CA2129058C - Bottom lighting system for use with a conveyor system - Google Patents
Bottom lighting system for use with a conveyor systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2129058C CA2129058C CA002129058A CA2129058A CA2129058C CA 2129058 C CA2129058 C CA 2129058C CA 002129058 A CA002129058 A CA 002129058A CA 2129058 A CA2129058 A CA 2129058A CA 2129058 C CA2129058 C CA 2129058C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- lighting
- lifting
- accordance
- work piece
- lighting system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000007747 plating Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tin Chemical compound [Sn] ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002390 adhesive tape Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003292 diminished effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002310 reflectometry Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005476 soldering Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/005—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0066—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form characterised by the light source being coupled to the light guide
- G02B6/007—Incandescent lamp or gas discharge lamp
- G02B6/0071—Incandescent lamp or gas discharge lamp with elongated shape, e.g. tube
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21W2131/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems not provided for in codes F21W2102/00-F21W2121/00
- F21W2131/40—Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
- F21W2131/402—Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use for working places
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Supply And Installment Of Electrical Components (AREA)
- Automatic Assembly (AREA)
- Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
- Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
Abstract
A lighting system for use in a conveyer system used for work piece assembly comprising a lifting means (285) having one or more transparent upper lifting members (260) for lifting the work piece (270) and a lighting means (230) positioned below the transparent members and rotatably coupled to the lifting means (285) by a rotating means. The lighting means rotatably extends when the lifting means (285) is raised, thereby providing illumination to the work piece (270), and rotatably retracts when the lifting means (285) is lowered.
Description
- 21290~8 A BOTTOM LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A CONVEYER
SYSTEM
Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to lighting ~y~lell~s and in particular to a bottom lighting system for illuminating a work piece on a conveyer system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Because of the demand for smaller yet more complex electronic devices, the parts used in their fabrication have become smaller and the spacing of the attachment leads on the parts has also become smaller. To achieve the quality levels and throughput required to be a successful competitor in the marketplace for such devices, robotic assembly techniques are essential. The small spacing between attachment leads encountered with the smaller, more complex parts necessitates the use of vision control for the robotic systems to achieve the higher accuracy of placement of the parts required to achieve good yields at the soldering stage of circuits boards. The use of fiducial marks specific and adjacent to the locations of critical parts on the circuit boards is a method commonly used in conjunction with vision systems to achieve the required highly accurate horizontal placement position.
One approach to creating and reading fiduciary marks is to generate them with plating patterns on the top surface of a circuit board and use light reflecting into the vision system camera (mounted above the board) from a light source mounted above the circuit board. This approach has some drawbacks, the most significant of which is that the accurate reading of the mark generally requires a smooth, flat surface on the fiduciary mark formed from a material such as gold. When tin plating is used, the accuracy typically degrades because of the lower reflectivity and higher dispersion of the reflected light due to the unevenness of the surface.
An alternative approach is to use a light source located beneath the board, relying on the translucent nature of printed circuit board material, and then to design the vision system to analyze the shadow of the fiduciary mark. Because the edges of the shadow are quite sharp this can produce even better accuracy than that obtained with the top lit approach, when the light is directed perpendicularly to the plane of the board.
A problem in using the bottom lit approach occurs in assembly lines 5 that use conveyer ~ysLellls which employ belts to convey the circuit boards from station to station. In this system, when the board reaches an assembly station, it is typically lifted a small distance off the moving belts and held in a fixed position during an assembly stage. When a fixed bottom lighting system is used, fiduciary marks that are located over the 10 belts will be illuminated only by light that is at an acute angle and diminished in brightness, both of which reduce the ability of the placement sysLem to identify the fiduciary mark accurately. This leads to restrictive design rules concerning the locations on the circuit board where parts requiring high placement accuracy may be placed, generally 15 leading to the undesirable result of larger boards and longer design times.
Thus, what is needed is a simple, reliable means of providing a light source in the small space that is created between the conveyer belt and the circuit board by lifting the circuit board in preparation for parts placement, and which will illuminate near the edges of the board as 20 effectively as in the center of the board with a light source that is generally perpendicular to the board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a lighting system for use in a conveyer system used for work piece assembly comprises a lifting means having one or more transparent upper lifting members for lifting the work piece, a lighting means positioned below the transparent members and rotatably coupled by a rotating means to the lifting means. The lighting means rotatably extends when the lifting means is raised, thereby providing illumination to the work piece, and rotatably retracts when the lifting means is lowered.
BRIEF ~ESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`-- 3 FIG. 1 is a mechanical diagram of an end view of a bottom lighting sy~lelll shown in the lowest position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a mechanical diagram of a side view of the bottom lighting 5 ~yslelll shown in its lowest position, in accordance with the prefelled embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a mechanical diagram of the end view of the bottom lighting system shown in a second position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a mechanical diagram of the side view of the bottom lighting sy~Le..l shown in the second position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a mechanical diagram of the end view of the bottom lighting ~ysLel-- shown in the highest position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a mechanical diagram of the side view of the bottom lighting system shown in the highest position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a mechanical diagram of a top view of the bottom lighting system shown in the highest position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an electromechanical block diagram of the bottom lighting system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the bottom lighting systell- in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present mvention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVEN IION
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a conveyer assembly, a portion of robotic placement machine 150, a circuit board raising and lighting assembly, and a circuit board 270 are shown in accordance with the prefe~ed embodiment of the present invention.
The conveyer assembly comprises a front conveyer rail 130, a rear conveyer rail 110, a multiplicity of rollers 105, a front board stop 135, a rear board stop 120, a front conveyer belt 125 and a rear conveyer belt 115.
In the end view shown in FIG. 1, the front and rear conveyer rails 130 and 110, four rollers 105, the two board stops 135 and 120, the upper and lower portions of both the front belt 125 and rear belt 115 are visible. In the side view shown in FIG. 2, the rear conveyer rail 110, the rear board stop 120, and the upper and lower portions of the rear belt 115 are visible.
The front and rear rails 130 and 110 are held parallel to each other, at the same height above a floor. The front and rear board stops 135 and 120 are attached to the respective front and rear rails 130 and 110, directly opposite each other. The rollers 105 are mounted within and coupled to the rails 130 and 110 in a manner allowing them rotate freely. The tops of the belts 125 and 115 are driven on the rollers in the same direction in a manner common in the art, with the bottoms of the belts 125 and 115 following in the opposite direction, underneath the bottoms of the rollers, thereby conveying the circuit board 270 to placement stations when the circuit board 270 is resting on the belts. A portion of the robotic placement machine 150 including a robotic placement arm is shown above the conveyer assembly in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, beneath the conveyer assembly is the circuit board raising and lighting assembly comprising a vertical drive rod 200, a flat rectangular drive plate 210, four vertical guide rods 205 (two of which are shown), four pressure springs 220 (two of which are shown), a flat rectangular transparent lifting plate 260, two horizontal guide rods 212, two hinges 215, two flat rectangular mounting plates 225 coupled to the hinges 215, two rectangular flat light sources 230 and a lighting cable 280. The drive rod is mounted vertically with its axis centered between the rails 130 and 110, and in line with the centers of the board stops 135 and 120. The drive plate 210 is secured to the top end of the drive rod 200, centered to the axis of the drive rod 200, with the flat of the drive plate 210 parallel to the floor. A first axis of the drive plate 210 is centered horizontally between, and is parallel to, the conveyer rails 130 and 110. The transparent lifting plate 260 is parallel to and above the drive plate 210. The vertical guide rods 205 are perpendicular to the lifting plate 260 and the upper ends of the guide rods 205 are secured to the lifting plate 260 and extend through guiding clearance holes 285 in the drive plate 210. One of the four pressure springs 220 surrounds each guide rod 205 between the lifting plate 260 and the drive plate 210. The two horizontal guide rods 212 are rods bent into a U shape with two 21290~8 s parallel equal length (leg) portions and a third portion perpendicular to the two. The leg portions of each horizontal guide rod 212 are secured perpendicularly to the lifting plate 260, with the axis of the third portion of the guide rod 212 parallel to the first axis of the drive plate 210.
The circuit board raising and lighting assembly further comprises two hinged light ~ssPmhlies, each comprising one of the two hinges 215, one of the two flat rectangular mounting plates 225, and one of the two flat light sources 230. A first hinge plate of the hinge 215 is secured to the drive plate 210 such that the hinge pin is parallel to and near the first axis of the drive plate 210. The flat rectangular mounting plate 225 is secured to the second hinge plate of the hinge, with an edge parallel to and near the pin of the hinge 215. The flat light source 230 is secured to the mounting plate 225 by a double sided adhesive tape between the flat areas of the mounting plate 225 and flat light source 230. The separation between the hinge pin side of the hinge plates of the hinged light assemblies is such that no part of the hinged light assembly will touch the opposite hinged light assembly when the upper edges of the mounting plates 225 are resting on the horizontal guide rods 212, as depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when the drive rod is in a low position.
The minimum distance in the direction of the first axis of the drive plate 210 between the pairs of springs 220 at each end of the drive plate 210 exceeds the dimension of the light assemblies 230, mounting plates 225, and hinges 215 in the same direction, thereby avoiding interference between the springs 220 and the hinged light assemblies. Similarly, the minimum length of the third portion of the horizontal guide rod exceeds the dimension of the light assemblies 230, mounting plates 225, and hinges 215 in the same direction, thereby avoiding interference between the hinged light assembly and the legs of the guide rods 212. The lighting cable 280 is attached to both flat light sources along one edge and is bound into a flexible bundle passing between the pressure springs 280 at end of the drive plate 210.
In the lowered position, when the circuit board 270 has been conveyed to a position directly under the stops 135 and 120, as shown in FIG. 2, there is clearance between the top of the lifting plate 2~0 and the bottom of the circuit board 270, and the bottom surface of the mounting plates 225 are resting on the guide rods, held there by their weight, with some clearance between the edges of the guide plates 2 '5 and the conveyer rails 130 and 110.
When the board reaches the position depicted in FIG. 2, the drive rod 200 begins to rise. As the drive rod 200 rises, the lifting plate 260 engages and lifts the circuit board 270 from the conveyer belts 125 and 115, until the circuit board 270 is stopped by the board stops 135 and 120.
The position of the drive rod 200 and the items coupled thereto at the time when the circuit board 270 is stopped is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, which are respective end and side views, of the same items shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in accordance with the preferred embodirnent of the present invention. The bottom surface of the mounting plates 225 remain in the same position with respect to the horizontal guide rods 212.
As the drive rod 200 continues to rise, the springs 220 are compressed, putting increasing pressure on the circuit board 270 through the lifting plate 260. As the distance between the drive plate 210 and the lift plate 260 decreases, the mounting plates 225 begin to ride upon the third portion of the horizontal guide rods 212, on the under surfaces of the mounting plates 225. The mounting plates 225 begin to spread apart, due to their weight. When the drive rod 200 reaches an upper position, the mounting plates 225 have lowered to a substantially horizontal position, with a portion of the mounting plates 225 and flat light sources 230 above the drive belts 125 and 115. The position of the drive rod 200 and the items coupled thereto at the time when the mounting plates 225 are fully spread is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, which are respective end and side views, of the same items shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
It should be appreciated that the location of the axis of the third portion of the horizontal guide rod and the separation between the drive plate 210 and lifting plate 260 ~efore lifting is started, during lifting, and when lifting is completed, are calculated to cause the rotation of the hinged light assembly in such a manner as to avoid interference between the lifting plate 260 or the bottom of the circuit board 270, or any portion of the conveyer rails 130 and 110.
Referring to FIG. 7, a top view of the conveyer, the circuit board raising and lighting assembly, and the circuit board in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The 2129058 -T0021&;1 visible components of the conveyer assembly are the front rail 130, the rear rail 110, the tops of the front belt 125 and rear belt 11~, the front boardstop 135, the rear board stop 120, the hinges 215, the mounting plates 225, the flat light sources 230, the lighting cable 280, the drive plate 210, the transparent lifting plate 260, the circuit board 270, and the guide rods 205 and springs 220 which are seen through the transparent lifting plate 260.
An electronic part attachment pattern 295 is shown on the PC board.
Associated with the attachment pattem 295 are two fiducial marks 290 with opaque material removed from around the marks so the light can shine through the circuit board 270.
When the assembly activity is completed to the circuit board 270, the process depicted in FIG. 1 through FIG. 7 is reversed, the drive rod 200 moving back down to the lowered position. The mounting plates 225 ride on the horizontal guide rods 212 into the more vertical position shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, and the circuit board disengages from the board stops 135 and 120. When the drive rod is near the bottom position, the circuit board 270 disengages from the lifting plate 260 and rc cngages to the conveyer belts 125 and 115.
Each of the two flat light sources 230 is a fiber optic bundle shaped into a thin, flat assembly providing a uniform light source substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate. The fibers are bundled into the cable 2~0 at one end of the lighting assemblies, and routed to a fiber optic light source.
It should be appreciated that the light source used for the flat light source 230 could be incandescent, electroluminescent, light emitting diodes, or other light sources of appropriate color, intensity, reliability, and power. Variations in the mechanics coupling the drive plate to the lifting plate would be appropriate to accommodate variztions in *.e drive rod or in drive plates already available in an existing convever ~ysteln. The present invention can be used equally well with conveyer ~y~te~LLs of other types, such as a conveyer system that comprises slides in place of the rollers 105. Also, there can be situations wherein the dimensions of the conveyer system and lifting mechanism are such that the mounting plates 225 of the hinged light assembly are better guided by structures secured to the conveyer rails or other portions of the conveyer ~y~t~ instead of the lifting plate 260.
_ 8 Referring to FIG. 8, an electromechanical block diagram of the bottom lighting system, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, comprising a camera 91p coupled to an input of a video interface card 920 which is mounted in the chassis of, 5 and coupled to, a controller 930, a video monitor 940 coupled to an output of the video interface card ~20, a circuit board sensor 990 coupled to a first output of the controller 930, a pneumatic control 950 coupled bidirectionally to the controller 930, a switched fiber optic lamp assembly 950 coupled to a second output of the controller 930, two hinged light 10 assemblies 970 coupled to outputs of the switched fiber optic lamp assembly 950, a robotic placement machine 150 coupled to a third output of the controller 930, and a lift mechanism 960 coupled bidirectionally to the pneumatic control 980. The circuit board sensor 990 is an optical sensor of a type well known in the art which is used to detect the arrival of the circuit board 170 at the placement station. The camera 910 is used to visualize the circuit board 170 so that the position of a component to be placed is identified. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera such as model TM840 CCTV camera manufacture~ by PULNiX America, Inc. of 20 Sunnyvale, California is used. The video interface card 920 processes the video output from the camera 910. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a video interface card such as a MaxVideoT~ video interface card manufactured by Datacube of Danvers, Massachusetts is used. The controller 930 is preferably a model 1167 VME chassis 25 manufactured by Motorola of Schaumburg, Illinois. The robotic placement machine 150 places parts onto the circuit board 270. The robotic placement machine 150 is preferably a model Seiko XM5104 Robot manufactured by Seiko Instruments USA of Torrence, California. The video monitor 940 is a color monitor such as model CPD-1304S
30 manufactured by SONY Corporation of America, of Paramus, New Jersey. The switched fiber optic lamp assembly 950 is used to illuminate the flat light sources 530 and is preferably a fiber optic lamp assembly model L586 manufactured by Fiber Optics Specialties of Ellenton, Florida.
The pneumatic control 980 and the lift mechanism 960 are used to lift 35 and lower the circuit board 270 and comprise pneumatic devices which are well known in the art. The hinged light assemblies 970 comprise flat light sources 530 such as manufactured by Lumitex of North Royalton, 2129058 PTi~02l8W
Ohio. It will be appreciated that other components can be substituted for the various elements described above.
It should also be appreciated that in the situation where fiducial marks are used in a restricted area of a circuit board, the appropriate number of hinged light assemblies 970 can be one. Other situations can require more than two.
Referring now to FIG. 9, a flow chart of the process steps of the bottom lighting system, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The process steps will be described with reference to FIG. 9 and the figures described above.
With the lift mechanism in the lowered position of FIG. 1 and FIG.
SYSTEM
Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to lighting ~y~lell~s and in particular to a bottom lighting system for illuminating a work piece on a conveyer system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Because of the demand for smaller yet more complex electronic devices, the parts used in their fabrication have become smaller and the spacing of the attachment leads on the parts has also become smaller. To achieve the quality levels and throughput required to be a successful competitor in the marketplace for such devices, robotic assembly techniques are essential. The small spacing between attachment leads encountered with the smaller, more complex parts necessitates the use of vision control for the robotic systems to achieve the higher accuracy of placement of the parts required to achieve good yields at the soldering stage of circuits boards. The use of fiducial marks specific and adjacent to the locations of critical parts on the circuit boards is a method commonly used in conjunction with vision systems to achieve the required highly accurate horizontal placement position.
One approach to creating and reading fiduciary marks is to generate them with plating patterns on the top surface of a circuit board and use light reflecting into the vision system camera (mounted above the board) from a light source mounted above the circuit board. This approach has some drawbacks, the most significant of which is that the accurate reading of the mark generally requires a smooth, flat surface on the fiduciary mark formed from a material such as gold. When tin plating is used, the accuracy typically degrades because of the lower reflectivity and higher dispersion of the reflected light due to the unevenness of the surface.
An alternative approach is to use a light source located beneath the board, relying on the translucent nature of printed circuit board material, and then to design the vision system to analyze the shadow of the fiduciary mark. Because the edges of the shadow are quite sharp this can produce even better accuracy than that obtained with the top lit approach, when the light is directed perpendicularly to the plane of the board.
A problem in using the bottom lit approach occurs in assembly lines 5 that use conveyer ~ysLellls which employ belts to convey the circuit boards from station to station. In this system, when the board reaches an assembly station, it is typically lifted a small distance off the moving belts and held in a fixed position during an assembly stage. When a fixed bottom lighting system is used, fiduciary marks that are located over the 10 belts will be illuminated only by light that is at an acute angle and diminished in brightness, both of which reduce the ability of the placement sysLem to identify the fiduciary mark accurately. This leads to restrictive design rules concerning the locations on the circuit board where parts requiring high placement accuracy may be placed, generally 15 leading to the undesirable result of larger boards and longer design times.
Thus, what is needed is a simple, reliable means of providing a light source in the small space that is created between the conveyer belt and the circuit board by lifting the circuit board in preparation for parts placement, and which will illuminate near the edges of the board as 20 effectively as in the center of the board with a light source that is generally perpendicular to the board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a lighting system for use in a conveyer system used for work piece assembly comprises a lifting means having one or more transparent upper lifting members for lifting the work piece, a lighting means positioned below the transparent members and rotatably coupled by a rotating means to the lifting means. The lighting means rotatably extends when the lifting means is raised, thereby providing illumination to the work piece, and rotatably retracts when the lifting means is lowered.
BRIEF ~ESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`-- 3 FIG. 1 is a mechanical diagram of an end view of a bottom lighting sy~lelll shown in the lowest position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a mechanical diagram of a side view of the bottom lighting 5 ~yslelll shown in its lowest position, in accordance with the prefelled embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a mechanical diagram of the end view of the bottom lighting system shown in a second position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a mechanical diagram of the side view of the bottom lighting sy~Le..l shown in the second position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a mechanical diagram of the end view of the bottom lighting ~ysLel-- shown in the highest position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a mechanical diagram of the side view of the bottom lighting system shown in the highest position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a mechanical diagram of a top view of the bottom lighting system shown in the highest position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an electromechanical block diagram of the bottom lighting system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the bottom lighting systell- in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present mvention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVEN IION
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a conveyer assembly, a portion of robotic placement machine 150, a circuit board raising and lighting assembly, and a circuit board 270 are shown in accordance with the prefe~ed embodiment of the present invention.
The conveyer assembly comprises a front conveyer rail 130, a rear conveyer rail 110, a multiplicity of rollers 105, a front board stop 135, a rear board stop 120, a front conveyer belt 125 and a rear conveyer belt 115.
In the end view shown in FIG. 1, the front and rear conveyer rails 130 and 110, four rollers 105, the two board stops 135 and 120, the upper and lower portions of both the front belt 125 and rear belt 115 are visible. In the side view shown in FIG. 2, the rear conveyer rail 110, the rear board stop 120, and the upper and lower portions of the rear belt 115 are visible.
The front and rear rails 130 and 110 are held parallel to each other, at the same height above a floor. The front and rear board stops 135 and 120 are attached to the respective front and rear rails 130 and 110, directly opposite each other. The rollers 105 are mounted within and coupled to the rails 130 and 110 in a manner allowing them rotate freely. The tops of the belts 125 and 115 are driven on the rollers in the same direction in a manner common in the art, with the bottoms of the belts 125 and 115 following in the opposite direction, underneath the bottoms of the rollers, thereby conveying the circuit board 270 to placement stations when the circuit board 270 is resting on the belts. A portion of the robotic placement machine 150 including a robotic placement arm is shown above the conveyer assembly in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, beneath the conveyer assembly is the circuit board raising and lighting assembly comprising a vertical drive rod 200, a flat rectangular drive plate 210, four vertical guide rods 205 (two of which are shown), four pressure springs 220 (two of which are shown), a flat rectangular transparent lifting plate 260, two horizontal guide rods 212, two hinges 215, two flat rectangular mounting plates 225 coupled to the hinges 215, two rectangular flat light sources 230 and a lighting cable 280. The drive rod is mounted vertically with its axis centered between the rails 130 and 110, and in line with the centers of the board stops 135 and 120. The drive plate 210 is secured to the top end of the drive rod 200, centered to the axis of the drive rod 200, with the flat of the drive plate 210 parallel to the floor. A first axis of the drive plate 210 is centered horizontally between, and is parallel to, the conveyer rails 130 and 110. The transparent lifting plate 260 is parallel to and above the drive plate 210. The vertical guide rods 205 are perpendicular to the lifting plate 260 and the upper ends of the guide rods 205 are secured to the lifting plate 260 and extend through guiding clearance holes 285 in the drive plate 210. One of the four pressure springs 220 surrounds each guide rod 205 between the lifting plate 260 and the drive plate 210. The two horizontal guide rods 212 are rods bent into a U shape with two 21290~8 s parallel equal length (leg) portions and a third portion perpendicular to the two. The leg portions of each horizontal guide rod 212 are secured perpendicularly to the lifting plate 260, with the axis of the third portion of the guide rod 212 parallel to the first axis of the drive plate 210.
The circuit board raising and lighting assembly further comprises two hinged light ~ssPmhlies, each comprising one of the two hinges 215, one of the two flat rectangular mounting plates 225, and one of the two flat light sources 230. A first hinge plate of the hinge 215 is secured to the drive plate 210 such that the hinge pin is parallel to and near the first axis of the drive plate 210. The flat rectangular mounting plate 225 is secured to the second hinge plate of the hinge, with an edge parallel to and near the pin of the hinge 215. The flat light source 230 is secured to the mounting plate 225 by a double sided adhesive tape between the flat areas of the mounting plate 225 and flat light source 230. The separation between the hinge pin side of the hinge plates of the hinged light assemblies is such that no part of the hinged light assembly will touch the opposite hinged light assembly when the upper edges of the mounting plates 225 are resting on the horizontal guide rods 212, as depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when the drive rod is in a low position.
The minimum distance in the direction of the first axis of the drive plate 210 between the pairs of springs 220 at each end of the drive plate 210 exceeds the dimension of the light assemblies 230, mounting plates 225, and hinges 215 in the same direction, thereby avoiding interference between the springs 220 and the hinged light assemblies. Similarly, the minimum length of the third portion of the horizontal guide rod exceeds the dimension of the light assemblies 230, mounting plates 225, and hinges 215 in the same direction, thereby avoiding interference between the hinged light assembly and the legs of the guide rods 212. The lighting cable 280 is attached to both flat light sources along one edge and is bound into a flexible bundle passing between the pressure springs 280 at end of the drive plate 210.
In the lowered position, when the circuit board 270 has been conveyed to a position directly under the stops 135 and 120, as shown in FIG. 2, there is clearance between the top of the lifting plate 2~0 and the bottom of the circuit board 270, and the bottom surface of the mounting plates 225 are resting on the guide rods, held there by their weight, with some clearance between the edges of the guide plates 2 '5 and the conveyer rails 130 and 110.
When the board reaches the position depicted in FIG. 2, the drive rod 200 begins to rise. As the drive rod 200 rises, the lifting plate 260 engages and lifts the circuit board 270 from the conveyer belts 125 and 115, until the circuit board 270 is stopped by the board stops 135 and 120.
The position of the drive rod 200 and the items coupled thereto at the time when the circuit board 270 is stopped is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, which are respective end and side views, of the same items shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in accordance with the preferred embodirnent of the present invention. The bottom surface of the mounting plates 225 remain in the same position with respect to the horizontal guide rods 212.
As the drive rod 200 continues to rise, the springs 220 are compressed, putting increasing pressure on the circuit board 270 through the lifting plate 260. As the distance between the drive plate 210 and the lift plate 260 decreases, the mounting plates 225 begin to ride upon the third portion of the horizontal guide rods 212, on the under surfaces of the mounting plates 225. The mounting plates 225 begin to spread apart, due to their weight. When the drive rod 200 reaches an upper position, the mounting plates 225 have lowered to a substantially horizontal position, with a portion of the mounting plates 225 and flat light sources 230 above the drive belts 125 and 115. The position of the drive rod 200 and the items coupled thereto at the time when the mounting plates 225 are fully spread is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, which are respective end and side views, of the same items shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
It should be appreciated that the location of the axis of the third portion of the horizontal guide rod and the separation between the drive plate 210 and lifting plate 260 ~efore lifting is started, during lifting, and when lifting is completed, are calculated to cause the rotation of the hinged light assembly in such a manner as to avoid interference between the lifting plate 260 or the bottom of the circuit board 270, or any portion of the conveyer rails 130 and 110.
Referring to FIG. 7, a top view of the conveyer, the circuit board raising and lighting assembly, and the circuit board in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The 2129058 -T0021&;1 visible components of the conveyer assembly are the front rail 130, the rear rail 110, the tops of the front belt 125 and rear belt 11~, the front boardstop 135, the rear board stop 120, the hinges 215, the mounting plates 225, the flat light sources 230, the lighting cable 280, the drive plate 210, the transparent lifting plate 260, the circuit board 270, and the guide rods 205 and springs 220 which are seen through the transparent lifting plate 260.
An electronic part attachment pattern 295 is shown on the PC board.
Associated with the attachment pattem 295 are two fiducial marks 290 with opaque material removed from around the marks so the light can shine through the circuit board 270.
When the assembly activity is completed to the circuit board 270, the process depicted in FIG. 1 through FIG. 7 is reversed, the drive rod 200 moving back down to the lowered position. The mounting plates 225 ride on the horizontal guide rods 212 into the more vertical position shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, and the circuit board disengages from the board stops 135 and 120. When the drive rod is near the bottom position, the circuit board 270 disengages from the lifting plate 260 and rc cngages to the conveyer belts 125 and 115.
Each of the two flat light sources 230 is a fiber optic bundle shaped into a thin, flat assembly providing a uniform light source substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate. The fibers are bundled into the cable 2~0 at one end of the lighting assemblies, and routed to a fiber optic light source.
It should be appreciated that the light source used for the flat light source 230 could be incandescent, electroluminescent, light emitting diodes, or other light sources of appropriate color, intensity, reliability, and power. Variations in the mechanics coupling the drive plate to the lifting plate would be appropriate to accommodate variztions in *.e drive rod or in drive plates already available in an existing convever ~ysteln. The present invention can be used equally well with conveyer ~y~te~LLs of other types, such as a conveyer system that comprises slides in place of the rollers 105. Also, there can be situations wherein the dimensions of the conveyer system and lifting mechanism are such that the mounting plates 225 of the hinged light assembly are better guided by structures secured to the conveyer rails or other portions of the conveyer ~y~t~ instead of the lifting plate 260.
_ 8 Referring to FIG. 8, an electromechanical block diagram of the bottom lighting system, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, comprising a camera 91p coupled to an input of a video interface card 920 which is mounted in the chassis of, 5 and coupled to, a controller 930, a video monitor 940 coupled to an output of the video interface card ~20, a circuit board sensor 990 coupled to a first output of the controller 930, a pneumatic control 950 coupled bidirectionally to the controller 930, a switched fiber optic lamp assembly 950 coupled to a second output of the controller 930, two hinged light 10 assemblies 970 coupled to outputs of the switched fiber optic lamp assembly 950, a robotic placement machine 150 coupled to a third output of the controller 930, and a lift mechanism 960 coupled bidirectionally to the pneumatic control 980. The circuit board sensor 990 is an optical sensor of a type well known in the art which is used to detect the arrival of the circuit board 170 at the placement station. The camera 910 is used to visualize the circuit board 170 so that the position of a component to be placed is identified. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera such as model TM840 CCTV camera manufacture~ by PULNiX America, Inc. of 20 Sunnyvale, California is used. The video interface card 920 processes the video output from the camera 910. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a video interface card such as a MaxVideoT~ video interface card manufactured by Datacube of Danvers, Massachusetts is used. The controller 930 is preferably a model 1167 VME chassis 25 manufactured by Motorola of Schaumburg, Illinois. The robotic placement machine 150 places parts onto the circuit board 270. The robotic placement machine 150 is preferably a model Seiko XM5104 Robot manufactured by Seiko Instruments USA of Torrence, California. The video monitor 940 is a color monitor such as model CPD-1304S
30 manufactured by SONY Corporation of America, of Paramus, New Jersey. The switched fiber optic lamp assembly 950 is used to illuminate the flat light sources 530 and is preferably a fiber optic lamp assembly model L586 manufactured by Fiber Optics Specialties of Ellenton, Florida.
The pneumatic control 980 and the lift mechanism 960 are used to lift 35 and lower the circuit board 270 and comprise pneumatic devices which are well known in the art. The hinged light assemblies 970 comprise flat light sources 530 such as manufactured by Lumitex of North Royalton, 2129058 PTi~02l8W
Ohio. It will be appreciated that other components can be substituted for the various elements described above.
It should also be appreciated that in the situation where fiducial marks are used in a restricted area of a circuit board, the appropriate number of hinged light assemblies 970 can be one. Other situations can require more than two.
Referring now to FIG. 9, a flow chart of the process steps of the bottom lighting system, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The process steps will be described with reference to FIG. 9 and the figures described above.
With the lift mechanism in the lowered position of FIG. 1 and FIG.
2, the circuit board 270 is conveyed by the belts 125 and 115 to a position where an edge of the circuit board 270 is detected in the controller 920 by the output of sensor 990, in step 805 of FIG. 9. The controller signals the pneumatic control 980 to start the raising of the lift mechanism 960, in step 815. The circuit board lift is completed in step 820 when the circuit board 270 engages the circuit board stops 135 and 120. When the hinged light assemblies 970 are substantially horizontal the rotation is completed, in step 825. The switched fiber optic lamps are turned on in step 830 when the controller 930 receives a signal from the pneumatic control 980 indicating completion of lifting of the lift mechanism 960, and the camera 910 creates a digitized image of the area of the circuit board 270 containing fiducial marks 290 in step 835. The output of the camera is processed by the controller 930 to locate the fiducial marks 290 on the circuit board 270 in step 840. In step 845, the controller aligns the placement arrn of the robotic placement machine 150 in response to the detected fiducial position, and controls the robotic machine to place a part onto the circuit board 270 in step 850. When the parts placement is complete the switched fiber optic lamps are turned off in step 830. The controller 920 then signals the pneumatic control 980 to begin the lowering of the lift mechanism 960 in step 865. When the drive plate 210 lowers sufficiently, the lifting plate 260 and circuit board 270 start lowering, and the rotation hinged light assembly rotation back to the more vertical position is completed in step 870. The circuit board 270 lowering is completed in step 875 when the circuit board engages with the conveyer belts 125 and 115. By now it should be appreciated that the unique addition of the rotating flat light sources 230 to the conveyer ~ysL~ provides lighting of uniform brightness out to the edges of the circuit board 270 except where the circuit board 270 is masked by the stops 135 and 120. The light is also substantially perpendicular to the circuit board, permitting highly accurate vision reading of fiducial marks on the 5 work piece, which in the present instance is a circuit board.
We claim:
We claim:
Claims (10)
1. A lighting system for use in a conveyer system used for the assembly of a work piece, comprising;
lifting means comprising one or more transparent upper lifting members for lifting the work piece, rotating means coupled to said lifting means, and lighting means positioned below said transparent members and rotatably coupled to said lifting means by said rotating means to rotatably extend when said lifting means is raised, thereby providing illumination to said work piece, and to rotatably retract when said lifting means is lowered.
lifting means comprising one or more transparent upper lifting members for lifting the work piece, rotating means coupled to said lifting means, and lighting means positioned below said transparent members and rotatably coupled to said lifting means by said rotating means to rotatably extend when said lifting means is raised, thereby providing illumination to said work piece, and to rotatably retract when said lifting means is lowered.
2. The lighting system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lighting means is rotated towards a horizontal position substantially parallel to the work piece when rotatably extended and is rotated towards a vertical position when rotatably retracted.
3. The lighting system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said rotating means is a hinge assembly.
4. The lighting system in accordance with claim 2 wherein a bottom surface of said lighting means rides on a guide structurally fixed to the conveyer system, thereby enabling the rotational extension.
5. The lighting system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said upper lifting member is moved with respect to said lifting means when said lifting means raises and a bottom surface of said lighting means rides on a guide member structurally fixed to said lifting member, thereby enabling the rotational extension.
6. The lighting system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the rotational extension of said lighting means towards the horizontal position is by means of pressure on an upper edge of said lighting means from a bottom surface of the work piece, and the means of rotational retraction of said lighting means towards the vertical position is a tension spring coupled on a first end through an attachment point on the top surface of said lighting means and coupled on the second end to an attachment point on said lifting means.
7. The lighting system in accordance with claim 6 comprising two said lighting means having parallel rotational axes and opposing rotational movement, with said tension spring coupled between attachment points on said opposing lighting means.
8. The lighting system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the conveyor system comprises two or more parallel belts for conveyance of the work piece, and wherein said lighting means is positioned over one or more of said belts of the conveyer system and under the work piece when rotatably extended.
9. The lighting system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said lighting means is a light source having a flat surface comprising a fiber optic bundle shaped to provide a uniform beam of light perpendicular to said flat surface of said light source.
10. The lighting system in accordance with claim 9 wherein the work piece is a circuit board including at least one fiducial marking for locating a component placement position, and wherein said lighting means backlights the work piece thereby illuminating said at least one fiducial marking, and wherein the lighting system further comprises:
a camera means for visualizing said at least one fiducial marking;
a robotic placement machine having a robotic component placement arm for assembling components to the work piece raised by said lifting means; and a controller for switching power to said light source in accordance with the rotational position of said light source.
a camera means for visualizing said at least one fiducial marking;
a robotic placement machine having a robotic component placement arm for assembling components to the work piece raised by said lifting means; and a controller for switching power to said light source in accordance with the rotational position of said light source.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US10023993A | 1993-08-02 | 1993-08-02 | |
| US08/100,239 | 1993-08-02 | ||
| GB9416515A GB2292598B (en) | 1993-08-02 | 1994-08-16 | A bottom lighting system for use with a conveyor system |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2129058A1 CA2129058A1 (en) | 1995-02-03 |
| CA2129058C true CA2129058C (en) | 1997-03-11 |
Family
ID=26305458
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002129058A Expired - Fee Related CA2129058C (en) | 1993-08-02 | 1994-07-28 | Bottom lighting system for use with a conveyor system |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (1) | CN1100789A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2129058C (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2292598B (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5985029A (en) * | 1996-11-08 | 1999-11-16 | Speedline Technologies, Inc. | Conveyor system with lifting mechanism |
| US6007631A (en) * | 1997-11-10 | 1999-12-28 | Speedline Technologies, Inc. | Multiple head dispensing system and method |
| US6206964B1 (en) | 1997-11-10 | 2001-03-27 | Speedline Technologies, Inc. | Multiple head dispensing system and method |
| US6214117B1 (en) | 1998-03-02 | 2001-04-10 | Speedline Technologies, Inc. | Dispensing system and method |
| US6688458B2 (en) | 2001-10-09 | 2004-02-10 | Speedline Technologies, Inc. | System and method for controlling a conveyor system configuration to accommodate different size substrates |
-
1994
- 1994-07-28 CA CA002129058A patent/CA2129058C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-08-01 CN CN94114804.1A patent/CN1100789A/en active Pending
- 1994-08-16 GB GB9416515A patent/GB2292598B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CN1100789A (en) | 1995-03-29 |
| GB9416515D0 (en) | 1994-10-12 |
| CA2129058A1 (en) | 1995-02-03 |
| GB2292598A (en) | 1996-02-28 |
| GB2292598B (en) | 1998-01-07 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| EP0263307B1 (en) | Board fixturing system | |
| EP0257553B1 (en) | Apparatus for detecting a position of an electronic part | |
| EP0920791B1 (en) | Method of placing components on a carrier including a calibration procecure and device suitable therefor | |
| KR100982079B1 (en) | Substrate holding apparatus | |
| CA2129058C (en) | Bottom lighting system for use with a conveyor system | |
| KR20090118915A (en) | Imaging apparatus for imaging in electronic component mounting apparatus | |
| KR100254262B1 (en) | Mounting device of component | |
| US5739525A (en) | Device for detecting an electronic component, and component-mounting machine provided with such a detection device | |
| KR890018024A (en) | Device for inspecting printed wiring boards on surfaces where components are mounted | |
| CN113984779A (en) | PCB through hole detection equipment | |
| US5521800A (en) | Bottom lighting system for use with a conveyer system | |
| JPH0755442A (en) | Electronic component recognition device and electronic component mounting device using the same | |
| KR100988691B1 (en) | Optical measuring device | |
| JP4804295B2 (en) | Component recognition method, component recognition device, surface mounter and component inspection device | |
| EP1595138A1 (en) | Image recognition apparatus and image recognition method | |
| CN219179244U (en) | PCB detection equipment | |
| CN111638153A (en) | Sampling inspection device suitable for energy-saving production line of display screen | |
| CN216411111U (en) | Feeding detection module | |
| CN213068674U (en) | Display screen detection equipment | |
| CN212780546U (en) | Multi-surface metal shell detection device | |
| JPH0585844B2 (en) | ||
| JP7580054B2 (en) | Parts mounting equipment | |
| CN220367223U (en) | Quick optical detection device | |
| CN221295203U (en) | Conveying jacking mechanism of three-dimensional AOI (automated optical inspection) machine | |
| CN223611413U (en) | Single-head PCB bonding test device |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |