Nozzle Management Machine With Circulating Pallets And Integrated Washing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical component mounting machines face challenges in managing suction nozzles effectively, leading to complications in nozzle storage and treatment processes, which affect mounting accuracy and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A nozzle management machine is designed to include a nozzle storing device with pallets that can accommodate multiple types of suction nozzles, a washing device, and a system for performing various treatments, such as inspection and drying, to enhance the practicality and efficiency of nozzle management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If suction nozzles are stored and managed in a complex system, then the management capability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle management capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle management system is segmented into independent functional modules: a storing device with multiple storage units for different nozzle types, a washing device with spray nozzles and drainage, a drying device with air blowers, and an inspection device with cameras. Each module operates independently but coordinates through a control device, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive management capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle management machine integrates multiple functions into a single unified system. The same storage units accommodate various nozzle types, the washing device handles multiple nozzle configurations, and the inspection device uses standardized imaging procedures. This multi-functionality enhances adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.

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

2Productivity

If multiple treatment processes are integrated into one machine, then productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle treatment efficiencyVSAvoidmachine complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The washing device, drying device, and inspection device are merged into a single integrated nozzle management machine. The control device coordinates all three treatment processes sequentially: washing with spray nozzles and drainage, drying with air blowers, and inspection with cameras and image processing. This integration improves productivity by eliminating the need for separate machines while managing complexity through unified control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If suction nozzles are not properly managed and washed, then the mounting accuracy deteriorates, but the loss of time in management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting accuracyVSAvoidnozzle management time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The washing device performs preliminary cleaning of suction nozzles using spray nozzles that direct water onto the nozzle surfaces and internal passages, with drainage to remove contaminants. The drying device then performs preliminary drying using air blowers before the nozzles are installed for mounting operations. This preliminary treatment ensures mounting accuracy is maintained without requiring time-consuming manual cleaning and drying processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3684158B1Nozzle management machine
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 FUJI CORP
  • EP3684158B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3684158B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3684158B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(d)

AI summary

The practicality of a nozzle management machine that manages suction nozzles used for holding electrical components in an electrical component mounting machine is improved. A nozzle management machine 80 includes a nozzle storing device 100. The nozzle storing device includes a plurality of pallets on which a plurality of nozzles are respectively placed and a circulating device 134 that circulates the pallets in the storing device. In addition, as the device of performing treatment on nozzles that performs a treatment on nozzles stored or to be stored in the nozzle storing device, a nozzle transfer device 104 that transfers nozzles between the pallet and a nozzle tray set in the electrical component mounting machine; nozzle inspecting devices 106 and 108 that inspect nozzles; and a nozzle washing device 110 that washes nozzles are included as devices for performing treatments on nozzles that perform treatments on nozzles stored or to be stored in the storing device, and transfer devices 114, 116, 118, and 120 that transfer pallets between the devices and the storing device.