Dual-Sided Substrate Work Machine With Exchangeable Work Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing substrate work machines are limited in their ability to perform various types of work beyond component mounting, as they primarily operate from above the board, lacking flexibility to handle different tasks effectively.

Innovation Solution

A substrate work machine is designed with multiple types of work units positioned below the conveyance height of the board, allowing for work from both above and below, and featuring exchangeable units in the mounting section, enabling the machine to handle diverse tasks by swapping out units such as cut-and-clinch and screw tightening units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the substrate work machine operates only from above the board, then the structure is simple and easy to operate, but the machine cannot perform various types of work beyond component mounting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework type varietyVSAvoidmachine structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate work machine is designed with multiple types of work units (mounting unit, cut-and-clinch unit, screw tightening unit) that can be exchanged in the mounting section, allowing a single machine to perform various types of work including component mounting, lead cutting and bending, and screw tightening operations

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple types of work units are added to the machine, then the machine can handle diverse tasks, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask diversityVSAvoidwork unit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The work units are designed as separate, modular components that can be independently exchanged in the mounting section. Each work unit (mounting unit, cut-and-clinch unit, screw tightening unit) is a self-contained module that can be attached or removed without affecting the overall machine structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting section is designed to allow dynamic exchange of work units during operation. The holding head can be repositioned and different work units can be mounted or removed based on the specific task requirements, making the system adaptable rather than fixed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If work units are positioned below the conveyance height, then the machine can perform work from below the board, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework directionVSAvoidmounting section design
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The work units are positioned below the conveyance height of the board, allowing operations to be performed from the opposite side of the board. This enables dual-sided working capability where mounting, cutting, and screw tightening can be performed from below while the board is conveyed through the machine

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

Data Source

PatentEP3490361B1Substrate work machine
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 FUJI CORP
  • EP3490361B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3490361B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3490361B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A component mounter includes a substrate conveying-and-holding device 22 configured to convey a board, work heads 60, 62 configured to hold a component, a work head moving device 64 configured to shift the work heads above the board, multiple work units 34, 36, 37 configured to perform work on the board from below, and a unit moving device 35 configured to shift the work units below the board, and each of the multiple work units is mounted on a mounting section of the unit moving device in an exchangeable fashion. With the substrate work machine configured as described above, the board can be worked on from above and below, hence making it possible to deal with various types of work. In addition, by exchanging the work units mounted in the mounting section, further types of work can be dealt with.