Brushless Motor PCB Locating Structure for Automated Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brushless motor production processes face challenges with positional errors between the terminal on the upper insulating bobbin and the terminal connecting hole on the PCB, leading to production errors and manual soldering of lead wires, which hinders automated production.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a locating column on the upper insulating bobbin with a tapered end and a corresponding locating hole on the PCB, along with optimized design features like wire-through slots and notches, ensures accurate positioning and reduces errors, enabling automated assembly and simplifying the structure to facilitate high-yield production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the PCB is secured on the casing first and then assembled with the upper insulating bobbin, then the assembly process can be automated, but mounting alignment errors between the terminal and terminal connecting hole occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated assemblyVSAvoidmounting alignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A locating structure consisting of a locating column on the upper insulating bobbin and a locating hole on the PCB serves as an intermediary positioning mechanism. This mediator ensures precise alignment between the terminal and terminal connecting hole during automated assembly, eliminating mounting alignment errors while maintaining automation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The locating column and locating hole are pre-positioned on the upper insulating bobbin and PCB respectively before the actual assembly process. This preliminary positioning action ensures that when the PCB is assembled with the upper insulating bobbin, the terminal and terminal connecting hole are already aligned, preventing mounting alignment errors during automated production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the lead wire is soldered to the PCB manually, then connection reliability is improved, but automated production cannot be realized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidautomated production capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The manual soldering process is replaced by a mechanical pressing connection system. The terminal is designed to be pressed directly onto the lead wire, creating a reliable electrical connection through mechanical force rather than thermal soldering. This substitution enables automated production while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal structure is designed to automatically secure the lead wire through its own pressing action. The terminal includes features that enable it to self-secure the lead wire during the pressing process, eliminating the need for separate soldering operations and enabling fully automated production while ensuring reliable connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the structure is simplified to facilitate automated production, then productivity is improved, but positioning accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The locating column and locating hole structure serves multiple functions: it provides precise positioning for the PCB on the upper insulating bobbin, ensures alignment between the terminal and terminal connecting hole, and facilitates automated assembly. This multi-functional design achieves both simplified structure for automated production and maintained positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The locating structure acts as a simple yet effective intermediary mechanism that provides precise positioning without adding complex assembly steps. The locating column and locating hole pair enables accurate positioning while maintaining structural simplicity, allowing both high productivity and positioning accuracy to be achieved simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3323190B1Locating structure between printed circuit board and insulating bobbin in a brushless motor
Publication Date: 2022.08.17 BERGSTROM INC
  • EP3323190B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3323190B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3323190B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A brushless motor includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of locating holes therethrough; and an upper insulating bobbin including a plurality of locating bosses distributed along a circumference direction of an upper surface of the upper insulating bobbin. Each locating boss has a locating column projecting from a top surface thereof such that each locating column is inserted into a respective locating hole.