Component Transfer Device Rotation Mechanism for SMD Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional component mounters are inefficient in rotating components by 90 or 180 degrees, limiting their ability to align components correctly for mounting, which requires manual intervention and is time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A component mounter with a camera, control device, and a component transfer device featuring clamp members that rotate 90 or 180 degrees to align components correctly, along with an adjustable mechanism to accommodate different component sizes and a drive source for precise orientation changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a tape carrier is held by a suction force, then the tape carrier can be transferred, but dust particles may be attached to the tape carrier surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetape carrier transfer reliabilityVSAvoiddust particle attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction force application is segmented into multiple independent suction ports arranged in an array, allowing selective activation and reduced dust attachment area compared to a single large suction surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A dust removal unit is introduced as an intermediary component that actively removes dust particles from the tape carrier surface before transfer, preventing dust attachment while maintaining suction-based transfer reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the tape carrier supply unit and tape carrier discharge unit are integrated in one housing, then device complexity is reduced, but maintenance accessibility becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structure simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated housing is segmented into multiple accessible panels or doors that can be opened independently, allowing maintenance personnel to access specific components (supply unit or discharge unit) without disassembling the entire device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Maintenance access is provided through vertical or lateral openings in the housing structure, transforming the maintenance approach from requiring complete disassembly to allowing access through dimensional openings while maintaining integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If high-speed mounting is achieved through rapid tape carrier transfer, then productivity increases, but transfer accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting speedVSAvoidtransfer accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Positioning and alignment actions are performed in advance during the pickup phase, ensuring that the tape carrier is correctly positioned before high-speed transfer begins, thereby maintaining accuracy while enabling high speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Position detection means provide feedback on tape carrier position and orientation, allowing real-time adjustments during transfer to maintain precision even at high transfer speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Automatically rotates and aligns components by 90 or 180 degrees, reducing manual effort and ensuring accurate component placement, while being easily integrated with existing component supply systems.

Implementation Method 1

If a tape carrier is held by a suction force, then there is a high possibility that dust particles may be attached to a tape carrier surface in accordance with an increase in mounting speed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction force: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3110240B1Component mounting machine including a component transfer device
Publication Date: 2019.04.17 FUJI CORP
  • EP3110240B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3110240B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3110240B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Component transfer device 10 is provided with two clamp mechanisms 11 and is detachably set on an empty slot of feeder set stand 36 of a component mounter. Each clamp mechanism 11 is configured to clamp a component between clamp members 12 and 13 facing each other in a horizontal direction, with the direction of the component clamped between clamp members 12 and 13 being rotated 90 degrees or 180 degrees by clamp member 13 of each clamp mechanism 11 on the pulley 34 side being rotated 90 degrees or 180 degrees by a rotation drive source. Next, the component clamped between clamp members 12 and 13 of each clamp mechanism 11 is picked up by component holding section 16 of a mounting head of a component mounter and mounted on a circuit board.