Component Mounter Lead Position Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operation machines face challenges in properly mounting lead components due to difficulties in accurately determining the position of the lead component's distal end and body relative to the through hole, leading to improper insertion when the distance between these positions is not within a specific threshold.

Innovation Solution

An operation machine is equipped with a holding head, a moving device, a first acquisition section to determine the distal end position of the lead, a second acquisition section to determine the position of the holding tool and the lead component's body, and a control device that controls the insertion process only when the distance between these positions is within a predetermined threshold, ensuring proper mounting by preventing insertion when the distance exceeds this threshold.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the operation machine performs insertion work without checking the distance between the distal end position and the holding tool/body position, then the mounting process is simple and fast, but the mounting precision and reliability deteriorate due to improper insertion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by measuring the distance between the distal end position of the lead and the holding tool/body position before performing insertion work. The control device determines in advance whether the measured distance is within the predetermined threshold, and only permits insertion when the condition is satisfied. This preliminary verification ensures proper mounting while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the operation machine checks the distance between the distal end position and the holding tool/body position before insertion, then the mounting reliability is improved, but the operation time and productivity deteriorate due to additional measurement and judgment steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting reliabilityVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by having the control device automatically perform the distance measurement and threshold comparison without requiring external intervention or complex additional equipment. The control device uses the position information already acquired by the acquisition sections to calculate the distance and make the determination, thereby ensuring reliable mounting while minimizing the impact on productivity through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the operation machine acquires position information from multiple sections (distal end position and holding tool/body position), then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and information processing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition measurement precisionVSAvoidinformation processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining the position acquisition functions into a unified measurement system. The control device integrates the position information from the first acquisition section (distal end position) and the second acquisition section (holding tool/body position) to calculate the distance between them. This merged approach achieves precise measurement while avoiding the complexity of separate independent measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3550950B1Operation machine
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 FUJI CORP
  • EP3550950B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3550950B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3550950B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a component mounter including a component holding tool configured to hold lead 94 of a lead component, a position of mark 97 given to the component holding tool and a position of a distal end of the lead are calculated based on captured image data, and when a distance between the position of the mark and the position of the distal end of the lead is smaller than a threshold, mounting work is performed, whereas when the distance is equal to or greater than the threshold, the mounting work is not performed. As a result, for example, mounting work on a lead component having a lead which is greatly bent can be avoided, thereby ensuring proper mounting work. Further, when a lead of a lead component is bent, for example, although there are fears that the component holding tool is brought into abutment with a previously-attached component as a result of the component holding tool being offset when the component is mounted, the abutment of the component holding tool with the previously-attached component can be avoided by determining whether mounting work is performed or not performed using the approach described above.