Patent Publication Number: US-2013247369-A1

Title: Electronic component mounting system and electronic component mounting method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to an electronic component mounting system that manufactures a mounted substrate by mounting electronic components on a substrate and an electronic component mounting method. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     An electronic component mounting system that manufactures a mounted substrate by mounting electronic components on a substrate is constructed by joining a plurality of component mounting apparatuses which subject a substrate printed with solder bonding paste to various operations pertinent to component mounting, such as operations of mounting and inspecting components. An apparatus known as a component mounting apparatus of the kind has two substrate conveyance mechanisms and two operation performance mechanisms which individually correspond to the respective substrate conveyance mechanisms. Adopting such a configuration makes it possible to select one as a production mode from a so-called independent operation mode of letting each of two operation performance mechanisms perform a operation for a substrate held by one corresponding substrate conveyance mechanism and a so-called alternate operation mode letting the two operation performance mechanisms alternately perform respective operations targeted for both substrates held by the two substrate conveyance mechanisms (see; for instance, Patent Document 1). According to the related art described in connection with the patent document, a determination is automatically made on the basis of mount information about a substrate and components as to which one of the production modes is suitable for the substrate during a component mounting operation for mounting electronic components on substrates. 
     RELATED ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: JP-A-2009-239257 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem that the Invention is to Solve 
     Diversification of a production mode has recently proceeded in the electronic industry, and a flexible electronic component mounting system capable of appropriately selecting one from a variety of mounting operation modes in accordance with a characteristic of a type of a production target has become desired at a production site involving component mounting. To this end, the electronic component mounting system with the foregoing configuration is required to enhance production efficiency of the component mounting system to the extent possible by appropriate combination of the two production modes, or the independent operation mode and the alternate operation mode. However, the related art described in connection with the patent document provides only a disclosure of a determination as to which one of the production modes is suitable for an individual substrate but does not include any disclosure about a specific configuration of an efficient electronic component mounting system. For these reasons, an electronic component mounting system and an electronic component mounting method that are flexible and exhibit superior production efficiency have long been awaited. 
     Accordingly, the invention aims at providing an electronic component mounting system and an electronic component mounting method that enable selection of one from a variety of mounting operation modes in accordance with a characteristic of a type of a production target and that are flexible and exhibit superior production efficiency. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     An electronic component mounting system of the invention is configured by joining a plurality of component mounting apparatuses that perform component mounting operations for mounting electronic components on substrates, wherein each of the component mounting apparatuses has: a plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms that convey substrates received from an upstream apparatus in a substrate conveyance direction and that have substrate holding sections for positioning and holding the substrates; a plurality of operation performance mechanisms that are provided in correspondence to the respective substrate conveyance mechanisms and that perform predetermined operation performance while taking the substrates held by the substrate holding sections as targets; and a operation control section that controls the plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms and the plurality of operation performance mechanisms so as to selectively perform any one selected from two modes of a first operation mode and a second operation mode, the first operation mode letting one operation performance mechanism carry out operation performance while taking as a target only a substrate held by the substrate holding section of a substrate conveyance mechanism corresponding to the one operation performance mechanism, a second operation mode in which the one operation performance mechanism can carry out operation performance while taking as targets all of a plurality of substrates held by the substrate holding sections of the plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms; wherein the electronic component mounting system includes a mode command section for commanding the operation mode to be selectively carried out in each of the component mounting apparatuses to the respective component mounting apparatuses. 
     An electronic component mounting method of the invention is for mounting electronic components on substrates by an electronic component mounting system configured by joining a plurality of component mounting apparatuses that perform component mounting operations, wherein each of the component mounting apparatuses has a plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms that convey substrates received from an upstream apparatus in a substrate conveyance direction and that have substrate holding sections for positioning and holding the substrates and a plurality of operation performance mechanisms that are provided in correspondence to the respective substrate conveyance mechanisms and that perform predetermined operation performance while taking the substrates held by the substrate holding sections as targets, and a operation control section that controls the plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms and the plurality of operation performance mechanisms, so as to selectively perform any one selected from two modes of a first operation mode and a second operation mode, the first operation mode letting one operation performance mechanism carry out operation performance while taking as a target only a substrate held by the substrate holding section of a substrate conveyance mechanism corresponding to the operation performance mechanism, the second operation mode in which one operation performance mechanism can carry out operation performance while taking as targets all of a plurality of substrates held by the substrate holding sections of the plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms; and wherein the operation mode to be selectively carried out in each of the component mounting apparatuses is commanded to the respective component mounting apparatuses when the component mounting operations are carried out. 
     Advantage of the Invention 
     According to the invention, an electronic component mounting system configured by joining a plurality of component mounting apparatuses is configured so as to be able to selectively carry out any one of two operation modes; namely, a first operation mode of letting one operation performance mechanism carry out operation performance while taking as a target only a substrate held by the substrate holding section of a substrate conveyance mechanism corresponding to the operation performance mechanism and a second operation mode in which one operation performance mechanism can carry out operation performance while taking as targets all a plurality of substrates held by the substrate holding sections of a plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms. An appropriate mounting operation mode can thereby be selected in accordance with a characteristic of a type of a production target. Thus, an electronic component mounting system and an electronic component mounting method that exhibit superior flexibility and production efficiency can be materialized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an explanatory view of a configuration of an electronic component mounting system of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is view in which (a) and (b) are explanatory views of a configuration of a coating-inspecting apparatus in the electronic component mounting system of the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is view in which (a) to (c) are explanatory views of functions of the coating-inspecting apparatus in the electronic component mounting system of the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is view in which (a) and (b) are explanatory views of a configuration of an electronic component mounting apparatus in the electronic component mounting system of the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is view in which (a) and (b) are explanatory views of the configuration of the electronic component mounting apparatus in the electronic component mounting system of the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is view in which (a) and (b) are explanatory views of a configuration of a mounting-inspecting apparatus in the electronic component mounting system of the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the electronic component mounting system of the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is view in which (a) to (c) are explanatory views of steps of an electronic component mounting method of the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is view in which (a) and (b) are explanatory views of steps of an electronic component mounting method of the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is view in which (a) and (b) are explanatory views of the steps of the electronic component mounting method of the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is view in which (a) to (c) are explanatory views of steps of an electronic component mounting method of the embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     EMBODIMENT FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the invention is now described by reference to the drawings. First, a configuration of an electronic component mounting system is described by reference to  FIG. 1 . The electronic component mounting system  1  has a function of manufacturing a mounted substrate on which electronic components are implemented and is constituted by joining a plurality of component mounting apparatuses that subject a substrate, which is fed from an upstream side and is printed with a paste for bonding electronic components, to component mounting operations for mounting electronic components on a substrate. Specifically, an electronic component mounting system  1  is built by linearly inking, in sequence from an upstream side (i.e., a left side of  FIG. 1 ), a coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  that is a component mounting apparatus; electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2  to M 5 *, and a mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6 , along a substrate conveyance direction (a direction X). The apparatuses are connected to the host computer  3  by way of a LAN system  2 , and the host computer  3  collectively controls component mounting operations of the respective apparatuses in the electronic component mounting system  1 . 
     Each of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  to the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  has a plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms (two mechanisms in the embodiment) that respectively have substrate holding sections (see substrate holding sections  12   a ,  22   a ,  42   a  shown in (a) in  FIG. 2 , (a) in  FIG. 4 , (a) in  FIG. 5  which each receive substrates  4  (see (a) and (b) in  FIG. 2 ) passed from an upstream apparatus and convey the thus-received substrates in the substrate conveyance direction, subsequently positioning and holding the substrates  4 . Each of the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2  to M 5 * also has a plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms (two mechanisms in the embodiment) that respectively have substrate holding sections (see substrate holding sections  22   a  shown in (a) in  FIG. 4  and (a) in  FIG. 5 ) which each receive the substrates  4  (see (a) and (b) in  FIG. 2 ) passed from an upstream apparatus and convey the thus-received substrates in the substrate conveyance direction, subsequently positioning and holding the substrates  4 . The mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  also has a plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms (two mechanisms in the embodiment) that respectively have substrate holding sections (see substrate holding sections  42   a ) which each receive the substrates  4  (see (a) and (b) in  FIG. 2 ) passed from an upstream apparatus and convey the thus-received substrates in the substrate conveyance direction, subsequently positioning and holding the substrates  4 . In each of the apparatuses, each of the substrate conveyance mechanisms corresponds to operation performance mechanisms, such as an inspection processing mechanism and a component mounting mechanism. Therefore, in each of the apparatuses, corresponding operation performance mechanisms can simultaneously perform component mounting operations in parallel for the substrates  4  that have been conveyed by the substrate conveyance mechanisms and are positioned and held by the substrate holding sections. Alternatively, one operation performance mechanism can also sequentially take as targets the substrates  4  that are positioned and held by the substrate holding sections of the plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms. 
     A substrate conveyance lane made by joining the substrate conveyance mechanisms of the respective apparatuses makes up a mounting lane along which the substrate  4  is subjected to mounting operations while being conveyed, in combination with corresponding operation performance mechanisms. In the electronic component mounting system  1  described in connection with the embodiment, each of the apparatuses has two substrate conveyance mechanisms. Therefore, two individual lanes, or a first mounting lane L 1  (a front-side mounting lane) and a second mounting lane L 2  (a rear-side mounting lane), are formed. Each of the component mounting apparatuses that make up the electronic component mounting system  1  has a plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms which convey the substrates  4  received from upstream apparatuses in the substrate conveyance direction and which have the substrate holding sections for positioning and holding the substrates  4 , and also has a plurality of operation performance mechanisms which are provided in correspondence with the respective substrate conveyance mechanisms and which carry out predetermined operation performance for the substrates  4  held by the substrate holding sections. 
     A structure of the apparatuses that make up the electronic component mounting system  1  is hereunder described. A configuration of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  is first descried by reference to  FIG. 2 . As shown in (a) in  FIG. 2 , a first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A that makes up the first mounting lane L 1  and a second substrate conveyance mechanism  12 B that makes up the second mounting lane L 2  are laid at a center of a top surface of a bench  11  in the direction X. The first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  12 B convey in the direction X the substrates  4  that have been delivered from an upstream apparatus and that are printed with paste. Each of the first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  12 B has the substrate holding section  12   a , and the respective substrate holding sections  12   a  position and hold the thus-conveyed substrates  4  at respective operation positions in the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1 . 
     A Y-axis movable table  13  is placed along a direction Y at an end of the top surface of the bench  11  that is downstream in the direction X. The Y-axis movable table  13  is outfitted with a first X-axis movable table  14 A and a second X-axis movable table  14 B. As shown in (b) in  FIG. 2 , the first X-axis movable tables  14 A and  14 B are slidable in the direction Y along guide rails  13   a  laid on a side surface of the Y-axis movable table  13  and are moved along the direction Y by means of a built-in linear motor mechanism in the Y-axis movable table  13 . The first X-axis movable table  14 A is outfitted with a coating head  16  as a work head by way of an X-axis movable attachment base, and the second X-axis movable table  14 B is outfitted with an inspection head  15  as a work head by way of the X-axis movable attachment base. The coating head  16  is actuated in the direction X by means of the built-in linear motor mechanism of the first X-axis movable table  14 A, and the inspection head  15  is actuated in the direction X by the built-in linear motor mechanism of the second X-axis movable table  14 B. The Y-axis movable table  13 , the first X-axis movable table  14 A, and the second X-axis movable table  14 B make up a head actuating mechanism for actuating the coating head  16  and the inspection head  15 . 
     The coating head  16  is configured such that a dispenser  16   b  is held in a vertically movable manner by a vertical base  16   a  and has a function of squirting a resin adhesive for bonding electronic components from a nozzle  16   c  attached to a lower portion of the dispenser  16   b . The coating head  16  is moved to a position above the substrate  4  that is positioned and held by the substrate holding section  12   a  of the first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A by a head actuating mechanism and also to a position above the other substrate  4  that is positioned and held by the substrate holding section  12   a  of the second substrate conveyance mechanism  12 B by the head actuating mechanism, whereby arbitrary resin coating points on the substrates  4  can be coated with a resin adhesive. 
     A sacrificial spray unit  17 A to be used along with the coating head  16  is placed beside the first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A. The coating head  16  is moved to a position above the sacrificial spray unit  17 A, thereby lowering the dispenser  16   b  with respect to the sacrificial spray unit  17 A. Trial spraying for confirming a squirted state of a resin adhesive, and sacrificial spraying for eliminating an unwanted resin adhesive adhering to the nozzle  16   c  are performed. 
     The inspection head  15  has a built-in imaging apparatus for capturing an image of the substrate  4  to be inspected. By the head actuating mechanism, the inspection head  15  is moved to positions above the respective substrates  4  that are positioned and held by the substrate holding section  12   a  of the first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A and the substrate holding section  12   a  of the second substrate conveyance mechanism  12 B, subsequently capturing images of the respective substrates  4  to be inspected. A carriage  18  attached to the bench  11  sideways has a built-in recognition processing unit  18   a . An image captured by the inspection head  15  is subjected to recognition processing by the recognition processing unit  18   a , whereby an inspection is performed on predetermined inspection items by means of image recognition. A calibration unit  17 B is placed beside the second substrate conveyance mechanism  12 B. The inspection head  15  is moved to a position above the calibration unit  17 B to capture an image of the calibration unit  17 B, whereby an imaging state achieved when the inspection head  15  has captured an image is calibrated. 
     Operation performance performed by the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  is now described by reference to  FIG. 3 . In (a) in  FIG. 3 , the first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  12 B hold the substrates  4 , respectively. First, the substrate  4  held by the first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A is taken as an inspection target, and the inspection head  15  moves to a position above the substrate  4 , where an image of a position of the substrate  4  to be inspected is captured. Next, as shown in (b) in  FIG. 3 , when the inspection head  15  is retracted from the position above the substrate  4  to be inspected, the coating head  16  is caused to advance toward a position above the substrate  4 , and the dispenser  16   b  is then lowered. Thus, the nozzle  16   c  coats coating points on a top surface of the substrate  4  with a resin adhesive  19 . 
     Subsequently, after the coating head  16  has been retracted from the position above the substrate  4 , the inspection head  15  is again caused to advance to the position above the substrate  4 , thereby capturing an image of the substrate  4  coated with the adhesive resin  19 . An imaging result is subjected to recognition processing by the recognition processing unit  18   a , whereby there is carried out a pre-coating inspection for inspecting a state of the substrate  4  before resin coating and a post-coating inspection for inspecting a state of the substrate  4  after resin coating. Coating and inspection processing can be completed at this time without moving the substrate  4  during the pre-coating inspection, the coating operation, and the post-coating inspection. In this respect, the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  assumes various inspection modes. As shown in (a) to (c) in  FIG. 3 , in addition to a mode for performing both the pre-coating inspection and the post-coating inspection, another mode for performing either only the pre-coating inspection or the post-coating inspection can also be assumed. 
     The embodiment shown in (a) to (c) in  FIG. 3  shows an example of coating operation and inspecting operation that are intended solely for the substrate  4  held by the first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A. However, when the substrates  4  to be inspected are simultaneously held by the first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  12 B, respectively, the two substrates  4  are targets of coating operation and inspecting operation. In this case, there is employed an operation pattern that makes it possible to perform coating operation and inspecting operation most efficiently for the two substrates  4 . 
     In the configuration of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  the Y-axis movable table  13 , the first X-axis movable table  14 A, and the coating head  16  make up a resin coating mechanism that serves as a operation performance mechanism for performing resin coating operation, which is a component mounting operation, for the plurality of substrates  4  conveyed by the plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms. Further, the Y-axis movable table  13 , the first X-axis movable table  1 BA, and the inspection head  15  make up an inspection processing mechanism that serves as a operation performance mechanism for performing a substrate inspection, which is a component mounting operation, for the plurality of substrates conveyed by the plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms. As above, the resin coating mechanism and the inspection processing mechanism make up the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  in combination with the plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms, whereby two functions can be compactly incorporated in one apparatus space within the electronic component mounting system  1  outfitted with the plurality of individual mounting lanes. 
     A configuration of each of the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2  to M 4  is now described by reference to  FIG. 4 . The electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2  to M 4  have an identical structure. In (a) in  FIG. 4 , a first substrate conveyance mechanism  22 A making up the first mounting lane L 1  and a second substrate conveyance mechanism  22 B making up the second mounting lane L 2  are laid at a center on a top surface of a bench  21  along the direction X. The first substrate conveyance mechanism  22 A receives and conveys the substrate  4  that is conveyed by the first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  after having been coated and inspected. The second substrate conveyance mechanism  22 B receives and conveys the substrate  4  that is conveyed by the second substrate conveyance mechanism  12 B of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  after having been coated and inspected. Each of the first substrate conveyance mechanism  22 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  22 B has the substrate holding section  22   a , and the substrate holding section  22   a  positions and holds the conveyed substrate  4  at a operation position on each of the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2  to M 4 . 
     A first component feed section  26 A and a second component feed section  26 B that feed components to be mounted are disposed one on either side of the bench  21 . A carriage  27  outfitted with a plurality of tape feeders  29  is placed for each of the first component feed section  26 A and the second component feed section  26 B. Each of tape feed reels  28  housing in a coiled manner a carrier tape T holding electronic components to be mounted is mounted on the carriage  27  in correspondence to each of the tape feeders  29 . Each of the tape feeders  29  performs pitch-feeding of the carrier tape T withdrawn from a corresponding tape feed reel  28 , thereby feeding electronic components to a pickup position for the component mounting mechanism to be described below. 
     A Y-axis movable table  23  is placed along the direction Y at an end of the top surface of the bench  21  that is downstream in the direction X. The Y-axis movable table  23  is outfitted with a first X-axis movable table  24 A and a second X-axis movable table  24 B. As shown in (b) in  FIG. 4 , the first X-axis movable table  24 A and the second X-axis movable table  24 B are slidable in the direction Y along guide rails  23   a  laid on a side surface of the Y-axis movable table  23  and are moved along the direction Y by means of a built-in linear motor mechanism in the Y-axis movable table  23 . The first X-axis movable table  24 A is outfitted with a first mounting head  25 A as a work head by way of an X-axis movable attachment base, and the second X-axis movable table  24 B is outfitted with a second mounting head  25 B as a work head by way of the X-axis movable attachment base. The first mounting head  25 A is actuated in the direction X by means of the built-in linear motor mechanism of the first X-axis movable table  24 A, and the second mounting head  25 B is actuated in the direction X by the built-in linear motor mechanism of the second X-axis movable table  24 B. The Y-axis movable table  23 , the first X-axis movable table  24 A, and the second X-axis movable table  24 B make up a head actuating mechanism for actuating the first mounting head  25 A and the second mounting head  25 B. 
     Each of the first mounting head  25 A and the second mounting head  25 B is configured such that a plurality of pickup nozzles  25   a  are removably attached to a lower portion of the mounting head, and the first mounting head  25 A and the second mounting head  25 B are actuated by the head actuating mechanism, thereby picking up electronic components from the respective tape feeders  29  with the pickup nozzles  25   a , transferring and mounting the thus-picked-up electronic components on the respective substrates  4 . The first mounting head  25 A, the second mounting head  25 B, and the head actuating mechanism make up component mounting mechanisms (a first component mounting mechanism and a second component mounting mechanism) that serve as a plurality of operation performance mechanisms for carrying out component mounting operations, which are component mounting operations, while taking as respective targets the plurality of substrates  4  conveyed by the first substrate conveyance mechanism  22 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  22 B. 
     A first component recognition camera  27 A is interposed between the first substrate conveyance mechanism  22 A and the tape feeders  29 , and a second component recognition camera  27 B is interposed between the second substrate conveyance mechanism  22 B and the tape feeders  29 . The first component recognition camera  27 A is situated in a travel path of the first mounting head  25 A and captures images of the electronic components held by the first mounting head  25 A from below. The second component recognition camera  27 B is situated in a travel path of the second mounting head  25 B and captures images of the electronic components held by the second mounting head  25 B from below. Imaging results are subjected to recognition processing, whereby positional deviations of the electronic components held by the first mounting head  25 A and the second mounting head  25 B are detected. 
     By reference to (a) and (b) in  FIG. 5 , a configuration and a function of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 * are now described. The electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 * is one that is embodied by providing the second component feed section  26 B on one side of any of the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2  to M 4  shown in (a) and (b) in  FIG. 4  with, in place of the carriage  27  outfitted with the tape feeders  29 , a tray feeder  30  that has a function of feeding trays  32  which store large electronic components. As shown in (b) in  FIG. 5 , the tray feeder  30  is outfitted with a tray housing section  31  that houses the plurality of trays  32  held by a palette (omitted from the drawing), and has a function of withdrawing each of the trays  32  from the tray housing section  31  with a tray holding section  33  and moving the thus-withdrawn tray  32  to a pickup position for the first mounting head  25 A. During component mounting operation, the first mounting head  25 A takes out electronic components from the tray  32  with the pickup nozzles  25   a , transferring and mounting the thus-taken electronic components on the respective substrates  4  positioned and held by the substrate holding section  22   a  of the first substrate conveyance mechanism  22 A and the substrate holding section  22   a  of the second substrate conveyance mechanism  22 B. To be specific, the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 * is configured such that the second component feeding section  26 B corresponding to the second component mounting mechanism is equipped with the tray feeder  30 . The electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 * is analogous to the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2  to M 4  except the second component feeding section  26 B in terms of the configuration and the function. 
     By reference to (a) and (b) in  FIG. 6 , a configuration and a function of the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  are now described. A first substrate conveyance mechanism  42 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  42 B are laid along the direction X at a center of a top surface of a bench  41 . The first substrate conveyance mechanism  42 A receives and conveys the substrate  4  on which the components are mounted and which is conveyed out from the first substrate conveyance mechanism  42 A of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *, and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  42 B receives and conveys the substrate  4  on which the components are mounted and which is conveyed out from the second substrate conveyance mechanism  42 B of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *. Each of the first substrate conveyance mechanism  42 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  42 B has the substrate holding section  42   a . The substrate holding section  42   a  positions and holds the conveyed substrate  4  at a operation position on the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6 . The carriage  18  shown in (b) in  FIG. 2  is placed on one side of the bench  41 , and the carriage  27  shown in (b) in  FIG. 4  is placed on the other side of the bench  41 . 
     A Y-axis movable table  43  is placed along the direction Y at an end of the top surface of the bench  41  that is downstream in the direction X. The Y-axis movable table  43  is outfitted with a first X-axis movable table  44 A and a second X-axis movable table  44 B. The first X-axis movable table  44 A and the second X-axis movable table  44 B are slidable in the direction Y along guide rails  43   a  laid on a side surface of the Y-axis movable table  43  and are actuated along the direction Y by means of a built-in linear motor mechanism in the Y-axis movable table  43 . The first X-axis movable table  44 A is outfitted with a mounting head  45  as a work head by way of the X-axis movable attachment base, and the second X-axis movable table  44 B is outfitted with the inspection head  15  as a work head by way of the X-axis movable attachment base. The mounting head  45  is actuated in the direction X by means of the built-in linear motor mechanism of the first X-axis movable table  44 A, and the inspection head  15  is actuated in the direction X by the built-in linear motor mechanism of the second X-axis movable table  44 B. The Y-axis movable table  43 , the first X-axis movable table  44 A, and the second X-axis movable table  44 B make up the head actuating mechanism for actuating the mounting head  45  and the inspection head  15 . 
     The mounting head  45  is configured such that a plurality of pickup nozzles  45   a , are removably attached to a lower portion of the head. Like the first mounting head  25 A and the second mounting head  25 B in each of the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2  to M 4 , the mounting head  45  is actuated by the head actuating mechanism, thereby transferring and mounting the electronic components picked up from the tape feeders  29  to each of the respective substrates  4  that have been conveyed by the first substrate conveyance mechanism  42 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  42 B and that are positioned and held by the substrate holding sections  42   a . The mounting head  45  and the foregoing head actuating mechanism make up a operation performance mechanism that subjects the plurality of substrates  4  conveyed by the first substrate conveyance mechanism  42 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  42 B to component mounting operations which are component mounting operations. 
     The inspection head  15  has functions analogous to those of the inspection head  15  shown in (a) and (b) in  FIG. 2  and (a) to (c) in  FIG. 3  and captures an image of each of the component-mounted substrates  4  conveyed by the first substrate conveyance mechanism  42 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  42 B. Imaging results are subjected to recognition processing by the recognition processing unit  18   a , thereby performing a post-mounting inspection for determining whether or not a state of the electronic components mounted on the substrate  4  is non-defective. The inspection head  15  and the head actuating mechanism make up a operation performance mechanism that subjects the plurality of substrates  4  conveyed by the first substrate conveyance mechanism  42 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  42 B to substrate inspection operation which is a component mounting operation. The component-mounted substrate  4  having undergone the post-mounting inspection is conveyed into a reflow apparatus connected to a downstream-side of the operation performance mechanism, where the substrate  4  is heated to thereby solder the electronic components to circuit electrodes of the substrate  4 . 
     In the configuration of the electronic component mounting system  1 , a conveyance lane formed as a result of linkage of the first substrate conveyance mechanism  12 A of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1 , the first substrate conveyance mechanisms  22 A of the respective electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2  to M 5 *, and the first substrate conveyance mechanism  42 A of the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  and the respective operation performance mechanisms provided in correspondence with the conveyance lane make up the first mounting lane L 1 . Likewise, a conveyance lane formed as a result of linkage of the second substrate conveyance mechanism  12 B of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1 , the second substrate conveyance mechanisms  22 B of the respective electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2  to M 5 *, and the second substrate conveyance mechanism  42 B of the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  and the respective operation performance mechanisms provided in correspondence with the conveyance lane make up the second mounting lane L 2 . 
     In relation to the configuration of each of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  to the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  that are component mounting apparatuses of the embodiment, each of the apparatuses has a plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms that have the substrate holding sections  12   a ,  22   a , and  42   a  for conveying the substrates  4  received from an upstream apparatus in the substrate conveyance direction and positioning and holding the respective substrates  4  (the first substrate conveyance mechanisms  12 A,  22 A, and  42 A and the second substrate conveyance mechanisms  12 B,  22 B, and  42 B) and a plurality of operation performance mechanisms that are provided in correspondence with the respective substrate conveyance mechanisms and that take the substrate  4  held by the substrate holding sections  12   a ,  22   a , and  42   a  as a target and subject the target to predetermined operation performance. 
     In relation to the above configuration, one operation performance mechanism is placed in correspondence with each of the two substrate conveyance mechanisms in any of the apparatuses. In the configuration of the operation performance mechanism, the work head can be moved to an elevated position above any one of the two substrate conveyance mechanisms by the Y-axis movable tables  13 ,  23 , and  43  that are placed commonly to one pair of operation performance mechanisms. Accordingly, the substrate  4  that can be an operation target of each of the operation performance mechanisms is not always limited to the substrate  4  that is positioned and held by the substrate conveyance mechanism corresponding to the operation performance mechanism. 
     For these reasons, in the electronic component mounting system  1  shown in connection with the embodiment, the plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms and the plurality of operation performance mechanisms are controlled by a operation control section  61  ( FIG. 7 ) in each of the apparatuses, whereby any one of the two operation modes to be described below is selectively performed. To be specific, processing pertinent to a first operation mode (a so-called independent operation mode) and processing pertinent to a second operation mode (a so-called alternate operation mode) are selectively performed. In the first operation mode, only the substrate  4  held by the substrate holding sections  12   a ,  22   a , and  42   a  of the substrate conveyance mechanisms corresponding to one operation performance mechanism is taken as a target, and the one operation performance mechanism subjects the target to operation performance independently for each mounting lane. In the second operation mode, all of the plurality of substrates  4  held by the substrate holding sections  12   a ,  22   a , and  42   a  of the plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms are taken as targets, and one operation performance mechanism subjects the targets to operation performance while alternately taking each of the mounting lanes as a operation target. A flexible production mode commensurate with a characteristic of a substrate type to be produced and the number of production lots can thereby be selected. 
     Next, a configuration of the control system of the electronic component mounting system  1  is described by reference to  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 7 , the host computer  3  is equipped with a mode command section  50 , a control section  51 , a communication section  52 , a storage section  53 , a manipulation-input section  54 , and a display section  55 . The mode command section  50  sends a command of a operation mode to be selectively executed to each of the component mounting apparatuses that make up the electronic component mounting system  1 ; namely, the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  to the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6 . Specifically, a mode command is sent from the mode command section  50  by way of the LAN system  2 , whereby each of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  to the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  carries out operation performance according to a specified operation mode. The control section  51  collectively controls the operation performance to be carried out by each of the apparatuses that make up the electronic component mounting system  1 . 
     By way of the LAN system  2 , the communication section  52  exchanges a signal with respect to the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  to the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  that make up the electronic component mounting system  1 . In connection with a type of a substrate to be a target in each of the apparatuses of the electronic component mounting system  1 , the storage section  53  stores information about the operation mode as well as operation data and operation programs required to carry out operation performance; namely, data and programs used for performing an inspection, resin coating, component mounting, and a post-mount inspection for the substrate. To be specific, the storage section  53  includes a operation mode storage section  56 , and the operation mode storage section  56  storages first operation mode data  56   a  for performing processing pertinent to the first operation mode and second operation mode data  56   b  for performing processing pertinent to the second operation mode. 
     The manipulation-input section  54  is an input device, like a touch panel, and a line manager who manages the electronic component mounting system  1  inputs various manipulation commands by way of the manipulation-input section  54 . The manipulation command includes a command of the operation mode. Namely, the mode command section  50  issues a command of a operation mode as a result of the line manager entering a operation mode command by way of the manipulation-input section  54 . The display section  55  is a display panel, like a liquid crystal panel, and displays a guide screen at the time of inputting of a manipulation command and a command of a tool change operation required when a type of a substrate is changed. 
     A control system of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  to the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  is now described. Each of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  to the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  has a communication section  60 , the operation control section  61 , and a operation data storage section  62 . The communication section  60  is connected to the LAN system  2 , and the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  to the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  send and receive signals and data to and from the host computer  3 . Of operation data stored in the storage section  53  of the host computer  3 , operation data and operation programs that are required to carry out operation performance to be executed by the apparatus are written into the operation data storage section  62 . 
     In accordance with a mode command signal issued from the mode command section  50  of the host computer  3  by way of the LAN system  2 , the operation control section  61  controls the first substrate conveyance mechanisms  12 A,  22 A, and  42 A, the second substrate conveyance mechanisms  12 B,  22 B, and  42 B, a first operation performance mechanism  63 , and a second operation performance mechanism  64  by reference to operation data stored in the operation data storage section  62 . The first operation performance mechanism  63  and the second operation performance mechanism  64  are operation performance mechanisms concomitant to the first mounting lane L 1  and the second mounting lane L 2 , respectively. Each of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  to the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  thereby carries out operation performance based on the first operation mode data  56   a  and the second operation mode data  56   b  commanded by the host computer  3 . 
     The electronic component mounting system  1  is configured as above, and an electronic component mounting method to be performed by the electronic component mounting system  1  is now described. As mentioned above, since the electronic component mounting system  1  described in connection with the embodiment is configured with a view toward realizing a more flexible production mode, several variations are appropriately adopted in accordance with a production target in a scene of real application. By reference to (a) in  FIG. 8  to (c) in  FIG. 11 , the variations are described by taking three types of embodiments. 
     First, a first embodiment shown in (a) to (c) in  FIG. 8  shows an example in which the electronic component mounting system  1  is made up of the four electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2 , M 3 , M 4 , and M 5 * without employment of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1 . As shown in (a) and (b) in  FIG. 4 , the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2 , M 3 , and M 4  correspond to a type of electronic component mounting apparatus in which each of the first component feed section  26 A and the second component feed section  26 B is equipped with the tape feeders  29 . Further, as shown in (a) and (b) in  FIG. 5 , the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 * is a type of electronic component mounting apparatus in which the second component feed section  26 B on one side is outfitted with the tray feeder  30 . To be specific, in the first embodiment, at least one of the component mounting apparatuses that make up the electronic component mounting system  1  serves as an electronic component mounting apparatus that mounts electronic components, which are picked up from the tray feeder  30 , to the substrate  4  by means of a mounting head of the component mounting mechanism that acts as the operation performance mechanism. 
     Under the electronic component mounting method implemented by the electronic component mounting system  1  with such a configuration, the mode command section  50  of the host computer  3  first sends the second operation mode, as a operation mode to be selectively executed, to the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 * and the first operation mode to the other electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2 , M 3 , and M 4 . When a component mounting operation is commenced, the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2  situated at the most upstream position performs a component mounting operation conforming to the first operation mode as shown in (a) in  FIG. 8 . There is provided an example case where the substrates  4  are fed respectively to the first mounting lane L 1  and the second mounting lane L 2  with a time lag. 
     Specifically, a substrate  4 ( 1 ) that is a preceding substrate is first carried into the first mounting lane L 1  of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2 , and the first mounting head  25 A of the first component mounting mechanism provided in the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2  performs a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 1 ) (as designated by arrow “a”). A substrate  4 ( 2 ) that is a subsequent substrate is then carried into the second mounting lane L 2  independently of the component mounting operation of the first mounting lane L 1 , and the second mounting head  25 B of the second component mounting mechanism performs a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 2 ) (as designated by arrow “b”). The substrate  4 ( 1 ) and the substrate  4 ( 2 ) that have finished undergoing the component mounting operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2  are sequentially delivered to the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 3  and M 4  located downstream positions. Likewise, the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 3  and M 4  also carry out the component mounting operation conforming to the first operation mode. 
     (b) in  FIG. 8  shows that the substrate  4 ( 1 ) that has first finished undergoing the component mounting operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 4  is carried into the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 * and that the substrate  4 ( 2 ) that is a subsequent substrate still stays and keeps undergoing a operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 4 . Specifically, the second mounting head  25 B of the second component mounting mechanism performs a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 2 ) in the second mounting lane L 2  of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 4  (as designated by arrow “c”). The first mounting head  25 A of the first component mounting mechanism performs a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 1 ) in the first mounting lane L 1  of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *(as designated by arrow “d”). The component mounting operation alternates with another component mounting operation for mounting the electronic components picked up from the tray feeder  30  with the second mounting head  25 B of the second component mounting mechanism on the substrate  4 ( 1 ) (as designated by arrow “e”). 
     As shown in (c) in  FIG. 8 , the substrate  4 ( 1 ) that has finished undergoing the component mounting operation and the inspection processing operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 * is carried out in the downstream direction (as designated by arrow “h”). The substrate  4 ( 2 ) that has finished undergoing the component mounting operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 4  is carried into the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *. The first mounting head  25 A of the first component mounting mechanism performs the component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 1 ) on the second mounting lane L 2  of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *(as designated by arrow “g”). The component mounting operation alternates with another component mounting operation for mounting the electronic components picked up from the tray feeder  30  with the second mounting head  25 B of the second component mounting mechanism on the substrate  4 ( 2 ) (as designated by arrow “f”). 
     A second embodiment shown in (a) and (b) in  FIG. 9  and (a) and (b) in  FIG. 10  represents a configuration in which two electronic component mounting apparatuses M 5 *(electronic component mounting apparatuses M 5 *( 1 ) and M 5 *( 2 ) arranged in this sequence from an upstream side) are linked together despite only one electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 * employed in the embodiment shown in (a) to (c) in  FIG. 8 . In this regard, when a larger number of electronic component mounting apparatuses are linked together, a much larger number of electronic component mounting apparatuses M 5 * may be required. To be specific, in the second embodiment, at least two of the component mounting apparatuses that make up the electronic component mounting system  1  act as electronic component mounting apparatuses that mount electronic components picked up from the tray feeder  30  on the substrate  4  by means of the mounting heads of the component mounting mechanisms which serve as the operation performance mechanisms. 
     The tray feeder  30  is placed in the second component feed sections  26 B of the two electronic component mounting apparatuses M 5 *( 1 ) and M 5 *( 2 ), being concentrated in an area of the second substrate conveyance mechanism. As a matter of course, if a layout permits, there will be no problem in adopting another configuration in which the tray feeders  30  are placed in the first component feed sections  26 A of the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 5 *( 1 ) and M 5 *( 2 ), being concentrated in areas of the first conveyance mechanism. The essential requirement for this is that the tray feeders be concentrated in areas of either the first substrate conveyance mechanism or the second substrate conveyance mechanism. The tray feeder  30  occupying a space larger than that of the component feed section equipped with an ordinary tape feeder is thereby placed only on one side. Thereby, preventing an increase in area occupied by the mounting lines which would otherwise be caused when the tray feeders  30  jut out of both sides of the conveyance mechanisms. 
     Under the electronic component mounting method implemented by the electronic component mounting system  1  with such a configuration, the mode command section  50  of the host computer  3  first sends the second operation mode as a operation mode to be selectively carried out to the two electronic component mounting apparatuses M 5 *( 1 ) and M 5 *( 2 ), sending the first operation mode to the other electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2 , M 3 , and M 4  as in the case with the first embodiment. In this respect, control commands are issued such that, of the two electronic component mounting apparatuses M 5 *, the upstream electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 1 ) carries out a component mounting operation conforming to the second operation mode while taking as a target the first mounting lane L 1 ; namely, the substrate  4  held by the substrate holding section  22   a  (see (a) in  FIG. 5 ) of the first substrate conveyance mechanism  22 A; and that the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 2 ) carries out the component mounting operation conforming to the second operation mode while taking, as a target, the substrate  4  held by the substrate holding section  22   a  (see (a) in  FIG. 5 ) of the second substrate conveyance mechanism  22 B. 
     As shown in (a) in  FIG. 9 , when the component mounting operation is commenced, the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2  located at the uppermost stream position performs the component mounting operation conforming to the first operation mode. As in the case with the embodiment shown in (a) in  FIG. 8 , an illustration shows a case where the substrates  4  are fed to the first mounting lane L 1  and the second mounting lane L 2  with a time lag. To be specific, the substrate  4 ( 1 ) which is a preceding substrate is first carried into the first mounting lane L 1  of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2 , and the first mount head  25 A of the first component mounting mechanism provided on the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2  carries out a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 1 ) (as designated by arrow “i”). 
     Next, the substrate  4 ( 2 ) which is a subsequent substrate is carried into the second mounting lane L 2  independently of the component mounting operation of the first mounting lane L 1 , and the second mounting head  25 B of the second component mounting mechanism performs a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 2 ) (as designated by arrow “j”). The substrate  4 ( 1 ) and the substrate  4 ( 2 ) that have finished undergoing the component mounting operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2  are sequentially delivered to the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 3  and M 4  located downstream positions. Likewise, the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 3  and M 4  also carry out the component mounting operation conforming to the first operation mode. 
     (b) in  FIG. 9  shows that the substrate  4 ( 1 ) that has first finished undergoing the component mounting operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 4  is carried into the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 1 ) and that the substrate  4 ( 2 ) that is a subsequent substrate still stays and keeps undergoing a operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 4 . Specifically, the second mounting head  25 B of the second component mounting mechanism performs a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 2 ) in the second mounting lane L 2  of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 4  (as designated by arrow “k”). The first mounting head  25 A of the first component mounting mechanism performs a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 1 ) in the first mounting lane L 1  of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 1 ) (as designated by arrow “I”). The component mounting operation alternates with another component mounting operation for mounting the electronic components picked up from the tray feeder  30  with the second mounting head  25 B of the second component mounting mechanism on the substrate  4 ( 1 ) (as designated by arrow “m”). 
     As shown in (a) in  FIG. 10 , the substrate  4 ( 1 ) that has finished undergoing the component mounting operation and the inspection processing operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 1 ) is conveyed in a downstream direction and carried in the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 2 ). However, the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 2 ) is set so as to take only the second mounting lane L 2  as a operation target in the second operation mode. Hence, the substrate  4 ( 1 ) conveyed by the first mounting lane L 1  passes on the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 2 ) (as designated by arrow “n”). The substrate  4 ( 2 ) that has finished undergoing the component mounting operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 4  is conveyed downstream, being carried into the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 1 ). Since the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 1 ) is set so as to take only the first mounting lane L 1  as a operation target in the second operation mode, the substrate  4 ( 2 ) conveyed by the second mounting lane L 2  passes on the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 1 ) in the same way (as designated by arrow “o”). 
     As shown in (b) in  FIG. 10 , the substrate  4 ( 1 ) passed on the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 2 ) is subsequently conveyed downstream (as designated by arrow “p”). The substrate  4 ( 2 ) passed on the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 1 ) is carried in the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 2 ). The first mounting head  25 A of the first component mounting mechanism performs a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 2 ) in the second mounting lane L 2  of the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 2 ) (as designated by arrow “q”). The component mounting operation alternates with another component mounting operation for mounting the electronic components picked up from the tray feeder  30  with the second mounting head  25 B of the second component mounting mechanism on the substrate  4 ( 2 ) (as designated by arrow “r”). After the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 *( 2 ) has finished performing a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 2 ), the substrate  4 ( 2 ) is conveyed downstream in the same manner. 
     As above, there is adopted a line configuration in which the electronic component mounting apparatus M 5 * equipped with the tray feeder  30  for alternate mounting purpose is provided for each mounting lane, whereby tray components picked out from another tray feeder  30  can be mounted on the other mounting lane even when the electronic component mounting apparatus  5 * of one mounting lane is in the middle of carrying out a type switching operation, such as tray replacement, of the tray feeder  30 . 
     A third embodiment shown in (a) to (c) in  FIG. 11  represents an example in which the electronic component mounting system  1  is made up of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  and the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2 , M 3 , and M 4  in the apparatus layout shown in  FIG. 1 . In the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1 , the resin coating mechanism outfitted with the coating head  16  is provided in the first mounting lane L 1 , and the inspection processing mechanism equipped with the inspection head  15  is provided in the second mounting lane L 2  (see (a) and (b) in  FIG. 2 ). Moreover, each of the electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2 , M 3 , and M 4  is an electronic component mounting apparatus in which both the first component feed section  26 A and the second component feed section  26 B are outfitted with the tape feeders  29  (see (a) and (b) in  FIG. 4 ). Specifically, in the first embodiment, at least one of the component mounting apparatuses that makes up the electronic component mounting system  1  serves as either an inspecting apparatus that is a operation performance mechanism and that captures an image of the substrate  4  with the inspection head  15  of the substrate inspection mechanism and performs a predetermined inspection or a resin coating apparatus that also serves as a operation performance mechanism and that coats the substrate  4  with the resin adhesive  19  for bonding electronic components by means of the coating head  16  of the resin coating mechanism. The embodiment shows an example of use of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  that exhibits both the function of the inspecting apparatus and the resin coating apparatus. 
     Under the electronic component mounting method implemented by the electronic component mounting system  1  with such a configuration, the mode command section  50  of the host computer  3  first sends the second operation mode, as a operation mode to be selectively executed, to the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1 , sending the first operation mode to the other electronic component mounting apparatuses M 2 , M 3 , and M 4 . When the component mounting operation is commenced, the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  situated at the uppermost stream position performs a operation performance conforming to the second operation mode as shown in (a) in  FIG. 11 . There is provided an example case where the substrates  4  are fed respectively to the first mounting lane L 1  and the second mounting lane L 2  with a time lag. 
     Specifically, the substrate  4 ( 1 ) that is a preceding substrate is first carried into the first mounting lane L 1  of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1 , and the mounting head  15  of the inspection processing mechanism provided in the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  performs a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 1 ) (as designated by arrow “s”). The coating head  16  of the resin coating mechanism alternately performs a resin coating operation and a substrate inspection operation for the single substrate  4 ( 1 ) (as designated by arrow “t”). Subsequently, as shown in (b) in  FIG. 11 , the substrate  4 ( 2 ) that is a subsequent substrate is carried into the second mounting lane L 2  of the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1 . Likewise, a operation performance conforming to the second work mode is carried out. First, the inspection head  15  of the inspection processing mechanism provided in the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  performs a substrate inspection operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 2 ) (as designated by arrow “u”). Next, the inspection head  16  of the inspection processing mechanism provided in the coating-inspecting apparatus performs a substrate inspection operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 1 ) (as designated by arrow “v”). 
     The substrate  4 ( 1 ) that has finished undergoing resin coating and inspection processing performed by the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  on the first mounting lane L 1  is carried into the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2 . The component mounting operation conforming to the first operation mode is carried out for the substrate  4 ( 1 ). Specifically, the first mounting head  25 A of the first component mounting mechanism carries out a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 1 ) (designated by arrow “w”). As shown in  FIG. 11(   c ), the substrate  4 ( 2 ) that has finished undergoing resin coating and inspection processing performed by the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  on the second mounting lane L 2  is carried into the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2 , where the second mounting head  25 B of the second component mounting mechanism carries out a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 2 ) (designated by arrow “x”). At this time, the substrate  4 ( 1 ) that has finished undergoing the component mounting operation performed by the electronic component mounting apparatus M 2  on the first mounting lane L 1  is already carried in the electronic component mounting apparatus M 3 , where the first mounting head  25 A of the first component mounting mechanism performs a component mounting operation intended for the substrate  4 ( 1 ) (as designated by arrow “y”). In subsequent operation, the component mounting operation conforming to the first operation mode is sequentially carried out while taking as targets the substrates  4 ( 1 ) and  4 ( 2 ) conveyed to the respective downstream apparatuses. 
     Although mention is not made of the configuration including the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  in the three embodiments, the second operation mode can be applied even to the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  as in the case with the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  descried in connection with the third embodiment, because the mounting-inspecting apparatus M 6  varies from the first mounting lane L 1  to the second mounting lane as in the case with the coating-inspecting apparatus M 1  in terms of the configuration of the operation performance mechanism. 
     As above, the invention is directed to the electronic component mounting system  1  in which a plurality of component mounting apparatuses outfitted with the plurality of mounting lanes are linked together and which is configured so as to selectively perform processing pertinent to either one of two operation modes; namely, the first operation mode of letting one operation performance mechanism carry out operation performance while taking as a target only the substrate held by the substrate holding section of the substrate conveyance mechanism corresponding to the operation performance mechanism and the second operation mode in which one operation performance mechanism can carry out operation performance while taking as targets all a plurality of substrates held by the substrate holding sections of a plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms. This makes it possible to select an appropriate one from various mounting operation modes in accordance with a characteristic of a type of a substrate to be produced, whereby an electronic component mounting system and an electronic component mounting method that exhibit superior flexibility and production efficiency can be materialized. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail and by reference to the specific embodiments thus far, it is manifest to those who are skilled in the art that various alterations and corrections can be made to the invention without departing the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     The invention is based on Japanese Patent Application (JP-2010-274299) filed on Dec. 9, 2010, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The electronic component mounting system and the electronic component mounting method of the invention make it possible to select an appropriate one from a variety of mounting operation modes in accordance with a characteristic of a type of a production target, yield an advantage of flexibility and superior production efficiency, and are useful in an electronic component mounting field where a mounted substrate is manufactured by mounting electronic components on a substrate. 
     DESCRIPTIONS OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SYMBOLS 
     
         
         
           
               1  electronic component mounting system 
               2  LAN system 
               12 A,  22 A,  42 A first substrate conveyance mechanism 
               12 B,  22 B,  42 B second substrate conveyance mechanism 
               12   a ,  22   a ,  42   a  substrate holding section 
               15  inspection head 
               16  coating head 
               25 A first mounting head 
               25 B second mounting head 
               26 A first component feed section 
               26 B second component feed section 
               29  tape feeder 
               30  tray feeder 
               45  mounting head 
             M 1  coating-inspecting apparatus 
             M 2 , M 3 , M 4 , M 5 * electronic component mounting apparatus 
             M 6  mounting-inspecting apparatus 
             L 1  first mounting lane 
             L 2  second mounting lane