JPH0344869B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is an automatic workpiece feeder that automatically supplies and discharges a workpiece to and from a fixture that is conveyed endlessly in an automatic soldering machine. This relates to a discharge device.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-57269, in order to form a solder film on the leads of an integrated circuit device (hereinafter referred to as "works"), a large number of works are mounted on a fixture, and the fixture is is supplied to an automatic soldering device to automatically solder the leads.

Conventionally, as described in the above-mentioned publication, a seesaw-type work transfer device is used to transfer the work from a work case (work storage tube) to a fixture outside the automatic soldering apparatus, and the fixture is transferred to the fixture. It is removed from the workpiece transfer device and attached from above to a conveyance holder that constitutes the conveyance line of the automatic soldering device, and the fixture is transferred together with the conveyance holder while soldering to the leads of the workpiece.

Moreover, since the workpiece transfer device transfers the workpiece from the workcase to the fixture in a sliding manner, its purpose of use is limited to dual-inline type integrated circuit devices (ICs), such as IC packages. Flat package type IC with leads protruding from the entire circumference
It cannot be used for surface mount ICs such as.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, conventionally, fixtures with workpieces attached are individually fed to the conveyance line of an automatic soldering machine by the hands of the worker. There is a problem in that it places a heavy burden on the operator, and is not suitable for surface-mount ICs due to the way the workpiece is attached to the fixture.

An object of the present invention is to enable a workpiece, such as a surface-mounted integrated circuit device, to be automatically mounted on a fixture that is endlessly transported by an automatic soldering machine.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides an automatic soldering apparatus in which a plurality of works W mounted on a fixture 51 are automatically soldered while being conveyed by a soldering conveyor 21. a loading unit 11 in which W is attached to a fixture 51;
The soldering conveyor 21 transports the fixture 51 with the work W mounted thereon, the unloading unit 16 from which the work W is recovered from the fixture 51, and the return conveyor 22 transports the fixture 51 from which the work W has been removed. The fixture 51 is integrally provided with a plurality of workpiece holders 61 in a lattice in the outer frame 52, and the workpiece holding frame 71 is connected to the hinge portion 53 on one side of the outer frame with respect to the outer frame 52. A workpiece holder 6 is provided to be openable and closable at the center, and is flipped upside down with reference to the time of soldering when mounting a workpiece and collecting a workpiece, and is located on a lattice inside an outer frame 52 that is flipped downward.
The loading unit 11 includes a fixture mounting table 102 on which the fixture 51 carried in from the return conveyor 22 is transferred; A presser frame opening/closing mechanism 104 that opens and closes the workpiece holding frame 71 of the fixture 51 positioned on the fixture platform 102, and a work case 105 that continuously stores a large number of workpieces.
A workpiece supply mechanism 107 takes out individual works W from the workpiece supply position 106 to a workpiece supply position 106, and a workpiece suction nozzle 171 transfers the workpieces W from the workpiece supply position 106 onto the workpiece holder 61 of the fixture 51 with the workpiece holding frame 71 opened. The workpiece transfer mechanism 108 that transfers the workpiece and the fixture 51 with the workpiece holding frame 71 closed by the holding frame opening/closing mechanism 104 are turned upside down and transferred to the soldering conveyor 2.
1 and a fixture reversing mechanism 109.

(Function) In the present invention, the fixture 51 emptied in the unloading unit 16 is positioned on the fixture platform 102 of the loading unit 11 via the return conveyor 22, and the fixture 51 is opened and closed by the presser frame opening/closing mechanism 104. The work holding frame 71 is opened. Then the work supply mechanism 10
7 from the workpiece supply position 106 to the workpiece transfer mechanism 1
The work W picked up by the work suction nozzle 171 of No. 08 is transferred to each work holder 61 of the fixture, and the work holding frame 71 of the fixture 51 is closed by the holding frame opening/closing mechanism 104, and the work W is Fixed. This fixture 51 is reversed by the reversing mechanism 109 so that the workpiece W is positioned on the lower side, carried out to the soldering conveyor 21, and soldered to the lead L of the workpiece W on a soldering line.
Finally, the work W is recovered from the fixture 51 in the unloading unit 16, and the empty fixture is returned to the loading unit 11 via the return conveyor 22.

(Examples) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples shown in the drawings.

6 and 7 show the entire automatic soldering apparatus of the present invention, and as shown in these figures,
A loading unit 11 in which a workpiece W (FIGS. 13 and 14) is mounted on a fixture 51 (FIG. 9), and a plurality of units involved in soldering, namely a pretreatment unit 12, a soldering unit 13, and a cleaning unit 14. , a drying unit 15,
Unloading units 16 for collecting the work W from the fixture 51 are arranged in sequence.

Each of the units 11 to 16 is provided so as to be separable, and the plurality of soldering units 12 to 15 are connected to the workpiece W at the same level above.
A soldering conveyor 21 is provided to convey the fixture 51 (FIG. 15) with the workpiece attached thereto, and a return conveyor 22 is provided at the same level at the bottom to convey the fixture from which the workpiece has been removed. .

FIG. 8 shows an example of the soldering conveyor 21 and the return conveyor 22 for the soldering unit 13, and these conveyors 21 and 22 are connected to a pair of endless chains as shown in FIG. The fixture 51 placed between the pair of chains allows each unit 1 to be conveyed while the chains are moving.
It can be locked by stoppers (not shown) provided in 2 to 15. In FIG. 8, the rotation of the common motor 24 attached to the frame 23 is
Rotation transmission mechanism 25 using upper and lower chains,
26 to the drive sprockets of the conveyors 21, 22. A pair of gears 27 for reversing the rotational direction are provided in the rotation transmission path of the upper soldering conveyor 21, and while the lower return conveyor 22 conveys the fixture to the left, this upper The conveyor 21 conveys the fixtures to the right.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pre-treatment unit 12 is for washing off dirt attached to the workpiece etc., and includes a pre-cleaning bath 31 for washing the workpiece etc. with a dirt removing liquid, and a hot water bath 31 for washing the workpiece etc. with a dirt removing liquid. Alternatively, a pre-rinsing bath 32 and a shower 32a for washing the workpiece etc. with cold water, and an air blow 33 for blowing away the cleaning liquid attached to the workpiece etc. are provided integrally. The soldering unit 13 also includes a jet fluxer 34 for applying flux to the workpiece, an air knife 35 for removing excessively adhered flux with air, a heating heater 36 for preheating the workpiece, and a jet fluxer 34 for applying jet solder to the workpiece. A jet soldering bath 37 and a cooling fan 38 are integrally provided. Further, the cleaning unit 14 cleans the workpiece W and the fixture 51.
The post rinsing bath 41 and shower 41a for washing the workpiece etc. with hot or cold water, and the air blow 42 for blowing off the cleaning liquid with air are integrated. It is set in. Further, the drying unit 15 is for completely drying the workpiece etc. after washing, and is equipped with a drying heater 4.
3 and a cooling fan 44 are integrally provided. And each of these units 12, 13, 1
4 and 15 are each covered by a hood 45, and the hoods 45 of the pretreatment unit 12 and the soldering unit 13 are provided with an exhaust duct 46.

This automatic soldering line composed of a large number of split units 11 to 16 has a conveyor interposed between each unit that changes the direction of conveyance of the fixture, so that the soldering line is L-shaped, ₂₁ -shaped, etc. in plan view. It is also possible to arrange the fixture in the layout of the unit, and it is also possible to manually insert a fixture from the front of any unit.

Next, FIGS. 9 to 16 show a fixture 51 for soldering.

FIG. 9 shows the fixture 51 when a workpiece is mounted and when the workpiece is recovered, and the fixture 51 is in an inverted state when viewed from the time of soldering. This fixture 51
In this case, three support rods 53, 54, and 55 are hung from one side plate 52a of the outer frame to the other side plate 52b of the outer frame, and are fixed with screws 56 inside the outer frame 52 formed in four corners. Six vertical plates 57 are fitted to each support rod at equal intervals, and six horizontal plates 58 are assembled to each vertical plate 57 at equal intervals. Each vertical plate 57 and each horizontal plate 58 are provided with cut grooves in half on the sides to be combined, and the cut grooves are fitted into each other to form a lattice.

In this lattice, workpiece holders 61 are fitted and welded at all the intersections of the vertical plates 57 and the horizontal plates 58, centering on the intersections. Each workpiece holder 61 is made by cutting a round pipe material to a certain length, and a cutout groove 62 cut from the grid side is fitted into the vertical plate 57 and the horizontal plate 58, and then welded. Four workpiece fitting grooves 63 having the same directionality as the grid on the opposite side and four workpiece fitting grooves 64 located between the grooves 63 are arranged at a 45° angle.
provided for each. Four corners of the workpiece W are fitted into the workpiece fitting groove 63 as shown by solid lines in FIG.
Each corner of the workpiece W is fitted into each corner as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

This work W is a flat package type Surf-Ace called a plastic-lead chip carrier (PLCC).
It is a mounting device (SMD, surface mount IC), and a large number of leads L are provided on the four sides of the package as shown in FIG. Since this work W is set upward, its lead L is located in the upper half of the package and does not come into contact with the work holder 61.

As shown in FIG. 10, sleeve-shaped spacers 66, 67, 68 are fitted on both sides of the three support rods 53, 54, 55, and these spacers allow the inside of the outer frame 52 to be grid is positioned.

Returning to FIG. 9, the support rod 53 also functions as a hinge portion, and a work holding frame 71 for fixing the work W on the work holder 61 is provided on the support rod 53 so as to be openable and closable. . This presser frame 71 has a base 73 of three vertical plates 72 rotatably fitted to the support rod 53, and an opening/closing operation plate 74 at the tip and three intermediate plates between each vertical plate 72. Horizontal board 7
5 are welded to each other. Each vertical board 72
A protrusion 76 is integrally formed at a position corresponding to the horizontal plate 58 integral with the outer frame 52, and each protrusion 76
A wire-shaped workpiece presser 77 is fitted into the groove at the tip and welded. Workpiece pressing portions 78 that come into contact with the workpiece W are bent at both ends of the presser foot 77. Vertical plate 7 of this work holding frame 71
When the base portion 73 of No. 2 is rotated to the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11, it is locked by a locking groove 79 formed in the outer frame plate 52c.

The opening/closing operation plate 74 of the work holding frame 71 includes:
Two fixed parts 81 protruding toward the outer frame 52 side
are welded to each other, and a fixed plate fitting recess 82 is provided in this fixed portion 81 . Each fixed portion 81
A presser frame fixing plate 84 is attached to the outer frame plate 52d corresponding to the outer frame plate 52d by screws 83. This fixing plate 84 functions as an elastic leaf spring as a whole, and includes a recess 85 into which the fixed part 81 is fitted;
A fixing convex portion 86 that fits into the fitting recess 82 by the restoring force of the spring material after being forcibly pushed open in a direction away from the outer frame plate 52d when the fixed portion 81 is fitted; A fixing release portion 87 horizontally protruding from the portion 86 is formed of a single sheet metal.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the fixed part 8 is inserted into the recess 85 of the presser frame fixing plate 84 from above.
1 is inserted, the fixed portion 81 is pressed downward by the inclined portion of the fixed protrusion 86 that fits into the fitting recess 82 of the fixed portion 81, and the outer frame 52
The closed state of the work holding frame 71 is reliably maintained relative to the workpiece holding frame 71. Further, when the fixing release portion 87 is pressed from above, the presser frame fixing plate 84 is removed from the screw 83.
The fixed part 81 is moved counterclockwise in FIG. 11 using the fixed part as a fulcrum.
The fixing protrusion 86 is retracted from the recess 82, and the fixation of the work holding frame 71 is released.

As shown in FIG. 9, each horizontal plate 58 on the receiving side has a groove 9 that fits into the vertical plate 72 on the presser side.
1 is formed with a notch, and each vertical plate 5 on the receiving side
7 has a concave groove 92 that fits with the horizontal plate 75 on the presser side.
A notch is formed in each of the horizontal plates 75 on the pressing side, and a groove 93 is formed in a notch to fit with the vertical plate 57 on the receiving side.

L-shaped plates 94 are fixed to the outer surfaces of the left and right plates 52a, 52b of the outer frame 52 by screws 95, and L-shaped plates 96 are fixed to the outer surfaces of the front and rear plates 52c, 52d.
are fixed by screws 97, and each L-shaped plate 9
A round hole 98 is bored in the center of each of the holes 4 and 96 for positioning the fixture 51 with a pin when setting the workpiece.

As shown in FIG. 15, this fixture 51 is turned upside down after work setting, is supplied to the automatic soldering line, and is placed on the pair of conveyor chains 21a of the soldering line. An L-shaped plate 94 is slidably engaged on the pair of transport chains 21a.

This fixture 51 is made of titanium, which has excellent corrosion resistance, for all of its members, and all of the parts that are not screwed are welded to each other.

Next, to explain how to use this fixture 51, when mounting a workpiece and collecting a workpiece, the outer frame 52 is positioned on the lower side and the workpiece holding frame 71 is placed on the upper side, and this workpiece holding frame 71 is shown in FIG. Each workpiece pedestal 61 is opened upward as shown by the dotted chain line, and as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.
When the workpiece W is fitted into the workpiece fitting groove 63 or 64, respectively, and the workpiece holding frame 71 is closed as shown by the solid line in FIG. The pressing parts 78 at both ends of are brought into contact with the center part of each workpiece W, and in total
36 workpieces W are clamped and fixed at the same time. Then, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the fixture 51 is turned upside down and supplied to the automatic soldering line so that the workpiece W is located on the lower side, and all the leads L are automatically soldered. Soldering is performed on a soldering line, and a solder film is formed on the entire surface of each lead for purposes such as preventing oxidation.

As described above, this fixture 51 has a workpiece pedestal 6 that is turned downward when loading and unloading a workpiece.
In addition, since the center of the workpiece W is supported at one point by the tip pressing part 78 of the workpiece holder 77 during soldering, the solder bath 37 can be set securely. Obstacles to the molten solder jetted from the nozzle are minimized, and the leads L around the entire circumference of the workpiece W can be reliably soldered. Further, in this fixture 51, a round pipe material is used as the workpiece holder 61, and a workpiece fitting groove 63 or 64 is provided therein, so that a large number of workpiece holders 61 can be manufactured relatively easily. , the corners of the workpiece can be supported with a small contact area without affecting soldering.

Next, FIGS. 1 to 4 show the whole and part of the loading unit 11, and FIG. 5 shows a part of the unloading unit 16. Since most parts of this unloading unit 16 are similar to the loading unit 11, only the different parts will be explained later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the loading unit 11 includes a fixture mounting table 102 on which the fixtures 51 carried in from the return conveyor 22 of the pretreatment unit 12 via the carry-in conveyor 101 are transferred, and an elevating mechanism 103 that raises or lowers the platform 102; and a lifting mechanism 103 that raises or lowers the platform 102;
A presser frame opening/closing mechanism 104 that opens and closes the workpiece presser frame 71 of the fixture 51 positioned above, and a workcase 10 that continuously stores a large number of workpieces.
5 (Fig. 4) to the work supply position 106 (Fig. 4).
7, a workpiece transfer mechanism 108 that transfers the workpiece W from the workpiece supply position 106 onto the workpiece pedestal 61 of the fixture 51 with the workpiece holding frame 71 open; A fixture reversing mechanism 109 inverts the fixture 51 with the presser frame 71 closed and supplies it to the soldering conveyor 21 of the pretreatment unit 12.

The carry-in conveyor 101 is composed of a pair of round belts endlessly wound around a pulley 112 that is pivotally supported by a conveyor frame 111.
As shown in the figure, a pulley 112a at one end of this conveyor 101 is driven by a speed control motor 114 via a rotation transmission mechanism 113. This motor 114 is connected to the rotation transmission mechanism 1
15 and a pair of gears 116 for reversing the rotational direction, it also drives a fixture delivery conveyor 117 provided at the upper part of the unit frame. Like the return conveyor 22, the carry-in conveyor 101 supports the L-shaped plates 96 on the front and rear sides of the fixture 51 as shown in FIG. 2, whereas the carry-out conveyor 117 supports the soldering conveyor 21, the L-shaped plates 94 on the left and right sides of the fixture 51 are supported and conveyed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the fixture platform 102 includes a pair of guide rods 122 provided on the upper surface of an elevating base 121, and a slide portion 1 provided on the lower surface of the platform 102.
23 is slidably fitted therein, and a female threaded portion 125 on one side of the platform 102 is screwed into a pitch feeding screw 124 disposed between the pair of guide rods 122. The feed screw 124
A rotation transmitter 126 is mounted on the lifting base 121.
An induction motor (which may be a servo motor or a stepping motor) 12 provided through the
7 controls the rotation direction and rotation speed. Then, the motor 127 is connected to the rotation transmitter 1
The feed screw 124 is rotated via a timing belt or the like in the workpiece 26, and as the workpiece is transferred, the fixture mounting table 102 is fed in pitches at intervals of the workpiece receiving table 61.

In the elevating mechanism 103, as shown in FIG. 2, a slide portion 132 of the elevating base 121 is fitted into four vertically provided guide rods 131 so as to be vertically movable, and as shown in FIG. A pair of lifting chains 135 are wound endlessly between sprockets 133 and 134 which are rotatably supported on the upper and lower parts of the unit frame.
The elevating base 121 is connected via a connecting portion 136. The upper sprocket 133 is provided on a shaft 137 which is rotatably held by a bearing, and the lower sprocket 134 is a drive motor rotated by a motor 139 fixed to the unit frame via a mounting plate 138. It is integrally fitted onto the shaft 140. Then, the forward or reverse rotation of the motor 139 is performed by the rotation transmission mechanism 141 using the chain.
is transmitted to the drive shaft 140 via the chain 1
35 is rotated, and the elevating base 121 and fixture platform 102 are raised or lowered.

As shown in FIG. 2, the elevating base 12
1 and the fixture platform 102 are provided with recesses 1 to prevent interference with the carry-in conveyor 101.
45 and 146 are provided respectively, and the mounting table 1
02 waits below the fixture 51 carried in by the conveyor 101, and when the fixture 51 is ascending, the L-shaped plates 9 on the left and right sides of the fixture 51
4. At this time, a pair of positioning pins 147 provided on the platform 102 fit into the round holes 98 (FIG. 9) of the left and right L-shaped plates 94,
Fixture 51 is positioned.

The presser frame opening/closing mechanism 104 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the rotary actuator 1 is mounted on the top surface of the platform 102 via a mounting plate 151.
52, the base end of a rotating arm 153 is fitted to the rotating shaft of this actuator 152, and a pair of pins 1 are guided at the tip of this arm 153 by a guide member 154 in a direction perpendicular to this arm.
55 is provided so as to be movable forward and backward relative to the end of the opening/closing operation plate 74 of the fixture 51. The pair of pins 155 are connected to a piston rod of an air cylinder 156 provided on the inner surface of the arm 153 via a connecting plate 157.

Furthermore, this presser frame opening/closing mechanism 104 is provided with a mechanism for releasing the fixation of the fixture 51 by the presser frame fixing plate 84. That is,
As shown in FIG. 2, a rotary actuator 162 is attached to the upper surface of the platform 102 via a mounting plate 161.
A rotating shaft 164 rotatably held on a mounting table 102 by a bearing 163 is attached to a rotating shaft of the coupling 1.
65 , and a push-down portion 166 corresponding to the fixing release portion 87 of the pair of presser frame fixing plates 84 of the fixture 51 is bored from the rotating shaft 164 .

Then, the rotary actuator 162
When the pair of push-down parts 166 are rotated downward, the tips of the push-down parts 166 hit the fixation release part 87 of the fixture 51, pushing down the fixation release part 87, and the fixation plate 84 The fixation of the presser frame 71 is released.

Assuming that the holding frame 71 of the fixture 51 is released, when the piston rod of the cylinder 156 is retracted, the pair of pins 155
are fitted onto the upper and lower surfaces of the opening/closing operation plate 74, and in this state, when the rotary actuator 152 is driven to rotate the arm 153, the work holding frame 71 of the fixture 51 can be opened. Can be closed. Further, when the piston rod of the air cylinder 156 is pushed out, the pair of pins 155 retreat from the opening/closing operation plate 74.

As shown in FIG. 1, the workpiece transfer mechanism 108 includes six workpiece suction nozzles 171 corresponding to six rows of workpiece holders 61 of the fixture 51.
With this nozzle 171, the six workpiece holders 6 that are pitch-fed and newly located are
1, six workpieces W are transferred from six workpiece supply positions, and a moving plate 174 is slidably fitted into a pair of lateral movement guide rails 173 provided on a support section 172. , this moving plate 17
Two rods 176 are fitted into two sets of guide portions 175 provided on the movable plate 174 so as to be movable up and down. Mounting plate 17
8, an air cylinder 179 is provided, and a piston rod 180 of this cylinder 179 is connected to the center of the nozzle lifting platform 177. The six work suction nozzles 171 are fitted into this lifting table 177 so as to be able to move up and down, and each nozzle 171
is held in a state where it is elastically pressed downward by a spring 181.

Then, the moving plate 174 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 by an air cylinder or a ball screw (not shown) provided between the pair of guide rails 173, and thereby The nozzle 171 is connected to the work supply position at the front of the work supply mechanism 107 and the fixture 5 shown in FIG.
1, and moved up and down at each position by the air cylinder 179, and picked up by vacuum suction from the workpiece supply position 106 shown in FIG.
The workpieces are transferred to each workpiece holder 61 of the fixture 51.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fixture reversing mechanism 109 includes a rotating shaft 192 that is driven by a rotary actuator (not shown) inside a mechanism main body 191. A clamp body 194 is provided at the tip of an arm 193 that is rotated.
A fixture support plate 195 is provided on the upper part of the holder so as to be movable up and down, and fixture clamp claws 196 are rotatably provided on the front and rear sides.

Then, when the fixture 51 receives the workpiece W while being pitch-fed by the platform 102 and moves to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the support plate 195 is raised and L-shaped plates 96 at the front and rear of the fixture 51 are connected by positioning pins (not shown) provided on the support plate 195.
The L-shaped plate 96 is fixed by positioning the round hole 98 and closing the clamp claws 196 on both sides. Then, by driving the rotation shaft 192 and rotating the clamp body 194 approximately 180 degrees clockwise, the fixture 51 is placed on the carry-out conveyor 117 in an upside-down state as shown in FIG. Left and right L-shaped plates 9 are placed on a pair of endless chains.
4 is transferred and loaded so that they are engaged.

FIG. 4 shows the work supply mechanism 107,
A work case storage section 211 is provided at the upper part of the mechanism main body 210, and a large number of work cases (work storage tubes) 10 are installed in this storage section 211.
5 are stacked in 6 columns. work case 10
5, the left end opening is closed by a pin 212,
The right end opening is left open as a workpiece take-out port 213. Pin 2 of each work case 105
12 are in contact with each other, so each work case 105
is inclined so that the workpiece take-out port 213 side is lowered. Therefore, in the stock section 211, in addition to three guide rods 214 located on both sides of each work case 105, a closing plate 215 for closing the workpiece take-out port 213 is vertically provided. Further, a pair of rotating members 216 and 217 are disposed inside the mechanism main body 210 with an interval between them over the entire length of the work case, and a pair of rotating members 216 and 217 are connected to shafts 218 and 2.
19 so as to be rotatable, and this shaft 218,
219 is rotated by an air cylinder 222 via levers 220 and 221.

When this air cylinder 222 is extended,
The left rotation member 216 is rotated counterclockwise, and the right rotation member 217 is rotated clockwise. are inserted into the openings at both ends of the work case 105a located second from the bottom to stop the work case 105a from descending. Further, when the cylinder 222 is retracted, the rotating members 216 and 217 on both sides rotate in the mutually opening direction, and the locking claws 223 and 224 on both sides are disengaged from the openings at both ends of the work case 105a. The rotational ranges of the rotational members 216 and 217 are each regulated by stoppers (not shown) to prevent only one rotational member from rotating excessively.

On the lower side of the pair of rotating members 216 and 217 of the work case stock section 211, there is a one-side locking section 231 that locks the closed opening side of the lowermost work case 105b; The shaft 233,
234 is rotatably provided on the mechanism main body 210, and the shafts 233, 234 are connected to the lever 23.
5 and 236, and is rotated by an air cylinder 237 interposed therebetween. On the lower side of the other side locking part 232, there is an arcuate guide surface 238 that guides the descent of the workpiece take-out port 213 located on the opposite side of the work case 105b locked by the one side locking part 231. are provided at the lower end of this arc-shaped guide surface 238, and six work cases 105c
Six work drawer bodies 239 corresponding to the above are provided so as to be horizontally movable. Each of the workpiece drawer bodies 239 pulls out the workpiece W that has fallen due to its own weight from the workpiece takeout port 213 of the inclined workpiece case 105c by descending on one side along the guide surface 238 to the workpiece supply position 106.

The locking portions 231 and 232 on both sides are engaged with the lever 2 by the contraction operation of the air cylinder 237.
Both horizontal states 231a and 2 through 35 and 236
32a, and the air cylinder 23
Both are rotated to the vertical state by the extension operation of step 7. Note that the rotation range of the locking portions 231 and 232 on both sides is restricted between a horizontal state and a vertical state by a stopper (not shown);
is further locked at the position shown by the solid line by a movable stopper (not shown).

Then, the rotating members 216, 217 on both sides
When the locking claws 223 and 224 on both sides are opened and removed from the work case 105a, the locking parts 231 and 232 on both sides are in a horizontally rotated state 231.
a, 232a, and locks the fallen work case at the position shown by 105b. At the same time, 10
Since another work case falls from above to the position shown by 5a, after that work case is locked by the locking claws 223 and 224, the one-side locking portion 231 is moved to the position shown by the solid line. While rotating to the inclined position, the other side locking portion 232 is also rotated downward as shown by the solid line. As a result, the work case has its left end locked with the one-side locking part 231, and its right end moves down along the arcuate guide surface 238 and is locked by the work drawer body 239. Ru.

The six work drawer bodies 239 are slidably fitted into six rows of drawer grooves 242 formed in a guide portion 241 integrated with the mechanism main body 210, and are connected to direct-acting actuators provided at external fixed positions. 24
It is connected to the slide portion 244 of No. 3. Furthermore, this work drawer body 239 is connected to the work take-out port 213 of the inclined work case 105c.
A workpiece fitting groove 245 with a V-shaped cross section into which the workpiece W that has fallen from is fitted, and a workpiece receiving surface that horizontally supports the workpiece W pushed out from the workpiece fitting groove 245 as the workpiece drawer 239 pulls out. 2
46, and a workpiece locking portion 247 integrated with the guide portion 241 to hold the workpiece W on the workpiece receiving surface 246.
The workpiece W is held between the workpiece supply position 10 and
6 and a workpiece locking claw 248 for positioning the workpiece. This workpiece locking claw 248 is attached to the shaft 25 inside the semicircular groove 251 of the workpiece drawer body 239.
2, and is biased clockwise by a compression spring 253, and its tip protrudes upward from the workpiece receiving surface 246 through a hole 254 bored in the upper part of the semicircular groove 251. Ru. This workpiece locking pawl 248 is rotated by a cam surface 255 formed on the surface of the pull-out groove 242 of the guide portion 241 . Further, the workpiece W fitted inside the workpiece fitting groove 245 is pushed up to the workpiece receiving surface 246 by the workpiece push-up guide surfaces 256 provided on both sides of each pullout groove 242 at the stage of being pulled out to the outside. It will be done. A work guide 258 is provided above the work drawer 239 with a gap 257 interposed therebetween.

Then, the workpieces W that have fallen one by one from the workpiece take-out ports 213 of the six rows of work cases 105c are fitted into the workpiece fitting grooves 245 that are waiting at positions opposite the respective take-out ports 213. , the actuator 243 is actuated to move the workpiece drawer 239 to the right. In the first half of this movement, the lower end of the workpiece locking pawl 248 is pushed up by the surface of the pull-out groove 242, and the tip of this pawl 248 is retracted into the lower side of the hole 254, but in the second half of the movement, the cam surface The workpiece locking claw 248 rotates clockwise due to the pressing force of the spring 253 by the amount that the workpiece locking claw 255 is lowered.
48 protrudes from the hole 254, and the workpiece fitting groove 245 is moved by the workpiece push-up guide surface 256.
The workpiece W being pushed up from the surface to the workpiece receiving surface 246 is surely supported. Finally, the workpiece W is positioned at the workpiece supply position 106 by this locking claw 248 and the locking portion 247 at the fixed position. This work W is transferred to the work transfer mechanism 108.
The workpiece is picked up by the workpiece suction nozzle 171.

In this way, once all the workpieces W have been taken out from inside the workcase 105c, the one-side locking part 231 is rotated to the position shown by 231b, and the empty workcase 105c is dropped downward. , a new work case is supplied to the inclined position 105c in the same manner as before. The empty work case is collected through the drop port 259.

As described above, the loading unit 11
can automatically mount each work W in the work case 105 to the empty fixture 51.

Next, the unloading unit 16
Except for the work collection mechanism 261 (FIGS. 6 and 7) corresponding to the work supply mechanism 107 of the loading unit 11, the conveyor 101 and the fixture platform 10 of the loading unit 11 are
2. Mechanisms similar to the lifting mechanism 103, presser frame opening/closing mechanism 104, work transfer mechanism 108, and fixture reversing mechanism 109 are arranged in the opposite direction to the loading unit 11.

Then, in this unloading unit 16, the fixture 51 carried in from the soldering conveyor 21 is positioned on the fixture mounting table while being reversed vertically by the fixture reversing mechanism, and the workpiece holder is positioned above the fixture. The frame 71 is opened by the holding frame opening/closing mechanism, and the workpiece W on the workpiece holder 61 of the fixture 51 is taken out to the workpiece collection position 262 (FIG. 5) by the workpiece suction nozzle of the workpiece transfer mechanism.
Then, the workpiece holding frame 71 is closed by the holding frame opening/closing mechanism, and the fixture 51 is lowered to the level of the return conveyor 22 by the lifting mechanism shown in FIG. It is carried out to the return conveyor 22 by the provided carry-out conveyor.

FIG. 5 shows the work collection mechanism 261 of the unloading unit 16, in which an empty case stock section 265 in which a large number of empty work cases (work storage tubes) 264 are stacked in six rows is provided on the upper part of the mechanism body 263. ing. In the work case 264, the right end opening is closed by a pin 266, the left end opening is left open as a workpiece insertion port 267, and the insertion port side is tilted downward by stacking the pins 266. In addition to three guide rods 268 located on each side of the work case 264, a locking plate 269 for locking the workpiece insertion opening side is provided vertically. Further, a pair of rotating members 271 and 272 are disposed inside the mechanism main body 263 with the entire length of the work case 264 interposed therebetween.
4, the shafts 273, 2 are rotatably provided.
74 is rotated by an air cylinder 277 via levers 275 and 276.

When this air cylinder 277 is extended,
The left rotation member 271 is rotated counterclockwise, and the right rotation member 272 is rotated clockwise. are inserted into the openings at both ends of the work case 264a located second from the bottom to stop the work case 264a from descending. Further, when the cylinder 277 is retracted, the rotation members 271 and 272 on both sides rotate in the mutually opening direction, and the locking claws 278 and 279 on both sides are disengaged from the openings at both ends of the work case 264a.

Furthermore, a movable locking portion 281 that locks the closing opening side of the lowermost work case 264b is rotatably provided on the mechanism main body 263 under the right rotation member 272 by a shaft 282. , this movable locking portion 281 is rotated by an air cylinder 284 via a lever 283 protruding from the shaft 282. In addition, the left rotation member 271
A fixed locking portion 285 for locking the left end of the lowermost work case 264b is provided below.

In addition, the work case 26 located at the bottom
4b is provided with six rows of workpiece insertion guide grooves 287 into which the workpieces W taken out from the fixture by the suction nozzle 286 of the workpiece transfer mechanism are transferred, and these mark insertion guide grooves. A workpiece pushing body 288 that can move forward and backward with respect to the insertion opening 267 of the work case 264b is provided inside the workpiece case 287.
is provided, and a mounting base 29 is provided on this pusher body 288.
The piston rod of an air cylinder 289 fixed on the 0 is connected. The pushing body 288
6 corresponds to the 6 rows of workpiece insertion guide grooves 287
It is made up of book teeth.

Then, the rotating members 271, 272 on both sides
When the locking claws 278, 279 on both sides are removed from the empty mark case 264a, the movable locking portion 281 is in a horizontally rotated state.
The work case that has fallen to the position indicated by b is locked by the movable locking part 281 and the fixed locking part 285. At the same time, another work case falls from above at the position indicated by 264a, so
The work case is locked by the locking claws 278 and 279. And the fixture 51
After the work W is transferred onto the work insertion guide groove 287, the pushing body 288 is advanced by the air cylinder 289, and the work W is pushed into the work insertion opening 267 of the work case 264b. By repeating these operations, the work case 264b
When the entire workpiece is loaded, by rotating the movable locking part 281 downward, the work case is temporarily locked at the insertion opening side by the fixed locking part 285, as shown at 264c. However, the lock is immediately released and it falls into the work case storage section 291 provided below. This storage section 291
is formed in an inclined shape so that the workpiece does not come out from the workpiece insertion opening of the workcase.

As described above, the unloading unit 16 can automatically collect each work W in the fixture 51 from the empty work case 264.

Next, the overall operation of this automatic soldering apparatus will be schematically explained.

The fixture 51 emptied in the unloading unit 16 is transferred to the return conveyor 22 of each unit 15, 14, 13, 12 related to soldering.
Then, it is placed on the carry-in conveyor 101 of the loading unit 11, and carried to the upper side of the fixture platform 102, which is waiting at the lowered position. The fixture 51 is positioned on the platform 102 by raising the platform 102 by the lifting mechanism 103, and the presser frame opening/closing mechanism 10 is positioned at the lifting stop position.
4 opens the work holding frame 71, and the feed screw 1
Due to the pitch feeding (intermittent feeding) of the mounting table 102 by 24, the six workpiece holders 61 in each row of the fixture 51 are connected to the six workpiece suction nozzles 171.
are located sequentially below. These six workpiece suction nozzles 171 transfer the workpieces W picked up by vacuum suction from the six workpiece supply positions 106 of the workpiece supply mechanism 107 to the workpiece fitting grooves 63 or 64 of each workpiece receiving table 61. do. Then, the workpieces W are placed on all the workpiece pedestals 61.
Once mounted, the workpiece holding frame 71 of the fixture 51 is closed by the holding frame opening/closing mechanism 104, and the workpiece W is fixed. This fixture is inverted by the reversing mechanism 109 so that the workpiece W is positioned on the lower side, and is carried out from the carryout conveyor 117 to the soldering conveyor 21 of each unit 12 to 15, and is connected to the lead L of the workpiece W on the soldering line. Soldering is done. Finally, the fixture 51 is reversed in the unloading unit 16, the workpiece holding frame 71 is opened, and the workpiece W is collected into the empty workpiece case 264 by the vacuum suction nozzle 286 or the like while being pitch fed. The work holding frame 71 is closed, lowered, and carried out to the return conveyor 22.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the workpiece W being an integrated circuit device (IC), and can also be used for soldering other workpieces (for example, printed wiring boards) by changing the fixture.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, a loading unit and an unloading unit are incorporated as part of an endless fixture transport line between a soldering conveyor and a return conveyor, and the loading unit is connected to a presser frame opening/closing mechanism, a workpiece Since this is an automatic machine having a supply mechanism, a workpiece transfer mechanism, and a fixture reversing mechanism, a loading unit can automatically load a workpiece onto a fixture that is conveyed in an endless manner. In addition, when mounting the workpiece and collecting the workpiece, the fixture is turned upside down with reference to the time of soldering, and the workpiece holding frame is placed on the upper side with respect to the workpiece pedestal located on the grid inside the outer frame which is turned downward. The workpiece is placed in the fixture and opened upward, and the workpiece is transferred from the workpiece supply position to the workpiece holder of this fixture by the workpiece suction nozzle of the workpiece transfer mechanism. Workpieces that are not suitable for the slide mounting method, such as those that are not suitable for the slide mounting method, can be mounted on the fixture using the pick-and-place method.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view showing the loading unit in the automatic workpiece supply/discharge device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the fixture mounting table etc. on the elevating base, Fig. 3 is a side view of the loading unit,
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the work supply mechanism of the loading unit, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the work collection mechanism of the unloading unit, and FIG. 7
The figure is a front view, Figure 8 is a conveyor chain diagram of the soldering unit, Figure 9 is a perspective view of the fixture turned upside down when installing and removing a workpiece, and Figure 1 is a diagram of the conveyor chain system of the soldering unit.
Figure 0 is a plan view of the fixture, Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the - line in Figure 10, and Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 10.
Figure 13 is an enlarged front view of the workpiece holder of the fixture, Figure 14 is its side view, Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the soldering conveyor that conveys the fixture, and Figure 16 is the soldering conveyor. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a workpiece support portion during attachment. W...Work, 11...Loading unit, 16...Unloading unit, 21...
... Soldering conveyor, 22 ... Return conveyor, 51 ... Fixture, 52 ... Outer frame, 53
...Hinge section, 61...Work holder, 71...
Work holding frame, 102... Fixture mounting base,
104... Presser frame opening/closing mechanism, 105... Work case, 106... Work supply position, 107... Work supply mechanism, 108... Work transfer mechanism, 10
9... Fixture reversing mechanism, 171... Work suction nozzle.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an automatic soldering device in which a plurality of workpieces mounted on a fixture are automatically soldered while being conveyed by a soldering conveyor, a loading unit on which the workpieces are mounted on the fixture; , the soldering conveyor that transports the fixture with the workpiece attached, the unloading unit that collects the workpiece from the fixture, and the return conveyor that transports the fixture from which the workpiece has been removed are arranged in an endless manner, In the fixture, a plurality of workpiece holders are integrally provided on a lattice in the outer frame, and a workpiece holding frame is provided with respect to the outer frame so that it can be opened and closed freely around a hinge on one side of the outer frame, and when the workpiece is mounted and the workpiece is At the time of collection,
The workpiece holding frame is placed above and opened upwards relative to the workpiece holder located on the lattice inside the outer frame, which is turned upside down and turned upside down with reference to the soldering time. The loading unit consists of a fixture loading table on which the fixtures carried in from the return conveyor are transferred, a holding frame opening/closing mechanism that opens and closes the work holding frame of the fixture positioned on the fixturing loading table, and a holding frame opening/closing mechanism that opens and closes the work holding frame of the fixture positioned on the fixturing loading table. A work supply mechanism that takes out individual workpieces from a work case that is stored at a workpiece to a workpiece supply position, and a workpiece suction nozzle that transfers the workpieces from the workpiece supply position onto a workpiece holder of a fixture with an open workholding frame. and a fixture reversing mechanism that vertically inverts a fixture whose work holding frame is closed by the holding frame opening/closing mechanism and supplies it to the soldering conveyor. Automatic workpiece supply/discharge device for automatic soldering equipment. 2. The fixture loading table is pitch-fed at intervals between the workpiece holders of the fixture as the workpiece is transferred, and the workpiece transfer mechanism uses the plurality of workpiece suction nozzles to pick up the plurality of workspieces that have been pitch-fed and newly positioned. 2. The automatic workpiece supply/discharge device in an automatic soldering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of workpieces are transferred to and from a plurality of workpiece supply positions with respect to the receiving table. 3. The workpiece supply mechanism consists of a workcase stock section in which a large number of workcases are stacked, a one-side locking section that locks the closed opening side of the lowermost workcase, and this one-side locking section. An arc-shaped guide surface guides the descent of the workpiece take-out port located on the opposite side of the work case that is locked with the workpiece. 2. An automatic workpiece feed/discharge device in an automatic soldering apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a workpiece drawer body which is freely provided and pulls out the workpieces to a workpiece supply position. 4 The workpiece drawer has a workpiece fitting groove with a V-shaped cross section into which a workpiece that has fallen from the workpiece takeout port of the inclined workpiece case is fitted, and a workpiece fitting groove that is pushed out from the workpiece fitting groove as the workpiece drawer moves to pull out the workpiece. a workpiece receiving surface that horizontally supports the loaded workpiece; and a workpiece retaining claw that positions the workpiece at a workpiece supply position by sandwiching the workpiece on the workpiece receiving surface between a workpiece retaining portion provided at a fixed position. Claim 3 is characterized in that each of
Automatic workpiece supply/discharge device for automatic soldering equipment described in Section 1. 5 The unloading unit has the same structure as the work loading unit except for the work collection mechanism corresponding to the work supply mechanism. Automatic soldering according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame is opened, the workpiece on the workpiece holder is taken out by a workpiece suction nozzle, the workpiece holding frame is closed, and the fixture is carried out to a return conveyor. Automatic workpiece loading and unloading device for attaching equipment. 6 The work collection mechanism of the unloading unit is arranged in an empty case stock section in which a large number of empty work cases are stacked, and on the work insertion port side of the empty work case located at the bottom. The workpiece is composed of a workpiece insertion guide groove into which the workpiece taken out from the workpiece is transferred, and a workpiece pushing body provided within the workpiece insertion guide groove so as to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the workpiece insertion opening of the workcase. An automatic workpiece supply/discharge device in an automatic soldering apparatus according to claim 5.