Abstract: The invention is a method of determining whether a pick up apparatus has picked up a component in a normal manner. The method includes picking up a component with the apparatus, detecting at least one dimension of a projected image with of the component with an optical detector and determining whether the component has been picked up normally by determining whether the dimension of said projected image, less a correction factor based on the diffraction of light, is within a tolerance range.

Abstract: A component mounting device adapted to mount components such IC or the like on a printed circuit board that includes replaceable pick up nozzles to accommodate different types of components to be picked up. A sensing station is provided that permits the pick up nozzle to be verified as the correct one and also to determine, if desired, its orientation and misalignments in its axis of rotation so as to permit adjustment in the mounted to accommodate for errors. In addition, a reference height position may be set so that the same sensing station can be employed to sense both the orientation of a component that is picked up and also whether the component is correctly oriented for deposit. This is done by measuring projected lengths in a plane with a photo sensitive device and by making calculations in accordance with trigonometric relationships.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of component pick up and mounting devices that include a plurality of pick up heads. The speed of the device is improved by providing sensing of the orientation of the components picked up by the pick up devices in a common sensing station. The device also includes means whereby one of the pick up devices may pick up a component large enough to interfere with the picking up of components by the other pick up devices by precluding the picking up of components by the other pick up devices when such a component is picked up by the one pick up device. The device further increases the speed by permitting pick up, recognition and correction of component orientation and mounting either simultaneously or operation of two or more of these functions at the same time on different pick up devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically detecting the offset of the pick up of a component having an irregular shape relative to a pick-up device so as to calculate the amount of offset for accurately positioning the component. The system uses an optical measuring system that is capable of making the calculations from certain forms of regular shapes. The component has different sections with different shapes one of which is regular and the apparatus is constructed so as to insure that the proper area of the component will be measured.

Abstract: A component mounting device including a measuring station where the length of the component is measured in two different angular positions so as to permit calculation of the corrective factors necessary by the displacement of the point of pick up of the component by the gripping device from its center so as to permit accurate positioning of the component on a substrate. The device operates to begin movement of the component toward its mounted position before the measuring has commenced.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of component pick up and mounting devices that include a plurality of pick up heads. The speed of the device is improved by providing sensing of the orientation of the components picked up by the pick up devices in a common sensing station. The device also includes means whereby one of the pick up devices may pick up a component large enough to interfere with the picking up of components by the other pick up devices by precluding the picking up of components by the other pick up devices when such a component is picked up by the one pick up device. The device further increases the speed by permitting pick up, recognition and correction of component orientation and mounting either simultaneously or operation of two or more of these functions at the same time on different pick up devices.