GB2333517A

GB2333517A - Supply carousel

Info

Publication number: GB2333517A
Application number: GB9901355A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Everett
Original assignee: Pace Micro Technology PLC
Current assignee: Arris Global Ltd
Priority date: 1998-01-23
Filing date: 1999-01-22
Publication date: 1999-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2019-01-22
Also published as: GB2333517B; GB9801320D0; GB9901355D0

Abstract

The invention comprises a rotatable carousel in which a plurality of holders 2 of electronic components 4 are mounted at spaced intervals around a carousel 6 and which carousel can be rotated to present a holder to a supply path 14 along which the components move to be presented for removal and fitting to eg circuit boards.

Description

Component Supply Apparatus The invention which is the subject of this application relates to apparatus for use to supply components to a location of assembly of apparatus such as, for example, electrical devices which are formed from a number of components placed in required positions and connection with other components. In particular, the apparatus is of use to allow the improved supply of components to the location at which the same are picked manually or automatically from the supply and placed in position on the apparatus such as the electrical drive.

At the present time, many electrical devices are manufactured from a range of components which are placed in position on a printed circuit board. Typically, some of the said components can be integrated circuit chips which are previously manufactured and which contain the processing power and/or memory and/or other functions which are required to allow operation of the electrical device Said components are typically supplied to a number of locations in the assembly area and the electrical device is assembled at each location by persons manually selecting said components and placing in the required position on the printed circuit board whereupon the device may be passed on to another location or alternatively the same person may select all of the required components and place them in the required positions.

Conventionally, the said components to be selected are supplied to each location in a holder in which a number of said components can be held end to end and are typically provided by the manufacturer of said components in this form. At each assembly location, the components are normally taken out of the strip and placed in respective bins for different components and the assembler then selects one of the components from the bin at the required time.

Disadvantages with this system is that the requirement to select and pick components from the bin can be time consuming, it is not immediately apparent to the supplier of the components as to the level of components at any location, and therefore there is a risk that supplies may run out before further supplies are provided and, furthermore, when one considers that the components are relatively expensive, if for example they are integrated circuit chips, and said chips have a series of legs which are relatively flimsy depending downwardly from the chip block, then it will be appreciated that there is a substantial risk of damage to the components when they are in the bin and are selected from the bin. Obviously, damage to the more expensive components is undesirable and can add considerable cost to the assembly procedure especially if said legs are bent and therefore cannot be located properly on the electrical device which may, in turn, cause failure of the device.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide apparatus for use in the supply of said components and said apparatus is provided to allow the supply of a component to be inserted into an electrical device in the required form and, prior to supply, allowing said components to be protected from damage. A further aim is to provide the apparatus to be used, if required, in an automated form to allow the continuous supply of components and also to provide a visual indication to the suppliers of said components to the locations of the stock levels at each location.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for the supply of components at an assembly location, said apparatus comprising a plurality of component holders, each holding a plurality of components and wherein said holders are in respective relationship on a frame which can be rotated.

The holders are mounted on the frame in a carousel type arrangement, hereafter referred to in a non-limiting manner as a carousel.

Typically, said carousel is rotatable so that said holders are movable in a stepwise fashion so that at any one location one of said holders is mounted in relation to a supply path to allow components to pass from the holder to the supply path. Typically the components are locked in the holders by locking means and, when one of said holders is in the required position with regard to the supply path, the locking means can be released to allow the components to pass from the holder onto the supply path. For the holders which are not in line with the supply path, the locking means remain engaged until that holder is indexed by rotation to move into position in line with the supply path.

Typically the holders are linear and contain a number of components provided in an end to end relationship. The supply path is provided of a form to encourage the said components to slide in a determinable manner along said supply path to a supply point.

It is envisaged that the carousel formed by the number of holders will comprise a rotatable shaft with spaced location plates for said holders. Each of the location plates can be provided with location indents for the reception and locking of said holders. Typically said holders are located around the location plates to lie substantially parallel. It should be appreciated that reference to the word carousel encompasses any step of rotatable device whether the location plates of the device be round, square, rectangular, triangular or any other form.

In a preferre doption the supply path is provided with a slide which the components slide and can be provided with guide means located at a selected position with respect to the slide so that if, for example, the components are integrated circuit chips and have legs depending therefrom, the guide means are located to cause any bent legs to be moved back into the required position as the component slides down the supply path and through the guide means. This therefore ensures that when the component reaches the supply point it is in the proper condition for fitting into the electrical device and this therefore reduces damage, waste and time in dealing with the same. The guide means can also act as a stop so that at any one time only component is presented for removal by the assembler at the supply point.

When one of the holders is empty, the assembler can manually move the carousel to bring the next holder into line with the supply path.

Alternatively, the movement of the carousel can be powered. In one embodiment the apparatus can be provided with a sensor at the supply path which senses when the number of components on the supply path passes a certain point which indicates that the supply path is soon to be empty. This being the case, the powered drive of the apparatus can be activated to cause rotation of the carousel to bring another holder into line with the supply path thereby ensuring continuity of supply. An automated means for removing the locking means for each holder when in line with the supply path can also be provided.

In one preferred embodiment, the holders are manufactured of a transparent material to allow the number of components held therein to be readily viewed. This allows a visual indication to the suppliers of component holders to the locations, of the current status of stock at that location. Alternatively, a sensor may be provided to indicate the number of holders which are empty at any one time and pass that information onto a control supply point.

In one preferred embodiment, the holders used are those in which the components are supplied by the component manufacturers.

This also allows for improved Electro Static (ESD) protection for the assembler as the components are dispensed directly from the holder received from the manufacturer.

A further feature of the apparatus is that the components are presented to the assembler in the correct orientation and therefore helps to avoid incorrect placement on the printed circuit board.

A further feature is that not all of the components in the apparatus need be the same so that in one embodiment a series of holders of different components are held in respective holders around the carousel and the carousel is rotated in the required sequence to present the components at the required time.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 illustrates an elevation of apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates a side elevation of apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 illustrates a detailed view of the supply path of the apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 4 illustrates a powered drive arrangement for the carousel in one embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, there is illustrated apparatus according to the invention which comprises a series of holders 2, each provided to contain a number of components, in this case integrated circuit chips 4 shown for illustrative purposes in one of said holders. The holders are mounted on a carousel 6 which comprises a shaft (not shown) which allows rotation and location plates 10, 12 which are formed with a number of location points to allow for the location of the holders therewith. As shown in Fig. 2, the holders can be provided to lie at an angle which encourages the flow of the components 4 from the holders into a supply path 14 when the holders are open. Typically the holders are provided with locking means in the form of pins at each end to prevent components from removal from the holder.

The supply path 14 is shown in detail in Figure 3 and includes a slide 16 which is formed to allow for the reception of components 4 in an end-to-end manner from a holder 2 positioned in line with said slide as shown in Fig. 1 and also includes guide and/or forming means in the form of rollers 18 which are positioned with respect to the slide so as to allow any remedial forming such as bending of the legs of the integrated circuit chips which may be out of line as they pass between the rollers. The rollers are also positioned so mean that at any one instant, there is one component 4' presented at the supply point 20 for removal from the apparatus by the assembler moving the same through the rollers 18.

In use, the apparatus is loaded up with a number of holders provided at spaced intervals around the carousel as shown. With the apparatus loaded up, one of said holders is positioned by rotation of the carousel to lie in line with the supply path 14. The locking means is then removed from the holder to allow components to slide from the holder onto the supply path 14 and down to the rollers 18. The components can then be removed from the supply point 20 and this causes the remaining components to slide down the supply path. In one embodiment, when the supply path starts to empty it is immediately apparent to the assembler that the components from the first holder have finished and they can then manually rotate the carousel to bring the next holder into line with the supply path to replenish the components on the supply path and so on. In an alternative embodiment, the carousel can be powered for movement and Fig. 4 illustrates one drive arrangement comprising a motor 22 connected to rotate the carousel and connected with solenoid 24 to a relay 26. The relay and hence motor is controlled by optical sensors 28 which are located, for example, at the top of the supply path, to sense when a component is present, and if no component is present, causes the carousel to be powered to move the next field holder into line with the supply path. In any case it is preferred that the rotation of the carousel be in a stepwise manner therefore allowing the indexing of the locations of each of the holders so that when rotated the next required holder is automatically positioned in line with the supply path.

Thus the apparatus according to the invention allows for the improved provision of components to an assembly point which ensures that the proper component in the proper form is provided for the assembler to immediately place the same in position on the electrical device being manufactured. There is therefore no need for the assembler to spend time selecting a component from a number of components as they can simply use the one component which is presented to them. Furthermore, the continued supply of components at the assembly location is improved as there is a number of holders each holding the said components or required variety of components which can be selected by the assembler and, also the supply of the components to the location is improved as there is provided at least a visula indication of the number of holders which are full. In one further embodiment the rotation of the carousel can be pre-programmed to provide components of specific and differing types for fitting at specific times and in specified sequences so as to allow the assembly of electrical apparatus comprising a number of differing components at one carousel and in the required sequence.

Although described with reference to the manufacture of electrical devices, it will be appreciated that the apparatus according to the invention can be of advantage for the supply of any articles to a particular location.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for the supply of components at an assembly location, said apparatus comprising a plurality of component holders, each holding a plurality of components and wherein said holders are held in respective relationship on a frame which can be rotated.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the holders are mounted on the frame in a carousel type of arrangement.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said carousel is rotatable so that said holders are movable in a step-wise fashion to allow the location of any one of said holders in relation to a supply path leading from the carousel along which components can pass.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the components are locked in the holders by locking means until said holder is in position to allow components to pass along the supply path.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the holders which are not in line with the supply path are locked by the locking means.
6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the holders are linear and contain a number of components end to end therein.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the supply path is provided to allow the components to slide therealong in a determinable manner to a supply point at which the components are removed for assembly.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the holders are mounted on a carousel which comprises a rotatable shaft with spaced location plates in which said holdersw are located at spaced intervals around said carousel.
9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the word carousel encompasses any type of rotatable device whether the location plates of the device be round, square, rectangular, triangular or any other geometrical form.
10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claim wherein the supply path from the carousel along which components move is provided with guide means located at at least one position therealong so as to guide the movement of the component along the supply path.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the guide means act as a brake on the movement of the components along the supply path so that at any one instant only one component is presented for removal by the assembler from the supply point.
12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is provided with a sensor at the supply path to sense whether a component is present or not.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein if the sensor indicates that there is no component present the carousel can be rotated to provide a full holder to the supply path and thereby allow further components to enter the supply path.
14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the rotation of the carousel is powered.
15. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein removal of the locking means for each holder when in line with the supply path is automatic.
16. Apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein a series of differing components are held in the carousel is rotated in the required sequence to present the components at the required time and sequence for assembly.