A tray circulating mechanism of an automatic assembly line

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of assembly production lines, and provides a tray circulating conveying mechanism of an automatic assembly line, which comprises at least four tray conveyors, each tray conveyor can support and convey a tray, the tray is used for placing electronic components to be assembled, the at least four tray conveyors are sequentially butt-jointed at the head and tail to form a circulating conveying line, the circulating conveying line can drive the tray to sequentially pass through each tray conveyor to perform circulating movement along the circulating conveying line, and at least four assembly devices are provided at each tray conveyor in one-to-one correspondence with the at least four tray conveyors. The tray circulating conveying mechanism of the automatic assembly line avoids the defect that the whole production line is stopped due to too long time consumption of a certain station, and significantly improves the equipment utilization and the overall assembly efficiency of the production line.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of assembly line technology, and more specifically, to a pallet circulation conveying mechanism for an automated assembly line. Background Technology

[0002] Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are core components of electronic products, and their assembly quality directly affects the performance and reliability of these products. The PCB assembly process typically includes steps such as component preparation, solder paste printing, surface mount technology (SMT), reflow soldering, testing, and rework. With the rapid development of the electronics manufacturing industry, the demands for PCB assembly efficiency and automation levels are increasing, leading to the emergence of automated PCB assembly lines.

[0003] In existing automated PCB assembly lines, various PCB components to be assembled are typically placed on trays and transported sequentially through various process stations, such as solder paste printing, surface mount technology (SMT), reflow soldering, and inspection, by a tray conveyor system. As the core of the automated assembly line's material handling, the structure and operation of the tray conveyor system directly determine the overall efficiency of the production line.

[0004] Currently, most existing pallet circulating conveyor mechanisms employ integrated annular roller conveyor lines (or circular conveyor lines). These lines connect various process stations, allowing material pallets to circulate and sequentially pass through each station to complete the corresponding assembly process. This integrated annular structure offers advantages such as simple structure and convenient control, and is therefore widely used in the industry.

[0005] However, integrated circular roller conveyor lines have revealed significant efficiency deficiencies in practical use. Specifically, the processing time for PCB semi-finished products varies depending on the workstation—for example, solder paste printing is relatively quick, while reflow soldering takes longer due to the multiple temperature zones involved (heating, holding, reflow, and cooling). Because the circular roller conveyor line is an integrated structure, all positions on the line move synchronously. When a PCB semi-finished product at a particular workstation requires a longer processing time, the entire conveyor must stop to allow it sufficient time to remain at that workstation. This means that PCB semi-finished products that have already completed their processing at other workstations remain stationary and cannot be promptly moved to the next workstation. This operating mode restricts the entire production line's cycle time to the workstation with the longest processing time, resulting in low equipment utilization and severely impacting the overall assembly efficiency of PCB products. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, this application provides a tray circulation conveying mechanism for an automated assembly line to solve the technical problem of low working efficiency in existing PCB automated assembly lines.

[0007] This application provides a pallet circulating conveying mechanism for an automated assembly line, wherein the pallet circulating conveying mechanism for the automated assembly line includes: At least four pallet conveyors, each capable of supporting and transporting a pallet for placing electronic components to be assembled, the at least four pallet conveyors being connected end-to-end in sequence to form a circular conveyor line, the circular conveyor line being capable of driving the pallets to pass through each pallet conveyor in sequence to circulate along the circular conveyor line; At least four assembly devices, the number of which is the same as the number of the at least four pallet conveyors, and the at least four assembly devices are arranged one-to-one at each pallet conveyor.

[0008] Furthermore, the tray is used to place printed circuit boards to be assembled, and the at least four tray conveyors include a first tray conveyor, a second tray conveyor, a third tray conveyor, and a fourth tray conveyor connected end to end in sequence. The at least four assembly devices include a solder paste printer located at the first tray conveyor, a chip mounter located at the second tray conveyor, a reflow oven located at the third tray conveyor, and an automatic insertion machine located at the fourth tray conveyor.

[0009] Furthermore, the pallet circulation conveying mechanism of the automatic assembly line includes loading and unloading positions located at the first pallet conveyor and a main inspection device located at the fourth pallet conveyor. The main inspection device is closer to the first pallet conveyor than the automatic insertion machine.

[0010] Furthermore, the pallet circulation conveying mechanism of the automated assembly line includes a first sub-inspection device disposed at the first pallet conveyor, a second sub-inspection device disposed at the second pallet conveyor, and a third sub-inspection device disposed at the third pallet conveyor.

[0011] Furthermore, the first pallet conveyor, the second pallet conveyor, the third pallet conveyor, and the fourth pallet conveyor each include two independent conveyors arranged side by side, and each of the first pallet conveyor, the second pallet conveyor, the third pallet conveyor, and the fourth pallet conveyor is provided with a pushing mechanism on both sides, the pushing mechanism being able to push the pallet back and forth between the two independent conveyors arranged side by side.

[0012] Furthermore, the pushing mechanism includes a horizontal cylinder and a push plate connected to the piston rod of the horizontal cylinder.

[0013] Furthermore, each of the two parallel independent conveyors is provided with an upward-protruding baffle on the side away from each other, so that the pallet can pass through the side of the two parallel independent conveyors facing each other and return to the two parallel independent conveyors.

[0014] Furthermore, the first pallet conveyor and the third pallet conveyor are linear conveyors, while the second pallet conveyor and the fourth pallet conveyor are semi-circular arc conveyors.

[0015] Furthermore, the pallet conveyor is a roller conveyor.

[0016] Furthermore, the pallet circulation conveying mechanism of the automated assembly line includes a central control unit, which is disposed in the space enclosed by the circulation conveying line, and each of the pallet conveyors and each of the assembly devices is signal-connected to the central control unit.

[0017] The tray circulation conveying mechanism for an automated assembly line provided in this application has the following advantages: The tray conveyor mechanism of the automated assembly line provided in this application forms a circular conveyor line by setting up at least four independent tray conveyors that are sequentially connected end-to-end. Assembly equipment is installed at each tray conveyor, decoupling the conveying and assembly operations at each workstation and allowing them to operate independently. Each assembly equipment performs an independent assembly process for the electronic components on the trays of its corresponding tray conveyor. When the process at a certain workstation takes a long time, only the tray conveyor corresponding to that workstation needs to pause or slow down to wait for the process to complete, while the tray conveyors and assembly equipment at other workstations can continue to operate independently without affecting each other. This structural design eliminates the need for workstations to stop and wait for each other, significantly improving the fault tolerance and assembly efficiency of the assembly process for products to be assembled (such as printed circuit boards). It avoids the drawback of the entire production line shutting down due to excessive time taken at a single workstation, significantly improving equipment utilization and the overall assembly efficiency of the production line. Simultaneously, the independent operation of each workstation makes the production line scheduling more flexible, facilitating maintenance, debugging, or upgrades of individual workstations. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a portion of the structure of a tray circulation conveying mechanism of an automated assembly line according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 2for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a portion of the structure of the tray circulation conveying mechanism of an automated assembly line according to another embodiment of this application; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point B in the middle; Figure 5 for Figure 3 A magnified view of point C in the middle.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1-Tray; 2-Solder paste printer; 3-Piece mounter; 4-Reflow oven; 5-Automatic insertion machine; 6-Loading / unloading position; 7-Main inspection equipment; 8-Horizontal cylinder; 9-Push plate; 10-Lifting electric control guide rail; 11-Upper convex baffle; 12-First branch conveyor; 13-Second branch conveyor; 14-Control cabinet; 100-First pallet conveyor; 200-Second pallet conveyor; 300-Third pallet conveyor; 400-Fourth pallet conveyor. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more complete description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments of this application are exemplarily shown in the drawings to provide a more accurate and thorough understanding of the technical solutions disclosed herein. However, it should be understood that this application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0022] In the accompanying drawings of this application, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this application. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0023] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this application involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, if "and / or" or "and / or" appears throughout the text, its meaning includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously.

[0024] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0025] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 This application provides a pallet circulating conveying mechanism for an automated assembly line, wherein the pallet circulating conveying mechanism for the automated assembly line includes: At least four pallet conveyors, each capable of supporting and transporting pallet 1, which is used to place electronic components to be assembled. Specifically, PCB (printed circuit board) pads and other electronic components that need to be connected to the PCB pads can be placed on pallet 1, such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors and other electronic components. The at least four pallet conveyors are connected end to end in sequence to form a circular conveyor line. The circular conveyor line can drive pallet 1 to pass through each pallet conveyor in sequence to circulate along the circular conveyor line. There are at least 4 assembly devices, which are the same number as the at least 4 pallet conveyors and are arranged one-to-one with each pallet conveyor. The assembly devices are arranged at the pallet conveyors to be located beside or above the pallet conveyors. The assembly devices are all capable of operating the electronic components to be assembled in the pallet 1 on the corresponding pallet conveyor.

[0026] The tray conveyor mechanism of the automated assembly line provided in this application forms a circular conveyor line by sequentially connecting at least four independent tray conveyors. Assembly equipment is installed at each tray conveyor, decoupling the conveying and assembly operations at each station and allowing them to operate independently. Each assembly device performs an independent assembly process for the electronic components on the tray 1 of its corresponding tray conveyor. When the process at a certain station takes a long time, only the tray conveyor corresponding to that station needs to pause or slow down to wait for the process to complete, while the tray conveyors and assembly equipment at other stations can continue to operate independently without affecting each other. This structural design eliminates the need for each station to stop waiting for each other, significantly improving the fault tolerance and assembly efficiency of the assembly process for products to be assembled (e.g., printed circuit boards). It avoids the drawback of the entire production line shutting down due to excessive time spent at a single station, significantly improving equipment utilization and the overall assembly efficiency of the production line. Simultaneously, the independent operation of each station makes the production line scheduling more flexible, facilitating maintenance, debugging, or upgrades of individual stations.

[0027] According to one embodiment of this application, a tray 1 is used to place printed circuit boards to be assembled, and at least four tray conveyors include a first tray conveyor 100, a second tray conveyor 200, a third tray conveyor 300 and a fourth tray conveyor 400 connected end to end in sequence, and at least four assembly devices include a solder paste printer 2 located at the first tray conveyor 100, a chip mounter 3 located at the second tray conveyor 200, a reflow oven 4 located at the third tray conveyor 300 and an automatic insertion machine 5 located at the fourth tray conveyor 400.

[0028] In this embodiment, the solder paste printer 2 is located at the first pallet conveyor 100, and it performs the solder paste printing process: accurately printing solder paste onto the PCB pads using a stencil, providing a solder base for subsequent soldering. Specifically, the solder paste printer 2 uses openings in the stencil to scrape solder paste onto the PCB pads; the printing accuracy of the solder paste directly affects the quality of subsequent component placement and soldering. The pick-and-place machine 3 is located at the second pallet conveyor 200, and it performs the component placement process: the pick-and-place machine 3 places SMD components (surface mount devices) at high speed and with precision onto the solder paste-coated pads. The pick-and-place machine 3 picks up components using a vacuum nozzle, corrects their position using a vision positioning system, and then precisely places the components into the designated positions on the PCB pads. The reflow oven 4 is located at the third pallet conveyor 300, and it performs the reflow soldering process: the PCB, after undergoing the placement process, is conveyed to the receiving platform at the entrance of the reflow oven 4; the reflow oven's own drive system sucks the PCB into the oven, and after exiting the oven, it is picked up by the third pallet conveyor 300. The solder paste is heated and melted in the reflow oven 4, achieving electrical and mechanical connection between surface mount components and PCB pads. The reflow oven 4 typically includes multiple temperature zones such as a preheating zone, a holding zone, a reflow zone, and a cooling zone. The PCB sequentially passes through each temperature zone within the oven, completing the melting and solidification process of the solder paste. An automatic insertion machine 5 is located at the fourth tray conveyor 400, implementing an automated insertion process: the automatic insertion machine 5 automatically inserts through-hole components such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, and regular connectors into the corresponding holes on the PCB pads. The automatic insertion machine 5 uses a robotic arm or insertion head to pick up through-hole components, align their leads with the corresponding through-holes on the PCB, and insert them, preparing for subsequent wave soldering or selective soldering. The four tray conveyors mentioned above operate independently, and the four processes of solder paste printing, surface mount technology (SMT), reflow soldering, and automatic insertion operate independently without affecting each other. In particular, when reflow oven 4 takes a long time due to its multiple temperature zones, only the third pallet conveyor 300 needs to be coordinated with the cycle time of reflow oven 4, while the pallet conveyors and assembly equipment of the other three stations can continue to operate, thereby significantly improving the overall efficiency of the PCB automated assembly line. At the same time, this modular station configuration also makes it easy to add, remove, or adjust stations according to actual production needs, providing good scalability.

[0029] According to one embodiment of this application, the pallet circulation conveying mechanism of the automatic assembly line includes loading and unloading positions 6 located at the first pallet conveyor 100 and a main inspection device 7 located at the fourth pallet conveyor 400. The main inspection device 7 is closer to the first pallet conveyor 100 than the automatic insertion machine 5.

[0030] In this embodiment, the loading / unloading position 6 is located at the first pallet conveyor 100. The loading / unloading position 6 is the operator's workstation for loading and unloading pallets 1. Loading and unloading can be done manually or automatically by installing loading and unloading devices. At the loading / unloading position 6, the operator or the automatic loading device places the pallet 1 carrying the PCB to be assembled onto the first pallet conveyor 100, allowing the pallet 1 to enter the circulating conveyor line and begin its circulation. After the pallet 1 completes all assembly processes, it returns to the first pallet conveyor 100, and the operator or the automatic unloading device removes the assembled PCB from the pallet 1. The loading / unloading position 6, located at the first pallet conveyor 100, concentrates loading and unloading operations in the same location, facilitating management and making the layout of the circulating conveyor line more compact. Furthermore, the main inspection device 7 is located at the fourth pallet conveyor 400. The main inspection device 7 is used to perform overall inspection on the finished PCB after all four process stages (solder paste printing, surface mount technology, reflow soldering, and automatic component insertion) to determine whether the finished product meets quality requirements. The main inspection device 7 is located closer to the first pallet conveyor 100 than the automatic insertion machine 5, specifically on the fourth pallet conveyor 400, along the conveying direction of pallet 1. The main inspection device 7 is positioned downstream of the automatic insertion machine 5, closer to the junction of the fourth pallet conveyor 400 and the first pallet conveyor 100. This placement allows the main inspection device 7 to immediately perform overall finished product inspection after the PCB completes the automatic insertion process. After inspection, pallet 1 can then enter the first pallet conveyor 100 to reach the loading / unloading position 6 for unloading. The inspection and unloading processes are seamlessly integrated, avoiding unnecessary conveying paths.

[0031] According to a specific embodiment of this application, the main inspection device 7 may specifically include a visual inspection device such as an adjustable-angle CCD camera. The main inspection device 7 performs overall inspection of the finished product, acquires images of the PCB using the CCD camera, and identifies the placement position, soldering quality, and component integrity of each component on the PCB after image processing, thereby achieving automated quality inspection of the finished product. The adjustable angle of the CCD camera allows for adjustment of the shooting angle according to the inspection requirements of different PCBs, obtaining the best inspection results.

[0032] According to one embodiment of this application, the pallet circulation conveying mechanism of the automated assembly line includes a first sub-inspection device disposed at a first pallet conveyor 100, a second sub-inspection device disposed at a second pallet conveyor 200, and a third sub-inspection device disposed at a third pallet conveyor 300.

[0033] In this embodiment, specifically, the first sub-inspection device is used to inspect the solder paste printing quality on the PCB pads after the solder paste printing process is completed. This first sub-inspection device can promptly detect defects such as insufficient solder, excessive solder, bridging, and misalignment in the solder paste printing, thus identifying defective products before proceeding to the next process. The second sub-inspection device is used to inspect the PCB after the surface mount technology (SMT) process is completed. This second sub-inspection device can promptly detect defects such as component misalignment, missing components, flipping, and incorrect polarity. The third sub-inspection device is used to inspect the PCB after the reflow soldering process is completed. This third sub-inspection device can promptly detect soldering defects such as cold solder joints, bridging, solder balls, and poor wetting. Each sub-inspection device can specifically employ AOI (Automated Optical Inspection) equipment or similar vision inspection devices, achieving automatic inspection of process quality through image acquisition and comparative analysis. This embodiment achieves real-time quality inspection of three key process stages—solder paste printing, surface mount technology (SMT), and reflow soldering—by installing a first sub-inspection device, a second sub-inspection device, and a third sub-inspection device at the first pallet conveyor 100, the second pallet conveyor 200, and the third pallet conveyor 300, respectively. This step-by-step inspection method can promptly identify quality problems after each process stage, preventing defective products from flowing into subsequent processes and wasting materials and time. It also facilitates precise location of the source of quality problems, providing data support for process adjustment and optimization. The "process inspection + final inspection" dual quality assurance system formed by step-by-step inspection and the main inspection device 7 significantly improves the product yield and quality consistency.

[0034] See Figures 3 to 5According to one embodiment of this application, the first pallet conveyor 100, the second pallet conveyor 200, the third pallet conveyor 300, and the fourth pallet conveyor 400 each include two independent conveyors arranged side by side. Each of the first pallet conveyor 100, the second pallet conveyor 200, the third pallet conveyor 300, and the fourth pallet conveyor 400 has a pushing mechanism on both sides. The pushing mechanism can push the pallet 1 back and forth between the two independent conveyors (the first branch conveyor 12 and the second branch conveyor 13). These two independent conveyors are arranged parallel to each other along the conveying direction of the pallet 1, adjacent to each other but operating independently, each with its own independent drive system, allowing independent control of the conveying direction and speed. In this embodiment, each pallet conveyor adopts a dual-conveyor structure (two independent conveyors) in conjunction with the pushing mechanism, mainly to achieve the rework processing function for non-conforming products. Specifically, each sub-inspection device detects whether the completed process on the corresponding pallet conveyor meets the requirements. Taking the first pallet conveyor 100 as an example, when the first sub-inspection equipment detects that the solder paste printing does not meet the requirements, the pushing mechanism pushes the pallet 1 from its current independent conveyor to another independent conveyor. The other independent conveyor then transports the pallet 1 back to the solder paste printer 2 in the reverse direction (i.e., the opposite of the normal transport direction) for rework. Similarly, when the second sub-inspection equipment detects that the chip mounting is defective, the pushing mechanism can transfer the pallet 1 to another independent conveyor and transport it back to the chip mounter 3 in the reverse direction for rework. When the third sub-inspection equipment detects that the reflow soldering is defective, the pushing mechanism can transfer the pallet 1 to another independent conveyor and transport it back to the reflow oven 4 in the reverse direction for rework. The main inspection equipment 7 can perform overall inspection on the finished product after all four processes. When the main inspection equipment 7 detects that the finished product is defective, the corresponding pushing mechanism can also transfer the pallet 1 to another independent conveyor and transport it in the reverse direction, returning it to the corresponding workstation for rework according to the specific defect type. It should be noted that in the dual-conveyor structure, one independent conveyor (e.g., the first branch conveyor 12) serves as the forward conveying channel (normal process flow direction), and the other independent conveyor (e.g., the second branch conveyor 13) serves as the reverse conveying channel (rework return direction). The two work together to separate normal conveying from rework conveying, avoiding interference from the rework pallet 1 to the normal production process. The size of the pallet 1 should be compatible with each independent conveyor. In this embodiment, by setting each pallet conveyor as two independent conveyors side-by-side and cooperating with a pushing mechanism, the online rework function for non-conforming products is achieved. When a non-conformity is detected in a certain process step, the pushing mechanism can quickly transfer the non-conforming pallet 1 to another independent conveyor and reverse it back to the corresponding workstation for rework, without needing to remove the pallet 1 from the conveyor line or requiring manual intervention, thus automating the rework process.This design significantly improves the production line's fault tolerance and automation level, reducing material waste and lost time due to defective products. Simultaneously, the use of separate independent conveyors for forward and reverse transport avoids conflicts between rework pallet 1 and normal pallet 1 on the transport path, ensuring a smooth production process.

[0035] According to a specific embodiment of this application, the pushing mechanism includes a horizontal cylinder 8 and a push plate 9 connected to the piston rod of the horizontal cylinder 8. The horizontal cylinder 8 can also be connected to a lifting drive mechanism (e.g., a lifting electrically controlled guide rail 10). The lifting drive mechanism is used to drive the horizontal cylinder 8 and the push plate 9 to move up and down together. The lifting drive mechanism can also be a vertical cylinder, an electric push rod, or other drive devices with lifting functions. Both the horizontal cylinder 8 and the lifting drive mechanism are signal-connected to the main control unit, which coordinates and controls them uniformly based on the detection results.

[0036] According to one embodiment of this application, two parallel independent conveyors (first branch conveyor 12 and second branch conveyor 13) are each provided with an upwardly protruding baffle 11 on the side away from each other. The pallet 1 can pass through the side facing each other of the two parallel independent conveyors and return to the two parallel independent conveyors. This embodiment effectively prevents the pallet 1 from slipping off the side of the conveyor during the conveying process by providing the upwardly protruding baffle 11 on the side away from each other of the two independent conveyors, thereby improving the stability and safety of the conveying process. At the same time, the absence of a baffle on the side facing each other of the two independent conveyors provides a smooth channel for the lateral transfer of the pallet 1, allowing the pushing mechanism to smoothly push the pallet 1 from one independent conveyor to the other.

[0037] According to one embodiment of this application, the first pallet conveyor 100 and the third pallet conveyor 300 are linear conveyors, and the second pallet conveyor 200 and the fourth pallet conveyor 400 are semi-circular arc conveyors. Specifically, the pallet conveyors are roller conveyors.

[0038] As an alternative embodiment, the pallet conveyor may also be a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, or other conveying device with load-bearing and conveying functions.

[0039] According to one embodiment of this application, the pallet circulating conveyor mechanism of the automated assembly line includes a central control unit. The central control unit is located within the space enclosed by the circulating conveyor line, and each pallet conveyor and each assembly device is signal-connected to the central control unit. The central control unit is located within the space enclosed by the circulating conveyor line, for example, it can be installed in a control cabinet 14, which is placed within the space enclosed by the circulating conveyor line. This arrangement makes full use of the space enclosed by the circulating conveyor line, ensuring that the central control unit does not occupy additional external space of the production line, resulting in a compact layout and saving floor space. The central control unit is responsible for coordinating and controlling the start / stop, conveying speed, and conveying direction of each pallet conveyor, controlling the operation and stop of each assembly device, receiving detection result signals from each detection device, and sending control commands to the pushing mechanism based on the detection results to achieve automatic rework of defective products. The central control unit can use a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) or an industrial computer as the core controller, coupled with a human-machine interface (such as a touch screen), to facilitate parameter setting, status monitoring, and fault diagnosis by operators.

[0040] This embodiment achieves centralized control and coordinated management of the entire production line by setting up a central control unit and connecting each pallet conveyor, assembly equipment, and testing equipment to the central control unit. The central control unit can adjust the operating parameters of each pallet conveyor in real time according to the actual process status of each workstation, realizing intelligent coordination and cooperation between workstations. When the testing equipment detects defective products, the central control unit can respond quickly and control the pushing mechanism to perform rework operations, realizing automatic detection and automatic rework of defective products. The central control unit is set in the space enclosed by the circulating conveyor line, making full use of idle space and making the layout of the entire production line more compact and aesthetically pleasing. The centralized control method also facilitates unified management and maintenance by operators, reduces operational complexity, and improves production management efficiency.

[0041] It should be noted that the above embodiments only illustrate preferred embodiments of this application, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting this application. It should be pointed out that those skilled in the art can make several modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, such as combining different features in various embodiments, and these should all fall within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A tray circulation conveying mechanism for an automated assembly line, characterized in that, The tray circulation conveying mechanism of the automated assembly line includes: At least four pallet conveyors, each capable of supporting and transporting a pallet for placing electronic components to be assembled, the at least four pallet conveyors being connected end-to-end in sequence to form a circular conveyor line, the circular conveyor line being capable of driving the pallets to pass through each pallet conveyor in sequence to circulate along the circular conveyor line; At least four assembly devices, the number of which is the same as the number of the at least four pallet conveyors, and the at least four assembly devices are arranged one-to-one at each pallet conveyor.

2. The tray circulation conveying mechanism of the automatic assembly line according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tray is used to place printed circuit boards to be assembled. The at least four tray conveyors include a first tray conveyor, a second tray conveyor, a third tray conveyor, and a fourth tray conveyor connected end to end in sequence. The at least four assembly devices include a solder paste printer located at the first tray conveyor, a chip mounter located at the second tray conveyor, a reflow oven located at the third tray conveyor, and an automatic insertion machine located at the fourth tray conveyor.

3. The tray circulation conveying mechanism of the automatic assembly line according to claim 2, characterized in that, The automatic assembly line's pallet circulation conveying mechanism includes loading and unloading positions located at the first pallet conveyor and a main inspection device located at the fourth pallet conveyor. The main inspection device is located closer to the first pallet conveyor than the automatic insertion machine.

4. The tray circulation conveying mechanism of the automatic assembly line according to claim 3, characterized in that, The automatic assembly line's pallet circulation conveying mechanism includes a first sub-inspection device located at the first pallet conveyor, a second sub-inspection device located at the second pallet conveyor, and a third sub-inspection device located at the third pallet conveyor.

5. The tray circulation conveying mechanism for the automatic assembly line according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first pallet conveyor, the second pallet conveyor, the third pallet conveyor, and the fourth pallet conveyor each include two independent conveyors arranged side by side, and each of the first pallet conveyor, the second pallet conveyor, the third pallet conveyor, and the fourth pallet conveyor is provided with a pushing mechanism on both sides, the pushing mechanism being able to push the pallet back and forth between the two independent conveyors arranged side by side.

6. The tray circulation conveying mechanism for the automated assembly line according to claim 5, characterized in that, The pushing mechanism includes a horizontal cylinder and a push plate connected to the piston rod of the horizontal cylinder.

7. The tray circulation conveying mechanism for the automatic assembly line according to claim 5, characterized in that, The two independent conveyors arranged side by side are each provided with an upward protruding baffle on the side that is far away from each other, and the pallet can pass through the two independent conveyors arranged side by side and return to the two independent conveyors arranged side by side.

8. The tray circulation conveying mechanism for the automatic assembly line according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first and third pallet conveyors are linear conveyors, while the second and fourth pallet conveyors are semi-circular arc conveyors.

9. The pallet circulating conveying mechanism for an automated assembly line according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The pallet conveyor is a roller conveyor.

10. The tray circulation conveying mechanism for an automated assembly line according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The pallet circulation conveying mechanism of the automated assembly line includes a central control unit, which is located in the space enclosed by the circulation conveying line. Each pallet conveyor and each assembly device is signal-connected to the central control unit.

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