Patent Application
20130269184
1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to vacuum nozzles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vacuum nozzle for a pick and place machine for picking and placing LED's or other components with an automated process or automated electronic assembly machine.
2. Related Art
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) and other components are typically applied to electronic assemblies using an automated process or automated electronic assembly machine. However, using these processes, it has been found that LEDs or other components will occasionally stick to the vacuum nozzle of the pick and place machine that is applying the LEDs or other components to the PCB. This may be, for example, because nozzle tips are made from non-polar plastic and/or non-porous materials, while LEDs or other components are made with a non-polar silicone based coating. Thus, LEDs or other components intermittently stick to the nozzle, causing the nozzle to sometimes misplace the LEDs or other components on the PCBs or not place the stuck LEDs or other components at all. When LEDs or other components are stuck to the nozzles and the nozzle returns to the feeder to pick up the next LED or other component, a jam is likely to result. As such, it is not cost effective for the PCB to require inspection or repairs due to misplaced or missing LEDs or other components.
Thus, a non-stick pick and place nozzle for LEDs or other components would be well received in the art.
According to a first embodiment, a vacuum nozzle for a pick and place machine includes a tip having a portion that is configured to interface with a component, wherein at least the portion of the tip is made of wood.
According to a second embodiment, vacuum nozzle for a pick and place machine comprises: a tip having a portion that is configured to interface with a component, wherein at least the portion of the tip is made of a material that is at least one of polar and porous.
According to a third embodiment, a method of picking up and placing a light emitting diode includes providing a pick and place machine having a vacuum nozzle, wherein the vacuum nozzle includes a tip having a portion that is configured to interface with a component, wherein at least the portion of the tip is made of a material that is at least one of polar and porous.
Some embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:
A detailed description of the hereinafter described embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring first to
The vacuum nozzle tip 20 may be made of a material such as wood. In particular, the wood may be Black Walnut wood. Black Walnut may have an advantageous end grain that may contribute to the anti-sticking capabilities of the nozzle tip 20. The dark color of the Black Walnut material may also contribute to the vision recognition of the pick and place machine to ensure accurate placement of components. However, Black Walnut is, of course, not limiting and the material may other types of wood.
Lighter woods, and woods with different characteristics may also be desirable. For example, butternut wood, Persian Walnut, Brazilian Walnut, Cherry, Cedar, Oak, Maple, Hickory, Elm, Chestnut, Blackwood, and the like are also contemplated. This list of woods is not exhaustive and any type of appropriate wood is contemplated. Furthermore, the vacuum nozzle tip 20 may be unstained wood, in one embodiment. In others embodiments, staining may be desirable. Wood may further have a longer life expectancy than typical prior art plastic materials. The wood may also be thermo-treated wood.
Furthermore, materials beyond wood are also contemplated. Materials, both natural, and synthetic and composite, are contemplated. It may be particularly useful if the material has certain material properties. The material may be a polar and/or porous material. Furthermore the material may have a specific gravity between 0.5 and 0.8. Furthermore, a material having a hardness measured by the Janka Ball Test between 850 and 1500 pounds may also be desirable. It may also be desirable for the material of the tip 20 to have a parallel compression strength between 7,000 to 10,000 psi, a bending strength between 9,000 and 18,000 psi, and a bending stiffness between 1,200 and 2,200 kpsi. In some embodiments, the entire tip 20 of the vacuum nozzle 10 may be made of wood or other non sticking material. In other embodiments, a smaller portion of the tip 20 may be made of wood or other non sticking material. At the very least, a portion of the tip 20 that interfaces with component 24 should be made of wood or other non sticking, polar and/or porous material, while the rest may be made from a less expensive plastic material. In other embodiments, the entire vacuum nozzle 10 construction may be made of the same non sticking material such as Black Walnut wood.
In addition, the first end 22 of the nozzle 10 is shown having a tubular shape in the embodiment depicted in
Referring now to
The component 24 may particularly be an LED meant for placement on a PCB. LED's are often particularly sticky in prior art embodiments. However, the vacuum nozzle 10 may be used for picking and placing any type of component for electronic assemblies.
Shown in
Furthermore, a method of picking and placing a component, such as the component 24, is also contemplated. The method may include providing a pick and place machine having a vacuum nozzle, such as the vacuum nozzle 10. The vacuum nozzle may include a tip 20 having a portion that is configured to interface with a component, where at least the portion of the tip is made of a polar and/or porous material such as wood, or Black Walnut. The method may further include picking up the component and placing the component on an electronic assembly.
Elements of the embodiments have been introduced with either the articles “a” or “an.” The articles are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “including” and “having” and their derivatives are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed. The conjunction “or” when used with a list of at least two terms is intended to mean any term or combination of terms. The terms “first” and “second” are used to distinguish elements and are not used to denote a particular order.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
