EP0204451A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit assembly system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1986-05-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-05-15
Abstract
Abstract @ A circuit board assembly system comprises a programmable lead clinching system for clinching leads of each component as the component is inserted into the circuit board (610) supported on ribs (624,626). The clinching system includes a clinch element (650) and a drive system for driving the clinch element through a predetermined series of strokes to clinch the component leads. The clinch element (650) is mounted on a carriage driven by stepper motors on cross-guides. The system further includes component feeder devices for feeding a number of different component types, and a presentation robot for sequentially selecting each component to be inserted in the board and delivering the component to a part presentation station. A component lead straightening and cutting system operates in combination with the presentation robot to straighten the leads of each component and cut the leads to a predetermined length. The disclosed system provides a flexible component insertion capability for inserting a wide variety of component types into different types of circuit boards. The system is reconfigurable to a different product without substantial mechanical retooling.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory W. Holcomb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:46
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K13/0473
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A system for active clinching of component leads inserted from an upper side of a printed circuit board (610) and extending through apertures in the board to the lower surface thereof, comprising a clinching element (650) characterised by means (702, 723) for driving the clinching element (650)through a predetermined path of travel adjacent the lower surface of the band in response to control signals; and a programmable controller (850) adapted to provide control signals to the drive means so as to pass said clincher element through a predetermined sequence of movements to contact and clinch one or more leads of the component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A system for active clinching of component leads inserted from an upper side of a printed circuit board (610) and extending through apertures in the board to the lower surface thereof, comprising a clinching element (650) characterised by means (702, 723) for driving the clinching element (650)through a predetermined path of travel adjacent the lower surface of the band in response to control signals; and a programmable controller (850) adapted to provide control signals to the drive means so as to pass said clincher element through a predetermined sequence of movements to contact and clinch one or more leads of the component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the clinching element (650) comprises a rounded clinch tool whose size is proportioned in relation to the component lead size and spacing so as to provide the capability of clinching a single component lead during a clinch movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by means (655) for positioning the clinching element (650) at a clinch position in relation to the lower surface or at a retracted position in relation to the lower surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the drive means is adapted to drive the clinch element (650) in lateral and longitudinal directions, and the drive means comprises a first drive means (702) for driving the clinch element in the lateral direction, and a second drive means (723) for driving the clinch element in the longitudinal direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 4, characterised in that the said directions are in a plane which is substantially parallel to the lower side of the printed circuit board (610).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
A robotic component insertion system for assembly of electrical components to printed circuit boards, comprising: an insertion station for securing at least one circuit board in a predetermined board position; programmable insertion robot means adapted to insert electrical components into predetermined locations in said circuit board; and clinching means for clinching one or more leads of the components as each component is inserted into the circuit board, comprising: a clinch element; and drive means for driving said clinch element through a predetermined clinch movement sequence for clinching at least one lead of the inserted component as it is gripped by the robot means in the inserted position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
A robotic component insertion system for assembly of electrical components to printed circuit boards, comprising: an insertion station for securing at least one circuit board in a predetermined board position; programmable insertion robot means adapted to insert electrical components into predetermined locations in said circuit board; and clinching means for clinching one or more leads of the components as each component is inserted into the circuit board, comprising: a clinch element; and drive means for driving said clinch element through a predetermined clinch movement sequence for clinching at least one lead of the inserted component as it is gripped by the robot means in the inserted position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention of Claim 6 wherein said drive means comprises first means for driving said clinch element throughout a plane disposed substantially parallel to said circuit board, and second drive means for extending the clinch element from a retracted position in relation to the circuit board to a clinch position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of Claim 6 further comprising a component presentation station, and wherein said robot means is adapted to sequentially pick up components presented at said presentation stage and insert such components into the printed circuit board at predetermined locations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of Claim 6 further comprising a transport means for transporting a printed circuit board to said insertion station and locating said printed circuit board at predetermined location with respect to said insertion robot means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of Claim 9 wherein said transport means comprises a motor driven conveyor system which is adapted to convey said circuit board to said insertion station in response to motor drive signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of Claim 10 further comprising central controller means adapted to control the operation of said transport means, said insertion robot means and said clinching means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
12 In a component insertion system, the improvement comprising: component feeder means for storing a plurality of components; robot means adapted for sequentially picking up components from said component feeder means and delivering said components to a presentation station; lead straightening plate disposed at said presentation station, said plate having an opening pattern defined therein in correspondence with the lead pattern of the component; said robot adapted to insert the component leads into said opening pattern, and thereafter to move the component body through a predetermined series of oscillatory movements so as to repetitively exercise the component leads to substantially straighten the leads.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
12 In a component insertion system, the improvement comprising: component feeder means for storing a plurality of components; robot means adapted for sequentially picking up components from said component feeder means and delivering said components to a presentation station; lead straightening plate disposed at said presentation station, said plate having an opening pattern defined therein in correspondence with the lead pattern of the component; said robot adapted to insert the component leads into said opening pattern, and thereafter to move the component body through a predetermined series of oscillatory movements so as to repetitively exercise the component leads to substantially straighten the leads.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of Claim 12 wherein said opening pattern formed in said lead straightening plate is adapted to accommodate the respective lead patterns of a plurality of component types.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of Claim 12 wherein said robot means is adapted to select one of a plurality of types of components available at said feeder means, and wherein said series of oscillatory movements is adapted to the selected type of component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of Claim 12 further comprising cutting means for cutting the leads of the selected component to a predetermined length.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
The invention of Claim 15 wherein said cutting means comprises: a shear plate disposed in sliding relation with said straightening plate, said shear plate including an opening pattern corresponding to the opening pattern formed in said straightening plate; means for disposing said shear plate in an aligned position relative to said straightening plate so that the corresponding hole patterns in each plate are aligned; means for exerting a sliding shear force on said shear plate so as to shear the component leads extending into the opening pattern formed in said shear plate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
A robotic component insertion system, comprising: an insertion station; circuit board transferring and locating system for transferring board to said insertion station at a predetermined reference position; component presentation station; a plurality of component feeder devices for feeding a plurality of types of components; presentation robot means for sequentially selecting predetermined ones of said components from said feeder devices and delivering the selected components to said presentation station; insertion robot means for sequentially picking up said selected components at said presentation station and inserting said selected components at predetermined locations on said board; and clinching means for clinching leads of said selected components to said board.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
A robotic component insertion system, comprising: an insertion station; circuit board transferring and locating system for transferring board to said insertion station at a predetermined reference position; component presentation station; a plurality of component feeder devices for feeding a plurality of types of components; presentation robot means for sequentially selecting predetermined ones of said components from said feeder devices and delivering the selected components to said presentation station; insertion robot means for sequentially picking up said selected components at said presentation station and inserting said selected components at predetermined locations on said board; and clinching means for clinching leads of said selected components to said board.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of Claim 17 further comprising lead straightening means for straightening the leads of said selected components before insertion into said circuit board.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of Claim 18 further comprising cutting means for cutting the leads of said selected components to a predetermined length.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of Claim 19 further comprising programmable system controller for controlling said presentation and insertion robot means and said clinching means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of Claim 20 wherein said system controller means comprises memory means for storing data representative of the components to be inserted into said board, the sequence in which said components are to be inserted and the respective positions at which said components are to be inserted.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of Claim 21 wherein said system controller memory means is further adapted to store clinch data for the respective components to be inserted in said board, said clinch data including data defining the predetermined clinch system movement for such component.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of Claim 21 wherein said memory means further comprises data indicative of the positions of the respective feeder means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
111 words
2'. A method for automatic insertion of components in circuit boards, comprising the steps of: securing the printed circuit board at an insertion station; providing a plurality of component feeder devices at predetermined locations in relation to a presentation robot means; programming the presentation robot to sequentially select predetermined components and present the selected components to a presentation station, and thereafter releasing the component at said presentation station; programming an insertion robot means to sequentially pick up said selected component at said presentation station in coordination with said presentation robot means, and thereafter inserting the selected component at a predetermined location in the board clinching the leads of the inserted component.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
111 words
2'. A method for automatic insertion of components in circuit boards, comprising the steps of: securing the printed circuit board at an insertion station; providing a plurality of component feeder devices at predetermined locations in relation to a presentation robot means; programming the presentation robot to sequentially select predetermined components and present the selected components to a presentation station, and thereafter releasing the component at said presentation station; programming an insertion robot means to sequentially pick up said selected component at said presentation station in coordination with said presentation robot means, and thereafter inserting the selected component at a predetermined location in the board clinching the leads of the inserted component.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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