Method and apparatus for detecting obstructed vacuum nozzles

摘要

A method and apparatus for detecting whether a vacuum nozzle on a high speed component placement machine is obstructed. A vacuum nozzle (10) has a hollow tube with a vacuum port (25) and an opening (12) at one end. A plastic light guide is connected to the vacuum nozzle such that one portion of the light guide is exposed to be illuminated (50) by a remote light source (30). The light guide transmits light to illuminate the opening (12) from the interior of the vacuum nozzle. The amount of light exiting the illuminated opening is measured (55) by a remotely located light detector (35). A decision (60) is made as to whether the opening is obstructed by comparing the measured illuminated opening to a predetermined standard.