Plastic Holding Clip for Coil Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic components like coils, which lack defined engagement points, pose challenges for automated mounting on printed circuit boards using grippers, as they cannot be easily secured or positioned with suction grippers due to their shape and structure.
Innovation Solution
A holding element in the form of a clip with prestressed parallel limbs and a plate element with a flat surface is designed to create an engagement point for grippers, providing a clamping and interlocking connection, especially suitable for coils with round winding wire, by extending beyond the coil's center plane and engaging with the coil core and winding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a suction gripper is used to move electronic components, then high speeds and accelerations can be achieved, but components without defined engagement points (like coils with round winding wire) cannot be securely engaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a holding element as an intermediary component between the suction gripper and the coil. This holding element provides a defined engagement surface that the gripper can suction, while the other end of the holding element engages with the coil to secure it. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable engagement of components that otherwise lack suitable engagement points.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution segments the engagement system into two distinct parts: the holding element that attaches to the coil and the engagement point that the gripper attaches to. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function - the holding element for securing the coil and the engagement point for gripper attachment - thereby resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If an elastic plastics clip is placed on the coil winding, then an engagement surface for the gripper is provided, but without additional means the coil cannot be secured in the longitudinal direction
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element extends in the longitudinal direction beyond the center plane of the coil, utilizing the longitudinal dimension to create interlocking connections. The limbs reach beyond the center plane where the distance between them is smaller, forming an interlocking connection that prevents detachment in the longitudinal direction, thereby adding stability without compromising ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding element combines different functional features in a single component: it has limbs for clamping the coil, engagement points for gripper attachment, and interlocking structures for longitudinal stability. This composite design integrates multiple functions into one element, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and longitudinal stability.
3Reliability
If the holding element limbs are made with prestress for clamping, then secure attachment to the coil is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the prestressed limbs for clamping, the engagement points for gripper attachment, and the interlocking features for longitudinal stability are all combined in one component. This merging reduces the number of separate parts needed while maintaining high attachment reliability, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure and efficient automatic mounting of electronic components without defined engagement points, preventing detachment during movement and ensuring reliable positioning and handling by grippers.
Implementation Method 1
The engagement point for the gripper provided, which usually operates with a suction action
Implementation Method 2
The two limbs can have a certain degree of prestress in this case, so that they are fixed to the component in a clamping manner
Data Source
AI summary
For automatic attachment of electronic components onto circuit boards, it is proposed that the electronic component be provided with a holding element that comprises a gripping point for a suction gripper. The holding element is designed as a clip that can be connected to the electronic component. The connecting occurs preferably by a snap-on action, wherein a form fit or positive fit is achieved by the shape of the clip, which is made of plastic. Preferably, the clip comprises a rib on the inside thereof facing the electronic component, said rib extending over at least half the periphery and engaging in a gap in the surface of the electronic component. If the electronic component is a coil, the rib, which is directed inward, can run along a helical line.