Pick and place machine with improved component placement inspection

• US 20080013104A1
• Filed: 08/27/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CyberOptics Corporation (Nordson Corporation)
• Original Assignee: CyberOptics Corporation (Nordson Corporation)
• Inventors: Gaida, John
• Application Number:
  US11/895,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20080013104A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/614
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0815 Controlling of component placement on the substrate during or after manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53087 with signal, scale, illuminator, or optical viewer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53091 for work-holder for assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53178 Chip component

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention improve upon component level inspection performed by pick and place machines. Such improvements include using a position sensitive device that measures the position of the placement head relative to the workpiece as the placement head travels towards and away from the workpiece during a placement cycle. The output of this sensor is used to selectably trigger the acquisition of the images used to measure a placement characteristic of the component placement machine.

Claims

1. An image acquisition system for use in a pick and place machine, the system comprising:

an imaging device for acquiring an image of an intended placement location of a component on a workpiece;

a position sensitive device disposed to provide an output indicative of a position of a placement head in the pick and place machine; and

wherein image device acquisition timing is determined by the output of the position sensitive device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the position sensing device is a linear encoder.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the position sensing device is a rotary encoder.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the rotary encoder is a semi-circle shape.