Tape Feeder Support Plate Verification for Component Type Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing tape feeder systems face challenges in ensuring the appropriate combination of support plates and component types, leading to potential human errors during production, as operators struggle to visually verify the type of support plates attached, which can result in component suction errors or damage to magnetically vulnerable components.

Innovation Solution

A tape feeder support plate type/component type combination verification system that acquires information on the support plate and component types using sensors and bar code readers, determining the appropriateness of the combination and outputting messages to display devices or mobile terminals to prevent human errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If support plates with different magnitudes of magnetism are used for different component types, then components are properly held in position without deviation or inclination, but the complexity of the system increases due to the need to match support plate types with component types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent positioning accuracyVSAvoidsupport plate type matching complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates a verification mechanism that provides feedback to operators about the appropriateness of support plate and component type combinations. The verification unit detects the support plate type and component type, then determines whether their combination is appropriate, alerting operators to mismatches before production begins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification system between the support plate and component interaction. This intermediary system acts as a mediator that checks compatibility before allowing the component mounting process to proceed, preventing improper combinations from causing defects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If operators visually verify the combination of support plate types and component types, then appropriate combinations can be ensured, but human errors still occur due to difficulty in visualizing support plate types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombination verification accuracyVSAvoidvisual verification difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual visual verification process with an automated detection and verification system. Instead of relying on operators to visually identify and match support plate types with component types, the system uses detection units to automatically identify both types and verify their compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The verification system performs self-verification by automatically detecting and comparing support plate and component types without requiring operator intervention for the actual verification process. The system serves itself by autonomously determining combination appropriateness and providing feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If support plates are attached to tape feeders to prevent component deviation, then component positioning is improved, but magnetically vulnerable components may be damaged by the magnetism of the support plate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent positioning stabilityVSAvoidmagnetic damage to components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the principle of local quality by allowing different support plates with different magnetic properties to be used for different component types. Non-magnetic support plates are used for magnetically vulnerable components, while magnetic support plates are used for components that benefit from magnetic holding, thus tailoring the magnetic property to the specific component type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables parameter changes by allowing the magnetic property parameter of the support plate to be changed based on the component type. The verification system determines the appropriate magnetic strength or absence of magnetism required for each component type and ensures the correct support plate is used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 human errors by ensuring the correct combination of support plates and component types, reducing the likelihood of component suction errors and protecting magnetically vulnerable components from damage.

Implementation Method 1

a support plate having a magnet attached thereto is attached to a bottom face section of a tape passage of a tape feeder so as to prevent components in component accommodation recessed sections from being caused to deviate, inclined, or caused to move out from their proper positions by attracting the components to bottom face sides of the component accommodation recessed sections of a component supply tape by virtue of a magnetic attraction force of the magnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3758463B1Tape feeder support plate type/component type combination verification system and support plate type/component type combination verification method
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 FUJI CORP
  • EP3758463B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3758463B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3758463B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A support plate (43), which is configured to support a component supply tape (24), is provided on a bottom face section of a tape passage (42), through which the component supply tape passes, of a tape feeder (13). A computer (31) acquires information on a type of the support plate provided in the tape feeder and also acquires information on a type of components of the component supply tape. Further, the computer determines the appropriateness of a combination of the type of the support plate and the type of the components of the component supply tape so acquired by referring to a database accumulating therein data on appropriate combinations of types of support plates and types of components of component supply tapes and outputs a message corresponding to a determination result of the appropriateness of the combination to at least one of a display device (33), an audio device, and a mobile terminal.