Component Attachment Assembly via Preliminary Joining

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Components attached to a board may become unstable due to warping, especially when a second component is attached to a first component already on the board, leading to inefficiencies in attachment processes.

Innovation Solution

A component attachment apparatus that assembles the first and second components before attaching them to the board, using a head to hold and position the components accurately, with imaging devices to ensure precise alignment and connection, allowing for stable attachment despite board warping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a second component is attached to a first component already attached to the board, then component attachment can be performed, but the attached component becomes unstable due to board warping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent attachment capabilityVSAvoidcomponent attachment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary assembly of the first and second components at the supply position before attaching them to the board. By connecting the first component to the second component while both are at the supply position, the assembly is created in advance, avoiding the instability caused by board warping during the attachment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses the supply position as an intermediary location where the first and second components are connected before final attachment to the board. This intermediary assembly step allows components to be joined in a stable position, and then the completed assembly is attached to the board as a unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If components are assembled at the supply position before attachment, then movement loss is suppressed and attachment efficiency is maintained, but additional control mechanisms are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent attachment efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The head is designed to perform multiple functions: it can hold components, move them to supply positions, connect components together, and attach assemblies to the board. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices for each operation, thereby suppressing device complexity while maintaining productivity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the component holding, positioning, connecting, and attaching functions into a single integrated head system. By combining these operations that were previously performed by separate devices or steps, the system achieves efficient component assembly at the supply position without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3307045B1Component attaching device and component attaching method
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 FUJI CORP
  • EP3307045B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3307045B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3307045B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A component attachment apparatus picks up a first component P1 supplied to supply position 161a of a first stick feeder 161 with a head, assembles the first component P1 and a second component P2 by inserting a lead L1 of the first component P1 held by the head into an insertion hole H of the second component P2 supplied to supply position 162a of a second stick feeder 162, and then attaches the assembly to a board. Therefore, in comparison with a case where the first component P1 attached to the second component P2 after the second component P2 is attached to the board, it is possible to stably attach the components to the board with low influence of warping of the board.