JPH07312500A - Method and apparatus for transferring printed board - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a method for transferring a printed board in which the stability of device temporarily mounted on the printed board and the quality of the printed board are enhanced. CONSTITUTION:A printed board 2 to be transferred onto a process line is held by a holding means 14 on the inlet side and a pallet 3 for protecting the printed board 2 against warp is lifted by means of a pallet lift 11. Consequently, the printed board 2 is transferred, along with the pallet 3, onto the process line while being supported from the underside.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of carrying a printed board in a heat treatment line for printed boards and a carrying device used for the carrying method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a processing line for manufacturing a mounted printed circuit board, mounted parts such as chip parts and resistors are mounted on the printed circuit board, and the mounted parts are conveyed to, for example, a heat treatment line to be adhered and fixed to a circuit pattern. In this case, the printed circuit board in which mounted components are temporarily fixed on the printed circuit board is held by a holding device such as an adsorption device or an air chuck for adsorbing and holding the printed circuit board or the like, and carried into the heat treatment line.

Then, the printed circuit board carried into the heat treatment line is subjected to heat treatment at a predetermined temperature by a heating means such as a heater while being transferred by a conveying means, and the terminal portion of the mounted component and the circuit pattern are fixed by a solder paste. It is what is done.

[0004]

However, in the method of loading the printed circuit board into the processing line as described above,
Since the printed circuit board is temporarily sucked and held by the suction device or the like, when the suction tube for suction and the surface of the printed circuit board come into contact with each other, the impact at the contact or the surface of the printed circuit board and the plurality of suction tubes are There is a problem that the temporarily mounted mounting component may be displaced or dropped from the printed circuit board due to an impact or the like due to the non-uniform contact timing.

Further, there is a problem that the printed circuit board is deformed by thermal stress due to the heat treatment and warpage occurs.

As described above, the conventional method of carrying a printed circuit board into a processing line has problems to be solved in terms of stability and board quality of mounted components temporarily fixed on the printed circuit board.

[0007]

The gist of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the above-mentioned object is to hold a printed circuit board carried into a processing line at a holding means at an inlet side to prevent warpage of the printed circuit board. A method of transporting a printed circuit board in which the printed circuit board is supported from below by lifting the pallet by a pallet lifting device that supports the pallet to be lifted up and down, and the printed circuit board is carried into the processing line while being supported by the pallet. That is.

Further, the support of the printed circuit board by the pallet is such that the printed circuit board is floated from the supporting surface of the holding means; and the processed printed circuit board is processed by the pallet lifting device provided on the exit side of the processing line. Separating and lowering the pallet from the pallet to support the printed circuit board on the supporting surface of the supporting member; pallet raising and lowering devices provided on the inlet side and the outlet side of the processing line, and the pallet raising and lowering device in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. Circulating and transferring the pallets between the processing line and the pallet returning line, which are arranged in parallel, by the moving horizontal slide device.

The gist of the printed board carrying device is that the carrying means is provided below the holding means for holding the printed board and carries a pallet for preventing warpage of the printed board and transfers it to the processing line. A pallet elevating device formed by a positioning means for positioning the pallet placed on the conveying means and an elevating means for elevating the conveying means and the positioning means is provided.

The holding means and the pallet elevating device are provided on the inlet side and the outlet side of the processing line. Further, the processing line and the pallet returning line are provided side by side, and the inlet side and the outlet side thereof. The pallet raising / lowering device provided in the above is a printed board carrying device provided with a lateral slide device for reciprocating between the two lines.

[0011]

According to the printed board carrying apparatus of the present invention, the printed board held by the holding means at the inlet side of the processing line is supported by the pallet lifted from the lower side of the printed board by the pallet lifting device. The impact on the printed circuit board is minimized, and the positional displacement of the temporarily mounted mounting component is prevented.

Further, the pallet supporting the printed circuit board from the lower side prevents the printed circuit board from being deformed due to the heat treatment, so that the printed circuit board can be maintained in high quality.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, one embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a printed circuit board carrying device 1 according to the present invention mounts a pallet 3 for preventing the printed circuit board 2 from warping and transfers the pallet 3 to a carrying means 4a in a reflow furnace 4. Chain conveyors 5 and 5 as a transporting means, a positioning cylinder 6 that positions the pallet 3 placed on the chain conveyor 5 at a predetermined position, and the chain conveyors 5 and 5 and the positioning cylinder 6 are supported. Frame 7
And a horizontal slide device 9 for moving the elevating device 8 in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the printed circuit board 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pallet 3 is for preventing warpage due to thermal stress when the printed circuit board 2 is heat-treated in the reflow furnace 4, and is a flat plate-shaped base 3.
a, reference pins 3b and 3b provided upright on the base 3a,
Similarly, supporting members 3c, 3 for the printed circuit board 2 which are provided upright.
, and transport flanges 3d, 3d provided on both ends of the base 3a.

The tip of the reference pin 3b is fitted into the fitting hole 2a of the printed board 2, and the stepped portion of the reference pin 3b and the tip surface of the support member 3c form the printed board 2.
The printed circuit board 2 is positioned and placed on the pallet 3 while supporting the.

As shown in FIG. 1, one of the chain conveyors 5 and 5 is provided on a shaft 7a pivotally supported by a frame 7 so that one chain conveyor 5 can slide laterally via a movable mounting plate 7b. By setting the width between the conveyors appropriately,
When the width of the pallet 3 changes (that is, when the size of the printed circuit board 2 changes), it can be dealt with.

The length of the chain conveyors 5, 5 in the carrying direction (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface) is at least approximately equal to or longer than the length of the flange 3d of the pallet 3.

The positioning cylinder 6 is for positioning the pallet 3 transferred to the chain conveyors 5 and 5, and the pin 6a freely retractable from the cylinder portion.
Is fitted into a reference hole (not shown) formed in the lower surface of the base 3a of the pallet and positioned. Further, similarly to the above, it is slidably provided in the lateral direction on the shaft 7c pivotally supported by the frame 7 so as to correspond to the change in the width of the pallet 3.

The elevating device 8 elevates and lowers the frame body 7 in the vertical direction, and the tip of the rod 8a is fixed to the lower surface of the frame body 7. This device may be any device that can control the amount of elevation and the rate of elevation using an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lateral slide device 9 is used for raising and lowering the pallet in the transfer device 1 provided at the inlet side and the outlet side of the pallet return line 10 arranged in parallel with the reflow furnace 4. This is for reciprocating the device 11 to the reflow furnace 4 side and the pallet return line 10 side.

As a device for this lateral movement,
The ball screw 9a, which is laid horizontally between the side walls of the frame 1a of the carrier device 1, can be reciprocated by being rotated by a servomotor or the like. Further, the hydraulic cylinder, the air cylinder, the rack and pinion, or the like can be used for lateral movement without being limited thereto.

In the printed board carrying device 1 formed as described above, as shown in FIG. 2, a reflow furnace 4 as a heat treatment line for the printed board and a pallet return line 10 are provided in the middle of the printed board manufacturing line. , For example, printed circuit board mounting line 12 and image inspection line 13
Are provided in parallel with each other, and are provided on the inlet side and the outlet side. The method of use will be described below.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a pallet elevating device 11 on the pallet return line 10 side in the left-right direction on the inlet side of the reflow furnace 4, which is separated from the printed circuit board 2 and conveyed in the return line 10. The pallet 3 returned by the means 10a has its flanges 3d and 3d.
And is transferred onto the chain conveyors 5 and 5 via. Movement of the pallet 3 in the returning direction is stopped by a stop stopper 15 using an air cylinder.

Then, the pin 6a of the positioning cylinder 6
Is raised to fit into the reference hole of the base 3a, and the pallet 3
Position. Due to this positioning, the reference pin 3b of the pallet 3 is subsequently moved to the fitting hole 2 of the printed circuit board 2.
It is precisely aligned with a.

Next, the horizontal slide device 9 positions the pallet elevating device 11 at the inlet of the reflow furnace 4 side of the processing line.

After the pallet raising / lowering device 11 has stopped its lateral movement at a predetermined position, the printed circuit board 2 is carried out from the printed circuit board mounting line 12 and pushed out by an air cylinder or the like to be transferred to temporarily mount the mounted components. The substrate holding guides 14, 14 are conveyed to the U-shaped groove-shaped holding portions 14 a facing each other. Then, the movement of the printed circuit board 2 in the carrying direction is stopped by the stop stopper 16 using the air cylinder. This printed circuit board 2 has a pallet 3
Attach and combine.

In this uniting, FIG. 3 to FIG.
As shown in (b), the lifting device 8 of the pallet lifting device 11 that has moved from the pallet return line 10 side is in the state of being lowered downward, and from that condition, the lifting device 8 is operated to extend the rod 8a. Then, the frame 7 and the pallet 3 are raised.

Then, the pallet 3 approaches the printed board 2 held by the board holding guides 14, 14 and the reference pins 3b, 3b are fitted in the fitting holes 2a, and the stepped portion of the reference pin 3b is formed. The printed board 2 is supported by the front end surface of the support member 3c.

At this time, impacting the mounting component 2b temporarily fixed to the printed circuit board 2 causes the mounting component 2b to drop or be displaced. Then, the pallet 3 is brought close to the printed circuit board 2.

When at least the pallet 3 comes into contact with the printed circuit board 2, it is necessary to control the lifting device 8 so that the lifting speed of the lifting device 8 is slowed down to achieve a soft touch.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, since the printed circuit board 2 is lifted and supported by the pallet 3 from the lower side, the lower surface of the printed circuit board 2 is at the holding portion 14 a of the substrate holding guide 14. It is in a state of being slightly raised from the support surface 14b.

In this way, the pallet 3 is used to print the printed circuit board 2
Is kept slightly lifted from the supporting surface 14b of the substrate holding guide 14, and the pin 6a of the positioning cylinder 6 is lowered and retracted to release the positioning engagement with the base 3a, and further the stop stopper 16 After releasing the stopping action of No. 3, the chain conveyors 5 and 5 are operated to move the pallet 3 in the carrying direction.

Thus, the pallet 3 and the printed circuit board 2 supported by the pallet 3 are transferred from the chain conveyor 5 to the conveying means 4a provided in the reflow furnace 4. The transfer means 4a of the reflow furnace 4 is formed of, for example, a chain conveyor.

Next, the printed circuit board 2 transported by the transporting means 4a at a predetermined speed is heat-treated in the reflow furnace 4, so that each terminal portion of the mounted component 2b of the printed circuit board 2 and the circuit pattern are soldered. It is fixed with paste. At this time, even if the printed circuit board 2 receives thermal stress, the pallet 3
The occurrence of sleds is blocked by.

After the pallet 3 is conveyed to the reflow furnace 4, the pallet elevating device 11 is lowered by the elevating device 8 and further moved to the inlet side of the pallet return line 10 by the horizontal slide device 8. So again pallet 3
To carry in and receive.

The processed printed circuit board 2 and pallet 3 carried out from the reflow furnace 4 are stopped on the chain conveyors 5 and 5 of the pallet elevating device 11 provided at the exit side of the processing line. It is positioned and set by means. The printed circuit board 2 is in a state of slightly floating from the supporting surface 14b of the substrate holding guide 14.

Then, the rod 8a of the lifting device 8 is retracted into the cylinder body by the reverse procedure shown in (c) to (a) of FIG. 5 also descends, and the pallet 3 set on the conveyors 5 and 5 has its own weight and thus the printed circuit board 2
Separate from and descend.

Then, the printed board 2 descends as the pallet 3 descends, and both ends thereof are held by the board holding guide 1.
The substrate holding guide 1 is brought into contact with the supporting surfaces 14b of
Supported by 4. After that, the printed circuit board 2 is pushed by an air cylinder (not shown) and transferred to the image inspection line 13 in the next step.

Further, the pallet lifting device 11 on the outlet side
Keeps the pallet 3 and the frame 7 etc. lowered,
It is moved to the pallet return line 10 side by the lateral slide device 9.

Then, the chain conveyors 5 and 5 are operated to load the pallet 3 into the pallet return line 10. In this way, the pallet 3 is returned to the inlet side of the reflow furnace 4, and the reflow furnace 4 and the pallet return line 1
It is cycled between 0.

After the mounting component 2b is temporarily fixed to the printed circuit board 2 as described above, the printed circuit board 2 is supported from below by the warp preventing pallet 3.
Since it supports the printed circuit board 2 without giving an impact,
The mounting component 2b is prevented from being displaced, and the pallet 3 prevents the board from warping.

[0042]

As described above, according to the method of transporting a printed circuit board of the present invention, the printed circuit board carried into the processing line is held by the holding means at the inlet side, and the pallet for preventing the printed circuit board from warping can be raised and lowered. The printed circuit board is supported from below by lifting the pallet with a pallet lifting device that supports the pallet, and the pallet is supported on the printed circuit board because the printed circuit board is carried into the processing line while being supported by the pallet. When installing it, you can suppress the impact as much as possible and make it contact softly,
Not only can the displacement of mounted components and the drop from the board be prevented, but since it is supported from the bottom side of the board, there is no need for a handling space on the front side of the printed circuit board, which increases the degree of freedom in design and the mounting area. It has the excellent effect of becoming wider.

Further, the printed circuit board can be carried into a processing line such as a reflow furnace while being supported by a pallet, and the printed circuit board is prevented from warping, and a high-quality mounted printed circuit board having no positional deviation of mounted components is manufactured. It has an excellent effect that it can be done.

Since the support of the printed circuit board by the pallet is such that the printed circuit board is floated from the supporting surface of the holding means, the support of the pallet by the pallet elevating device is reliable and the appearance can be confirmed. Produce the effect.

The pallet lifting device provided on the exit side of the processing line separates and lowers the pallet from the processed printed circuit board to support the printed circuit board on the supporting surface of the holding means. The pallet lifting device provided on the inlet side and the outlet side and the horizontal slide device for moving the pallet lifting device in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction circulate and transfer the pallets between the processing line and the pallet returning line which are arranged in parallel. So I decided
There is an excellent effect that the pallet can be circulated and used and the work efficiency is improved.

The printed board carrying device is arranged below the holding means for holding the printed board, and carries a pallet for preventing warpage of the printed board and transfers it to the processing line, and the carrying means. Since a pallet elevating device formed by positioning means for positioning the pallet placed on the pallet and elevating means for elevating and lowering the carrying means and the positioning means is provided, the pallet is positioned and mounted on the printed circuit board, There is an excellent effect that the printed circuit board can be softly supported by the pallet from the lower side and the positional deviation of the temporarily fixed mounted product on the printed circuit board can be prevented.

Further, the holding means and the pallet raising / lowering device are provided on the inlet side and the outlet side of the processing line, and the pallet raising / lowering device provided on the inlet side and the outlet side of the processing line and the pallet returning line are arranged in parallel. Since the horizontal slide device that reciprocates between the two lines is provided, it becomes possible to efficiently circulate and collect the pallets by reciprocally moving the pallet elevating device of the transfer device to the pallet return line. It has an excellent effect that automation of the mounting line can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a printed board carrying device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of a printed circuit board mounting line in a state where the printed circuit board transfer device is provided on an inlet side and an outlet side of a processing line of a reflow furnace.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pallet used in the method of transporting a printed circuit board according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method of transporting a printed circuit board according to the present invention,
Explanatory diagrams showing how the pallets are combined on the printed circuit board and how to separate them by the reverse procedure (a), (b),
(C).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printed circuit board transport device, 1a frame, 2 printed circuit boards, 2a fitting holes, 2b mounting parts, 3 pallets, 3a base, 3b reference pins, 3c support members, 3d flange, 4 reflow furnace, 4a reflow furnace Conveying means, 5 chain conveyors, 6 positioning cylinders, 6a pins, 7 frames, 8 lifting devices, 8a rods, 9 lateral slide devices, 9a axes, 10 pallet returning lines, 10a pallet returning line conveying means, 11 pallet lifting devices , 12 printed circuit board mounting line, 13 board inspection line, 14 board support guide, 14a holding part, 14b support surface, 15, 16 stop stopper.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A printed circuit board to be carried into a processing line is held by a holding means at an inlet side, and the printed circuit board is lifted by a pallet elevating device which supports a pallet for preventing warpage of the printed circuit board so that the pallet can be moved up and down. A method of transporting a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is supported from below and is carried into the processing line while being supported by a pallet. 2. A printed circuit board is supported by a pallet,
The method of transporting a printed circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is floated from the supporting surface of the holding means. 3. The pallet elevating device provided on the outlet side of the processing line separates and lowers the pallet from the processed printed circuit board to support the printed circuit board on the supporting surface of the holding means. Alternatively, the method of transporting the printed circuit board according to item 2. 4. A processing line and a pallet return line arranged in parallel by a pallet raising / lowering device provided on the inlet side and the outlet side of the processing line and a horizontal slide device for moving the pallet raising / lowering device in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The method for conveying a printed circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the pallet is circulated and transferred between the pallets. 5. Conveying means, which is disposed below a holding means for holding the printed circuit board, places a pallet for preventing warpage of the printed circuit board and transfers the pallet onto the processing line, and the conveying means. A printed circuit board carrying device comprising a pallet elevating device formed by positioning means for positioning the pallet and elevating means for elevating and lowering the carrying means and the positioning means. 6. The printed board carrying device according to claim 5, wherein the holding means and the pallet lifting device are provided at an inlet side and an outlet side of the processing line. 7. A horizontal slide device for arranging a processing line and a pallet return line in parallel and for reciprocally moving a pallet elevating device provided on the inlet side and the outlet side between the two lines. The printed circuit board transport device according to claim 5.