Patent Publication Number: US-2020288611-A1

Title: Mounting system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The techniques disclosed herein relate to a mounting system. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Patent Literature 1 discloses a component mounting device for mounting a component on a surface of a board. The component mounting device of Patent Literature 1 includes an imaging device, configured to image a surface of a board, and a control device. The control device determines the position at which the component is mounted based on the image captured by the imaging device. 
     PATENT LITERATURE 
     
         
         Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2003-069288 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     When a component is mounted on the surface of the board by the component mounting device, CAD data may be generated in advance in order to recognize the position where the component is mounted. The CAD data indicates the position at which the component is to be mounted on the surface of the board. The operator using the component mounting device can recognize the position where the component is to be mounted on the surface of the board by checking the CAD data. However, when the component is actually mounted on the surface of the board by the component mounting device, the actual position where the component is to be mounted on the board and the mounting position of the component indicated by the CAD data may be deviated from each other due to some cause. That is, although the actual position where the component is to be mounted on the board and the mounting position of the component indicated by the CAD data are supposed to match with each other, a positional deviation may occur between them. For example, a positional deviation may occur between the actual board and CAD data due to a discrepancy between the design drawing and the actual board in the board manufacturing process or the like. In such a case, the operator using the component mounting device can check whether a positional deviation has occurred between the actual board and the CAD data, but time is required for such a confirmation operation. In addition, if a positional deviation has occurred, there is a possibility that the component cannot be mounted at the correct position on the board surface. Therefore, the present specification provides a technique capable of easily determining whether a component can be mounted at the correct position. 
     Solution to Problem 
     The mounting system disclosed in this specification includes a component mounting device, configured to mount a component on a surface of a board, and a control device. The surface of the board has a planned mounting section, at which mounting of a component by the component mounting device is planned. The component mounting device includes an imaging device for imaging the board surface, and the mounting device is configured to mount a component on the planned mounting section when the planned mounting section of the board surface is at a predetermined position. The control device stores drawing information, depicting the board surface on which a component is to be mounted by the component mounting device, compares the specific position in the stored drawing information with a specific position in image information of the board surface imaged by the imaging device, and recognizes that the planned mounting section of the board surface is not at a predetermined position when the two specific positions are different from each other. 
     With this configuration, by comparing the specific position in the drawing information and the specific position in the image information, it is possible to recognize whether there is a positional deviation between them. When the specific position in the drawing information and the specific position in the image information are different from each other, the control device recognizes that the planned mounting section on the board surface of the board is not at the predetermined position. As a result, it is possible to determine whether the planned mounting section is at the original intended position for mounting the component. Even if the operator using the component mounting device does not visually check the actual board, it is possible to determine whether the planned mounting section is at the original intended position. If the planned mounting section is not at the original intended position, it can be determined that the component cannot be mounted at the correct position. Otherwise, it is determined that the component can be mounted at the correct position. As described above, it is possible to easily determine whether a component can be mounted at a correct position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  A block diagram of a mounting system of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  A side view schematically showing a configuration of the mounting system of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  A side view of a circuit board and an electronic component of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  A top view of the circuit board of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  A flowchart of a position comparison process executed in the mounting system of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  An enlarged view of main part VI of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  A top view of a circuit board of another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Mounting system  1  of an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in  FIG. 1 , mounting system  1  of the embodiment includes multiple component mounting devices  10  and control device  30 . 
     First, component mounting device  10  will be described. In the following, one representative component mounting device  10  among the multiple component mounting devices  10  will be described. Component mounting device  10  is a device for mounting multiple electronic components on a circuit board. Component mounting device  10  is also referred to as a surface mounting device or a chip mounter. Normally, component mounting device  10  is provided together with a solder printing device, another component mounting device, and a board inspection device, and constitutes a series of mounting line. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , component mounting device  10  includes multiple component feeders  12  (one representative component feeder  12  is shown in  FIG. 2 ), feeder holding section  14 , mounting head  16 , imaging unit  20 , moving mechanism  18  for moving mounting head  16  and imaging unit  20 , conveyance device  26 , and operation panel  28 . 
     Each component feeder  12  accommodates multiple electronic components  4 . Each component feeder  12  is a device for supplying multiple electronic components  4  to be mounted on circuit board  2 . Each component feeder  12  is attached to feeder holding section  14  in an exchangeable manner and supplies electronic components  4  to mounting head  16 . Each component feeder  12  is, for example, a tape-type feeder that accommodates multiple electronic components  4  in a wound-tape format. Each component feeder  12  supplies electronic components  4  by feeding out a tape in which multiple electronic components  4  are arranged in a line. The specific configuration of component feeder  12  is not particularly limited. Each component feeder  12  may be a tray-type feeder that accommodates multiple electronic components  4  on a tray or a bulk-type feeder that randomly accommodates multiple electronic components  4  in a container. 
     Moving mechanism  18  moves mounting head  16  and imaging unit  20  between component feeder  12  and circuit board  2 . Moving mechanism  18  of the present embodiment is an XY robot that moves movement base  18   a  in the X-direction and the Y-direction. Moving mechanism  18  includes guide rails for guiding movement base  18   a , a moving mechanism for moving movement base  18   a  along the guide rails, a motor for driving the moving mechanism, and the like. Moving mechanism  18  is disposed above component feeder  12  and circuit board  2 . Mounting head  16  and imaging unit  20  are attached to movement base  18   a . Mounting head  16  and imaging unit  20  are moved above component feeder  12  and above circuit board  2  by moving mechanism  18 . 
     Mounting head  16  includes suction nozzle  6  that picks up electronic components  4 . Suction nozzle  6  is detachable from mounting head  16 . Suction nozzle  6  is attached to mounting head  16  so as to be movable in the Z-direction. 
     Suction nozzle  6  is configured to move up and down in the up-down direction and pick up electronic components  4  by suction, suction nozzle  6  being moved up and down by an actuator (not shown) accommodated in mounting head  16 . In order to mount electronic component  4  on circuit board  2  by mounting head  16 , first, mounting head  16  is moved to a component suction position by moving mechanism  18 . Next, suction nozzle  6  is moved downward until the lower surface of suction nozzle  6  comes into contact with electronic component  4  accommodated in component feeder  12 . Next, electronic component  4  is picked up by suction nozzle  6 , and suction nozzle  6  is then moved upward. Next, mounting head  16  is moved to a component mounting position by moving mechanism  18  and is positioned with respect to circuit board  2 . Next, by lowering suction nozzle  6  toward circuit board  2 , electronic component  4  is mounted on circuit board  2 . 
     Imaging unit  20  is attached to movement base  18   a . Therefore, when mounting head  16  moves, imaging unit  20  also moves integrally. Imaging unit  20  includes camera support  22  and camera  24  (an example of an imaging device). Camera support  22  is attached to movement base  18   a . Camera  24  is attached to camera support  22 . 
     Camera  24  is a device for imaging surface  21  of circuit board  2 . When imaging unit  20  is moved by moving mechanism  18  to a position above circuit board  2 , camera  24  is disposed above circuit board  2 . Camera  24  images surface  21  of circuit board  2  from above circuit board  2  in a state in which the entire surface  21  of circuit board  2  falls within an imaging range. Image data of surface  21  of circuit board  2  imaged by camera  24  is transmitted to control device  30 . Camera  24  includes a camera control device (not shown) for controlling the operation of camera  24 . The operation of camera  24  is controlled by the camera control device. 
     Conveyance device  26  is a device for conveying circuit board  2  into component mounting device  10 , conveying and positioning circuit board  2  to the component mounting position, and conveying circuit board  2  out of component mounting device  10 . Conveyance device  26  of the present embodiment can be configured by, for example, a pair of belt conveyors, supporting device  32  attached to the belt conveyors and supporting circuit board  2  from below, and a driving device for driving the belt conveyors. Circuit board  2  is conveyed in the X-direction shown in the drawing. 
     Supporting device  32  includes support table  38  and multiple support pins  34 . Support table  38  and multiple support pins  34  are disposed below circuit board  2 . Support table  38  is configured to be movable in the up-down direction. Multiple support pins  34  are fixed to support table  38  and protrude upward. In supporting device  32 , when circuit board  2  is conveyed to a predetermined work position by the belt conveyors, support table  38  disposed below circuit board  2  rises. As support table  38  rises, the multiple support pins  34  fixed to support table  38  lift circuit board  2  upward. Operation panel  28  is an input device for receiving instructions from an operator. Various information is displayed on operation panel  28 . 
     Component mounting device  10  mounts multiple electronic components  4  on circuit board  2 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , multiple electronic components  4  are mounted on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . Each electronic component  4  includes multiple electrodes  41 . When electronic component  4  is mounted on surface  21  of circuit board  2 , multiple electrodes  41  of electronic component  4  are fixed to surface  21  of circuit board  2 . Multiple electrodes  41  are made of metal and are electrically conductive. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , circuit board  2  on which multiple electronic components  4  are to be mounted includes multiple planned mounting sections  51  and multiple planned electrode sections  52 . Multiple planned mounting sections  51  and multiple planned electrode sections  52  are formed on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . Multiple planned mounting sections  51  and multiple planned electrode sections  52  are composed of multiple wires or the like printed on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . Planned mounting sections  51  are target locations where mounting of electronic components  4  are to be mounted on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . Planned electrode sections  52  are target locations where electrodes  41  of electronic components  4  are to be disposed on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . Multiple planned electrode sections  52  are formed within planned mounting sections  51 . When each of planned mounting sections  51  of surface  21  of circuit board  2  is at predetermined position, component mounting device  10  mounts electronic component  4  on each planned mounting section  51 . 
     Control device  30  of mounting system  1  shown in  FIG. 2  includes a computer having a CPU, ROM, and RAM. Although not shown, component feeder  12 , mounting head  16 , moving mechanism  18 , and operation panel  28  are communicably connected to control device  30 . Control device  30  controls mounting of electronic components  4  on circuit board  2  by controlling these devices ( 12 ,  16 ,  18 ,  28 ,  32 , etc). The control process by control device  30  will be described later. 
     Control device  30  includes memory section  31 . Memory section  31  stores CAD data (an example of drawing information). The CAD data is drawing information in which surface  21  of circuit board  2  are drawn. The CAD data includes position information indicating the positions of multiple planned mounting sections  51  on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . The CAD data includes position information indicating the positions of multiple planned electrode sections  52  on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . In addition, control device  30  can generate a job file (an example of component mounting information) based on the CAD data. The job file is information used for mounting multiple electronic components  4  on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . 
     Next, the operation of mounting system  1  will be described. In mounting system  1 , first, moving mechanism  18  moves imaging unit  20  above circuit board  2  by moving imaging unit  20  in the X-direction and the Y-direction. As a result, camera  24  of imaging unit  20  is positioned above circuit board  2 . Subsequently, camera  24  of imaging unit  20  images surface  21  of circuit board  2  in a state in which entire surface  21  of circuit board  2  falls within the imaging range. Image data of an image captured by camera  24  is transmitted to control device  30 . 
     In mounting system  1 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , a position comparison process is executed. In step S 11  of the position comparison process, control device  30  receives the image data of surface  21  of circuit board  2  transmitted from camera  24 . The image data includes an image of multiple planned mounting sections  51  and multiple planned electrode sections  52  on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . 
     Next, in step S 12 , control device  30  compares specific position  91  in the received image data with specific position  92  in the CAD data stored in memory section  31 . Specific position  91 ,  92  is, for example, the position of specific planned electrode section  52  among the multiple planned electrode sections  52  on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the position of planned electrode section  52  shown colored in is defined as specific position  91 ,  92 . Control device  30  compares the position information of specific position  91  in the image data (the upper side of the drawing) with the position information of specific position  92  in the CAD data (the lower side of the drawing). 
     Next, in step S 13 , control device  30  determines whether specific position  91  in the image data matches with specific position  92  in the CAD data. When the position information of specific position  91  and specific position  92  match with each other, control device  30  makes a YES determination in step S 13  and the process proceeds to step S 14 . On the other hand, when the position information of specific position  91  and specific position  92  do not match with each other, control device  30  makes a NO determination and the process proceeds to step S 21 . In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , a positional deviation of Δt occurs on circuit board  2  between specific position  91  and specific position  92 . 
     Next, in step S 14 , control device  30  recognizes that specific position  91  on circuit board  2  imaged by camera  24  matches with specific position  92  in the CAD data. As a result, control device  30  recognizes that multiple planned electrode sections  52  on surface  21  of circuit board  2  imaged by camera  24  are at the original predetermined positions. Further, control device  30  recognizes that multiple planned mounting sections  51  are at the original predetermined positions. That is, control device  30  recognizes that the actual positions of multiple planned mounting sections  51  and multiple planned electrode sections  52  on circuit board  2  match with the positions of multiple planned mounting sections  51  and multiple planned electrode sections  52  in the CAD data. Next, in step S 15 , control device  30  displays match information on operation panel  28 . The match information is information indicating that there is no positional deviation between actual circuit board  2  and the CAD data. 
     Next, in step S 16 , control device  30  generates a job file. The job file includes, for example, information on mounting positions and mounting order of multiple electronic components  4 . Control device  30  generates the job file based on the CAD data stored in memory section  31 . Control device  30  acquires various pieces of position information from the CAD data and generates the job file. 
     On the other hand, in step S 21  after the NO determination in step S 13 , control device  30  recognizes that specific position  91  on circuit board  2  imaged by camera  24  is different from specific position  92  in the CAD data. Thus, control device  30  recognizes that multiple planned electrode sections  52  on surface  21  of circuit board  2  imaged by camera  24  are not at the original predetermined positions. Further, control device  30  recognizes that multiple planned mounting sections  51  are not at the original predetermined positions. That is, control device  30  recognizes that the positions of multiple planned mounting sections  51  and multiple planned electrode sections  52  in actual circuit board  2  do not match with the positions of multiple planned mounting sections  51  and multiple planned electrode sections  52  in the CAD data. Next, in step S 22 , the control device  30  displays discrepancy information on operation panel  28 . The discrepancy information is information indicating that a positional deviation has occurred between actual circuit board  2  and the CAD data. Control device  30  displays, for example, a warning on operation panel  28 . 
     Next, in step S 23 , control device  30  generates a job file (an example of component mounting information). The job file is information used for mounting multiple electronic components  4  on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . The job file includes, for example, information on mounting positions and mounting order of multiple electronic components  4 . Control device  30  generates the job file based on the CAD data stored in memory section  31 . Control device  30  acquires various pieces of position information from the CAD data and generates the job file. When generating the job file based on the CAD data, control device  30  generates the job file by correcting the position information indicating the positions of multiple planned mounting sections  51  and multiple planned electrode sections  52 . Since a positional deviation occurs between actual circuit board  2  and the CAD data, control device  30  corrects the position information so as to compensate for the positional deviation. 
     In step S 17  after steps S 16  and S 23 , control device  30  transmits a mounting instruction to component mounting device  10  to mount multiple electronic components  4  on circuit board  2 . Control device  30  transmits the mounting instruction based on the generated job file. Upon receiving the mounting instruction, component mounting device  10  mounts multiple electronic components  4  on circuit board  2 . Component mounting device  10  mounts multiple electronic components  4  on circuit board  2  based on the job file. 
     Control device  30  executes each of the above-described processes for all of multiple component mounting devices  10 . Each process executed by control device  30  is the same as each process described above, and therefore description thereof is omitted. 
     Mounting system  1  of the embodiment has been described above. As is apparent from the above description, mounting system  1  includes component mounting device  10 , for mounting electronic component  4  on surface  21  of circuit board  2 , and control device  30 . Surface  21  of circuit board  2  is provided with planned mounting sections  51  on which mounting of electronic components  4  by component mounting device  10  is planned. Component mounting device  10  includes camera  24  for imaging surface  21  of circuit board  2 . In addition, component mounting device  10  is configured to mount electronic components  4  on planned mounting sections  51  when planned mounting sections  51  of surface  21  of circuit board  2  are at predetermined positions. Control device  30  stores the CAD data in memory section  31 , the CAD data depicting surface  21  of circuit board  2 , on which electronic components  4  are mounted by component mounting device  10 . Control device  30  compares specific position  92  in the CAD data stored in memory section  31  with specific position  91  in the image data of surface  21  of circuit board  2  imaged by camera  24  and recognizes that planned mounting section  51  of surface  21  of circuit board  2  is not at the predetermined position (see steps S 12 , S 13 , S 21 ) if specific position  92  and specific position  91  do not match with each other. 
     Comparing the CAD data and the image data, the positions of planned mounting sections  51  in the CAD data and the positions of planned mounting sections  51  in the image data are supposed to be the same. However, due to some cause, the positions of planned mounting sections  51  in the CAD data and the positions of planned mounting sections  51  in the image data may deviate from each other. For example, before the step of mounting electronic components  4  on circuit board  2 , a printing deviation may occur when wires are formed on surface  21  of circuit board  2  by printing, and thus planned mounting sections  51  may not be formed at the planned positions. In such a case, the positions of planned mounting sections  51  in the CAD data and the positions of planned mounting sections  51  in the image data are different from each other. 
     With the above configuration, by corn paring specific position  92  in the CAD data with specific position  91  in the image data, it is possible to recognize whether a positional deviation has occurred between specific position  92  and specific position  91 . When specific position  92  in the CAD data and specific position  91  in the image data are different from each other, control device  30  recognizes that planned mounting sections  51  on surface  21  of circuit board  2  are not at predetermined positions. As a result, it is possible to determine whether planned mounting sections  51  are at the original intended positions for mounting electronic components  4 . That is, by comparing specific position  92  and specific position  91 , it is possible to determine whether a positional deviation of planned mounting sections  51  has occurred. As a result, even if the operator using component mounting device  10  does not visually check actual circuit board  2 , it is possible to determine whether planned mounting sections  51  are at the original intended positions. If planned mounting sections  51  are not at the original intended positions, electronic components  4  cannot be mounted at the correct positions. Otherwise, electronic components  4  can be mounted at the correct positions. As described above, it is possible to easily determine whether electronic components  4  can be mounted at the correct positions. 
     Although one embodiment has been described above, specific embodiments are not limited to the embodiment described above. In the following description, the same components as those in the above description are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the position of specific planned electrode section  52  among multiple planned electrode sections  52  is defined as specific position  91 ,  92 , but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Specific position  91 ,  92  can be changed as appropriate. For example, the position of the edge of planned mounting section  51  of surface  21  of circuit board  2  may be defined as specific position  91 ,  92 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the position of mark  81  of a polygon (e.g., a triangle) displayed at corner  80  of surface  21  of circuit board  2  may be defined as specific position  91 ,  92 . Mark  81  is printed on surface  21  of circuit board  2 . Corner  80  is a part that is surrounded by two edges of circuit board  2 . 
     While specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. The techniques described in the claims include various modifications and variations of the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the techniques illustrated in this specification or the drawings can simultaneously achieve multiple objectives, and the achievement of one of the objectives by itself has technical usefulness. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1 : Mounting system 
           2 : Circuit board 
           4 : Electronic component 
           6 : Suction nozzle 
           10 : Component mounting device 
           12 : Component feeder 
           14 : Feeder holding section 
           16 : Mounting head 
           18 : Moving mechanism 
           18   a : Movement base 
           20 : Imaging unit 
           21 : Surface 
           22 : Camera support 
           24 : Camera 
           26 : Conveyance device 
           28 : Operation panel 
           30 : Control device 
           31 : Memory section 
           32 : Supporting device 
           34 : Support pin 
           38 : Support table 
           41 : Electrode 
           51 : Planned mounting section 
           52 : Planned electrode section 
           80 : Corner 
           81 : Mark 
           91 : Specific position 
           92 : Specific position