Pneumatic Placement Head Kinematic Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assembly heads for electrical components on substrates require extensive pneumatic devices and complex electrical controls, leading to increased thermal load, space requirements, and weight, while also necessitating precise timing for compressed air pulses across varying component heights.
Innovation Solution
The assembly head integrates a common third switching valve connected to the compressed air source, which directly actuates second switching valves via the holder's movement, eliminating the need for electromagnets and reducing electrical control and wiring, with a kinematic coupling ensuring precise compressed air pulses regardless of holder position, and incorporates a slide valve and overlapping openings for efficient air supply and separation between holders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each holder is assigned individual second switching valves actuated by electromagnets, then precise control of compressed air pulses is achieved, but the thermal load, space requirement, and weight of the placement head increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual second switching valves are replaced by a single common third switching valve that serves all holders simultaneously. This merging reduces the total number of electromagnetic actuators, thereby decreasing thermal load, space requirements, and weight of the placement head while maintaining control functionality through the kinematic coupling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
A kinematic coupling mechanism (slide valve rigidly coupled to the holder) is introduced as an intermediary between the holder movement and the second switching valve actuation. This mechanical intermediary translates holder position into valve actuation, eliminating the need for direct electromagnetic actuation of each valve while preserving precise control timing.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual second switching valves are used for each holder, then compressed air pulses can be precisely timed, but the device complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The second switching valves are actuated automatically by the holder's own movement through kinematic coupling, rather than requiring external electrical control signals. The holder's displacement directly opens or closes the slide valve, creating a self-regulating system that eliminates complex wiring and electrical control circuitry while maintaining precise timing based on actual holder position.
Solution Approach 2:
Electromagnetic actuation systems are replaced with a purely mechanical kinematic coupling mechanism. The slide valve is rigidly coupled to the holder and actuated by its movement, substituting electrical control with mechanical linkage. This reduces device complexity by eliminating electromagnets, wiring, and electrical control systems while preserving the timing function through mechanical motion transmission.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lifting range is increased to accommodate components of different heights, then adaptability is improved, but the precision of compressed air pulse timing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, pre-programmed timing to dynamic, position-dependent timing. The second switching valve actuation is directly coupled to the holder's dynamic position through kinematic coupling, allowing the compressed air pulse timing to automatically adapt to any holder position within the lifting range. This dynamic mechanism maintains precision regardless of component height variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing parameter of the compressed air pulse is changed from a fixed, pre-set value to a variable that depends on the holder's actual position. By linking valve actuation to holder displacement through kinematic coupling, the system automatically adjusts the timing parameter based on the dynamic state of the holder, enabling precise control across the full lifting range without requiring fixed timing parameters.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces construction and space requirements, minimizes thermal load and weight, and allows for precise and efficient compressed air pulses across different component heights, enhancing the assembly process by simplifying pneumatic and electrical components.
Implementation Method 1
The holders (4) have suction openings (6) for sucking in the electrical components (7) at their lower end facing the substrate (8)
Implementation Method 2
a brief blast of compressed air introduced into the suction opening (6)
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5
Figure 6
AI summary
A placement head (1) for placing electronic components (7) onto substrates (8) has a housing (2) on which several holders (4) for the components (7) are slidably mounted in a direction (z) perpendicular to the substrate (8). The holders (4) have suction openings (6) at their lower end facing the substrate (8) for drawing in the components (7). The suction openings (6) can be connected to a vacuum source (V) and a compressed air source (P) via a switch. Each of the holders (4) is associated with a first and a second switching valve (16), the outlets of which are connected to the associated suction opening (6). An inlet of the first switching valve (12) is connected to the vacuum source (V) and an inlet of the second switching valve (16) is connected to the compressed air source (P).The second switching valve (16) can be actuated by the displacement movement of the holder (4), and the inlets of the second switching valve (16) are connected to a common third switching valve (18) which is connected to the compressed air source (P). The kinematic coupling of the second switching valve (16) with the stroke movement of the holder (4) reduces the pneumatic actuation and control effort.