Method and device for determining the pick-up position of electrical components in a component in a components placement device

Abstract

A device and appertaining method for picking up devices in a component placement device permits even very small components and even a first component of a new belt to be picked up by scanning the structural features of the belt directly in the proximity of the components. The positional tolerances can be disregarded so that even the first component of a new belt can be reliably detected by the pick-up tool.

1 . A method of determining the pick-up position of electrical components ( 4 ) in a component placement device for populating substrates with the components ( 4 ), which are made ready in pockets ( 3 ) in at least one belt ( 1 ), 
 the belt ( 3 ) being inserted into a feed module ( 5 ), which delivers the components ( 4 ) to a pick-up point ( 12 ) in a defined pick-up position,    the components ( 4 ) being removed from the pockets ( 3 ) by means of a freely positionable component placement head ( 6 ),    position-resolving scanning optics ( 10 ) of the component placement head ( 6 ) being moved over centering marks in the area of the pickup point ( 12 ) and determined with the aid of an image evaluation unit ( 13 ) belonging to the component placement device,    characterized in that the scanning optics ( 10 ) is aimed at structural features ( 14 ) that are associated directly with the pockets ( 3 ) and which are used as the centering marks, and in that the image evaluation unit ( 13 ) calculates the average position of the pockets ( 3 ) from the position of the structural features ( 14 ).    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the component ( 4 ) lying in the pocket ( 3 ) is scanned.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the structural features of the pocket ( 3 ) are scanned directly.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that the edges of the pocket ( 3 ) are detected.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the scanning optics ( 10 ) is assigned an illuminating means ( 11 ), whose variable optical characteristics are adapted to different belt types.  
     
     
         6 . A device for carrying out the method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, 
 characterized in that a control unit belonging to the component placement device contains control means for positioning the scanning optics over the pocket ( 3 ),    in that type data about the component belt can be transmitted to the control unit,    in that the scanning optics ( 10 ) can be moved over the structural features of the belt ( 1 ) by using the type data and    in that the image evaluation unit ( 13 ) is equipped with means for detecting and processing different structural features of the various belt types.    
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the image evaluation unit ( 13 ) and a control system for the illuminating means ( 11 ) are connected to a self-teaching adaptation module, which adjusts the illumination ( 11 ) to a sufficient contrast effect of the structural features.