Rectangular Component Alignment Device for Measurement Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Components with rectangular parallelepiped shapes, where electrodes are formed on side surfaces rather than end surfaces, pose a challenge in aligning them for electric characteristic measurement, as existing devices struggle to expose side surfaces in a fixed direction, impairing measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An aligning and feeding device with a conveyance surface, component passage, accommodating member, and suction member, where the component passage has specific openings and the accommodating member's cavities extend parallel to the conveyance surface, allowing the component to be aligned such that its longitudinal direction matches the main surface, enabling accurate accommodation and measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cavity is formed such that the side surfaces of the component are exposed, then the component can be inserted into the cavity from the end surface or side surface, but the side surface of the component is not exposed in a fixed direction whereby the measurement of electric characteristics is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The component passage is designed with specific width constraints before the component enters the cavity, forcing the component to be oriented in a predetermined direction (with longitudinal direction parallel to the main surface of the accommodating member) before insertion. This preliminary orientation action ensures that when the component is sucked into the cavity, the side surfaces are consistently exposed in the fixed direction, enabling accurate electric characteristic measurements.
2Ease of operation
If the component passage width is larger than the component dimensions, then the component can be inserted easily, but the component cannot be aligned in the correct direction
Solution Approach 1:
The component passage width is carefully controlled to be larger than at least one dimension of the component (allowing insertion) but smaller than the other dimensions (preventing misorientation). This parameter optimization creates a geometric constraint that guides the component into the correct orientation (longitudinal direction parallel to main surface) while still allowing easy insertion, thus achieving both ease of operation and alignment precision.
3Productivity
If the cavity opening is made larger to accommodate components, then component filling rate increases, but components cannot be properly aligned
Solution Approach 1:
The component passage acts as an intermediary structure between the conveyance surface and the cavity. It has a width that is larger than at least one dimension of the component (allowing high filling rate) but smaller than other dimensions (ensuring proper alignment). This intermediary passage forces components to orient themselves correctly before entering the cavity, thus achieving both high productivity and precise orientation without directly enlarging the cavity opening.
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 device effectively aligns and accommodates components with rectangular parallelepiped shapes, ensuring the side surfaces are exposed in a fixed direction, thereby enhancing the accuracy of electric characteristic measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a suction member which moves the component which has entered the component passage or has approached the first opening into the cavity through the component passage by applying vacuum suction
Data Source
AI summary
An aligning and feeding device which accommodates a component including a pair of rectangular end surfaces oppositely facing each other and having a longitudinal direction extending between the end surfaces of the component in a cavity formed in an accommodating member. The component is accommodated in the cavity by aligning a direction of the component such that the longitudinal direction of the component extends parallel to a main surface of the accommodating member.