Patent ID: 7040137
Filing Date: 2006-05-09
Classification: H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for calibrating vacuum nozzle positions in a component placement machine, the steps comprising: a) providing a component placement machine comprising a housing adapted for movement relative to a printed circuit board and having a frame rotatably attached thereto, said frame having a plurality of pick/place heads disposed thereupon, each of said pick/place heads comprising a vacuum spindle being extendable and having a vacuum nozzle at a distal end thereof, each of said plurality of vacuum nozzles being adapted for performing at least one of the operations of picking, holding, orienting, transporting, and placing a component relative to a printed circuit board; b) providing a vision system comprising at least one camera, said camera operatively disposed with respect to and contiguous with said housing; c) picking a component from a supply of components using at least one of said plurality of vacuum nozzles; d) placing said component on said printed circuit board with at least one of said plurality of vacuum nozzles; e) capturing an image of at least one of said plurality of vacuum nozzles after said placing with said camera; f) calibrating at least one of said plurality of vacuum nozzles using said captured image before said picking of next said component; and, wherein said capturing an image step (e) and calibrating step (f) are accomplished substantially completely during at least one of said placing step (e) and said picking step (c).