FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a component inserting machine for
inserting electronic components in printed circuit boards (PCBs). In particular,
the invention relates to an offline feeding and cutting unit for inserting 7.5 mm
components in PCBs in an electronic component inserting machine.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Known units, like PANASERT RHU machine (model-NM8206, NM8207), are used
to insert electronic components in printed circuit boards (PCB). NM
8206 and NM8207 are Panasert RH series high-density, radial lead component
insertion machines capable of inserting component in the PCB using guide pin
system. This machine inserts "taped radial lead components" at lead center
distance of 5 mm and 7.5 mm using four guide pins.

In the known NM 8206 machine and NM 8207 machine a z-carriage is pravided.
The Z-carriage has sixty-two stations, on which different types of 5mm electronic
components can be loaded. A z-carriage is provided for feeding and cutting a
component from the tape, which moves according to a program. When Z-
carriage moves, desired station stops at the front of head and then one
component is fed and cut by the feed unit and cutter unit respectively (one step
forward). The component is picked up by the head and the component is
inserted into the PCB.
In the Z-carriage of NM8206 and NM8207, machines 7.5 component can also be
fed with one step forward. However, 7.5 mm component being of larger body
size, a one step gap is provided between two consecutive components in the
tape. As a result the machine requires double feeding for component insertion.
For 5.0 mm components with small body size, only one step is required for
feeding.

Thus the disadvantage with known machines is that it needs 2-step feeding for
big body size 7.5 mm components which increases the machine cycle time as
compared with insertion of 5.0 mm components.
Since in the prior art machines a 7.5 mm component requires two times feeding
for insertion, as compared to 5 mm components, there was a need for making
one step feeding for the insertion of big sized 7.5 mm component into the PCB,
In the component inserting machine, so that the PCB cycle time can be reduced,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to reduce the PCB cycle time by
reducing the double feeding time in inserting 7.5 mm components.
The present invention also provides flexibility in component inserting machine by
making one time feeding for insertion of big sized 7.5 mm components.

These and other objects can be achieved by carrying out the first step of feeding
and cutting the tape of 7.5 mm components offline (i.e. externally of the
insertion head of the machine). The machine then would not require two-step
feeding of large sized 7.5 mm components.
With this offline feed and cut of 7.5 mm components the unwanted gap in the
tape is removed. As a result when the Z-carriage reaches to insert component,
only one-step feeding is required to insert the component and machine can feed
all components at the insertion point in one step and at the same time cut the
extra feed tape after this activity.
In the electromechanical system of the present invention, pneumatic cylinders,
solenoid, relays, reed switch and sharp edge blade have been used to activate
the cylinders. After completing one cycle of machine it goes to zero to start next
cycle. When machine is zeroing and machine senses all axes (x, y and z) have
reached the origin point after completing a cycle, at that time feed cylinder of
the present invention comes in action and feed all 7.5 mm component

simultaneously and comes to its home position. When machine completes one
cycle then all the machine axes come to their original position or initial position,
called the home position. So when machine senses that all axes are in home
position then machine starts for the next cycle. Then both cutter cylinders come
in action downwards to cut the extended waste tapes. All these activities are
completed in a very short time (during PCB transfer).
For the feeding and cutting unit of the present invention no additional circuitry is
required to be added to the main inserting machine. The offline feeding and
cutting unit independently performs the additional tasks. Also, no additional
mechanical modification is required.
In the feed and cutter unit for 7.5 mm components of the present invention
there is facility to select any component at a time. This is provided by putting
extra "detachable guide" or metal bars on each cassette for component selection
in case of model change.

In the present invention solenoid, relays, reed switches are used to activate the
cylinders. The unit receives the machine z-carriage zero signal and rail down
(PCB transfer) signal after this the '7.5 mm component feed and cut unit' comes
in action to feed all selected component and cut the waste tape of forwarded
component.
Thus the present invention provides a feeding and cutting unit for an electronic
component inserting machine having an insertion head for inserting the
components into a PCB, and a moving Z-carriage for loading and feeding the
components carried in tape form; characterized in that said feeding and cutting
unit is provided offline (outside said insertion head) for feeding and cutting of all
7.5 mm components thereby eliminating an extra feeding step in the insertion
head and reducing the operating cycle time.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The invention can now be described in detail with the help of the figures of the
accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows in schematic form the high-density radial lead component
insertion machine on which the present invention is applied.
Figure 2 shows the extra gap in tape of 7.5 mm component
compared with 5.0 mm component.
Figure 3 shows the offline feed and cut unit of the present invention.
Figure 4 shows the process flow chart of the present invention.
Figure 5 shows the flow chart of control operation of the
offline feed and cutter unit of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An overall view of the high-density radial lead component insertion machine is
shown in Figure 1, on which the present invention is applied.

The arrangement of the tapes for 5.0 mm and 7.5 mm components is shown in
Figure 2 illustrating the extra gap in the 7.5 mm component tape requiring
double feeding (one extra step) for insertion.
In order to eliminate the extra time required for this double feeding, an offline
(outside the insertion head of the machine) feeding and cutting unit of the
present invention is provided for insertion of all 7.5 mm components. This unit is
illustrated in Figure 3.
The offline feeding and cutting unit for 7.5 mm components of the present
invention is shown in Figure 3. A main frame 6 is provided with a feed unit and
a cutting unit mounted thereon.
The feeding section comprises a feed cylinder 4 for feeding all 7.5 mm
components at a time. At the end of the rod of this cylinder 4 a feed plate 3 is
mounted which is supported by a guide shaft 5.

In the tape cutting, section two tape cutter cylinders 1 are provided, mounted on
the main frame 6 at an angle of 45° as shown in Figure 3. These tape cutting
cylinders 1 are used for cutting all waste tape of 7.5 mm components at a time.
The cutting is done with the help of a tape cutter plate 2 provided with a blade
7. The feed cylinder 4 and the two cutting cylinders 1 are adjustable cylinders.
For component selection metal bars are used which can be mounted on each
cassette for feeding the 7.5 mm components. When the feed cylinder 4 is
actuated, the feed plate 3 pushes the metal bars and all 7.5 mm components
come out one step forward. The metal bars can be removed according to the
machine program as required for different PCBs.
A flow chart of the process of the present invention is shown in Figure 4, which
is self explanatory. A total of three cylinders are used in the present invention to
cut and feed the component. One cylinder is used to feed the component with
the support of a metal strip and two cylinders are used to mount cutter. The
two cylinders actuate simultaneously.

Figure 5 shows a flow chart of control operation of the 7.5 mm component feed
and cut unit of the present invention. This flow chart explains the sequence of
event B. Relays get the signal from Z-carriage zero photohimic and from PCB
transfer conveyor down limit switch. This actuates the component feed cylinder
4 of the invention immediately cylinder feed is recognized by a reed switch,
which actuates another solenoid of tape cutter which actuates and cuts the
extended waste tape. The machine then goes to complete there cycle.

WE CLAIM,
1. A feeding and cutting unit for an electronic component inserting machine
having an insertion head for inserting the components into a PCB, and a
moving Z-carriage for loading and feeding the components carried in tape
form;
characterized in that said feeding and cutting unit is provided offline
(outside said insertion head) for feeding and cutting of all 7.5 mm
components thereby eliminating an extra feeding step in the insertion
head and reducing the operating cycle time.
2. The feeding and cutting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein feeding
section of said feeding and cutting unit comprises a feed cylinder, which is
actuated by relays upon receiving the Z-carriage zero signal and rail down
(PCB transfer conveyor) signal.

3. The feeding and cutting unit as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said
feed cylinder of said feeding and cutting unit is provided with a feed plate
mounted at the end of the cylinder rod for feeding all components one
step forward by pushing metal bars mounted on cassettes containing the
7.5 mm components.
4. The feeding and cutting unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said feed plate
is mounted with the help of a guide shaft.
5. The feeding and cutting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein cutting section
of said feeding and cutting unit comprises two cylinders mounted on a
main frame at an angle of 45° for cutting all waste tape of 7.5 mm
components with the help of a tape cutter plate with blade.
6. The feeding and cutting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feeding
and cutting cylinders are actuated with the help of relays solenoid valves
and reed switches.

7. A feeding and cutting unit for an electronic component inserting machine
having an insertion head for inserting the components into a PCB,
substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.

The main object of the present invention is to reduce the PCB cycle time by reducing the double feeding time in inserting 7.5 mm components.
The present invention also provides flexibility in component inserting machine by making one time feeding for insertion of big sized 7.5 mm components.
These and other objects can be achieved by carrying out the first step of feeding
and cutting the tape of 7.5 mm components offline (i.e. externally of the
insertion head of the machine). The machine then would not require two-step feeding of large sized 7.5 mm components.
With this offline feed and cut of 7.5 mm components the unwanted gap in the tape is removed. As a result when the Z-carriage reaches to insert component, only one-step feeding is required to insert the component and machine can feed all components at the insertion point in one step and at the same time cut the extra feed tape after this activity.
In the electromechanical system of the present invention, pneumatic cylinders, solenoid, relays, reed switch and sharp edge blade have been used to activate the cylinders. After completing one cycle of machine it goes to zero to start next cycle. When machine is zeroing and machine senses all axes (x, y and z) have
reached the origin point after completing a cycle, at that time feed cylinder of the present invention comes in action and feed all 7.5 mm component simultaneously and comes to its home position. When machine completes one cycle then all the machine axes come to their original position or initial position, called the home position. So when machine senses that all axes are in home position then machine starts for the next cycle. Then both cutter cylinders come
in action downwards to cut the extended waste tapes. All these activities are completed in a very short time (during PCB transfer).
For the feeding and cutting unit of the present invention no additional circuitry is required to be added to the main inserting machine. The offline feeding and cutting unit independently performs the additional tasks. Also, no additional mechanical modification is required.
In the feed and cutter unit for 7.5 mm components of the present invention there is facility to select any component at a time. This is provided by putting extra "detachable guide" or metal bars on each cassette for component selection in case of model change.
In the present invention solenoid, relays, reed switches are used to activate the cylinders. The unit receives the machine z-carriage zero signal and rail down (PCB transfer) signal after this the ‘7.5 mm component feed and cut unit' comes
in action to feed all selected component and cut the waste tape of forwarded component.