JPH0128518B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention utilizes an index table to
This invention relates to a device for automatically mounting components such as ICs on printed circuit boards, etc., and is designed to realize an automatic component mounting device that has a simple configuration, is compact, can be manufactured at low cost, and has stable and reliable operation.

When parts such as ICs are supplied to an automatic mounting device using a parts feeder and then mounted on a printed circuit board etc. by the automatic mounting device, actuators, arms, arm guide mechanisms, and Mounting units consisting of attachment/detachment devices, etc. are provided, and each unit is independently equipped with a mounting function.

In the mounting operation, the actuator advances the arm, and the attachment/detachment device at its tip attracts and holds the parts fed by the parts feeder.The arm then retreats, and then moves to the next mounting station by rotation of the index table. , the arm advances and mounts the component held by the mounting/detaching device onto a printed circuit board or the like. Then, the arm moves back again and is rotated and transferred by the index table.

However, when a large number of independent mounting units are placed on an index table in this way, the equipment becomes large-scale and is not suitable for mounting small parts such as ICs. This has the disadvantage that it hinders smooth operation because it has to be rotated. Furthermore, since the device is large-scale, manufacturing costs will naturally increase.

On the other hand, it is possible to share an actuator such as a fluid pressure cylinder and a drive source for attaching and detaching parts to and from the arm, and to connect/connect these at each station of the index table. However, it has not been put into practical use because it is complicated and large.

The present invention provides a simple, compact, and lightweight disconnect/disconnect mechanism between a component mounting mechanism disposed on the rotating index table side and an actuator or drive source disposed on the stationary side. The purpose is to make it possible for each station to share a large and heavy actuator and drive source. In order to achieve this object, the present invention includes a mounting mechanism section consisting of an arm that reciprocates while being guided by a guide means, and a vacuum attachment/detachment tool attached to the tip of this arm.
An actuator such as a fluid pressure cylinder that drives an arm is provided on the non-rotating part of the index table, which is arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the index table, and at least the arm reaches the component mounting station. Then, the arm and the actuator are connected, and the arm is provided with a joint means that disconnects the actuator when the arm passes through the component mounting station. Further, the non-rotating portion, that is, the fixed shaft 2, is provided with air piping for applying negative pressure for sucking and holding components to the attachment/detachment tool, at least at positions corresponding to the component suction station and the component mounting station. Absorption holes 9 opening on the outer periphery,
It has 10.

On the other hand, on the index table 1 side, each mounting mechanism is provided with communication holes 7, 7 that face and communicate with the suction holes 9, 10, respectively, so that when the arm arrives at the component suction station, The suction hole 10 and the attachment/detachment tool are connected, and when the arm passes the component mounting station, the connection between the suction hole 9 and the attachment/detachment tool is cut off. In this configuration, when the arm reaches the parts suction station, the attachment/detachment tool at the tip of the arm is connected to the suction hole 10 of the non-rotating part, and the arm is advanced by a cam mechanism or the like, and the attachment/detachment tool at the tip is connected to the parts feeder. It absorbs and holds the parts sent from. When the index table begins to rotate, the arm is moved back by a cam mechanism, etc., and the suction hole 10 is switched to the suction hole 9, and the arm is sent to the next component mounting station, so that the arm stops rotating. is connected to the actuator of the section.

Then, the arm advances by the actuator, and the component held by the attachment/detachment tool is attached to a printed circuit board or the like of the component mounting station. After the components are mounted, the arm is moved backward by the actuator, and when the index table begins to rotate, the arm and actuator are disconnected, and the connection between the attaching/detaching tool and the suction hole 9 in the non-rotating part is also cut off.

As described above, according to the present invention, the connection between the communication hole 7 provided on the rotating index table side and the suction holes 9 and 10 on the fixed side, and the connection between the arm on the index table side and the fixed side The connection/disconnection with the actuator is smoothly and automatically performed by rotating the index table, and can be realized with a simple, compact, and lightweight structure. As a result, we have installed a plurality of mounting mechanisms on the index table, each consisting of an arm that reciprocates while being guided by a guide means, and a vacuum attachment/detachment tool attached to the end of this arm. The piping that applies negative pressure to the actuator such as the fluid pressure cylinder to be driven and the attachment/detachment tool is placed in the center of the index table, and the actuator and piping can be switched and connected to the arm and the attachment/detachment tool by rotation of the index table. etc. can be used commonly for each arm and attachment/detachment tool.

As a result, only one set of large and heavy actuators is required, making the entire automatic assembly system more compact.
The structure is simplified and manufacturing costs are reduced.
By reducing the weight of the items loaded on the index table, operation becomes smoother, making it effective for mounting precision parts such as ICs.

Next, an embodiment of a component mounting apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

Figure 1 is a front view of the component mounting equipment, Figure 2 is a partially sectional front view showing the air system of the equipment, and Figure 3 is the front view of the equipment.
This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the figure.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an index table that rotates intermittently around a central cylindrical shaft 2. A block 11 on which an arm 4 and a detachable tool 6 are mounted is supported on a guide rod 5 fixed to the index table 1 via a guide frame 3 so as to be movable back and forth in the directions of arrows a1 and a2. The tip of the arm 4 is equipped with a suction cup-like attachment/detachment tool 6, and one end of the communication hole 7, which is a cylindrical hole drilled in the arm 4, is attached to the attachment/detachment tool 6.
It is open to

A communication hole 7 at the other end of the arm 4 is inserted into a cylindrical portion 8 fixed to the index table 1 formed to surround the central shaft 2 so as to be slidable in the radial direction of the index table. , the other end of the communication hole 7 communicates with the suction hole 9 in the mounting station St2 of FIG. 1, and in the suction station St1,
It communicates with the suction hole 10. It is supported by the guide rod 5 so as to be able to slide back and forth. The block 11 is provided with a connector 13 via a rod 12. axis 2
Inside, a fluid pressure cylinder 14 is built in as an actuator at a position corresponding to the mounting station St2, and the large diameter portion 16 at the end of the piston rod 15 and the connecting portion 13 form a joint. This joint part is shown in a side view, and the coupling part on the arm side forms a C-shape when viewed from the side. When the index table rotates, the C-shaped coupling 13 connects to the mounting station St2. When the index table reaches the position, the C-shaped part surrounds the large diameter part 16 of the piston rod, and the connection is performed. When the index table starts rotating further from the mounting station St2, the C-shaped part surrounds the large diameter part 16 of the piston rod. It separates from the connection and becomes disconnected.

In this way, two suction holes 9, 10 and one fluid pressure cylinder 14 are provided on the fixed shaft 2 at the center of the index table 1, and the index table 1, which rotates intermittently, has the minimum number of parts necessary for mounting components. arm 4, a guide rod 3 for the arm, and a detachable tool 6 at the tip of the arm, means for connecting and disconnecting the detachable tool 6 and the suction holes 9, 10 of the fixed shaft, and a fluid pressure cylinder 14 for driving the arm.
An intermittent connection is provided between the and the arm.
Such arms 4 are arranged on the index table 1 via the guide frame 3 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

In the illustrated example, when the attachment/detachment tool 6b of one arm is located at a position corresponding to the component mounting station St2, the attachment/detachment tool 6a of the adjacent previous arm is arranged so as to correspond to the component suction station St1. has been done.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a parts feeder inclined like a slide, and components to be mounted, such as ICs 18 . In the cutting part 19, a cutting tool 20 swinging with a seesaw is attached to the shaft 2.
1, and when the cutting tool 20 rotates counterclockwise, the claw 22 at the tip descends and the IC 18a
When rotated clockwise around the shaft 21, the claw 22 at the tip rises and the claw 2 at the rear end
2' descends. Therefore, the above IC18a has claw 2.
Freed from 2 and sliding down parts feeder 17,
It is fed to the suction station St1. At this time,
Since the one IC 18b in front is held down by the claw 22' at the rear end, only one IC 18b is fed to the suction station St1.

Next, when the cutting tool 19 is rotated counterclockwise, the IC 18b held by the rear claw 22'
is lowered and supported by the front claw 22. The ICs 18c are thus cut out one by one and sent to the suction station St1. When the index table 1 rotates and the arm 4a comes to the position of the suction station St1, the communication hole 7 in the arm 4a is vacuum-suctioned as described above. It is connected to the hole 10, and the attachment/detachment tool 6a can be vacuum-adsorbed. As shown in FIG.
The cam follower 33, which is pulled toward the eccentric cam 31 side and supported by the block 11,
It is in pressure contact with 1. As described above, at the same time that the attachment/detachment tool 6a becomes capable of vacuum suction, the eccentric cam 31 rotates around the shaft 34 and pushes the block 11 in the direction of the arrow a1, so that the attachment/detachment tool 6a advances in the direction of the arrow a1. Then, hold the IC18c by vacuum suction.
Thereafter, the eccentric cam 31 rotates half a rotation, causing the block 11 and the arm 4a to retreat in the direction of arrow a2.
The arm 4a and the attachment/detachment tool 6a holding the IC by suction are sent to the next mounting station St2 by the rotation of the index table 1.

Arm 4b arrives at mounting station St2
is connected to the fluid pressure cylinder 14 via the connector 13 as described in FIG. 3, and the communication hole 7 of the arm is connected to the suction hole 9. Mounting station St
2 is provided with a printed circuit board 32 on which components are mounted, and when the arm arrives at the mounting station St2, the fluid pressure cylinder 14 operates to advance the arm 4b in the direction of arrow a1. As a result, the IC 18d held by the attachment/detachment tool 6b descends,
The terminal pin is connected to the socket 23 of the printed circuit board 32.
inserted into. Next, the arm 4b is pulled up in the direction of arrow a2 by the cylinder 14, and the IC 18d is released from the attachment/detachment tool 6b and remains on the socket 23. At this time, the IC 18d may be released from the attachment/detachment tool 6 by closing the suction hole 9 with a valve (not shown) and opening the communication hole 7 to the atmosphere before the arm 4b is raised. If the contact pressure of the socket 23 with the contact spring is greater than the vacuum suction force of the attachment/detachment tool 6, it is not necessarily necessary to open the socket to the atmosphere.

While components are being mounted on the mounting station in this manner, the suction station St1 is sucking the components. After the mounting operation and the suction operation at the suction station St1 are completed, the index table rotates and the arm 4a of the suction station is transferred to the mounting station St2. At this time, arm 4 at mounting station St2
b, when the communication hole 7 is removed from the suction hole 9, the connecting tool 13 is also removed from the cylinder 14.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an air system for suctioning and holding components with negative pressure, and the suction force is maintained by the attachment/detachment tool 6 even while the arm moves from the suction station St1 to the mounting station St2. In order to do this, a communication path 24 is formed on the outer periphery of the fixed shaft 2. That is, a groove-shaped communication path is opened in the side wall so as to face the path along which the end of the communication hole 7 of the arm moves when the arm moves from the position 4a to the position 4b due to the rotation of the index table 1. 2
4, one end of which communicates with the suction hole 10, and the other end of which ends at a partition wall 25 just in front of the suction hole 9. Therefore, the arm 4a moves and the suction hole 10
Even if the arm deviates from the position shown in FIG. 2, the communication hole 7 of the arm communicates with the suction hole 10 through the communication path 24, so that the suction force is maintained even when the arm moves. In addition, the partition wall 25
is thin and the suction force does not break when passing through this partition.

Vacuum sensors are connected to the suction holes 9 and 10 to detect the presence or absence of parts in the attachment/detachment tool. That is, when the arm reaches the suction position shown by 4a,
The vacuum sensor on the suction hole 10 side detects that the vacuum pressure has decreased,
It is detected that the IC is not suctioned, but when the arm advances in the direction of arrow a1 and suctions the IC, the vacuum pressure increases and it is detected that the part has been suctioned. Also, on the suction hole 9 side, while the attachment/detachment tool 6b is sucking and holding the IC, the vacuum pressure becomes high and it is detected that the object is being sucked and held. When the IC is removed from the attachment/detachment portion 6b, the vacuum pressure on the suction hole 9 side decreases, and it is detected that the IC has been removed.

Next, while moving from the suction station St1 to the mounting station St2, the suction hole 10 and the communication hole 7 of the arm are connected via the communication path 24. It can be detected by a vacuum sensor on the hole 10 side. When the end of the communication hole 7 passes through the partition wall 25, the presence of IC is temporarily detected on both sides of the suction holes 9 and 10.
Soon, the presence of IC was detected only on the suction hole 9 side,
The suction hole 10 side is connected to the arm that arrives next, and it is detected that no other IC is adsorbed to the attachment/detachment tool of that arm.

In this way, the attachment/detachment tool is always connected to the negative pressure generation source even when the attachment/detachment tool is moved, and a vacuum sensor is provided in the middle of the connection path to detect the vacuum pressure state. The presence or absence of an object can be monitored, and the detection signal can be used to start controlling the next operation. In addition, a communication path 24 for supplying vacuum pressure when moving the attachment/detachment part.
may be provided along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 8 of the index table. Also parts feeder 17
Also, in the suction station St1, the pipe 29
A suction hole 26 connected to a negative pressure generation source is provided,
The IC 18c sent from the cutting section 19 is sucked and held by vacuum pressure, and then the positioning block 27 moves in the direction of arrow a3 and presses the IC 18c against the reference surface, thereby positioning the IC at the suction position with high precision. can be done.

Next, when the attachment/detachment tool 6a descends and suctions the IC 18c, the suction hole 26 is switched to atmospheric pressure by the detection signal from the vacuum sensor on the suction hole 10 side, and the IC 18c is sucked.
18c is released from the parts feeder 17.

In addition, as another embodiment, a communication hole 7 is provided in the arm.
It is also possible to connect the attachment/detachment tool 6 to the suction holes 9 and 10 through other communication holes without providing the above. At the joint part, a compression coil spring 2 is attached to the rod 12.
If a return spring such as No. 8 is provided so that the arm 4 returns in the direction of arrow a2 under spring pressure,
Since the role of the fluid pressure cylinder 14 is only to push down the arm, the coupling member 13 can also be formed into a simple shape similar to the large diameter portion 16 of the piston rod.

As is clear from the above illustrated embodiments, according to the present invention, there is a disconnection between the communication holes and arms provided on the rotating index table side and the suction holes 9 and 10 and the actuator on the stationary side. /Continuation is performed smoothly and automatically by rotating the index table, and can be realized with a simple, compact, and lightweight structure. As a result, the large and heavy actuator is installed on the fixed shaft and shared by each arm, and only the minimum necessary equipment that cannot be shared is placed on the index table, thereby improving the overall structure of the device. In addition to achieving simplification, miniaturization, and cost reduction, the index table also operates smoothly, making it easier to automatically mount precision parts such as ICs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the automatic mounting apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a partially sectional front view showing the air system, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 1. be. In the figure, 1 is an index table, 2 is a fixed shaft, 3 is a guide frame, 4 is an arm, 6 is a detachable part, 7 is a communication hole, 9, 10 are suction holes, 14 is a fluid pressure cylinder, 18, 18a... 18d is IC (parts),
24 is a communication path, 25 is a partition wall, St1 is a suction station, and St2 is a mounting station.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Arms 4 that are guided by guide rods 5 and reciprocate in the radial direction of the index table 1 are disposed on the index table 1 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and each arm 4 is arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. First, a vacuum attachment/detachment tool 6 is provided, and a communication hole 7 at the other end of each arm 4 is inserted into a cylindrical portion 8 that is fixed to the index table 1 and is formed so as to surround the non-rotating portion 2. It is slidably inserted in the radial direction of the index table 1, and in the non-rotating part 2, at least a component suction station St1 and a component mounting station are connected as air piping that provides negative pressure for suctioning and holding components to the attachment/detachment tool. At the position corresponding to St2, the non-rotating part 2
Suction holes 9, 10 are provided on the outer periphery of the index table 1, and communication holes 7, 7 are provided on the side of the index table 1, facing and communicating with the suction holes 9, 10, respectively, and communicating with each of the arms. By providing this, when the arm arrives at the component suction station St1, the suction hole 10 and the attachment/detachment tool 6a are connected to the communication hole 7.
When the arm passes the component mounting station St2, the connection between the suction hole 9 and the attachment/detachment tool 6b is cut off. The section 2 is provided with a fluid pressure cylinder 14 that reciprocates the arm 4, and the arm is connected to at least the component mounting station St2.
When the arm reaches the component mounting station, the arm and the fluid pressure cylinder 14 are connected, and the arm is connected to the component mounting station.
A component mounting device characterized by comprising a connector that is disconnected when passing through St2.