Continuous Material Feed and Cutoff for Automated Pin Header Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual placement of pin headers cut from continuous material on assembly part carriers is complex and error-prone, necessitating a more efficient and automated method.

Innovation Solution

A device for supplying components from continuous material to a placement machine, featuring a chassis, transport device, and cutting device, which cuts components at a pick-up position, allowing for automated and precise handling of components of varying lengths without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual placement is used for pin headers cut from continuous material, then flexibility in handling different lengths is maintained, but complexity and error rate increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of placement operationVSAvoidcomplexity of placement process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cutting device and placement device into a single integrated system. The cutting device cuts pin headers from continuous material directly at the placement position, and the placement device immediately picks up and places the cut pin headers onto the assembly part carrier. This merging eliminates the need for separate manual cutting and placement operations, reducing complexity while maintaining automated precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically cutting the pin headers to the required length and placing them without human intervention. The cutting device is controlled by a control unit that receives placement data, automatically determines the required pin header length, cuts the continuous material, and the placement device picks up and places the cut pin headers. This eliminates manual operation complexity while maintaining ease of use through automated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If components are transported individually to the pick-up position, then precise placement is achieved, but handling complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of component placementVSAvoidtime for component handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting device performs preliminary action by cutting the pin headers from continuous material in advance, directly at the pick-up position. This allows the placement device to immediately pick up the freshly cut pin headers without waiting for separate cutting and transportation steps. The continuous material is fed through the cutting device which pre-cuts the required number of pin headers, reducing handling time while maintaining placement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuity of useful action by feeding continuous material through the cutting device and placement device in an uninterrupted flow. The continuous material is constantly fed, cut into pin headers, and immediately placed onto the assembly part carrier without stopping. This continuous process eliminates idle time between cutting and placement operations while ensuring precise placement of each pin header.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple supply devices are used for differently dimensioned components, then versatility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle different component lengthsVSAvoidnumber of supply devices required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting device is designed with dynamic adjustability to handle different pin header lengths. The cutting position can be adjusted along the continuous material feed direction, and the cutting blade can be positioned at different locations to produce pin headers of varying lengths from the same continuous material source. This dynamic capability allows a single supply device to replace multiple fixed-length supply devices, reducing complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated supply device performs multiple functions: it feeds continuous material, cuts pin headers to various lengths, and supplies them to the placement device. The cutting device can be adjusted to produce different pin header lengths, making it a universal solution that replaces the need for multiple specialized supply devices for different component dimensions. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of devices required while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12563712B2Supplying components from a continuous material to a placement machine

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 ASMPT GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A device (150) for supplying components (197) for a placement machine (100) is described, wherein the components (197) are provided in the form of a continuous material (295). The device (150) has (a) a chassis (252); (b) a transport device (260) attached to the chassis (252) for transporting the continuous material (295) along a transport track towards a pick-up position; and (c) a cutting device (270) which is configured to cut off a section (296) at a leading end of the continuous material (295), wherein the cut-off section (296) represents a supplied component (197). Also described is a placement system (BS) having such a component supplying device (150), and a method for supplying components (197) cut off from a continuous material (295) to a placement machine.