Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means to assemble electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-27
2003-03-04
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3749)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means to assemble electrical device
C029S739000, C029S743000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06526652
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for resetting a printed-wiring-board (PWB) supporting device, and a PWB-relating-operation performing system which can reset a PWB supporting device, and particularly relates to the art of automatizing a resetting operation.
2. Discussion of Related Art
There is known a PWB supporting device which supports a back surface of a PWB and which is used to support a PWB in, e.g., an electric-component mounting device, an electric-circuit inspecting device, a screen printing machine, or an adhesive applying device. A PWB on which electric components (EC; e.g., electronic components) have been mounted should be called as a printed circuit board (PCB) but, in the present specification, a PCB is also referred to as a PWB, for avoiding complexity.
Japanese Patent Document No. 11-195899 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,751 disclose a PWB supporting device which includes a supporting table; and a plurality of supporting pins each of which can be set on the supporting table. The disclosed PWB supporting device additionally includes a storing device which stores the plurality of supporting pins; a pin holder which can hold each of the supporting pins; and an X-Y robot which is moved, according to pin-position data representing prescribed pin positions on the supporting table, the pin holder between the storing device and the supporting table to take each supporting pin out of the storing device and set the supporting pin at the prescribed position on the supporting table. Thus, this PWB supporting device automatically sets itself, i.e., automatically sets the supporting pins at the respective prescribed positions on the supporting table.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a PWB-supporting-device resetting apparatus and a PWB-relating-operation performing system that have each feature described below. The following features are described, like claims, in respective paragraphs that are given respective sequential numbers. Any feature that includes another feature shall do so by referring to the number given to the latter feature. However, the following features and the appropriate combinations thereof are just examples to which the technical features, and the combinations thereof, described in the specification are by no means limited. In addition, in the case where one feature recites a plurality of items, it is not essentially required that all of those items be simultaneously employed in the one feature. That is, it is possible to select and employ only a portion (one, two, . . . , but not all) of those items.
(1) According to a first feature of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically resetting a printed-wiring-board supporting device including a supporting table and at least one supporting member which is set on a supporting surface of the supporting table to support a back surface of a printed wiring board, the apparatus comprising a storing device in which the at least one supporting member is stored; a holding head which holds the supporting member; a moving device which moves at least one of the holding head, the supporting table, and the storing device, relative to at least one other of the holding head, the supporting table, and the storing device; and a control device which controls, according to prescribed control information, the moving device so that the holding head takes the supporting member from a storing position in the storing device and sets the supporting member at a setting position on the supporting surface of the supporting table, and takes the supporting member from the setting position and stores the supporting member at the storing position.
The moving device may be one which moves at least one of (a) the holding head and (b) each of the supporting table and the storing device, relative to the other of the holding head and the each of the supporting table and the storing device. However, the moving device may be one which moves the supporting table relative to the holding head, and the storing device may be one which stores the supporting member and supplies the same to the holding head. The storing device may be one which includes a housing in which the supporting member is accommodated and stored, or one which includes a supporting board on which the supporting member is placed and stored.
The present apparatus automatically sets the supporting member stored in the storing device, onto the supporting table, and automatically stores the supporting member set on the supporting table, into the storing device.
(2) According to a second feature of the present invention that includes the first feature (1), the supporting member comprises a supporting pin having a seating surface which is supported by the supporting surface of the supporting table, and including a shank portion which extends perpendicularly to the seating surface and which supports, at a free end portion thereof, the printed wiring board, and the holding head comprises a pin holder which holds the supporting pin.
The supporting pin may be a suction-type supporting pin or a holding pin which includes, at the free end of the shank portion that supports the printed wiring board (PWB), a suction cup that applies suction to the PWB and thereby holds the PWB. Alternatively, the supporting pin may be a non-suction-type supporting pin which does not include a suction cup and supports the PWB at only the free end of the shank portion.
(3) According to a third feature of the present invention that includes the first or second feature (1) or (2), the control device comprises a control-information memory in which the control information is stored, and further comprises a computer including an information processor which process the control information stored in the control-information memory.
(4) According to a fourth feature of the present invention that includes the third feature (3), the computer further comprises a first starting means for starting, in response to a start command supplied from a host computer, the information processor to process the control information.
The present apparatus automatically starts a resetting operation.
(5) According to a fifth feature of the present invention that includes the third or fourth feature (3) or (4), the control device further comprises an input device which is operable by an operator, and the computer further comprises a second starting means for starting, in response to a start command input through the input device, the information processor to process the control information.
(6) According to a sixth feature of the present invention that includes any one of the third to fifth features (3) to (5), the computer further comprises a first storing means for storing, in the control-information memory, the control information supplied from a host computer.
(7) According to a seventh feature of the present invention that includes any one of the third to sixth features (3) to (6), the control device further comprises a reading device which reads the control information recorded on a portable information-recording medium, and the computer further comprises a second storing means for storing, in the control-information memory, the control information read by the reading device.
The portable information-recording medium may be an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a magnetic tape.
(8) According to an eighth feature of the present invention that includes any one of the third to seventh features (3) to (7), the control device further comprises an input device which is operable by an operator, and the computer further comprises a third storing means for storing, in the control-information memory, the control information input through the input device.
(9) According to a ninth feature of the present invention that includes any one of the third to eighth features (3) to (8), the control-information memory comprises an internal memory which is incorporated by the computer, and an external memory which is provided outside
Isogai Takeyoshi
Iwaki Noriaki
Yasuda Kimihiko
Yoriki Minoru
Fuji Machine Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Lazarus Ira S.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Rinehart K. B.
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