Mounting apparatus having a two-dimensional linear motor

Bibliographic Details
Title: Mounting apparatus having a two-dimensional linear motor
Patent Number: 5,860,208
Publication Date: January 19, 1999
Appl. No: 08/812,207
Application Filed: March 06, 1997
Abstract: A mounting apparatus includes two stages each, a carrier which carries two printed boards to respective stages and parts feeders located on both sides of the carrier. The mounting apparatus further includes two heads driven by two-dimensional linear motor system, each of which is arranged to mount electronic components onto the respective board. Since two boards are treated at the same time, large throughput is obtained. Further, since one board is treated by one head, the tangle of the cables does not occur.
Inventors: Nomura, Hiroaki (Ichinomiya, JPX)
Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Aichi-ken, JPX)
Claim: What is claimed is
Claim: 1. A mounting apparatus for mounting components onto boards comprising
Claim: a station that supports a plurality of boards, said station having a plurality of stages, each of said stages supporting each of said plurality of boards thereon;
Claim: a carrier that carries said plurality of boards to said plurality of stages respectively;
Claim: a feeding device that feeds components;
Claim: a plurality of heads, each of which is provided at a respective stage for picking up a component from said feeding device and mounting said component onto a board supported on the corresponding stage; and
Claim: a driving mechanism for driving said plurality of heads in two dimensions within a plane parallel to said boards supported on said stages, said driving mechanism comprising
Claim: a single platen; and
Claim: at least one first electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a first linear motor for driving said head in an X-direction of said plane and at least one second electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a second linear motor in a Y-direction of said plane.
Claim: 2. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inspecting device that inspects the orientation of said components held by said heads.
Claim: 3. The mounting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said feeding device comprises a plurality of parts feeders respectively provided to said stages, and wherein said inspecting device comprises a plurality of inspecting cameras respectively provided to said stages.
Claim: 4. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of stages are arranged in line with a carrying path of said carrier.
Claim: 5. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said platen comprises magnetic material and non-magnetic material both arranged in a grid.
Claim: 6. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said platen is provided above said stages and said platen magnetically supports said heads therebeneath.
Claim: 7. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said heads has a nozzle that picks up and holds said component, and wherein said nozzle extends and can be protruded in the direction perpendicular to said plane.
Claim: 8. The mounting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said nozzle is arranged to suck a component to pick up and hold said component.
Claim: 9. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrier includes a pair of folks that support two side ends of each of said boards.
Claim: 10. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said head has a positioning camera that recognizes a positioning mark provided on said board, thereby to detect the position of said head with respect to said board.
Claim: 11. A mounting apparatus for mounting components onto boards comprising
Claim: a plurality of parts feeders located on both sides of said carrier, each of said parts feeders provided at a respective stage;
Claim: a plurality of heads, each of which is provided at a respective stage to pick up a component from one of said parts feeders and to mount said component onto a board supported on the corresponding stage; and
Claim: at least one first electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a first linear motor for driving said head in an X-direction of said plane and at least one second electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a second linear motor for driving said head in a Y-direction of said plane.
Claim: 12. The mounting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said platen comprises magnetic material and non-magnetic material both arranged in a grid.
Claim: 13. The mounting apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of inspecting cameras respectively provided to said plurality of stages, each of said inspecting device being arranged for inspecting the orientation of a component held by one of said heads.
Claim: 14. A mounting apparatus for mounting components onto boards comprising
Claim: a station having at least one stage that supports said board thereon;
Claim: a carrier that carries said board to said stage;
Claim: a plurality of parts feeders provided at said stage and located on both sides of said carrier to feed components to said stage;
Claim: a plurality of heads for picking up a component from one of said parts feeders and mounting said component onto said board; and
Claim: a driving mechanism for driving said plurality of heads in two dimensions within a plane parallel to said board supported on said stage, said driving mechanism comprising
Claim: at least one first electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a first linear motor for driving said head in an X-direction of said plane and a second electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a second linear motor for driving said head in a Y-direction of said plane.
Claim: 15. The mounting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said platen comprises magnetic material and non-magnetic material both arranged in a grid.
Current U.S. Class: 29/740; 29/712; 29/742; 29/743; 29/744; 29/759; 72/446; 724/829
Current International Class: B23P 1902
Patent References Cited: 5671527 September 1997 Asai et al.
5692292 December 1997 Asai et al.
Primary Examiner: Hughes, S. Thomas
Assistant Examiner: Chang, Rick Kiltae
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kane, Dalsimer, Sullivan, Kurucz, Levy, Eisele and Richard, LLP
Accession Number: edspgr.05860208
Database: USPTO Patent Grants
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IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Mounting apparatus having a two-dimensional linear motor
– Name: DocumentID
  Label: Patent Number
  Group: Patent
  Data: 5,860,208
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Patent
  Data: January 19, 1999
– Name: DocumentID
  Label: Appl. No
  Group: Patent
  Data: 08/812,207
– Name: DateFiled
  Label: Application Filed
  Group: Patent
  Data: March 06, 1997
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: A mounting apparatus includes two stages each, a carrier which carries two printed boards to respective stages and parts feeders located on both sides of the carrier. The mounting apparatus further includes two heads driven by two-dimensional linear motor system, each of which is arranged to mount electronic components onto the respective board. Since two boards are treated at the same time, large throughput is obtained. Further, since one board is treated by one head, the tangle of the cables does not occur.
– Name: Author
  Label: Inventors
  Group: Patent
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="ZA" term="%22Nomura%2C+Hiroaki%22">Nomura, Hiroaki</searchLink> (Ichinomiya, JPX)
– Name: OtherAuthors
  Label: Assignees
  Group: Patent
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="ZS" term="%22Brother+Kogyo+Kabushiki+Kaisha%22">Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha</searchLink> (Aichi-ken, JPX)
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: What is claimed is
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 1. A mounting apparatus for mounting components onto boards comprising
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a station that supports a plurality of boards, said station having a plurality of stages, each of said stages supporting each of said plurality of boards thereon;
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a carrier that carries said plurality of boards to said plurality of stages respectively;
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a feeding device that feeds components;
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a plurality of heads, each of which is provided at a respective stage for picking up a component from said feeding device and mounting said component onto a board supported on the corresponding stage; and
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a driving mechanism for driving said plurality of heads in two dimensions within a plane parallel to said boards supported on said stages, said driving mechanism comprising
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a single platen; and
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: at least one first electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a first linear motor for driving said head in an X-direction of said plane and at least one second electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a second linear motor in a Y-direction of said plane.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 2. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inspecting device that inspects the orientation of said components held by said heads.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 3. The mounting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said feeding device comprises a plurality of parts feeders respectively provided to said stages, and wherein said inspecting device comprises a plurality of inspecting cameras respectively provided to said stages.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 4. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of stages are arranged in line with a carrying path of said carrier.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 5. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said platen comprises magnetic material and non-magnetic material both arranged in a grid.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 6. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said platen is provided above said stages and said platen magnetically supports said heads therebeneath.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 7. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said heads has a nozzle that picks up and holds said component, and wherein said nozzle extends and can be protruded in the direction perpendicular to said plane.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 8. The mounting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said nozzle is arranged to suck a component to pick up and hold said component.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 9. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrier includes a pair of folks that support two side ends of each of said boards.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 10. The mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said head has a positioning camera that recognizes a positioning mark provided on said board, thereby to detect the position of said head with respect to said board.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 11. A mounting apparatus for mounting components onto boards comprising
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a plurality of parts feeders located on both sides of said carrier, each of said parts feeders provided at a respective stage;
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a plurality of heads, each of which is provided at a respective stage to pick up a component from one of said parts feeders and to mount said component onto a board supported on the corresponding stage; and
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: at least one first electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a first linear motor for driving said head in an X-direction of said plane and at least one second electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a second linear motor for driving said head in a Y-direction of said plane.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 12. The mounting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said platen comprises magnetic material and non-magnetic material both arranged in a grid.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 13. The mounting apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of inspecting cameras respectively provided to said plurality of stages, each of said inspecting device being arranged for inspecting the orientation of a component held by one of said heads.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 14. A mounting apparatus for mounting components onto boards comprising
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a station having at least one stage that supports said board thereon;
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a carrier that carries said board to said stage;
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a plurality of parts feeders provided at said stage and located on both sides of said carrier to feed components to said stage;
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a plurality of heads for picking up a component from one of said parts feeders and mounting said component onto said board; and
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: a driving mechanism for driving said plurality of heads in two dimensions within a plane parallel to said board supported on said stage, said driving mechanism comprising
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: at least one first electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a first linear motor for driving said head in an X-direction of said plane and a second electromagnet unit provided on each of said plurality of heads cooperating with said single platen to act as a second linear motor for driving said head in a Y-direction of said plane.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Claim
  Group: Patent
  Data: 15. The mounting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said platen comprises magnetic material and non-magnetic material both arranged in a grid.
– Name: CodeClass
  Label: Current U.S. Class
  Group: Patent
  Data: 29/740; 29/712; 29/742; 29/743; 29/744; 29/759; 72/446; 724/829
– Name: CodeClass
  Label: Current International Class
  Group: Patent
  Data: B23P 1902
– Name: Ref
  Label: Patent References Cited
  Group: Patent
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="RF" term="%225671527%22">5671527</searchLink> September 1997 Asai et al.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="RF" term="%225692292%22">5692292</searchLink> December 1997 Asai et al.
– Name: AuthorEditor
  Label: Primary Examiner
  Group: Patent
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="ZE" term="%22Hughes%2C+S%2E+Thomas%22">Hughes, S. Thomas</searchLink>
– Name: AuthorEditor
  Label: Assistant Examiner
  Group: Patent
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="ZE" term="%22Chang%2C+Rick+Kiltae%22">Chang, Rick Kiltae</searchLink>
– Name: AuthorCorporate
  Label: Attorney, Agent or Firm
  Group: Patent
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="ZG" term="%22Kane%2C+Dalsimer%2C+Sullivan%2C+Kurucz%2C+Levy%2C+Eisele+and+Richard%2C+LLP%22">Kane, Dalsimer, Sullivan, Kurucz, Levy, Eisele and Richard, LLP</searchLink>
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: edspgr.05860208
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Mounting apparatus having a two-dimensional linear motor
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Nomura, Hiroaki
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 19
              M: 01
              Text: January 19, 1999
              Type: published
              Y: 1999
ResultId 1