Movable Feeder Frame for Pick-and-Place Mounting Speed

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic component mounting devices face inefficiencies due to suboptimal feeder positioning, difficult feeder changes, and challenging rectification of feeding errors and pick-up position settings, leading to slow mounting speeds and increased operational complexity.

Innovation Solution

An electronic component mounting device with a movable frame that allows feeders to be easily attached and detached, and a camera-based system for precise positioning and error rectification, enabling optimal feeder placement and quick changes, along with a method for determining and adjusting pick-up positions using pattern recognition techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If feeders are fixed in position, then structural simplicity is maintained, but mounting speed decreases due to suboptimal positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting speedVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The feeder support structure is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of feeder positions along the conveyor direction. This enables optimization of the distance between feeders and pick-up devices, thereby increasing mounting speed while maintaining acceptable structural complexity through controlled mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The feeder support structure is divided into separate movable components that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows selective optimization of feeder positions without requiring complete redesign of the entire support structure, balancing productivity improvement with structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If feeders are detachable, then ease of changing feeders is improved, but mounting speed decreases due to time-consuming feeder changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of changing feedersVSAvoidmounting speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The feeder support structure is pre-configured with detachable connections at optimal positions, allowing feeders to be quickly attached and detached without requiring repositioning operations. This preliminary preparation of the support structure enables rapid feeder changes while minimizing interruption to the mounting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If pick-up positions are fixed, then device simplicity is maintained, but difficulty in setting pick-up positions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of setting pick-up positionsVSAvoidpositioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pick-up device is equipped with adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow dynamic modification of pick-up positions along the conveyor direction. This dynamic capability enables easy adaptation to different feeder positions and component types while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized adjustment interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If feeders are positioned far from pick-up device, then ease of feeder installation is improved, but mounting speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting speedVSAvoidease of feeder installation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The feeder support structure incorporates movable elements that can be easily repositioned along the conveyor direction during installation and operation. This dynamic positioning capability allows installers to adjust feeder locations to optimal distances from pick-up devices while maintaining ease of installation through simple repositioning operations rather than complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3554208B1Electronic component mounting device and method for setting up electronic component mounting device
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 SALCOMP OYJ
  • EP3554208B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3554208B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3554208B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an electronic component mounting device that comprises a conveyor (110) for conveying a circuit board (103), feeders (104) for feeding electronic components (101), a pick-up device (102) for picking up electronic components (101) from the feeders (104) and mounting the electronic components (101) to the circuit board (103), and a movable frame (107) to which the feeders (104) are detachably attached, said movable frame (107) being movable between a first position at which the pick-up device (102) is intended to pick-up electronic components (101) from the feeders (104) and a second position at which the feeders (104) are intended to be attached to and detached from the movable frame (107). The present invention also relates to a method for setting up an electronic component mounting device.