GB2172526A - Apparatus for inserting electronic components - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for inserting electronic components of different kinds into a printed circuit board comprises a feed mechanism 600 for feeding electronic components in an inclined manner (Fig. 2), a pallet mechanism 700 including a plurality of carriers (708A-D, Fig. 42) for carrying thereon electronic components received from the feed mechanism in an inclined manner, and an inserting mechanism 300 for transferring electronic components received from the pallet mechanism to a printed circuit board and inserting them into the board. The inserting mechanism includes a plurality of insertion head units 308 for holding electronic components thereon and inserting them into the board. The head units may be electromagnetic (500 Fig. 20), operated by air cylinders (502) and shaped on their lower surfaces to fit the electronic components. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for inserting electronic components BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus for inserting electronic components, and more particularly to an electronic component inserting apparatus which is adapted to insert electronic components of different forms such as dual-in-line type ICs, tip Ics, IFTs (intermediate frequency transformers), pin connectors and the like into a printed circuit board.

Description of the Prior Art A typical apparatus for inserting electronic components of different forms of this type which have been conventionally used is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 75887/1983 which was assigned to the assignee.

The conventional electronic component inserting apparatus disclosed is adapted to vertically hold, in a sequencer, magazines which receive electronic components of different forms therein and are superposed on one another in a predetermined manner, select desired electronic components from the magazines by means of the sequencer, transfer the selected electronic components one by one to at least one predetermined insertion position by means of a chuck, and insert the electronic components into a printed circuit board at the insertion position.

However, this conventional electronic component inserting apparatus unfortunately has a disadvantage that when a plurality of insertion positions are provided, it is required to provide sequencers corresponding in number to the insertion positions, resulting in the apparatus being highly complicated in structure. Also, it encounters another disadvantage that each of the sequencers is limited in the capacity of receiving the magazines therein.

SUMMARYOFTHE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing disadvantage of the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for inserting electronic components which is capable of keeping the structure simple even when electronic components to be inserted into a printed circuit board are highly increased in kind.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for inserting electronic components which is adapted to provide a plurality of insertion guides which serve to insert electronic components of different forms into a printed circuit board.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for inserting electronic components comprising a feed mechanism for feeding electronic components in an inclined manner; a pallet mechanism having at least one carrier inclinably arranged to carry thereon electronic components in an inclined manner from said feed mechanism; and an inserting mechanism for transferring electronic components received from said pallet mechanism to a position above a printed circuit board and inserting them into a said printed circuit board, said inserting mechanism including at least one insertion head unit for holding an electronic component thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like or corresponding parts are generally designated by like reference numerals throughout; wherein: Fig. 1 is a front view generally showing an embodiment of an apparatus for inserting electronic components according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic front view showing a printed circuit board feed mechanism; Fig. 4 is a front view of the printed circuit board feed mechanism shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a a side section view of the printed circuit board shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a mechanism for pushing out a printed circuit board in the printed circuit board feed mechanism shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VIl-VIl in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIlI-VIlI in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Fig. 6;; Fig. 10 is a front view partly in section showing an insertion head unit suitable for use for an electronic component inserting mechanism; Fig. 11 is a side view of the insertion head unit shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is an enlarged view showing a lower portion of a clamping member; Fig. 13 is a front view partly in section showing a modification of an insertion head unit; Fig. 14 is a side view of the insertion head unit shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is an enlarged view showing a lower portion of a clamping member in the insertion head units shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 16 is a front view showing another modification of an insertion head unit; Fig. 17 is a side view of the insertion head unit shown in Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a front view in section showing the essential part of the insertion head unit of Fig. 16; Fig. 19 is a front view showing the operation of a movable clamping member;; Figs. 20 to 24 each are a perspective view showing an insertion chuck unit and its operation; Fig. 25A is a front view showing a modification of an insertion chuck unit; Fig. 25B is a bottom view of the insertion chuck unit shown in Fig. 25A; Fig. 26 is a perspective view showing an electronic component handled by the insertion chuck unit shown in Fig. 25; Fig. 27 is a front view showing the operation of the insertion chuck unit shown in Fig. 25; Fig. 28A is a front view showing another modification of an insertion chuck unit; Fig. 28B is a bottom view of the insertion chuck unit shown in Fig. 28A; Fig. 29 is a perspective view showing an electronic component handled by the insertion chuck unit shown in Fig. 28; Fig. 30 is a front view showing the operation of the insertion chuck unit shown in Fig. 28;; Fig. 31 is a perspective view showing the operation of an insertion chuck unitwherein a correction station is used; Figs. 32 and 33 each are an enlarged view showing the correction using a correction station; Fig. 34 is a side view showing an electronic component feed mechanism; Fig. 35 is a front view showing an electronic component feed section; Figs. 36 to 38 each are a front view showing a modification of an electronic component feed section; Fig. 39 is a side view showing a magazine discharge mechanism; Fig. 40 is a plan view of the magazine discharge mechanism shown in Fig. 39; Fig. 41 is a front view in section of the magazine discharge mechanism shown in Fig. 39; Fig. 42 is a front view showing a pallet mechanism; Fig. 43 is a rear view of the pallet mechanism shown in Fig. 42;; Fig. 44 is a side view in section of the pallet mechanism shown in Fig. 42; Fig. 45 is a plan view showing a carrier member; Fig. 46 is a front view of the carrier member shown in Fig. 45; and Figs. 47 to 49 each are a plan view showing a modification of a carrier member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now, an apparatus for inserting electronic components according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 generally show an embodiment of an electronic component inserting apparatus according to the present invention. An inserting apparatus of the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, includes a base 100, an X-table 102 horizontally arranged on the base 100 to put a printed circuit board 104 thereon, and a mechanism for feeding a printed circuit board to the X-table 102, which is generally indicated by reference numeral 200.

In the illustrated embodiment, the X-table 102 is adapted to be moved only in the X-direction, above which a mechanism for inserting electronic components into a printed circuit board, which is generally designated by reference numeral 300, is disposed in a manner to be movable in the Ydirection perpendicular to the X-direction. More particularly, a threaded shaft 302 extending in the Ydirection is rotatably supported on a support frame 304 vertically mounted on the base 100 and is threadedly engaged with the electronic component inserting mechanism 300, and a motor 306 is mounted on the support frame 304 to rotatingly drive the threaded shaft 302.

The inserting mechanism 300 is equipped with a plurality of insertion head units 308 for inserting electronic components into a printed circuit board.

In the illustrated embodiment, it has four insertion head units 308A-308D provided at fixed intervals.

The insertion head units 308A-308D are adapted to clamp electronic components of shapes different from one another, respectively. For example, the units 308A-308D may be constructed to clamp a dual-in-line type IC, a tip IC, an IFC and a pin connector, respectively, and then insert them into a printed circuit board.

Corresponding to the arrangement of the electronic component insertion head units 308A-308D, the inserting mechanism 300 is provided with air cylinders 310 and 312 for vertically moving the insertion head units 308A-308D and turning the direction of the units, respectively.

The electronic component inserting apparatus of the illustrated embodiment also includes a clinch mechanism 400 which is arranged below the X-table 102 so as to serve to bend leads of electronic components inserted into a printed circuit board and is adapted to be moved corresponding to the movement of the insertion head units 308.

The inserting apparatus of the illustrated embodiment also includes an electronic component feed mechanism 600 and a pallet mechanism 700 for receiving an electronic component from the feed mechanism 600 and delivering it to the electronic component inserting mechanism 300.

Now, the mechanisms of the apparatus will be detailedly described hereinafter.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the printed circuit board feed mechanism 200 comprises an up-down feed conveyor 202 provided on one side of the X-table 102 to feed a printed circuit board 104 to the X-table 102, and an up-down discharge conveyor 204 provided on the other side of the X-table to discharge a printed circuit board from the X-table. In Fig. 1, the conveyors 202 and 204 are disposed in the right and left sides of the Xtable 102, respectively. The up-down feed and discharge conveyors 202 and 204 are adapted to be vertically movable by means of air cylinders 206 and 208 and to be positioned at the same level as the Xtable 102 only when they feed and discharge a printed circuit board to and from the X-table 102, respectively. In the other situations, the conveyors 202 and 204 are each positioned at a level higher than that of the X-table 102 to permit the X-table to be moved in the X-direction.

The mechanism 200 may be constructed in such a manner as shown in Figs. 3 to 9.

A printed circuit board feed mechanism 200 of the modification, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, includes a frame 210, vertical guide rods 212 each fixed at an upper end thereof on a bottom surface of the frame 210. The vertical guide rods 212 each are supported at a lower end thereof on a bail bush or a thrust bearing 214 fixed on the base 100 so that it may be vertically slid. Also, the mechanism 200 includes an air cylinder 216 which is provided between the frame 210 and the base 100 to vertically move the frame 210. In the modification, the X-table 102 includes a rail 217 which is capable of receiving a printed circuit board supported at a lowered position of the frame 210.

The frame 210, as shown in Fig. 5, includes a pair of vertical frame sections 21 8A and 218B opposite to each other. The vertical frame section 21 8A forming a front surface of the frame 210 is movable in the width or longitudinal direction of the frame, whereas the vertical frame section 218B is stationary and constitutes a rear surface of the frame 210. The reason why the vertical frame portion 218A is movably constructed is for the purpose of adjusting the distance between the sections 218A and 218B depending upon the width of a printed circuit board 104.More particularly, the frame 210 has two threaded shafts 220 supported thereon so as to extend in the width or longitudinal direction of the frame, and the vertical frame section 218A has threaded bearings 222 provided so as to be engagedlyfitted on the threaded shafts 220. The threaded shafts 220, as shown in Fig. 4, are adapted to be actuated together by means of a timing belt 224 stretched between pulleys 226 mounted on ends of the threaded shafts 220. Also, one of the shafts 220, as shown in Fig. 5, has a sprocket 228 mounted on the other end thereof, so that reversible driving force of a motor 230 mounted on the frame 210 may be transmitted through a sprocket 232 of the motor, an endless chain 234 wound between the sprockets 228 and 232, and the sprocket 232 to the shaft.The vertical frame section 218A is moved by means of the motor 230 depending upon the width of a printed circuit board 104, as indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 5.

The vertical frame sections 218A and 218B, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are provided on each of inner surfaces thereof opposite to each other with a plurality of pulleys 236 and a pulley 238. The pulleys 236 and pulley 238 of each of the vertical frame sections are operationally engaged with one another in turn by means of a conveyor belt 240. The conveyor belts 240 each are then guided to the upper portion of the vertical frame section and horizontally extend along an upper horizontal portion of the section 218. A printed circuit board 104 is adapted to be supported at both sides thereof on the upper horizontally extending portions 242 of the conveyor belts. The pulley 238 is driven by a motor different from that for the pulleys 236.

The printed circuit board feed mechanism 200 further includes a unit for pushing out a printed circuit board toward the X-table 102, which is generally designated by reference numeral 244 and detailedly shown in Figs. 6 to 9. The printed circuit board pushing unit 244 includes a guide plate 246 fixed on the vertical frame section 218A, which has a guide groove 248 (Fig. 8) formed along the upper horizontal portion of the section 218A. On or above the guide groove 248 is arranged a spline shaft 250 so as to be rotatable and slidable in the axial direction thereof. The spline shaft 250 has a first claw member 252 fixedly connected to one end (front end) thereof through a first arm 254 and a second claw member 256 to the other end (rear end) thereof through a second arm 258.

To the guide plate'246 is fixed an air cylinder 259, of which a piston rod 260 is connected through a connecting plate 262 to.the front end of the spline shaft 250. Also, the spline shaft 250 is pivotally connected to the connecting plate 262 so that it may be freely rotated.

The spline shaft 250 extends through a gear support block 264 fixed on the guide plate 246 and has a pinion 266 fitted thereon in the support block 264, as shown in Fig. 7, and a rack 268 engaged with the pinion 266 is provided to be vertically movable with respect to the gear support block 264. The pinion 266 is axially slidable so as not to prevent the axial movement of the spline shaft 250, and the rack 268, as indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 7, is downwardly urged by means of a spring (not shown).

Also, as shown in Fig. 7, a stopper block 270 is arranged on an outside of the vertical frame section 218A to be kept at a constant vertical position or height irrespective of the vertical movement of the vertical frame sections 218A and 218B. The stopper block 270 is provided with a stopper bolt 272 which is adapted to be abutted against a lower end surface of the rack 268. For the purpose of guiding the spline shaft 250 forwardly moving, the X-table 102 is provided with a guide groove 274.

Now, the manner of operation of the printed circuit board feed mechanism 200 constructed as described above will be described hereinafter.

The air cylinder 216 extends during the operation of the X-table 102, so that the frame 210 may be at the raised position, as shown in Fig. 3. This results in the frame 210 ensuring the smooth movement of the X-table 102. At the raised position of the frame 210, the first and second claw members 252 and 256 each are raised at a distal end thereof as indicated by solid lines in Figs. 8 and 9, so that they may not be engaged with the printed circuit board 104. At this time, the conveyor belt 240 is actuated to set a subsequent printed circuit board fed from a printed circuit board feed unit (not shown) at a predetermined position between the first and second claw members 252 and 256 and then stopped.

While the movement of the X-table 102 is stopped in order to feed the next printed circuit board, the frame 210 is at the lowered position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the upper horizontal portion of each of the conveyor belts 240 on which a printed circuit board is supported is at the same height as the rail 217 (Figs. 4and 8) oftheX-table 102 for supporting a printed circuit board thereon. At the lowered position, the rack 268 in the gear support block 264 is abutted against the stopper bolt 272 as indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 7 to be moved as indicated by an arrow D, to thereby rotate the pinion 266 engaged therewith in the clockwise direction.

This results in the spline shaft 250 being rotated in the same direction, so that the first and second claw members 252 and 256 each may be ready to be engaged with a rear end of a printed circuit board 104 as indicated by dashed lines in Figs. 8 and 9.

More particularly, the first claw member 252 is engaged with a printed circuit board which is placed ontherail2l7oftheX4ablel02tobefedtoa predetermined central position of the X-table, and the second claw member 256 is engaged with a subsequent printed circuit board fed from the printed circuit board feed unit onto the conveyor belts 240. Thereafter, the air cylinder 259 is actuated to cause the piston rod 260 to extend, so that the spline shaft 250 and the claw members 252 and 256 may be moved in the direction of movement of a printed circuit board. This results in the first claw member 252 transferring the printed circuit board 104 to the predetermined central position of the Xtable 102 and the second claw member 256 feeding the subsequent printed circuit board 104 to the end of the rail 217 of the X-table 102.

Thus, it will be noted that the printed circuit board feed mechanism 200 is capable of readily and positively feeding a printed circuit board to the X- table.

Electronic Component Inserting Mechanism Now, the insertion head unit 308 for the electronic component inserting mechanism 300 described above will be described.

The insertion head unit 308 may be constructed in such a manner as shown in Figs. 10--12. An insertion head unit 308 shown in Figs.10~12 is adapted to handle an electronic component having leads such as a single-in-line package IC (SIP-IC) or the like. The insertion head unit 308 includes a vertical shaft 314 disposed to be movable in the vertical direction and a support block 316 fixedly mounted on a lower end of the vertical shaft 314.

The support block 316 has a pair of clamping members 318 pivotally mounted thereon by means of support pins 320. The pivotal movement of each of the clamping members 318 is limited to a predetermined range by stoppers 322 and 324 threadedly inserted into the support block 316. Also, each pin stopper 322 has compression springs 326 fitted thereon, respectively, which serve to constant!y force the clamping members 318 in the direction of causing lower ends thereof to be separated from each other. Also, the support block 316 is provided with actuation air cylinders 328 corresponding to the members 318. The air cylinders 328 each have a cylinder rod 330 which is adapted to be abutted against an inner side of an upper end of the corresponding clamping member 318.This results in the lower ends of the clamping members being closed to each other to securely clamp leads 332 of an SIP-IC 334 when the air cylinders 328 each force the upper end of the member 318 in the direction indicated by an arrow G.

The clamping members 318, as shown in Fig. 12, are formed on inner surfaces 336 of the lower ends thereof opposite to each other with guide grooves 338 for positioning the leads 332 of the SIP-IC 334.

The support block 316 is provided therein with a push rod 340 which is vertically movable in a space defined between the clamping members 318. The push rod 340, as shown in Fig. 11, has a lower end portion formed to have a larger width corresponding to the length of the SIP-IC 334. The push rod 340 is vertically moved by means of an actuation mechanism (not shown) arranged in the vertical shaft 314.

As described above, the actuation of the air cylinders 328 closes the lower ends of the clamping members 318 to each other to clamp the leads 332 of the SIP-IC 334 therebetween. At this time, the leads 332 are engaged in the guide grooves 338 of the opposite surfaces 336 of the members 318.

Then, the clamping members 318 are downwardly moved with the lowering of the vertical shaft 314, so that the leads 332 of the SIP-IC 334 start to be inserted into holes of a printed circuit board 104, as indicated by dashed lines in Figs. 10 and 11.

Subsequently, the push rod 340 is lowered to press a body of the SIP-IC 334, to thereby further insert the leads 334 into the board 104. At this time, the clamping members 318 are returned to the original state, i.e. opened at the lower end thereof. Then, the rod is further lowered to fully and securely insert the leads 332 in the printed circuit board 104.

Figs. 13 to 15 show a modification of the insertion head unit shown in Figs. 10 to 12,which is constructed to abut an inner surface of a lower end of one clamping member against a body of an electronic component and engage an inner surface of the other clamping member opposite to the surface of the one clamping member with leads of the component. Also, the insertion head unit is adapted to handle an electronic component having a plurality of leads or pins such as a pin connector or the like.

More particularly, one of clamping members 318 has an innersurface336Aformed into aflatshape sufficient to abut a side surface of a body 344 of an electronic component 334 such as a pin connector, and the other clamping member 318 has an inner surface 336B which is opposite to the surface 336A and formed to support downwardly projecting pins or leads 332 of the component 334. For this purpose, the inner surface 336B is provided with a projection 346 formed with guide grooves 338 for positioning the pins 332 therein. The push rod is formed on a lower end thereof with a recess 347 engaged with the pins 332 of the pin connector 334. The remaining part of the insertion head unit 308 is constructed in substantially the same manner as that shown in Figs. 10to 12.

Alternatively, the insertion head unit suitable for use in the present invention may be constructed in such a manner as shown in Figs. 16 to 19, which is adapted to securely clamp a variety ofdifferent electronic components.

More particularly, an insertion head unit 308 includes a vertical shaft 314 and a support block 316 fixedly mounted on a lower end of the vertical shaft 314. The support block 316 has a push rod 340 provided therethrough. The support block also has a stationary clamping mem ber 31 8A fixedly mounted on a lower end thereof by means of a screw 348 in a manner such that it is readily shifted depending upon the dimensions of an electronic component 334.

The support block31 6 also has a pairofguide members 350 and 352 provided on an outside thereof spaced from each other at an interval, between which a slider 354 is interposed so as to be horizontally slidable. The slider354, as shown in Fig. 18, is constructed to also act as an air cylinder. More particularly, the slider 354 has a cylinder chamber 356 formed therein and a piston 358 received in the chamber356 is mounted inthesupportblock3l6.

The piston 358 is formed therein with an air passage 360 forfeedi ng airtothecylinderchamber356.

Arranged between the piston 358 and the slider 354 is an extension spring 362 for returning the slider in the left direction.

The slider 354 is integ rally formed with a downwardly extending member 364 on which parallel links 366 and 368 are pivotally mounted by means of pins 370 and 372. Pivotally connected or mounted on distal ends ofthe parallel I in ks 366 a n d 368 by means of pins 374 and 376 is a movable clamping member 31 8B. Also, arranged between the link 366 and the pin 372 is an extension spring 378 for forcing the link366to lower the distal end ofthe link 366. The link366 has rollers 380 and 382 pivotally mounted thereon, and a stopper 384 is fixedly mounted on the support frame 316.

In the insertion head unit 308 shown in Figs. 16to 19, when the air cylinder in the slider 354 is not actuated, the slider is positioned at the left end by means of the extension spring 362, so thatthe stopper 384 is abutted against the link 366 to rotate it in the clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 19.

In this state, the insertion head unit is moved to a position of receiving an electronic componentfrom an electronic component feed mechanism and a said surface 336 of one stationary clamping member 31 8A is positioned in close proximity and opposite to one end surface of an electronic component 334.

Then, the air cylinder in the slider 354 is actuated to move the slider 354 in the left direction. This causes the distal ends ofthe parallel links 366 and 368 to be gradually lowered due to the force of the extension spring 378, sothatthe roller 382 may be abutted againstthe lower surface ofthe support block3l6at the time when the stopper 384 is released from the abutment against the I ink 366, as shown in Figs. 16 and 18, resulting in the movable clamping member 318B being atthesamelevel or height as the stationary clamping member 31 8A. The support block 316 is formed on the lower surface thereofwith a groove 386, which serves to prevent the support block from hindering the movement of the roller 380.

Then, further movement of the slider 354 in the right direction causes the movable clamping member 31 8B to approach the stationary clamping member 318A while keeping parallel to the member 318A, so that an electronic component may be clamped therebetween. Atthis time, the opposite surfaces 336 oftheclamping members 318 are kept parallel to each other, so that the opposite surfaces may be planely contacted with the electronic component and positively hold ittherebetween irrespective of the dimensions thereof.The roller380 not only effectively prevents the movable clamping member 31 8B from upwardly swinging duetothe reaction of the clamping operation but abuts against the lower surface ofthe support block 316 to prevent the return of the clamping member 318B.

Then, the insertion head unit 308 is moved to a position above a printed circuit board 104 and lowered to the board to accomplish the insertion of the electronic component into the board. Thereafter, air is removed from the air cylinder in the slider 354to return the sliderto the left direction by means ofthe extension spring 362, so that the movable clamping mem ber 318B may be returned to the raised position shown in Fig. 18.

The insertion head unit suitable for use in the inserting apparatus ofthe present invention, may be constructed in such a manner as shown in Figs. 20 to 24. An insertion head unit shown in Figs. 20 to 24 is in the form of an insertion chuck unit which is adapted to pick up electronic components of differentforms of which at least a part is formed of a magnetic material using electromagnetic force.

An insertion chuck mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 500 includes an air cylinder 502 having a rod 504 and a chuck 506 connected to a lower end of the rod 504. The chuck 506 may comprise, fbr example, an electromagnet formed by winding a coil 508 around a cylinder 510 formed of a magnetic material.

Electronic components 334 to be held bythe insertion chuck unit 500 are formed in at least a part thereof of a magnetic material such as transformers, choke coils and the like and are arranged on a feed tray or chute 512 as shown in Fig. 20. The electronic component has a flat upper surface, and correspondingly the chuck 506 has a flat low su rface.

Reference characters E and S designate a D.C. power source and a switch, respectively.

Now,themannerofoperation oftheinsertion chuck mechanism constructed as described above will be described hereinafter.

First, the chuck 506 is moved to a position above a first electronic component 334 and the air cylinder 502 is actuate.d to lowerthe chuck onto the component to closely contact the lower surface ofthe chuck 506 with the upper surface of the component.

Then, the switch S is closed to energize the coil 508 to cause the chuck to pick up the component due to electromagnetic force. Then, the air cylinder 502 is actuated to vertically move the chuck 506 as shown in Fig. 22. Subsequently, the chuck 506 is transferred to a position above a printed circuit board 104 and the air cylinder 502 is actuated again to lower the chuck, so that the component may be inserted into a predetermined position of the printed circuit board 104. Thereafter, the switch S is opened to deenergize the coil 508 to cause the chuck 506 to releasethe component 334 therefrom and then the air cylinder is actuated to return the chuck to the raised position.

The insertion chuck mechanism may be modified as shown in Figs. 25 to 27. In a modification of Figs. 25 to 27, a chuck 506 isformed on a lower surface thereof with an aligning cross groove 514.

Correspondingly, an electronic component is formed on an upper surface thereof with a cross projection 516.

Figs. 28 to 30 show another modification of the insertion chuck unit. In the modification, a chuck 506 is formed on a lower end surface with a automatically centering recess 518 and a turning direction aligning recess 518. Correspondingly, an electronic components of different forms 334 containing a portion formed of a magnetic material such as a transformer, a choke coil and the like each are formed on an upper surface thereof with a centering projection 522 and a turning direction aligning projection 524. Thus, when an electronic component is picked up by the chuck 506, the recesses 518 and 520 are fitted therein the projections 522 and 524, respectively, to thereby automatically accomplish the centering and aligning of the component 334 with respect to the chuck 506, as shown in Fig. 30.

Figs. 31 to 33 show a further modification of the insertion chuck unit. More particularly, an insertion chuck unit 500 shown in Figs. 31 to 33 is provided with a correction station 526 for correcting the deflection of an electronic component 334 held on a chuck 506 with respect to the chuck prior to the insertion of the component into a printed circuit board. The correction station 526, as shown in Fig. 32, has a piurality of correction holes 17 formed corresponding to leads 332 of the component 334.

The correction holes 528 each have a tapered opening or entrance 530. Thus, the insertion of the leads 332 of the component 334 into the correction holes 528 causes the component 334 to be laterally slid with respect to the chuck 506, to eliminate the deflection W between the component and the chuck.

Electronic Component Feed Mechanism The electronic component feed mechanism may be constructed in such a manner as shown in Figs. 34 and 35. Afeed mechanism shown in Figs. 34 and 35 is adapted to separately feed electronic components, particularly, dual-in-line type ICs received in magazines one by one. More specifically, the feed mechanism 600 includes a frame 602 in which a pluality of magazines 604 each having electronic components or dual-in-line type ICs 334 therein are received in a manner to be superposed on one another. The magazines each are obliquely disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. The magazine is formed of a plastics material or the like into a cylindrical shape and receives electronic components superposed together in a predetermined manner in the longitudinal direction.

The feed mechanism 600 is provided at a lower portion thereof with a electronic component feed section 606 which is constructed to separately feed out electronic components one by one. In the feed section 606, as shown in Fig. 35, an upper guide member 608 and a lower guide member 610 constitute together an electronic component passage which is communicated with the magazines 604. The upper guide member 608 is provided with a projection 612 which serves to decrease contact resistance with an electronic component. In the feed section 606, the lowermost one of electronic components received in the magazine is clamped by means of a clamper 614 fixed at an intermediate portion of a lever 616 pivotally mounted on the frame 602. As the clamper 614, such a insertion chuck unit as shown in Figs. 19 to 32 may be conveniently used.The clamper 614 is constantly urged to be forcedly contacted with the electronic component by means of an extension spring 618. The lever 616 has a bolt 620 threadedly mounted on a distal end thereof. When the bolt is lifted, a lower end of the clamper 614 is also lifted to release the clamping of the clamper 614.

The manner of operation of the feed mechanism constructed as described above will be described hereinafter.

First, a pre-selected pallet which is constructed as described hereinafter is moved to the feed mechanism 600 and pushes up the bolt 620 mounted on the distal end of the lever 616 to release an electronic component from the clamper 26, so that it may be fed out by gravity from the feed mechanism.

The electronic component feed mechanism 600 may be modified in such a manner as shown in Fig. 36. A modification of Fig. 36 is adapted to handle IFTs (intermediate frequency transistors).

For this purpose, a feed section 606 is constructed to separately feed out the IFTs one by one therefrom.

In the feed section 606, an upper guide member 608 fixed at a front portion of a frame 602 and a pair of side guide members 622A and 622B form together an electronic component passage which is inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane and communicated with magazines. The guide members each are provided on an inner surface thereof with at least one projection 612 which serves to decrease contact resistance with an electronic component.

In the feed section 606, the lowermost one of electronic components of IFTs received in the magazine is clamped by means of a clamper 614 fixed at a distal end of a lever 616 pivotally mounted on the frame 602. The clamper 614 is constantly urged to be forcedly contacted with a side portion of the electronic component by means of a spring means (not shown). The lever 616 has a bolt 620 threadedly mounted on the other end thereof. When the bolt is lifted, a lower end of the clamper 614 is also lifted to release the electronic component held by the clamper 614 therefrom. The remaining part of the feed mechanism of Fig. 36 is constructed in substantially the same manner as that shown in Figs. 34 and 35.

Fig. 37 shows another modification of the electronic component feed mechanism, which is adapted to handle SIP-ICs. A feed section 606 is constructed to separately feed out theSIP-ICs one by one therefrom. In the feed section 606, an upper guide member 608 fixed at a front portion of a frame 602 and a pair of side guide members 622A and 622B form together an electronic component passage which is inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane and communicated with magazines. In the feed section 606, the lowermost one of electronic components or SIP-ICs received in the magazine is clamped by means of a clamper 614 fixed at an intermediate portion of a lever 616 pivotally mounted on the frame 602.The clamper 614 is constantly urged to be forcedly contacted with the electronic component by means of a spring means (not shown). The lever 616 has a bolt 620 threadedly mounted on a distal end thereof. When the bolt is lifted at a lower end thereof, a lower end of the clamper 614 is also lifted to release the electronic component held by the clamper 614 therefrom. The remaining part of the feed mechanism of Fig. 37 is constructed in substantially the same manner as that shown in Figs. 34 and 35.

A further modification of the electronic componentfeed mechanism is shown in Fig. 38, which is adapted to handle pin connectors. A feed section 606 is constructed to separately feed out pin connectors one by one therefrom. In the feed section 606, an upper guide member 608 fixed at a front portion of a frame 602 and a pair of side guide members 622A and 622B form together an electronic component passage which is inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane and communicated with magazines. In the feed section 606, the lowermost one of electronic components or pin connectors received in the magazine is clamped by means of a clamper 614 fixed at an intermediate portion of a lever 616 pivotally mounted on the frame 602.The clamper 614 is constantly urged to be forcedly contacted with the electronic component by means of a spring means (not shown). The lever 616 has a bolt 620 threadedly mounted on a distal end thereof.

When the bolt is lifted at a lower end thereof, a lower end of the clamper 614 is also lifted to release the electronic component held by the clamper 614 therefrom. The remaining part of the feed mechanism of Fig. 38 is constructed in substantially the same manner as that shown in Figs. 34 and 35.

A magazine discharge mechanism in the electronic component feed mechanism may be constructed as shown in Figs. 39 to 41, which is adapted to rapidly replace an empty magazine from which electronic components are discharged with a full magazine charged with components.

The magazine discharge mechanism shown in Figs. 39 to 41 includes a window 630 formed on one side surface of a frame 602 arranged in a manner to be inclined at an.angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane and a discharge pin 632 slidably supported on a slide guide 634 so as to be projectable through the window 630 into the frame 602. The slide guide 634 is formed integrally with a support member fixed on the frame 602.

As shown in Fig. 41, the discharge pin 632 has a distal end opposed to one side of the lowermost one of cylindrical magazines 638 received in a magazine holder 640 arranged in the frame 602. The magazine holder 640 is provided at a lower portion thereof opposite to the other side of the magazine 638 with a discharge gap 642 of a size sufficient to allow the magazine to pass therethrough. The support member 636 has a holding member 644 rotatably mounted thereon by means of a pin 646, which acts to hold a side surface of a magazine 638 exposed from the gap 642. Slidably supported on the support member 636 is a connection bar 648, which is adapted to be actuated by an air cylinder 650 provided on the frame 602.The connection bar 648 is connected with the discharge pin 632 through a bell crank 652 pivotally supported on the support member 636, and the holding claw member 644 is pivotally mounted on the connection bar 648 by means of a pin 654.

In the electronic component feed mechanism 600 constructed as described above, when the air cylinder 650 is retracted as shown in Fig. 39, the discharge pin 632 is also retracted as shown in Fig. 40 and the holding claw member 644 rises to hold one side of the lowermost magazine. When electronic components are discharged from the lowermost magazine to render it empty, the air cylinder 650 extends as indicated by an arrow P in Fig. 39 and therefore the connection bar 648 is moved in the same direction. This causes the holding member 644 to be inclined as indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 39 to be released from the lowermost magazine 638. Also, this caused the bell crank 652 to be rotated, resulting in the discharge pin 632 being projected as indicated by an arrow Q in Fig. 41 to push omit the empty magazine from the gap 642 of the magazine holder 640.Then, the discharged magazine 638 falls down through a space between the magazine holder 640 and the frame 602 as indicated by an arrow R in Fig. 41. After the discharge pin 632 and holding claw member 644 are then returned to the original position, the subsequent full magazine is at the lowermost position.

Pallet Mechanism The pallet mechanism 700 is adapted to receive an electronic component from the feed mechanism 600 and transfer it to the inserting mechanism 300 without using a specific transferring means. Also, the pallet mechanism is constructed to be connected to the above-described timing belt 224 and horizontally movable along the up-down conveyor belts 202 and 204 and X-table 102 in the Xdirection. The electronic component feed section 606 of the feed mechanism 600 is arranged in alignment with the passage of movement of the pallet mechanism.

The pallet mechanism may be constructed in such a manner as shown in Figs. 42 to 46. A pallet mechanism 700 of Figs. 42 to 46 includes a pallet body 702 and four tilting members 704 of a U-shape in section pivotally supported on the pallet body 702 at fixed intervals. The pallet body 702 is adapted to be slidable on a rail 706 arranged in the X direction.

The tilting members 32 have carrier members 708A-708Dfixedly mounted on bottom surfaces thereof, respectively. The carrier members 708A-708D are adapted to carry electronic components different in shape from one another thereon. For example, the carrier members 708A-708D may carry a dual-in-line type IC, an SIP-IC, an IFT and a pin connector thereon, respectively.

The tilting members 704 each are pivotally mounted on the pallet body 702 by means of a pin 710 and is provided with a hole 712 which is engaged with a pin 714 of a slider 716 slided on the pallet body 702. The pallet body 702 has a support plate integrally mounted thereon to downwardly extend therefrom, and on the support plate 718 are arranged double action air cylinders 720 corresponding to the four tilting members 704. The slider 718 is connected through a link 722 and a lever 724 to the air cylinder 720. The lever 724 is pivotally mounted on a fitment 726 fixed on the pallet body 702 by means of a pin 728.Accordingly, when the slider 716 is moved in the direction indicated by an arrow F in Fig. 44 due to the actuation of the air cylinder 720, the tilting members 704 each are inclined at an angle of about 45 degree with respect to the horizontal plane, resulting in being ready for being connected to the feed section 606 of the feed mechanism 600 described above.

The tilting members are returned to the horizontal position due to the return actuation of the air cylinder 720.

Figs. 45 and 46 show a carrier member 708A which is adapted to carry a dual-in-line type IC thereon. The carrier member 708A includes a supporter 730 on which she electronic component 334 is put. The supporter 730 is formed on both sides thereof with recesses 732 having a depth sufficient to receive leads of the component therein.

Also, the carrier member 708A has a lever 734 pivotally supported thereon by means of a pin 736, so that a distal end of the lever may serve as a positioning stopper 738. A spring (not shown) constantly urges the positioning stopper 738 so that it may be at a lowered position at which the stopper is not actuated. Whereas, when the tilting member 704 is inclined, so that it may be ready to be connected to the feed section 606 to cause a pin 740 to be pushed down due to the abutment against a lower surface of the feed section 606; the positioning stopper is raised to a positioning level to regulate the leads of the component 134.

Also, the carrier member 708A has a clamp arm 742 pivotally mounted thereon by means of a pin 744, and a clamper746 is provided to extend from the clamp arm 742 to a position above the supporter 730. The clamper 746 is adapted to clamp the electronic component 334 when an air cylinder 748 pushes down the distal end of the clamp arm 742.

The clamp arm 742 is constantly urged in the direction of releasing the clamping by means of a spring 750.

A point 752 on the carrier member 708A is adapted to abut against the clamping means of the feed section 606 to release the clamping action to cause the electronic component to fall down in the direction indicated by an arrow Q in Fig. 45 and put on the supporter 730.

Fig. 47 to 49 show carrier members 7088 to 708D which are adapted to handle an SIP~IC, an IFT and a pin connector, respectively. The carrier members 708B to 708D each are constructed in the substantially same manner as the above-described carrier 708A, except that recesses 732 for receiving leads of the component therein are formed at a central position thereof.

Now, the manner of operation of the pallet mechanism described above will be described hereinafter.

The carrier members 708A-708D on which a duel-in-line IC, an SIP-IC, an IFC and a pin connector are to be carried thereon, respectively, are first moved to corresponding feed sections 606 of an electronic component feed mechanism 600.

Then, the air cylinders 720 are actuated to move the sliders 716 in the F direction in Fig. 44. This causes the tilting members 704 to be inclined at an angle of 45 degrees as indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 44, so that the carrier members 708A-708D may be aligned and connected with the corresponding feed sections 606. This results in the pin 740 of each of the carrier members 708A-708D being pushed down due to the abutment against the lower surface of the feed section 606, so that the positioning stopper 738 may be at the positioning position shown in Fig. 46. Then, the point P on each of the carrier members 708A-708D releases the clamping of an electronic component by the feed section 606 to cause the lowermost one of components to be moved to the supporter by gravity as indicated by the arrow Q.Subsequently, the air cylinder 748 is actuated to push down the the clamp arm 742, so that the clamper 746 may be lowered to clamp the component put on the supporter 730.

Then, the carrier members 708A-708D each are returned to the original horizontal position, and the subsequent electronic component is clamped at each of the feed sections 606. When the carrier members are returned to the original position, the pallet mechanism is moved to a position on the S- direction of the inserting mechanism 300 because the mechanism 300 does not carry out the Xdirection movement. This result in the the Xdirection position of the mechanism 300 being aligned with that of each of the carrier members.

When the pallet is stopped at the predetermined position as described above, the clamping of the component by each of the carrier members 708A-708D is released; and then the inserting mechanism 300 is moved in the Y-direction to cause the corresponding insertion head unit 308 to clamp the component and carry out the operation of inserting the component into a printed circuit board as described above.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims (21)

1. An apparatus for inserting electronic components comprising: a feed mechanism for feeding electronic components in an inclined manner; a pallet mechanism having at least one carrier inclinably arranged to receive thereon electronic components in an inclined manner from said feed mechanism; and an inserting mechanism for transferring electronic components received from said pallet mechanism to a position above a printed circuit board and inserting them into a said printed circuit board, said inserting mechanism including at least one insertion head unit for holding an electronic component thereon.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inserting mechanism includes a plurality of said insertion head units and said pallet mechanism includes a plurality of said carrier members provided corresponding to said insertion head units.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein a table is provided for receiving a said circuit board, which table is movable only in the X-direction, and said inserting mechanism is movable in the Ydirection perpendicular to the X-direction.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein said pallet mechanism is movable in the Xdirection, and said feed mechanism includes at least one feed section arranged along a passage of movement of said pallet mechanism.

5. An apparatus as defined in any preceding claim, further comprising a mechanismforfeeding a printed circuit board which comprises: a frame having vertical sections opposite to each other; a pair of conveyor belts arranged on inner surfaces of said vertical sections of said frame, said conveyor belts supporting both sides of a printed circuit board; a means for vertically moving said frame; a shaft arranged to be slidable along one of said vertical sections in the direction of movement of said printed circuit board; a claw means provided on said shaft; a gear means for rotating said shaft to engage said claw means with a printed circuit board when said frame is at its lowered position; and a cylinderforforwardly moving said shaft.

6. An apparatus as defined in any preceding claim, wherein said insertion head comprises: a support block; a pair of clamping members pivotally mounted on said support block; a cylinder means for operating lower ends of said clamping members; and a push rod arranged in a manner to be vertically movable in a space defined between said clamping members opposite to each other; said clamping members having inner surfaces opposite to each other which are provided with guide grooves, respectively, said guide grooves cooperating together to position and securely interpose leads of an electronic component when said clamping members are closed to each other.

7. An apparatus as defined in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said insertion head unit comprises: a support block; a pair of clamping members pivotally mounted on said support block; a cylinder means for operating lower ends of said clamping members; and a push rod arranged in a mannerto be vertically movable in a space defined between said clamping members opposite to each other; said clamping members having inner surfaces opposite to each other, respectively, one of said inner surfaces being flat so that it may be abutted against a side surface of a body of an electronic component and the other inner surface having a projection formed with guide grooves for positioning leads of said electronic component.

8. An apparatus as defined in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said insertion head unit comprises: a support block; a stationary clamping member fixed ly mounted on said support block; a slider horizontally slidably arranged on said support block, said slider having an extension; and a movable clamping member pivotally mounted on said extension of said slider through parallel links and arranged in parallel to said stationary clamping member; said movable clamping member being kept at its raised position by means of said parallel links when a gåp between said movable clamping member and said stationary clamping member is large and kept at the same height as said stationary clamping member by means of said parallel links when the gap is small.

9. An apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said insertion head unit comprises: a chuck having a lower surface for contact with an electronic component, said chuck comprising an electromagnet formed of a magnetic material and a coil wound on said electromagnet; and a meansforvertically moving said chuck.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said lower surface of said chuck is formed into a shape corresponding to that of a surface of a said electronic component to be contacted therewith.

11. An apparatus as defined in any preceding claim, whereih said feed mechanism comprises: a frame for supporting magazines each receiving electronic components therein; and at least one feed section including guide members forming together an electronic component passage communicated with said magazines; said feed section being provided with a means for clamping an electronic component placed in said passage.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said magazines and passage are arranged in a manner to be inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane.

13. An apparatus as defined in any preceding claim, wherein said feed mechanism keeps a plurality of cylindrical magazines each having electronic components received therein at a state of being superposed on one another; and said feed mechanism includes a magazine discharge mechanism which comprises: a holding member for holding a lowermost one of said magazines; a discharge pin provided so as to be opposite to said lowermost magazine; and a link means for projecting said discharge pin toward said lowermost magazine when said holding member is released from said lowermost magazine.

14. An apparatus as defined in any preceding claim, wherein said pallet mechanism comprises: a pallet body; at least one tilting member pivotally supported on said pallet body; a carrier member provided on said tilting member; and a means for rotating said tilting member.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said tilting member rotating means comprises a cylinder means, said carrier member being inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane due to the rotation of said tilting member.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 or 15, wherein a plurality of said tilting members are provided at fixed intervals, said carrier member being provided corresponding to each of said tilting members.

17. An apparatus as defined in any of claims 1 to 13, wherein said pallet mechanism comprises: a pallet body; at least one tilting member pivotally supported on said pallet body; and a carrier member provided on said tilting member; said carrier member including a supporter for receiving an electronic component, a positioning member for positioning a said electronic component on said supporter and a clamperfor clamping said electronic component.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said supporter is formed at a central portion thereof with at least one recess for receiving leads of a said electronic component therein.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said supporter is formed on both sides thereof with recesses for receiving leads of said electronic component therein.

20. An apparatus for inserting electronic components, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or with reference to Figs. 3 to 5, Figs. 6 to 9, Figs. 10 to 12, Figs. to 15, Figs. to 18, Fig. 19, Figs. 20 to 24, Figs. 25 to 27, Figs. 28 to 30, Figs. 31 to 33, Figs. 34 and 35, Figs. 36 to 38, Figs. 39 to 41, Figs. 42 to 44, Figs. 45 and 46, or Fig. 47 of the accompanying drawings.

21. The features hereinbefore disclosed, or their equivalents, in any novel selection.