Reflow Soldering Apparatus Exit Warning Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reflow soldering apparatuses face issues during temperature profile measurement, including inability to inform users when a circuit board is discharged, potential for mistaken circuit board stagnation or falling errors, and incorrect alarm triggers due to profiler circuit boards being detected as a single unit with the board being measured.

Innovation Solution

A soldering apparatus with an operation mode that includes a production mode and a temperature profile mode, featuring sensors to detect circuit board entry and exit, and an information system that issues warnings via alarms or displays before the board reaches the exit, allowing users to retrieve the board accurately and preventing errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If temperature profile measurement is performed in common production mode, then reflow processing can be carried out, but the user cannot know when the circuit board is discharged and cannot retrieve it timely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge timing informationVSAvoidcircuit board retrieval operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit provides feedback to the user by issuing a discharge notification signal when the circuit board reaches the discharge position. This feedback mechanism informs the user of the discharge timing, enabling timely retrieval of the circuit board without disrupting the production mode operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the profiler circuit board is connected with the printed circuit board to be measured, then temperature profile measurement can be performed, but the sensor may detect them as one continued unit causing stagnation errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature profile measurementVSAvoidcircuit board detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit segments the detection process by identifying the profiler circuit board and the printed circuit board to be measured as separate entities. By distinguishing between these two connected boards, the system avoids detecting them as a single unit, thereby preventing false stagnation errors while maintaining accurate temperature profile measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the profiler circuit board is taken out together with the printed circuit board to be measured, then measurement can be completed, but the sensor detects two entrances causing falling errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement efficiencyVSAvoidcircuit board detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit segments the detection process by identifying the profiler circuit board and the printed circuit board to be measured as separate entities. By distinguishing between these two connected boards, the system avoids detecting them as a single unit, thereby preventing false stagnation errors while maintaining accurate temperature profile measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If the sensor at the entrance detects the profiler circuit board and printed circuit board as one unit, then detection is simplified, but the detection period is extended causing stagnation alarm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoiddetection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit segments the detection process by identifying the profiler circuit board and the printed circuit board to be measured as separate entities. By distinguishing between these two connected boards, the system avoids detecting them as a single unit, thereby preventing false stagnation errors while maintaining accurate temperature profile measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Prevents mistakes in circuit board handling and measurement by informing users when the board is approaching the exit, reducing errors and ensuring smooth operation by alerting users before the board is discharged, thus avoiding incorrect alarms and ensuring accurate temperature profile measurement.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor that detects the circuit board carried into the main body of the soldering apparatus, the sensor being provided near an entrance of the main body of the soldering apparatus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

measuring any changes in temperature at measuring points in each zone by the thermocouple or the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermocouple effect: Seebeck Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2374566B1Soldering apparatus

Publication Date: 2013.02.20 SENJU METAL IND CO LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

In a reflow soldering apparatus, when changing the operation mode from a production mode to a temperature profile mode, a warning-issue-time is set to a point of time (for example, several seconds) before the circuit board reaches an exit of the main body of the soldering apparatus to issue an alarm at this set time. A control unit thereof calculates a period of time when the alarm issues based on the set warning-issue-time before circuit-board-discharge and the like. After a sensor of entrance side has detected that the circuit board enters into main body of the reflow soldering apparatus, the control unit determines whether or not the starting time of the alarm sound has been elapsed. The control unit controls the information unit to sound the alarm when the control unit determines that the starting time of the warning issue has elapsed.