Board Positioning Method for SMT Mounters

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mounters struggle to accurately and efficiently mount components onto long boards, as they cannot support boards that exceed the mounting area, leading to reduced positioning accuracy and increased costs due to the need for complex and larger units, as well as time-consuming adjustments for different board types.

Innovation Solution

A mounter with two mounting stages and movable board stoppers that position the board edges on fixed positions near the ends of each mounting area, allowing components to be mounted on the entire board length without changing the unit configuration, and enabling flexible response to different installation layouts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a movable board stopper is used to accommodate long boards, then the mounter can handle boards exceeding the mounting area, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates and the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle long boardsVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The board positioning system is divided into two independent stopping units: a first stopping unit with a first board stopper for positioning the downstream board edge, and a second stopping unit with a second board stopper for positioning the upstream board edge. Each stopping unit independently controls one end of the board, eliminating the need for a single complex movable stopper while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a single movable stopper that moves along the board, the invention uses two fixed stoppers that simultaneously define the positioning references for both ends of the board. This inverts the conventional approach by making both stoppers fixed rather than one movable, thereby improving positioning accuracy while maintaining adaptability to long boards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a movable board stopper is used to accommodate long boards, then the mounter can handle boards exceeding the mounting area, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle long boardsVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The board positioning system is divided into two independent stopping units: a first stopping unit with a first board stopper for positioning the downstream board edge, and a second stopping unit with a second board stopper for positioning the upstream board edge. Each stopping unit independently controls one end of the board, eliminating the need for a single complex movable stopper while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a single movable stopper that moves along the board, the invention uses two fixed stoppers that simultaneously define the positioning references for both ends of the board. This inverts the conventional approach by making both stoppers fixed rather than one movable, thereby improving positioning accuracy while maintaining adaptability to long boards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Measurement precision

If board stopper position is adjusted for different board types, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but the adjustment time and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidadjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The two stopping units with fixed board stoppers serve multiple functions: they can accommodate different board lengths, maintain positioning accuracy, and require no adjustment when board types change. The first stopping unit positions the downstream edge while the second positioning unit positions the upstream edge, creating a universal positioning system that works for all board types without requiring time-consuming adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The board stoppers are pre-positioned at fixed locations that define the mounting areas for each stage. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for real-time adjustments when different board types are used, as the fixed stoppers already establish the correct reference positions for accurate component mounting on various board lengths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7591068B2Board positioning method

Publication Date: 2009.09.22 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP

AI summary

A mounter including at least two mounting stages 109 and 110 where components are mounted onto boards transported from the upstream side in transportation direction of the board 120 and then transport the boards to the downstream side, and the mounter includes a first stopping unit 135 for stopping the board to place a board edge on the downstream side on a first fixed position which is in the downstream side from a first mountable area A, the first mountable area A being a mountable region where the components can be mounted on the first mounting stage 109 on the upstream side, and a second stopping unit 136 for stopping the board to place a board edge on the upstream side on a second fixed position which is the upstream side from a second mountable area A, the second mountable area A being a mountable region where the components can be mounted on the second mounting stage 110.