DEVICE FOR SEMI-AUTOMATIC SURFACE MOUNTING OF SMALL COMPONENTS

Abstract: A device for providing an aid for semi-automatic mounting in the purpose of providing the operator with the necessary precision, comprising a rotary table (3) with component containers (1) and an X-Y table (10) with attachment means for the circuit board (7) located there below. Adjacent the rotary table (3) and above the circuit board (7) is a hand support (9). A light spot is projected on the surface of the circuit board (7) on which the component is to be positioned for indicating the proper spot for positioning. A computer controls the X-Y table (10) while an indication surface (13) is activated on that component container (1) from which the component (8) to be positioned in the projected light spot (6) is to be picked up. The component containers (2) are positioned so that the hand handling a pickup tool (4) does not have to be raised resulting in that the hand is supported throughout the pickup motion.

Description: DEVICΞ FOR SEMI-AUTOMA IC SURFACE MOUNTING OF SMALL COMPONENTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION In mounting small components, especially electronic components, on superficial electric conductors, so called circuit boards, the technical development is such that the components tend to become smaller and smaller. In the prior art mainly components having pins have been used, which pins have been mounted in holes drilled in the circuit board for this purpose and which have thereafter been connected by a soldering operation. This method of mounting is now successively replaced by so called surface mounting. Surface mounting means that the component are provided with metallized connecting surfaces directly on the component body or very short connecting pins. These connecting surfaces or pins are connected directly to connecting surfaces of the circuit board provided for this purpose. Because the components are becoming smaller and because mechanical guiding of the component pins is not possible in surface mounting the requirement for precision is increased in positioning the components on the intended mounting surfaces. The present hand movements in attempts to position these components on a large circuit board surface using simple tweezers are not sufficiently precise or quick. In view thereof computer controlled robots have been developed for such surface mounting. However, such robots are relatively expensive and therefore, they are often not an alternative for smaller-scale production. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive aid allowing manual mounting with sufficient precision. The invention is characterized by the operation distance having been decreased so that the mounting movement essentially can be performed by the precision motoricity of the fingers. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A typical embodiment of the device is shown in Fig. 1 and may be described as follows: The device comprises three main parts, a rotary table (3), an X-Y table (10) and a hand supporting plate (9). The movements of the rotary table (3) and the X-Y table (10) are coupled together. The hand supporting plate (9) is stationary. Containers (1) for components are located in groups (2) on the rotary table (3). The container groups (2) are fed by the rotary table (3) to a pickup area. The components are picked up using a vacuum tweezers (4) out of the openings (5) in the component containers (1) to the spot (6) of the circuit board (7) where the present component (8) is to be positioned. A plate (9) is located stationary above the circuit board (7) and provides a support for the hand. The circuit board (7) is. attached to an X-Y table (10) driven by two stepping motors (11, 12) in the X and Y direction, respectively, so that the spot (6) on the circuit board (7) where the present component (8) is to be positioned always is in the same position relative to the supporting plate (9) and the container group (2) in question. A light spot is projected at the spot (6), the light spot being stationary relative to the support plate (9) and the container group in question. The component containers (1 ) are provided with a reflecting surface (13) which is illuminated to indicate which container is concerned. The projecting means for indicating the component container in question and the X-Y table (10) are controlled by a computer programmable for the various mounting operations. The distance of the motion in picking the components from the containers (1) to the location spot (6) is so little that the agility of the fingers is sufficient and therefore the hand does not have to be moved from the support plate (9), whereby the sufficient precision and quickness is obtained.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device for semi-automatic surface mounting of small components (8) comprising a path (3) with components to be mounted, a stationary hand supporting plate (9), a table (10) on which an object (7), for example a circuit board, is positioned in a predetermined position on the table (10) and a hand tool for picking up the component in question, the path (3) being movable to such a position that a certain type of component to be mounted is brought within an area from the hand supporting plate (9), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the table (10) is movable and can take predetermined positions, so that a location (6) on the object (7) where a component is to be mounted is brought to a fixed position relative to the hand supporting plate, the distance between the location (6) and said area for the component (8) in question being so short that the component (8) can be picked up and positioned on the location (6) on the object (7) with the hand resting on the hand supporting plate (9) and using the hand tool. 2. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the movable table (10) is at a level below the path (3) and the hand supporting plate (9). 3. Device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the location (6) on the object (7) where a component is to be mounted is indicated by a light spot that is stationary relative to the supporting plate. 4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the path (3) is a rotary table. 5. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the path (3) is linear. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the components are positioned one after the other in a sequential order. 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that each type of component is placed in a container or hopper. 8. Device according to any of claims 1 - 6, . c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that each type of component is placed on tape.

Inventors: ANDERSSON GILBERT, ANDERSSON, GILBERT
Applicants: ANDERSSON GILBERT, ANDERSSON, GILBERT
Application year: 1987
Main classification: H05K13
IPC codes: H05K13