JP4425437B2 - Frame feeder - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frame supply device that removes an upper plate from a frame packet configured by sandwiching a lead frame between a lower plate and an upper plate and supplies only the lead frame to a counterpart machine such as a resin sealing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a frame supply device that supplies a lead frame to a resin sealing device stores a plurality of lead frames in a stacked state in a magazine by inserting an intermediate sheet between them, and then extracts and supplies only the lead frames sequentially from there. To do. Here, the lead frame includes the concept of a substrate made of resin in addition to a lead frame made of iron, copper, and stainless steel.
[0003]
This type of frame supply device 28 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0004]
The frame supply device 28 includes an elevator 57 that pushes up the lead frame 55 accommodated in a stacked manner in the magazine 54, a pickup mechanism 64 that takes out the uppermost lead frame 55 pushed up by the elevator 57, A transport conveyor 70 that transports the lead frame 55 transported by the pickup mechanism 64 and supplies the lead frame 55 directly to a resin sealing device (not shown).
[0005]
The elevator 57 is a pair of vertical guide shafts 60, a ball screw shaft 61 disposed in the same direction between the guide shafts 60, and is guided by the guide shaft 60 and screwed with the ball screw shaft 61 to move up and down. The push-up plate 62 is configured to be freely movable, and the push-up plate 62 supports the lowermost lead frame 55 in the magazine 54 from below.
[0006]
The pickup mechanism 59 includes a suction plate 63 provided with a plurality of suction pads 63a for sucking the lead frame 55, a horizontal drive unit 64 that supports the suction plate 63 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction (lateral movement), And a vertical drive unit 65 that supports the suction plate 63 so as to be movable up and down (up and down) via a horizontal movement unit 64.
[0007]
Next, the operation of the frame supply device 28 will be described.
[0008]
First, the ball screw shaft 61 is rotated by driving the elevator 57, and the push-up plate 62 pushes up the lead frame 55 stepwise. When the uppermost lead frame 55 reaches the upper end of the magazine 54, the suction plate 63 is moved above the magazine 54 by driving the pickup mechanism 59, and further descends to suck and hold the uppermost lead frame 55. This suction plate 63 once rises and moves in the horizontal direction, and the lead frame 55 is placed on the conveyor 70. The conveyer 70 conveys and supplies the lead frame 55 to a resin sealing device (a counterpart machine for the frame supply device 28). Thereafter, this flow is repeated, and the lead frames are sequentially supplied to the resin sealing device one by one.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In recent years, the number of pins in the lead frame has increased and the leads themselves have become thinner, and the lead frame has been further thinned. For this reason, as in the conventional example described above, if the lead frame 55 is accommodated in the magazine 54 without being removed and directly taken out by the suction plate 63, the lead may be damaged or the lead frame may be broken. . In addition, since the lead frame is formed in a film shape, its handling has become very difficult.
[0010]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, a proposal has emerged that the lead frame 55 is sandwiched between the lower plate 80 and the upper plate 82 and handled as a highly rigid frame packet 84 as a whole. In this way, even when the frame packet 84 is stacked in the magazine, the lead frames 55 themselves can be prevented from contacting each other.
[0011]
Further, even when the lead frame is not handled by an adsorption mechanism such as an adsorption plate when taking out from the magazine, the lower plate 80 or the upper plate 82 is gripped, or these are pushed out by the extrusion mechanism or the like, so that the frame packet is taken out from the magazine. 84 can be taken out.
[0012]
While having such an advantage, only the lead frame 55 has to be supplied to a counterpart machine such as a resin sealing device. Accordingly, it is indispensable to remove the lower plate 80 and the upper plate 82 in the step before supplying the lead frame to the counterpart machine. However, as far as the present inventors know, there is no frame supply device that can remove the lower plate 80 and the upper plate 82 and reliably supply the resin sealing device. This is because the (thinned) lead frame 55 and the plates 80 and 82 are adsorbed by static electricity or the lead frame 55 itself is soft and easily deformed. This is because the lead frame 55 alone cannot be reliably removed. Further, if the upper plate 82 is removed from the lead frame 55, the lead frame 55 is warped up due to its thin thickness, and if it is taken out with the suction plate in that state, the lead frame 55 may be damaged.
[0013]
The present inventor has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to realize the handling of a lead frame as a frame packet by reliably removing the plate and supplying only the lead frame to the counterpart machine. It is said.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a frame supply device that removes the upper plate from a frame packet configured by sandwiching a lead frame between a lower plate and an upper plate, and supplies only the lead frame to a counterpart machine. A mounting table, a pusher that is provided on the mounting table and pushes the upper plate upward, and is disposed so as to be movable up and down above the mounting table. And a pinching mechanism for removing the upper plate, wherein the pinching mechanism lowers together with the main body side and biases the lead frame downward to separate the lead frame from the upper plate. And the lead is urged downward by the lower protrusion on the mounting table. A movable holding mechanism capable of projecting is provided on the upper surface of the frame and in the vicinity of the edge, and the lead frame is prevented from being warped by the movable holding mechanism even after the holding mechanism holds and lifts the upper plate. The above object is achieved.
[0015]
According to this frame supply device, the upper plate that is in close contact with the lead frame is once lifted by the pusher, and only the upper plate is clamped by the clamping mechanism therebetween. At that time, the lead frame may be lifted following the upper plate due to static electricity or the like, and may be clamped at the same time as the upper plate. However, the lead frame is provided in the clamping mechanism that is lowered (or has already been lowered). The lead frame is pushed down by the lower projection to be separated from the upper plate. In other words, this is a very rational configuration in which the lead frame is separated using the clamping operation of lowering.
[0016]
When the lower protrusion rises integrally with the clamping mechanism (main body side), the downward urging force against the lead frame is released, but while the lead frame is urged downward by the lower protrusion, the mounting table Since the edge of the lead frame is held by the movable movable mechanism on the side, the posture of the lead frame is stabilized even after the biasing force is released.
[0017]
In particular, lead frames that have been thinned tend to “warp up” at the edges, and once warped and bent, the posture becomes very unstable. In this case, for example, when the lead frame is sucked and transported by the suction pad, it cannot be reliably sucked or the suction posture is disturbed.
[0018]
However, in the present frame supply device, the problem of the “warping” is prevented from occurring at least while the lead frame is pressed by the movable pressing mechanism, and the other machine (for example, resin sealing) is reliably used by using this interval. Lead frame can be supplied to the device. This can be said to be a result of the cooperation between the lower protrusion of the clamping mechanism and the movable pressing mechanism under a very rational idea.
[0019]
In particular, the movable pressing mechanism is provided on the mounting table so as to be swingable in the horizontal direction, and is configured to be movable forward and backward from the outside with respect to the upper surface and edge of the lead frame, and swing the movable arm. It is preferable to include a drive device that is moved.
[0020]
In this way, the edge of the lead frame can be reliably pressed with a simple configuration.
[0021]
An opening through which the lower protrusion of the clamping mechanism can pass is formed in the upper plate of the frame packet, and the lower protrusion urges the lead frame downward through the opening. Is preferred.
[0022]
In this way, the upper plate can reliably protect the periphery of the lead frame and the like, and can easily separate itself (upper plate) and the lead frame using the lower protrusion. Further, if this opening is formed at an appropriate position, the contact area between the upper plate and the lead frame can be reduced, leading to a reduction in unnecessary contact state with the lead frame. The number, shape, arrangement, etc. of the openings are not limited at all.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a frame transport / supply system 90 in which a frame supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.
[0025]
The frame transport / supply system 90 includes a frame take-out device 108 that pushes out the frame packet 102 from the magazine 104 in which the frame packets 102 are accommodated in a stacked manner by an extruding device 106 (not shown), and the frame take-out device 108 A turntable mechanism 110 on which the frame packet 102 is placed and rotated 180 degrees horizontally and the front and rear ends of the frame packet 102 are exchanged, and a frame pulled forward by a pull arm 112 provided in the turntable mechanism 110 A frame supply device 100 that takes in the packet 102 and supplies only a lead frame to a resin sealing device (not shown). Note that the frame take-out mechanism 108 and the turntable mechanism 110 are not directly related to the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0026]
As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, the frame packet 102 includes an upper plate 114 and a lower plate 116, and a lead frame 118 sandwiched between these plates 114 and 116. In the vicinity of both end edges 118a extending in the longitudinal direction X of the lead frame 118, a plurality of engagement holes 118b are formed along the end edges 118a and engage with pins 116b formed on the lower plate 116. It is possible. This is to prevent the lead frame 118 and the lower plate 116 from shifting in the horizontal direction.
[0027]
The lower plate 116 is configured to be longer in the longitudinal direction X by the region S than the lead frame 118, and a pusher opening 116c is formed in the vicinity of both end edges 116a extending in the width direction Y (pusher). Etc. will be described in detail later). A plurality of windows 116d are formed in the central region of the lower plate 116 in order to prevent damage to the lead frame 118 by reducing the contact area with the lead frame 118.
[0028]
The upper plate 114 has substantially the same size as the lower plate 116, and a plurality of openings 114a are formed so that members remain in a lattice shape. This has the function of reducing the contact area with the lead frame 118, but is also used because the lower projection in the clamping mechanism penetrates (details will be described later). Also, just like the lead frame 118, a plurality of engagement holes 114c are formed in the vicinity of both end edges 114b extending in the longitudinal direction X of the upper plate 114, and engage with the pins 116b of the lower plate 116. It is like that. The upper and lower plates 114 and 116 are made of a metal member, but may be made of a resin such as plastic or other materials.
[0029]
Returning to FIG. 1, the frame supply apparatus 100 is provided with a mounting table 120 on which the frame packet 102 pulled out from the turntable mechanism 110 is mounted, and the frame packet 102 described above. And a pusher mechanism 134 that pushes only the upper plate 114 upward, and is disposed so as to be able to be raised and lowered above the mounting table 120, descends to clamp the upper plate 114, and further rises in a clamping state to remove the upper plate 114. A clamping mechanism 124.
[0030]
The clamping mechanism 124 is held by an XY robot (not shown) so as to be horizontally movable, and the removed upper plate 114 is loaded and accumulated in the upper plate stocker 126. A suction conveyance device 130 is movably provided above the mounting table 120, and only the lead frame 118 is sucked and taken out and supplied to the resin sealing device. The clamping mechanism 124 can also clamp the lower plate 116, and only the lead frame 118 is taken out and the lower plate 116 left on the mounting table 120 is clamped and carried out to the lower plate stocker 128. It is designed to accumulate and accumulate.
[0031]
Next, detailed configurations of the clamping mechanism 124 and the mounting table 120 will be described.
[0032]
As shown in the top view of FIG. 3 and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, the placement table 120 includes a table 132 on which (two) frame packets 102 are placed and a pusher mechanism disposed below the table 132. 134 and a movable pressing mechanism 136 installed on the table 102.
[0033]
The table 132 is formed with two recesses 138 into which the frame packet 102 conveyed in the direction of arrow A is inserted and positioned. The recess 138 is formed in a size equivalent to the contour of the lower plate 116 in the frame packet 102, and is formed below the first step 138a and smaller than the first step 138a. A second step portion 138b, and a space is formed below the second step portion 138b in a state where the frame packet 102 is positioned on the first step portion 138a. In addition, a notch recess 138c is formed in the table 132 so as to be continuous with the second step portion 138b, and a clamping pair of a clamping mechanism 120 (described later) is connected to the lower surface of the lower plate 116 via the notch recess 138c. The pusher mechanism 134 provided below the table 132 that can be inserted into the pusher mechanism pushes the pusher needle 140 protruding upward and supports the lower part of the pusher needle 140 to reciprocate the pusher needle 140 in the vertical direction. A cylinder 142. When the pusher needle 140 is in the lower state (pulling state), the tip 140a of the pusher needle 140 is separated from the table 132. When the pusher needle 140 is in the upper state (protruding state), the tip 140a passes through the opening 138d of the table 132. Projecting above the table 132.
[0034]
The movable pressing mechanism 136 includes a movable arm 144 provided on the upper surface of the table 132 so as to be swingable in the horizontal direction, and a rotary actuator 146 that swings the movable arm 144. Therefore, the movable arm 144 can advance and retract from the outside with respect to the vicinity of both end edges 118 a on the upper surface of the lead frame 118.
[0035]
Next, the clamping mechanism 124 will be described in detail.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, the clamping mechanism 124 is provided in a base 148 that is movable in the horizontal direction and that is movable up and down, and a lower part of the base 148 that can clamp the upper plate 114 of the frame packet 102. The first holding pair 150 and the second holding pair 152 that are similarly provided below the base 148 and can hold the lower plate 116 are provided below the base 148. When the base 148 is lowered, the mounting table A stopper 154 that contacts the concave portion 138 of 120 (refer to the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5) and is positioned in the vertical direction, and is provided below the base 148 and descends together with the base 148 to urge the lead frame 118 downward. A lower protrusion 156 for separating the lead frame 118 and the upper plate 114 from each other.
[0037]
The first and second sandwiching pairs 150 and 152 can be opened and closed by driving a cylinder or the like (see the dotted line), and the upper and lower plates 114 and 116 can be sandwiched and opened. Note that the second sandwiching pair 152 is positioned below the first sandwiching pair 150.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 5, a total of six lower protrusions 156 are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction X with respect to one frame packet 102, and each lower protrusion 156 is shown in FIG. Thus, the three branches 156a are formed by branching in the width direction Y on the lower side. Each of the protruding ends 156a penetrates a part of the opening 114c (see FIG. 2: region P) of the upper plate shown in FIG. 2, so that only the lead frame 118 can be urged downward.
[0039]
Next, the operation of the frame supply device 100 will be described focusing on the operation of the clamping mechanism 124 and the mounting table 120.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 9, when the frame packet 102 is placed on the placement table 120 (the table 138), the clamping mechanism 124 moves above the placement table 120 as shown in FIG. Further down. At this time, the first sandwiching pair 150 and the second sandwiching pair 152 are both in the “open” state, so that they do not collide with the frame packet 102.
[0041]
After the clamping mechanism 124 is positioned using the stopper 154 (not shown), the pusher needle 140 in the pusher mechanism 134 is raised and passes through the pusher opening 116c of the lower plate 116, as shown in FIG. Only the upper plate 114 is pushed up. At this time, the lead frame 118 also tries to follow the upper plate 114 due to static electricity or the like. However, since the lead frame 118 is biased downward by the lower protrusion 156 (it can be considered that it is supported from the upper side. Is) separated from the upper plate 114.
[0042]
While the lead frame 118 is being urged by the lower protrusion 156, that is, before the clamping mechanism 124 is raised, the movable arm 144 of the movable pressing mechanism 136 rotates, and the upper surface of the lead frame 118 and the vicinity of both end edges 118a. And the lead frame 118 is pressed. Therefore, even when the clamping mechanism 124 is later lifted to remove the upper plate 114, the movable pressing mechanism 136 (movable arm 144) prevents the lead frame 114 from being warped.
[0043]
Thereafter, although not particularly illustrated, the suction conveyance device 130 moves above the mounting table 120, and only the lead frame 118 is taken out by a suction pad or the like and carried out to a counterpart machine such as a resin sealing device.
[0044]
After the lead frame 118 is carried out, as shown in FIG. 12, the clamping mechanism 124 moves again above the mounting table 120 and further descends. The second sandwiching pair 152 is inserted into the back side (lower surface side) of the lower plate 116 via a notch recess 138c formed in the table 132, and the upper plate 116 is sandwiched and carried out.
[0045]
By repeating the above steps, only the lead frame 118 in the frame packet 102 is sequentially supplied to the counterpart machine.
[0046]
According to this frame supply device 100, the lead frame 118 is separated from the upper plate 114 when the upper plate 114 is lifted by the pusher. Therefore, even when the lead frame is adsorbed to the upper plate due to static electricity or the like, both can be reliably separated.
[0047]
This is because the lead frame 118 is urged by the lower protrusion 156 by rationally using the “lowering operation” that is an essential operation of the clamping mechanism 124.
[0048]
Further, the edge of the lead frame 118 is suppressed by the movable pressing mechanism 136 on the mounting table 120 side before the downward protrusion rises integrally with the clamping mechanism (main body side) 124. Since the posture of the lead frame 118 is extremely stable even during the unloading operation of the clamping mechanism 124, as a result, only the lead frame 118 can be reliably unloaded by the suction conveyance device 130 and the like as described above. In particular, the lead frame 118 that has been thinned is likely to “warp up” at the edge, and once warped and bent, the posture becomes very unstable, but the warping is always suppressed on the table 132. The This is a result of cooperation of the lower protrusion 156 of the clamping mechanism 124 and the movable pressing mechanism 136 under a very rational idea.
[0049]
Further, since the lower protrusion 156 urges the lead frame 118 downward using the opening 114a formed in the upper plate 114, the upper plate 114 can reliably protect the periphery of the lead frame 118 and the like. The lead frame 118 can be easily separated with a simple structure. Further, since the contact area with the lead frame 118 is reduced by the opening 114a, damage to the lead frame 118 is prevented.
[0050]
Note that the frame supply apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is shown only when two frame packets 102 are handled as one set, but the present invention is not limited to this, and only one frame packet 102 is handled. Alternatively, three or more frame packets may be handled simultaneously. Further, the configuration of the movable pressing mechanism 136 is not limited to the present embodiment, and any structure may be used as long as the movable pressing mechanism 136 is configured to protrude from the outer side and press the edge of the lead frame 118. Further, the place to be pressed by the movable pressing mechanism 136 may be set as appropriate in consideration of the curvature of the lead frame 118 and the like, and the edge along the width direction may be pressed in addition to the edge in the longitudinal direction. .
[0051]
Furthermore, the relationship between the push-up timing of the pusher mechanism 134 and the lowering timing of the clamping mechanism 124 is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the clamping mechanism 124 may be lowered or “simultaneously” operated “after” the upper plate 114 is pushed up by the pusher mechanism 134.
[0052]
In addition, although one embodiment is shown here, various embodiments other than the embodiment shown this time exist as long as they do not depart from the gist of the present invention. The features (functions / shapes) of the members appearing in the entire specification are merely examples, and are not limited to these descriptions.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when a lead frame is handled as a frame packet, only the lead frame can be reliably extracted and supplied.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a frame transport / supply system to which a frame supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a frame packet used in the frame supply apparatus. 3 is an enlarged top view showing a mounting table in the frame supply device. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view showing a clamping mechanism in the frame supply device. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view showing the lead frame supply operation (NO. 2) in the frame supply device. Fig. 11 is a lead frame supply operation (NO. 3) in the frame supply device. Expanded cross section [ 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a lead frame supply operation (NO. 4) in the frame supply apparatus. FIG. 13 is an overall perspective view showing a flow of supplying a conventional lead frame. FIG. Schematic diagram [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Frame supply apparatus 102 ... Frame packet 114 ... Upper plate 116 ... Lower plate 118 ... Lead frame 118a ... Edge 120 ... Loading table 124 ... Holding mechanism 132 ... Table 134 ... Pusher mechanism 156 ... Lower projection

Claims (3)

In the frame supply device that removes the upper plate in the frame packet configured by sandwiching the lead frame between the lower plate and the upper plate, and supplies only the lead frame to the counterpart machine,
A mounting table on which the frame packet is mounted;
A pusher provided on the mounting table to push the upper plate upward;
A clamping mechanism that is disposed so as to be movable up and down above the mounting table, descends to clamp the upper plate, and lifts to remove the upper plate;
The pinching mechanism is provided with a lower protrusion that separates the lead frame and the upper plate by lowering together with the main body side and urging the lead frame downward,
The mounting table is provided with a movable pressing mechanism that can protrude to the upper surface and the vicinity of the edge of the lead frame biased downward by the lower protrusion,
The frame feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the lead frame is prevented from being warped by the movable pressing mechanism even after the clamping mechanism has clamped and raised the upper plate. In claim 1,
The movable holding mechanism is
A movable arm which is provided on the mounting table so as to be swingable in a horizontal direction, and is movable forward and backward from the upper surface and end edge of the lead frame; A frame supply device characterized by that. In claim 1 or 2,
An opening through which the lower protrusion of the clamping mechanism can pass is formed in the upper plate of the frame packet, and the lower protrusion urges the lead frame downward through the opening. Feeding device.

Images