Method for supplying a component and a component supplying device
First Claim
1. A method of supplying components, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a component supplying device comprising;
a guide having a stop adjacent a pick-up position;
at least one air inlet in fluid communication with the guide; and
at least one air outlet in fluid communication with the guide;
supplying air to the guide by means of the at least one air inlet;
moving a plurality of components via the guide in a transport direction toward the pick-up position by means of the air supplied to the guide;
closing substantially at least one of the air outlets with one or more of the components moved in the transport direction toward the pick-up position; and
then moving a component in a non-transport direction by means of the air supplied to the guide.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for supplying a component to a pick-up position located near a stop by means of a component supplying device. The component supplying device includes a guide provided with the stop, at least one air inlet connected to the guide, and at least one air outlet also connected to the guide. Components are carried through the guide in a transport direction towards the stop by means of air supplied through the air inlet. Once a number of components have been transported in the transport direction, the air outlet is substantially closed by at least one component present in the row. Subsequently, at least one component following the row is transported in a non-transport direction.
14 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of supplying components, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a component supplying device comprising;
a guide having a stop adjacent a pick-up position;
at least one air inlet in fluid communication with the guide; and
at least one air outlet in fluid communication with the guide;
supplying air to the guide by means of the at least one air inlet;
moving a plurality of components via the guide in a transport direction toward the pick-up position by means of the air supplied to the guide;
closing substantially at least one of the air outlets with one or more of the components moved in the transport direction toward the pick-up position; and
thenmoving a component in a non-transport direction by means of the air supplied to the guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A component supplying device comprising:
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a guide comprising;
a stop adjacent a pick-up position; and
a component carrier at least one air inlet in fluid communication with the component carrier;
at least one air outlet in fluid communication with the component carrier; and
a component supply cassette;
wherein the component supply device is configured such that (a) when air is supplied to the component carrier by means of the at least one air inlet, the components move in a transport direction from the cassette toward the pick-up position;
(b) when a sufficient number of components have been moved by the air in the transport direction, the air outlets are substantially closed by the components, thereby forcing an additional component to be moved, in a non-transport direction, by air supplied to the component carrier by means of the at least one air inlet. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification