Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Gerhard Haas

Anton Schick

Martin Pruefer

Wolfgang Huber

A confocal spacer switch for a fast, non-contacting determination of the spacing includes a point-shaped element that simultaneously transmits and receives light, imaging optics that form an image of the light-emitting element on a switching range and a light detection device that is coupled to the light-receiving element and emits a signal if an at least partially reflecting object enters the switching range and reflected light falls onto on the light-receiving element. The light-emitting and the light-receiving element preferably is realized with an optical waveguide end. As a result, the optical spacer switch can be divided into two modules that are connected via the optical waveguide, wherein a purely optical module can be realized in a compact and lightweight manner. A method for inserting components on substrates, uses the spacer switch, for which the insertion speed of the components is reduced immediately prior to inserting them. Thus, the impact of the component with the substrate is reduced, for an on the whole fast insertion operation.

Optical spacer switch and insertion head, automatic insertion machine and method for inserting components on substrates by using the optical spacer switch

In a conventional method for controlling successive machine processes, a central control unit only communicates the start commands to the individual decentralized control units when the decentralized control unit responsible for a previous machine process has communicated an end message to the central control unit. As a result of overloading the central control unit with other, a time delay arises between the individual process steps. In the method disclosed herein, the central control unit communicates a preparatory command for a second machine process to the decentralized second control unit during the execution of a first machine process together with a start condition. The second machine process is only started when the second control unit receives a completion signal directly from the first control unit to satisfy the start condition.

Method for controlling successive machine processes

In a method and apparatus wherein components and/or markings applied to substrates are illuminated with illumination devices and imaged via a camera, adequate contrast between useful and unwanted structures is achieved even in the case of highly disparate optical properties of different materials for the substrates, components and markings by the use of an illumination device composed of a number of illumination units that respectively emit light in spectral ranges different from one another and which are thereby separately varied in intensity. This illumination with variable spectral distribution assures an adequate contrast even given the employment of different materials for the illuminated items.

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Oberschleissheim, Germany

Gerhard Haas