JPH05249169A - Automatic testing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an automatic testing device which can shorten the time required for the test of a printed circuit board. CONSTITUTION:The device consists of a first and a second jigs 1, 2 having contact pins disposed so as to respectively contact with a plurality of measuring points of printed boards Pt, an electronic switch 4 for switchover connecting a test circuit 3 hereto, a holding part 6 for holding the board Pt by movable claws 5, up and down driving parts 8 for moving the holding part 6 along a vertical guides 7, a left and right driving part 10 for moving left and right along a horizontal guide 9 including the driving parts 8 and the holding part 6, and a control part 11. The part 11 exercises control for carrying in the printed circuit board on the second jig 2 and carrying out the board after a test end, during the time the board Pt has been mounted on the first jig 1 and is being tested.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic tester for carrying a test by carrying a printed circuit board on a jig connected to a test circuit. When testing whether the printed circuit board is normal, it is common to connect the connector of the test circuit to the edge connector of the printed circuit board, but it requires complicated work such as connector alignment and insertion operation. Because
Articulated robots were used. Therefore, we proposed a configuration in which a contact pin is brought into direct contact with a measurement point on a printed circuit board to perform a test. In such a test apparatus, it is desired to reduce the test time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional automatic tester for testing whether or not a printed circuit board on which a semiconductor integrated circuit, an electronic component such as a resistor is mounted is normal is a multi-joint type printed circuit board which is carried in by a belt conveyor or the like. The robot is gripped, the edge connector of the printed circuit board is aligned with the connector of the test circuit and coupled, and the printed circuit board is connected to the test circuit to perform the test. When the test is completed, the printed board is again gripped by the articulated robot, the connection of the connectors is released, and the printed board is carried out by a belt conveyor or the like.

Further, since such an articulated robot needs a teach-in for performing a predetermined operation, and the processing for that is complicated, a structure in which the articulated robot can be omitted, for example, a printed circuit board is used. Applicable to an automatic testing device, "Device for supplying and discharging a printed wiring board unit to an in-circuit tester [Japanese Patent Application No. 63-283812]
30900 gazette))] ”was previously proposed. this is,
An arbitrary number of measurement points are set on the soldering surface of the printed circuit board on the side opposite to the electronic component mounting side, a jig with contact pins is provided at a position corresponding to the measured point, and the printed circuit board carried in by the belt conveyor is installed. Place it on a jig, bring the contact pin into contact with the measurement point on the printed board, test the printed board with the test circuit connected to the jig, and when the test is complete, move the printed board from the jig onto the belt conveyor. It is moved up and discharged.

[0004]

The device proposed above has an advantage that it is not necessary to use an articulated robot or the like, but since there is only one jig connected to the test circuit,
While the measurement point of the printed board is brought into contact with the contact pin of this jig and the printed circuit board is being tested by the test circuit,
After stopping the next printed circuit board and discharging the printed circuit board after the test, place the stopped printed circuit board on the jig and contact the contact point with the measurement point of the printed circuit board. Become. Therefore, the conveyance interval of the printed circuit board is the sum of the time required to place the printed circuit board on the jig, the test time, and the time required to eject the printed board from the jig, and Time of insertion and removal,
That is, since it is difficult to reduce the time required to handle the printed circuit board, the total test time cannot be reduced. An object of the present invention is to reduce the time required for handling a printed circuit board and the time required for an automatic test of the printed circuit board.

[0005]

The automatic test apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The first automatic test apparatus has a plurality of contact pins arranged to come into contact with a plurality of measurement points of a printed circuit board. , The second jigs 1 and 2, the switching circuit 4 for switching and connecting one of the first and second jigs 1 and 2 to the test circuit 3, and holding or releasing the loaded printed circuit board. A holding unit 6 having a plurality of movable claws 5 for moving the holding unit, a vertical drive unit 8 for moving the holding unit 6 in the vertical direction along the vertical guide 7, and the vertical drive unit 8 and the holding unit 6 are included. Then, on the first and second jigs 1 and 2 that are juxtaposed, the left and right drive unit 10 that moves along the horizontal guide 9, the switching control of the switching circuit 4, and the holding of the printed circuit board by the movable claw 5 are held. , A control unit for controlling the release and for controlling the vertical drive unit 8 and the horizontal drive unit 10 It is equipped with a 1 and.

Further, the control unit 11 alternately mounts the loaded printed circuit boards on the first and second jigs 1 and 2, and moves the movable claws of the holding unit 6 so as to carry out the printed circuit boards after the test. 5
The vertical drive unit 8 and the horizontal drive unit 10 are controlled, and the switching circuit 4 is controlled to switch and connect the jig on which the printed circuit board is mounted to the test circuit 3.

[0007]

The movable claw 5 is moved to the arrow A by a drive unit (not shown).
The vertical drive unit 8 is movable in the direction of arrow B along the vertical guide 7. The left-right drive unit 10 can move in the direction of arrow C along the horizontal guide 9. Then, the printed circuit board Pt is carried in by a belt conveyor or the like, the printed circuit board Pt is held by the movable claws 5 of the holding section 6, and the holding section 6 is lowered to the illustrated position by the vertical drive section 8 to move the movable claws 5 to each other. The printed circuit board Pt is released by rotating so as to open to the outside, the printed circuit board Pt is fixed on the jig 1 by vacuum suction or the like, and a contact pin (not shown) is brought into contact with a measurement point of the printed circuit board Pt. Also, the vertical drive unit 8 raises the holding unit 6 to return it to its original position.

The control unit 11 controls the switching circuit 4 to connect the jig 1 and the test circuit 3 to start the test circuit 3 and test the printed circuit board Pt on the jig 1 by the test circuit 3. .. In the meantime, the printed board carried in by a belt conveyor or the like is held by the movable claws 5 of the holding unit 6, the holding unit 6 is moved onto the jig 2 by the left and right driving unit 10, and the holding unit 6 is moved by the vertical driving unit 8. The printed board Pt held by the movable claw 5 is released to release the printed board P on the jig 2.
The t is fixed by vacuum suction or the like, and the contact pin (not shown) is brought into contact with the measurement point of the printed circuit board Pt indicated by the chain line.
The vertical drive unit 8 raises the holding unit 6, and the horizontal drive unit 10 moves the holding unit 6 onto the jig 1.

The control unit 11 controls the printed circuit board P on the jig 1.
When the test of t is completed, the switching circuit 4 is controlled and the jig 2
Is connected to the test circuit 3, and the test circuit 3 is activated to start the test of the printed circuit board Pt on the jig 2. Further, the printed circuit board on the jig 1 for which the test has been completed is held by the movable claws 5 of the holding section 6 lowered by the vertical drive section 8, and the holding section 6 is raised by the vertical drive section 8 and moved by the movable claws 5. The held printed circuit board Pt is discharged.

When the jig 1 becomes empty, the next printed board Pt is placed on the jig 1, and the printed board P on the jig 2 is placed.
When the test of t is completed, the left and right driving unit 10 and the vertical driving unit 8
By controlling the above, the printed circuit board Pt on the jig 2 is discharged, and the next printed circuit board Pt is placed on the jig 2. That is, while the printed circuit board Pt is placed on either one of the first and second jigs 1 and 2, the other printed circuit board Pt can be tested by the test circuit 3.

The control unit 11 is composed of a microprocessor or the like and controls the switching circuit 4 to switch and connect one of the jigs 1 and 2 to the test circuit 3 and perform control to start the test circuit 3. Also, the printed circuit board Pt that has been carried in is held by the holding unit 6.
Held by the movable claws 5, and the vertical drive unit 8 and the horizontal drive unit 10 allow the printed circuit board P to be placed on the vacant jigs 1 and 2.
Control to move and mount t is performed. It also controls the belt conveyor, the plunger, and the like for loading and unloading the printed circuit board Pt into and from the holding unit 6.

[0012]

2 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention, which corresponds to a schematic front view, 13 is a test circuit, 14 is a switching circuit, and 1 is a circuit.
5 is a movable claw, 16 is a holding part, 17 is a vertical guide, 18 is a vertical drive part, 19 is a horizontal guide, 20 is a horizontal drive part, 2
Reference numerals 1 and 22 are first and second jigs, 23 is a control portion, 24 is a horizontal guide support portion, 25 is a rotating shaft, and 30 is a printed circuit board.

The first and second jigs 21 and 22 are juxtaposed and connected to the test circuit 13 via the switching circuit 14, respectively. The switching circuit 14 is switching-controlled by the control unit 23. For the vertical drive unit 18 and the horizontal drive unit 20, a mechanism such as a motor, an electromagnet, an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or a mechanical cam can be used. Further, the left-right drive unit 20 can also be configured by a rodless cylinder. The movable claw 15 of the holding portion 16 is rotated around a rotation shaft 25 by a drive unit such as an electromagnet, an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, and a cam (not shown). The printed circuit board 30 is released by holding 30 and rotating it about the rotation shaft 25 so as to open left and right.

The holding unit 16 including the movable claw 15 is moved up and down by the vertical drive unit 18 along the vertical guide 17. Further, the left and right driving unit 20, including the holding unit 16 and the vertical driving unit 18, can be moved left and right along the horizontal guide 19 to move the holding unit 16 onto the jigs 21 and 22. Positioning and the like in that case can be performed by a known means such as a limit switch or a proximity switch.
The horizontal guide 19 is fixed by the horizontal guide support portions 24 at both ends.

The first and second jigs 21 and 22 are, for example,
It has the structure shown in FIG. 3, 30 is a printed circuit board, 30a is an electronic component such as a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC), 3
0b is a measurement point such as a soldering surface, 31 is a jig housing, 31a
Is an insulating substrate, 32 is a contact pin, 33 is a movable support plate, 34
Is a spring and 35 is a seal member. Further, (A) shows a state where the printed circuit board 30 is placed, and (B) shows a state where vacuum suction is performed.

A spring 34 is arranged between the jig housing 31 and the movable support plate 33, and an insulating substrate 31a forming a part of the jig housing 31 is provided with a measurement point 30a of the printed board 30.
The contact pin 32 is fixed corresponding to the position of, and a hole is formed in the movable support plate 33 so that the contact pin 32 can penetrate. The movable support plate 33 is such that at least the holes through which the contact pins 32 pass are insulated from each other.
The whole structure can be made of an insulating material. The contact pin 32 is connected to the test circuit 13 via the switching circuit 14.

As shown in (A), when the printed circuit board 30 is placed on the jig, the periphery thereof is sealed by the seal member 35, and as shown in (B),
When vacuum suction is performed in the direction of arrow D, the movable support plate 33 is suctioned against the spring 34, the contact pin 32 projects from the hole, contacts the measurement point 30b of the printed circuit board 30, and the printed circuit board 30. Also, since vacuum suction is performed through the respective holes, a contact pressure is applied to the contact pin 32. In this state, the test circuit 13 tests the printed circuit board 30. Then, when the vacuum suction is stopped after the test is completed, the state returns from the state of (B) to the state of (A), the printed board 30 is held by the movable claw 15, the holding portion 16 is raised, and the printed board 30 after the test is completed. Can be produced.

Therefore, the movable substrate 15 of the holder 16 holds the printed circuit board 30, and the vertical drive unit 18 and the horizontal drive unit 20 position the holder 16 at a predetermined position on the jigs 21 and 22. By mounting 30 on the printed circuit board 30, the measurement point 30b on the printed circuit board 30 and the switching circuit 14
Can be connected to the test circuit 13 via.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a schematic top view. Figure 2
The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 denote the same parts, and 15a and 15b.
Is a movable claw, 15c is a movable rail, 16a and 16b are holding rails, 17a and 17b are vertical guides, and 41 and 42 are belt conveyors.

In the state of FIG. 4A, the printed circuit board 30 is carried in by the belt conveyor 41 and sequentially moved to the holding section rail 16a, the movable claw 15a, the movable rail 15c, and the movable claw 15b, and as shown in FIG. As shown in, the printed circuit board 30 is held by the movable claws 15a, the movable rails 15c, and the movable claws 15b on both sides. Then, the vertical guides 17a and 17b are driven by a vertical drive unit (not shown).
When the holding portion is lowered along the line, the state changes from the state shown in FIG. 4A to the state shown in FIG. Note that the vertical guide can also be constituted by a column for the portion guided by the horizontal guide 19.

In this descending process, the movable rail 15c is opened to the outside by the cam mechanism or the like, and the printed circuit board 30 is held only by the movable claws 15a and 15b. This is to reduce the portion that comes into contact with the seal member 35 in FIG. 3, and therefore, depending on the seal member 35,
The movable rail 15c may be integrated with the movable claws 15a and 15b. When the printed circuit board 30 is placed on the jig, the movable claws 15a, 1a are driven by a drive (not shown).
5b is opened to the outside, the vertical drive unit 18 raises the holding unit, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the printed circuit board 30 is fixed by vacuum suction, and the printed circuit board 30 is tested.

Upon completion of the test, the vacuum suction is stopped, and the movable claws 15a and 15b are opened, the holding unit is lowered by the up-and-down drive unit 18, and then the movable claws 15a and 15b are rotated so as to be closed inward. And holds the printed circuit board 30.
In that case, the movable rail 15c is configured to open outward by a cam or the like when the holding portion is lowered, as described above, so that the movable claws 15a, 15a, 15c can be opened until the middle of the ascending process.
The printed circuit board 30 is held only by b. Then, when the holding portion returns to the original position, it is pushed toward the belt conveyor 42 by a plunger (not shown) or the like, and is guided by the holding portion rail 16b and pushed out onto the belt conveyor 42, and is carried out by the belt conveyor 42. .. The holding portion rails 16a and 16b serve as guides for loading and unloading the printed circuit board 30.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the first jig 21 is ACT and the second jig 22 is SB.
Shown as Y. Further, a bar code is attached to the printed circuit board 30 to be subjected to the automatic test, and management of test results and the like is performed for the printed circuit board 30. The code is read (a). Next, the first jig 21 (AC
It is determined whether T) is empty (b). First if empty
The printed circuit board 30 is loaded on the jig 21 (ACT) side. That is, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5, the printed circuit board 30 carried in by the belt conveyor 41 is moved to the movable claws 15a and 15b of the holding unit 16 and the movable rail 15c.
Hold it and lower it by the vertical drive unit 18,
It is placed on the jig 21.

Next, it is judged whether or not the test on the second jig 22 (SBY) side has been completed (d), and the first test is made when the test is completed.
Start the test on the jig (ACT) side. That is, the control unit 2
3 is the switching circuit 1 due to the end of the test on the second jig 22 side.
4 is controlled to switch the test circuit 13 from the second jig 22 to the first jig 21, and the test circuit 13 is activated to
The test of the printed circuit board 30 on the jig 21 is started (e).

Immediately after the start of this test, the second jig 2
It is judged whether or not the printed circuit board 30 is present on the 2 (SBY) side (f), and if the printed circuit board 30 after the test is mounted, the printed circuit board 30 is unloaded (g). That is, the control unit 23 controls the left and right driving unit 20 to move the holding unit 16 along the horizontal guide 19 to the second jig 22.
Moving up and then controlling the vertical drive unit 18 to hold the holding unit 16
The movable claws 15a and 15b to hold the printed circuit board 30 after the test, the vertical drive unit 18 raises the holding unit 16, and the horizontal drive unit 20 moves it to the first jig 21. And is carried out by the belt conveyor 42. If the printed board 30 does not exist on the second jig 22, the process returns to step (a).

If the first jig 21 (ACT) is not empty, it is judged whether the second jig 22 (SBY) side is empty (h). If it is not empty, the process returns to step (b). If it is empty, the printed circuit board 30 is carried into the second jig 22 (SBY) side (i). That is, the belt conveyor 41
The printed circuit board 30 carried in by and held by the holding unit 16 is moved onto the second jig 22 by the left and right driving unit 30, and the holding unit 16 is lowered by the vertical driving unit 18.
The printed circuit board 30 is placed on the second jig 22 as shown by the chain line in FIG.

Next, it is judged whether or not the test on the first jig 21 (ACT) side is completed (j). If the test is completed, the test on the second jig 22 (SBY) side is started. Yes (k). That is, the control unit 23 controls the switching circuit 14 to control the test circuit 1
The second jig 22 is switch-connected to 3, and the test circuit 13 is activated to start the test of the printed circuit board 30. In this embodiment, the case where the printed circuit board 30 is carried into the second jig 22 when the first jig 21 is not empty is shown.
When the test of the printed circuit board 30 on the second jig 22 is started, the printed circuit board 30 on the first jig 21 after the test is finished.
Will exist. Therefore, the first jig 21
The printed board 30 on the (ACT) side is unloaded (l).

As described above, the first jig 21 (ACT)
During the test of the upper printed circuit board 30, the next printed circuit board can be loaded into or unloaded from the second jig 22 (SBY) side, and the printed circuit board on the second jig 22 (SBY) can be loaded or unloaded. During the test, the next printed circuit board 30 is attached to the first jig 21.
Loading or unloading can be performed on (ACT). Therefore, the time required to handle the printed circuit board 30 is
Since it is within the test time, the time required for the automatic test can be shortened.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first and second jigs 1 and 2 are switched and connected to the test circuit 3 through the switching circuit 4 under the control of the control unit 11, and the printed circuit board Pt.
Is held by a movable claw 5 of a holding unit 6 that can move vertically and horizontally, and is placed on the first or second jig 1 or 2, or the printed circuit board Pt after the test is held and carried out. ,
Since the printed circuit board Pt can be tested by alternately using the first and second jigs 1 and 2, and the other can be carried in or carried out during one test, the time required for the automatic test can be shortened. There is. Further, since the printed circuit board Pt can be connected to the test circuit 3 for testing without using an articulated robot or the like, there is an advantage that the size of the printed circuit board Pt and the measurement point can be easily dealt with. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a jig according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 1st jig 2 2nd jig 3 Test circuit 4 Switching circuit 5 Movable claw 6 Holding part 7 Vertical guide 8 Vertical drive part 9 Horizontal guide 10 Left-right drive part 11 Control part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. First and second jigs (1) and (2) having a plurality of contact pins arranged so as to respectively contact a plurality of measurement points of a printed circuit board, and the first and second jigs. A switching circuit (4) for switching and connecting any one of the jigs (1) and (2) to the test circuit (3), and a plurality of movable claws (5) for holding or releasing the loaded printed board. ), A vertical driving unit (8) for moving the holding unit (6) in the vertical direction along the vertical guide (7), the vertical driving unit (8) and the holding unit (8). 6) and the left and right drive unit (10) for moving along the horizontal guide (9) on the juxtaposed first and second jigs (1), (2).
And switching control of the switching circuit (4), control of holding and releasing of the printed circuit board by the movable claw (5), and control of the vertical drive unit (8) and the horizontal drive unit (10). An automatic test apparatus comprising: a control unit (11) for performing. 2. The control section (11) alternates the loaded printed circuit board with the first and second jigs (1), (2).
Place it on the top and carry out the test finished printed circuit board,
The movable claw (5) of the holding unit (6), the vertical drive unit (8), and the horizontal drive unit (10) are controlled, and the switching circuit (4) is controlled to control the printed circuit board. The automatic test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jig on which is mounted is switched and connected to the test circuit (3).