Contractible Suction Support Pin for Substrate Curvature Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing support pins for substrates with varying curvatures lead to inconsistent placement forces during component assembly, causing either loss or destruction due to insufficient or excessive force, due to the curvature-induced variations in substrate surface distance from the placement head.

Innovation Solution

A support pin with a contractible suction nozzle that adapts to the substrate's curvature, ensuring a flat surface by sucking the substrate firmly against the end of the pin, providing uniform distance and predictable placement forces through vacuum-assisted fixation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If support pins adapt to substrate curvature individually, then substrate sagging is prevented, but placement force becomes non-uniform across the substrate surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate sagging preventionVSAvoidplacement force uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support device is divided into multiple independent support pins, each capable of adapting to local substrate curvature. This segmentation allows each pin to independently compensate for sagging at its location while the collective effect of multiple pins ensures overall substrate stability and uniform placement force distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support pins are designed with dynamic adaptation capability, allowing them to move and adjust their position according to the substrate's curvature profile. This dynamic behavior enables the support pins to maintain optimal contact with the substrate surface under varying curvature conditions, preventing sagging while maintaining uniform placement forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If support pins are fixed at a single height position, then the structure is simple, but they cannot adapt to differently curved substrates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport pin structureVSAvoidsubstrate curvature adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support pins are designed with dynamic adaptation capability, allowing them to move and adjust their position according to the substrate's curvature profile. This dynamic behavior enables the support pins to maintain optimal contact with the substrate surface under varying curvature conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support pins utilize pneumatic pressure changes to alter their height position and adapt to different substrate curvatures. By changing the internal pneumatic pressure, the pins can adjust their effective length and contact point, enabling them to handle substrates with varying degrees of curvature without increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If a rigid support structure is used, then the substrate is firmly supported, but it cannot accommodate varying substrate curvatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate support firmnessVSAvoidsubstrate curvature accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support pins incorporate flexible elements that allow them to bend and adapt to the substrate's curvature while maintaining sufficient support force. This flexibility enables the rigid support structure to accommodate varying substrate curvatures without compromising the firmness of support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The support pins are designed with dynamic adaptation capability, allowing them to move and adjust their position according to the substrate's curvature profile. This dynamic behavior enables the support structure to maintain optimal contact and support firmness under varying curvature conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The solution ensures secure fixation of the substrate, preventing sagging and ensuring uniform placement forces across the substrate surface, thereby increasing the reliability and safety of the assembly process by maintaining consistent distances and forces during component placement.

Implementation Method 1

a contractible suction nozzle for sucking in the substrate, which is arranged and fixed at the end of the base body with the second opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum suction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP1796451B1Support pin for supporting a substrate populated with electric components
Publication Date: 2011.03.16 ASM ASSEMBLY SYST GMBH & CO
  • EP1796451B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP1796451B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

The pin has a rod-shaped base body (2) with an opening (4) that connects the base body to a vacuum supply unit (6), and an opening (7) that is arranged at an end of the base body. The opening (7) is pneumatically coupled with the opening (4), and a contractable suction support (9) sucks a substrate (10). The substrate is designed to protrude over the end of the base body in a free state, and is sucked in a suction state. The substrate is contracted toward the end of the base body such that the substrate firmly lies at the end of the base body.