EP1321016A1

EP1321016A1 - Splicing equipment

Info

Publication number: EP1321016A1
Application number: EP01935993A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rudolf Henghuber
Original assignee: Siemens Production and Logistics Systems AG; Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2000-05-09
Filing date: 2001-04-25
Publication date: 2003-06-25
Also published as: KR20030001476A; CN1440634A; WO2001087034A1; US20030177632A1; US6860001B2; JP2003532600A; DE10022483C1; CN1197449C

Abstract

The invention relates to a splicing equipment for connecting continuous tapes of components (1, 2) by means of metal splicing tapes (5) that are provided with a perforation that corresponds to the transport perforation (4) of the continuous tapes of components (1, 2) and that are anchored in the tape material by projections (7) that project from their connecting surface. To this end, the splicing equipment comprises two cheeks (10) and (11) that can be pressed together. At least two centering pins (23) are located in the lower cheek (10), spaced at single or multiple intervals of the holes of the transport perforation (4). Those centering pins are sunk into corresponding holes in the upper cheek (11) when the cheeks (10) and (11) are closed. According to the invention, the cheeks are also provided with a cutting device with knives (19) by way of which the continuous tapes of components (1) and (2) fixated in the centering pins (23) can be cut to length.

Description

description

splicing

The invention relates to a splicing device for connecting component belts with the aid of metallic splice strips which are provided with a perforation associated with the transport perforation of the component belts and are anchored in the belt material with projections protruding from their connecting surface, the splicing device having two compressible jaws for this purpose and at least one jaw carries two centering pins arranged at one or multiple pitch of the transport perforation and the other jaw has holes into which the opposite "centering pins" can be countersunk when the jaws are closed.

Such splicing devices are used to connect component belts, which are generally used in the automatic assembly of printed circuit boards or ceramic substrates.

SMD components are generally included in the component straps.

Depending on the size of the components, the straps are 8, 12, 16 or 24 mm wide. Component belts are particularly easy to automate, since the components are already isolated and the packaging in the belt ensures the greatest possible security against components being mixed up. Due to the large component stock per belt or per track, a very high effectiveness is achieved during the passage of the belt.

However, the effectiveness of the entire pick-and-place system drops considerably if it stops for a short time to insert a new belt. The assembly performance can be increased in that the end of a component belt that has not yet been emptied is connected to the beginning of a full component belt in an automated manner. The prerequisite, however, is that the connection of the component straps can be made quickly. In addition, high demands are placed on the tear strength of the splice and the dimensional accuracy of the transport perforation on both sides of the splice (DIN EC 286 part 3, September 1987, page 5, point 4.6).

In the patent DE 4210139 Cl has already been proposed for connecting component belts, an existing of plastically deformable metal splicing strip, the associated with one of the transport perforation of the component belts perforation is provided and are anchored with protruding from its joint surface extensions in the webbing of binding to ver ^¬ straps can.

The splice strip is connected to the component straps by pressing.

The utility model G 9314832.1 suggests the generic splicing device in the form of a splicing pliers.

To connect the component straps, the metal splice strip is placed over the centering pins on the lower jaws of the splicing pliers and then the end of the first strap and the end of the second strap are slipped on to connect them by closing the pliers via the splicing strip.

The connection of the component straps via the splice strip works perfectly, but the splicing device still has some disadvantages in handling. In particular when inserting the second strap end, the first strap end must be released from the hand, since the second hand is required to hold the pliers.

It often happens that the first strap end jumps out of the centering pins on the lower jaw of the splicer.

Another disadvantage is that the beginning of the new belt and the end of the old belt are not exactly matched to one another and the ends have to be cut with scissors. Even when cutting the end with the scissors, it is particularly the case with belts with very small components that a certain gap remains between the ends and that a component is missing in the belt course in this position.

This leads to malfunctions in the automatic assembly machine or to ^* incorrectly assembled printed circuit boards, particularly when processing the components.

Furthermore, EP 0 893 948 A discloses a splicing device for connecting component belts with the aid of metallic splice strips, which are also provided with a perforation (6) assigned to the transport perforation (4) of the component belts (1 and 2) and with projections (7) of their connecting surface are anchored in the belt material, for this purpose the splicing device has two compressible jaws (10 and 11) and one jaw carries at least two centering pins (23) arranged at one or multiple pitch of the transport perforation (4) and which another jaw (11) has holes (31) into which the opposite centering pins (23) can be countersunk when the jaws (10, 11) are closed.

CH 676 703 A discloses a splicing device which is provided with a cutting device which is in the form of two separate knives. The invention is therefore based on the object of developing the generic splicing device in such a way that the strap ends are always optimally coordinated with one another when connecting.

This object is achieved in that at the same time a cutting device is provided on the jaws, via which a belt held in centering pins can be cut to length.

This makes it possible to cut the belts to the exact right ratio to the transport perforation, by means of which they are received in the centering pins, as a result of which the belt ends are exactly matched to one another.

Favorably, centering pins are provided for both belt ends, so that both belt ends can also be cut to length in one cutting operation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the jaws are subdivided into a cutting area and into a pressing area and, on the side of the lower jaw, fixing jaws with centering pins for the belt ends are provided, which can be moved from a position of the picked up belt in the cutting area into a position of the picked up belt in the pressing area are.

For a clear fixation of the straps, it is favorable to provide at least two centering pins per fixation jaws, into which the straps are hung, as well as a holding means for clamping the straps on the top of the fixation jaws. Since the components in the component straps are covered by a plastic film that adheres to the edge, this plastic film must be bridged after the splicing process by means of an adhesive strip. If the cut is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the belt, there is a risk that detaches in the placement of the adhesive strips of the plastic sheet, which in turn leads to the ^• ^* standstill of the placement machine.

Due to the arrow-shaped cut in the direction of movement of the belts, when the plastic strip is pulled off in the placement machine at the joint of the two belts, the arrow-shaped or tapering middle section of the plastic film is first raised before the adhesive edge areas are detached.

A number of tests have shown that when using the same plastic film and the same adhesive strip in the case of an arrow-shaped cut, there is no longer any danger of the adhesive strip becoming detached from the plastic film, in contrast to the straight cut.

The cutting device is advantageously matched to the centering pins on the fixing jaws in such a way that the cut runs between the components.

According to a first embodiment variant, the belt ends are successively hooked into a single fixing jaw with the centering pins and trimmed.

According to a second embodiment variant, the fixing jaws are provided laterally opposite the lower jaw and the belts are placed in alignment one above the other and cut to length via the cutting device.

A third embodiment provides for the fixing jaws to be offset laterally next to the lower jaw, so that the Recorded straps next to each other can be cut to length by the cutting device.

The pressing area on the lower and on the upper jaw is preferably designed so that only the inserted component belts are pressed in the area of the transport perforation and the area in which the components are received protrudes cantilevered outwards.

This has the advantage that component belts can be pressed, which has receiving ^cavities' sentlich greater for the components of a GR depth than the thickness of the belt component in the field of transport perforation.

The splicing device is preferably designed as a table device, in which the upper jaw can be actuated via a lever mechanism.

The training as a desktop unit has that e- gen component of the belts and the splice strip are the advantage for Einl ^'both hands available. In contrast to the design as field tongs, there is also no danger that the splice strip attached to the centering pins will fall down due to movements, since the lower jaw on which the splice strip is attached is designed to be stationary.

In order to achieve reliable pressing at all times, it is favorable to provide the lever mechanism with a latching device which only allows the lever to be pivoted back after the lever has moved completely into the pressing position.

The ^" invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the figures.

The figures show: 1 shows the ends of two component belts connected via a splicing device in a view from above,

FIG. 2 shows the component straps according to FIG. 1 in a view from below,

FIG. 3 shows the section III-III from FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the component belts in the sectional view according to FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a splice strip,

FIG. 6 shows an oblique view of an opened splice device with fixing jaws in the cutting area,

7 shows the splicing device according to FIG. 6 in the closed position with the fixing jaws in the cutting position,

8 shows the opened splicing device according to FIGS. 6 and 7 with the fixing jaws in the pressing area, FIG.

9 shows the closed splicing device with the fixing jaws in the pressing area, and

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the fixing jaws and the base plate.

Figure 1 shows two component belts 1, 2 in the view from above. These component straps 1, 2 are used to transport components to the assembly machines, in which the components are then mounted or soldered to the printed circuit boards. The component straps 1, 2 generally consist of cardboard or plastic and have a number of receiving cavities 3 in which the components are arranged.

In addition to the receiving cavities 3, the component belts 1 and 2 are each provided with a transport perforation 4, via which they are moved by the automatic placement machines.

In order to achieve the highest possible utilization of the automatic placement machines, the end of the first component belt 1 is connected to the beginning of the second component belt 2.

This is usually done via a splice strip 5, as shown in Figure 2, which shows the component straps 1 and 2 in the view from below.

In Figure 3, the section III-III is from. Figure 1 shown in the area of the splice 5.

Figure 4 shows in principle the same section as in Figure 3 ,. only the receiving cavity 3 being designed somewhat larger here, and thus the component belt in the area of the receiving cavities 3 has a substantially greater thickness than in the area of the transport perforation 4.

5 shows the splice strip 5 in a side view and in a partial section.

The splice strip 5 has bores 6 which correspond exactly in size and distance to the transport perforation of the component belts 1 and 2, so that these can be arranged directly above the transport perforation 4 as shown in FIG.

Between the bores 6, extensions 7 are formed on the splice strip, which after splicing, as in FIG 3 and 4, claw in the material of the component belts.

So that the components do not fall out of the exception cavities 3, they are each covered on the cover side by a plastic film 8 adhering to the edges.

This is particularly the case in the representations according to FIGS. 3 and

4 easy to recognize.

This plastic film 8 is also automatically removed in the pick and place machine.

Therefore, when connecting the two component straps 1 and 2, these must also be connected.

This is done by means of an adhesive strip 9 which is glued to the plastic film 8 in the area of the two ends of the component straps 1 and 2.

The splicing devices according to the invention are described below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10, by means of which the two component straps 1 and 2 are removed and the splicing is carried out by means of the splicing strip 5 shown in FIG.

The splicer consists of a lower jaw 10 and a movable upper jaw 11, which can be pressed against the lower jaw 10 via a lever mechanism 12.

The lever mechanism 12 is composed of a handle 13, a lever 14 which can be rotated about an axis 15 running through the lower jaw, and a deflection piece 16 which introduces the force into the upper jaws 11. Both the lower jaw 10 and the upper jaw 11 are each divided into a cutting region 17 and a pressing region 18. In the cutting area 17, cutters 19 are arranged next to one another both in the lower jaw 10 and in the upper jaw 11. The cutting edges 19 are designed such that when the jaws 10 and 11 are pressed together, the inserted component element belts 1 and 2 are cut off over the entire width. The cutting edges 19 are designed in the direction of the component element belts in such a way that an arrow-shaped cut results. This has the advantage that the adhesive strip 9 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 4), which is used to connect the plastic film 8, cannot easily detach from the plastic film 8 in the pick and place machine when it is removed. The reason for this is that the plastic film 8 is designed to be adhesive only at the side edges and thus when the plastic film 8 or the adhesive strip 9 is peeled off first the tip, which is non-adhesive, is lifted up from the plastic film 8 and only after the deformation of the Plastic film 8 in this area there is a detachment of the lateral adhesive between plastic film 8 and the component belt. As a result, the risk that the adhesive strip 9 detaches from the plastic film 8 in the pick and place machine is considerably reduced.

The arrangement of the cutting edges 19 side by side has the big one

Advantage that both the end of the outgoing belt and the beginning of the new belt to be inserted can be inserted at the same time and the cut waste pieces can automatically slide off to the side. For this purpose, a bevel 20 is formed in each case in the lower jaw 10 next to the cutting edges 19.

Likewise, it is of course also possible to provide only one cutting edge 19 per jaw and to lay the two belts on top of one another. In this embodiment, however, the waste piece of the upper belt lies on the lower belt, so that this must be removed by hand in each case. In order to fix and position the straps exactly, 10 fixing jaws 21 and 22 are provided on the side of the lower jaw. The fixing jaws 21 serve to fix the new belt and the fixing jaws 22 to fix the outgoing belt end. Both fixing jaws are provided on their surface with centering pins 23, into which the component belts 1 and 2 are hung with their transport perforation 4. The centering pins 23 are matched to the cutting edges 19 so that the cut runs exactly between the components. Furthermore, the side-by-side cutting edges 19 are matched to one another in such a way that the ends fit exactly with one another, specifically matched to the transport perforation and to the components received. The cutting edges 19 are screwed into the jaws 10 and 11 and can also be easily changed to match the straps.

The fixing jaws are provided on the surface with holding means 24. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the holding means 24 are designed as metallic flaps which are drawn against the fixing jaws by a permanent magnet arranged in the fixing jaws 21 and 22, respectively. Since the flaps on the back of the fixing jaws protrude freely to the rear, this freely protruding end only has to be pressed with the fingers, so that the holding means 24 open and the component straps can be inserted.

The fixing jaw 21 is designed in such a way that the picked-up component belt is cut by the first of the cutting edges 19, that is to say the one further away from the pressing area 18, and the component belt received in the fixing jaws 22 is separated by the cutting edges 19 lying next to the pressing area 18.

The cutting process is done by pulling the handle

13 forward in the direction of the free ends of the jaws so that they close as shown in FIG. 7. In order to ensure that a perfect cut is made, a latching device 25 is arranged on the lever between the jaws 10, 11 and the lever 14, which means that the lever 14 can only be moved back again after it has reached an end position.

In the state of the splicing device shown in FIG. 7, the picked-up component straps 1 or 2, which are not shown here in the figures, are cut. The arrow-shaped section S shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 results.

In the case of the fixing jaw 21, the flap-shaped holding means 24 is opened, so that the permanent magnet 26 integrated in the fixing jaw 21 can be seen.

After the component straps have been cut off, the lever 14 is moved back again as shown in FIG. 8 and the fixing jaws are moved laterally forward with the picked component straps into the pressing area. For this purpose, handles 27 are arranged on the face of the fixing jaws 21 and 22, respectively.

Also arranged on the lower jaw 10 are two centering pins 23, onto which the splice strip 5 shown in FIG. 5 is placed so that the centering pins 23 are received in the bores 6 and the extensions 7 protrude upwards.

Two holes 31 are provided on the upper jaws 11, into which the centering pins 23 on the lower jaw 10 penetrate during the pressing.

When the fixing jaws 21 or 22 are pulled forward, they are lifted off slightly via the handles 27 and only lowered in a position in which the centering pins 23 are in contact align the locating jaws exactly with the centering pins 23 of the lower jaw 10. The component straps accommodated in the fixing jaws 21 and 22 are automatically plugged onto the centering pins 23 on the lower jaw 10 when the fixing jaws are lowered.

For the exact positioning of the fixing jaws 21 and 22, as shown in FIG. 10, they are provided on the underside with a bolt 28 which engages in corresponding bores 29 in a base plate 30 on which the entire splicing device is arranged.

For pressing, the lever 14 is now pulled forward again via the handle 13 into the position shown in FIG.

Here, the extensions 7 in the splice strip, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, are pressed into the component straps 1 and 2, respectively, so that they claw together. In this state of the splicing device, the adhesive strip 9 is also applied to the plastic film 8.

It is advantageous that the pressing area 8 has only a width which is required for the component belts 1 or 2 for the transport perforation.

As a result, component belts, as shown in FIG. 4, can also be pressed, since the area with the receiving cavities 3 overhangs freely above the jaw 10.

The splicing device described in FIGS. 6 to 10 is designed as a stable table device standing on the base plate 30, which can be operated independently without any electricity. The combination of cutting and pressing ensures that the component straps are always cut to length and that the cut S also runs exactly between the components. As a result, errors in connecting the component straps are almost impossible, which too a higher reliability and therefore ^'the placement machine results in a higher utilization ratio.

Claims

claims

1. Splicing device for connecting component belts (1, 2) with the help of metallic splice strips (5). are provided with a perforation (6) associated with the transport perforation (4) of the component belts (1 and 2) and are anchored in the belt material with projections (7) protruding from their connecting surface, the splicing device having two compressible jaws (10 and 11) for this purpose and one jaw carries at least two centering pins (23) which are arranged at one or multiple pitch of the transport perforation (4) and the other jaw (11) has holes (31) into which the opposite centering pins (23) when closing the jaws (10, 11) are retractable, characterized in that a cutting device is provided on the jaws (10, 11) at the same time, by means of which a belt (1 or 2) held in centering pins (23) can be cut to length.

2. Splicing device according to claim 1, so that centering pins (23) are provided for both belt ends, so that both belt ends can be cut to length in one cutting process.

3. Splicing device according to claim 1 or 2, so that the jaws (10 and 11) are each divided into a cutting area (17) and a pressing area (18).

4. Splicing device according to claim 3, characterized in that on the side of the lower jaw (10) at least one fixing jaw (21 or 22) with centering pins (23) arranged thereon is provided, which from a position of the seat belt (1 or 2) in cutting area

(17) can be moved into a position of the seat belt in the pressing area (18).

5. Splicing device according to claim 4, so that at least two centering pins are arranged on the fixing jaws (21 and 22, respectively).

6. Splicing device according to one of claims 4 or 5, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that on the fixing jaws (21 and 22), a holding means (24) for clamping the recorded belt (1 or 2) is provided.

7. Splicing device according to one of claims 1 to 6, so that the cutting device has cutting edges (19) which are designed such that an arrow-shaped cut results in the direction of movement of the belt (1 or 2).

8. Splicing device according to claim 7, since you rchgek characterized in that the cutting edges (19) are so matched to the centering pins (23) on the fixing jaws (20 or 21) that the cut between the components in the component belt (1 or 2 ) runs.

9. Splicing device according to one of claims 4 to 8, so that two fixing jaws (21 or 22) are arranged on the side of the lower jaw, these being designed so that the straps (1 or 2) lying next to one another.

10. Splicing device according to one of claims 3 to 9, since you rchgek characterized in that the pressing area (18) has approximately the width of the transport perforation (4) of the component belts (1 or 2), so that the recorded component straps (1 and 2) are pressed only in this area.

11. Splicing device according to one of claims 1 to 10, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that this is designed as a table device and the upper jaw (11) via a lever mechanism (12) can be actuated.

12. Splicing device according to claim 11, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that on the lever mechanism (12) has a locking device. (25) is provided, which allows the lever to be moved back only after complete movement to an end position.

,