Programmable substrate transport for electronic assembly
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for the assembly of electronic components to a plurality of substrates each having differing sizes and shapes comprising:
- (A) a first assembly module having;
a first assembly station to which substrates are directed and at which electronic components are assembled to them;
a first conveyor for directing substrates to and from said first assembly station; and
programmable means for positioning a component to be assembled with respect to substrates located at said first assembly station;
(B) a second assembly module in abutting relationship with respect to said first assembly module and cooperatively engaged with respect thereto having;
a second assembly station to which substrates are directed and at which said electronic components are assembled to them;
a second conveyor aligned with the first conveyor of said first assembly module for directing substrates from said first assembly module to and from said second assembly station; and
programmable means for positioning a component to be assembled with respect to said substrate located at said second assembly station; and
(C) control means for adjusting said first and said second conveyors in accordance with the predetermined width of each substrate wherein said first and said second assembly modules may be utilized for simultaneously assembling components to substrates of differing widths.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic assembly of electronic components and, in particular, relates to a programmable substrate transport mechanism for conveying variously sized substrates to a robotic electronic component assembly machine.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the assembly of electronic components to a plurality of substrates each having differing sizes and shapes comprising:
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(A) a first assembly module having; a first assembly station to which substrates are directed and at which electronic components are assembled to them; a first conveyor for directing substrates to and from said first assembly station; and programmable means for positioning a component to be assembled with respect to substrates located at said first assembly station; (B) a second assembly module in abutting relationship with respect to said first assembly module and cooperatively engaged with respect thereto having; a second assembly station to which substrates are directed and at which said electronic components are assembled to them; a second conveyor aligned with the first conveyor of said first assembly module for directing substrates from said first assembly module to and from said second assembly station; and programmable means for positioning a component to be assembled with respect to said substrate located at said second assembly station; and (C) control means for adjusting said first and said second conveyors in accordance with the predetermined width of each substrate wherein said first and said second assembly modules may be utilized for simultaneously assembling components to substrates of differing widths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for the assembly of electronic components to a plurality of substrates, each having a different size and shape comprising:
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a first assembly module having; a first and second movable belt traveling in paths parallel to each other for directing substrates to and from a first assembly station; means for adjusting the distance between said paths in accordance with the predetermined width of each substrate to which said components are to be assembled; and a second assembly module in abutting relationship with respect to said first assembly module and cooperatively engaged with respect thereto having; a second and third movable belt traveling in paths parallel to each other for directing substrates to and from a second assembly station; means for adjusting the distance between the paths of said third and fourth belts in accordance with the predetermined width of each substrate to which components are to be assembled; and common control means for controlling the speed of said belts and both of said adjusting means in response to said predetermined width. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification