Circuit board processing equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a circuit board processing device for automatically machining circuit boards. The device comprises a processing machine (2) with a plurality of processing stations for mechanically machining circuit board packages. The device further comprises a loading system (3) for temporarily storing the circuit board packages. The loading system (3) is integrated into the processing machine (2) so that the overall depth (T1) of the processing machine (2) plus the loading system (3) is less than the sum of the depths (T2, T3) of the processing machine (2) and the loading system (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for automatically machining circuit boards. Background Art

[0002] Automated processing machines for processing circuit boards, such as drilling machines and milling machines for processing printed circuit boards (so-called PCB boards), are known in the art. Such processing machines usually consist of one or more stations, which are used to accommodate and process one or more identical products at the same time.

[0003] During processing, each individual printed circuit board must be additionally paired with a cover plate (entry) and a backup plate (backup) to form a package. This process is called stacking and can be partially automated. After processing, the package is transferred to a de-pinning system, where the pins, cover plates and backup plates are removed and the individual printed circuit boards are provided for further processing in other process steps.

[0004] Depending on the length of the program run time, these packages must be delivered to the processing machine at short intervals, or the packages that have been processed must be taken out of the processing machine. This operation is partially done manually by the operator, and the operator must always be at the machine as promptly as possible. If multiple machines complete the operation at the same time, or the distance between the machines is too large, machine waiting time will automatically occur, which will reduce production capacity. During the downtime, the processing machine stops operating until the completed package is taken out and a new package is input before it can continue to operate. In order to improve efficiency, downtime must be minimized.

[0005] To solve the above problems, the previous case, such as Chinese patent CN 210260043 U, discloses a station-type solution, in which a buffer or loading system is set beside or behind each processing machine to convey the packages to be processed to the machine and provide the required position for the processed products. The system consists of multiple compartments, and the number of compartments on the horizontal axis corresponds to the number of processing stations of the drilling machine / milling machine. Each compartment has a conveyor, which is a belt transmission device for conveying packages into each compartment and out of it. The number of compartments in the vertical direction is determined by the capacity of the loader. The more compartments there are, the longer the time before the PCB board of the loader must be replaced, thereby achieving the effect of extending the production time. The simplest case is that the loader has only two layers, so that the next package to be processed can be in place while the machine is still processing the current dispatch work. The vacated layer is used to unload the currently processed package. Such a loader equipped with only two layers is also called a down-time eliminator (DTE), because the loader reduces machine downtime or eliminates it completely. Due to the buffering effect of the loading system, the operator no longer needs to stay at each machine while completing the current assigned work, thereby reducing labor costs. Chinese patents CN 111571710 A and CN 15447931 A also disclose such systems, and CN 216996068 U also discloses such systems.

[0006] This type of buffer or loading system installed next to or behind the processing machine takes up a lot of space, which is often criticized as a disadvantage. Due to the large space, this type of buffer or loading system is not suitable for installation on existing equipment in some cases.

[0007] In addition, Chinese patent CN 210260043 U proposes to assemble such loaders in an automated manner by means of an automated transport system, the so-called Auto-Guided-Vehicles (AGV). Chinese patent CN216996068 U also discloses an automated transport system. Similarly, these systems are similar to standing loaders, with multiple compartments in the horizontal and vertical directions. The system receives the packages to be processed from a centralized location, where the operators manually load these packages, and then these systems independently transport the individual loaders of each machine. Here, these systems receive the already processed packages and send them to another finished product collection location, where the operators unload the finished products. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a device for automated mechanical processing of circuit boards, eliminating the shortcomings of the solutions proposed in the above-mentioned prior art and achieving particularly efficient automated operations.

[0009] The object of the invention is achieved by a circuit board processing device comprising the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0010] According to the present invention, an apparatus for automatically mechanically processing circuit boards comprises at least one processing machine and a loading system at least partially integrated into the processing machine. The at least one processing machine comprises a plurality of processing stations arranged horizontally in parallel, and the structural design of the processing stations is intended to enable the processing stations to mechanically process a circuit board package, the circuit board package consisting of at least one circuit board, a cover plate and a backing plate. The loading system is suitable for temporarily storing the circuit board package, and the loading system comprises a stack of partitions and a transport device, each parallel processing station is assigned to a stack comprising at least three partitions, in particular at least four partitions arranged vertically up and down, and at least one transport device, the structural design of the transport device is intended to enable the transport device to take out the circuit board package from a processing station and put it into each separate partition, and to take out the circuit board package from the partition and supply it to a processing station. Thus, the loading system for temporarily storing the circuit board package has a plurality of parallel partitions on a first plane, wherein the number of partitions is the same as the number of processing stations of the processing machine provided. There are three or more partition planes arranged vertically, and each separate partition can have a separate transport device.

[0011] The loading system is integrated into the processing machine, and preferably the depth of the processing machine plus the loading system is less than the sum of the individual depths of the processing machine and the loading system. In other words, the loading system and the processing machine are not arranged front and back as described in the prior art, but are combined into one body, so that the installation space after the loading system and the processing machine are combined is smaller than the installation space in the conventional solution. Unlike the standard loader used in the intermediate buffer, the loading system of the present invention has a more streamlined structure and is partially integrated into the installation space of the processing machine, so that the space required in the axis direction of the processing machine is smaller. In this way, the required clear span between the two rows of machines is reduced, so that the machines can be arranged more closely together.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the device, each processing machine, in particular each processing station, has a sensing system for sensing individual circuit board packages. The sensing system may include an optical code reader and / or a camera integrated in each processing station, etc. In order to further reduce the production manpower requirements and floor space requirements through additional automation solutions, while achieving the purpose of tracking each individual circuit board in the production operation, the equipment of the present invention may further include: a stacking system, the structural design of which is intended to enable the stacking system to combine one or more circuit boards, cover plates and pads to form a circuit board package; a first intermediate buffer assigned to the stacking system, which has a plurality of compartments and at least one transport device, and the transport device is used to store the circuit board package in individual compartments and remove the circuit board package from the compartments; a de-pinning system, the structural design of which is intended to enable the de-pinning system to remove pins, cover plates and pads from circuit boards in a circuit board package; a second intermediate buffer assigned to the de-pinning system, which has a plurality of compartments and at least one transport device, and the transport device is used to store circuit board packages processed in a processing machine in individual compartments and remove circuit board packages from compartments; and / or at least one automatic driving transport system, which is used to automatically transport circuit board packages between the first intermediate buffer, the loading system and the second intermediate buffer. The automatic driving transport system may have at least one automatic guided vehicle (AGV). The equipment of the present invention can reduce production costs by saving labor costs, improve machine utilization, and achieve high and stable quality, thereby improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

[0013] The tracking function and processing quality can be further improved by providing the device with a serialization system for serializing individual circuit boards, the structure of which is designed to enable the serialization system to generate a clear physical circuit board identification number in the circuit board. The serialization system can be a superior control system for storing and managing data, and its structure is designed to enable the superior control system to store the processing formula of the circuit board, link each circuit board identification number (Panel-ID) in the stacking system with a circuit board pack identification number (Stack-ID), store information through the circuit board pack identification number and the circuit board identification number, sense the respective circuit board pack identification number through the sensing system when each circuit board pack is loaded into the processing machine, especially when loaded into a processing station, and store these circuit board pack identification numbers with a time stamp, and prompt the processing station to perform the processing operations assigned to each circuit board pack. For example, the structure of the superior control system can be designed so that the superior control system can compare the circuit board pack identification numbers of the circuit board packs in a processing machine, and only perform the processing operation when the same circuit board pack assigned to the work is present.

[0014] The present invention is further described below with reference to the embodiments and drawings, wherein all the features described and / or shown in the drawings, either by themselves or in any combination thereof, regardless of their abstracts or references in the claims, form the subject matter of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 It is a side view of a processing machine integrated with a loading system of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 It is a front view of the loading system of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A perspective view of the loading system in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Figures 1 to 4 The present invention is an embodiment of a device for automatically machining circuit boards. Figure 1 An example of the arrangement structure of the components of the device 1 is shown, and arrows are used to indicate the process of automated production. Figure 1 , Figure 1In the figure, a plurality of processing machines 2 are shown, each of which may have a plurality of processing stations arranged in parallel, such as drilling stations and / or milling stations for processing circuit boards. A machine-integrated loader 3 (abbreviated as MIB) is assigned to each processing machine. An automated guided vehicle (AGV) can transport circuit boards to each machine-integrated loader 3 and remove circuit boards from these loaders 3.

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, the automated production process starts with an optional system for serializing the individual circuit boards, which gives each circuit board a unique code if it does not already have one. This code can consist, for example, of a number assigned to the job and a consecutive board number, but can also be any other combination. The circuit boards can be supplied to the serialization system, for example, on pallets or via an inclined box system. The device removes the circuit boards individually and applies the circuit board identification number to the circuit boards. The code can be applied to the circuit board in physical form, for example using a drilling unit, so that it can also be used in subsequent circuit board processing steps without being disturbed by intermediate steps. The marked circuit boards are transferred to the stacking system via suitable means such as a conveyor belt.

[0021] The stacking system takes one or more circuit boards and stacks them between a cover plate (entry) and a backup plate (backup) to form a circuit board (Stack). The number of circuit boards in each circuit board package is determined by the type and thickness of the circuit boards, the processing tools available on the processing machine and the required program parameters. Two holes are drilled through the circuit board package, and the two holes are located on opposite faces, preferably in the center of these faces. Metal pins are pressed into these drilled holes and used to fix the individual components of the circuit board package to each other. A circuit board package identification number is applied to each circuit board package, for example by printing the identification number directly on the cover plate (entry) or attaching a printed product with the circuit board package identification number. Using the circuit board package identification number, the relationship between the individual circuit board packages and the circuit boards contained and the order of the circuit boards in the circuit board package is stored in a superior control system (not shown in the figure).

[0022] The circuit board packages are transferred from the stacking system to one or more first intermediate buffers 4, which are loaders. Only the same circuit board packages assigned to the work are stored on one plane of the loader, and one or more automatic guided vehicles 5 (AGV) pick up the circuit board packages from the first intermediate buffer 4 and transport these circuit board packages to the loader 3 integrated in the processing machine 2. Preferably, the processing machines 2 can be arranged in a row so that the travel of the automatic guided vehicle 5 (AGV) from one machine to the next is minimized. Unlike a standard loader used in, for example, the first intermediate buffer 4, the loader 3 integrated in the machine has a more streamlined structure, such as Figure 2 As shown, the loader 3 is partially integrated into the installation space of the machine, so the required space in the direction of the machine axis is small. In this way, the required clear span between the two rows of machines is reduced, so that the machines can be arranged more closely together.

[0023] The AGV 5 loads the unprocessed PCB packages from the first intermediate buffer 4 to each loader 3 integrated in the machine, and unloads the PCB packages processed by the machine from the loader 3 and transports them to the second intermediate buffer 6. The processing machine 2 independently processes the PCB packages stored in each loader 3 integrated in the machine. In order to be able to additionally check and ensure traceability of components, each machine is equipped with a system for reading the identification number of each PCB package at each processing station. This system is generally composed of either an optical code reader or a camera integrated in each processing station, which can sense the code of the PCB package identification number. The processing machine checks whether there are only the same PCB packages assigned to the work at all stations based on the PCB package identification number. If there is an abnormality, the processing machine will report the abnormality to the superior control system. If there are only the same PCB packages assigned to the work at the station, the processing machine will download the corresponding processing formula from the superior system and execute production.

[0024] The information about each circuit board package will be transmitted to the upper level system, so that it can be known which circuit board is processed on which processing machine and which station at which time point through the circuit board package identification number and the information about each circuit board included.

[0025] The processed circuit board packages stored in the second intermediate buffer 6 will be transferred to the depinning system, where the pins, cover plates (Entry) and backup plates (Backup) are removed and individual printed circuit boards are provided for subsequent processing in other process steps.

[0026] The present invention improves product traceability by automating the processing of circuit boards. Furthermore, the processing of circuit boards requires almost no operator. If the replenishment of consumables is not also automated, the operator still needs to bring the circuit boards to the stacking system and receive them from the depinning system. In other words, using the circuit board processing equipment of the present invention, the operations of transporting and processing individual unprocessed circuit boards, from transporting to the stacking system to providing the processed circuit boards to the depinning system, do not require an operator.

[0027] from Figure 2 As can be seen from the figure, the loading system 3 is at least partially integrated into the processing machine 2. Thus, the overall depth T1 of the processing machine plus the loading system is Figure 2 The distance from the right outer edge to the left outer edge is less than the sum of the depth T2 of the processing machine 2 and the depth T3 of the loading system 3.

[0028] Figure 3 and Figure 4 2 shows a separate loader 3 integrated in the machine, and it can be seen that a plurality of compartments 7 are arranged side by side on a first plane corresponding to the number of processing stations of the processing machine 2. In the example described, three further planes containing compartments 7 are arranged above the first plane, so that a total of four planes are arranged one above the other. Each of these compartments 7 is equipped with a transport device, which is a belt conveyor, by means of which the circuit boards are loaded into the individual compartments 7 or transported out of these individual compartments 7.

[0029] Reference numerals

[0030] 1 Circuit board processing equipment

[0031] 2 Processing Machine

[0032] 3 Loading system

[0033] 4 First intermediate buffer

[0034] 5. Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV)

[0035] 6 Second intermediate buffer

[0036] 7 compartments

[0037] T1 Processing machine depth with loader integrated in the machine

[0038] T2 Processing machine depth

[0039] T3 Loader Depth

Claims

1. A circuit board processing device, comprising: At least one processing machine (2) has a plurality of processing stations arranged horizontally in parallel, the structural design of the plurality of processing stations is intended to enable the processing stations to mechanically process a circuit board package, the circuit board package consisting of at least a circuit board, a cover plate and a pad; and a loading system (3) for temporarily storing the circuit board package, the loading system having a stack of partitions and a transport device, each stack allocated to each parallel processing station comprising at least three, in particular at least four, partitions (7) arranged vertically up and down, and at least one transport device, the structural design of the transport device is intended to enable the transport device to take the circuit board package out of a processing station and place it into each individual partition (7), and take the circuit board package out of the partition and supply it to a processing station (2), Features: The loading system (3) is at least partially integrated into the processing machine (2), so that the overall depth (T1) of the processing machine (2) plus the loading system (3) is less than the sum of the depth (T2) of the processing machine (2) and the depth (T3) of the loading system (3).

2. The circuit board processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The loading system for temporarily storing circuit board packages has a stack of partitions, each parallel processing station (2) is assigned a stack containing at least four partitions (7) arranged vertically one above the other.

3. The circuit board processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each compartment has a separate transport device.

4. The circuit board processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each processing machine (2), in particular each processing station, has a sensing system for sensing individual circuit board packages.

5. The circuit board processing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sensing system has an optical code reader and / or a camera integrated into each processing station.

6. The circuit board processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The circuit board processing equipment further comprises: A stacking system, the structure of which is designed to enable the stacking system to combine one or more circuit boards, the cover board and the backing board to form the circuit board package; a first intermediate buffer (4) assigned to the stacking system, which has a plurality of compartments and at least one transport device, wherein the transport device is used to store the circuit board packages in individual compartments and to take out the circuit board packages from the compartments; a depinning system, the structure of which is designed to enable the depinning system to remove pins, cover plates and pads from the circuit board package; a second intermediate buffer (6) assigned to the depinning system, which has a plurality of compartments and at least one transport device, wherein the transport device is used to store the circuit board packages processed in the processing machine (2) in individual compartments and to take out the circuit board packages from the compartments; and / or At least one automatic driving transport system (5) is used for automatically transporting the circuit board package between the first intermediate buffer (4), the loading system (3) and the second intermediate buffer (6).

7. The circuit board processing equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that: The circuit board processing equipment further has a serialization system, which can serialize each individual circuit board. The structural design purpose of the serialization system is to enable the serialization system to generate an obvious physical circuit board identification number in the circuit board.

8. The circuit board processing equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: Each processing machine (2), especially each processing station, has a sensing system for sensing individual circuit board packages, and the circuit board processing equipment further has a superior control system for storing and managing data. The structural design aims to enable the superior control system to store the processing formula of the circuit board, link each circuit board identification number in the stacking system with a circuit board package identification number, store information through the circuit board package identification number and the circuit board identification number, sense the respective circuit board package identification number through the sensing system when each circuit board package is loaded into the processing machine, especially when loaded into a processing station, and store these circuit board package identification numbers with a timestamp, and prompt the processing station to perform the processing operations arranged for each circuit board package.

9. The circuit board processing equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that: The structural design of the upper control system aims to enable it to compare the circuit board package identification numbers of the circuit board packages existing in the processing machine (2) and to perform processing operations only when the same circuit board packages assigned to the work exist.

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