Patent ID: 6658313
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: B25J,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for repeatable and on-demand automatic adjustment of the origins of module heads of a surface mounting apparatus, the adjusting apparatus comprising:an X-Y gantry having first and second X-axis linear motors and first and second Y-axis linear motors, the X-Y gantry defining an X-Y plane on which distal first and second reference points are preset with a single mark indicating the origin (MIO) disposed intermediately therebetween; first and second module heads respectively coupled to the first and second X-axis linear motors; first and second vision units respectively disposed adjacent the first and second module heads for sensing the first and second reference points and the MIO and generating and outputting coordinates of the sensed first and second reference points and the MIO; and, a controller for setting the origins of the first and second module heads one relative to the other, the controller being operable to actuate a repeatable origin adjusting sequence, wherein the controller drives the first and second X-axis linear motors and the first and second Y-axis linear motors to respectively move the first and second vision units in coordinated manner between the first and second reference points and the MIO, the controller receiving the coordinates output from the first and second vision units to compute at least one set of mutually referenced offset values relating to the first and second module heads, and computing the origins of the first and second module heads by responsively correcting the offset values for at least one of the first and second module heads.