Patent GB-1365812-A (GB)
Title: Printed circuit board component selection and assembly apparatus
IPC: H05K13/00
Filed: 1972-01-20
Abstract: 1365812 Assembling components in circuit boards SINGER CO 20 Jan 1972 [8 Feb 1971] 2717/72 Heading B3A Apparatus for the selection and assembly of a particular component from a plurality of components on to a printed circuit board (60), Fig. 3 (not shown), comprises a plurality of separate containers 14, Fig. 1, for holding various components, first visual indicating means (44), Fig. 2 (not shown), actuable to distinguish any one of the containers from the others; a holder 30 for the printed circuit board, second visual indicating means (56), Fig. 4 (not shown), actuable to distinguish a particular portion of the printed circuit board from other portions, indexing means 108, Fig. 6, 26, movable to present a sequence of printed assembly instructions (64), Fig. 5 (not shown), to an operator, means 18, 20 to actuate selected ones of said first and second visual indicating means according to a predetermined sequence, and switching means 22 for moving the indexing means and visual indicating means through successive steps in the predetermined sequence. A table 10 supports a control unit 16 containing relays, switches &c., and including a conventional tape read-out 18 of punched tape 20. An assembly instruction display unit 26 comprises typed paper (64) driven by a D.C. stepper motor (80). The transparent sheet (82) may be provided with a coloured or shaded portion (84) to allow viewing of more than one assembly instruction simultaneously. Shelves 12 support containers 14 which each have bulbs (44), connected via strip (36) and lead (34) to control unit (16), behind transparent walls (46). A light box 30 includes a plurality of compartments each containing a bulb (56) covered by a transparent sheet (58), and serves as a holder for the printed circuit board. Operation.-The apparatus allows a selected component to be placed in its correct position on a printed circuit board in co-ordination with presentation of assembly instructions. Punched tape 20 provides operation of the respective indicating bulbs (56), (44) in the compartments and containers. The tape is moved to successive readout positions selectively, by the operator's control of treadle switch 22, concurrently with the indexing of the assembly instructions. Actuation of a pawl device (not shown), engageable with motor 106, by solenoid 104 during discharge of capacitor 100 advances the punched tape in the reading unit 18. The tape is advanced a further step each time switch S13 is closed in response to actuation of treadle 22. The printed instruction advance 108 is also actuated when switch S13 is closed and a rectifier provided in display unit 26 in advance of motor (80) causes indexing of the instructions and punched tape by advance 108. A solenoidoperated stepper switch, with two sets of 25 contacts C1-C25, C1<SP>1</SP>-C25<SP>1</SP>, lights individual bulbs (56) each time a voltage pulse is received by solenoid 114, contacts C1<SP>1</SP>-C25<SP>1</SP> and contact arm 112 being used as a reset device. A manually operable switch S17 allows rapid cycling of the bulbs in the light box. Switches S1-S7 are used to provide relay switching for illumination of bulbs (44) in the containers in accordance with the hole positions in tape 20, such relay switching logic being of conventional operation. Holes in tape 20 in negotiation with a switch S8 close the switch and connect it through switches S15, S19 to the coil of a double-pole relay 128. Actuation of this relay provides direct connection between solenoid 114 and the power supply, thus advancing stepper switch arms 110, 112 to the next set of contacts C1-C25, C1<SP>1</SP>-C25<SP>1</SP> with accompanying illumination of bulbs (56).