Method of and apparatus for mounting electric components

• US 4,794,689 A
• Filed: 11/13/1986
• Issued: 01/03/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Inukai, Tsutomu, Misawa, Yoshihiko, Seno, Makito
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ross, Taylor
• Application Number:
  US06/929,807
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 29/705, 29/740, 29/741, 29/743, 29/834
• US Class Current: 29/740
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/041 having multiple pick-up tools
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0413 with orientation of the component while holding it; Drive mechanisms for gripping tools, e.g. lifting, lowering or turning of gripping tools
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/082 Integration of non-optical monitoring devices, i.e. using non-optical inspection means, e.g. electrical means, mechanical means or X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49133 with component orienting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53022 with means to test work or product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53178 Chip component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53191 Means to apply vacuum directly to position or hold work part

Abstract

A component mounting method, and an apparatus therefor, which includes the steps of causing a plurality of suction nozzles, supported for intermittent movement along a predetermined path in synchronism with each other, to receive electric components at a component receiving station and then to transport them towards a component mounting station, and effecting both the rectification of the position of each component in two directions perpendicular to each other and the angle adjustment of the respective component during the successive transportation of the components towards the component mounting station. Both the rectification of the position and the angle adjustment of each component are carried out while the associated suction nozzle is held still at a certain station, and electric characteristics of each component are checked during the rectification.

Claims

1. In a method of feeding components for mounting on a circuit board and having contacts along opposite ends and sides between said opposite ends, the steps of:

causing a plurality of successive suction nozzles to move intermittently along a predetermined path in synchronism with each other and successively pick up components at a component receiving station and then move through a succession of stations toward a component mounting station where the components are to be mounted on a circuit board;

holding the successive suction nozzles still at one of the stations between the receiving station and the component mounting station;

effecting both the rectification of the position of each component in two directions perpendicular to each other and electrically testing the component by bringing rectifying fingers having electric contact members on the ends thereof which are at least as long as the component contacts are wide and with contact surfaces corresponding to the side surfaces of the components into face-to-face contact with the sides of the components in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and

passing a test current through the thus held component for testing the electrical characteristics thereof.

2. In the method of claim 1, the further step of holding the successive suction nozzles still at a further of the stations between the receiving station and the component mounting station and adjusting the angle of the component held on the respective suction nozzles by rotating the suction nozzle around the longitudinal axis thereof.

3. In the method of claim 2, the further steps of moving the suction nozzles further along said predetermined path past said component mounting station, holding the successive nozzles still at a reversing station past said component mounting station, and rotating the nozzles in the opposite direction to the direction they were rotated at said still further station back to their initial position.

4. In an apparatus for feeding components for mounting on a circuit board and having contacts along opposite ends and sides between said opposite ends, the combination of:

means carrying a plurality of successive suction nozzles and movable along a predetermined path in synchronism with each other, and moving means for moving said carrying means intermittently past a component receiving station and a succession of stations toward a component mounting station where components are to be mounted on a circuit board and for stopping said carrying means for positioning a nozzle at said stations;

rectification and electrical testing means at one of said stations between said component receiving station and said component mounting station and having a pair of spaced opposed rectifying and testing fingers movable toward and away from each other in a first direction, said rectifying and testing fingers having electric contact members on the opposed ends thereof which are at least as long as the component contacts are wide and with contact surfaces corresponding to the surface of the component contact surfaces, and having a pair of spaced opposed rectifying fingers movable toward and away from each other in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction along a line midway between said rectifying and testing fingers and with contact surfaces corresponding to the side surfaces of the components, the position where said line intersects a further line between said rectifying and said testing fingers corresponding to a position along said predetermined path where said nozzles are stopped, and means for moving the respective fingers toward and away from each other; and

means for supplying a test current through said electric contact members.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the component has flat contacts and flat sides, and the contacts surfaces of said electrical contact members and said rectifying fingers are flat.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a nozzle rotating means at a further of said succession of stations for rotating a nozzle stopped at said further station to adjust the angle of the component carried on the nozzle.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which said predetermined path extends past said component mounting station to a reversing station, and said combination further comprising reversing means at said reversing station for rotating a nozzle stopped at said reversing station in a direction opposite to the direction it was rotated at said further station to the original position of the nozzle.