Modular Pick-and-Place Spindle Bank for Independent Motion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dispensing heads for pick-and-place machines are heavy, complex, and lack independent motion control for individual spindles, leading to increased size, engineering complexity, and vulnerability if one spindle or nozzle fails.
Innovation Solution
A modular spindle system with a shaft, nozzle tip, and theta gear that can be removably attached to a pick-and-place head, allowing independent motion control and easy replacement, along with a spindle bank that can move along multiple axes, enabling efficient assembly and reducing the impact of spindle failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple spindles and nozzle receivers are located on a dispensing head to reduce assembly time, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing head is divided into multiple independent spindle modules, each capable of independent operation. Each module includes a spindle, nozzle receiver, and associated drive mechanisms, allowing them to function autonomously while being part of the same dispensing head structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing head incorporates independent motion control for each spindle module, allowing dynamic and flexible operation. Each module can be controlled individually through separate motion control profiles, enabling adaptive assembly processes where different spindles can operate at different speeds, positions, and sequences based on real-time requirements.
2Productivity
If a single dispensing head contains multiple spindles to increase productivity, then assembly speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates because the entire head is compromised if one spindle fails
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing head is segmented into independent spindle modules that can operate autonomously. Each module has its own drive mechanisms, motion control, and nozzle receiver, creating functional independence that isolates failures to individual modules rather than affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each spindle module is designed with localized control capabilities through individual motion control profiles. This allows each module to have optimized control parameters independent of others, and more importantly, allows the system to maintain operational quality in healthy modules even when one module fails.
3Device complexity
If machine level processors control multi-spindle dispensing heads with head-level motion control profiles, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates because independent motion control for each spindle is precluded
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements dynamic motion control where each spindle module can have its own motion control profile. This allows the system to adapt to different assembly requirements by independently configuring speed, position, acceleration, and sequence parameters for each spindle, enabling flexible and customized assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion control system is designed to be universally applicable across all spindle modules while allowing individual customization. Each spindle can operate under its own control profile yet all modules share the same control architecture and interface standards, enabling the system to handle diverse assembly tasks through configurable software rather than hardware modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of assembly comprising a pick-and-place spindle module having a modular body structure including a first receiving location configured to receive a spindle, a first z-axis motor configured to move a spindle received in the first receiving location in a z-axis, a first theta motor configured to rotate a spindle received in the receiving location, an air distribution system including an air distribution port, the air distribution system configured to deliver received air from the air distribution port to a spindle received in the first receiving location, an electrical distribution system including an electrical distribution port, and a mechanical attachment mechanism, the mechanical attachment mechanism configured to facilitate attachment of the modular body structure to a spindle bank such that the air distribution port is connected to receive air from the spindle bank and the electrical distribution port is configured to receive electricity from the spindle bank.