FR2840763A1 - Electronic surface mounted component placement mechanism having table and x/y plane openings providing x/y plane movements with second plane having component raising/positioning mechanism. - Google Patents

Abstract

The electronic component placement mechanism has a table (21) with x plane (24) and y plane (27) openings. Movement (25) is produced for a plane (23) in the x direction, and y direction movement in a plane (26). The second plane has an electronic component raising and positioning (29) mechanism.

Description

panel (4; 104) and in which the bulb is installed.

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  APPARATUS FOR PLACING COMPONENTS

  ELECTROiJiQUES iJu TY CfiviliS OR ANAi OGUES ON AU NiO, NS U8iE

úARTE SUPPORT

  The present invention relates to devices for placing electronic components of the type C MS or analogues on at least a support card, for example for the purpose of performing the soldering of the connection terminals of these components with the conductive tracks real i seen on the support card, to obtain operational electronic circuits ready to be assembled for

  reeiiser electronic systems mmpiefs.

  We know that these electronic components that are used are increasingly miniaturized, which enormously complicates their installation on

integrated circuit boards.

  When we want to carry out eieronic circuits with such components well known to technicians under the acronym CMS (surface mounted components), we use production lines in series which are fully robotized. It is however perfectly conceivable that such a production chain is only useful from an economic point of view, if the quantity of electronic circuits has been achieved! is very important, and that it cannot in any case be used in establishments such as design offices, research centers, educational and training establishments which must place

  CMS components on a small number of support cards.

  It is more obvious that the small size of these electronic components and the fragility of their connection pastes make them relatively delicate.

  positioning on the conductive tracks of the support cards.

  To cite the work of the personnel in the establishments mentioned above, stations for the placement of CMS components have been designed on support cards, stations which, without being fully automated, considerably help their users to manually position these

CMS components.

  Generally speaking, these placement stations say "manue!" essentially comprise a table, an area for receiving a support card made on the table, and handling means essentially consisting of a suction pipette mounted at one end of a manipulator arm of the type

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  "pantograph", the other end of which is linked to the table. These stations can also include a tray secured to the table, on which the user can put his forearm to handle with more safety and precision! A suction pipette to take a CMS component and place it in the desired location on the support card. These stations are, in fact, much cheaper than the

  completely automated manufacturing, but have some drawbacks.

  including the fact that the manipulator arm is subject to relatively rapid wear, which reduces the precision of the placement of the CMS components on the

support mrte.

  In addition, these stations are not always easy to use by all personnel, for example right-handers or left-handers, large or small staff, etc. The present invention therefore aims to eaiiser an appa'eii allowing place electronic components of the GMS or analog type on at least one support card, which overcomes the disadvantages of similar devices in the art

above mentioned.

  More precisely, the present invention has for its object a device which allows the placement of electronic components of the CMS or similar SU type! at least one support card, characterized by the fact that it includes:

a table,

  a reception area defined on said tail, cie iedite oar SUppOft, a first tray, a first opening made in said first tray, first means of moving the first tray in a first direction X relative to said table substantially in a plane parieieie in the plane of said table, a second plate, a second opening made in said second plate, second means cie depiacement of the second plate in a second direction Y relative to the first plate substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of said table, the second direction Y being not confused with the first direction X, the relative displacements of the first and second plates with a paf compared to the other and compared to the table being defined of fan

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  that the two first and second openings are able to come at least padding; facing each other and the reception area, and means for taking and placing at least one electronic component, these means of collection and installation being mounted in

  cooperation with said second set.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear during

  of the following description given with reference to the illustrative drawings.

  but in no way limitative, in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 represent, in diagrammatic form, a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention permeRanf of placing electronic components of the GMS type or the like on support cards, Figure 1 being a top view and Figure 2 being a sectional view

  cross referenced II-II in Figure 1.

  It is very precise that, in the figures, the same references designate the same elements, whatever the figure on the icon appears and they appear and whatever the form of representation of these elements. Similarly, if elements are not specifically referenced in one of the figures, their references

  can be easily found by referring to the other figure.

  The Applicant also wishes to clarify that the figures represent a threshold! embodiment of the object according to the invention, but that there may be other

  embodiments which meet the definition of this invention.

  It also specifies that, when, according to the definition of the invention, the object of the invention comprises at least one element having a given function,!

  of described real isation can com wear several users of these elements.

  He also specifies that, if the embodiment of the object according to the invention as illustrated comprise several elements of identical function and that sZ, in the

  description, i! is not specific that the object according to this invention must

  must include a particular number of these elements, the object of

  [The invention could be defined as comprising "at least one" of these elements.

  The two figures represent in schematic form a preferred embodiment of the apparatus! according to the invention making it possible to place electronic components of the C MS type or the like on at least one card

support 1.

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  This device essentially comprises a table 21, a reception area 22 defined on this table, of the suppod card, a first tray 23, a first opening 24 reeiisee in this first tray, first means of displacement 25 of the first tray 23 according to a first direction X relative to the table 21 substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of this table, a second plate 26, a second opening 27 made in this second plate, second means of displacement 28 of the second plate following a second direction Y relative to the first plate 23 substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of the table 21, the second direction Y being not confused 1 C with the first direction X. The relative displacements of the first and second plates 23, 26 one by with respect to each other and with respect to the table wind further defined in such a way that the first and second openings 24, 27 are ready to come at least

  padly in reyard to one cie the other and the reception area 22.

  The set! further comprises means for taking and laying 29 of at least one electronic component, these taking and laying means being mounted in cooperation with the second plate 26. An example of an advantageous embodiment of these last means 29 will be described below. after look

of the two figures.

  Preferably, the first two X and second Y wind directions

  significantly chosen so that they are perpendicular.

  In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the two figures 1 and 2, the first and second displacement means 25, 28 of the two first and second plates 23, 26 respectively with respect to each other and by relative to the table 21, wind constituted by two pairs of slides 31.32 33.34 mons respectively between the first plate 23 and the table 21, and between the second plate 26 and the first plate 23, the two slides of each pair being mounted parallel to each other and on either side of the opening 24, 27 of the plate 23, 26 with which they are mounted in cooperation. These slides are by means well known in themselves and will therefore not be more fully described here for the sole purpose of not complicating the

this description.

2840763

  Advantageously, as in the illustrated embodiment, the second plate 26 has a "U" shaped rme, comprising a trap 35 defining at the base of the "U" and two flat plates 36, 37 defining the two branches of the "U"; the two slides 33, 34 mounted in cooperation between this second plate 26 and the first plate 23 being respectively located between the two plates 36, 37 and

  two opposite edges 38, 39 of the first opening 24 of the first plate 23.

  T he two flat plates 36, 37 are configured, in particular with regard to their dimensions, in such a way that a potential user of the device according to the invention can place his two forearms or at least his two elbows therefor.

  O good use of the device, as explained below.

  As mentioned above, the device comprises means 29 for taking and placing at least one electronic component. These means 29 are advantageously constituted by a bracket 40 secured to the cross member 35 of the second p (bar 26 substantially perpendicular to the plane of this second plate and donG of the table 21, a head 41, means 42 for mounting this head 41 in translation. on the stem 40 in a third direction Z substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the first two and the second directions X and Y. and controllable gripping means 43 mounted in co-operation with the head 41 for gripping, holding and releasing a component Seion an advantageous possibility, the means 42 for mounting in translation ia head 41 on ia stem 40 along ia third dirion Z wind for example constituted by a sliding ramp 44 mounted in cooperation between the stem 40 and the head 41 substantially along this third direction Z. so that the head can move between substantially a first position in the island which is closest to the table, and u does not send to the position in which it is furthest from this table, and means 45, for example a spring or the like, to generate an elastic force between the head 41 and the bracket 40 in a manner, designed to tend to constantly bring the head back 41 in his second

  position as soon as it is distant from this second position.

  As for the controllable gripping means 43 mounted in cooperation with the head for gripping, holding and releasing an electronic component, they are preferably formed by a nozzle 46 in the form of a pipette or the like, this nozzle comprising a through-hole 59

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  comprising two first and second orifices 47, 48, means 61 for mounting this nozzle 46 in cooperation with the head 41 so that the axes 4 of the nozzle and of the through hole 59 are substantially parallel to the third direction Z and fagon that the first orifice 47 is opposite the table 21, and controllable suction means 50 connected to the second orifice 48 of the

nozzle 46.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, the means 61 for mounting the nozzle 46 in cooperation with the head 41 in such a way that the axes 49 of the nozzle and of the through-hole 59 lie substantially parallel to the third direction Z. wind formed by a sleeve 51, the nozzle 46 being mounted in cooperation with the sleeve 51, means 52 for mounting the sleeve 51 in rotation on the head 41 substantially around the axis 49, and means 53 for controlling the

  rotation of the sleeve 51 about this axis 49.

  In a possible reaiisation, the means 52 for mounting the sleeve 5 in rotation on the head 41 substantially around the axis 49 can be constituted for example in the following way: The sleeve is constituted by a toothed wheel mounted for rotation in the head 41 and cooperating with a heiicodal drive gear with a perpendicularly sensitive axis a. The axis of the toothed wheel. At the ends of c. And helical gear, wind mounted two knurled buttons 60 or the like, the rotation of these knurled buttons 60 in one direction or the other causing the rotation of the sleeve, in one direction or in the area, around the axis 49 defined above. As the nozzle 46 is! Connected to this manr.hon, it is entrained in!

rotation than the sleeve.

  As for the controllable suction means 50 connected to the second orifice 4 & of the nozzle 46, ifs wind are advantageously constituted by a vice pump 54 comprising a suction inlet 55, a filler 56 pQU !! etie! its suction inlet 55 at the second orifice 48 of the nozzle 46, and means 57 for controlling the pump 54 in suction when a first pressure force is exerted on the nozzle and controlling the stopping of the pump in suction when a second pressure force, subsequent to the first, is exerted on this

same louse.

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  These means 57 schematically represented in FIG. 2, can be constituted, for example, by an interrupter with two stable states, controlled by

  example by the translation of the nozzle 46.

  For this, this nozzle is linked with the sleeve in such a way that, as explained above, it is entrained in the same rotational movement as it, but that it can furthermore be transferred relative to this same following sleeve. ! 'axis 49 under the ar, tion of an external force and rep. return a reference origin position when this external force is canceled, for example under

  ['action of an elastic restoring force, a gravitational force or the like.

  Such a realization is of the domain of the Man of the trade and will therefore not be more fully described here, in the unique SoUGi from! To simplification!

this description.

  In this way, con, supposing that the switch is in an initial "open" state, it passes to its "closed" state when the nozzle translates by passing for example from its low position a. its high position, with the nozzle returning then. at his

  low home position without pressing the switch.

  On the other hand, the switch returns to its "open" state when the nozzle translates while passing again from its low position to its high position, ia nozzle

  always returning, then bear to its original low position without actuating the switch !.

  Such a switch is well known in itself. There are, for example, mechanical, electromagnetic, electronic, etc. It will therefore not be more

setting defined here.

  Due to the configuration of the specific means shown and illustrated above constitute the apparatus, the latter may further comprise at least one storage reserve 58, such as small boxes or the like, capable of containing the eieronic components to be positioned on ia rte support 1, this reserve being diren.tement disposed on! at table 21, in a place thereof opposite which the first orifice 47 of the nozzle 46 can be positioned during the

  relative displacement of the two first and second plates 23, 26.

  The device described above is used from the following gon: !! is first of all assumed that the support card 1 is positioned on the reception area 22 defined on the table 21 and is fixed there by any means, and that the reserve 58 contains all the electronic components which must be placed on

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  this support card, these components being for example arranged in

  alveoli or the like, with their upper surface accessible.

  The user of the device positions his elbows on the two flat plates 36, 37 and grasps, with his hands, the two knurled buttons 60 or the head 41. By means of his forearms and his hands, he exercises pushes eVou pulls on the second plate 26 to track it in Y with respect to table 21 and in X via the. first plate 23, fa, con has to position the nozzle 46 above the

component to enter.

  When the nozzle is thus positioned, it descends the head 41 according to the direction Z until the first orifice 47 comes into contact with the component to be gripped.! I then exerts a pressure force on the head in front; .on that the nozzle 46 passes, relative to this holiday, from its low position to its high position and switches the switch 57 from its "open" state to its "closed" state, thus controlling

the pump in suction.

  The component is then plate, SQUS the action of atmospheric pressure, on the first orifice 47 at the first end of the nozzle 46. The user releases the head which, under the action of the spring means 45, rises relative to the stem, thus moving away from the table 21. In this movement, the nozzle 46 returns to its low position without modifying the state of the switch. The pump 54 therefore remains in its suction function, which keeps the component glued on the first end of the louse, without the user having to handle this CMS component with his hands Gomme previously, by means of his forearms in contact with the flat plates 36, 37 and with his hands , The user moves the two trays in X and Y relative to each other and relative to the table, so as to bring the first end of the nozzle to carry the component, facing the end support 1 or where this component should be placed If, if necessary, the component does not have the correct angular orientation relative to the position which it must occupy on the support card, the user acts on the knurled buttons 60 to rotate the nozzle around its axis 49, bringing the component into this rotation When the component has taken the correct orientation angular, the user acts on the head 41 to make it descend in the third direction Z until -

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  that the component comes to rest on the support card, at the desired location, in the

desired position.

  The user then exerts a new pressure force on the head so that, in a relative movement, the nozzle 46 returns from its low position to its high position (while remaining fixed relative to the table) and switches switch 57 from its "closed" state to its "open" state, thus stopping the

  pump operation in suction.

  The component located at the end of the nozzle is detached from the cell.

  here and there remains on the support card, in the right place and in the right position.

  The head is reattached and returns to its original position under the spring means 45, while the nozzle returns to its "low" position so as to be able to take a new component from reserve 58 if necessary and place it on the support card at the desired location, following the same process as described above.

  In the description above, it can be seen that, by its structure and the

  relative arrangement of the various elements constitute it, this device can be easily used by any person, while presenting a greater reliability

  than that of similar devices from the front.

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Claims (6)

  1. Apparatus for placing electronic components of the CMS or analog type on at least one support card (1), characterized by the fact 4u'ii comprises: a table (21), a reception area (22) defined on said table , of said support card, a first plate (23), a first opening (241 made in said first plate (23), first means of displacement (25) of the first plate (23) in a first direction X relative to said table (21) substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of said table, a second plate (261, a second opening (27) made in said second plate (26), second means (28) for moving the second plate along a second direction Y relative to the first plate (23) substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of said table (91), the second direction Y being not confused with the first direction X, the relative displacements of the first and second plates (23, 26) One in relation to the other and by ra pport to the table being defined so that the two first and two openings (24, 27) are able to come at least partially opposite one another and the reception area (22), and means for taking and placing (29) of at least one electronic component, these so-called poem collection means being mounted in coperation with said second plate (26) 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the of them   first X and second Y substantially perpendicular wind directions.   3. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that   ies first and sense of depiacernent (25, 28) of the two first and second plates (23, 26) respectively one relative to the other and relative to the table (21), wind formed by two pairs of slides (31.32 - 33.34) mounted respectively between the first plate (23) and the table (21), and between the = 44 2840763   second plate (26) and the first plate (23), the two slides of each pair being mounted parileiement one relative to; 'other and on either side of the opening (24' 27) of the plate ( 23, 26) with! Eque! e !! es vent mounted in cooperation 4 Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by, e fact that the second plate (26) has a "U" shape; úmportant a cross (3S) defining the base of the "U" and two flat plates (36, 37) defining the two branches of the "U", the two slides (33, 34) mounted in cooperation between this second plate iO (26) eet ie first plate (23) being respectively located antre ies heavens quoted plates t36, 37) and two opposite edges (3S, 39)!! first opening (24) of the first plate (23).   5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the means cia preievement and laying (29) of at least one composeAnt eiefOniqUa, wind constituted by a bracket (40) integral with the crosspiece (35) of the second plate ( 26) substantially perpendicular to the plane of said second plate, a head (41), means (42) for mounting in transiatlon! Adite te.te (41) on said bracket (40) in a third direction Z substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the two first and second directions X and Y. and controllable control means (43) moni: es in cooperation with iadite head (41) to enter, maintain and release a c.omposant eiectrmnique 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, character by the fact that the means (42) for monier in iadite translation (41) on iadite stem (40) in a third direction Z substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the two first and second directions X and Y wind constituted by: a ramp slip (44) mounted in cooperation between the bracket (40) and the head (41) sensitively following said iroisieme direction Z, from fan that the head poises to move between sensitively a first position in which it is closest to the table, and a second position in which it is furthest from this table, and 1 2 2840763   means (45) for generating an elastic force between said head (41) and ii said potenc; e (403 of n to tend to constantly bring said head (4)   in its second position as soon as the head is moved away from this second position.   7. Apparatus according to one of claims 5 and 6 characterized in that   ies commandabies gripping means (43) mounted in cooperation with iadite head pQU! enter hold and release an electronic wind component constituted by: a nozzle (46) said nozzle comprising a through hole (59) comprises two and first and second orifices (47 48) means (49) for mounting said nozzle (46) cooperation with. Said head (41) so that the axes (49) of said nozzle and of the through hole (59) are substantially parallel to the third direction Z. and so that the first orifice (47) soft facing said table ( 21) and controllable suction means (5Q) connected to the second orifice (48) of said nozzle (46).   8. Apparatus according to claim 7 characterized in that the means (4Y) to mount said nozzle (46) in cooperation with said tee (41) so that the axes (49) of said nozzle and! (59) are substantially parallel to the third direction Z wind constituted by: a sleeve (51) said nozzle (46) being mounted in cooperation with said sleeve (S.), means (52) for mounting said sleeve (51) in rotation on said head (41) substantially around said axis (49) parallel to the third direction Z and means (53) for controlling the rotation of said sleeve (51) around this axis (49).   9. Apparatus according to one of claims 7 and 8 characterized in that   ies cornmandaAbies suction means (50) connected to the second orifice (4 &) of said nozzle (46) wind constituted by: a vice pump (54) comprising a suction inlet (55) a conduit (56) for connecting [ suction inlet (55) of said pump (54) to the semnd orifice (48) of said nozzle (46) and 1 2340763   means (57) for controlling said pump (54) in suction when a first pressure force is exerted on said nozzle and for controlling said pump of said pump in suction when a second pressure force   Subsequent to the first force is exerted on this same louse.   0. Apparatus according to, 'one of the claims 7 3, characterized by the fact that i, comprises at least one reserve of storage (S8) of eleronic components placed on said table (21), in a place thereof opposite from which the first orifice (47) of the lad ite nozzle (46) can come to position during the