JPS6236630B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to an apparatus for orienting rectangular parallelepiped parts.

The purpose of the present invention is to:
It consists in orienting components such as small electrical components so that their sides face each other.

The purpose of coating the surfaces of small electrical components with silver compounds or the like is to prepare the surfaces for soldering of electrical connections. In rectangular parallelepiped electrical components, a larger surface area is effective to ensure soldering of connections without unduly increasing the cost of batch processing and without significantly increasing the reject rate in each batch. on the sides rather than on the edges.

In the past, there have been difficulties in achieving economical batch processing of small electronic components and avoiding excessive reject rates. However, this problem can be solved by the device of the invention.

The small electric component 10 is, for example, a chip capacitor or a resistor. One example dimension is approx.
0.140in x 0.120in x 0.040in, but of course the dimensions of this part can be larger or smaller. The shape of each part is rectangular as a whole from side 14 to side 1.
It has a length dimension from end surface 12 to end surface 12 that is greater than a width dimension from surface 16 to surface 16, and a width dimension from side surface 14 to side surface 14 that is greater than a thickness dimension from surface 16 to surface 16. For example, the capacitor has surface 16
It has a series of conductive layers 18 in a plane parallel to . Conductive layer 18 is separated by non-conductive layer 20. These layers 18, 20 are exposed on the sides. When soldering electrical connections, it is often desirable to solder to the sides rather than the ends. Accordingly, the purpose of the method and apparatus of the present invention is to apply a coating 22 to the side surface 14.

Conventional orientation devices are intended for processing parts with a square cross-sectional shape, which have no dimensional distinction between the sides and the surface, and only have different areas on the end faces. In the present invention,
A part is oriented with a rectangular cross-sectional shape in which the sides and the surface have different dimensions.

FIG. 3 shows a component receiver 22' having a hopper or cavity 24 for receiving components 10 in bulk.
The surface 26 of the cavity 24 is connected to the component storage plate 3.
0 and a component handling plate 32, which plates 30, 32 are connected by a pin 34 of component receiver 22' extending through respective openings 36, 38. Vibration support plate 40, spring 42 and vibration and vacuum source 44 are shown functionally. Preferably, the component 10 is forced into position through the plates 30, 32, 40 by vacuum suction as well as by vibration.

A part of the method and apparatus for orienting small electronic components 10 and 12 component storage plates 30 have multiple rows and rows of openings 50 in one plate 30.
1000, 2000 or more openings are provided, one opening receiving one part. Commonly in all receiving plates 30, all of the openings 50 are filled with parts within about 10 seconds by the vibration and vacuum mechanism of FIG.

Each aperture begins at an upper portion 52 of generally circular cross-section and tapers conically toward the lower surface of the receiving plate 30, while diametrically opposed portions 54 at the lower portion of each aperture form the ends of a rectangular aperture. formed and matching the dimensions of the cross section of the part. Part 10
When the component is placed in the cavity 24 at the top of the component receiving plate and subjected to vibration and vacuum forces, the component is unstable until it is fully engaged in the aperture 50. When the part 10 is fully engaged in the aperture 50, the part is oriented end first toward the part processing plate 32, with its major and minor axes aligned with the rows and columns of the aperture 50. In processing parts of the above dimensions (0.140in x 0.120in x 0.040in), the prototype used a 0.187in thick receiving plate.

The component handling plate 32 has a series of slots 60 extending side by side from side to side of the plate and matching in number and location with the openings 50 provided in the component receiving plate 30. The slots 60 are arranged horizontally. The slot has an internal wall formed of a non-metallic elastic material selected from plastic, natural rubber or synthetic rubber such as silicone rubber. The plate 32 is made of metal and has recesses 62 on both sides extending from the main portion to the edge portion 64, as shown in FIGS. The central web 66 remaining between the recesses has a number of slots 68 which are arranged similarly to the slots 60 and are larger in size, with the slots 60 facing inside the sheath of the slots 68. A resilient plastic material 70 fills the recess 62 leaving a slot 60.
and fills slot 68. A resilient plastic material 70 receives and grips the component 10.
It constitutes a resilient wall for slot 68. During manufacturing, the slot 60 is constructed with a lateral dimension that is less than the surface 16 to surface 16 thickness dimension of the component in order to securely grip the component 10; A resilient plastic material 70 was cast into plate 32 with dimensions for slot 60 0.25 inch long and 0.030 inch wide.

An apparatus for forcing a component out of the opening 50 of the component receiving plate 30 and into the slot 60 of the component processing plate 32 is shown in FIGS.
The apparatus includes a press having an upper plate 72, a base 74 and a row of punches 76. Each punch is inserted into one of the openings provided in the component storage plate 30.
and one of the slots 60 provided in the component processing plate 32, so that the component can be placed in the opening 50.
, at least partially into one of the slots 60 . Actually, the punch is part 1
0 out of the plate 30 and then through the plate 32 and protruding somewhat from its underside, for example, about 1/32 inch when the part has the dimensions described above.

The punch 76 is constructed from one or more blocks that are part of or attached to the upper plate 72. As shown in FIG.
6 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape, or at least the lower end thereof is rectangular, and the punch 76 has a size that allows it to pass through the opening 50 of the component storage plate 30. In other words, the major axis or width dimension of each punch substantially coincides with the major axis or width dimension of the aperture 50 extending from end 54 to end 54 .

Stripper plate 80 (Figures 11 and 12)
is mounted on a rod 82 which is slidable within an aperture 84 in the upper plate 72. Spring 86 typically biases slipper plate 80 to separate component receiving plate 30 from punch 76 . The resilient walls of the slots 60 in the plate 32 grip the punches 76 and hold them against upward movement. A pin 88 rising from the base 74 extends through the openings 36, 38 in the plates 30, 32 and punches the plate 76.
Keep them aligned in the same column. The ejection plate 90 is attached to pins 88 extending through openings 92 and includes a number of recesses 94 for receiving parts after processing is complete. Stops 96, 98, selectively positioned between the slipper plate 80 and the upper plate 72, allow the punch 76 to expose the end face from the part processing plate 32 for reorientation, as will be explained later, when the press is closed. whether to push the part to expose the sides sufficiently for coating or to push the part 10 a sufficient distance to eject the part into the recess of the ejector plate. decide.

To illustrate the method of component reorientation in the component processing plate, this can be done by a separate base with pins to secure the plate 32 in place, or by a pin 88 securing the plate 32 and the plate. The upper end surface 12 beyond the upper surface of 32
It can also be carried out on a press, with the part 10 being handled in such a way as to expose it. In a component having the dimensions described above, the plate 32 of the end face 12
An exposure of 1/32in is sufficient. This involves the use of punch 76 to move component 10 from opening 50 in the component receiving plate through opening 60 in plate 32 into a recess 94 in ejection plate 90 to a position 1/32 inch below the underside of plate 32. achieved by. Plate 32 then becomes plate 3
The component 10 is turned over to expose the end surface 12 on the top surface of the component 2.

The next operation is as shown in FIG.
0 is used, the tool having a handle 102 and a tip 104 at right angles to the handle. The tip 104 is moved parallel to the surface of the part 10 so as to catch the edge of the side 14 of the part and pivot the part so that only the side 14 is exposed, i.e. exposed. Of course, the same operation can be performed with a power device, but the manually operated tool 1 shown in the figure
00 is preferable. The tip 104 is gently pulled along the surface of the plate 32 and the part 1
0 is easily moved to a side-up position. The plate is then placed back into the press and the punches 76 move the sides of the second set of parts into a position exposing the sides of the underside of the plate 32. The punch 76 is then used to eject the part into the recess 94 of the extraction plate 90.

10 and 14, the opening 50 in the component receiving plate 30 is aligned with the end 110 of the slot 60 to provide clearance at the other end so that the component 10 can be flipped over in the cavity 112. It is important to place Slot 60 is provided for gripping the surface 16 of the part.

FIG. 15 shows a coating device comprising a movable platform 120 to which a plate 32 is attached and a feed means 122, such as a screw.
a coating station 124 containing a metal roller 126 and means for supplying a coating material such as a silver compound in a resin base; and a heating station containing an oven 130 for cultivating the coating. Part 10 is exposed on the top surface of plate 32 during coating.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a small electronic component processed by the apparatus of the invention, with the component oriented with its side edges for the coating operation and supported during this operation. 2 is a perspective view of a component with coated side edges, FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing several parts of the device of the invention, and FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a component receiving plate. FIG. 5 is a bottom view, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-- of FIG. 7
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing the parts processing plate; FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a part of the parts processing plate in cross section; FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the parts storage plate and the parts processing plate, FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the press provided in the parts storage plate and the parts processing plate, and FIG.
1 is a cross-sectional view showing the press of FIG. 1 at different positions during processing of parts; FIG. 13 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a row of punches attached to the upper plate of the press; and FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the press of FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view showing the parts placed in the slots of the plate;
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of the coating device. 10: Part, 12: End surface, 14: Side surface, 16:
Surface, 22: Covering, 22': Component receiver, 24:
Cavity, 30: Parts storage plate, 32: Parts processing plate, 40: Vibration support plate, 5
0: opening, 60: slot, 68: slot, 7
6 punch, 90: extraction plate, 94: parts receiving recess.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Apparatus for orienting rectangular parallelepiped parts, comprising a receiving plate having a number of openings therethrough, the openings being arranged in parallel, each opening extending from the top surface of the receiving plate to the bottom surface and extending from the top surface of the receiving plate. receiving and orienting and ejecting parts from the bottom of the storage plate, and each aperture extending from the top to the bottom surface of the storage plate to assist in feeding the part from the top of the storage plate to the opening. and wherein the aperture is formed into a rectangular shape at the bottom of the receiving plate, thereby orienting the component relative to a minimum laterally extending axis of the rectangle.