Automatic cable insertion device and method

Abstract

An automatic cable insertion device, comprising: an insertion station, where a product to be tested is placed; a material picking unit, which is used for acquiring a component to be inserted, moving said component to a material picking position, and adjusting the distance between insertion points of said component, such that the distance matches the distance between insertion points of said product; an insertion unit, which is used for gripping said component and inserting same into said product; and a control module, which is used for controlling and coordinating the operations of the material picking unit and the insertion unit. Before performing material picking, the material picking unit can precisely adjust the position of said component and the distance between the insertion points, so as to ensure precise matching with the insertion points of said product. The position of said component and the distance between the insertion points are adjusted by means of the material picking unit, such that the workflow of the insertion unit is simplified, thereby shortening the time consumed in terms of adjustment and alignment for the insertion unit.

Description

Automatic wiring device and method TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of display panels, and in particular to an automatic wiring device and method. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the traditional process, U-FPC and FFC are usually manually inserted into the product by artificial, which not only consumes time and effort, but also is prone to human error. In order to improve production efficiency and product quality, automatic insertion equipment has emerged. However, the existing automatic insertion equipment has some problems in actual application, which needs to be further optimized. Specifically, in the automatic insertion process, U-FPC and FFC need to be placed in a specific bin in order, and the bottom is equipped with a jacking structure. The transfer suction cup takes one piece from the material bin to the alignment platform each time, and then the bottom CCD takes a picture to position, and the connector on the PCB to be inserted is accurately positioned. The insertion structure on the mechanical hand corrects according to the positioning information of the CCD, clamps or adsorbs U-FPC and FFC, and then automatically inserts the corresponding connector after correction.

[0003] In the prior art, the alignment correction of automatic insertion is all completed by the mechanical hand, which occupies a lot of time during debugging and switching models, seriously affecting the efficient operation of the production line. At the same time, the design of the equipment lacks enough manual debugging space, not only the debugging process is complicated, but also the machine switching operation becomes inconvenient. Therefore, a new method needs to be designed to improve the production rate of the equipment and solve the deficiencies of the existing equipment in debugging and machine switching. SUMMARY

[0004] In order to solve all or part of the problems of the prior art, the present application provides an automatic wiring device and method, which adjusts the distance between the position of the to-be-inserted part and the insertion point by the material taking unit, simplifies the work flow of the insertion unit, and reduces the time consumption of the insertion unit in adjustment and alignment.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present application provides the following technical solutions:

[0006] An automatic plug-in device comprises a plug-in station where a product to be tested is placed; a material taking unit for taking a plug-in part and moving it to a taking position, adjusting the distance between plug-in points of the plug-in part to match the distance between plug-in points of the product to be tested; a plug-in unit for grabbing the plug-in part and plugging it with the product to be tested; and a control module for controlling and coordinating the operation of the material taking unit and the plug-in unit. The material taking unit can accurately adjust the position of the plug-in part and the distance between plug-in points before taking the plug-in part, ensuring accurate matching with the plug-in points of the product to be tested. In this way, the adjustment of the position and distance can be completed before the plug-in unit operates, thereby shortening the plug-in cycle time.

[0007] The material taking unit comprises a feeding mechanism, a clamping mechanism, a correction mechanism and a first camera module. The feeding mechanism takes the plug-in part to the clamping mechanism, and the correction mechanism moves the plug-in part on the clamping mechanism to the taking position.

[0008] The first camera module takes a photo of the plug-in part, and the correction mechanism comprises X, Y and θ three axes. According to the image information, the position of the plug-in part is adjusted by the three axes, and the plug-in part is moved to the taking position.

[0009] The first camera module takes a photo and makes an early correction, reducing the workload of the plug-in unit for alignment adjustment. The correction mechanism can provide higher correction accuracy than the plug-in unit through accurate adjustment of its X, Y and θ three axes. This high-precision correction ensures that the plug-in unit can accurately position to the predetermined position each time the material is taken, thereby improving the accuracy and stability of the device as a whole.

[0010] The plug-in part has two plug-in points corresponding to two plug-in points on the product to be tested.

[0011] The plug-in unit comprises a mechanical hand and a second camera module. The second camera module takes a photo of the product to be tested to determine the distance information between the plug-in points, and adjusts the clamping distance of the mechanical hand according to the distance information.

[0012] The second camera module is arranged on the mechanical hand. When a new type of product to be tested enters the field of view of the second camera module, the system can immediately make real-time correction and adaptation according to the captured image data. At the same time, the second camera module can also be used to observe and measure the plug-in status.

[0013] The taking unit further comprises a position adjusting mechanism, which comprises a first driving shaft connected to one end of the to-be-plugged member and a second driving shaft connected to the other end of the to-be-plugged member, and the distance between the two ends of the to-be-plugged member is adjusted by adjusting the positions of the first driving shaft and the second driving shaft respectively.

[0014] The position adjusting mechanism can accurately control the distance between the two ends of the to-be-plugged member through the automatic adjustment function of the first driving shaft and the second driving shaft, can significantly reduce the debugging workload of the manipulator in the plugging task, and can reduce the error risk in the operation process, thereby improving the success rate of plugging.

[0015] The taking unit and the plugging unit are symmetrically provided with two groups respectively, and a manual maintenance passage is arranged in the middle region of the two groups, so that the overall equipment is more convenient to debug and daily maintain. The operator can easily enter the maintenance passage to perform necessary inspection, adjustment and maintenance work without disturbing the main production area.

[0016] The application also provides an automatic plugging method, which is implemented by using the plugging device, and comprises the following steps.

[0017] S1. Placing the to-be-tested product on the plugging station;

[0018] S2. The feeding mechanism obtains the to-be-plugged member and transfers it to the clamping mechanism, the first camera module takes a photo of the to-be-plugged member, and the image information is transmitted to the control module, and the control module instructs the correction mechanism to move the to-be-plugged member to the taking position according to the image information;

[0019] S3. The second camera module takes a photo of the to-be-tested product, determines the distance between the plugging points, and transmits the image information to the control module, and the control module adjusts the clamping distance of the manipulator and instructs the position adjusting mechanism to adjust the distance between the plugging points of the to-be-plugged member according to the image information;

[0020] S4. The manipulator reaches the taking position to clamp the to-be-plugged member, and plugs the to-be-plugged member into the to-be-tested product.

[0021] In step S2, the correction mechanism adjusts the position of the to-be-plugged member through X, Y and theta three axes.

[0022] This automated wiring method utilizes advanced image recognition technology and a sophisticated mechanical control system to effectively achieve precise positioning of the components to be connected and dynamic adjustment of the connection point distance. The first camera module accurately identifies and corrects the position of the components to be connected, guiding the alignment mechanism to precisely adjust its position. The second camera module confirms and adjusts the distance between the connection points, ensuring the precise position of each connection point, thereby significantly improving the accuracy and consistency of the wiring operation.

[0023] The present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0024] 1) Traditional mating equipment often suffers from long adjustment times and heavy debugging workload in accurately matching the mating points of the parts to be mated and the test products. In this invention, the correction mechanism of the material handling unit, through precise adjustment of the X, Y, and θ axes, can accurately adjust the position of the parts to be mated and the distance between the mating points before material handling. This pre-adjustment mechanism effectively shortens the mating cycle, significantly reduces the risk of errors during operation, and improves the success rate and stability of mating.

[0025] 2) The first camera module in the equipment is responsible for positioning and photographing the components to be plugged in, correcting their positions in advance, which greatly simplifies the alignment and adjustment of the plugging units. At the same time, the second camera module is directly integrated into the robotic arm, which can capture and measure the distance information of the plugging points of the test products in real time, thereby achieving instant correction and adaptation, further improving the efficiency and accuracy of operation.

[0026] 3) To improve the maintainability and ease of operation of the equipment, the present invention features two symmetrically arranged sets of material handling and insertion units, with a manual maintenance passage in the middle area. This design allows operators to easily access the maintenance passage for routine inspections, adjustments, and maintenance without interfering with the main production area. This structure not only improves the reliability of the equipment but also reduces maintenance costs and downtime. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the automatic wiring device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the first state of the clamping mechanism and the adjusting mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the second state of the clamping mechanism and the adjusting mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Reference numerals: 1-Insertion station; 2-Material handling unit; 21-Clamping mechanism; 22-Adjustment mechanism; 221-First drive shaft; 222-Second drive shaft; 3-Insertion unit; 4-Manual maintenance channel. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions in specific embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] In this embodiment of the invention, referring to Figures 1-3, an automatic wire insertion device includes: an insertion station 1, a material handling unit 2, an insertion unit 3, and a control module. The control module is used to control and coordinate the operation of the material handling unit 2 and the insertion unit 3. The insertion station 1 holds the product to be tested, specifically a PCB board. The insertion station 1 can be adjusted according to different PCB board sizes to ensure the product is securely fixed during insertion. The material handling unit 2 is used to acquire the component to be inserted and move it to the material handling position, adjusting the distance between the insertion points of the component to match the distance between the insertion points of the product to be tested. The insertion unit 3 is used to grasp the component to be inserted and insert it into the product to be tested. The component to be inserted is specifically an FPC with two insertion points, corresponding to the two insertion points on the product to be tested.

[0034] The material handling unit 2 includes a feeding mechanism, a clamping mechanism 21, a correction mechanism, and a first camera module. The feeding mechanism is responsible for picking up the parts to be inserted from the hopper and transferring them to the clamping mechanism 21. The clamping mechanism 21 receives the parts to be inserted from the feeding mechanism and clamps them securely to ensure accurate movement and positioning later. The first camera module is responsible for positioning and photographing the parts to be inserted, acquiring image information of the parts to be inserted, and transmitting it to the control module for subsequent accurate correction and operation. The correction mechanism includes three axes: X, Y, and θ, used for accurate positioning and adjustment based on the image information of the parts to be inserted captured by the first camera module. The X and Y axes are responsible for planar movement, while the θ axis is responsible for rotational adjustment, ensuring that the parts to be inserted can be accurately moved to the preset picking position. The correction mechanism can significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of the overall system during the insertion process. The positioning mechanism 22 includes a first drive shaft 221 and a second drive shaft 222, which control the two ends of the parts to be inserted in the clamping mechanism 21. The first drive shaft 221 controls one end of the component to be inserted in the clamping mechanism 21, while the second drive shaft 222 controls the other end. By adjusting their positions, the distance and position between the insertion points at both ends of the component can be precisely adjusted. This precise adjustment ensures accurate alignment between the component to be inserted and the product under test.

[0035] The insertion unit 3 includes a robotic arm and a second camera module. The robotic arm is responsible for retrieving the component to be inserted from the material handling unit 2 and precisely inserting it into the designated position on the product under test. The robotic arm uses a gripping part to firmly grasp and control the component to be inserted, ensuring stability and accuracy during operation. The second camera module, mounted on the robotic arm, is responsible for photographing the product under test and transmitting the images to the control module. The distance information between the insertion points of the product under test can be determined from the captured images. The robotic arm and the second camera module are connected and coordinated through the control module. Based on the distance information provided by the second camera module, the control module adjusts the robotic arm's operating parameters, including gripping distance, gripping force, and insertion depth, to ensure the accuracy and stability of the insertion. When the robotic arm picks up materials for different machine types, since the position and insertion point of the component to be inserted are fixed, this greatly reduces the workload of cutting and debugging when switching between different workpieces. Operators do not need to repeatedly adjust the position of the robotic arm; instead, they rely on the pre-adjustment of the automatic material handling unit 2, saving valuable production time.

[0036] Two sets of material handling units 2 and insertion units 3 are symmetrically arranged, with a manual maintenance channel 4 located in the middle area between the two sets. This effectively optimizes the operation process and equipment maintenance conditions. The manual maintenance channel 4 allows maintenance personnel to quickly enter and handle equipment problems while maintaining the stable operation of the main production process, ensuring both operational efficiency and safety.

[0037] The present invention also provides an automatic wiring method, which is implemented using the above-mentioned wiring device and specifically includes the following steps:

[0038] S1. Place the product to be tested on the plug-in station 1;

[0039] S2. The feeding mechanism retrieves the part to be inserted from the hopper and transfers it to the clamping mechanism 21; the first camera module captures an image of the part to be inserted and transmits the image information to the control module; the control module instructs the correction mechanism to adjust the position of the part to be inserted through the X, Y, and θ axes to ensure that it is accurately moved to the picking position;

[0040] S3. The second camera module takes pictures of the product to be tested, determines the distance between the insertion points, and transmits the image information to the control module; the control module adjusts the gripping distance of the robot arm according to the image information, and instructs the adjustment mechanism 22 to adjust the distance between the insertion points of the parts to be inserted.

[0041] S4. Following the instructions of the control module, the robotic arm reaches the material handling position, picks up the component to be inserted, and inserts it into the insertion point of the product to be tested.

[0042] This invention utilizes a material handling unit 2 with a correction mechanism and a precise positioning mechanism 22 to significantly shorten the insertion cycle by precisely adjusting the position of the component to be inserted and the distance between the insertion points. This not only greatly reduces the risk of operational errors but also significantly improves the success rate and stability of insertion. The first camera module in the equipment is responsible for positioning and photographing the component to be inserted, while the second camera module measures and corrects the insertion point information of the test product in real time, effectively simplifying the complexity of alignment adjustment and further optimizing the efficiency and accuracy of the operation process. In addition, to enhance the maintainability and ease of operation of the equipment, this invention also features symmetrically arranged material handling and insertion units 3 and a dedicated manual maintenance channel 4 in the central area of ​​the equipment. This design allows operators to easily access the maintenance channel for daily inspections, adjustments, and maintenance without disturbing the main production area. Therefore, it not only improves the reliability and long-term stability of the equipment but also significantly reduces maintenance costs and downtime, laying a solid foundation for continuously improving production efficiency.

[0043] Overall, this invention significantly improves many problems existing in traditional plug-in equipment through innovative designs that optimize the plug-in process, improve plug-in accuracy and stability, and simplify equipment maintenance, bringing substantial technological progress and economic benefits to the electronics manufacturing industry.

[0044] It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications to this invention without departing from its principles, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the scope of protection of the claims of this invention.

Claims

1. An automatic wiring device, characterized by, The application relates to a product testing device, which comprises the following parts: a product testing device (1) for placing a product to be tested; a taking unit (2) for taking a product to be inserted and moving the product to be inserted to a taking position, and adjusting the distance between the insertion points of the product to be inserted to match the distance between the insertion points of the product to be tested; an insertion unit (3) for grabbing the product to be inserted and inserting the product to be inserted into the product to be tested; a control module for controlling and coordinating the operation of the taking unit (2) and the insertion unit (3).

2. The patching device of claim 1, wherein, The taking unit (2) comprises a feeding mechanism, a clamping mechanism (21), a correcting mechanism and a first camera module; the feeding mechanism takes the product to be inserted and transfers the product to the clamping mechanism (21); and the correcting mechanism moves the product to be inserted on the clamping mechanism (21) to the taking position.

3. The patching device of claim 2, wherein, The first camera module takes a picture of the product to be inserted; the correcting mechanism comprises X, Y and theta three axes; the position of the product to be inserted is adjusted by the three axes according to image information, and the product to be inserted is moved to the taking position.

4. The patching device of claim 1, wherein, The product to be inserted has two insertion points corresponding to two insertion points on the product to be tested.

5. The patching device of claim 4, wherein, The insertion unit (3) comprises a mechanical hand and a second camera module; the second camera module takes a picture of the product to be tested to determine the distance information between the insertion points, and adjusts the clamping distance of the mechanical hand according to the distance information.

6. The patch cord of claim 5, wherein, The second camera module is arranged on the mechanical hand.

7. The patching device of claim 5, wherein, The taking unit (2) further comprises a position adjusting mechanism (22); the position adjusting mechanism (22) comprises a first driving shaft (221) and a second driving shaft (222); the first driving shaft (221) is connected to one end of the product to be inserted; the second driving shaft (222) is connected to the other end of the product to be inserted; and the distance between the two insertion points of the product to be inserted is adjusted by respectively adjusting the positions of the first driving shaft (221) and the second driving shaft (222).

8. The patch cord of claim 1, wherein, The taking unit (2) and the insertion unit (3) are respectively arranged in two groups, and an artificial maintenance channel (4) is arranged in the middle region of the two groups.

9. A method of automatic cabling, carried out using the cabling device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The application further discloses a product testing method, which comprises the following steps: S1. placing a product to be tested on the product testing device (1); S2. a feeding mechanism takes a product to be inserted and transfers the product to a clamping mechanism (21); a first camera module takes a picture of the product to be inserted and transmits image information to a control module; and the control module adjusts the position of the product to be inserted to a taking position according to the image information; S3. a second camera module takes a picture of the product to be tested to determine the distance between the insertion points, and transmits image information to a control module; the control module adjusts the clamping distance of a mechanical hand according to the image information, and adjusts the distance between the insertion points of the product to be inserted by a position adjusting mechanism (22); S4. the mechanical hand reaches the taking position to grab the product to be inserted, and inserts the product to be inserted into the product to be tested.

10. The method of patching according to claim 9, wherein, In step S2, the position of the product to be inserted is adjusted by an X, Y and theta three-axis correcting mechanism.

Images