Patent ID: 12225667

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.FIG.1is a schematic diagram showing an example of mounting system10of the present disclosure.FIG.2is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of mounting device15and loader18which is a moving work device.FIG.3is a diagram showing an example of arrangement state information25stored in storage section23of mounting device15. In the present embodiment, the left-right direction (X-axis), the front-rear direction (Y-axis), and the up-down direction (Z-axis) are as shown inFIGS.1and2.

Mounting system10is configured, for example, as a production line in which devices are arranged in the conveyance direction of board S, the devices being devices for performing processes to mount components on board S which is a mounting target. Here, the mounting target is described as board S, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this as long as the object is an object on which components are mounted and may be a substrate having a three-dimensional shape. As shown inFIG.1, mounting system10includes printing device11, print inspection device12, feeder storage section13, management PC14, mounting device15, automatic conveyance vehicle16, loader18, host PC19, and the like. Printing device11is a device for printing solder paste or the like on board S. Print inspection device12is a device for inspecting the state of the printed solder. Feeder storage section13is a storage location for storing feeder17used in mounting device15. Feeder storage section13is provided below the conveyance device between print inspection device12and mounting device15.

Mounting device15is a device for picking up components and mounting components on board S. Mounting device15includes mounting control section20, storage section23, board processing section26, supply section27, mounting section30, and communication section35. As shown inFIG.2, mounting control section20is configured as a microprocessor centered on CPU21and controls the entire device. Mounting control section20outputs control signals to board processing section26, supply section27, and mounting section30, and receives signals from board processing section26, supply section27, and mounting section30. Storage section23stores mounting condition information24, arrangement state information25, and the like. Mounting condition information24is a production job and includes information such as information on components, the arrangement order in which components are mounted on board S, arrangement positions, and loading positions of feeders17from which components are picked up. Mounting condition information24is generated by host PC19with an order and arrangement in which the mounting efficiency is high, transmitted from host PC19, and stored in storage section23. Arrangement state information25is information including the type and the usage state of feeder17(component type, remaining number of components, etc.) that is currently installed in supply section27of mounting device15. Arrangement state information25includes the module number of supply section27, the loading section number indicating the position of the loading section, the ID of feeder17loaded to the loading section, the name of the component held by feeder17, the number of remaining components, and the like. Arrangement state information25is appropriately updated with current information when feeder17is loaded or unloaded. Communication section35is an interface for exchanging information with external devices such as management PC14and host PC19.

Board processing device26is a unit for conveying in, transporting, securing and unloading board S at a mounting position. Board processing device26has a pair of conveyor belts extending in the left-right direction and spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction inFIG.1. Board S is conveyed by the conveyor belts.

Supply section27is a unit for supplying components to mounting section30. Supply section27loads feeders17to one or more loading sections, each feeder17having a reel around which a tape serving as a holding member for holding components is wound. As shown inFIG.2, supply section27has two upper and lower loading sections to which feeder17can be loaded in the front direction. The upper stage is mounting loading section28from which a component can be extracted by mounting section30, and the lower stage is buffer loading section29from which a component cannot be extracted by mounting section30. Here, mounting loading section28and buffer loading section29are collectively referred to as the loading section. The loading sections may be managed in module units grouping a predetermined number (e.g., 4 or 12) of feeders17. Supply section27has multiple slots38, arranged in the X-direction at predetermined intervals so that rail members of feeders17are inserted, and connecting portions39into which connectors provided at the distal ends of feeders17are inserted. Each feeder17includes a controller (not shown). The controller stores information such as tape IDs and component types included in feeder17and the remaining number of components. When feeder17is connected to connecting portion39, the controller transmits information of feeder17to mounting control section20.

Mounting section30is a unit for picking up components from supply section27and arranges the components on board S fixed to board processing section26. Mounting section30includes head moving section31, mounting head32, and nozzle33. Head moving section31includes a slider guided by guide rails and moved in the XY-direction, and a motor for driving the slider. Mounting head32is configured to pick up one or more components and be moved in the XY-direction by head moving section31. Mounting head32is attached to the slider in a detachable manner. One or more nozzles33are attached to the lower face of mounting head32in a detachable manner. Nozzle33is configured to pick up components by use of negative pressure. Aside from nozzle33, the pickup member for picking up components may be a mechanical chuck or the like that mechanically holds components.

Management PC14is a device for managing feeder17and is a moving work management device for generating execution data executed by loader18. Management PC14includes management control section40, storage section43, communication section47, display section48, and input device49. Management control section40is configured as a microprocessor centered on CPU41and controls the entire device. Storage section43is a device such as an HDD for storing various data such as a processing program. As shown inFIG.1, storage section43stores mounting condition information44, arrangement execution information45, and the like. Mounting condition information44is the same data as mounting condition information24and is acquired from host PC19or the like. Although detailed descriptions will be given later, arrangement execution information45is information for moving and loading exchange feeder17bto the vicinity of notification feeder17a(seeFIGS.6and7) for which a notification of component depletion has been made in advance. Arrangement execution information45is created by management control section40after the notification of component depletion has been made. Communication section47is an interface for exchanging information with external devices such as mounting device15and host PC19. Display section48is a liquid crystal display for displaying various information. Input device49includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like through which an operator inputs various commands. Automatic conveyance vehicle16is configured to automatically convey feeder17, a member used in mounting system10, and the like between a storage chamber (not shown) and feeder storage section13.

Loader18is a moving work device and is a device that moves within a moving area at the front face of mounting system10(see dashed lines inFIG.1) and automatically collects and replenishes feeders17of mounting device15. Loader18includes moving control section50, storage section53, accommodation section54, exchange section55, moving section56, and communication section57. Moving control section50is configured as a microprocessor centered on CPU51and controls the entire device. Storage section53is an HDD or the like for storing various data such as processing programs and stores arrangement execution information45. Accommodation section54has an accommodation space for accommodating feeders17. Accommodation section54is configured to accommodate, for example, four feeders17. Exchange section55is a mechanism for moving feeder17in and out as well between the upper and lower levels (seeFIG.2). Exchange section55has a clamp for clamping feeder17, a Y-axis slider for moving the clamp in the Y-axis direction (front-rear direction), and a Z-axis slider for moving the clamp in the Z-axis direction (up-down direction). Exchange section55loads and unloads feeder17at mounting loading section28and loads and unloads feeder17at buffer loading section29. Moving section56is a mechanism for moving loader18in the X-axis direction (the left-right direction) along X-axis rail18adisposed on the front face of mounting device15. Communication section57is an interface for exchanging information with external devices such as management PC14and mounting device15. Loader18outputs the current position and the contents of the executed operation to management PC14.

Host PC19(seeFIG.1) is configured as a server for managing information of each device in mounting system10. Host PC19includes a control section for controlling the entire device, a storage section for storing various information, and a communication section for performing bidirectional communication with external devices such as mounting system10, automatic conveyance vehicle16, and loader18. Host PC19acquires and manages information of mounting system10in addition to creating and managing condition information used in the mounting of components.

Next, among the operations of mounting system10of the present embodiment configured as described above, the process by which mounting device15mounts a component on board S will be described first.FIG.4is a flowchart showing an example of a mounting process routine executed by CPU21included in mounting control section20of mounting device15. This routine is stored in storage section23of mounting device15and executed in accordance with a start instruction from an operator. When this routine is started, CPU21first acquires the mounting condition information of board S to be manufactured at this time (S100). CPU21acquires the mounting condition information from host PC19. Next, CPU21executes a mounting process (S110). In the mounting process, CPU21causes mounting head32to pick up a component from feeder17at a predetermined position based on mounting condition information24and moves the component to an arrangement position of board S. Next, CPU21updates the number of remaining components of the used component and outputs the updated number to host PC19and management PC14(S120). Next, CPU21determines whether the number of remaining components reaches a predetermined advance notification number at which an advance notification of component depletion is to be made (S130), and when there is feeder17for which the number of remaining components reaches the advance notification number, CPU21outputs a notification of component depletion of feeder17to management PC14(S140). The advance notification of component depletion can be determined, for example, when the number of remaining components becomes less than or equal to a predetermined advance notification number, or when the time until component depletion, calculated from the number of remaining components and the number of components consumed per unit time, reaches a predetermined time period or the like. After S140or when there is no advance notification of component depletion in S130, CPU21determines whether there is feeder17in which component depletion has occurred (S150). When there is feeder17in which component depletion has occurred, CPU21outputs information indicating that component depletion has occurred to management PC14(S160). Management PC14that has acquired the information on the occurrence of component depletion creates exchange information that includes the position of component depleted feeder17and the position of exchange feeder17b, and outputs the exchange information to loader18. After S160or in a case where there is no component depletion in S150, CPU21determines whether the production of board S is completed (S170), and executes the processes of S110and subsequent steps when the production is not completed. On the other hand, when production is completed in S170, CPU21outputs information indicating that production is completed to host PC19or management PC14(S180) and terminates this routine.

Next, the process for creating arrangement execution information45performed by management PC14will be described. This process creates information for performing a pre-arrangement process for arranging feeder17for exchanging in the vicinity of feeder17where component depletion is to occur before the component depletion occurs. Management PC14is set to place highest priority on creating the exchange information, and then create arrangement execution information45next.FIG.5is a flowchart showing an example of an arrangement execution information creation process routine executed by CPU41included in management control section40of management PC14. This routine is stored in storage section43of management PC14and repeatedly executed after the booting up of mounting system10. When this routine is started, CPU41first determines whether an advance notification of component depletion has been acquired (S200). The advance notification of component depletion may be created by mounting device15or host PC19and transmitted to management PC14, or management PC14may directly or indirectly acquire the number of remaining components from mounting device15and CPU41may create and acquire the advance notification in the manner described above. If an advance notification of component depletion has not been acquired, CPU41terminates the routine.

On the other hand, when an advance notification of component depletion is acquired in S200, CPU41searches for the location where exchange feeder17bcorresponding to component depleted notification feeder17ais stored and sets the destination of exchange feeder17b(S210). In mounting system10, since feeder17for exchanging is stored in feeder storage section13by automatic conveyance vehicle16, the receiving destination is normally set at a predetermined position in feeder storage section13. Next, CPU41determines whether there is an available space in mounting loading section28to which notification feeder17ais loaded (S230). When there is space in mounting loading section28(also referred to as available loading section28a), CPU41sets available loading section28athat is closer to notification feeder17a, as a pre-arrangement loading section for loading exchange feeder17b(S230). CPU41may set the available loading section28aclosest to notification feeder17aas a pre-arrangement loading section. At this juncture, when there is no space in the module to which notification feeder17ais loaded, CPU41may determine whether there is space in an adjacent module and set the pre-arrangement loading section in a mounting loading section28capable of receiving as many components as possible. On the other hand, when there is no space in mounting loading section28in S220, CPU41determines whether there is space in buffer loading section29(S240). When there is space in buffer loading section29, buffer loading section29closer to notification feeder17ais set as the pre-arrangement loading section (S250). After S250or after S230, CPU41then creates arrangement execution information45including the position of the receiving destination set in S210and the position of the pre-arrangement loading section set in S230or S250, outputs arrangement execution information45to loader18(S260), and terminates the routine.

Next, the feeder replenishment process executed by loader18that has acquired the arrangement execution information will be described.FIG.6is a flowchart showing an example of a feeder replenishment process routine executed by CPU51included in moving control section50of loader18. This routine is stored in storage section53of loader18and repeatedly executed after the booting up of loader18. When this routine is started, CPU51first determines whether there is any feeder17in which component depletion has occurred based on whether exchange information has been acquired from management PC14(S300). When there is feeder17for which an advance notification has been made, CPU51obtains exchange feeder17bto be exchanged with component depleted feeder17from feeder storage section13or buffer loading section29, moves exchange feeder17bto the front of above-mentioned mounting loading section28and exchanges feeder17b(S310). After S310or when completion depletion has not occurred in S300, CPU51determines whether arrangement execution information45has been acquired from management PC14(S320). If arrangement execution information45has not been acquired, CPU51terminates the routine. On the other hand, when arrangement execution information45has been acquired, CPU51executes, based on arrangement execution information45, a process of obtaining exchange feeder17bfrom feeder storage section13or buffer loading section29, moving exchange feeder17bto the front face of the pre-arrangement loading section, and loading exchange feeder17bthereto. Loader18is set to preferentially execute the component depleted feeder exchange over the pre-arrangement process.

FIG.7is a diagram showing the loading of exchange feeder17bto available loading section28a,FIG.7Ais a view when a notification of component depletion is made, andFIG.7Bis a view in which exchange feeder17bis loaded to the pre-arrangement loading section.FIG.8is a diagram showing the loading of exchange feeder17bto buffer loading section29,FIG.8Ais a view when a notification of component depletion is made, andFIG.8Bis a view in which exchange feeder17bis loaded to the pre-arrangement loading section. As shown inFIG.7, when there is an available loading section28ain the vicinity of component depleted notification loading section28bto which component depleted notification feeder17ais loaded, exchange feeder17bis loaded to mounting loading section28at a closer position. In this case, even if feeder17is not moved, components can be immediately picked up directly from exchange feeder17b. As shown inFIG.8, when there is no space in mounting loading section28, exchange feeder17bis loaded to the closer buffer loading section29. Accordingly, since the moving distance is short when component depletion occurs, exchanging of feeder17can be performed in as short a time as possible. In mounting system10, although the production of board S stops when component depletion of feeder17occurs, the time period can be made as short as possible.

Here, the correspondence between the constituent elements of the present embodiment and the constituent elements of the present disclosure will be specified. Mounting device15of the present embodiment corresponds to a mounting device, loader18corresponds to a moving work device, and management PC14corresponds to a moving work management device. In addition, supply section27corresponds to a supply section, mounting section30corresponds to a mounting section, management control section40corresponds to a management control section, and moving control section50corresponds to a moving control section.

In management PC14described above, after acquiring the component depletion notification notifying of the component depletion of feeder17, exchange feeder17bis obtained and arrangement execution information45of loader18for moving and loading exchange feeder17bto the loading section in the vicinity of component depleted notification feeder17ais created. Thereafter, loader18that has acquired the arrangement execution information moves and loads exchange feeder17bto the loading section in the vicinity of component depleted notification feeder17a. In management PC14, since exchange feeder is disposed in advance in the vicinity of the feeder in which an advance notification of component depletion has been made, it is possible to further shorten the time required upon component depletion compared with the case in which loader18moves exchange feeder17bafter a component depletion has occurred.

Further, supply section27has mounting loading section28in which mounting section30is capable of picking up the component and buffer mounting section29in which mounting section30is incapable of picking up the component; and management control section40creates arrangement execution information45in a manner that prioritizes space in mounting loading section28as a moving destination for exchange feeder17bover buffer loading section29when loading exchange feeder17bto a loading section in the vicinity of component depleted notification feeder17a. In management control section40, since exchange feeder17bis preferentially loaded to mounting loading section28as compared with buffer loading section29from which components cannot be picked up, mounting section30can also pick up components as is from exchange feeder17b. In addition, supply section27includes one or more modules grouped together for each of the multiple loading sections, and when loading exchange feeder17bto a loading section in the vicinity of component depleted notification feeder17a, management control section40creates arrangement execution information45by giving priority to the loading section of the module including component depleted notification feeder17aand giving the next priority to a loading section of an adjacent module. In management PC14, since exchange feeder17bcan be provided to the module closer to component depleted notification feeder17a, it is possible to further shorten the time required when a feeder is depleted of components. Furthermore, mounting system10includes feeder storage section13that stores feeder17in addition to mounting device15, and management control section40creates arrangement execution information45in which exchange feeder17bis taken from feeder storage section13. In management PC14, since exchange feeder17bis obtained from feeder storage section13in mounting system10, the moving distance of loader18can be further shortened.

In addition, management control section40creates exchange information for executing the exchange between feeder17in which component depletion has occurred and exchange feeder17band prioritizes creating arrangement execution information45after the exchange information. That is, management PC14creates the information executed by loader18with priority given to actual component depleted feeders over component depleted notification feeders. In management PC14, since the highest priority is given to component depletion of feeder17, it is possible to further shorten the time period during which mounting device15stops due to component depletion. Further, management control section40outputs the created arrangement execution information45to loader18and causes loader18to execute the obtaining, moving, and loading of exchange feeder17b. Loader18can acquire arrangement execution information45and execute the process therein.

It is obvious that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be implemented in various modes as long as the modes belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure.

For example, in the above embodiment, arrangement execution information45is created by giving priority to the space of mounting loading section28as the moving destination of exchange feeder17bover buffer loading section29, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited thereto, and either may be given priority. It is preferable to set the space of mounting loading section28as the moving destination of exchange feeder17bbecause it allows mounting section30to pick up components.

In the above embodiment, supply section27includes one or more modules grouped together for each of the multiple loading sections but is not particularly limited thereto and need not include a module.

Although the above embodiment has been described as having supply section27only on the front side of mounting device15, supply section27may also be provided on the rear side of mounting device15. Management control section40may then create arrangement execution information45including the availability of loading section of supply section27in the rear side. In this case, rear supply section27may have mounting loading section28and buffer loading section29. Management control section40may create arrangement execution information45by giving priority to the closest loading section28among all the loading sections, and then next giving priority to the closest buffer loading section29.

In the above embodiment, the processes of S130to S160for notifying of a component depletion or determining the occurrence of component depletion is described as being performed by mounting device15, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this, and the processes may be performed by another device, for example, management PC14or host PC19. Management PC14may obtain the determination result from the device that has performed the determination process or may obtain the determination result by performing the determination process in management control section40after obtaining the number of remaining components.

In the above embodiment, mounting system10includes printing device11, print inspection device12, feeder storage13, management PC14, and mounting device15, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited thereto, and one or more of the above devices may be omitted or other devices may be added.

In the above embodiment, management PC14installed in feeder storage section13has been described as managing loader18, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this and may be provided with this function in other devices such as host PC19, mounting device15, and loader18, for example. In the above embodiment, loader18is configured to load or collect feeder17, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited thereto, and may be configured so that automatic conveyance vehicle16loads and collects feeder17.

In the above embodiment, the present disclosure was described by applying it to management PC14or mounting system10d, but the present disclosure may be applied to loader18or to the moving work management method.

Here, the moving work management device, the mounting system, the moving work device, and the moving work management method according to the present disclosure may be configured as follows. For example, in the moving work management device of the present disclosure, the supply section may have a mounting loading section in which the mounting section is capable of picking up the component and a buffer loading section in which the mounting section is incapable of picking up the component; and the management control section may create the arrangement execution information in a manner that prioritizes space in the mounting loading section as a moving destination for the feeder for exchanging over the buffer loading section when loading the feeder for exchanging to a loading section in the vicinity of the feeder in which an advanced notification of component depletion has been made. In this moving work management device, since the feeder for exchange is preferentially loaded to the mounting loading section as compared with the buffer loading section from which components cannot be picked up, the mounting section can also pick up components as is from the feeder for exchange. Here, the buffer loading section may be provided in the stage below the mounting loading section.

In the moving work management device of the present disclosure, the supply section may include one or more modules grouped together for each of the multiple loading sections, and when loading a feeder for exchange to a loading section in the vicinity of a feeder for which an advance notification of component depletion is made, the management control section may create arrangement execution information by giving priority to the loading section of a module including the feeder for which an advance notification of component depletion is made and giving the next priority to a loading section of an adjacent module. In this moving work management device, since the feeder for exchange can be disposed in a module closer to the feeder for which an advanced notification of component depletion has been made, it is possible to further shorten the time required when a feeder is depleted of components.

In the moving work management device of the present disclosure, the mounting system may include a storage section for storing feeders in addition to mounting devices, and the management control section may create arrangement execution information for obtaining a feeder for exchange from the storage section. In this moving work management device, since the feeder for exchange is obtained from a storage section within the mounting system, the moving distance of the moving work device is further shortened.

In the moving work management device of the present disclosure, the management control section may create exchange information for performing an exchange of the feeder in which component depletion has occurred and the feeder for exchanging, and create the arrangement execution information in priority after the exchange information. That is, the moving work management device creates information executed by the moving work device with priority given to actual component depleted feeders over feeders for which an advanced notification of component depletion has been made. In this moving work managing device, since the highest priority is given to component depletion of a feeder, it is possible to further shorten the time period during which the mounting device stops due to component depletion.

In the moving work management device of the present disclosure, the management control section may output the created arrangement execution information to the moving work device to cause the moving work device to obtain, move, and load the feeder for exchanging. The moving work device can acquire the arrangement execution information and execute the process therein.

The mounting system of the present disclosure includes a mounting device having a supply section configured to load a feeder to one or more loading sections, the feeder having a holding member configured to hold a component, and a mounting section configured to mount the component supplied from the supply section to a mounting target; a moving work device having a moving control section configured to collect the feeder from or replenish the feeder to the supply section and move the feeder; and any of the moving work management devices described above.

In this mounting system, since the feeder for exchanging is disposed in advance in the vicinity of the feeder in which an advance notification of component depletion has been made, it is possible to further shorten the time required upon component depletion compared with the case in which the moving work device moves the feeder for exchanging after a component depletion has occurred.

The moving work device of the present disclosure is used in a mounting system including a mounting device having a supply section configured to load a feeder to one or more loading sections, the feeder having a holding member configured to hold a component, and a mounting section configured to mount the component supplied from the supply section to a mounting target; a moving work device configured to collect the feeder from or replenish the feeder to the supply section and move the feeder; and a moving work management device for creating information executed by the moving work device; wherein the moving work device comprises a moving control section configured to cause the moving work device to obtain a feeder for exchanging and moves and loads a feeder for exchanging to a loading section in the vicinity of a feeder for which an advance notification of component depletion has been made after a component depletion notification notifying of a component depletion of the feeder has been acquired.

In this moving work device, similarly to the moving work management device described above, since the feeder for exchanging is disposed in advance in the vicinity of a feeder in which an advance notification of component depletion has been made, it is possible to further shorten the time required upon component depletion compared with the case in which the moving work device moves the feeder for exchanging after a component depletion has occurred. In this moving work device, various modes of the above-described moving work management device may be employed or processes for achieving each function of the above-described moving work management device may be added.

The moving work management method of the present disclosure is used in a mounting system including a mounting device having a supply section configured to load a feeder to one or more loading sections, the feeder having a holding member configured to hold a component, a mounting section configured to mount the component supplied from the supply section to a mounting target, and a moving work device having a moving control section for collecting from or replenishing the feeder to the supply section and moving the feeder; wherein the moving work management method comprises a step for creating arrangement execution information for the moving work device to obtain a feeder for exchanging to a loading section in the vicinity of a feeder for which an advance notification of component depletion has been made after a component depletion notification notifying of a component depletion of the feeder has been acquired.

In this moving work management method, since the feeder for exchanging is disposed in advance in the vicinity of the feeder in which an advance notification of component depletion has been made, it is possible to further shorten the time required upon component depletion compared with the case in which the moving work device moves the feeder for exchanging after a component depletion has occurred. It should be noted that in this moving work management method, various modes of the above-described moving work management device may be employed, or steps for achieving each function of the above-described moving work management device may be added.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is applicable to the technological field of devices for picking up and mounting components.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10Mounting system,11Printing device,12Print inspection device,13Feeder storage section,14Management PC,15Mounting device,16Automatic conveyance vehicle,17Feeder,17aComponent depleted notification feeder,17bExchange feeder,18Loader,18aX-axis rail,19Host PC,20Mounting control section,21CPU,23Storage section,24Mounting condition information,25Arrangement state information,26Board processing section,27Supply section,28Mounting loading section,28aAvailable loading section,28bComponent depleted notification loading section,29Buffer loading section,30Mounting section,31Head moving section,32Mounting head,33Nozzle,35Communication section,38Slot,39Connecting section,40Management control section,41CPU,43Storage section,44Mounting condition information,45Arrangement execution information,47Communication section,48Display section,49Input device,50Moving control section,51CPU,53Storage section,54Accommodation section,55Exchange section,56Moving section,57Communication section, S Board