Patents by Inventor Akihiko Wachi
Akihiko Wachi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7020956Abstract: An occurrence of component lack at a component arrangement position, designated by a mounting program, of a component feed part, which feeds components to be mounted, is determined. Whether a spare component for the lacking component to be mounted is present in a spare component feed area of the component feed part is determined, and supply of the component to be mounted from a designated component arrangement position of the component feed part is switched to supply of the spare component from the spare component feed area.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2002Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Kuribayashi, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Akihiko Wachi
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Patent number: 6877220Abstract: An occurrence component lack at a component arrangement position, designated by a mounting program, of a component feed part, which feeds components to be mounted, is determined. Whether a spare component for the lacking component to be mounted is present in a spare component feed area of the component feed part is determined, and supply of the component to be mounted from a designated component arrangement position of the component feed part is switched to supply of the spare component from the spare component feed area.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1999Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Kuribayashi, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Akihiko Wachi
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Patent number: 6774931Abstract: An algorithm for determining the movement of camera for automatic tracing of inspection positions is preset based on the characteristic shape of the component. A start point and an end point of inspection of lands are designated to the camera, and the camera moves from the start point to the end point automatically along a predetermined path in accordance with the preset algorithm, thereby performing inspection of lands in succession.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2000Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Wachi, Masaya Matsumoto, Nobuyasu Nagafuku
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Patent number: 6748289Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method for improving the productivity of a screen printer for an electronics-mounting machine. Thus, a screen printer according to this invention uses a recognition camera to inspect the results of printing of a circuit board concurrently with a cleaning operation of the rear surface of a screen, thereby enabling the effective use of time. This screen printer also enables cream solder to be automatically supplied to reduce the operation time by determining whether the next screen to be used is unused. During automatic screen replacement, this screen printer enables a desired screen stored in the corresponding stocker to be automatically specified in order to replace the current screen in response to a selected NC program.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Noboru Nishikawa, Akihiko Wachi, Hiroyoshi Saito
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Patent number: 6694875Abstract: A screen printing method and apparatus for printing a circuit pattern corresponding to that of a stencil (4), onto a print-object article (1) placed on an ascendable/descendable positioning stage (2), through moving a squeegee (5a, 5b) horizontally while the squeegee is pushed in on the stencil so that print paste (9) is printed to the article via the stencil. The squeegee is lifted to an extent of a push-in stroke, to which the squeegee has been pushed in on the stencil, and thereafter the article is separated away from the stencil by moving the stage downward. The board is classified into first and second areas (121, 120) where values of opening sizes of the stencil along a squeegee moving direction are smaller than and not smaller than a threshold, and a speed of the squeegee at the first area is made slower than that at the second area.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Takahashi, Naoichi Chikahisa, Yousuke Nagasawa, Takao Naito, Akihiko Wachi, Seishiro Yanachi, Nobuyasu Nagafuku, Nobuyuki Kakishima
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Patent number: 6659005Abstract: A screen printing method and apparatus for printing a circuit pattern corresponding to that of a stencil (4), onto a print-object article (1) placed on an ascendable/descendable positioning stage (2), through moving a squeegee (5a, 5b) horizontally while the squeegee is pushed in on the stencil so that print paste (9) is printed to the article via the stencil. The squeegee is lifted to an extent of a push-in stroke, to which the squeegee has been pushed in on the stencil, and thereafter the article is separated away from the stencil by moving the stage downward. The board is classified into first and second areas (121, 120) where values of opening sizes of the stencil along a squeegee moving direction are smaller than and not smaller than a threshold, and a speed of the squeegee at the first area is made slower than that at the second area.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Takahashi, Naoichi Chikahisa, Yousuke Nagasawa, Takao Naito, Akihiko Wachi, Seishiro Yanachi, Nobuyasu Nagafuku, Nobuyuki Kakishima
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Patent number: 6561407Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for operating reflow soldering in a mounting field whereby an abnormality in transfer of circuit boards can be detected with high reliability. Whether or not a circuit board is transferred by a transfer conveyor is judged. A discharge conveyor is started when a control device judges occurrence of transfer abnormality. After the discharge conveyor starts, the transfer abnormality is determined to be a drop of the circuit board if a discharge completion detector detects that a dropped circuit board is discharged. And then the control device continues the reflow soldering. The transfer abnormality in the reflow soldering apparatus can be detected with high reliability because it can be detected whether the transfer abnormality is either the drop or a clog of the circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2002Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyasu Nagafuku, Akihiko Wachi, Masaya Matsumoto, Toshiyuki Koyama
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Publication number: 20020184747Abstract: A component lack at a component arrangement position designated by a mounting program at a component feed part which feeds components to be mounted is detected, whether a spare component for the lacking component to be mounted is present in a spare component feed area (16s) of the component feed part is detected, and the supply of the component to be mounted from the designated component arrangement position in the component feed part is switched to the supply of the spare component from the spare component feed area.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: Takeshi Kuribayashi, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Akihiko Wachi
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Publication number: 20020178943Abstract: A screen printing method and apparatus for printing a circuit pattern corresponding to that of a stencil (4), onto a print-object article (1) placed on an ascendable/descendable positioning stage (2), through moving a squeegee (5a, 5b) horizontally while the squeegee is pushed in on the stencil so that print paste (9) is printed to the article via the stencil. The squeegee is lifted to an extent of a push-in stroke, to which the squeegee has been pushed in on the stencil, and thereafter the article is separated away from the stencil by moving the stage downward. The board is classified into first and second areas (121, 120) where values of opening sizes of the stencil along a squeegee moving direction are smaller than and not smaller than a threshold, and a speed of the squeegee at the first area is made slower than that at the second area.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Inventors: Ken Takahashi, Naoichi Chikahisa, Yousuke Nagasawa, Takao Naito, Akihiko Wachi, Seishiro Yanachi, Nobuyasu Nagafuku, Nobuyuki Kakishima
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Patent number: 6394161Abstract: An adhesive applying apparatus having an adhesive applying nozzle (1), an elevation drive unit (B) for vertically moving the adhesive applying nozzle, a purging station (6) provided with a purging tape (5), a unit (10) for supporting a circuit board (4) and an X-Y direction drive unit (30) which moves the adhesive applying nozzle so as to position the adhesive applying nozzle in a specified position in a horizontal direction of the circuit board and the purging tape. The elevation drive unit is constructed so as to be able to selectively set the lowermost end position of the adhesive applying nozzle. Also, a control means (D) is provided for controlling the elevation drive unit with a command in order to set the lowermost end position of the adhesive applying nozzle, located in a position above the purging station, to a specified position.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1999Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki Kakishima, Akihiko Wachi, Hitoshi Nakahira, Takayuki Mibuchi
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Publication number: 20020060235Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for operating reflow soldering in a mounting field whereby an abnormality in transfer of circuit boards can be detected with high reliability. Whether or not a circuit board is transferred by a transfer conveyor is judged. A discharge conveyor is started when a control device judges occurrence of transfer abnormality. After the discharge conveyor starts, the transfer abnormality is determined to be a drop of the circuit board if a discharge completion detector detects that a dropped circuit board is discharged. And then the control device continues the reflow soldering. The transfer abnormality in the reflow soldering apparatus can be detected with high reliability because it can be detected whether the transfer abnormality is either the drop or a clog of the circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2002Publication date: May 23, 2002Inventors: Nobuyasu Nagafuku, Akihiko Wachi, Masaya Matsumoto, Toshiyuki Koyama
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Patent number: 6382497Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for operating reflow soldering in a mounting field whereby an abnormality in transfer of circuit boards can be detected with high reliability. Whether or not a circuit board is transferred by a transfer conveyor is judged. A discharge conveyor is started when a control device judges occurrence of transfer abnormality. After the discharge conveyor starts, the transfer abnormality is determined to be a drop of the circuit board if a discharge completion detector detects that a dropped circuit board is discharged. And then the control device continues the reflow soldering. The transfer abnormality in the reflow soldering apparatus can be detected with high reliability because it can be detected whether the transfer abnormality is either the drop or a clog of the circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyasu Nagafuku, Akihiko Wachi, Masaya Matsumoto, Toshiyuki Koyama
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Publication number: 20020019680Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method for improving the productivity of a screen printer for an electronics-mounting machine. Thus, a screen printer according to this invention uses a recognition camera to inspect the results of printing of a circuit board concurrently with a cleaning operation of the rear surface of a screen, thereby enabling the effective use of time. This screen printer also enables cream solder to be automatically supplied to reduce the operation time by determining whether the next screen to be used is unused. During automatic screen replacement, this screen printer enables a desired screen stored in the corresponding stocker to be automatically specified in order to replace the current screen in response to a selected NC program.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2001Publication date: February 14, 2002Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Noboru Nishikawa, Akihiko Wachi, Hiroyoshi Saito
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Publication number: 20010017086Abstract: A screen printing method and apparatus for printing a circuit pattern corresponding to that of a stencil (4), onto a print-object article (1) placed on an ascendable/descendable positioning stage (2), through moving a squeegee (5a, 5b) horizontally while the squeegee is pushed in on the stencil so that print paste (9) is printed to the article via the stencil. The squeegee is lifted to an extent of a push-in stroke, to which the squeegee has been pushed in on the stencil, and thereafter the article is separated away from the stencil by moving the stage downward. The board is classified into first and second areas (121, 120) where values of opening sizes of the stencil along a squeegee moving direction are smaller than and not smaller than a threshold, and a speed of the squeegee at the first area is made slower than that at the second area.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Inventors: Ken Takahashi, Naoichi Chikahisa, Yousuke Nagasawa, Takao Naito, Akihiko Wachi, Seishiro Yanachi, Nobuyasu Nagafuku, Nobuyuki Kakishima
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Patent number: 6237490Abstract: A screen printing method and apparatus for printing a circuit pattern corresponding to that of a stencil (4), onto a print-object article (1) placed on an ascendable/descendable positioning stage (2), through moving a squeegee (5a,5b) horizontally while the squeegee is pushed in on the stencil so that print paste (9) is printed to the article via the stencil. The squeegee is lifted to an extent of a push-in stroke, to which the squeegee has been pushed in on the stencil, and thereafter the article is separated away from the stencil by moving the stage downward. The board is classified into first and second areas (121,120) where values of opening sizes of the stencil along a squeegee moving direction are smaller than and not smaller than a threshold, and a speed of the squeegee at the first area is made slower than that at the second area.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1998Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Takahashi, Naoichi Chikahisa, Yousuke Nagasawa, Takao Naito, Akihiko Wachi, Seishiro Yanachi, Nobuyasu Nagafuku, Nobuyuki Kakishima
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Patent number: 6131511Abstract: Coordinate positions of openings and lands on a screen and a first circuit board are recognized by a recognition camera and a display device. A correction amount for movement of the stage is calculated by a control device only for the first circuit board. Then, the correction of movement of the stage is executed for the second and following circuit boards by utilizing the correction amount.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Wachi, Seishiro Yanachi, Nobuyuki Kakishima, Masaya Matsumoto
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Patent number: 6050314Abstract: An adhesive applying apparatus having an adhesive applying nozzle (1), an elevation drive unit (B) for vertically moving the adhesive applying nozzle, a purging station (6) provided with a purging tape (5), a unit (10) for supporting a circuit board (4) and an X-Y direction drive unit (30) which moves the adhesive applying nozzle so as to position the adhesive applying nozzle in a specified position in a horizontal direction of the circuit board and the purging tape. The elevation drive unit is constructed so as to be able to selectively set the lowermost end position of the adhesive applying nozzle. Also, a control means (D) is provided for controlling the elevation drive unit with a command in order to set the lowermost end position of the adhesive applying nozzle, located in a position above the purging station, to a specified position.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1998Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki Kakishima, Akihiko Wachi, Hitoshi Nakahira, Takayuki Mibuchi
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Patent number: 6036994Abstract: A screen printing method is provided in which the exchange of machine types is achieved in a short time and even minute patterns or narrowly pitched patterns can be precisely positioned for screen printing. The method comprises finding an amount of movement of the circuit board from positions of recognition marks (2, 2) on a circuit board (1) and positions of recognition marks (5, 5) on a screen plate (4), positioning the circuit board (1) in relation to the screen plate (4) on the basis of the amount of movement of the circuit board (1), detecting a discrepancy between a pattern of apertures (18) and a pattern of lands (19) in a particular portion of the circuit board (1), finding a positional correction from the discrepancy, and positioning the circuit board (1) in relation to the screen plate (4) on the basis of the amount of movement of the circuit board and the positional correction.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuya Tanaka, Ken Takahashi, Akihiko Wachi, Takao Naito
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Patent number: 5867390Abstract: The invention provides an adhesive applying method which makes it possible to perform a stabilized adhesive applying operation and to reduce the overall production time. In detecting the amount of adhesive applied and performing a corrective operation so as to ensure application of a predetermined amount of adhesive, a corrected value obtained by a corrective operation is stored at step #5. At step #7, an infinitesimal correction formula which shows the relationship of the corrected value with respect to the amount of adhesive used is found on the basis of the corrected values stored last time and this time and on the basis of the amount of adhesive used during the time from the preceding corrective operation and the current corrective operation. And a productive corrected value found by the infinitesimal correction formula is used for adhesive application from the next time on.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1997Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiyuki Kinoh, Akihiko Wachi