Component mounting line

An automatic exchanging device is provided which moves alongside the front face of a component mounting line. When an automatic exchange request for a feeder is generated in any of multiple component mounting machines constituting the component mounting line, the automatic exchanging device moves to the front of the component mounting machine in which the automatic exchange request was generated to automatically exchange the feeder. When a new automatic exchange request is generated in any one of the component mounting machines, a pull-out operation of a predetermined number of component mounting machines is prohibited, from the component mounting machine facing the automatic exchanging device toward the position of the component mounting machine in which the new automatic exchange request was generated.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present specification discloses a technique related to a component mounting line having an automatic exchanging device for automatically exchanging (i.e., setting and/or removing) feeders with feeder setting bases of multiple component mounting machines arranged along a conveyance path of a circuit board.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, as described in Patent Literature 1 (International Publication WO2016/035145), an automatic exchanging device (exchanging robot) is installed in a movable manner in a moving lane provided alongside an arrangement of multiple component mounting machines constituting a component mounting line, wherein the automatic exchanging device is moved to the front of a component mounting machine at which an automatic exchange request has been generated and automatically exchanges a feeder with the feeder setting base of the component mounting machine.

In general, in a component mounting line, when a problem or the like occurs in any one of the component mounting machines, an operator can pull out the component mounting machine to the front side of the component mounting line to perform an inspection, adjustment, or the like. Further, the operator can pull out the feeder setting base of any component mounting machine forward to check and adjust the set state of the feeder and/or exchange the feeder setting base.

PATENT LITERATURE

Patent Literature 1: International Publication WO2016/035145

BRIEF SUMMARY

Technical Problem

When any problem occurs in any component mounting machine or any problem occurs in a setting state of a feeder on a feeder setting base during operation (manufacturing) of the component mounting line, the operator may pull out the component mounting machine to the front side of the component mounting line or pull out the feeder setting base from a component mounting machine to perform an inspection, adjustment, or the like.

However, since the automatic exchanging device moves along the front face of the component mounting line and passes the front face side of each component mounting machine, if the operator pulls out any component mounting machine to the front face side of the component mounting line or pulls out a feeder setting base from a component mounting machine during operation of the component mounting line, these pulled out component mounting machine or feeder setting base protrude into the moving area of the automatic exchanging device. Therefore, there is a possibility that the moving automatic exchanging device will interfere with a pulled-out component mounting machine or feeder setting base.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present disclosure provides a component mounting line, in which multiple component mounting machines are arranged along a conveyance path of a circuit board, and components, being supplied from a feeder setting base of each component mounting machine, are mounted on the circuit board by the multiple component mounting machines, the component mounting line comprising: an automatic exchanging device, moving alongside the front face of the component mounting line in the arrangement direction of the multiple component mounting machines, which sets and/or removes the feeder to and/or from the feeder setting base of each component mounting machine, in which the automatic exchanging device is configured to set and/or remove the feeder by moving to a front of the component mounting machine at which an automatic exchange request for setting and/or removing the feeder is generated, when the automatic exchange request is generated to any of the multiple component mounting machines, so that each component mounting machine and/or the feeder setting base is configured to enable an operator to pull out the component mounting machine and/or feeder setting base toward the front face side of the mounting line, and a pull-out operation prohibiting section configured to prohibit the pull-out operation of a predetermined number of component mounting machines, from the component mounting machine facing the automatic exchanging device toward a position of a component mounting machine at which a new automatic exchange request has been generated, when the new automatic exchange request is generated in any of the multiple component mounting machines.

In this configuration, when a new automatic exchange request is generated in any of the multiple component mounting devices constituting the component mounting line, the pull-out operation is prohibited for the predetermined number of component mounting machines, from the component mounting machine facing the automatic exchanging device toward the position of the component mounting machine in which the new automatic exchange request was generated so that the pull-out operation by an operator is automatically prohibited for a predetermined number of component mounting machines which the automatic exchanging device passes, and interference between the moving automatic exchanging device, the component mounting machine, and the feeder setting base can be prevented in advance.

In this case, the predetermined number of component mounting machines whose pull-out operation is prohibited by the pull-out operation prohibiting section may be all component mounting machines in the range from the component mounting machine facing the automatic exchanging device to the component mounting machine in which the new automatic exchange request was generated.

Alternatively, the predetermined number of component mounting machines in which pull-out operations are prohibited by the pull-out operation prohibiting section may be a predetermined constant number of component mounting machines.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment 1 will be described with reference toFIGS.1to8.

First, a configuration of component mounting line10will be described with reference toFIGS.1to4.

Component mounting line10is configured by arranging multiple component mounting machines12in a row along the conveyance direction (i.e., the X-direction) of circuit board11, and a solder printing machine (not shown) for printing solder on circuit board11, feeder storage device19for storing cassette-type feeders14, and the like are installed on the side of component mounting line10to which boards are loaded.

As shown inFIG.2, each component mounting machine12is provided with two conveyors13for conveying circuit board11, feeder setting base24(seeFIGS.1and3) for exchangeably setting multiple cassette-type feeders14, mounting head15for holding suction nozzles (not shown) for picking up components supplied from cassette-type feeders14set on feeder setting base24and mounting the components on circuit board11, head moving device16for moving mounting head15in the XY-direction (i.e., left, right, forward, and rearward directions), component imaging camera17(seeFIG.4) for imaging the components picked up by the suction nozzles from below, and the like. Mark imaging camera18(seeFIG.4) for imaging a reference mark (not shown) of circuit board11is attached to head moving device16so as to move integrally with mounting head15in the XY-direction.

In addition, as shown inFIG.4, input device21such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel, storage device22such as a hard disk, RAM, or ROM for storing various programs for controlling, various data, and the like, display device23such as a liquid crystal display, a CRT, or the like are connected to control device20of component mounting machine12. Control device20of each component mounting machine12is connected to production management computer70, which manages production of the entire component mounting line10via a network.

Each component mounting machine12of component mounting line10conveys circuit board11conveyed from component mounting machine12on the upstream side to a predetermined position with conveyor13, clamps and positions circuit board11with a clamping mechanism (not shown), images the reference mark of circuit board11with mark imaging camera18, and recognizes the position of the reference mark (i.e., a reference position of circuit board11) and moves the component supplied from feeder14from the suction nozzle of mounting head15to an imaging position, moves the component from the suction position to the imaging position, images the component from below with component imaging camera17, determines the suction position shift amount of the component, moves mounting head15to correct the suction position shift amount, and then mounts the component on circuit board11, which is on conveyor13, to produce the component mounting board.

As shown inFIG.1, automatic exchanging device26for setting and/or removing feeder14to and from feeder setting base24of each component mounting machine12(hereinafter referred to as “automatic exchange”) is installed on the front face side of component mounting line10. Below feeder setting base24of each component mounting machine12, stock section71for accommodating multiple feeders14to be set in feeder setting base24is provided. When an automatic exchange request of any of multiple component mounting machines12constituting component mounting line10is generated, automatic exchanging device26moves to component mounting machine12in which the automatic exchange request of feeder14was generated, takes out feeder14to be exchanged from feeder setting base24of component mounting machine12in question and collects it in stock section71, and then takes out the necessary feeder14from stock section71and sets it in feeder setting base24. Incidentally, depending on the automatic exchange request, there are cases in which automatic exchanging device26performs only the operation of collecting feeder14taken out from feeder setting base24in stock section71or, in reverse, there are cases in which automatic exchanging device26performs only the operation of setting feeder14taken out from stock section71to the empty slot of feeder setting base24.

On the front face side of component mounting line10, guide rail75for moving automatic exchanging device26in the X-direction alongside the arrangement of component mounting machines12is provided so as to extend in the X-direction over the entire component mounting line10. The side of guide rail75that is on the board loading side of mounting line10extends to feeder storage device19, enabling automatic exchanging device26to move to the front of feeder storage device19so that automatic exchanging device26can take out feeders14needed for automatic exchanging from feeder storage device19and return used feeders14into feeder storage device19.

Automatic exchanging device26has a position detection device34(seeFIG.4) for detecting the position of automatic exchanging device26with respect to component mounting line10. When an automatic exchange request is generated in any one of component mounting machines12, control device90of automatic exchanging device26, while detecting the position of automatic exchanging device26based on the detection signal of position detection device34, moves automatic exchanging device26to component mounting machine12in which the automatic exchange request was generated, and causes automatic exchanging device26to perform automatic exchange of feeder14.

Although not shown in any of the drawings, in addition to automatic exchanging of feeders14, automatic exchanging device26can also automatically exchange cassette-type nozzle exchange sections accommodating suction nozzles for exchanging, cassette-type calibration component supply sections supplying calibration components, and the like with feeder setting base24.

Production management computer70monitors whether an automatic exchange request has been generated in any of multiple component mounting machines12constituting component mounting line10during production, and when an automatic exchange request generated in any of component mounting machines12, the information is transmitted to control device90of automatic exchanging device26to cause automatic exchanging device26to move to the front of component mounting machine12in which the automatic exchange request was generated. Alternatively, control device90of automatic exchanging device26may be made to acquire information of component mounting machine12in which an automatic exchange request is generated directly from component mounting machine12in question via the network, and automatic exchanging device26may then move to the front of component mounting machine12in question.

feeder setting base24of each component mounting machine12is attached in a manner that enables feeder setting base24to be pulled forward and exchanged, and feeder setting base24attached to each component mounting machine12can be pulled forward by an operator to check and adjust the set state of feeder14and exchange feeder setting base24. Further, each component mounting machine12is provided with clamping device32(seeFIG.4) for clamping feeder setting base24into a fully-set state. The operation of pulling out feeder setting base24performed by the operator is an operation of releasing the clamp of clamping device32and pulling out feeder setting base24forward from component mounting machine12, and the operation of releasing the clamp of clamping device32is performed by the operator operating input device21of component mounting machine12, another computer (not shown) such as production management computer70connected to component mounting machine12via a network, a portable terminal (not shown), or the like. The clamp release operation of clamping device32releases the clamped state of feeder setting base24with respect to component mounting machine12, causing feeder setting base24to slightly protrude from component mounting machine12by the reaction of the clamp release operation, after which the operator can manually pull out feeder setting base24.

Multiple component mounting machines12constituting component mounting line10are installed on base25(seeFIG.1) of component mounting line10such that component mounting machines12can be pulled out. Base25of component mounting line10is provided with a pushing device (not shown) for pushing out component mounting machine12forward by a predetermined amount from the fully-set state by the pull-out operation of the operator. The pushing device also functions as a clamping device which operates using, for example, an air cylinder or the like as a driving source and clamps the component mounting machine12into the fully-set state. The pull-out operation of component mounting machine12, similarly to the pull-out operation of feeder setting base24, is performed by causing the pushing device to operate by operating input device21of component mounting machine12, another computer (not shown) such as production management computer70connected to component mounting machine12via a network, a portable terminal (not shown), or the like. After component mounting machine12is pushed forward by a predetermined amount by the pushing device, the operator can manually pull out component mounting machine12.

Incidentally, when any problems occur in any of component mounting machines12or any problems occur in the set state of feeder14on feeder setting base24during operation of component mounting line10, the operator may pull out component mounting machine12in question to the front face side of component mounting line10or pull out feeder setting base24from component mounting machine12in question to perform an inspection, adjustment, or the like.

However, since automatic exchanging device26moves alongside the front face of component mounting line10and passes the front face side of each component mounting machine12during operation of component mounting line10, if an operator pulls out any component mounting machine12to the front face side of component mounting line10or pulls out feeder setting base24from component mounting machine12during operation of component mounting line10, the pulled out component mounting machine12or feeder setting base24will protrude into the moving region of automatic exchanging device26, and therefore, there is a possibility that the pulled out component mounting machine12or feeder setting base24will interfere with automatic exchanging device26which moves.

As a countermeasure to this, when a new automatic exchange request is generated in any of multiple component mounting machines12constituting component mounting line10, the pull-out operation of component mounting machine12and feeder setting base24is prohibited for a predetermined number of component mounting machines12, from the component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging device26toward the position of component mounting machine12in which the new automatic exchange request was generated.

In the first embodiment, as shown inFIG.5, the predetermined number of component mounting machines12whose pull-out operation is prohibited are all component mounting machines12in the range from component mounting machine12facing automatic replacing device26to component mounting machine12in which the new automatic exchange request was generated.

Further, in the first embodiment, when automatic exchanging device26moves to the front of component mounting machine12in which a new automatic exchange request was generated to perform an automatic exchange of feeder14, as shown inFIG.6, in the case in which a portion of automatic exchanging device26protrudes to the front of an adjacent component mounting machine12, the pull-out operation of the adjacent component mounting machine12is also prohibited.

Here, “pull-out operation prohibition” means that the operator holds component mounting machine12and feeder setting base24in a state in which a pull-out operation cannot be performed and specifically, even if the operator operates input device21of component mounting machine12, another computer (not shown) such as production management computer70, or a portable terminal (not shown) to input a pull-out operation signal, the input of the pull-out operation signals are invalidated, or the pull-out operation signal is held in a state in which the pull-out operation signal cannot be inputted (for example, a state in which the operating screen of the pull-out operation cannot be switched), which prohibits both the clamp release operation of clamping device32and the push-out operation of the pushing device, thereby prohibiting the pull-out operation of both component mounting machine12and feeder setting base24.

Further, in the first embodiment, a warning display indicating the prohibition of a pull-out operation is displayed on display device23of component mounting machine12to which a pull-out operation is prohibited, or the sound output device (not shown) of component mounting machine12outputs a warning sound indicating the prohibition of the pull-out operation, thereby providing the operator with information indicating the prohibition of the pull-out operation.

Further, as shown inFIG.7, after the automatic exchanging device26passes in front of the component mounting machine12in which the pull-out operation is prohibited, the prohibition of the pull-out operation on the component mounting machine12is released and the pull-out operation is permitted.

When automatic exchanging device26stops, pull-out operations of component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging device26are prohibited. In this situation in which automatic exchanging device26stops at a position straddling two component mounting machines12(that is, when automatic exchanging device26stops with facing two component mounting machines12being adjacent to each other), the pull-out operations of the two component mounting machines12are prohibited. This is because a portion of automatic exchanging device26may stop in a state of protruding in front of component mounting machine12, performing an automatic exchange, and in front of component mounting machine12next thereto, when automatic exchanging device26performs an automatic exchange of feeder14for the slot being provided at the end of feeder setting base24.

The switching of prohibition/permission (i.e., release prohibition) of the pull-out operation in the first embodiment described above is executed by production management computer70during the operation of component mounting line10in accordance with the pull-out operation prohibition/permission switching program ofFIG.8. The processing content of the pull-out operation prohibition/permission switching program ofFIG.8will be described below.

The pull-out operation prohibiting/permitting switching program shown inFIG.8is repeatedly executed by production management computer70at a predetermined cycle during the operation of component mounting line10, and functions as a pull-out operation prohibiting section that prohibits the pull-out operation for a predetermined number of component mounting machines12in cooperation with control device20of each component mounting machine12.

Production management computer70, when starting the present program, first in step101determines whether automatic exchanging device26stops on the basis of a signal transmitted from control device90of automatic exchanging device26, and if automatic exchanging device26stops, the process proceeds to step102, and production management computer70transmits a pull-out operation prohibiting signal to control device20of component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging device26, As a result, control device20of component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging device26executes the action of prohibiting the pull-out operation.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step103, where it is determined whether a new automatic exchange request has occurred in any of multiple component mounting machines12constituting component mounting line10. If it is determined that a new automatic exchange request has occurred in any component mounting machines12, the process proceeds to step104, and a signal of prohibiting the pull-out operation is transmitted to all component mounting machines12in the range from component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging device26to component mounting machine12in which a new automatic exchange request was generated. As a result, control devices20of all component mounting machines12in the range prohibit the pull-out operation and terminate the present program.

When automatic exchanging device26moves to the front of component mounting section12in which a new automatic exchange request has been generated to perform an automatic exchange of feeder14, as shown inFIG.6, when a portion of automatic exchanging device26protrudes to the front of adjacent component mounting machine12, a pull-out operation prohibiting signal is also transmitted to the adjacent component mounting machine12.

If it is determined in step103that a new automatic exchange request has not been generated in any component mounting machine12, the program is terminated as is.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step101that automatic exchanging device26does not stop, that is, automatic exchanging device26is moving, the process proceeds to step105where it is determined whether there is a component mounting machine12by which automatic exchanging device26has just passed. If it is determined that there is a component mounting machine12by which automatic exchanging device26has just passed, the process proceeds to step106where automatic exchanging device26transmits a release signal of the pull-out operation prohibition to component mounting machine12by which automatic exchanging device26has passed, and the present program is terminated. As a result, every time automatic exchanging device26passes in front of component mounting machine12in which the pull-out operation is prohibited, prohibition of the pull-out operation on that component mounting machine12is released. If it is determined in step106that there is no component mounting machine12by which automatic exchanging device26has just passed, the present program is terminated as is.

With the first embodiment described above, when a new automatic exchange request is generated in any of multiple component mounting machines12constituting component mounting line10, the pull-out operation of component mounting machine12and feeder setting base24is prohibited for all component mounting machines12in the range from component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging device26to component mounting machine12in which the new automatic exchange request was generated so that the pull-out operation by an operator can be automatically prohibited for component mounting machines12in the range in which automatic exchanging device26moves and interference with moving automatic exchanging device26can be prevented in advance.

Further, in the first embodiment, when automatic exchanging device26moves to the front of component mounting machine12in which a new automatic exchange request has been generated to perform automatic exchange of feeder14, as shown inFIG.6, in the case where a portion of automatic exchanging device26protrudes to the front of the adjacent component mounting machine12, the pull-out operation is prohibited for the adjacent component mounting machine12so that when a portion of automatic exchanging device26protrudes to the front of the adjacent component mounting machine12, the pull-out operation can also be prohibited for the adjacent component mounting machine12and interference between the adjacent component mounting machine12and automatic exchanging machine26can also be prevented.

Moreover, since prohibition of the pull-out operation for component mounting machine12is released and is permitted after automatic exchanging device26passes by the front of component mounting machine12, there is an advantage of being able to quickly perform the work of inspection and adjustment or the like on component mounting machine12.

Next, embodiment 2 will be described with reference toFIGS.9to11. The same reference numerals are assigned to substantially the same portions as those in Embodiment 1 and description thereof is omitted or simplified, and mainly different portions will be described.

In the first embodiment described above, when a new automatic exchange request is generated in any of component mounting machines12, the pull-out operation is prohibited for all component mounting machines12in the range from component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging device26to component mounting machine12in which the new automatic exchange request was generated, but in the second embodiment, as shown inFIG.9, when a new automatic exchange request is generated in any of component mounting machines12, the pull-out operation of component mounting machine12and feeder setting base24is prohibited for a predetermined constant number of component mounting machines12(three in the example ofFIG.9), from component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging device26toward the position of component mounting machine12where a new automatic exchange request was generated.

In this case, every time automatic exchanging device26passes by the front of component mounting machine12, as shown inFIG.10, the prohibition of the pull-out operation on component mounting machine12is released to permit the pull-out operation, and the range of component mounting machines12, in which the pull-out operation is prohibited, is changed to a range from component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging machine26at the time of the release to a predetermined number of component mounting machines12toward the moving direction of automatic exchanging machine26.

In this situation, as shown inFIG.11, in the case that the number of component mounting machines12within the range from component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging device26to component mounting machine12in which a new automatic exchange request has been generated is less than a predetermined constant number, the pull-out operation is not prohibited for component mounting machines12at positions beyond the range up to the component mounting machine at which the new automatic exchange request was generated, and the pull-out operation is prohibited within the range up to component mounting machine12at which the new automatic exchange request was generated.

However, when automatic exchanging device26moves to the front of component mounting machine12in which a new automatic exchange request was generated to perform an automatic exchange of feeder14, in the case that a portion of automatic exchanging device26protrudes to the front of the adjacent component mounting machine12, the pull-out operation of the adjacent component mounting machine12is also prohibited.

When automatic exchanging device26stops, pull-out operations of component mounting machine12facing automatic exchanging device26are prohibited. In this situation in which automatic exchanging device26stops at a position straddling two component mounting machines12(that is, when automatic exchanging device26stops with facing two component mounting machines12being adjacent to each other), the pull-out operations of the two component mounting machines12are prohibited.

The switching of the prohibition/permission (i.e., release prohibition) of the pull-out operation in the second embodiment described above is executed by production management computer70in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Also in the second embodiment described above, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the above embodiments 1 and 2, although the switching of prohibition/permission (i.e., release prohibition) of the pull-out operation for each component mounting machine12(prohibition cancellation) was performed by production management computer70, control device20of each component mounting machine12obtains, via a network, position information of automatic exchanging device26and information regarding component mounting machine12at which an automatic exchange request was generated, and control device20of each component mounting machine12switches between prohibition/permission the pull-operation by determining the switching time for prohibition/permission and then switches between prohibition/permission accordingly.

In embodiments 1 and 2, pull-out operations are prohibited by prohibiting the clamp release operation of clamping device32and the push-out operation of the pushing device, but the pull-out operation may be prohibited by other methods. For example, the pull-out operation can be substantially prohibited by displaying a warning of the pull-out operation prohibition on display device23of component mounting machine12, or by using an audio output device of component mounting machine12(not shown) which outputs a warning sound of the pull-out operation prohibition by notifying the operator of information regarding the pull-out operation prohibition.

In addition, the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of embodiments 1 and 2, and it is needless to say that the present disclosure can gist, such as a configuration in which a pull-out operation can be performed on only one of component mounting machine12or feeder setting base24, the configuration of component mounting line10can be changed, the configuration of each component mounting machine12can be changed, or the configuration of automatic exchanging device26can be changed.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST