustable carrier plates. In another exemplary embodiment, the device is controlled only partially automatically and the housing and the electronic components are automatically fed from the magazines to the device and then brought together manually with the aid of the device.

In addition to the device, the present invention has a method for introducing an electronic component into a housing to form a switching module, in particular for top-hat rail mounting, the housing having a receiving opening, two housing cheeks aligned parallel to one another and sides connecting them. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the housing and the electronic component are positioned on guide rails, the housing and the electronic component are moved in the longitudinal axis relative to each other to introduce the electronic component into the housing, the parallel housing cheeks of the housing to a defined distance by sliding the Housing are automatically expanded in the relative direction of the at least one expansion element and the electronic component is introduced into the expanded housing by means of the guide rails.

The method according to the invention for producing switching modules with a housing has the advantage that it enables simple positioning of the electronic component, in which the position of the electronic component can be precisely defined and the risk of damage to the housing and the electronic component is reduced. Furthermore, a quick and inexpensive assembly of housings with electronic components and thus a high assembly turnover is made possible.

• 1: eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Einführen einer Elektronikkomponente in ein Gehäuse mittels Aufspreizelementen gemäß einer ersten, bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 2: eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung aus 1 zum Einführen der Elektronikkomponente in das Gehäuse mittels Aufspreizelementen, wobei das Gehäuse und die Elektronikkomponente auf der Vorrichtung positioniert sind und die Elektronikkomponente halb in das Gehäuse eingeführt wurde;
• 3: einen Detailausschnitt des Aufspreizelements der Vorrichtung aus 1 vor (a) und bei (b) einer Kraftbeaufschlagung auf das Gehäuse zum Aufspreizen desselben;
• 4: eine separate Darstellung des Gehäuses mit teilweise eingeführter Elektronikkomponente zur Verwendung mit der Vorrichtung des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels;
• 5: eine separate Darstellung der Trägervorrichtung der Vorrichtung aus 1 von der Seite (a), von der Stirnseite (b), als Draufsicht (c) und perspektivisch von schräg oben (d);
• 6: eine Draufsicht einer Vorrichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform zum Einführen einer Elektronikkomponente in ein Gehäuse mit einem Magazin und mit Aufspreizelementen basierend auf der Vorrichtung der ersten Ausführungsform in einer Darstellung vor dem Zusammenführen des Gehäuses mit der Elektronikkomponente (a) und in einer Darstellung nach dem Einführen der Elektronikkomponente in das Gehäuse (b);
• 7: eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung der zweiten Ausführungsform aus 6 zum Herstellen eines Schaltmoduls zumindest einer in das Gehäuse eingeführten Elektronikkomponente mit Aufspreizelementen in einer perspektivischen Ansicht von schräg vorne (a) und in einer perspektivischen Ansicht von schräg hinten (b);
• 8: einen Detailausschnitt einer Vorrichtung gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung zum Einführen zumindest einer Elektronikkomponente in ein Gehäuse mit einem Aufspreizelement vor Kontakt mit Gehäusewangen des Gehäuses (a) und während des Aufspreizens des Gehäuses über die Gehäusewangen (b); und
• 9: einen Detailausschnitt einer Vorrichtung gemäß einer vierten Ausführungsform zum Herstellen eines Gehäuses mit zumindest einer Elektronikkomponente mit einem trichterförmigen, seitlichen Aufspreizelement in einer Darstellung ohne Gehäuse und Elektronikkomponente (a), während des Aufspreizens der Gehäusewangen des Gehäuses (b) und während des Einführens der Elektronikkomponente in das Gehäuse (c).

Further advantages, details and features of the invention emerge from the exemplary embodiments explained below. In detail:

• 1 : a perspective illustration of a device for introducing an electronic component into a housing by means of expansion elements according to a first, preferred embodiment;
• 2 : a perspective view of the device from 1 for introducing the electronic component into the housing by means of expansion elements, the housing and the electronic component being positioned on the device and the electronic component having been inserted halfway into the housing;
• 3 : a detail of the expansion element of the device 1 before (a) and during (b) a force is applied to the housing in order to spread it open;
• 4th : a separate illustration of the housing with partially inserted electronic component for use with the device of the first embodiment;
• 5 : a separate illustration of the carrier device of the device 1 from the side (a), from the front side (b), as a top view (c) and in perspective from diagonally above (d);
• 6th : a plan view of a device according to a second embodiment for introducing a Electronic component in a housing with a magazine and with expansion elements based on the device of the first embodiment in a representation before the housing is brought together with the electronic component (a) and in a representation after the electronic component has been inserted into the housing (b);
• 7th : a perspective view of the device of the second embodiment 6th for producing a switching module of at least one electronic component introduced into the housing with expansion elements in a perspective view obliquely from the front (a) and in a perspective view obliquely from the rear (b);
• 8th : a detail section of a device according to a third embodiment of the device for inserting at least one electronic component into a housing with a spreading element before contact with the housing cheeks of the housing (a) and during the spreading of the housing over the housing cheeks (b); and
• 9 : a detail of a device according to a fourth embodiment for producing a housing with at least one electronic component with a funnel-shaped, lateral expansion element in a representation without housing and electronic component (a), during the expansion of the housing cheeks of the housing (b) and during the insertion of the electronic component into the housing (c).

In the description that follows, the same reference symbols denote the same components or the same features, so that a description made with reference to a figure with regard to a component also applies to the other figures, so that a repeated description is avoided. Furthermore, individual features that have been described in connection with one embodiment can also be used separately in other embodiments.

1 to 3 show a device according to the invention 1 according to a first embodiment for introducing at least one electronic component 50 in a housing 40 to form a switching module. It shows 1 the device 1 throughout. It has guide rails 20th on that with a carrier device 30th are positively connected. The non-positive connection is in the present example by means of holes 31 and screw elements 32 realized. The guide rails 20th have edges or side guides 21st to support precise guidance of the housing 40 and the electronic component 50 on the guide rails 20th on.

2 shows the device 1 like the case 40 and the electronic component 50 are positioned on it. Housing cheeks 41 of the housing 40 will be in 2 via specific expansion elements 10 spread open. The housing cheeks are used for this 41 of the housing 40 when moving the case 40 in the longitudinal direction relative to the expansion elements 10 spread open by placing the housing over spreading jaws 12th force is applied. Return springs 11 cause when the housing is removed 40 from the device 1 a return transfer of the expansion elements 10 , ie the spreading jaws 12th , in their starting position.

3 represents the mechanism of the expansion elements 10 of the first embodiment 1 in detail. In 3 a) were housing 40 and electronic component 50 already moved relatively towards each other in the longitudinal direction. The expansion elements 10 are with the case 40 brought in contact. Proceeding from this, the further shifting of the housing causes 40 in the longitudinal direction on the electronic component 50 to a force from the housing 40 on the expansion elements 10 so that a rotary movement of the expansion elements 10 initiated as in 3 b) is shown. There was the case 40 further in the longitudinal direction relative to the expansion elements 10 moved so that the rotary movement of the expansion elements 10 was carried out further. This pushes the spreading jaws 12th the expansion elements 10 on the housing 40 , whereby this is acted upon by force and the housing cheeks 41 be spread open.

In 4th is the case 40 with the electronic component 50 shown individually. The electronic component 50 is half in the housing 40 introduced. The case 40 has two cheeks 41 and surrounding housing sides 42 on, with the housing cheeks 41 not continuously over the sides of the housing 42 are connected to each other. One face 43 over which the electronic component 50 in the housing 40 is inserted is open and forms a housing opening 43 .

5 shows the carrier device 30th the device 1 the first embodiment. It shows 5 a) the carrier device 30th from the side, with elevations of stabilizing rails 33 showing the guide rails 20th stabilize in their position, are shown. 5 b) shows the carrier device 30th from the front, 5 c) as a top view and 5 d) as a perspective view obliquely from above. In the perspective view in 5 d) are the holes 31 between the stabilizing rails 33 arranged centrally around the guide rails 20th on the carrier device 30th to fix. 5 c) shows in plan view that the holes 31 with screw elements 32 work together to make the guide rails 20th on the carrier device 30th to attach.

In 6th and 7th is a device 1 of a second embodiment for introducing the electronic component 50 in the housing 40 to form the switching module. The device 1 of the second embodiment is based on the device 1 of the first embodiment from the 1 to 3 , and on the other hand became a magazine 60 added. Both the magazine 60 , the housing 40 and the electronic component 50 on the guide rails 20th which in turn on the carrier device 30th are attached, arranged.

In 6 a) are the expansion elements 10 which correspond to those of the first embodiment in their starting position. Both the electronic component 50 as well as the housing 40 are not yet on the guide rails 20th been moved relatively towards each other in the longitudinal direction. This represents an intermediate position when assembling the switch module.

In 6 b) there are expansion elements 10 in one of the sides of the case 42 of the housing 40 force-applying position, in which they the housing cheeks 41 at a defined distance A. Spread open as the housing 40 in the longitudinal direction relative to the expansion elements 10 has been moved and contacted them. The electronic component 50 is in the housing 40 introduced.

In 7th is the device 1 for inserting the electronic component 50 in the housing 40 to form the switching module. In detail is the device 1 with the expansion element 10 in accordance with the expansion element 10 the first embodiment, an electronic component 50 , a housing 40 and a magazine 60 shown. The electronic component 50 and the case 40 , as well as the magazine 60 lie on the guide rails 20th on. The guide rails 20th are about holes 31 and screw elements 32 with the carrier device 30th connected. The expansion elements 10 are in their starting position as the case 40 not yet with the expansion elements 10 has come into plant.

7 a) shows the device 1 with the magazine 60 . The case 40 has the expansion elements 10 not yet contacted.

7 b) shows a perspective view of the device 1 in which the housing 40 the exemplary spreading elements 10 contacted and the housing cheeks 41 at a defined distance A. are spread open. In addition, in 7 b) the magazine 60 shown. The arrow 70 indexes a feeder 70 to the case 40 from the magazine 60 the device 1 to manufacture the housing 40 with the electronic component 50 feed.

In 8th is a device according to the invention 1 of a third embodiment for introducing the electronic component 50 in the housing 40 to form the switching module. The spreading element 10 has two expanding hooks 13 by means of which the housing cheeks 41 of the housing 40 at a defined distance A. are spreadable so that the electronic component 50 simplified into the housing 40 can be introduced.

In 8 a) is the device 1 at a time before the housing cheeks 41 the expanding hooks 13 contact, shown.

In 8 b) the device is shown at a point in time when the housing cheeks 41 of the housing 40 through the expanding hooks 13 at a defined distance A. have been spread open.

In 9 is a device according to the invention 1 for inserting the electronic component 50 in the housing 40 to form the switching module according to a fourth embodiment. The spreading element 14th is in this embodiment a funnel-shaped, lateral guide element 14th , which on the guide rails 20th is arranged.

This device according to the invention 1 is in 9 a) shown in a plan view and shows in comparison to 9 c) additional optional upper guide elements 15th who have favourited the casing side panels 41 in such a way that they do not have a defined distance A. can be spread out.

9 b) shows the device 1 the fourth embodiment with a housing 40 and an electronic component 50 that are on the device 1 are positioned. The case 40 was in the funnel-shaped lateral guide element 14th introduced.

9 c) shows a spreading element 14th the device 1 enlarged and more detailed. Here the device points 1 no upper guide element 15th on. By guiding the housing 40 in the device 1 in the direction of movement R. acts the funnel-shaped, lateral guide element 14th on the side of the housing 40 and spreads the housing cheeks 41 at a defined distance A. so that the electronic component 50 in the housing 40 can be introduced.

List of reference symbols

1

Device for manufacturing housings with electronic components

10

Expansion element

11

Return spring of the expansion element

12

Spreading jaw of the spreading element

13

Spreading hook of the spreading element

14th

funnel-shaped, lateral guide element, expansion element

15th

upper guide element

20th

Guide rail

21st

Side guides of the guide rail

30th

Carrier device

31

drilling

32

Screw element

33

Stabilizing rails

40

casing

41

Housing cheeks of the housing

42

Housing sides of the housing

43

Housing opening

50

Electronic component

60

Housing / electronic component magazine

70

Feeding device

A.

defined distance

R.

Direction of movement

Claims (14)

Device (1) for introducing at least one electronic component (50) into a housing (40) to form a switching module, in particular for top-hat rail mounting, the housing (40) having a housing opening (43), two housing cheeks (41) aligned parallel to one another and connecting them Having housing sides (42) comprising: Guide rails (20) for positioning the housing (40) and the electronic component (50) for introducing the electronic component (50) into the housing (40), the housing (40) and the electronic component (50) being movable relative to one another in a longitudinal direction ; At least one expansion element (10, 14) for automatically expanding the parallel housing cheeks (41) of the housing (40) to a defined distance (A) by moving the housing (40) in the longitudinal direction relative to the expansion element (10, 14). Device (1) according to Claim 1 characterized in that the at least one expansion element (10) is rotatably mounted and, by moving the housing (40) in the longitudinal direction, experiences a rotary movement relative to the at least one expansion element (10), so that the at least one expansion element (10) onto the housing (40) ) acts and spreads it. Device (1) according to Claim 2 characterized in that the at least one expansion element (10) acts on the housing sides (42) of the housing (40) and / or on the housing cheeks (41) in order to spread the housing cheeks (41). Device (1) according to one of the Claims 2 or 3 characterized in that the device (1) has at least one return spring (11) which moves the at least one expansion element (10) into its original position after the housing (40) has been removed with the electronic component (50) before the housing cheeks (41) are expanded. transferred back. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one spreading element (10, 14) is interchangeably mounted on the guide rails (20) for exchange with a spreading element (10, 14) with different dimensions for spreading housing cheeks (41) ) of housings (40) with different dimensions. Device (1) according to Claim 1 characterized in that the at least one spreading element (10, 14) is designed as a funnel-shaped, lateral guide element (14). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one expansion element (10, 14) is designed and arranged to act laterally or vertically on the housing (40). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has a carrier device (30) for attaching the guide rails (20) and the carrier device (30) and / or guide rails (20) have mounting elements (31, 32) have, by means of which the guide rails (20) can be mounted parallel to one another at different predetermined distances. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rails (20) are at least partially height-adjustable and can be mounted on the carrier device (30). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has at least one housing and / or electronic component magazine (60) for feeding housings (40) and / or electronic components (50) to the guide rails (20) . Device (1) according to Claim 10 characterized in that the device (1) has a feed device (70) for feeding the housing (40) from the housing magazine (60) and / or the electronic component (50) from the electronic component magazine (60) to the guide rails (20). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has a transfer device for transferring the housing (40) with the electronic component (50) inserted therein into a magazine. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has an electronic control device which is designed to carry out a partially or fully automatic control. Method for inserting an electronic component (50) into a housing (40) to form a switching module, in particular for top-hat rail mounting, the housing (40) having a housing opening (43), two housing cheeks (41) aligned parallel to one another and housing sides (42) connecting them. comprising the steps of: Positioning the housing (40) and the electronic component (50) on guide rails (20); Moving the housing (40) and the electronic component (50) in the longitudinal direction relative to one another for introducing the electronic component (50) into the housing (40); automatic spreading of the parallel housing cheeks (41) of the housing (40) to a defined distance (A) by sliding the housing (40) in the longitudinal direction relative to at least one expanding element (10, 14); and Insertion of the electronic component (50) by means of the guide rails (20) into the expanded housing (40).

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