Abstract: In a pickup head (1) for an automatic component assembly machine a house (5) is provided, which and a transmission (27, 29) is movable in a vertical direction (z-direction) by means of a drive motor (25) and is arranged on a horizontally (x-direction) movable wagon (3). The house (5) carries several pickup devices (11), which are movably mounted in the house and during the movement of the house (5) can be made to selectively accompany this in order to pick components. Therefor, the pickup devices (11) are resiliently biassed to a pulled down position by compression springs (21) and they can further be locked in an upper position by activating solenoids (31). These have locking pins (37), which during activation engage abutments (23) of each pickup device (11). The pickup head (1) can hereby, by driven by a single motor (25) simultaneously pick several components, what gives a quick picking function and hereby a quicker mounting.

Abstract: A surface mount machine has a fixed X-axis comprising a straight beam rigidly mounted in the machine chassis along which one or several wagons move(s), each one carrying at least one component pick-up device. Below the X-beam for the X-axis there are component feeders which are organized in groups and which are accessible by the pick-up devices and at least two Y-axes provided by linear bearings, which are rigidly mounted in the machine chassis. Y-wagons for carrying printed circuit boards move along the Y-axes. As there are at least two PCB carrying Y-axes, it can be arranged that at least one of them presents a PCB on which the pick-up devices can place components. The time during which the pick-up devices must be idle during PCB unload and load will thereby be dramatically reduced.

Abstract: A device is proposed for applying material such as solder paste and glue in discrete points, particularly for applying solder paste on electronic circuit boards. The device comprises a pump house (202-205; 301, 307), a tube or a channel (206) by means of which material is fed to the pump house, a nozzle (111, 205) for feeding material from the pump house (202-205; 301, 307). Suitable upper and lower valve devices are arranged to block, at predetermined times, the feeding of material to and from the pump house (202-205; 301, 307). The lower valve device may possibly be replaced by a restriction device. As is conventional the pump house (202-205; 301, 307) comprises an outer pump cylinder (203; 307) and an inner piston (204; 301). The displacement of the piston (201; 301) is obtained by the fact that the piston is connected to a magnetostrictive rod (202; 308). This rod (202; 308) cooperates with a coil (208) arranged around the rod (202; 308).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool head being movable between a component supply and a place, where a component is to be mounted. The tool head comprises a tool shaft (1). This can rotate in relation to the base structure of said tool head and is also axially displaceable in relation to said base. To reduce the inertia of the mass to be displaced and rotated the tool shaft (1) is irrotationally and axially movably supported in a front bearing (3). This front bearing (3) is rotatably and not axially movably supported in the base plate. The rotation of said bearing element (3) is realized by means of a driving motor (9) and a toothed belt (7). The shaft (1) is driven axially by a second driving motor (25) also provided with a driving belt (23). To this driving belt a support element (17) is attached. The support element (37) is guided by a linear guide bar (21) and is also connected to said tool shaft (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for surface mounting of components (201) on a support (106). The arrangement comprises a positioning device )102, 103, 104) for holding and moving the components to a mounting position relative to the support. A centering arrangement of two components (203, 204) movable towards and from each other and disposed to center the component from opposite sides concurrently with its movement to the mounting position is provided. The centering arrangement (203, 204) comprises two centering electrodes (300, 310) which are designed with recesses (301, 302, 305, 306) which are adapted to the form and the size of the different component types to be mounted. The centering electrodes moreover comprise electric contact members (307, 308, 706) which are intended to connect the component to an equipment for measuring its electrical properties.

Abstract: A cassette magazine for a component mounting machine. This machine comprises a driving member (34) for a number of reels (7) which are insertable into the magazine and which carry components enclosed in a carrier tape (2) wound on each reel. The reels are arranged in standing position in one or more parallel rows (9,10) transversely to the feeding direction of the tape. The tapes are by means of driving members fed to a component expelling and picking station (23) in which means (24) are arranged to punch the components from the carrier tapes so that they will be accessible for a picking tool. The driving members comprise a number of feeding wheels (32) and drive segments (43) corresponding to the number of tapes, said wheels and said segments being arranged for individual feeding of each of the tapes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for calibrating a positioning system including a control computer (1405) for producing command value signals to a positioning apparatus which positions an object against a work surface. Sensors (1406,1407) detect the location of the positioning system and convert it to an actual value signal which can be fed back to the control computer. A calibration plane (601) placed on the work surface contains a number of calibration points (602,603), the command value positions of which are entered into the control computer. The positions of at least some calibration points are sensed by a calibration probe (605) corresponding to the object and the actual values for the positions of said points are compared with the command values for the positions of these points on the work surface entered into the control computer.