Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K13/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K13/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
  • H05K13/02—Feeding of components

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for turning over electronic components, in particular for turning over electronic components during their processing by an automated processing line.
• the electronic components During their manufacture or their test, for example, the electronic components generally undergo a series of automated operations often carried out on different successive processing stations, for example testing or packaging stations. The electronic components are thus automatically transported from one station to another.
• two successive processing stations for example testing or marking stations, must have access to opposite faces of the electronic components.
• the electronic components must then generally be returned by a turning device inserted for example between the two processing stations.
• Reversing devices of the prior art generally consist of an arm rotating around a horizontal axis and at the end of which is a gripping element used to pick up and hold the electronic component to be returned.
• the gripping element of the turning device is, for example, brought above the electronic component to be turned over in order to take the latter and hold it by its upper face.
• the arm then rotates 180 degrees around the horizontal axis and makes the electronic component available to the processing station or the next conveyor, with its previously lower face facing upwards.
• One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to propose a turning device which can be integrated in a modular fashion in any processing line for electronic components, independently of the configuration of the preceding and following processing stations.
• Another object of the invention in its preferred variant, is to propose a turning device making it possible to deposit an electronic component to be turned over and to pick up an electronic component turned over in an interval of time less than the time necessary for the device for turning over d 'an electronic component.
• these aims are achieved by a device for turning over electronic components, the location where the electronic components are deposited on the device before turning over is identical to the location from where the electronic components are removed from the device after turning over, and by a method of inverting at least one electronic component, comprising inverting at least one electronic component between two locations and moving the electronic component between two locations, the electronic component, after turning over and moving, ending up in its original location.
• Such a device and such a method allow the integration of the device in a line for processing electronic components, regardless of the configuration of the previous and next processing stations.
• FIG. 1 is a side view in partial section of the turning device
• FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate the inversion movement of the electronic component by the device
• FIGS 3A to 3E schematically illustrate the main steps of an operating cycle of the device seen from above.
• the turning device is integrated by way of example into a processing line for electronic components, the central element of which is a circular conveyor 8 fitted with component holders 80 regularly distributed over its periphery.
• Each component holder 80 of the conveyor 8 comprises a gripping element allowing it to pick up and hold the electronic components, for example a nozzle operating by vacuum of air connected to a pneumatic system not shown.
• Positions intended to receive the treatment stations forming the treatment line are also regularly distributed around the conveyor 8.
• the number of positions is preferably equal to the number of component carriers 80 of the conveyor 8.
• the conveyor 8 is rotated about a central axis, preferably vertical. Its rotational movements are preferably indexed so that at each step of the conveyor a new component holder 80 is presented above each treatment station arranged around the conveyor 8.
• each component holder 80 transporting an electronic component firstly deposits the latter on the corresponding processing station which performs the operation for which it is intended.
• the component holder 80 of the conveyor 8 takes from the same treatment station a treated electronic component, generally that which it has previously deposited there.
• the processing station in question is the last to which the electronic component must be subjected, in which case the electronic component is removed from the processing line by other means.
• the electronic components are thus successively transported from one station to another by the conveyor 8 and are each subjected to all of the operations required on the processing line.
• the turning device according to the invention constitutes one of the stations forming the processing line and is placed in one of the positions provided for this purpose around the conveyor 8.
• the turning device of the invention is thus integrated into the processing line.
• the entire turning device is preferably placed on a platform 1 facilitating, using suitable fastening elements not shown, its precise placement in its position on the periphery of the conveyor 8.
• a base 10 is fixed on the platform 1 and supports a daisy 11, that is to say a rotary element which can assume a certain number of discrete positions.
• the daisy 11 is rotated relative to the base 10 about a main axis of rotation 31 preferably vertical and its rotation is preferably facilitated by ball bearings 12 inserted between the two elements.
• the movements of the daisy 11 are controlled by a rotary motor 3 driving the daisy 11 by means of a drive belt 32.
• the turning device comprises, in its preferred version detailed here by way of example, four component carriers 41, 42, 43, 44 of which only two 41, 43 are shown in FIG. 1.
• Each component carrier 41, 42, 43, 44 is provided, preferably on its upper face, with a nozzle 51, 52, 53, 54 connected to a pneumatic system not shown making it possible to draw in and / or blow air through the nozzle 51, 52 , 53, 54 in order to hold an electronic component 91, 92, 93 on the corresponding component holder 41, 42, 43, 44.
• the component carriers 41, 42, 43, 44 are fixed on the daisy 11, each around an axis of rotation 29.
• the axis of rotation 29 of each component carrier 41, 42, 43, 44 is preferably horizontal and oriented so that the face of the component holder 41, 42, 43, 44 comprising the nozzle 51, 52, 53, 54 can be pivoted so as to orient it preferably vertically towards the center of the daisy 11.
• the component carriers 41, 42, 43, 44 work in pairs.
• the two component carriers 41, 43 or 42, 44 of the same pair are arranged so as to be able to bring one opposite the other their two faces provided with the nozzle 51, 53 or 52, 54.
• the four component carriers 41, 42, 43, 44 are arranged in a cross around the center of the daisy 11, at equal distance from the center of the daisy 11 (see FIG. 3A).
• Four locations a, b, ç, d regularly distributed around the center of the daisy 11 are thus defined.
• the first location a corresponds to that where the electronic components 9.1, 92, 93 are deposited and removed from the turning device by the conveyor 8.
• the turning device is thus placed so that at each step of the conveyor 8 a component carriers 80 of the conveyor 8 is precisely aligned above the component carrier 41, 42, 43, 44 of the daisy 11 located at the first location a.
• the rotational movements of the daisy 11 are preferably indexed so that at each of its steps the component carriers 41, 42, 43, 44 are moved from one of the locations a, b, ç, d to the following .
• the daisy 11 is thus turned a quarter turn at each step.
• the axis of rotation 29 of each component holder 41, 42, 43, 44 is preferably perpendicular to the radius of the daisy 11 passing through the center of the corresponding component holder 41, 42, 43, 44.
• the rotation of the component carriers 41, 42, 43, 44 about their axis of rotation 29 is controlled by a linear actuator 2, for example a pneumatic cylinder, preferably fixed to platform 1 by fixing elements not shown.
• the piston 24 of the linear actuator 2 is rigidly connected to a cam 23 which can slide horizontally on the platform 1 along one of the walls of the base 10.
• the cam 23 has a slide 25 in which is held a roller 22 which can move vertically relative to the base 10.
• the slide 25 is cut so that the horizontal movement of the cam 23 implies a vertical movement of the roller 22.
• the roller 22 is fixed by an axis to a support 21 located in the base 10 and supporting a rod 20 preferably vertical and centered on the main axis of rotation 31 of the daisy wheel 11. The vertical movements of the roller 22 are therefore directly transmitted to the rod 20.
• Each component door 41, 42, 43, 44 is connected by a link 27 to a plate 26 located in the daisy 11, substantially at the height of the upper end of the rod 20.
• the upper end of the rod 20 is equipped with a gripping mechanism 28 allowing the rod 20 to drive in its vertical movement only the two plates 26 corresponding to the pair of component carriers 41, 43 or 42, 44 located at locations b and d.
• the vertical movement of the plates 26 is transmitted to the connecting rods 27, pushing up the corresponding component carriers 41, 43 or 42, 44 which enter into rotation about their axis of rotation 29 by which they are fixed to the daisy 11.
• FIGS. 2A to 2D The rotational movement of the component carriers 41, 43 or 42, 44 allowing the electronic components 91, 92, 93 to be turned over is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2A to 2D.
• the component 92 to be returned is held by suction of air through the nozzle 52 on the component holder 42 located in the second location b (FIG. 2A) while the component holder 44 located in the fourth location d is free.
• the rod 20 is raised, pushing up the two plates 26 connected by the rods 27 corresponding to the two component carriers 42, 44 located at locations b and d.
• This movement prints an upward movement of the links 27, thus causing the two component carriers 42, 44 in a rotational movement around their axes of rotation 29 (FIG. 2B).
• each of the two component carriers 42, 44 towards the center of the daisy 11 their upper faces are found vertically opposite one another and the electronic component 92, still held by suction on the component holder 42 is found between them (FIG. 2C).
• the control system of the pneumatic circuit not shown then causes the air suction to stop by the nozzle 52 of the component holder 42 preferably followed by a short jet of air blown by this same nozzle 52, while air is sucked in through the nozzle 54 of the component holder 44.
• the electronic component 92 is thus detached from the component holder 42 and preferably blown towards the component holder 44 on which it is then held by suction.
• the rod 20 is then lowered, using the mechanism described above, by the return movement of the piston 24, also causing the descent of the two plates 26 and the rotation of the two holders. components 42 and 44 towards the outside of the daisy 11 (FIG. 2D), until they return to their initial position.
• the electronic component 92 is found held on the component holder 44 at the fourth location d, its previously lower face by which it was held against the component holder 42 is now oriented upwards.
• the electronic component has thus been turned over 180 degrees and can be made available to the conveyor 8 at the first location a by a quarter-turn rotation of the daisy 1 1.
• the dimensions of the component carriers can also be very small, the distance between the axis of rotation 29 and the center of the component carrier only having to be slightly greater than the dimension of the electronic component 92.
• FIGS. 3A to 3E The main stages of an operating cycle of the turning device according to the preferred version of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 3A to 3E.
• the four locations at which the component carriers 41, 42, 43 and 44 can be found at each step of the margueritel 1 are designated by the letters a, b, ç, d.
• the first location a corresponds to the location under the component holder 80 of the conveyor 8.
• the opposite sides of the electronic components 91, 92, 93 to be reversed by the turning device are differentiated by the Roman numerals I and II.
• an electronic component 92 is deposited by the conveyor on the component holder located at the first location a, for example the component holder 42.
• Side I of the electronic component 92 is oriented towards the high.
• the electronic component 92 is held by suction of air through the nozzle 52.
• An electronic component 91 previously turned over by the turning device is still held on the component holder 41 at the fourth location d.
• the side II of the electronic component 91 is oriented upwards (FIG. 3A).
• the margueritel 1 is rotated a quarter of a turn clockwise by the rotary motor, as described above.
• the electronic component 92 to be returned is then found, still on the component holder 42, in the second location b from which it can be returned, while the electronic component 91 on the component holder 41 is then found in the first location a d '' where it can be picked up by the conveyor ( Figure 3B).
• the electronic component 92 is then found on the component holder 44 at the fourth location d, its side II being facing upwards, while the conveyor 8 deposits a new electronic component 93 to be returned to the component holder 41 located at the first location a ( Figure 3D).
• the margueritel 1 is again turned a quarter of a turn clockwise, thus presenting the electronic component 92 returned to the component holder 44 at the first location a, from which it can be removed by the component holder 80 of the conveyor 8 having previously deposited the electronic component 93.
• the electronic component 93 is found in turn at the second location b from which it can in turn be returned (FIG. 3E).
• the turned component 92 is thus again presented at the first location a where it had been deposited on the turning device by the conveyor 8.
• the pneumatic system not shown making it possible to draw and / or blow air independently through each nozzle 51, 52, 53 or 54 preferably comprises at least three independent pneumatic chambers linked to the locations a, b, d to which the holders components 41, 42, 43 or 44 must, in normal operation of the turning device, maintain an electronic component on their upper face.
• one of the component carriers 41, 42, 43 or 44 is in one of the locations a, b or d, its nozzle 51, 52, 53 or 54 is connected to the corresponding pneumatic chamber.
• the control system can cause an air vacuum or overpressure in each pneumatic chamber independently, thus allowing individual control of the suction or ejection of air by the nozzle 51, 52, 53 or 54 of each of the component holder 41, 42, 43 or 44 located at one of the locations a, b or d.
• the component holder 41, 42, 43 or 44 being at the location ç not having to maintain an electronic component, no pneumatic chamber is preferably provided for this location.
• the turning operation is done in "masked time" for the conveyor 8 which, at each step, deposits an electronic component to be returned to the turning device and takes from the same location and with the same component holder a returned electronic component, without any turning operation having taken place in the meantime.
• the operation of turning for example of the electronic component 92, takes place parallel to the steps of removal by the conveyor 8 of the returned electronic component 91, of advancing one step of the conveyor 8 and of depositing by the conveyor 8 of the electronic component 93 to return.
• the time necessary for the turning of the electronic component is not limited by the time d 'stop of the conveyor 8 and may even be greater than this stop time.
• the turning device makes use of four component holders holding the electronic components by vacuum.
• the number of component holder of the device can be modified, by means of an adaptation of the movements of the daisy. It is however preferable to keep an even number of component carriers.
• the system for holding electronic components on the component carriers can also be modified. It is for example possible to envisage component holders having gripping elements in the form of pliers, for example.
• the turning device according to the invention can be produced using other turning means, in most cases by adapting the movements of the daisy.
• other turning means known from the prior art or to come, such as for example a single arm articulated at one of its ends around an axis of rotation. horizontal and having at its other end gripping means making it possible to grasp and hold the electronic component to be returned.
• the turning device is integrated into a processing line for electronic components articulated around a circular conveyor 8.
• the device according to the invention can also be integrated into processing lines articulated around other types of conveyors, for example linear, or to any other processing line of electronic components for which it is necessary or desirable that the returned electronic components be replaced in the precise location where they were deposited before being turned over.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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• 2003
  • 2003-07-23 WO PCT/CH2003/000501 patent/WO2004023858A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2003-07-23 CN CNA03821248XA patent/CN1682579A/zh active Pending
  • 2003-07-23 KR KR1020057003612A patent/KR20050057099A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-07-23 AU AU2003298860A patent/AU2003298860A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-07-23 JP JP2004533144A patent/JP2005538538A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-07-23 EP EP03739939A patent/EP1535501A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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