Abstract: The present invention features a method and apparatus wherein a component in a component placement machine is rejected during the placement cycle and subsequently retained in a component rejection station. A component is imaged and the image processed using an automated vision system. The image processing determines whether the component is placeable based upon a comparison of the component image to preprogrammed mechanical parameters for the component. A non-placeable component is rejected into a reject station with means to retain the component. Because a component can not escape the reject station, there is no degradation of the placement machine performance.

Abstract: The present invention features a method and apparatus for feeder setup validation on a component placement machine. Provided are a host computer in communication with a feeder setup station operable with a feeder identifier for identifying a feeder and a component identifier for identifying a component in the feeder working in conjunction with a location to determine if a component stored in a feeder mounted in a location on the component placement machine is correct for a program corresponding to operation of a system for assembling component products.

Abstract: The present invention features a method whereby the vacuum nozzle of each extendable vacuum spindle in a multi-head component placement machine may be calibrated during component pick/place cycles. Calibration of each vacuum nozzle ensures accurate location of the vacuum nozzle over a component at a component pick station. This is particularly important with extremely small components where a slight misalignment of a vacuum nozzle with a component to be picked could result in a missed pick. Because of the vacuum nozzle inspection and calibration on the fly during the placement cycle, there is no slowdown of the placement machine cycle rate.

Abstract: System for braking either linear or rotary electric motor having no permanent magnets comprising at least one servo amplifier and an electronic circuit for generating a pulsed control signal for controlling the braking of the motor. The electronic circuit of the present invention may be responsive to any emergency such as loss of the line power, a motion controller failure, or actuation of a limit switch by a driven member. A method of braking is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a variable center distance component insertion machine having a pair of component insertion tooling assemblies mounted adjacent each other so as to be laterally adjustable inwardly and outwardly relative to each other. Each tooling assembly has a gear rack mounted at its top. The racks engage an elongated pinion gear mounted proximate the toolings so as to engage the pair of tooling assembly gear racks. A servo motor rotates the pinion and, thereby, reciprocates the tooling assemblies toward and away from a circuit board. The tooling assemblies are adjusted laterally by a second servo motor coupled to the tooling assemblies by a double screw lead. During the lateral adjustment of the tooling assemblies the pair of rack gears remain in constant mesh with the elongated pinion gear.

Abstract: An assembly tool for attaching components such as connector plugs or receptacles to a printed circuit board includes a printed circuit board support plate and a sliding member. The sliding member is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the support plate. A holder is pivotally connected to the sliding member and carries a component to be attached to the printed circuit board. A first actuator is connected to a sliding member and moves the sliding member between the first and second positions. A second actuator is connected to the holder and pivots the holder between a receiving position and a mounting position. A component is brought into proximity with the holder and checked for alignment and polarity. Once checked, the component is placed on the holder.

Abstract: An adjustable conveyor for conveying a printed circuit board includes a frame, a first track including a first conveyor belt, a second track including a second conveyor belt, wherein the first track and the second track are mounted on the frame so that the first track and the second track are parallel to each other. Each of the first track and the second track includes a first element and a second element that are slidably connected to each other so that a space between the first element and the second element is adjustable so as to change a length of the respective track. Each of the first elements includes a plurality of slide blocks. The slide blocks are slidably mounted on the first elements in an overlapping manner so that an amount of overlap between the slide blocks is adjustable as the space between the first element and the second element is adjusted. The conveyor also includes a device for simultaneously driving the first and second conveyor belts.

Abstract: A drive and actuation mechanism for a component insertion machine having a lead screw mounted to a housing by a ball nut and a spline nut so as to be movable longitudinally and rotationally. The lead screw has a hollow shaft in which a push rod is disposed. An arm support is mounted to the lead screw so as to move vertically with the lead screw. An actuation arm is connected at a first bearing point to the push rod and connected at a second bearing point to the arm support. The actuation arm is driven by a crank motor, which is connected to the actuation arm at a third bearing point, to move the push rod. The ball nut and spline nut are also driven by motors to move the lead screw vertically and rotationally.

Abstract: An optical sensor for use on an electronic component placement machine. A spindle tip on a placement head for the machine holds the electronic component to be placed on a printed circuit board by means of, for example, a vacuum. A spindle driver housing is mounted surrounding the spindle-spindle tip combination such that the spindle tip can move relative to the spindle driver housing vertically, due to bias mounting. A light beam from an optical emitter passes through an opening in the spindle driver housing to a first mirror mounted at 45.degree. on a first inside surface of the spindle driver housing. The light is reflected from the first mirror to a second mirror on a second inside surface of the spindle driver housing. The second mirror is also at 45.degree.. The light beam is then reflected from the second mirror through a second opening on the other side of the spindle driver housing to an optical receiver.

Abstract: A variable reluctance linear motor has a stator and an armature mounted so as to be movable along the length of the stator. Armature bearings are mounted to the armature via mechanical vibration dampers and contact the stator so that vibrations in the stator are transmitted to the bearings and dissipated in said vibration dampers. A sensor is mounted to the armature for obtaining position data for the armature with respect to the stator. A controller then calculates the phase currents for the motor phases based on the position data and a desired force value. The phase currents are calculated to maintain a minimum normal force between the armature and said stator, thereby further reducing vibrations. A conditional filter is applied when armature is within a predetermined distance from a desired location. The conditional filter, after a time delay, clamps the velocity feedback to a predetermined range and simultaneously reduces the velocity loop gain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying components wherein a plurality of components are placed on a first end of a track. The components are urged towards a second end of the track with a component stop slidingly mounted at the second end of the track. The urging of the components is discontinued and a vacuum is applied to the first component by the stop. The stop is moved away from the plurality of components to separate the first component from the remaining components.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a motor control circuit including an amplifier with an inductance compensation circuit responsive to a motor, such as a switched reluctance motor, having inductance variations. The inductance compensation circuit includes at least two inductance compensation values and switching means for alternatingly coupling and decoupling at least one of the inductance compensation values from the inductance compensation circuit providing at least first and second inductance compensation for driving the motor in response to variations in the inductance of the motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically supplying surface mount chip components from a bulk feeder and placing the chip components on a substrate. The apparatus includes a base frame, a substrate feeding mechanism, a placement head, and a placement head positioning system. The substrate feeding mechanism delivers substrates to a component receiving position on the base frame. The placement head is translationally movable with respect to the base frame and includes a component supplying and placing mechanism, to supply components and place components on a substrate in a desired location. The component supplying and placing mechanism includes a component transfer mechanism, a component feeder, and a vacuum spindle. The transfer mechanism includes a rotatable wheel with a plurality of component holding compartments, a plurality of angularly disposed stations, and a drive mechanism for sequentially moving the compartments to at least a component receiving station and a component delivery station.

Abstract: Apparatus for braking either a linear or rotary electric motor having no permanent magnets comprising at least one position sensor for outputting an electrical characteristic representative of motor position and an electronic circuit for generating a pulsed control signal for controlling the braking of the motor. The electronic circuit of the present invention may be responsive to any emergency such as loss of line power, a motion controller failure, or actuation of a limit switch by a driven member.

Abstract: An improved method for inspecting assembled circuit boards utilizes an existing programmable placement machine having an associated downward looking camera, illumination source, and monitor. After assembling a first circuit board of a series with electrical components according to a program which is particular to that series, and prior to removing the assembled board from the machine, an inspection is performed by: (i) automatically repositioning the relative position of the camera and the assembled circuit board, according to a portion of that same particular program, in order to address each placement position in turn; (ii) automatically acquiring an image of each placement position when it is addressed, and furnishing the image to the monitor in order to provide a magnified image on the monitor screen; (iii) visually inspecting the magnified image on the monitor screen in order to ascertain the presence or absence of the component at each placement position, the deviation in X, Y, and .theta.

Abstract: A dispenser includes a viscous fluid feed cavity and dispense cavity with an intermediate passageway therebetween and a diaphragm mounted for reciprocatory movement so positioned that during the dispensing process, the movable diaphragm is moved between a first position wherein the passageway is opened, a second position to close the passageway, and a third position to affect viscous fluid dispensing through an outlet coupled to the dispensing cavity. A diaphragm position sensor is provided for determining the relative position of the movable portion of the diaphragm, the sensor being functionally coupled to the diaphragm actuator, such that the diaphragm actuator is controllable in accordance with the relative position of the diaphragm to insure accurate control of micro quantities of viscous fluid dispensed from the dispenser.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for capturing component location information through the use of fiber optic conduits. In various embodiments, an image of a component attached to a translatable and rotatable spindle is captured and transmitted along a fiber optic conduit to a camera coupled to an image processing computer. The image processing computer determines component location on the spindle based on the transmitted image and, where necessary, generates component location correction information so that the spindle and attached component can be moved to a determined location. A plurality of fiber optic conduits may be bundled together to provide a single combined image of multiple components attached to multiple spindles which can be captured by a single camera, wherein the image processing computer segregates the images and determines multiple component location correction information.

Abstract: An automated vision system for identifying patterns, such as the solder bump patterns or leads of electronic components. The system is capable of correctly identifying the deviations of an imaged pattern from the nominal location of a reference pattern even if the imaged features are displaced more than half the minimum distance between any two adjacent features of the reference pattern. Further, the system is not limited to identifying patterns that have been merely translated relative to the reference pattern, but can be used if the imaged pattern has been rotated more than 45.degree. relative to the reference pattern depending on the symmetry of the pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically supplying surface mount chip components from a bulk feeder and placing the chip components on a substrate. The apparatus includes a base frame, a substrate feeding mechanism, a placement head, and a placement head positioning system. The substrate feeding mechanism delivers substrates to a component receiving position on the base frame. The placement head is translationally movable with respect to the base frame and includes a component supplying and placing mechanism, to supply components and place components on a substrate in a desired location. The component supplying and placing mechanism includes a component transfer mechanism, a component feeder, and a vacuum spindle. The transfer mechanism includes a rotatable wheel with a plurality of component holding compartments, a plurality of angularly disposed stations, and a drive mechanism for sequentially moving the compartments to at least a component receiving station and a component delivery station.

Abstract: A controller for force compensation in a variable reluctance motor includes a sensor coupled to the variable reluctance motor for obtaining instantaneous motor position data and a controller coupled to the sensor for receiving the instantaneous motor position data and desired force command. The controller includes a circuit for comparing the instantaneous motor position data and the desired force command with a plurality of stored data points. Each stored data point represents a phase current value. The comparing circuit identifies a selected stored data point having position and desired force command values numerically closest to the instantaneous motor position data and the desired force command. The controller also includes a circuit for interpolating a desired phase current value based on the phase current value of the selected stored data points; a circuit for generating a current having the desired phase current values; and a circuit for outputting the current to the variable reluctance motor.