Press Head Load Cell for Connector Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Press machines used to press-fit connectors to printed circuit boards often damage pins if the connector is misaligned, and it is difficult to detect damaged pins during the pressing operation, leading to defective products.
Innovation Solution
A press head with a load cell housing and contact plate that measures the pressing load, ensuring accurate force measurement and detection of misalignment or damage during the pressing operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a press machine presses connectors to printed circuit boards without accurate force measurement, then the pressing operation can be completed quickly, but pin damage occurs and defective products are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The press head is segmented into distinct functional components: a load cell housing containing the load cell, a separate contact plate for engaging the connector, and mounting structures. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while facilitating accurate force measurement through the isolated load cell position.
Solution Approach 2:
The load cell acts as an intermediary element between the press head's driving mechanism and the connector. It mediates the force transmission by measuring the pressing load before it reaches the connector, enabling detection of misalignment or damage without directly contacting the delicate press-fit pins.
2Reliability
If the connector is misaligned relative to the printed circuit board, then pressing operation proceeds without detection, but press-fit pins are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The load cell provides real-time feedback on the pressing load during the pressing operation. By monitoring the force measurements, the system can detect anomalies indicating misalignment or pin damage, allowing for immediate detection while maintaining continuous pressing operation flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The load cell is pre-positioned in the press head structure to measure pressing load before the actual pressing force is applied to the connector pins. This preliminary measurement capability enables detection of alignment issues before pin damage occurs, without interrupting the pressing sequence.
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
The solution provides improved force measurement accuracy, preventing pin damage and ensuring proper mounting of connectors to printed circuit boards, thereby reducing defective products.
Implementation Method 1
The load cell measures a pressing load of the contact plate during the pressing operation
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A press head (150) for a press machine (100) used to press-fit a connector (102) to a printed circuit board (104) includes a press motor (152) operable in a pressing operation, a driver assembly (154) operably coupled to the press motor and movable during the pressing operation, and a press anvil (156) operably coupled to the driver assembly and movable by the driver assembly during the pressing operation. The press anvil has a load cell housing (200) holding a load cell (202) and a contact plate (204) coupled to the load cell housing and engaging the load cell. The contact plate has a contact surface (206) configured to engage the connector or a seating tool (106) for the connector and configured to press the connector toward the printed circuit board during the pressing operation. The load cell measures a pressing load of the contact plate during the pressing operation.