Abstract: A pick-up head (10) of the apparatus has three alternative pick-up surfaces (24,34,64) formed respectively on a body (16), a first piston member (30), and a second piston member (60). The first piston member (30) is slidable in a cylinder (22a) formed in the body (16) and the second piston member (60) is slidable in a cylinder (48a) formed in the first piston member (30). The piston members (30,60) are movable between projecting positions and retracted positions. When both piston members are retracted, the surface (24) of the body (16) is used, when only the second piston member (60) is retracted, the surface (34) of the first piston member (30) is used, and, when neither piston member is retracted, the surface (64) of the second piston member (60) is used.

Abstract: It is necesary to supply electronic components to a precise location in a transfer station 26, the components being supplied in a plurality of magazines 22 e.g. for a component placement machine. Desirably the magazines may be readily exchanged without significant time being taken in setting up the magazine position accurately. Suitably the magazines are mounted on a turntable 24 each magazine having a location mark 362 positioned accurately relative to a transfer position 286. Drive structure 264 moves the turntable 24 to present the transfer position 286 of the magazine 22 at the transfer station 26 and sensing structure 358 senses the mark 362 when the supply structure 18 is in a characterizing mode. Information supplied by the sensing structure 358 determines when the transfer position 286 is at a precise location of the transfer station 26.

Abstract: This invention relates to suction pick-up apparatus of an electrical or electronic component placement machine. A pick-up head 16 has a body 82 with a pick-up surface 84 and a piston 94 with a smaller pick-up surface 98 slidable in the body 82. The piston 94 is movable between an operative position projecting beyond the surface 84 and an inoperative position retracted into the body 82 by air under pressure directed to move the piston 94. The head 16 is constructed so that suction can be applied to an appropriate one of the surfaces 84, 98 to retain a component engaged by that surface on the surface. The apparatus may have several pick-up heads 16 mounted at equal intervals about the axis of a carousel 14 for stepwise movement through a plurality of stations 26, 42-58 where various operations are carried out. Where the apparatus comprises a plurality of heads 16 mounted on a carrier 34 an appropriate head may be selected by a bowden cable mechanism 68.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling electronic components comprises a pick-up head 16 including a housing 74 and a tool comprising a elongated support member 80 (providing pick-up mechanism 84,98) mounted in the housing 74 for rotation about an axis D of the head 16 and for axial movement. A sleeve 122 and member 124 are rotatable with the tool but axially movable relative to the member 80. Clutch mechanism comprises a clutch pad 130 between a surface 132 of the housing 74 and a surface 128 of the member 124 and a spring 134 urging the surfaces 128, 132 and pad 130 together, locking the tool against rotation. Axial pressure on the sleeve 122 disengages the clutch permitting rotation of the tool which is effected through the sleeve 122. Several heads 16 mounted on a carousel 14 for movement from a pick-up station 26 through orientation stations 42, 48, to a placement station 50.

Abstract: A pick-up head (10) of the apparatus has three alternative pick-up surfaces (24,34,64) formed respectively on a body (16), a first piston member (30), and a second piston member (60). The first piston member (30) is slidable in a cylinder (22a) formed in the body (16) and the second piston member (60) is slidable in a cylinder (48a) formed in the first piston member (30). The piston members (30,60) are movable between projecting postions and retracted positions. When both piston members are retracted, the surface (24) of the body (16) is used, when only the second piston member (60) is retracted, the surface (34) of the first piston member (30) is used, and, when neither piston member is retracted, the surface (64) of the second piston member (60) is used.

Abstract: A pick-up head especially for use in a machine for placing electrical components on a substrate comprises a tool holder having means for interchangeably mounting a pick-up tool with a datum face located at a predetermined position relative to a datum position. The datum position of each tool is defined by the nose length of each tool. The pick-up head further comprises a plurality of orienting jaws mounted for movement towards and away from a component carried by and abutting the datum face of the tool when the holder is in the datum position whereby the jaws can engage the component to orient the component. The jaws have a plurality of spaced sets of cooperating datum faces disposed generally transversely to the plane of the datum face of the tool in the holder. Each set of cooperating faces being disposed so as to be capable of orienting a component carried by a corresponding tool having its datum face located relative to the datum position of the holder.

Abstract: It is convenient to supply electrical or electronic components for placement on tapes; however it has proved difficult to satisfactorily handle tapes for carrying large components. Use of wide tapes to feed larger components is facilitated by using a drive belt (48) to rotate at a sprocket wheel (44) to feed the tape (38,40), a drive wheel (52) to move the belt, and drive means conveniently a ratchet wheel to cause the drive wheel (52) to rotate through a predetermined angle to feed the tape a distance equal to the spacing between the components on the tape. Wide tape can conveniently be disposed of after unloading by using means (88,90) for severing the tape (38) immediately downstream of an unloading position, and means for collecting the severed tape preferably comprising a duct (84) through which a current of air flows to carry the severed tape to a remote receptacle (85).

Abstract: It is convenient to supply electrical or electronic components for placement on tapes; however it has proved difficult to satisfactorily handle tapes for carrying large components. Use of wide tapes to feed larger components is facilitated by using a drive belt (48) to rotate at a sprocket wheel (44) to feed the tape (38,40), a drive wheel (52) to move the belt, and drive means conveniently a ratchet wheel to cause the drive wheel (52) to rotate through a predetermined angle to feed the tape a distance equal to the spacing between the components on the tape. Wide tape can conveniently be disposed of after unloading by using means (88,90) for severing the tape (38) immediately downstream of an unloading position, and means for collecting the severed tape preferably comprising a duct (84) through which a current of air flows to carry the severed tape to a remote receptacle (85).

Abstract: A pick-up head especially for use in a machine for placing electrical components on a substrate comprises a tool holder mounted for movement, conveniently by a lead screw driven by a motor, between a plurality of datum positions and further positions remote therefrom, having means for interchangeably mounting a pick-up tool with a datum face of the tool located at a predetermined position relative to the tool holder. The head further comprises a plurality of orienting jaws mounted for movement towards and away from a component carried on the datum face of a tool on the tool holder when the holder is in one of the datum positions whereby the jaws can engage the component to orient the component.

Abstract: In known pick-up heads for orienting electrical components the component, supported by a pick-up tool, is engaged by a plurality of pairs of opposed jaws to urge the component into a desired orientation. When the components become oriented, the pairs of jaws exert a slight gripping force on the component which can damage fragile components, for example so-called "chips". In the invention, a datum face of the pick-up tool against which the component is supported has the same peripheral shape as the component but each dimension is slightly larger than the corresponding dimension of the component and orienting faces of the jaws are disposed to engage the periphery of the pick-up tool when the component is oriented so that the components are not gripped between the pairs of jaws. Likelihood of damage is thus reduced.

Abstract: A pick-up head especially for use in a machine for placing electrical components on a substrate comprises a tool holder mounted for movement, conveniently by a lead screw driven by a motor, between a plurality of datum positions and further positions remote therefrom, having means for interchangeably mounting a pick-up tool with a datum face of the tool located at a predetermined position relative to the tool holder. The head further comprises a plurality of orienting jaws mounted for movement towards and away from a component carried on the datum face of a tool on the tool holder when the holder is in one of the datum positions whereby the jaws can engage the component to orient the component.