Machine element or mechanism – Mechanical movements – Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-30
2001-07-31
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Mechanical movements
Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
C074S089100, C074S422000, C029S741000, C029S739000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267020
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drive mechanism for the component placement heads of an automatic electrical variable center distance (VCD) component insertion machine.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
In the art of automatically applying axial lead electrical components to a printed circuit board, which is well known in the industry, the components are usually supplied to the insertion head of the machine in a desired sequence for insertion through the board. The components are supplied on a reel in which the component axial leads are taped on their outer extremities to present the components in a taped series to the insertion head. The insertion tooling contains a mechanism to sever the component leads from the tape, form the leads at a right angle to the component body, and insert the leads into pre-selected openings in the board. Thereafter, a cut-clinch mechanism cuts and forms the leads protruding through the board undersurface to lock the component to the board. Insertion heads of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Re 27,968.
In the operation of these heads, there is a pair of vertically driven insertion tooling assemblies which travel from a position to receive the component from the taped input to a position to insert the component leads into the openings in the board. The mechanism to vertically reciprocate the insertion tooling has, in the past, been a pneumatic cylinder arrangement (such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 27,968) which drives a linkage causing the placement head to move up and down or a servo driven lead screw (such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,810).
In addition to the above considerations, during the insertion sequence of axial lead components (e.g., resistors, diodes, etc.) it is also desirable to provide for the insertion of the leads of the components at varying center distances. Accordingly, variable center distance (VCD) component insertion machines have been developed. In such machines, two insertion tooling assemblies (one for each lead) are simultaneously driven to sever the leads from the tape, form the leads and insert the leads into pre-selected openings in the board. The insertion toolings are laterally moveable so that the center distance between the insertion toolings may be varied to accommodate different insertion center distances.
One disadvantage of the prior art VCD insertion heads is that they employed a large mass of complicated pneumatic crank arms or lead screw mechanisms to drive the insertion heads up and down. They, therefore, were difficult to control or operate at high rates of insertions per hour.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a high speed servo motor driven mechanism for vertically reciprocating the insertion head of a VCD component insertion machine, in particular, in excess of 24,000 insertions per hour.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a low mass servo motor driven mechanism for a VCD component insertion machine which allows for adjustment of the insertion width of the insertion head as part of the drive mechanism.
The above and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by a drive mechanism for a variable center distance component insertion machine having a pair of tooling assemblies mounted adjacent each other so as to be laterally adjustable relative to each other. Each tooling has a gear rack mounted at its top. The racks engage an elongated pinion gear mounted proximate the toolings. A servo motor rotates the pinion and, thereby, reciprocates the toolings toward and away from a circuit board. The toolings are adjusted laterally by a second servo motor coupled to the toolings by a double lead screw.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent and fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in connection with the appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3488672 (1970-01-01), Martyn
patent: 3550238 (1970-12-01), Allen et al.
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patent: 4080730 (1978-03-01), Woodmand, Jr.
patent: 4464833 (1984-08-01), Duncan
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patent: 4553323 (1985-11-01), Clark
patent: 4719810 (1988-01-01), St. Cyr et al.
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Dionne Peter J.
Macchiarella Robert
Bucci David A.
Hansen Colby
Universal Instruments Corporation
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