Patent Publication Number: US-2017367227-A1

Title: Component placement machine and attachment

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a component placement machine which picks up a component supplied by a tape feeder and installs the component on a board using an installing head. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A component placement machine picks up a component supplied by a component supply device and installs the component on a board using an installing head. As a type of the component supply device included in such a component placement machine, a tape feeder which supplies the component to a component supply opening by pitch feeding a carrier tape using a sprocket is known. The tape feeder is mounted in a feeder base included in the component placement machine, but if excitation force which is generated at the time of moving the installing head is applied, the tape feeder is greatly vibrated in a width direction (horizontal direction) where rigidity is weak, and suction error of the component due to the installing head is caused to be generated. 
     For this reason, in the related art, a damping mechanism which suppresses vibration of the tape feeder mounted in the feeder base is devised. 
     For example, PTL 1 to be described later discloses an example of which a configuration in which a protrusion for positioning of the tape feeder side is fitted to a fitting hole provided in the feeder base side at the time of mounting the tape feeder in the feeder base is used. In the damping mechanism, a ball member which is provided so as to protrude to the outside of an outer peripheral surface of the protrusion is energized by a spring, and the ball member presses an inner wall surface of the fitting hole in a state in which the protrusion is fitted to the fitting hole. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2010-92962. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, in a configuration of the related art described above, the ball member presses the inner wall surface of the fitting hole at a contact point with respect to the inner wall surface, and thus it is necessary that a spring constant of the spring energizing the ball member is increased or the number of the ball members are increased in order to sufficiently exert a damping function. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the damping mechanism is increased in size and costs thereof are increased. 
     Therefore, the disclosure is to provide a component placement machine which is capable of achieving damping of a tape feeder with an inexpensive configuration and reducing generation of suction errors of the component from the tape feeder due to an installing head. 
     A component placement machine of the disclosure which picks up a component supplied by a tape feeder and mounts the component on a board includes a block part that includes a fitting hole to which a protrusion extending to a rear side from the tape feeder is fitted and a connection member that is provided in the block part, and connects the protrusion to the block part by elastically pressing a side surface of the protrusion fitted to the fitting hole. 
     According to this disclosure, damping of the tape feeder is achieved with an inexpensive configuration, and generation of the suction errors of the component from the tape feeder due to the installing head can be reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a main part of a component placement machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a tape feeder included in the component placement machine with a feeder base and an attachment according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the tape feeder included in the component placement machine with the attachment according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a part of the attachment included in the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a part of the attachment included in the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional plan view of a part of the attachment included in the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7A  is a partial sectional side view of the tape feeder and the attachment of the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7B  is a partial sectional side view of the tape feeder and the attachment of the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 8A  is a partial sectional plan view of the tape feeder and the attachment of the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 8B  is a partial sectional plan view of the tape feeder and the attachment of the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial sectional plan view of the tape feeder and the attachment of the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a partial sectional plan view of an attachment of a first modification example of the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 11A  is a partial sectional plan view of an attachment of a second modification example of the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 11B  is a partial sectional plan view of the attachment of the second modification example of the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 12A  is a partial sectional plan view of an attachment of a third modification example of the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 12B  is a partial sectional plan view of the attachment of the third modification example of the component placement machine according to the embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to drawings. Component placement machine  1  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a device which installs component  3  on board  2 , and is provided with board transporter  12  and component installer  13  on base  11 . Feeder base  14  is coupled with base  11 . A plurality of tape feeders  15  are mounted on feeder base  14 . Here, for convenience of description, a right and left direction of component placement machine  1  when seen from operator OP is set to an X axis direction (refer to  FIG. 2 ), and a front and rear direction thereof is set to a Y axis direction. An up and down direction thereof is set to a Z axis direction. 
     In  FIG. 1 , board transporter  12  is provided with a pair of conveyors  12   a  extending to the X axis direction on base  11 . Board transporter  12  supports both end portions of the Y axis direction of board  2  using the pair of conveyors  12   a , and transports board  2  in the X axis direction. Component installer  13  is configured with installing head  13   b  which is provided with suction nozzle  13   a  and head movement mechanism  13   c  which moves installing head  13   b  in a horizontal plan direction. Each suction nozzle  13   a  is capable of sucking component  3  in a lower end thereof. 
     In  FIG. 1 , feeder base  14  is mounted on carriage  14 D. Carriage  14 D is moved on floor F by operation of operator OP and is coupled with base  11 . The plurality of tape feeders  15  are respectively detachably mounted on feeder base  14  in parallel in the X axis direction. In each tape feeder  15 , carrier tape  17  pulled out from reel  16  held by carriage  14 D is introduced. Component  3  is stored in carrier tape  17 . Each tape feeder  15  pitch-feeds carrier tape  17  using a sprocket which is not illustrated, and thus component  3  accommodated in carrier tape  17  is supplied to component supply opening  15 K. 
     Component placement machine  1 , first, carries in board  2  send from an upstream process side using board transporter  12  and positions at a work position. Also, tape feeder  15  supplies component  3  to component supply opening  15 K, and head movement mechanism  13   c  reciprocates installing head  13   b  between tape feeder  15  and board  2 . Installing head  13   b  picks up component  3 , which is positioned at component supply opening  15 K by tape feeder  15 , by sucking the component using suction nozzle  13   a , and picked up component  3  is installed on board  2 . If installing head  13   b  installs all components  3  to be installed on board  2  on board  2 , board transporter  12  carries out board  2  to a downstream process side. As described above, component placement machine  1  continuously manufactures an installing board. 
     Component placement machine  1  according to the embodiment is provided with a damping mechanism which suppresses vibration of tape feeder  15  mounted in feeder base  14 , and hereinafter, a configuration thereof will be described. 
     In  FIG. 2 , tape feeder  15  is mounted in feeder base  14  through attachment  20  which is detachably installed on feeder base  14  (also refer to  FIG. 1 ). In  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , attachment  20  includes horizontal part  21  extending in the Y axis direction, vertical part  22  extending to an upper side from a rear end of the horizontal part, and block part  23  formed on an upper side of vertical part  22 . Tape discharging guide  24  is mounted in block part  23 . 
     in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , two tape feeders  15  can be mounted in attachment  20  in a state in which tape feeders are arranged in parallel with each other. Also, attachment  20  in which two tape feeders  15  (only one tape feeder  15  may be used) are mounted is installed on feeder base  14 , and thus tape feeder  15  can be mounted in feeder base  14 . The tape discharging guide  24  induces the carrier tape  17  being discharged by tape feeder  15  to a discharging passage, which is not illustrated, formed on base  11 , in a tape inducing passage  24 S ( FIG. 3 ) formed between tape discharging guide and block part  23 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , tape feeder  15  includes engaged part  15 S which is protruded downwardly on a lower part of case  15 C. A plurality of engaged part inserting guides  21 G are provided on an upper surface of horizontal part  21  of attachment  20 . When tape feeder  15  is mounted in attachment  20 , engaged part  15 S of tape feeder  15  is guided to the plurality of engaged part inserting guide  21 G of attachment  20 , and tape feeder  15  is slid from a front side to a rear side of attachment  20  (arrow A illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). 
     In  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , protruding part  21 S which is protruded downwardly is provided on a lower surface of horizontal part  21  of attachment  20 . When attachment  20  is mounted in feeder base  14 , protruding part  21 S of attachment  20  is engaged with tape feeder  14  which is provided in engaging groove  14 M ( FIG. 2 ) to extend in the Y axis direction, and is guided from a front side to a rear side of feeder base  14  (arrow B illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In  FIG. 3 , protrusion  15 T horizontally protruded and extending to a rear side is provided on an end portion of a rear side of tape feeder  15 . Meanwhile, when tape feeder  15  is mounted in attachment  20 , fitting hole  31  to which protrusion  15 T of tape feeder  15  is fitted from a rear side is provided in block part  23  provided in attachment  20 . In the embodiment, two fitting holes  31  are provided to be arranged in the X axis direction. It is because that the two fitting holes are provided by corresponding to two tape feeders  15  mounted in attachment  20 . 
     In  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , accommodating space  32  which is opened upwardly is provided in an intermediate part of two fitting holes  31  provided in block part  23 . Two plate springs  33  are arranged in accommodating space  32 . 
     In  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6 , each plate spring  33  is provided to extend in the Y axis direction totally (direction where protrusion  15 T fitted in fitting hole  31  extends in). Each plate spring  33  includes supporting part  41 , intermediate part  42  which is provided to extend forwardly from supporting part  41 , and pressing part  43  provided in front of intermediate part  42 . Pressing part  43  is a part for elastically pressing a side surface of protrusion  15 T fitted to fitting hole  31 , and is formed in a shape which is semicircularly curved in a horizontal plane in the embodiment. Two plate springs  33  are disposed in accommodating space  32  in an integrated state, so that intermediate parts  42  are in contacted with each other and two pressing parts  43  are respectively protruded to the outside. 
     In  FIG. 4 , each of two fitting holes  31  communicates with accommodating space  32  through passage  34 . Two plate springs  33  respectively expose pressing part  43  in fitting hole  31  from passage  34  of a corresponding side ( FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 ). 
     In  FIGS. 7A, 7B , and  FIGS. 8A and 8B , if tape feeder  15  is mounted in attachment  20 , protrusion  15 T provided in tape feeder  15  is fitted to fitting hole  31  formed on block part  23  of attachment  20  ( FIG. 7A → FIG. 7B  and  FIG. 8A → FIG. 8B ). At this time, pressing part  43  of plate spring  33  being exposed in fitting hole  31  is pushed inside passage  34  (that is, horizontal direction of tape feeder  15 ), and thus protrusion  15 T proceeds rearwardly. 
     If protrusion  15 T fitted to fitting hole  31  makes pressing part  43  of plate spring  33  be pushed, pressing part  43  of plate spring  33  elastically presses a side surface of protrusion  15 T in a direction orthogonal to a direction (it is the X axis direction, and a horizontal direction of tape feeder  15 ) where protrusion  15 T extends (arrow F illustrated in  FIG. 9 ). Accordingly, protrusion  15 T is pressed to inner wall surface  31 H of fitting hole  31  (inner wall surface  31 H of side opposite to a side where pressing part  43  is exposed), and is connected to block part  23  ( FIG. 8B  and  FIG. 9 ). 
     In the embodiment described above, plate spring  33  provided in block part  23  functions as a connection member which connects protrusion  15 T to block part  23  by elastically pressing a side surface of protrusion  15 T fitted to fitting hole  31 . If protrusion  15 T as described above is fitted to fitting hole  31 , plate spring  33  connects protrusion  15 T to block part  23 , and tape feeder  15  is fixed to attachment  20 , and is further fixed to feeder base  14 . As a result, vibration of tape feeder  15  is suppressed. 
     Accordingly, compared to PTL 1, since a contacting area of protrusion  15 T and pressing part  43  can be increased with a simple configuration, vibration of tape feeder  15  is suppressed. 
     First Modification Example 
     In the above description, two plate springs  33  corresponding to two protrusions  15 T are disposed on one accommodating space  32 , but as illustrated in a first modification example of  FIG. 10 , one connection type plate spring  33 , which includes two intermediate parts  42  and two pressing parts  43  extending from one supporting part  41 , may be disposed inside accommodating space  32 . Although such a connection type plate spring  33  is disposed in accommodating space  32 , same effect as a case in which two plate spring  33  described above are disposed in accommodating space  32  can be obtained. 
     That is, as component placement machine  1  according to the embodiment, in a case in which the plurality of tape feeders  15  are mounted in parallel in attachment  20 , accommodating space  32  between two fitting holes  31  to which two protrusions  15 T including two tape feeders  15  which are adjacently mounted are fitted, is provided on block part  23 . One plate spring  33  (connection member) pressing each of two protrusions  15 T of two adjacent tape feeders  15  can be disposed in accommodating space  32 . 
     Second Modification Example 
     In the embodiment described above, the connection member which connects protrusion  15 T fitted to fitting hole  31  to block part  23  is configured with plate spring  33 , but the connection member is a member that exerts the same effect, and may be made of an elastic body such as a rubber member. For example, as illustrated in a second modification example of  FIGS. 11A and 11B , flat plate shape rubber member  133  is attached to cover the entire inner wall surface  31 H of fitting hole  31  and can be used as a connection member. In such a configuration, if protrusion  15 T is fitted to fitting hole  31  ( FIG. 11A → FIG. 11B ), rubber member  133  elastically presses the entire side surface of protrusion  15 T. Protrusion  15 T is connected to block part  23  in a state of being freely insertably and removably press-fitted to fitting hole  31  ( FIG. 11B ). 
     Third Modification Example 
     A third modification example is illustrated in  FIGS. 12A and 12B . Rubber member  133  extending in a fitting direction (Y axis direction) of protrusion  15 T is attached to a part of inner wall surface  31 H of fitting hole  31 , and can be used as the connection member. In such a configuration, if protrusion  15 T is fitted to fitting hole  31  ( FIG. 12A → FIG. 12B ), rubber member  133  elastically presses a part of the side surface of protrusion  15 T. Protrusion  15 T is connected to block part  23  in a state of being pressed by inner wall surface  31 H of fitting hole  31  ( FIG. 12B ). 
     In the embodiment described above, in a case in which rubber member  133  is used as the connection member, the connection member is attached to inner wall surface  31 H of fitting hole  31 . As a case in which plate spring  33  is used as the connection member, it does not matter that accommodating space  32  is provided in block part  23 , rubber member  133  is disposed thereto, and a part thereof is exposed through passage  34 . 
     As described above, in component placement machine  1  of the embodiment, if protrusion  15 T extending in a rear side from tape feeder  15  is fitted to fitting hole  31 , the connection member (plate spring  33 , rubber member  133 , and the like) elastically presses the side surface of protrusion  15 T, and thus protrusion  15 T is connected to block part  23  so that tape feeder  15  is fixed to feeder base  14 . As a result, vibration of tape feeder  15  is suppressed. Therefore, according to component placement machine  1 , damping of tape feeder  15  can be achieved with an inexpensive configuration. Accordingly, generation of suction error of component  3  from tape feeder  15  using installing head  13   b  can be reduced. 
     This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, in the embodiment described above, plate spring  33  is provided to press the side surface of protrusion  15 T in horizontal direction of tape feeder  15 , but accommodating space  32  may be provided in an upper side or a lower side of each fitting hole  31 , and plate spring  33  may press protrusion  15 T upwardly or downwardly. 
     Also, in the embodiment described above, since tape feeder  15  is mounted on feeder base  14  through attachment  20 , block part  23  is provided in attachment  20 , but in a case in which tape feeder  15  is directly mounted on feeder base  14  not through attachment  20 , block part  23  provided with fitting hole  31  and the connection member is provided in feeder base  14 . 
     The component placement machine which is capable of achieving damping of the tape feeder with an inexpensive configuration and reducing generation of the suction error of the component from the tape feeder due to the installing head.