Component Mounting Accuracy Measurement Board Conveyance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for measuring mounting accuracy in component mounting machines are labor-intensive and inefficient, requiring operators to repeatedly open and close machine covers to set and remove mounting accuracy measurement boards, making the process cumbersome and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows component mounting machines to switch between production, mounting accuracy measurement, and pass modes, enabling a single mounting accuracy measurement board to be conveyed automatically between machines along the board conveyance path for sequential measurement, reducing operator workload and increasing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single mounting accuracy measurement board is used for multiple component mounting machines, then the number of measurement boards required is reduced and operator workload is decreased, but the system complexity increases due to the need for automatic conveyance control between machines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator workloadVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting accuracy measurement board is designed to be universally applicable across multiple component mounting machines. Instead of having dedicated measurement boards for each machine, a single board can be conveyed to and used by multiple machines sequentially, allowing one board to serve multiple functions and multiple machines to share the same measurement resource.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The board conveyance path acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables the transfer of the measurement board between different component mounting machines. This intermediary system automates the movement of the board, eliminating the need for operators to manually handle and transport multiple boards between machines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple mounting accuracy measurement boards are used for multiple component mounting machines, then each machine can operate independently without waiting for board availability, but the cost and management complexity of multiple boards increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of measurement boards
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement board is designed as a universal component that can be used across multiple machines. The board contains measurement features that are compatible with different machine types, allowing a single board to perform measurement functions for multiple component mounting machines in sequence, thereby reducing the total quantity of boards needed.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous measurement capability by automatically conveying the measurement board between machines. While one machine is using the board for measurement, the board is continuously transported to the next machine in the sequence, ensuring that measurement activities can proceed without interruption or idle time across the production line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of manufacture

If operators manually set and remove measurement boards from each machine, then the process is simple to implement, but the time required for measurement operations increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service automation where the board conveyance mechanism automatically handles the transport and positioning of measurement boards between machines. The machines themselves participate in the process by automatically receiving and using the board when it arrives, eliminating the need for operator intervention in board handling while maintaining implementation feasibility through integration with existing automated conveyance infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3691434B1Mounting accuracy measurement system for component mounting line, and mounting accuracy measurement method
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 FUJI CORP
  • EP3691434B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3691434B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3691434B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Each of multiple component mounting machines (14) constituting a component mounting line (10) is configured to switch between a production mode in which a component is mounted on a circuit board (11) that has been conveyed in and then conveyed out, a mounting accuracy measurement mode in which a mounting accuracy measurement component (42) is mounted at a predetermined position on a mounting accuracy measurement board (41) and the mounting accuracy is measured, and a pass mode in which a component is conveyed out without being mounted on the board conveyed in. When the control mode of two or more component mounters among the multiple component mounting machines constituting the component mounting line (10) is the mounting accuracy measurement mode, the mounting accuracy is measured by conveying the mounting accuracy measurement board along the board conveyance path (12) at least between the two or more component mounting machines, and the two or more component mounting machines sequentially use the mounting accuracy measurement board to measure the mounting accuracy.