Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means to assemble electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-19
2004-03-16
Arbes, Carl J. (Department: 3729)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means to assemble electrical device
C029S740000, C029S739000, C029SDIG004, C294S002000, C294S064200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06705000
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-322353 filed on Oct. 23, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nozzle-mounting device for removably mounting, on a nozzle holder, a suction nozzle arranged to hold an electric component (typically, an electronic component) by suction under a negative pressure, and more particularly to an improvement of the nozzle-mounting device in the stability of mounting of the suction nozzle on the nozzle holder.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Various types of nozzle-mounting device are known. JP-A-5-55796 discloses an example of the nozzle-mounting device, which uses sheet springs for mounting a suction nozzle on a nozzle holder. The sheet springs are fixed on the body of the nozzle holder, at respective positions that are spaced from each other in the radial direction of the nozzle holder. Each of the sheet springs is fixed so as to extend downward in the axial direction of the nozzle holder, and includes a holding portion at a relatively low part thereof and a guiding portion extending from the holding portion. The holding portion is inclined with respect to the axial direction, so as to extend toward the axis of rotation of the nozzle holder, while the guiding portion is inclined so as to extend away from the axis of rotation of the nozzle holder. The body of the nozzle holder is further provided with a spring for biasing the suction nozzle in the downward direction.
In the nozzle-mounting device disclosed in the above-identified publication, the body of the suction nozzle includes a fitting portion to be fitted in the body of the nozzle holder. The fitting portion takes the form of a cylinder which is closed and open at the respective opposite ends. The fitting portion has, at its open end, two guide surfaces formed at respective two positions that are spaced apart from each other in the diametric direction, and two inclined surfaces extending from the lower ends of the guide surfaces. The guide surfaces are formed so as to extend in the radially outward directions such that the guide surfaces are parallel to the above-indicated guiding portions of the sheet springs. The inclined surfaces extend toward the axis of rotation of the suction nozzle, and are inclined in parallel with the above-indicated gripping portions of the sheet springs. The suction nozzle is mounted on the nozzle holder, with the fitting portion of the suction nozzle being fitted into the body of the nozzle holder while being guided at its guide surfaces by the guiding portions of the sheet springs, so as to cause elastic deformation of the two sheet springs in opposite directions away from each other. After the inclined surfaces have passed the guiding portions, the fitting portion is biased by the spring provided on the nozzle holder body, so that the inclined surfaces are brought into engagement with the gripping portions of the sheet springs, whereby the suction nozzle is mounted on the nozzle holder such that the suction nozzle is neither axially movable nor rotatable relative to the nozzle holder. The suction nozzle can be removed from the nozzle holder, by pulling the suction nozzle in a direction that permits the fitting portion to be moved out of the body of the nozzle holder. Thus, the use of the sheet springs permits easy mounting and removal of the suction nozzle on and from the nozzle holder, by simply moving the suction nozzle in the axial direction relative to the nozzle holder.
However, a clearance must be left between the fitting portion of the suction nozzle and the body of the nozzle holder, in order to allow fitting engagement of the fitting portion with the nozzle holder body. Thus, there exists a small radial gap between the nozzle holder and the suction nozzle. This radial gap deteriorates the stability of radial positioning of the suction nozzle relative to the nozzle holder, causing problems such as a low degree of accuracy of mounting of an electric component on a printed-wiring board when the electric component held by suction by the suction nozzle is mounted on the printed-wiring board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle-mounting device which permits stable mounting of the suction nozzle on the nozzle holder. The above object may be achieved according to any one of the following modes of the present invention, each of which is numbered like the appended claims and depends from the other mode or modes, where appropriate, to indicate and clarify possible combinations of elements or technical features. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the technical features or any combinations thereof which will be described for illustrative purpose only. It is to be further understood that a plurality of elements or features included in any one of the following modes of the invention are not necessarily provided all together, and that the invention may be embodied without some of the elements or features described with respect to the same mode.
(1) A nozzle-mounting device for removably mounting, on a nozzle holder, a suction nozzle for holding an electric component by suction under a negative pressure, the nozzle-mounting device is characterized in that:
the nozzle holder includes a first fitting portion and a second fitting portion which respectively have an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface and which are arranged to effect a fitting engagement with each other at the inner and outer circumferential surfaces, while the suction nozzle includes the other of the first and second fitting portions;
one of the first and second fitting portions is provided with a first abutting portion located at an axially intermediate portion of mutually fitting parts of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces, while the other of the first and second fitting portions is provided with a second abutting portion which is arranged to be brought into abutting contact with the first abutting portion in a direction intersecting axes of the first and second fitting portions; and
a pressing device is provided to force the inner and outer circumferential surfaces against each other by abutting contact of the first abutting portion with the second abutting portion.
Where both of the first and second abutting portions have abutting surfaces (flat or curved surfaces), the direction of the abutting contact of the first and second abutting portions with each other is normal to the abutting surfaces. Where one of the first and second abutting portions has an abutting surface while the other abutting portion has an abutting corner or edge, the direction of the abutting contact is normal to the abutting surface of the above-indicated one of the two abutting portions. The “first abutting portion located at an axially intermediate portion of mutually fitting parts of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces” may be interpreted to mean that the first abutting portion is located so that a force for forcing the inner and outer circumferential surfaces against each other acts on the axially intermediate portion of the mutually fitting parts of those circumferential surfaces.
For fitting engagement of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the first and second fitting portions, it is essential to provide a certain amount of clearance or gap (hereinafter referred to as “fitting clearance”) between the inner and outer circumferential surfaces. This fitting clearance is zeroed at a circumferential position of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces at which these circumferential surfaces are forced against each other by application of a force to one of the first and second fitting portions in a direction that intersects the axes of the fitting portions. Further, the application of the force in the direction intersecting the axes of the fitting portions to the first abutting portion located at the axially intermediate portion o
Arbes Carl J.
Fuji Machine Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Trinh Minh
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