JPS6217998Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a connector holding device used in an automatic connector insertion device that automatically inserts a connector into a predetermined insertion hole of a substrate such as a printed circuit board.

The connector is a small electronic component having a shape approximately as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, and consists of a main body 1 and a plurality of legs 2 and 3 provided above and below. Each leg 2, 3 is formed by a metal conductor that penetrates the main body 1, and the number of legs is often about 2 to 10. The legs 2, 3 are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction, and the length varies depending on the number of legs. are different. Connectors have different orientations, up and down with respect to the directions of the legs 2 and 3, as well as different sizes of margins in the width direction, so it is necessary to distinguish between the orientations when attaching the connectors. In order to schematically indicate the orientation of the connector in a plane perpendicular to the legs 2, 3, the situation as shown in FIG. 1c will be indicated by a signal as shown in FIG. 1d. That is, the longitudinal direction is shown by two parallel sides, and the difference in the width direction is shown by the long side and short side. Note that the direction of the short side in the width direction will be referred to as direction 5 of the connector 4.

Electronic components inserted and mounted on the printed circuit board 6 are mounted in various orientations, and the connectors also have 4X orientation, 4X' orientation, and Y orientation as shown in FIG. It can be mounted in various orientations such as 4Y' and 4Y'.

Conventionally, connectors are inserted into printed circuit boards manually, but the work speed is limited due to the small size of the connectors, which makes it difficult to handle, and the difficulty of distinguishing the orientation before inserting. This method is slow and has the risk of being inserted in the wrong direction, resulting in extremely poor workability and reliability. Also, automatic insertion has been attempted, but no one has been found that has high speed, high workability, and high reliability.

However, in order to perform high-speed, highly reliable automatic connector insertion, it is essential that each part that makes up the automatic insertion device be high-speed and highly reliable. A fast and reliable holding mechanism for holding the connector and rotating it in a predetermined direction during transport has not been found.

The present invention realizes an automatic connector insertion device that is high speed, highly reliable, and has a simple structure by rotating a clamping claw that is supported so that it can be raised and lowered and rotated by pins that are easily clamped on both sides. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector holding device that enables the following.

The present invention includes a sleeve that supports a spindle having clamping claws that clamp the connector so that it can be raised and lowered and not rotate relative to each other, a pinion is fixed to the outer periphery of the sleeve, and two racks are engaged in parallel on both sides of the pinion. This connector holding device is characterized in that the end of the rack is pushed by a cylinder head that does not engage with the rack.

The present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings based on examples.
In the plan view of Fig. 3, 7 is a connector supply section, 8
A, 8B, 8C, 8D, and 8E are supply stations 9A, 9B, and 9, respectively, which supply different types of connectors.
This is a feeder that feeds each of C, 9D, and 9E one by one in a predetermined constant orientation. To simplify the explanation of the concept, we will not consider the differences between the types of connectors. Reference numeral 10 denotes a movement path of a holding mechanism, through which a plurality of (24 in the figure) holding mechanisms of connectors are provided in the transfer section, and is a circumference centered on the center 11. The holding mechanism is arranged to move intermittently at each pitch (in the figure, 1/24th of a circumference).

13 is a rotating station, 14 is a transfer station, and 15 is a return rotating station, and a transfer section 16 is provided including these three stations. 17 is an insertion portion, and 18 is an insertion position. Reference numeral 19 denotes a printed circuit board, which can be moved in any direction in the horizontal plane in the directions of X, X', Y, and Y' shown in the figure.

Regarding the direction of rotation, for convenience of explanation, in this specification, the clockwise direction is described as positive and the counterclockwise direction is described as negative, but the counterclockwise direction may also be described as positive.

Each supply station 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D,
At 9E, the signals are supplied in a predetermined order by a program or manual operation. At this time, the connector 4 is supplied in a state in which it is oriented in the direction of movement of the arrow 12 in the circumferential direction. The connector 4 that has moved along the moving path 10 is rotated by +90 degrees or -90 degrees at a rotating station 13 around an axis (referred to as the Z axis) perpendicular to the X and Y axes. In FIG. 3, the connector 4 on the rotating station 13 is
Rotated -90 degrees to face radially outward,
The connector 4 on the transfer station 14 is rotated +90 degrees so that it faces radially inward (Y direction).

At the delivery station 14, the connector 4 is delivered to the insertion section 17 while maintaining the same orientation. In this case, the connector 4 is inserted in the Y direction, so it is inserted into the printed circuit board 19 as it is without rotation (rotation angle of 0 degrees) in the insertion portion 17.

At the return rotation station 15, the holding claw of the connector rotated at the rotation station 13 is rotated so as to return it to its original orientation.

4. Cases requiring insertion in other orientations
This will be explained with reference to figures a, b, c, and d.

Figure a shows the same process as in Figure 3. In the same figure b, in order to make it in the X direction at the insertion position 18,
This shows that the rotating station 13 rotates +90 degrees, and the insertion portion 17 further rotates 90 degrees on one side, for example, -90 degrees. In the same figure c, in order to make it in the Y' direction, the insertion part 1 is rotated at -90 degrees at the rotation station 13.
7 indicates rotation by 0 degrees (ie, no rotation). Figure d shows that the rotating station 13 is rotated by -90 degrees and the insertion portion 17 is rotated by -90 degrees in order to make the X' direction. A structure in which one side of the insertion portion 17 is 90 degrees may be +90 degrees.

By rotating the rotation station 13 by ±90 degrees in advance in this manner, the insertion portion 17 can be rotated by a maximum of 90 degrees as the rotation range. If the rotation operation is performed only by the insertion part 17, the rotation range must be 270 degrees in order to arbitrarily select the directions X, X', Y, Y', and the insertion part 17 has a complicated structure. It is difficult to configure the device to rotate over such a wide range. In contrast, in the present invention, by dividing the rotation operation into two, the rotation angle at the insertion part 17 is small, the structure is simple, the operation is simple and fast, and the orientation can be selected from the program. Since this can be reliably carried out by instructions or instructions by manual operation, automatic insertion of the connector can be carried out at high speed, with high workability, and with high reliability.

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments and drawings.

In FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, to explain the whole, the base portion 20, the column portion 21, and the arm portion 22 constitute a frame portion, the transfer portion 23, the delivery portion 16, It supports the insertion section 17 and the table section 24. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, and 8E are feeders that store connectors of different types (eg, number of legs, etc.) and feed them one by one in a predetermined orientation, and a vibrating feeder or the like is used.

The transfer section 23 includes a holding mechanism 2 that holds the connector.
5 are arranged at equal intervals (1/24th of the circumference in the figure) on the same circumference (coinciding with the movement path 10), and this rotary table 26 is arranged at the pitch of the holding mechanism 25 (24th of the circumference in the figure). It is provided with an intermittent rotation mechanism 27 that rotates intermittently every 1 circumference.

The holding mechanism 25 includes a pair of clamping claws 28 that clamp the connector, and the clamping claws 28 rotate at +90 degrees around the Z axis.
It is supported so that it can be rotated to -90 degrees and moved up and down in the Z-axis direction. Supply station 9A, 9
On top of B, 9C, 9D, 9E are cylinders 29A,
29B, 29C, 29D, and 29E are provided, and by pushing out the rod, the clamping claws 28 are lowered to clamp the connectors supplied from the feeders 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, and 8E.

The transfer section 16 is equipped with cylinders 30 and 31 as rotation mechanisms for the rotation station 13, and the clamping claw 28 can be rotated by pushing one of the two racks provided on both sides of the pinion to rotate the pinion, for example. It is designed to rotate +90 degrees or -90 degrees around the Z axis. A cylinder 32 is provided above the delivery station 14, and by pushing out the rod, the clamping pawl 28 is lowered so that the connector is clamped on the delivery mechanism 33. The delivery mechanism 33 holds the connector and
It moves in the Y' direction and transfers the connector to the holding claw 34 of the insertion section 17.

The insertion part 17 is provided with a rotary part 35 that can be raised and lowered relative to the frame and rotatably supported around the Z axis, and a connector holding claw 34 and a connector holding claw 34 that are supported at a mutual interval and can be opened and closed are provided at the lower end of the rotary part 35. , a push rod 36 is provided that pushes approximately the center of the top surface of the connector.

The table section 24 includes a table moving mechanism 37 that holds the printed circuit board 19 and positions a predetermined insertion hole of the printed circuit board 19 at the insertion position 18 directly below the insertion section 17, and a predetermined leg of the inserted connector. A bending mechanism 38 is provided for bending the printed circuit board 19 from the back surface thereof.

To explain the overall function, feeder 8A
The connector supplied from etc. is cylinder 29A
The moving passage 10 is held by the holding claws 28 pushed down by the rotation table 26, and
is transferred along the rotation station 13 and rotated by +90 degrees or -90 degrees by the action of the cylinder 30 or 31, and the transfer station 14
, it is pushed down by the cylinder 32 and clamped again by the delivery mechanism 33, and further inserted into the insertion section 17.
It is positioned between the holding claws 34 of. After that, the holding claw 34 closes to hold the connector, and at the same time, the clamping of the delivery mechanism 33 is released to complete the delivery.After that, the connector is rotated at 0 degrees or 90 degrees on one side around the Z axis.
It is rotated once and lowered, and inserted into a predetermined insertion hole of the printed circuit board 19 in a predetermined direction.

After that, the bending mechanism 38 bends the printed circuit board 1.
The connector is fixed to the printed circuit board 19 by bending predetermined legs protruding from the back side of the connector 9.

Selection of the order in which connectors are supplied from each feeder 8A etc. to the holding mechanism 25, rotation station 13
selection of the rotation angle of +90 degrees or -90 degrees in the insertion section 17, selection of the rotation angle of 0 degrees or 90 degrees on one side in the insertion section 17, and the selection of the rotation angle of the printed circuit board 1 by the table moving mechanism 37.
The selection of the positions 9 is performed according to a program or manually as necessary, in accordance with a predetermined order.

The supply station (9C as an example) and the connector holding mechanism 25 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 9a, b, c, and d.

39C is a gutter section at the tip of the feeder 8C, and the connector 4 is aligned in a certain direction and located directly below the supply station 9C. In the holding mechanism 25, a spindle 40 having a pair of clamping claws 28A and 28B is supported in a sleeve 41 so as to be movable up and down in the Z-axis direction and without relative rotation in the rotational direction, and is always supported by a spring 42. It is receiving a force directed upward. A spring 43 is installed between the clamping claws 28A and 28B.
is attached, and the centering pin 99 maintains the center and always supports the closing force. sleeve 4
1 is rotatably supported by a pusher 44, and is configured to rotate by sliding either one of racks 47 and 48 provided in a cover 46 by sliding an integrally formed pinion 45. . The stopper 49, spring 50, and ball 51 are used to perform click stops of 90 degrees each. For example, in FIG. 3C, when the rack 48 is pushed in by the rod 52, the pinion 45 rotates, causing the clamping pawl 28A to rotate +90 degrees. At this time, the other rack 47 protrudes to 47'.

When the holding mechanism 25 comes directly above the supply station 9C, if it is necessary to accept the connector 4, the cylinder 2 is moved by a signal from a program or the like.
9C pushes down the spindle 40, and the clamping claw 28
A, 28B and push down the upper leg 2 of the connector 4.
If the cylinder 29C is compressed, the spring 42
pulled up by the force of It is preferable to tape the inside tips of the clamping claws 28A and 28B so that the legs 2 can be inserted smoothly.

FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the transfer section 16. In the rotary station 13, the cylinder 31 is actuated according to an instruction to push the rack 47 and push the connector at -90°.
Shows the state rotated. Delivery station 1
4, the holding mechanism 25 is shown still rotated by -90 degrees, and the return rotation station 15
Now, the cylinder 54 with the bar 53 is actuated to return the racks 47 and 48 to their neutral positions and to restore the original orientation of the clamping claws 28A, 28B.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the delivery section, and shows the cylinder 3
2, the spindle 40 is pushed down and the connector 4 held between the holding claws 28A and 28B is lowered.

33 is a delivery mechanism, and a fixed arm 55
A sliding body 56 is supported by a cylinder (not shown) or the like so as to slide back and forth in the Y-axis direction. The sliding body 56 has a reciprocating claw 58 reciprocatingly moved by a piston 57 and a pin 5 at its tip.
A swing claw 60 that swings around 9 is provided. The other end of the swing claw 60 is an arm 61, and a roller 62 at the tip is guided by a guide 63.
The guide 63 is raised and lowered by a cylinder 64.

In operation, the clamping claws 28A and 28B are pushed down by the cylinder 32, and after the lower leg 3 of the connector 4 enters between the reciprocating claw 58 and the swinging claw 60, the reciprocating claw 58 is moved forward. Hold leg 3 firmly. Even if the cylinder 32 is then retracted and the clamping claws 28A, 28B are raised by the force of the spring 42, the connector 4 remains clamped between the reciprocating claw 58 and the swinging claw 60. Next, the sliding body 56 is advanced to position the connector 4 between the holding claws 34 of the insertion portion 17, and the holding claws 34 are closed to hold the connector 4.
After that, the cylinder 64 is operated and the guide 63
When raised, the swing claw 60 swings counterclockwise and comes off, and at the same time, the reciprocating claw 58 is also moved back to release the clamping of the connector 4.

In this way, the connector 4 is delivered to the holding claw 34 of the insertion section 17 while maintaining the orientation (Y direction or Y' direction) on the delivery station 14.

This transfer is performed by keeping the longitudinal direction of the connector 4 parallel to the opening/closing direction (X-axis direction) of the holding claw 34.
By moving the connector along the direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the opening/closing direction (X-axis direction) of the holding claws 34 and positioning it between the holding claws 34, connectors of different sizes (especially lengths) can be moved. delivery can be carried out easily and smoothly.

As the supply section, a conveyor, chute, transfer robot, etc. may be used instead of the vibrating feeder. The transfer section is not limited to circular motion, and may be a chain conveyor or the like having a non-circular movement path. The connector holding mechanism for rotating the connector is not limited to the rack and pinion type, but may also use a cam link type, a lever striker type, or the like.

The present invention includes a sleeve that supports a spindle having clamping claws that clamp the connector so that it can be raised and lowered and rotated relative to each other, a pinion is fixed to the outer periphery of the sleeve, and two racks are engaged in parallel on both sides of the pinion. The connector holding device is characterized in that the end of the rack is pushed by a cylinder head that does not engage with the rack, and the structure of the holding device is simple. The original type allows easy pneumatic or hydraulic piping, and provides high-speed, highly reliable operation.
It is possible to provide a connector holding device that makes it possible to realize a high-speed, highly reliable automatic connector insertion device, which has extremely great practical effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings relate to embodiments of the present invention, and Figures 1a, b, and c are front views, side views, and plan views of the connector, Figure d is an abbreviated symbol in the plan view of the connector, and Figure 2 is a print A plan view showing the orientation of the connector on the board, FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view showing changes in the orientation of the connector, and FIGS. 4 a, b, c, and d are
FIG. 5 is a side view of the automatic insertion device and a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 7 (however, the holding mechanism is partially omitted); FIG. 7 is a front view, FIG. 8 is a sectional plan view taken along C-C of FIG. 5, FIG. 9a is a vertical sectional view of the supply station, and FIG. D-D of
10 is a plan view of the delivery part,
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the transfer station. 1... Main body, 2... Legs, 3... Legs, 4, 4X,
4X', 4Y, 4Y'... Connector, 5... Connector orientation, 6... Printed circuit board, 7... Connector supply section, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E... Feeder, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E... Supply station, 10... Moving passage, 11... Center,
12...Arrow, 13...Rotating station, 14
...Delivery station, 15...Return rotation station, 16...Delivery section, 17...Insertion section, 18
...Insertion position, 19...Printed circuit board, 20...
Base part, 21... Column part, 22... Arm part, 2
3... Transfer unit, 24... Table part, 25... Holding mechanism, 26... Rotating table, 27... Intermittent rotation mechanism, 28, 28A, 28B... Clamping claw, 29
A, 29B, 29C, 29D, 29E...Cylinder, 30...Cylinder, 31...Cylinder, 32
... Cylinder, 33 ... Delivery mechanism, 34 ... Holding claw, 35 ... Rotating part, 36 ... Push rod, 37 ...
Table moving mechanism, 38... Bending mechanism, 39C...
...Gutter section, 40...Spindle, 41...Sleeve, 42...Spring, 43...Spring, 44...Button, 45...Pinion, 46...Cover, 4
7,47'...Rack, 48...Rack, 49...
...Stopper, 50...Spring, 51...Ball, 5
2...Rod, 53...Bar, 54...Cylinder, 55...Arm, 56...Sliding body, 57...
Piston, 58... Reciprocating pawl, 59... Pin, 60
...Swinging claw, 61...Arm, 62...Roller,
63...Guide, 64...Cylinder.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A sleeve is provided to support a spindle having clamping claws for clamping the connector so that it can be raised and lowered and not rotate relative to each other, a pinion is fixed to the outer periphery of the sleeve, two racks are engaged in parallel on both sides of the pinion, and the A connector holding device characterized in that the end of the rack is pushed by a cylinder head that does not engage with the rack.