Separating machine and method for separating individual printed circuit boards from printed circuit board panels

Abstract

A separation machine (10) and method for separating individual printed circuit boards (113) from a printed circuit board panel.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a separation machine for separating individual printed circuit boards from a printed circuit board panel (also called a circuit board panel or PCB panel). The present invention also relates to a method for operating such a separation machine.

[0002] In the industrialized and highly automated production of electronic products, the use of efficient and precise manufacturing technology is a basic requirement. In the manufacture of electronic products, in order to be able to provide products at market prices, they must be produced reliably and in very large quantities with high quality standards. Therefore, the efficiency of the machines used must be continuously improved. An important method step in the manufacture of electronic components is to separate the printed circuit board panels into individual components, that is, separate into individual printed circuit boards, after the printed circuit board panels have been filled with components and then soldered. Considering the complexity of today's components and circuit structures, the soiling and contamination of components and printed circuit boards caused by the particles and dust generated are particularly problematic. This not only reduces the production yield in the manufacture of electronic products, but also undetected errors in the components may have a far-reaching impact on product safety. Therefore, when handling printed circuit board panels and printed circuit boards, it is particularly important to capture and separate particles and dust as completely as possible.

[0003] The cycle time of the machine used consists of the assembly time, the processing time and any transition times between the processing steps. These times cannot be adjusted at will, because, for example, if the work is carried out too quickly, the components may be damaged or welded incorrectly. This leads to defective batches or subsequent failures in the final product.

[0004] From CN 112497288 B a machine for automatic cutting or separation of circuit boards is known.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to improve process reliability and efficiency when separating individual printed circuit boards from a printed circuit board panel.

[0006] This object is achieved in particular by a separating machine for separating individual printed circuit boards from a printed circuit board panel according to claim 1 .

[0007] In particular, the separating machine comprises a separating head which has a separating tool and is movable on a machine frame, the separating head being movable by means of an axis drive along a vertical z-axis and a y-axis extending perpendicularly to the z-axis.

[0008] Furthermore, the separation machine comprises at least two substrates which can be moved parallel to one another on the machine frame by means of a linear direct drive between a loading position and a separation position along an x-axis extending perpendicularly to the z-axis and perpendicularly to the y-axis. At least one printed circuit board panel can be arranged on each of the substrates. The at least one printed circuit board panel can be arranged directly on the substrate; however, it is also conceivable that the at least one printed circuit board panel is arranged indirectly on the relevant substrate via a holding device.

[0009] The linear direct drives each include a motor portion and a magnetic track interacting with the motor portion.

[0010] The separation machine further comprises a control unit for controlling the axis drives, the separation head and the linear direct drive, the control unit being configured to cause the separation tool to separate individual printed circuit boards from a panel of printed circuit boards during a separation process. The linear direct drives can be controlled independently of each other so that one substrate is in the loading position and another substrate is in the separation position for the separation process.

[0011] Such a separation machine has the advantage that the printed circuit board panels can be replaced particularly quickly, thus achieving low idle times in the production process. By providing at least two substrates, one printed circuit board panel can always be processed in the separation position, while the other substrate can be loaded or unloaded in the loading position. This type of separation machine can advantageously increase the efficiency of electronic product manufacturing.

[0012] It is conceivable that the separation tool is designed as a milling cutter and / or a saw and / or a laser and / or a knife, which can be replaced depending on the printed circuit board panel to be separated. By using a separation tool suitable for the separation task, the process reliability can be increased. In addition, a tool changer for replacing the separation tool can be provided in the separation machine.

[0013] Advantageously, the relevant motor part of the linear direct drive is arranged in a fixed position on the machine frame, and the relevant magnetic track is arranged on the relevant base plate. The linear direct drive transmits the driving force magnetically without a mechanical interaction transmission medium and is therefore maintenance-free and does not cause wear, which can cause dirt in the separation machine. The cables connected to the moving parts should be bundled and routed in the machine and should not be loosely routed to the relevant moving parts. The cables can be clamped by the moving parts, or the insulators can be worn through, resulting in failures. In conventional designs, the motor part is mobile and the magnetic track is rigidly connected to the machine frame, and conventional designs therefore require cable carriers to route and protect the cables. The unusual arrangement of the motor part and the magnetic track on the relevant base plate and the machine frame has the following advantages: the cable carrier for cable routing can be omitted. This reduces the risk of failure of the separation machine due to worn or broken drive cables, and also reduces the maintenance workload required for the separation machine. In addition, the mass of the moving base plate is reduced not only by eliminating the moving cable, but also by arranging the lighter magnetic track on the base plate instead of on the heavier motor part.

[0014] It is conceivable that the relevant motor part is designed to be guideless and that guide rails are arranged at a distance from the relevant motor part to guide the substrate on the machine frame. By separating drive and guide, the machine can be designed to be particularly maintenance-friendly. The arrangement of guide rails, for example at the edge of the substrate, ensures a particularly good and stable mounting of the substrate, which increases processing reliability.

[0015] It is further advantageous that three guide rails are provided for guiding the two substrates, the three guide rails having guide carriages and extending parallel to each other, a first guide carriage for the first substrate and a second guide carriage for the second substrate being arranged on a first central guide rail. Thus, the first central guide rail has a dual function: firstly, it guides the first substrate and secondly, it also guides the second substrate.

[0016] It is also conceivable that the second guide rail and the third guide rail each have at least one and preferably two guide carriages. The guide carriage of the second guide rail is provided for guiding the first substrate, and the guide carriage of the third guide rail is provided for guiding the second substrate. Compared with conventional solutions, this arrangement saves one guide rail, in which two guide rails are provided for each substrate, i.e. a total of four guide rails.

[0017] Advantageously, a carrier part is arranged between the relevant substrate and the relevant guide slide. In particular, it is advantageous that, when two guide slides are arranged on a guide rail for one substrate, a common carrier part is arranged between the two guide slides and the one substrate, which is in particular the case with a second guide rail and a third guide rail. The carrier part connects the guide slides to each other and to the substrate. The guide slide can be used to provide a distance between the substrate and the machine frame, which is required by the linear direct drive or other components below the substrate. In addition, the carrier part ensures improved rigidity of the arrangement, which in turn ensures improved and less wear-prone guiding of the substrate.

[0018] Advantageously, a carrier portion which is L-shaped in plan view is arranged between the first guide carriage and the first substrate and / or between the second guide carriage and the second substrate on the first central guide rail in each case. This L-shaped carrier portion allows the substrate to be arranged on the associated guide carriage of the first central guide rail so that the substrates can be moved independently of each other. The L-shaped carrier portion has an elongated portion extending over the entire length of the substrate and a short rectangular portion extending parallel to the elongated portion and arranged at one end of the elongated portion. The two short rectangular portions are each arranged on the associated opposite sides of the elongated portion. On this short rectangular portion, the guide carriage of the associated substrate is arranged on the first central guide rail.

[0019] It is conceivable that one substrate is supported and / or guided in the region of the first central guide rail by the carrier part of the other substrate. The lower side of the substrate is located on the upper side of the L-shaped carrier part of the other substrate in the lateral edge region. This provides an advantageous support for the substrate when handling a printed circuit board panel arranged on the substrate, in particular when the separating tool exerts a vertical force on the printed circuit board panel and thus on the substrate.

[0020] It is also advantageous if a position measuring system is provided for detecting the position of the relevant substrate. Advantageously, the position measuring system has in each case a sensor arranged in a fixed position on the machine frame and a signal generator on the relevant substrate, the signal generator interacting with the sensor. The position measuring system can be designed as a contactless incremental measuring system or an absolute measuring system, with a read head as sensor and a magnetic tape as signal generator for the read head. The control unit of the machine can advantageously utilize the detection of the position of the substrate to ensure process reliability.

[0021] It is conceivable that at least two loading compartments are provided on the separation machine, in each of which a substrate in its loading position can be loaded with a printed circuit board panel independently of the other loading compartment. Advantageously, each loading compartment has a separate lockable sliding cover, the control unit and the loading system being configured such that the sliding cover of the relevant loading compartment is locked when the relevant substrate is in its separation position. This can prevent problems when loading the separation machine and also reduce the risk of injury to the operator when loading the machine due to moving machine parts or due to separation tools.

[0022] It can also be provided that the control unit is configured so that during the separation process, a relative movement between the substrate and the separation head occurs in the direction of the x-axis by actuating an associated linear direct drive. By using the linear direct drive as the x-axis, no additional axis drive is required. Nor is any conveying device from the loading compartment to the separation process required. This simplifies the entire mechanics of the separation machine and reduces the probability of failure of the separation machine.

[0023] It is also advantageous if the separation head is arranged on a gantry in a rigid and immovable manner in the x-direction. The gantry is designed such that the underlying substrate can be moved in the x-direction.

[0024] It is also conceivable to design the shaft drives of the separation head as linear direct drives, each of which consists of a carriage and a guide and in which the drive force is transmitted directly without mechanical transmission elements. The drive of the separation head is thus wear-free and thus increases the efficiency and process reliability of the separation machine.

[0025] Advantageously, the linear direct drive and the axis drive each have a drive controller, the control unit then being designed to communicate with the associated drive controller.

[0026] It is also conceivable that the control unit comprises a process control module for communicating with a process control system and / or a machine control module for communicating with the drive controller.

[0027] It may be provided that the control unit is configured to access a database via the process control system.

[0028] It is further advantageous if a camera system is provided with at least one camera and a data interface and is configured to record the circuit board panel. The camera system can be used to detect the position of the printed circuit board panel arranged on the substrate and to feed the position to the control unit. Furthermore, quality features can be identified on the printed circuit board panel and used for quality assurance measures.

[0029] Advantageously, the control unit may comprise a user interface module for communicating with a user interface. Processing data of the separation machine may be displayed on the user interface and / or control commands may be input via the user interface and transmitted to the control unit.

[0030] It can be provided that the control unit comprises an image processing module and a camera module for communicating with the camera system. If a camera system is provided in the separating machine, the camera image material can be processed by means of the image processing module.

[0031] It can be provided that an extraction device is provided in the separation machine for extracting particles when separating individual printed circuit boards from a printed circuit board panel. The extraction device provides an extraction opening extending around a central axis and at least one compressed air nozzle, which is provided for generating a compressed air flow directed in the direction of the main air flow. The compressed air nozzle is particularly arranged in the extraction opening so that the main air flow direction is directed towards the workpiece to be separated. In addition, a compressed air line can be provided to supply compressed air to the compressed air nozzle.

[0032] A valve unit may be provided in the compressed air line, the valve unit being designed to generate a compressed air flow pulsating at a pulse frequency so as to detach particles adhering to the printed circuit board panel and / or the printed circuit board and / or to cause the printed circuit board panel and / or the printed circuit board to vibrate due to the impact of the pulsating compressed air flow. This may further increase process reliability.

[0033] Furthermore, it can be provided that the valve unit is designed as an electrically actuated switching valve and the control unit is provided for actuating the switching valve to generate the pulse frequency. This has the advantage that it allows simple control of the switching valve and integration into commercially available control systems or machine controllers.

[0034] It has also proven to be advantageous if the switching valve is actuated by the control unit such that the pulse frequency is in the range of 1 Hz to 60 Hz, in particular 20 Hz to 40 Hz, and more particularly 30 Hz. Advantageously, the pulse frequency of the compressed air flow is transmitted to the workpiece and the workpiece is then vibrated to remove adhering particles.

[0035] It is also conceivable that the control unit is configured to control the switching valve in an open loop as a function of the workpiece parameters of the printed circuit board panel and / or in a closed loop as a function of the measured vibration frequency. This is advantageous because it ensures even greater process reliability by maintaining tolerances on the vibration frequency.

[0036] An ionizer may also be provided for ionizing the compressed air forming the compressed air flow. This allows the generation of ionized compressed air in the vicinity of the separation machine to ensure the best possible ionization of the air molecules used to form the compressed air. Advantageously, therefore, the at least one compressed air nozzle is made of a non-conductive material, in particular a non-conductive plastic material. The non-conductive plastic material advantageously maintains the ionized state of the air molecules and does not compensate for the ionization of the air molecules until the compressed air of the compressed air flow hits the printed circuit board panel and / or the printed circuit board or more precisely the particles to be removed.

[0037] Furthermore, it can be provided that a nozzle ring is provided, which forms the extraction opening, on which the at least one compressed air nozzle and preferably three compressed air nozzles are arranged at an angular distance of 120° from one another. With three compressed air nozzles, a favorable compressed air quality can be directed onto the printed circuit board panel and / or the printed circuit board by means of a compressed air flow. By arranging the compressed air nozzles on one component, the mountability on the separating machine is designed in an advantageous manner.

[0038] Advantageously, the main air flow direction of the at least one compressed air nozzle is such that during operation, the compressed air flow generates a vortex around a central axis.

[0039] Furthermore, it can be provided that the nozzle ring also has a circular outer contour with a flat spot at which one or more compressed air connections are arranged.

[0040] Advantageously, the nozzle ring has, on the upper side facing the extraction opening, a circumferential shoulder surrounding the extraction opening and having a shoulder edge, and the at least one compressed air nozzle is arranged on the shoulder edge. This has the advantage that the arrangement of the compressed air nozzle on the shoulder edge causes little disruption to the compressed air flow leaving the compressed air nozzle, and this flow can be formed in the best possible way.

[0041] The nozzle ring can have an upper side facing the extraction opening and a lower side facing away from the extraction opening, the upper side and the lower side being parallel to each other.

[0042] It is also conceivable that the nozzle ring has a sensor holder for a tool sensor, a sensor nozzle being arranged pointing toward the sensor holder. The sensor is in particular configured to detect wear or breakage of the separating tool. Due to the deposition of particles, the function of the sensor may be impaired, since it may in particular be an optical sensor. The sensor nozzle is advantageously designed to blow off deposited particles on the sensor by means of compressed air.

[0043] Advantageously, an extraction system is provided on the separation machine with a vacuum source, with a vacuum line for connecting an extraction device to the vacuum source and with a displacement device for displacing the vacuum line to a movable position of the extraction device. Advantageously, the extraction device and the other components are adapted to each other so that the extraction works in an optimal manner and all components work together. This leads to an increase in process reliability and efficiency.

[0044] This object is also achieved by a method according to claim 28 .

[0045] Further details and advantageous designs of the invention can be found in the following description, on the basis of which embodiments of the invention are described and explained in more detail.

[0046] Figure 1 : shows a separation machine for separating individual printed circuit boards from a printed circuit board panel, the separation machine having a display and two loading compartments; Figure 2 : A view into the interior of the separation machine shows the separation machine without a housing. Figure 1 A separation machine having a left substrate and a right substrate and a movable separation head; Figure 3 : It is from Figure 2 Detailed view of the base plates in the front position, each base plate having a driver and three guides; Figure 4 :shows the Figure 3 , wherein the left substrate is in a front position and the right substrate is in a rear position; Figure 5 :It is based on Figure 4 A view of the drive and guide of the left base plate; Figure 6 : Shown in front view according to Figures 3 to 5 A base plate having a guide and a driver; Figure 7 :shows the Figures 3 to 6 guides and actuators for the base plate, wherein the left actuator is in a front position and the right actuator is in a rear position; Figure 8: Shows the basis without substrate Figures 3 to 7 A guide and a driver for a substrate, wherein the left driver is in a rear position and the right driver is in a front position; Fig. 9 : Shown is a circuit board with an extraction device and a printed circuit board from Figure 1 and Figure 2 A movable separation head; and Fig.10 :It is used to visualize Figure 1 Illustration of the interconnection of a control unit of a separation machine with other components of the separation machine.

[0047] Figure 1 A separation machine 10 for separating individual printed circuit boards from a panel of printed circuit boards is shown having a machine frame 12, a cover 14, two loading bays 16 and 18, and a user interface 20. A Cartesian coordinate system having X, Y, and Z axes is shown to specify orientation.

[0048] The separation machine 10 further comprises a control unit 22, which is shown at Fig. 9 middle.

[0049] The user interface 20 includes a light bar 24 and a screen 26 as displays and a keyboard 28 and a scanner 30 as inputs.

[0050] The machine frame 12 , on which the separating machine 10 is mounted, is supported on a total of four height-adjustable machine feet 32 ​​.

[0051] In addition, Figure 1 In the embodiment, the movable separation head 38 is visible through a transparent element 34 in the front side 36 of the cover 14, which transparent element can in particular be made of glass or plastic material. Figure 2 ) can be separated using a separation tool 40 (shown in Fig. 9 ) handling a printed circuit board panel 112 inserted into one of the loading compartments 16 or 18 (in Fig. 9 middle).

[0052] The movable separation head 38 can be moved along the y-axis by means of an axis drive 44. The axis drive 44 can be designed as a linear direct drive and is arranged on a gantry 48 (shown in FIG. Figure 2 The axis drive 44 has a guide 50 and a guide carriage 52. The separation head 38 is arranged on the guide carriage 52 by another axis drive 54 for moving the separation head 38 along a z-axis extending perpendicularly to the y-axis.

[0053] Substrates 56, 58 (shown in Figure 2The substrates 56 and 58 are arranged in the loading compartments 16 and 18 and can be moved along an x-axis extending perpendicular to the y-axis and the z-axis. The substrates 56 and 58 can be moved in particular parallel to each other and independently. Each of the loading compartments 16 and 18 has a cover 60 and 62 that can be moved along the y-axis. Figure 1 6, the left loading compartment 16 is covered by the left cover 60, the right loading compartment 18 is open, and the right cover 62 is pushed in the y direction below the left cover 60. When a printed circuit board panel is processed on the relevant substrate 56 or 58 or when the substrate 56 or 58 is not in the loading compartment 16 or 18, the covers 60 and 62 are both closable and closed by the control unit 22. The loading compartments 16 and 18 are spatially separated from each other by a partition wall 64.

[0054] exist Figure 2 In, according to Figure 1 The separating machine 10 is shown without the cover 14, the user interface 20 and the loading compartments 16 and 18. This makes the interior of the separating machine 10, in particular the gantry 48 and the movable base plates 56 and 58 visible. The x-axis, y-axis and z-axis are shown as arrow directions. In addition, a vertical column 66 of the gantry 48 is shown on which the cross member 46 is arranged. It can be seen that the separating head 38 can only be moved along the y-axis and the z-axis; the separating head 38 cannot be moved along the x-axis and is therefore rigidly arranged on the cross member 46.

[0055] As from Figures 3 to 8 As is clear from the figure, there are three guide rails 70, 72 and 74 arranged on the machine frame 12. The substrates 56 and 58 are guided along the x-axis by the guide rails 70, 72 and 74 using guide carriages 76, 78, 84, 86, 90 and 92 ( Figures 3 to 8 ).

[0056] The central guide rail 70 has a dual function, since it guides both the base plate 56 and the base plate 58, for which purpose a guide carriage 73 or 78 ( Figures 3 to 8 Between the base plates 56 and 58 and the associated guide carriages 76 and 78, carrier parts 80 and 82 ( Figures 3 to 8). The left base plate 56 and the carrier part 80 are arranged on the guide slide 76, and the right base plate 58 and the carrier part 82 are arranged on the guide slide 78. The L-shaped carrier parts 80 and 82 have elongated parts 80a and 88a extending over the entire length of the relevant base plate 56 or 58 and short rectangular parts 80b or 82b extending parallel to the elongated parts 80a or 88a and arranged at one end of the elongated parts 80a or 88a. The two short rectangular parts 80b or 82b are each arranged on the corresponding opposite long sides of the elongated parts 80a or 82a. On this short rectangular part 80b or 82b, the relevant guide slide 76 or 78 of the base plate 56 or 58 is arranged on the first central guide rail 70. In addition, sliding surfaces or rolling elements can be provided on the upper sides 80c and 82c of the short rectangular parts 80b and 82b.

[0057] The outer guide rails 72 and 74 each guide only one of the base plates 56 or 58. The guide rail 72 is located on the left side of the central guide rail 70, and the guide rail 74 is located on the right side of the central guide rail 70. Two guide carriages 84 and 86 are arranged on the left guide rail 72, and a strip-shaped carrier part 88 is arranged on the guide carriage, which connects the guide carriages 84 and 86 ( Figure 7 and Figure 8 The substrate 56 is arranged on the carrier part 88 and guided by the guide rail 72. Two guide carriages 90 and 92 are also arranged on the right guide rail 74, on which a strip-shaped carrier part 94 is arranged, which guides the guide carriages 90 and 92 to each other ( Figure 7 and Figure 8 ). The base plate 58 is arranged on the carrier part 94 and is therefore guided by the guide rails 74 .

[0058] exist Figure 3 In FIG. 5 , substrates 56 and 58 are in the same front loading position. Figure 4 In the embodiment, substrate 58 is in the front loading position and substrate 56 is in the rear separation position. In the separation position, the printed circuit board panel arranged on substrate 56 or 58 can be processed by the separation tool 40 of the separation head 38.

[0059] exist Figure 5 , the base plate 56 is not shown to allow viewing of the linear direct drive 96 located below the base plate 56. The linear direct drive 96 includes a motor portion 98 and a magnetic track 100. The magnetic track 100 is arranged on the lower side of the base plate 56. A linear direct drive 102 is arranged below the base plate 58, and the linear direct drive 102 is designed to correspond to the linear direct drive 96 and has a magnetic track 104 and a motor portion 106, which is shown in FIG. Figures 6 to 8This type of arrangement (i.e., an arrangement of moving magnetic rails 100 and 104 and fixed motor parts 98 and 106) is advantageous because the motor parts 98 and 106 are fixedly arranged on the machine frame 12, thereby eliminating the need for a cable carrier that is usually used to route and protect cables (not shown) that are required to supply power to the motor parts 98 and 106 and to transmit control signals from the control unit 22. In this type of arrangement, wiring is only done on the fixed parts, not on the moving parts.

[0060] Figure 5 A read head 108 of a position measurement system for measuring the position of the substrate 56 in the x-direction is shown. A signal generator 109 ( Figure 6 ) is mounted on the underside of the carrier part 88. Such a signal generator 109 can be, for example, a magnetic tape which extends in the x-direction over the entire length of the relevant substrate 56 or carrier part 88 and which forms an incremental measuring system with the read head 56. An identical measuring system is also provided for the substrate 58, which has a read head 110 and a signal generator 111 - shown in FIG. Figure 6 The positions of the substrates 56 and 58 are transmitted from the incremental measuring system to the control unit 22 because the linear drives 96 and 102 move the substrates 56 and 58 along the x-axis during the separation process; the separation head 38 cannot be moved along the x-axis, as described above.

[0061] Figure 6 is based on Figure 3 1 shows a front view of a substrate 56 and 58 with guide rails 70, 72 and 74 and linear direct drives 96 and 102. The read head 110 is shown here as being arranged on the machine frame below the carrier part 94. The front view clearly shows that the substrates 56 and 58 can in each case rest on a surface 80c or 82c on the L-shaped carrier part 80 or 82 of the other substrate 56 or 58. This increases the stability of the substrates 56 and 58, in particular when forces act in the z-direction when processing printed circuit board panels. A coating or rolling elements (not shown) can be provided on the surfaces 80c and 82c in order to reduce the friction between the relevant surface 80c or 82c and the substrate 58 or 56.

[0062] Figure 7Detailed view of the carrier parts 88, 80, 82 and 94 and the linear direct drives 96 and 102, wherein the guide carriages 76, 78, 84, 86, 90 and 92 are arranged on the guide rails 70, 72 and 74. As mentioned above, the L-shape of the carrier parts 80 and 82 can be clearly seen here. The carrier parts 80 and 84 associated with the base plate 56 and with the associated guide carriages 76 and 84, 86 and the linear direct drive 96 are in the front loading position. The carrier parts 82 and 94 associated with the base plate 58 and with the associated guide carriages 78 and 90, 92 and the linear direct drive 102 are in the rear separation position.

[0063] Figure 8 Shown according to Figure 7 Detailed view of Figure 7 , the components associated with the base plate 56 or 58 are shown in the opposite position. The components of the base plate 56 are in the rear separation position, and the associated components of the base plate 58 are in the front loading position.

[0064] Fig. 9 A separation head 38 with a separation tool 40, in this case a milling cutter, and an axis drive 54 for the z-axis are shown, which is arranged on a cross member 46 of a gantry 48. The column 66 of the gantry 48 is not shown. Below the separation head 38, a printed circuit board panel 112 is shown which is being processed and has a plurality of identical printed circuit boards 113 to be separated from the printed circuit board panel 112. Other components of the separation machine 10, such as the machine frame 12, are not shown here or are only shown schematically.

[0065] Furthermore, a control unit 22 is schematically shown, which is connected to the separation head 38 and the electrical switching valve 114 via a data line 116. An extraction device 120 is arranged on the separation head 38. The extraction device 120 forms an extraction opening 122 around the separation head 38. The extraction device 120 is configured so that particles generated during the processing of the printed circuit board panel 112 are extracted. For this purpose, the extraction device 120 is connected to a vacuum source 126 via a vacuum line 124. In order to improve the detachment of the generated particles from the printed circuit board panel 112, at least one, preferably three compressed air nozzles are provided in the extraction device 120, which guide the relevant compressed air flow in the direction of the relevant main air flow onto the printed circuit board panel 112. The at least one compressed air nozzle is connected to the switching valve 114 via a compressed air line 128, which affects the ionized compressed air from the compressed air source 130, so that the compressed air flow flowing out of the at least one compressed air nozzle is pulsated with a pulse frequency. By means of at least one pulsating compressed air stream, the detachment of particles adhering to the printed circuit board panel 112 can be improved and thus the capture and extraction can be performed more efficiently. When the pulse frequency of the at least one compressed air stream is transmitted to the printed circuit board panel 112, the detachment of particularly small particles in the range of less than 80 µm is promoted and the electrostatic forces that make small particles adhere to the printed circuit board panel can be reduced by the ionization state of the compressed air. The brush ring 132 is arranged on the extraction device 120 and surrounds the separation tool 40 and is placed on the printed circuit board panel 112 during the separation process. The brush ring 132 seals the extraction opening 122 from the environment 134 so that the vacuum established by the vacuum source 126 can develop up to the printed circuit board panel 112 and thus the volume of particles and the at least one blown-in compressed air stream can be extracted.

[0066] Fig.10 The interconnection of the control unit 22 with its individual modules and the individual components of the separation machine 10 is schematically shown. The control unit 22 comprises a process control module 140, a machine control module 142, a user interface module 144, a camera module 146 and an image processing module 148. The modules 140-148 are interconnected within the control unit 22 and can exchange data with each other. The linear direct drives 96 and 102 and the axis drives 44 and 54, which can be designed as linear direct drives, each comprise a drive controller 150a to 150d, which are shown as an interconnection arrangement 150. The machine control module 142 of the control unit 22 is configured so that it can communicate with the associated drive controller 150a to 150d of the controller arrangement 150.

[0067] Can be set on the separation machine 10 Fig.101 . The camera system 152 is schematically shown in FIG. 1 . The camera system 152 comprises at least one camera. The camera system 152 can be used to record the printed circuit board panel 112, for example, during the separation process. For this purpose, the camera module 146 of the control unit 22 is configured so that it can communicate with the camera system 152 and can transmit the data of the camera system 152 to the image processing module 148 for processing and evaluating the recorded image data. Depending on this, the control unit 22 can generate signals for controlling the drive controllers 150 a to 150 d.

[0068] The user interface module 144 of the control unit 22 is configured to communicate with the user interface 20 and display process data on the screen 26 or the light bar 24 , or receive control commands from the keyboard 28 or the scanner 30 .

[0069] The process control module 140 is configured to communicate with a process control system 154. Via the process control system, the separation machine 10 may access a database 156 through the control unit 22 to, for example, retrieve workpiece parameters to process the printed circuit board panel 112 more efficiently.

Claims

1. A separation machine (10) for separating individual printed circuit boards (113) from a printed circuit board panel (112), the separation machine (10) comprising: A separation head (38) having a separation tool (40) and being movable on a machine frame (12), the separation head (38) being movable along a vertical z-axis and a y-axis extending perpendicularly to the z-axis by means of an axis drive (44, 54), At least two substrates (56, 58) are movable parallel to one another on the machine frame (12) between a loading position and a separation position along an x-axis extending perpendicularly to the z-axis and perpendicularly to the y-axis by means of a linear direct drive (96, 102), in, At least one printed circuit board panel (112) can be arranged on each of the substrates (56, 58), wherein the linear direct drives (96, 102) each comprise a motor portion (98; 104) and each comprise a magnetic track (100; 106) interacting with the motor portion (98; 104), and A control unit (22), the control unit (22) being used to actuate the shaft drive (44, 54), the separation head (38) and the linear direct drive (96, 102), wherein the control unit (22) is configured to: so that during the separation process the separation tool (40) separates individual printed circuit boards (113) from the printed circuit board panel (112), and The linear direct drives (96, 102) can be controlled independently of each other so that one substrate (56; 58) is in the loading position and the other substrate (56; 58) is in the separation position for the separation process.

2. The separation machine (10) according to claim 1, wherein: The associated motor part (98; 104) of the linear direct drive (96; 102) is arranged in a fixed position on the machine frame (12), and the associated magnetic track (100; 106) is arranged on the associated base plate (56; 58).

3. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The associated motor part (98; 104) is designed to be guideless, and wherein guide rails (70, 72, 74) are arranged at a distance from the associated motor part (98; 104) for guiding the base plate (56; 58) on the machine frame (12).

4. The separation machine (10) according to claim 3, wherein: Three guide rails (70, 72, 74) are provided for guiding two substrates (56, 58), the three guide rails (70, 72, 74) having guide slides (76, 78, 84, 86, 90, 92) and extending parallel to each other, wherein a first guide slide (76) for the first substrate (56) and a second guide slide (78) for the second substrate (58) are provided on a first central guide rail (70).

5. The separation machine (10) according to claim 4, wherein: The second guide rail (72) and the third guide rail (74) each have at least one and preferably two guide carriages (84, 86; 90, 92), wherein the guide slide (84, 86) of the second guide rail (72) is configured to guide the first substrate (56), and the guide slide (90, 92) of the third guide rail (74) is configured to guide the second substrate (58).

6. A separation machine (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The carrier part (80, 88; 82, 94) is arranged between the relevant base plate (56; 58) and the relevant guide slide (76, 84, 86; 78, 90, 92).

7. The separation machine (10) according to claim 6, wherein: When the two guide carriages (84, 86; 90, 92) are arranged on a guide rail (72, 74) for a base plate (56; 58), a common carrier part (88; 94) is arranged on the two guide carriages (84, 86; 90, 92) and the substrate (56; 58).

8. A separation machine (10) according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein: Between the first guide carriage (76) and the first base plate (56) and / or between the second guide carriage (78) and the second base plate (58), a carrier part (80; 82) which is L-shaped in plan view is arranged in each case on the first central guide rail (70).

9. A separation machine (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein: A base plate is supported and / or guided in the region (80b; 82b) of the first central guide rail (70) by a carrier part (80; 82) of the other base plate (58; 56).

10. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: A position measuring system is provided for detecting the position of the relevant substrate (56; 58), wherein the position measuring system in each case has a sensor (108; 110) arranged at a fixed position on the machine frame (12) and a signal generator (109; 111) on the relevant substrate (56; 58), the signal generator (109; 111) interacting with the sensor (108; 110).

11. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: At least two loading compartments (16, 18) are provided, in each of which a substrate (56; 58) in its loading position can be loaded with a printed circuit board panel (112) independently of the other loading compartment (16; 18).

12. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The control unit (22) is configured such that during the separation process, by actuating the associated linear direct drive (96; 102), relative movement occurs between the substrate (56, 58) and the separation head (38) in the direction of the x-axis.

13. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The separation head (38) is arranged on a gantry (48) in a rigid / immovable manner in the x-axis direction.

14. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The shaft drives (44, 54) of the separation head (38) are designed as linear direct drives, each of which consists of a carriage (52) and a guide (50) and in which the drive force is transmitted directly without mechanical transmission elements.

15. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The linear direct drives (44, 54) and the shaft drives (96, 102) each have a drive controller, and wherein the control unit (22) is designed to communicate with the associated drive controller.

16. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The control unit (22) includes a process control module (140) for communicating with a process control system (154) and / or a machine control module (142) for communicating with the drive controller (150a, 150b, 150c, 150d).

17. The separation machine (10) according to claim 16, wherein The control unit (22) is configured to access a database (156) via the process control system (154).

18. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: A camera system (152) having at least one camera and a data interface is provided and is configured to record the circuit board panel (112).

19. The separation machine (10) according to claim 18, wherein: The control unit (22) includes an image processing module (148) and a camera module (146) for communicating with the camera system (152).

20. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The control unit (22) comprises a user interface module (144) for communicating with a user interface (20), wherein process data are displayed on the user interface (20) and / or control commands are input via the user interface (20) and transmitted to the control unit (22).

21. A separation machine (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: An extraction device (120) having an extraction opening (122) is arranged on the separation head (38), wherein the extraction opening (122) surrounds the separation head (38) and is designed such that the extraction opening (122) extracts particles formed when the individual printed circuit boards (113) are separated from the printed circuit board panel (112).

22. The separation machine (10) according to claim 21, wherein The extraction device (120) comprises a compressed air nozzle, and preferably three compressed air nozzles, by each of which a compressed air flow is directed onto the printed circuit board panel (112) in a main air flow direction.

23. A separation machine (10) according to any one of claims 21 and 22, wherein: The extraction device (120) comprises a switching valve (114), which is actuated by the control unit (22) and is designed so that during operation of the extraction device (120), the compressed air flow is pulsed at a pulse frequency, so that particles adhering to the printed circuit board panel (112) and / or the printed circuit board (113) are detached and / or the printed circuit board panel (112) and / or the printed circuit board (113) are vibrated due to the impact of the pulsed compressed air flow.

24. The separation machine (10) according to claim 23, wherein: The switching valve (112) and the control unit (22) are arranged such that the pulse frequency is in the range of 1 Hz to 60 Hz, in particular 20 Hz to 40 Hz, and more particularly 30 Hz.

25. A separation machine (10) according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein The compressed air forming the compressed air flow is ionized.

26. A separation machine (10) according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein A nozzle ring is provided which forms the extraction opening (122), on which the at least one compressed air nozzle and preferably three compressed air nozzles are arranged at a distance of 120° from one another.

27. A separation machine (10) according to claim 26, wherein The nozzle ring has, on the upper side facing the extraction opening (122), a circumferential shoulder which surrounds the extraction opening and has a shoulder edge, and wherein the at least one compressed air nozzle is arranged on the shoulder edge.

28. A method for operating a separating machine (10) for separating individual printed circuit boards (113) from a printed circuit board panel (112), the separating machine (10), in particular a separating machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The separation machine comprises: - a separating head (38) having a separating tool (40) and being movable on the machine frame (12), the separating head (38) being movable along a vertical z-axis and a y-axis extending perpendicularly to the z-axis by means of an axis drive (44, 54), - at least two base plates (56, 58) which can be moved parallel to one another on the machine frame (12) between a loading position and a separation position along an x-axis extending perpendicularly to the z-axis and perpendicularly to the y-axis by means of a linear direct drive (96, 102), wherein at least one printed circuit board panel (112) can be arranged on each of the substrates (56, 58), wherein the linear direct drives (96, 102) each comprise a motor portion (98; 104) and each comprise a magnetic track (100; 106) interacting with the motor portion (98; 104), and a control unit (22) for actuating the shaft drive (44, 54), the separation head (38) and the linear direct drive (96, 102), The control unit (22) is configured to perform the following steps: During the separation process the separation tool (40) separates individual printed circuit boards (113) from the printed circuit board panel (112), and The linear direct drives (96, 102) can be controlled independently of each other so that one substrate (56; 58) is in the loading position and the other substrate (56; 58) is in the separation position for the separation process.

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