Sensor Placement Cell
A conceirge cell, with a small SCARA robot performing a series of material handling operations to move product through the work cell for assembly. The process starts with placement of the housing into a vision station. While the housing target is being located, the robot then picks a sensor strip from a tape feeder. The sensor is carried to a station where the protective covering for the film adhesive is stripped off. The robot then carries the sensor to another vision station, where the sensor edges are located. The sensor is placed into the housing with an accuracy of 100 microns, and the whole unit is then transferred to a rotary indexer for futher processing.
In the rotary indexer, the film adhesive adhering the sensor to the housing is rolled to remove bubbles, and the film is then inspected with vision to determine if the bond is sufficiently bubble-free for usage. The sensor is then potted in place with a UV curing adhesive, dispensed from a three-axis custom dispenser. The potting compound is then cured at another station, and the finished assembly is then transferred back to the inspection station for final inspection. Completed assemblies are then placed into a matrix tray.
Side view of the work cell showing the vision station and rotary indexer.
Front view of the work cell showing the vision station and the robot.
Backlit gripper showing the sensor strip on a series of micro-suction cups. The backlighting was a custom addition to the cell used to improve locational accuracy.
At the peeling station, the sensor is held in place while the film adhesive protective layer is removed, and then sucked into a vacuum for disposal.
Tape feeder and peeling station
Custom squeegee station for removing air bubbles from the film adhesive.