Patent Description:
In related art, a system for performing optical transmission between a fixed body and a moving object by a light transmitter and a light receiver for transmitting and receiving an optical signal has been proposed (see Patent Literature <NUM>, for example). In this system, the light transmitter is provided on a fixed body side. In addition, the light receiver and a recording means for recording the light receiving level of the optical signal received by the light receiver are provided on a moving object side. Patent Application <CIT> relates to optical communication between an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. An optical network terminal OLT is connected via a passive optical splitter POS to multiple optical network units ONU that have an optical module and are connected to end users. An optical module of an ONU receives an optical signal from the OLT. The ONU determines whether the received optical power is less than a first preset threshold. If this is the case, the ONU sends a receiving prompt message to the OLT. In turn, if the received optical power is less than a second present threshold being smaller than the first preset threshold, the ONU stops receiving and processing of the optical signal. Patent Application <CIT> relates to optical communication in a component mounting machine. When a first light intensity is larger than a minimal second light intensity, optical communication is still enabled. Normal optical communication is performed, when the light intensity is larger than the first light intensity.

Although Patent Literature <NUM> described above describes receiving and recording the light receiving level at the time of optical communication, any countermeasure is not mentioned when the light receiving level is reduced to a level at which it is difficult to appropriately perform optical communication.

It is a main object of the present disclosure to suppress the occurrence of a malfunction in an apparatus due to a decrease in a light amount during optical communication.

The above-mentioned main object is achieved by the present invention defined by the features of independent claim <NUM>, with preferred embodiments being specified in the dependent claims.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration view of a component mounting machine. <FIG> is a top view of a component mounting machine including an optical communication equipment. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection relationship between a mounting control device and a head. <FIG> is a functional block diagram of an optical communication section. The left-right direction in <FIG> is an X-axis direction, the front (front)-rear (back) direction is a Y-axis direction substantially orthogonal to the X-axis direction, and the up-down direction is a Z-axis direction substantially orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction (horizontal plane).

As illustrated in <FIG>, component mounting machine <NUM> includes housing <NUM> to be installed on base <NUM>, component supply device <NUM>, a mounting machine body including substrate conveyance device <NUM>, head moving device <NUM>, and mounting control device <NUM> (see <FIG>), and mounting head <NUM>. In addition to these, component mounting machine <NUM> also includes part camera <NUM>, display device <NUM>, and the like. Part camera <NUM> is provided between component supply device <NUM> and substrate conveyance device <NUM> to image component P picked up by suction nozzle <NUM> of mounting head <NUM> from the lower side. Light source unit <NUM> for lighting component P as an imaging target is provided around part camera <NUM>. Display device <NUM> is installed on the front surface of housing <NUM>, and displays status information, error information, and the like of component mounting machine <NUM>.

Component supply device <NUM> includes, for example, a tape feeder that supplies components accommodated in a tape by drawing and feeding the tape wound on a reel from the reel.

Substrate conveyance device <NUM> includes a pair of conveyor belts that are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction of <FIG> and spanned in the X-axis direction (left-right direction). Substrate S is conveyed from the left to the right in the drawing by the conveyor belts of substrate conveyance device <NUM>.

Head moving device <NUM> moves mounting head <NUM> in an XY-direction (front-rear and left-right direction). As illustrated in <FIG>, head moving device <NUM> includes X-axis slider <NUM> and Y-axis slider <NUM>. X-axis slider <NUM> is supported by a pair of upper and lower X-axis guide rails <NUM> provided on the front surface of Y-axis slider <NUM> so as to extend in the X-axis direction (left-right direction), and is movable in the X-axis direction by driving X-axis motor (servo motor) <NUM> (see <FIG>). Y-axis slider <NUM> is supported by a pair of left and right Y-axis guide rails <NUM> provided on the upper stage portion of housing <NUM> so as to extend in the Y-axis direction (front-rear direction), and is movable in the Y-axis direction by driving Y-axis motor (servo motor) <NUM> (see <FIG>). The position of X-axis slider <NUM> in the X-axis direction is detected by X-axis encoder <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the position of Y-axis slider <NUM> in the Y-axis direction is detected by Y-axis encoder <NUM> (see <FIG>). Mounting head <NUM> is attached to X-axis slider <NUM>. Therefore, mounting head <NUM> is movable along an XY-plane (horizontal plane) by driving and controlling head moving device <NUM> (X-axis motor <NUM> and Y-axis motor <NUM>). X-axis slider <NUM> also includes mark camera <NUM> for imaging and reading a reference mark attached to substrate S from above. Mark camera <NUM> is connected to a substrate (not illustrated) installed on X-axis slider <NUM>, and is connected to mounting control device <NUM> via the substrate.

Mounting head <NUM> is configured as, for example, a rotary head including multiple nozzle holders arranged at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction. Suction nozzle <NUM> is detachably attached to a distal end portion of each nozzle holder. Although not illustrated, a suction port communicating with a negative pressure source via a solenoid valve is provided at the distal end portion of suction nozzle <NUM>. Suction nozzle <NUM> picks up component P with a negative pressure from the negative pressure source supplied in a state in which the solenoid valve is opened.

Mounting head <NUM> includes an R-axis motor (servo motor) <NUM> that pivots (revolves) each nozzle holder (suction nozzle <NUM>) in the circumferential direction, θ-axis motor (servo motor) <NUM> that rotates (spins) each nozzle holder, and Z-axis motor (servo motor) <NUM> that lifts and lowers (moves up and down) a nozzle holder at a predetermined pivoting position among the respective nozzle holders. In addition, mounting head <NUM> includes R-axis encoder <NUM> for detecting the pivoting position (revolving position) of each nozzle holder, θ-axis encoder <NUM> for detecting the rotational position (spinning position) of each nozzle holder, and Z-axis encoder <NUM> for detecting the lifting and lowering position (up-down position) of the nozzle holder at a predetermined position.

In addition, mounting head <NUM> also includes side camera <NUM> for imaging the distal end of suction nozzle <NUM> from the side. Around side camera <NUM>, light source unit <NUM> for lighting suction nozzle <NUM> as an imaging target and component P picked up by suction nozzle <NUM> is provided.

In addition, mounting head <NUM> includes optical communication section <NUM> that is installed in mounting head <NUM>, transmits various signals to mounting control device <NUM> (optical communication section <NUM>) by optical communication, and receives various signals from mounting control device <NUM> (optical communication section <NUM>). Optical communication section <NUM> receives, as various signals to be transmitted, position signals from the respective axis encoders (R-axis encoder <NUM>, θ-axis encoder <NUM>, and Z-axis encoder <NUM>), image signals from side camera <NUM>, and the like. In addition, optical communication section <NUM> outputs, as received various signals, control signals to the respective axis motors (R-axis motor <NUM>, θ-axis motor <NUM>, and Z-axis motor <NUM>), control signals to side camera <NUM>, control signals to light source unit <NUM>, and the like.

As illustrated in <FIG>, optical communication section <NUM> includes light transmission section <NUM> that transmits an optical signal, light reception section <NUM> that receives an optical signal, multiplexing section <NUM> that multiplexes various signals to be transmitted via light transmission section <NUM>, demultiplexing section <NUM> that demultiplexes signals received via light reception section <NUM> into various signals, and communication control section <NUM> that controls each section. Light transmission section <NUM> includes a semiconductor laser, and a laser drive circuit that drives the semiconductor laser based on a control signal from communication control section <NUM>. Light reception section <NUM> has a photoelectric conversion circuit that converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal.

Component mounting machine <NUM> includes mounting control device <NUM> that is installed on base <NUM> and controls the entire mounting machine. As illustrated in <FIG>, mounting control device <NUM> includes CPU <NUM>, storage section <NUM>, servo amplifier <NUM>, image processing board <NUM>, input/output interface <NUM>, and optical communication section <NUM>. CPU <NUM>, storage section <NUM>, servo amplifier <NUM>, and image processing board <NUM> are electrically connected to each other. CPU <NUM>, storage section <NUM>, servo amplifier <NUM>, and image processing board <NUM> are electrically connected to input/output interface <NUM> and also electrically connected to optical communication section <NUM>. Storage section <NUM> includes a RAM for temporarily storing data, a ROM for storing a processing program, an HDD, and the like. Input/output interface <NUM> is electrically connected to the respective axis encoders (X-axis encoder <NUM> and Y-axis encoder <NUM>) and respective axis motors (X-axis motor <NUM> and Y-axis motor <NUM>) of component supply device <NUM>, substrate conveyance device <NUM>, and head moving device <NUM>. In addition, input/output interface <NUM> is electrically connected to part camera <NUM>, light source unit <NUM>, display device <NUM>, mark camera <NUM>, light source unit <NUM> disposed around mark camera <NUM>, and the like.

Servo amplifier <NUM> performs feedback control of each axis motor (servo motor). Servo amplifier <NUM> receives position signals from the respective axis encoders (X-axis encoder <NUM> and Y-axis encoder <NUM>) of head moving device <NUM> via input/output interface <NUM>, generates control signals of the respective axis motors (X-axis motor <NUM> and Y-axis motor <NUM>) of head moving device <NUM> based on the input position signals, and outputs the generated control signals to the respective axis motors via input/output interface <NUM>. In addition, servo amplifier <NUM> receives position signals from the respective axis encoders (R-axis encoder <NUM>, θ-axis encoder <NUM>, and Z-axis encoder <NUM>) of mounting head <NUM> via optical communication sections <NUM> and <NUM>, generates control signals of the respective axis motors (R-axis motor <NUM>, θ-axis motor <NUM>, and Z-axis motor <NUM>) of corresponding mounting head <NUM> based on the input position signals, and outputs the generated control signals to the respective axis motors via optical communication sections <NUM> and <NUM>.

Image processing board <NUM> processes image signals imaged by various cameras (part camera <NUM>, mark camera <NUM>, and side camera <NUM>). The image signals from part camera <NUM> and mark camera <NUM> are input to image processing board <NUM> via input/output interface <NUM>, and the image signals from side camera <NUM> are input via optical communication sections <NUM> and <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, optical communication section <NUM> includes light transmission section <NUM> that transmits an optical signal, light reception section <NUM> that receives an optical signal, multiplexing section <NUM> that multiplexes various signals to be transmitted via light transmission section <NUM>, demultiplexing section <NUM> that demultiplexes the signals received via light reception section <NUM> into various signals, and communication control section <NUM> that controls each section and exchanges control signals and necessary data with CPU <NUM>. Light transmission section <NUM> includes a semiconductor laser and a laser drive circuit similar to light transmission section <NUM>, and is connected to light reception section <NUM> of head <NUM> via optical fiber cable <NUM>. Light reception section <NUM> includes a photoelectric conversion circuit similar to light reception section <NUM>, and is connected to light transmission section <NUM> of head <NUM> via optical fiber cable <NUM>. In order to monitor the state of communication via optical fiber cable <NUM>, communication control section <NUM> inputs an electrical signal received via light reception section <NUM>, and outputs communication light amount Q (light amount of an optical signal passing through optical fiber cable <NUM>) estimated based on the input electrical signal to CPU <NUM>.

Next, a mounting operation of component mounting machine <NUM> according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, CPU <NUM> of mounting control device <NUM> controls head moving device <NUM> so that mark camera <NUM> moves above the reference mark attached to substrate S after substrate S is carried in and positioned by substrate conveyance device <NUM>. This control is performed by inputting position signals from X-axis encoder <NUM> and Y-axis encoder <NUM> via input/output interface <NUM> by servo amplifier <NUM> based on a control command from CPU <NUM>, and outputting control signals generated based on the input position signals to X-axis motor <NUM> and Y-axis motor <NUM> via input/output interface <NUM>. Subsequently, CPU <NUM> controls mark camera <NUM> and light source unit <NUM> thereof so that the reference mark is imaged. The imaging is controlled by CPU <NUM> transmitting respective control signals to mark camera <NUM> and light source unit <NUM>. As a result, the reference mark on substrate S is imaged by mark camera <NUM>. The imaging signal from mark camera <NUM> is output to image processing board <NUM>. Image processing board <NUM> performs image processing of recognizing a reference mark in an image based on the input image signal. CPU <NUM> recognizes the position of substrate S based on the image processing result of image processing board <NUM>.

Next, CPU <NUM> controls head moving device <NUM> so that suction nozzle <NUM> moves above component P supplied by component supply device <NUM>. The control of head moving device <NUM> has been described above. Subsequently, CPU <NUM> controls Z-axis motor <NUM> so that suction nozzle <NUM> moves down, and supplies a negative pressure to the suction port of suction nozzle <NUM>. As a result, component P is picked up by suction nozzle <NUM>. The control of Z-axis motor <NUM> is performed by servo amplifier <NUM> inputting a position signal from Z-axis encoder <NUM> via optical communication section <NUM>, optical fiber cable <NUM>, and optical communication section <NUM> of mounting head <NUM> in this order based on a control command from CPU <NUM>, and outputting a control signal generated based on the input position signal to Z-axis motor <NUM> via optical communication section <NUM>, optical fiber cable <NUM>, and optical communication section <NUM> of mounting head <NUM> in this order. If a predetermined number of components P are not picked up by multiple suction nozzles <NUM> of mounting head <NUM>, CPU <NUM> controls R-axis motor <NUM> so that suction nozzles <NUM> (nozzle holder) pivot by a predetermined amount until the predetermined number of components P are picked up, and repeats the picking up of components P to be picked up next to suction nozzles <NUM>. The control of R-axis motor <NUM> is performed by servo amplifier <NUM> inputting a position signal from R-axis encoder <NUM> via optical communication section <NUM>, optical fiber cable <NUM>, and optical communication section <NUM> of mounting head <NUM> based on a control command from CPU <NUM>, and outputting a control signal generated based on the input position signal to R-axis motor <NUM> via optical communication section <NUM>, optical fiber cable <NUM>, and optical communication section <NUM> of mounting head <NUM> in this order.

When CPU <NUM> performs the pickup operation for picking up component P by suction nozzle <NUM> in this manner, CPU <NUM> controls side camera <NUM> and light source unit <NUM> so that the distal end portion of suction nozzle <NUM> is imaged from the side every time the pickup operation is performed. The imaging is controlled by CPU <NUM> transmitting respective control signals to side camera <NUM> and light source unit <NUM> via optical communication section <NUM>, optical fiber cable <NUM>, and optical communication section <NUM> of mounting head <NUM> in this order. The imaging signal from side camera <NUM> is output to image processing board <NUM> via optical communication section <NUM>, optical fiber cable <NUM>, and optical communication section <NUM> of mounting head <NUM> in this order. Image processing board <NUM> performs image processing of recognizing component P (side surface of the component) in an image based on the input image signal. Then, CPU <NUM> determines the suction state of component P with respect to suction nozzle <NUM> (for example, the presence or absence of a pickup error or the quality of the suction posture) based on the image processing result of image processing board <NUM>.

When the picking up of all components P to be picked up by suction nozzles <NUM> is completed, CPU <NUM> controls head moving device <NUM> so that mounting head <NUM> moves above part camera <NUM>. Subsequently, CPU <NUM> controls part camera <NUM> and light source unit <NUM> so that component P picked up by suction nozzle <NUM> is imaged. The imaging is controlled when CPU <NUM> transmits respective control signals to part camera <NUM> and light source unit <NUM> via input/output interface <NUM>. The image signal from part camera <NUM> is output to image processing board <NUM> via input/output interface <NUM>. Image processing board <NUM> performs image processing of recognizing component P (lower surface of the component) in an image based on the input image signal. CPU <NUM> calculates a positional deviation amount (amount of pickup deviation) of component P picked up by each suction nozzle <NUM> based on the processing result of image processing board <NUM>, and corrects the mounting position and the mounting angle of substrate S based on the calculated positional deviation amount. When the mounting position and the mounting angle are corrected, CPU <NUM> controls head moving device <NUM> so that component P picked up by suction nozzle <NUM> moves upward from the corrected mounting position. Then, CPU <NUM> controls θ-axis motor <NUM> and Z-axis motor <NUM> so that component P is brought to the corrected mounting angle and suction nozzle <NUM> is lowered, and cancels the supply of the negative pressure to the suction port of suction nozzle <NUM>. The control of θ-axis motor <NUM> is performed by servo amplifier <NUM> inputting a position signal from θ-axis encoder <NUM> via optical communication section <NUM>, optical fiber cable <NUM>, and optical communication section <NUM> of mounting head <NUM> in this order based on a control command from CPU <NUM>, and outputting a control signal generated based on the input position signal to θ-axis motor <NUM> via optical communication section <NUM>, optical fiber cable <NUM>, and optical communication section <NUM> of mounting head <NUM> in this order. The control of Z-axis motor <NUM> has been described above. As a result, component P is mounted at the mounting position and the mounting angle on substrate S. If any of suction nozzles <NUM> included in mounting head <NUM> has any unmounted component P remaining, CPU <NUM> repeats the mounting of component P to be mounted next, which is picked up by multiple suction nozzle <NUM>, until all components P are mounted.

When performing the mounting operation for mounting component P on substrate S in this manner, CPU <NUM> controls side camera <NUM> and light source unit <NUM> so that the distal end of suction nozzle <NUM> is imaged from the side every time the mounting operation is performed. The control of side camera <NUM> and light source unit <NUM> has been described above. Image processing board <NUM> inputs the imaging signal from side camera <NUM> via optical communication section <NUM>, optical fiber cable <NUM>, and optical communication section <NUM>, and performs image processing of recognizing component P (side surface of the component) in an image based on the input image signal. Then, CPU <NUM> determines whether there is a take-back error for suction nozzle <NUM> to take back component P without mounting component P on substrate S based on the image processing result of image processing board <NUM>.

Next, processing for monitoring the state of communication between mounting head <NUM> and mounting control device <NUM> via optical fiber cable <NUM> will be described. Here, CPU <NUM> and storage section <NUM>, optical communication sections <NUM> and <NUM>, and optical fiber cable <NUM> of mounting control device <NUM> correspond to the optical communication equipment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of the communication state monitoring processing executed by CPU <NUM> of mounting control device <NUM>. This processing is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals during the mounting operation (during the production) of component mounting machine <NUM>.

When the communication state monitoring processing is executed, CPU <NUM> of mounting control device <NUM> first acquires the light amount (communication light amount Q) of the optical signal passing through optical fiber cable <NUM> (S100). This processing is performed by acquiring an estimate based on the electrical signal received through light reception section <NUM>. Subsequently, CPU <NUM> determines whether acquired communication light amount Q is equal to or higher than threshold value ThrA (first threshold value) (S110). Threshold value ThrA is a threshold value for determining whether the communication state is normal, and is defined as a value larger than a lower limit value of a normal range in which communication errors hardly occur. When determining that communication light amount Q is equal to or higher than threshold value ThrA, CPU <NUM> determines that communication light amount Q is at a sufficient level and the communication state is in the normal state (S120), and ends the communication state monitoring processing.

When determining that acquired communication light amount Q is less than threshold value ThrA in S110, CPU <NUM> determines whether communication light amount Q is equal to or higher than threshold value ThrB (third threshold value) defined as a value smaller than threshold value ThrA (S130). Threshold value ThrB is defined as a lower limit value of the normal range. When determining that communication light amount Q is equal to or higher than threshold value ThrB (equal to or higher than threshold value ThrB and less than threshold value ThrA, equal to or higher than the third threshold value and less than the first threshold value), CPU <NUM> determines that the communication state is a maintenance-requiring state requiring maintenance of optical fiber cable <NUM> or the like (S140), and outputs the determination result to display device <NUM> (S210). <FIG> is an explanatory view illustrating a display example of display device <NUM>. As illustrated in the drawing, in a case where it is determined that maintenance is required, a message or the like for prompting the operator to clean or replace optical fiber cable <NUM> is displayed on display device <NUM>. The operator can restore the communication state to the normal state by performing necessary operations in accordance with the message displayed on display device <NUM>. Then, CPU <NUM> stores the determination result (maintenance-requiring state) and communication light amount Q acquired in S100 in association with each other in storage section <NUM> (S220), and ends the communication state monitoring processing.

When determining that acquired communication light amount Q is less than threshold value ThrB (less than the third threshold value) in S130, CPU <NUM> determines that there is a suspicion of a communication failure, and stops the mounting operation (production) of component mounting machine <NUM> (S150). This is because, when a communication failure occurs, CPU <NUM> cannot normally control mounting head <NUM> (respective axis motors including R-axis motor <NUM>, θ-axis motor <NUM>, Z-axis motor <NUM>, side camera <NUM>, and the like).

Then, CPU <NUM> determines whether acquired communication light amount Q is equal to or higher than threshold value ThrC (second threshold value) defined as a value further smaller than threshold value ThrB (S160). Threshold value ThrC is a threshold value for determining an obvious communication failure. When determining that acquired communication light amount Q is equal to or higher than threshold value ThrC (equal to or higher than threshold value ThrC and less than threshold value ThrB, equal to or higher than the second threshold value and less than the third threshold value), CPU <NUM> determines that the communication state is a failure-suspected state in which communication failure is suspected (S170), and allows only limited communication (S180). Examples of the limited communication include a case where communication is performed with each of axis encoders <NUM> to <NUM>, side camera <NUM>, or the like in order to check whether there is an abnormality in each of axis encoders <NUM> to <NUM> or side camera <NUM>, to check whether there is a disconnection in a signal line, or the like. In addition, the limited communication may be performed, for example, in a case where a memory or the like is provided in a communication destination, in order to check the memory to check whether an abnormality has occurred in the past. Subsequently, CPU <NUM> displays the determination result (failure-suspected state) on display device <NUM> (S <NUM>). <FIG> is an explanatory view illustrating a display example of display device <NUM>. When it is determined that an abnormality is suspected, a message indicating that a suspected communication failure has occurred and a message indicating that production is stopped are displayed on display device <NUM> to the operator. Then, CPU <NUM> stores the determination result (failure-suspected state) and communication light amount Q acquired in S100 in association with each other in storage section <NUM> (S <NUM>), and ends the communication state monitoring processing.

When determining that acquired communication light amount Q is less than threshold value ThrC (less than the second threshold value) in S160, CPU <NUM> determines that the communication state is a failure-confirmed state (S190), and prohibits all communications (S200). Subsequently, CPU <NUM> displays the determination result (failure-confirmed state) on display device <NUM> (S210). <FIG> is an explanatory view illustrating a display example of the display device <NUM>. In a case where it is determined that an abnormality is confirmed, a message indicating that a communication failure has occurred and a message indicating that production is stopped are displayed on display device <NUM> to the operator. Then, CPU <NUM> stores the determination result (failure-confirmed state) and communication light amount Q acquired in S100 in association with each other in the storage section <NUM> (S <NUM>), and ends the communication state monitoring processing.

As described above, in the present embodiment, CPU <NUM> determines the communication state and notifies the operator of the determination result by gradually determining the decrease of communication light amount Q by using multiple threshold values ThrA to ThrC. As a result, it is possible to prompt the operator to appropriately respond to the current communication state. In a case where the determination result is other than a normal state (a maintenance-requiring state, a failure-suspected state, or a failure-confirmed state), CPU <NUM> stores the determination result in storage section <NUM> together with communication light amount Q at that time. As a result, when a person in charge of development or a person in charge of maintenance later analyzes a cause of the failure or the like, the analysis can be facilitated.

Here, the correspondence between the constituent elements of the embodiment and the constituent elements of the present disclosure described in the scope of the claims will be clarified. The mounting machine body including substrate conveyance device <NUM>, head moving device <NUM>, and mounting control device <NUM> according to the embodiment corresponds to the first apparatus of the present disclosure, mounting head <NUM> corresponds to the second apparatus, communication control section <NUM> of optical communication section <NUM> of mounting control device <NUM> corresponds to the monitoring section, and CPU <NUM> of mounting control device <NUM> corresponds to the control device. In addition, light transmission section <NUM> and light reception section <NUM> of optical communication section <NUM> correspond to a first conversion unit, light transmission section <NUM> and light reception section <NUM> of optical communication section <NUM> of mounting head <NUM> correspond to a second conversion unit, optical fiber cable <NUM> corresponds to an optical fiber cable, and storage section <NUM> of mounting control device <NUM> corresponds to a storage section. In addition, R-axis motor <NUM>, θ-axis motor <NUM>, and Z-axis motor <NUM> correspond to motors, R-axis encoder <NUM>, θ-axis encoder <NUM>, and Z-axis encoder <NUM> correspond to encoders, and servo amplifier <NUM> corresponds to a motor control section. In addition, side camera <NUM> corresponds to an imaging device, and image processing board <NUM> corresponds to an image processing section.

The present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiment that has been described heretofore, and hence, needless to say, the present invention can be carried out in various forms without departing from the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, when it is determined in S130 that communication light amount Q is less than threshold value ThrB, CPU <NUM> further determines in S160 whether communication light amount Q is equal to or higher than threshold value ThrC, thereby distinguishing the failure-suspected state from the failure-confirmed state. However, when determining that communication light amount Q is less than threshold value ThrB in S <NUM>, CPU <NUM> may determine the failure state without distinguishing the failure-suspected state from the failure-confirmed state. In this case, CPU <NUM> may prohibit any communication.

In the above embodiment, CPU <NUM> stores acquired communication light amount Q in storage section <NUM> in a case where communication light amount Q is less than threshold value ThrA (in a case where the communication state is a state other than the normal state). However, CPU <NUM> may store acquired communication light amount Q in storage section <NUM> at all times. In this case, when the storage capacity of storage section <NUM> is full, CPU <NUM> may overwrite the old data in order. In addition, CPU <NUM> needs not cause storage section <NUM> to store communication light amount Q.

In the above embodiment, mounting head <NUM> is configured as a rotary head in which multiple suction nozzles <NUM> are arranged in the circumferential direction, and suction nozzles <NUM> at predetermined pivoting positions can be lifted and lowered by Z-axis motor <NUM>. However, in mounting head <NUM>, multiple suction nozzles <NUM> that can be individually lifted and lowered by Z-axis motor may be arranged in a linear direction. In addition, mounting head <NUM> may include a single suction nozzle that can be lifted and lowered by the Z-axis motor.

In the above embodiment, the optical communication equipment of the present disclosure is applied to component mounting machine <NUM>. However, the optical communication equipment is not limited thereto, and is applicable to any equipment as long as the equipment performs optical communication between a first apparatus and a second apparatus.

As described above, the optical communication equipment according to the present disclosure includes an optical communication equipment that performs optical communication between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, the monitoring section that monitors the light amount during optical communication, and the control device that outputs predetermined information when the light amount is less than the first threshold value, and that shuts off communication between the first and second apparatuses when the light amount is less than the second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value.

In the optical communication equipment of the present disclosure, since predetermined information is output when the light amount during optical communication is less than the first threshold value, for example, an operator who has received a warning based on the information performs necessary maintenance, whereby the equipment can be kept normal. In addition, in the optical communication equipment of the present disclosure, since the communication between the first and second apparatuses is shut off when the light amount is less than the second threshold value lower than the first threshold value, it is possible to suppress the equipment from malfunctioning due to the decrease in the light amount during the optical communication. Here, the "outputting predetermined information" includes outputting (recording) predetermined information to a storage device, displaying predetermined information, and warning or notifying the operator.

In such an optical communication equipment of the present disclosure, the control device may perform communication between the first and second apparatuses in a limited manner when the light amount is less than the third threshold value lower than the first threshold value and higher than the second threshold value. Accordingly, it is possible to continue necessary communication while suppressing the malfunction of the equipment. In this case, the control device may be provided on the first apparatus side, and the communication performed in the limited manner may include communication for checking whether the second apparatus is abnormal.

The optical communication equipment according to the present disclosure may include the first conversion unit provided on the first apparatus side for converting an electrical signal into an optical signal, the second conversion unit provided on the second apparatus side for converting an electrical signal into an optical signal, the optical fiber cable connecting the first conversion unit and the second conversion unit, and a storage section for storing a received light amount of an optical signal received by the first conversion unit from the second conversion unit via the optical fiber cable. By storing the received light amount in the storage section, it is possible to facilitate the analysis in a case where the cause of the occurrence of the failure is analyzed later. The light amount may be stored only when the light amount is less than the first threshold value. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the necessary storage capacity.

In the optical communication equipment according to the present disclosure, the first apparatus may be a fixed apparatus, and the second apparatus may be a movable apparatus.

The present disclosure may also be in the form of a component mounting machine, which is limited to the form of an optical communication equipment. That is, the component mounting machine of the present disclosure is a component mounting machine for mounting components, including the optical communication equipment according to any one of the above aspects of the present disclosure, a mounting machine body as a first apparatus, and a mounting head as a second apparatus that moves with respect to the mounting machine body to mount components, in which the mounting head may include a motor and an encoder that detects displacement of the motor, and the mounting machine body may include a motor control section that receives an encoder signal output from the encoder via the optical communication equipment and transmits a control signal to the motor via the optical communication equipment to control and drive the motor. In this case, the mounting head may include an imaging device, and the mounting machine body may include an image processing section that receives and processes an image signal output from the imaging device via the optical communication equipment.

Claim 1:
A component mounting machine (<NUM>) for mounting a component (P), comprising:
a mounting machine body (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) as a first apparatus; and
a mounting head (<NUM>) as a second apparatus configured to move with respect to the mounting machine body to mount a component, wherein
the mounting head includes a motor (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) and an encoder (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) configured to detect displacement of the motor,
an optical communication equipment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to perform optical communication between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, the optical communication equipment comprising:
- a monitoring section (<NUM>) configured to monitor a light amount during optical communication; and
- a control device (<NUM>) configured to:
• output predetermined information when the light amount is less than a first threshold value; and
• shut off the optical communication between the first and second apparatuses when the light amount is less than a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value; and
the mounting machine body includes a motor control section (<NUM>) configured to drive and to control the motor by:
- receiving an encoder signal output from the encoder via the optical communication equipment and
- transmitting a control signal to the motor via the optical communication equipment.