Abstract: A position transducer has a moving modulating portion that can move to various positions through rotation, for example. The position transducer provides at least one analog signal that varies periodically with the moving position of the modulating portion, where the movement of the modulating portion has a period. The analog signal is provided to a converter that converts the analog signal into digital information which is applied to a computing arrangement to provide information as to the position of the modulating portion by using at least one transformation including stored information as to deviations of the periodic variation of the analog signal relative to a sinusoidal shape having a constant amplitude for all periods of movement of the modulating portion.

Abstract: An encoder disc (101) of an optical position transducer is mounted on a short protruding part (102a) of a rotor (102) of an electric motor close to torque creating parts. One part of the optical system, normally the light emitter part (108, 115), is insertable between the rotor (102) and the encoder disc (108) after the insertion of the rotor-encoder disc assembly into the motor stator case (113). The optical incremental encoder signals are fed both to a moderate frequency digital counter that counts 4 counts per basic encoder period and to an A/D-converter that samples and digitises the primary encoder analog signals. A synchronising network ensures that the primary encoder digitised signal corresponds to the correct state of the digital counter. More than one decoder head can be used to compensate for the bearing play common in servo motors having varying axial loads.

Abstract: A position transducer is provided that includes an encoder disc and at least two detector devices arranged to read at least one track on the encoder disc having low resolution in order to produce position signals. The detector devices each provide position signals to a processing device having a substantial phase difference therebetween. The signal processing device can determine movements of the encoder disc based upon the signals provided by the detector devices and the detector devices can be energized with a low duty cycle during a low power mode.

Abstract: An encoder disc (101) of an optical position transducer is mounted on a short protruding part (102a) of a rotor (102) of an electric motor close to torque creating parts. One part of the optical system, normally the light emitter part (108, 115), is insertable between the rotor (102) and the encoder disc (108) after the insertion of the rotor-encoder disc assembly into the motor stator case (113). The optical incremental encoder signals are fed both to a moderate frequency digital counter that counts (4) counts per basic encoder period and to an AD converter that samples and digitises the primary encoder analog signals. A synchronising network ensures that the primary encoder digitised signal corresponds to the correct state of the digital counter. More than one decoder head can be used to compensate for the bearing play common in servo motors having varying axial loads.

Abstract: An improved connection coupling for providing rotary motion from an electric motor rotor to a load wherein a mechanical coupling element is attached to an end of the rotor and to the shaft of the load. The free end of the rotor includes a cavity which extends axially from the end surface of the rotor inward to allow for insertion of a portion of the mechanical coupling element in the cavity. The walls of the cavity do not contact the portion of the mechanical coupling element to allow this mechanical coupling element to move freely in the rotation direction.

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: In a rotational/linear brushless DC motor/generator the rotor/slide has many equally spaced permanent magnet poles of alternating polarity and it has no or few magnetically permeable iron parts. These magnets cover typically slightly more than half the pole pitch in trapezoidal embodiments. The stator consists of one or several pairs of two stator parts facing each other. Each stator part has a plurality of poles with the same pitch as the rotor/slide poles. The stator parts in a pair are arranged on each side of the rotor/slide and are displaced 180 electrical degrees from each other. Each one of the two stator parts in a pair has windings for one phase in order to polarize the poles in the stator part in alternating polarity. The gaps between the stator poles facing the rotor/slide in the same stator part are small compared to the pole pitch. In this way high torque/force DC motors/generators with low weight and high efficiency are provided.

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: High torque brushless motors are proposed which have low weight and high efficiency. The permanent magnet rotor has many equally spaced poles of alternating polarity. The stator has a plurality of pole groups, each pole group have a plurality of poles with the same pitch as the rotor poles. Windings (211-216, 221-226, 231-236, 241-246, 251-256, 261-266) connected to electrical phases (R, S, T) are provided on the poles within each pole group to polarize the poles in the group with alternating polarity. The pole groups are displaced relative to each other and the gaps between the pole groups are filled by flux balancing poles (217, 227, 237, 247, 257, 267) which in many cases are unwound.

Abstract: A device for the rapid precision positioning of a heavy carriage employs stationary positioning bar, for instance a part of a linear electric motor or a gear rack, and a cooperating moving part of the linear motor or a motor attached to the carriage. The carriage is rapidly and roughly displaced with a further drive which may be constituted by a further gear wheel that cooperates with a gear rack and is driven by a separate motor attached to the carriage. This further drive additionally delivers a certain force for the final positioning in such a way that the play between the gear wheel and the gear rack is eliminated by biasing. Instead of a second gear wheel together with its motor a toothed belt, also driven by a separate motor, a pneumatic cylinder or a linear motor may be used. These are mounted separately from the carriage and ar principally fixed in space.

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.