Component storage and management method for component storage

Abstract

In a component tower (3) that stores reels (26) that house components (E) to be mounted on a substrate, for the storage sites (38), a number of storage sites (38) that store a number of types of components (E) stored in the component tower (3) more than the number of types are ensured as priority storage sites (80) in order from short to long movement time to the in-out storage site (39), and a control section (40) executes: first movement processing that moves at least one reel (26) to the priority storage site (80) by a movement section (34) for each type of component (E) stored in the component tower (3) before an instruction to take out the component (E) is accepted; and second movement processing that moves a reel (26) that houses a component (E) of a certain type from the priority storage site (80) to the in-out storage site (39) by the movement section (34) when an instruction to take out the component (E) of the certain type is accepted.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to an element storage and a management method of an element storage. BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventionally, a surface mounter that mounts elements on a substrate is known (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1). Specifically, the element mounting device (surface mounter) described in Patent Literature 1 is provided with a mounting section that mounts elements on a substrate, and an element supply device that supplies elements to the mounting section. The mounting section is provided with a head unit having a plurality of mounting heads that adsorb and release electronic elements, and a head driving mechanism that moves the head unit in a direction parallel to the board surface of the substrate. The element supply device is a device that supplies elements housed in a tape (component tape), and is provided with a plurality of spools that wind the tape. The element supply device feeds out the tape, thereby sequentially supplying the elements housed in the tape one by one to the mounting section.

[0003] In addition, conventionally, an element storage that stores element storage bodies (spools that wind element tapes, element trays that place a plurality of elements, and the like) that house elements mounted on a substrate is known (for example, refer to Patent Literature 2). Specifically, the element storage body storage described in Patent Literature 2 is provided with a plurality of storage shelves (corresponding to storage sites) that store element storage bodies, an entrance and exit that allows element storage bodies to enter and exit the storage, a transfer unit that transfers the stored element storage bodies to the entrance and exit, and a control section that controls the transfer unit and transfers the element storage bodies to the entrance and exit when a preparation instruction is obtained from a management computer (element storage body management device).

[0004] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0005] PATENT LITERATURE

[0006] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 6603616

[0007] Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-164018 SUMMARY

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0010] However, the element storage body storage described in Patent Literature 2 described above has room for improvement in terms of shortening the time required for the exit of the element storage bodies.

[0011] In this specification, a technology that can shorten the time required for the exit of element storage bodies regardless of the kind of the element storage bodies is disclosed.

[0012] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0013] (1) According to an aspect of the present application, an element storage library that stores element storage bodies in which elements to be mounted on a substrate are stored, includes: a plurality of storage sites that respectively store one of the element storage bodies; an in-out site on which the element storage body to be stored in or out is placed; a moving section that moves the element storage bodies within the element storage library; a reception section that receives an instruction to store out the elements; and a control section that, for the storage sites, ensures, as a priority storage site, a number of the storage sites that is equal to or more than the number of types of the elements stored in the element storage library in order from short to long in moving time to the in-out site, the control section performing: a first moving process that, before receiving the instruction to store out the elements, moves, by the moving section, at least one of the element storage bodies to the priority storage site for each type of the elements stored in the element storage library; and a second moving process that, when receiving the instruction to store out the elements of a certain type, moves, by the moving section, the element storage body in which the elements of the certain type are stored from the priority storage site to the in-out site.

[0014] In the case of the element storage body storage library described in the aforementioned Patent Document 2, in the case of storing out the element storage body stored in the storage rack far from the entrance and exit (in other words, the storage rack in which the moving time to the entrance and exit is long), since the moving time from the storage rack to the entrance and exit is long, the time required from the time when the preparation instruction is obtained to the time when the element storage body is delivered to the entrance and exit is long.

[0015] In contrast to this, the element storage library of the present application, for the storage sites, ensures, as a priority storage site, a number of the storage sites that is equal to or more than the number of types of the elements stored in the element storage library in order from short to long in moving time to the in-out site. Also, the element storage library, before receiving the instruction to store out the elements, moves, at least one of the element storage bodies to the priority storage site for each type of the elements stored in the element storage library. Also, the element storage library, when receiving the instruction to store out the elements of a certain type, moves the element storage body in which the elements of the certain type are stored from the priority storage site to the in-out site. The priority storage site has a short moving time to the in-out site compared to the storage site that is not a priority storage site (hereinafter referred to as a non-priority storage site), so the element storage body can be moved to the in-out site in a short time regardless of which type of element storage body is instructed to be stored out. Therefore, the element storage library according to the present application can shorten the time required to store out the elements compared to the element storage body storage library described in Patent Document 2, regardless of which type of element storage body.

[0016] (2) According to an aspect of the present application, the two storage shelves can be arranged side by side, and the two storage shelves each have a plurality of storage sites, and the access site is provided in one of the storage shelves, and the priority storage site is ensured in the other storage shelf.

[0017] According to the component storage library described above, in the case where the two storage shelves are arranged side by side, the priority storage site is ensured in the other storage shelf, and the time required for the component storage body to be taken out can be shortened, and the priority storage site is ensured in the other storage shelf, and the time required for the component storage body to be taken out can be shortened, regardless of the type of the component storage body.

[0018] (3) According to an aspect of the present application, the component storage library is configured to store component storage bodies that store components to be mounted on a substrate, and the component storage library includes: two storage shelves arranged side by side; a plurality of storage sites provided in each of the storage shelves and configured to store one of the component storage bodies; an access site provided in one of the storage shelves and configured to load the component storage body to be accessed; a moving unit configured to move the component storage body within the component storage library; a receiving unit configured to receive an instruction to take out the component; and a control unit configured to ensure, in one of the storage shelves, a predetermined number of the storage sites as a take-out waiting site in order of the moving time to the access site from short to long, and ensure, in the other storage shelf, a number of the storage sites that is greater than the number of types of the components stored in the component storage library as a priority storage site in order of the moving time to the access site from short to long, and the control unit is configured to perform: a first moving process of moving, by the moving unit, at least one of the component storage bodies to the priority storage site for each type of the components stored in the component storage library before receiving the instruction to take out the component; a third moving process of moving, by the moving unit, the component storage body that is to be taken out earlier in order to the take-out waiting site from the priority storage site; and a fourth moving process of moving, by the moving unit, the component storage body that stores the component of a certain type from the take-out waiting site to the access site when receiving the instruction to take out the component of the certain type.

[0019] According to the component storage library described above, the component storage body that is to be taken out earlier in order is moved from the priority storage site to the take-out waiting site before the instruction to take out the component storage body is received, and therefore the time required for the component storage body to be taken out can be shortened when the instruction to take out the component storage body is received. Therefore, according to the component storage library described above, the time required for the component storage body to be taken out can be shortened, regardless of the type of the component storage body.

[0020] (4) According to an aspect of the present application, the control section can also execute an ensuring process for newly ensuring the priority storage place in the case where the element container that houses the element of the kind not stored in the element storage library is stored.

[0021] According to the above-described element storage library, even if a new kind of element container is stored, the newly stored kind of element container can be stored in the priority storage place.

[0022] (5) According to an aspect of the present application, the priority degree of each of the element containers can be set, and in the first moving process, the control section can move the element container having the highest priority degree for each kind of the element containers to the priority storage place.

[0023] According to the above-described element storage library, the element containers can be stored starting with the element container having the highest priority degree for each kind of the element.

[0024] (6) According to an aspect of the present application, the element storage library can be provided with a dehumidifier that dehumidifies the inside of the element storage library, and for the element container that houses the element of the kind not suitable for contact with high-humidity air, as an exception, the priority storage place can be ensured in order of proximity to the outlet of the dehumidifier for the storage place.

[0025] Dry air dehumidified by the dehumidifier is blown out in the vicinity of the outlet of the dehumidifier. According to the above-described element storage library, for the element container that houses the element of the kind not suitable for contact with high-humidity air, the priority storage place can be ensured in order of proximity to the outlet of the dehumidifier for the storage place, and thus the possibility of the element of the kind not suitable for contact with high-humidity air being in contact with high-humidity air can be reduced.

[0026] The application disclosed in the present specification can be implemented in various forms such as an apparatus, a method, a computer program for realizing the functions of the above-described apparatus or method, a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, and the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a substrate production apparatus of Embodiment 1.

[0028] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a component tape.

[0029] Figure 3 is a front view of a reel and a component tape.

[0030] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a component tower.

[0031] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the inside of the parts tower.

[0032] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the inside of the parts tower (omitting the front side storage rack).

[0033] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the parts tower.

[0034] Figure 8 is a schematic view of the management table.

[0035] Figure 9 is a schematic view showing the priority storage place of the rear side storage rack.

[0036] Figure 10 is a schematic view showing the priority storage place of the rear side storage rack.

[0037] Figure 11 is a flowchart of the first movement processing.

[0038] Figure 12 is a flowchart of the second movement processing.

[0039] Figure 13 is a schematic view showing the shipment waiting place of Embodiment 2.

[0040] Figure 14 is a plan view of the parts tower of Embodiment 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] <Embodiment 1>

[0042] Based on Figures 1-12 , Embodiment 1 will be described. In the following description, for the same constituent members, the reference numerals of the drawings are sometimes omitted except for a part thereof.

[0043] (1) Substrate production apparatus

[0044] With reference to Figure 1 , a substrate production apparatus 1 that mounts elements on a substrate will be described. The substrate production apparatus 1 is provided with a production line 2 that mounts elements on a substrate, a parts tower 3 (an example of an element storage library), and a management computer 4, which are connected in a communicable manner through a communication network 5 such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0045] The production line 2 is provided with a loader 10, a screen printer 11, a print inspection machine 12, a dispenser 13, a plurality of surface mounters 14, a post-mounting appearance inspection machine 15, a reflow soldering device 16, a post-curing appearance inspection machine 17, and an unloader 18, which are connected in series via a plurality of conveyors 19.

[0046] The surface mount machine 14 includes a mounting section for mounting components to a substrate and a component supply device for supplying components to the mounting section. Multiple wound component tapes 25 (see reference) are mounted on the component supply device. Figure 2 ) scroll 26 (see reference) Figure 3 The reel 26 is an example of a component housing. The component supply device is equipped with multiple electrically operated feeding devices that feed the component belts 25, and supplies components to the mounting section by feeding the component belts 25 using the feeding devices.

[0047] The management computer 4 is a computer that registers various information related to the substrate production equipment 1. This information includes substrate production plan information, component quantity information indicating the remaining quantity of components on each reel 26 of the component supply device, and various other information related to the reels 26.

[0048] The various information related to the reel 26 includes a reel ID for uniquely identifying the reel 26, information indicating the type of components housed in the reel 26, the date and time of opening, the number of days in humid air, the number of days of oxidation, the warranty period, etc.

[0049] The opening date and time is the date and time when the plastic bag containing the reel 26 was opened. The reel 26 is contained in a plastic bag supplied by the component manufacturer. The plastic bag is opened when the reel 26 is used, and the opening date and time are recorded in the management computer 4 by the operator.

[0050] The number of days with humid air is the number of days that the components housed in scroll 26 are unusable due to humid air. If the number of days with humid air has elapsed since the opening date, the components housed in scroll 26 are unusable.

[0051] Oxidation days refers to the number of days that the components housed in scroll 26 become unusable due to oxidation. Once the oxidation days have elapsed from the opening date, the components housed in scroll 26 become unusable.

[0052] The warranty period is the period during which the component manufacturer of the reel 26 guarantees the quality of the component.

[0053] The above information is one example of information relating to scroll 26. Information relating to scroll 26 is not limited to this.

[0054] (2) Component tape and reel

[0055] like Figure 2As shown, the component belt 25 is a belt that houses multiple components E. The component belt 25 includes: a carrier belt 25B with multiple receiving recesses 25A spaced evenly along its length; components E housed in each receiving recess 25A; and a peeling belt 25C attached to the upper surface of the carrier belt 25B. Transfer holes 25D are provided at equal intervals along the length of one side of the component belt 25 in the width direction, allowing the teeth of a sprocket from a component supply device to be inserted. Multiple types of components E are present, and components of the same type are housed in one component belt 25.

[0056] like Figure 3 As shown, the component strip 25 is wound on a reel 26. A barcode 27 indicating the reel ID is marked on the reel 26. It should be noted that the reel ID may also be represented by a QR code instead of a barcode 27.

[0057] When the remaining quantity of components on the currently used component strip 25 decreases, the operator of the surface mount machine 14 removes the reel 26 wound with the currently used component strip 25 and installs a new reel 26, connecting the front end of the new component strip 25 to the rear end of the currently used component strip 25. This operation of connecting the front end of the new component strip 25 to the rear end of the currently used component strip 25 is generally referred to as splicing. Two component strips 25 can be mounted via a feeding device, which has an automatic loading function that automatically feeds out the other component strip 25 when one component strip 25 is depleted of components.

[0058] In the following description, the element E housed in the element belt 25 wound around the spool 26 will be referred to simply as "the element E housed in the spool 26".

[0059] (3) Parts Tower

[0060] Reference Figure 4 This describes the appearance of Parts Tower 3. Parts Tower 3 is a storage container for Reel 26. Parts Tower 3 has a roughly box-shaped main body 30 with a width (W) of approximately 2600 cm, a depth (L) of approximately 1350 cm, and a height (H) of approximately 2500 cm. On the front surface of the main body 30, there is an access rack 33 (described later) Figure 5 A rectangular opening (not shown) is formed on the front side of the storage body 30. An opening / closing door 31 is rotatably connected to the storage body 30, and the opening / closing door 31 opens and closes the opening. An operating part 41 is provided on the front surface of the storage body 30, to the right of the opening / closing door 31.

[0061] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 The internal structure of parts tower 3 will be described below. Parts tower 3 includes: a storage rack 32, a storage reel 26; an inbound / outbound rack 33, which holds the reels 26 to be moved or retrieved; and a moving part 34 (see reference).Figure 6 ), moves the reel 26 stored in the storage shelf 32 or the reel 26 placed on the in-out shelf 33, and a scanner 42 (refer to Figure 7 ).

[0062] As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the storage shelf 32 is composed of a front storage shelf 32A (an example of one storage shelf) and a rear storage shelf 32B (an example of another storage shelf). The rear storage shelf 32B is 34 sections in the longitudinal direction and 7 columns in the lateral direction, and one reel 26 is stored in each section of each column. In the following description, the place where one reel 26 is stored will be referred to as a storage place 38. The front storage shelf 32A has the same structure as the rear storage shelf 32B as a whole, but the in-out shelf 33 is provided in the central portion. The in-out shelf 33 is 14 sections in the longitudinal direction and 2 columns in the lateral direction, and one reel 26 is placed in each section. In the following description, the place where one reel 26 is placed in the in-out shelf 33 will be referred to as an in-out place 39.

[0063] Refer to Figure 6 , the moving section 34 will be described. The moving section 34 is a mechanism that moves the reel 26 between the in-out place 39 and the storage place 38. The moving section 34 also moves the reel 26 between the storage places 38, as will be described later. The moving section 34 is provided with a moving head 34A that grips the reel 26, and a head moving section 34B that moves the moving head 34A two-dimensionally in the up-down and left-right directions.

[0064] The moving head 34A is a structure that grips the reel 26 from above and below, and is provided with a head main section 35, a gripping section 36 that grips the reel 26, a front-rear moving mechanism not shown, and a lifting mechanism not shown. The gripping section 36 is supported to the head main section 35 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The gripping section 36 is provided with two upper side extending sections 37 that extend to the front side on the upper side of the reel 26, and a lower side extending section that extends to the front side on the lower side of the reel 26, although not observed in Figure 6 . The front-rear moving mechanism not shown is provided to the head main section 35 to move the gripping section 36 in the front-rear direction. The lifting mechanism not shown is provided to the gripping section 36 to lift the upper side extending sections 37.

[0065] The head moving section 34B is provided with a moving mechanism that moves the moving head 34A in the up-down and left-right directions, and a rotating mechanism that rotates the moving head 34A by 180° around the vertical line.

[0066] When the reel 26 stored in the storage site 38 is taken out by the moving head 34A, the part tower 3 moves the moving head 34A to the target storage site 38 by the head moving section 34B. Also, the part tower 3 moves the gripping section 36 to the front side by the front and back moving mechanism in the state that the upper side extension section 37 is raised. When the gripping section 36 is moved to the front side, the upper side extension section 37 is positioned at the upper side of the reel 26, and the lower side extension section is positioned below the reel 26.

[0067] The part tower 3 lowers the upper side extension section 37 by the lifting mechanism in this state. When the upper side extension section 37 is lowered, the reel 26 is gripped by the upper side extension section 37 and the lower side extension section. The part tower 3 moves the gripping section 36 to the back side by the front and back moving mechanism in this state. Thereby, the reel 26 is taken out. The case where the reel 26 is stored in the storage site 38 becomes the reverse action.

[0068] When the reel 26 stored in the storage rack 32B on the back side is taken out, the part tower 3 rotates the moving head 34A by 180° around the vertical line by the rotation mechanism. The action after the moving head 34A is rotated by 180° is the same, and thus the explanation is omitted.

[0069] The scanner 42 (refer to Figure 7 ) is provided to the moving head 34A. When the reel 26 is gripped by the moving head 34A, the bar code 27 marked on the reel 26 is read by the scanner 42. The scanner 42 can also be provided at a prescribed position in the part tower 3. In this case, the reel 26 gripped by the moving head 34A is moved to the reading position of the scanner 42 and the bar code 27 is read.

[0070] (4) Electrical structure of the part tower

[0071] The electrical structure of the part tower 3 will be explained with reference to Figure 7 . The part tower 3 is provided with a control section 40, the moving head 34A, the head moving section 34B, an operation section 41, and the scanner 42.

[0072] The control section 40 is provided with a microcomputer 40A which monolithically integrates a CPU, a RAM, and the like, a storage section 40B, and a communication section 40C (an example of a reception section). Various control programs, a management table for managing the reels 26 stored by the part tower 3, and the like are stored in the storage section 40B. The microcomputer 40A controls each section of the part tower 3 by executing the control programs stored in the storage section 40B. The communication section 40C is a communication circuit used by the microcomputer 40A to communicate with other devices via the communication network 5.

[0073] The control section 40 can also be provided with an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like instead of the microcomputer 40A.

[0074] The operation section 41 is provided with a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel. An operator can instruct the storage and retrieval of the reel 26 by operating the operation section 41.

[0075] (5) Management Table

[0076] Referring to Figure 8 the aforementioned management table. When the operator stores the reel 26 in the parts tower 3, the reel ID is read by the scanner 42. The control section 40 acquires various information about the reel 26 indicated by the read reel ID from the management computer 4, and registers the information in the management table in correspondence with the reel ID.

[0077] As shown in Figure 8 , the management table of Embodiment 1 has data items such as a reel ID column, a storage place column, an element type column, a storage date and time column, an opening date and time column, a humid air day column, an oxidation day column, and a guarantee period column. The storage place column is a data item in which information indicating the storage place 38 in which the reel 26 is stored is registered. At the time point at which the reel ID is read, the storage place column is also a blank column, and when the reel 26 is moved to the storage place 38, information indicating the storage place 38 is registered in the storage place column. The element type column is a data item in which information indicating the type of the element is registered. The storage date and time column is a data item in which the date and time at which the reel 26 is stored in the parts tower 3 is registered. The opening date and time column, the humid air day column, the oxidation day column, and the guarantee period column are data items in which the aforementioned opening date and time, humid air days, oxidation days, and guarantee period are registered, respectively.

[0078] When the control section 40 retrieves the reel 26 stored in the parts tower 3, the information of the retrieved reel 26 is deleted from the management table.

[0079] (6) Priority of Reel Retrieval

[0080] The humid air days, oxidation days, guarantee period, and the like are set for the reel 26 as described above. In this embodiment, one of the period during which the element E cannot be used due to humid air (the date and time at which the humid air days elapse from the opening date and time), the period during which the element E cannot be used due to oxidation (the date and time at which the oxidation days elapse from the opening date and time), and the guarantee period, which comes earliest, is set as the consumption period of the reel 26, and the more the consumption period of the reel 26 is early, the higher the priority of retrieval is.

[0081] (7) Priority storage place

[0082] Referring to Figure 9 , the priority storage place 80 ensured by the storage rack 32B on the back side will be described. In Figure 9 , the frame indicated by the thick line 50 indicates the position of the in-out storage place 39 provided by the storage rack 32A on the front side. In Embodiment 1, the priority storage place 80 ensured by the storage rack 32B on the back side is shorter in the moving time from the priority storage place 80 to the in-out storage place 39 than the priority storage place 80 ensured by the storage rack 32A on the front side. Therefore, in Embodiment 1, the priority storage place 80 is ensured by the storage rack 32B on the back side. The moving time is sometimes determined by the distance to the in-out storage place 39, and sometimes cannot be determined by the distance alone. This is because, even if the distance to the in-out storage place 39 is the same, the moving time of the moving head 34A varies.

[0083] Specifically, in the storage rack 32B on the back side, the same number of storage places 38 as the number of types of the reels 26 stored in the part tower 3 are ensured as the priority storage place 80 in order from the shortest to the longest moving time to the in-out storage place 39 for the storage places 38. For example, the number of types of the reels 26 stored in the part tower 3 is eight. In this case, as shown in Figure 9 , the eight storage places 38 (the storage places 38 enclosed by the rectangular frame indicated by the dotted line 51, in other words, the storage places 38 on which the hatching is applied) having the shortest moving time to the in-out storage place 39 are ensured as the priority storage place 80 (an example of the ensuring process). For the sake of simplicity, in the following description, the storage places 38 that are not the priority storage place 80 will be referred to as non-priority storage places.

[0084] In the case where a plurality of storage places 38 have the same moving time to the in-out storage place 39, any one of the plurality of storage places 38 can be set as the "storage place 38 having the shortest moving time to the in-out storage place 39". Specifically, in Figure 9 , the moving times to the in-out storage place 39 of the storage places 38 within the frame indicated by the thick line 50 are all the same, and all of the storage places 38 are the storage places 38 having the shortest moving time to the in-out storage place 39. In this case, any one of these storage places 38 can be ensured as the priority storage place 80. Also, the priority storage place 80 can not necessarily be continuous.

[0085] In the present embodiment, each priority storage place 80 does not correspond to a specific type of the reel 26. Therefore, the reel 26 can be stored in any one of the priority storage places 80.

[0086] When a new kind of reel 26 is stored in the parts tower 3, the priority storage place 80 is dynamically ensured. For example, in the example shown in Figure 9 In the example shown, when a new kind of reel 26 is stored, the number of kinds of reels 26 stored in the parts tower 3 becomes nine. In this case, as shown in Figure 10 One of the storage places 38 in which the moving time to the in-out storage place 39 is short is newly ensured as the ninth priority storage place 80.

[0087] In the case where the newly ensured priority storage place 80 already stores a reel 26 of another kind, the reel 26 is moved to a non-priority storage place, and the newly stored reel 26 is stored in the storage place 38 (the newly ensured priority storage place 80).

[0088] (8) Movement of Reels

[0089] The control section 40 moves at least one reel 26 to the priority storage place 80 for each kind of component E stored in the parts tower 3 before accepting an instruction for the withdrawal of the reel 26 (an example of the first movement process). Also, the control section 40 moves the reel 26 storing components E of a certain kind from the priority storage place 80 to the in-out storage place 39 by the moving section 34 when accepting an instruction for the withdrawal of the reel 26 of the kind (an example of the second movement process). Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given.

[0090] (8-1) First Movement Process

[0091] The first movement process will be described with reference to Figure 11 As described above, when the operator stores a reel 26 in the parts tower 3, the reel ID is read by the scanner 42. When the reel ID is read by the scanner 42, the present process is started.

[0092] Here, as described above, the priority storage place 80 is newly ensured in the case where a new kind of reel 26 is stored, but in the following description, the case where a reel 26 of the same kind as a reel 26 already stored is stored will be described as an example. Therefore, the step of newly ensuring the priority storage place 80 in the case where a new kind of reel 26 is stored will be omitted.

[0093] In S101, the control section 40 acquires information about the reel 26 indicated by the read reel ID from the management table in the management computer 4.

[0094] In S102, the control section 40 reads out information about a reel 26 of the same kind as the stored reel 26 from the management table.

[0095] In S103, the control section 40 determines whether or not the same kind of reel 26 as the reeled reel 26 is stored in the priority storage place 80, and proceeds to S104 in the case of storage, and proceeds to S107 in the case of non-storage.

[0096] Here, in the case where the same kind of reel 26 as the reeled reel 26 is not stored in the priority storage place 80, the same kind of reel 26 as the reeled reel 26 is not stored in the parts tower 3, and thus a new kind of reel 26 is reeled to the parts tower 3. That is, the kind of the reel 26 stored in the parts tower 3 is increased. Therefore, the control section 40 newly secures the priority storage place 80.

[0097] In S104, the control section 40 compares the priority of the reeled reel 26 with the same kind of reel 26 stored in the parts tower 3. The control section 40 proceeds to S105 in the case where the priority of the reeled reel 26 is high, and proceeds to S108 in the case where the priority is low.

[0098] In S105, the control section 40 temporarily moves the reeled reel 26 to the non-priority storage place.

[0099] In S106, the control section 40 moves the same kind of reel 26 in the priority storage place 80 to the non-priority storage place.

[0100] In S107, the control section 40 moves the reeled reel 26 to the priority storage place 80.

[0101] In S108, the control section 40 stores the reeled reel 26 in the non-priority storage place.

[0102] (8-2) Second moving process

[0103] Referring to Figure 12 , the second moving process will be described. When the number of elements of a certain reel 26 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined number, the surface mount machine 14 instructs the control section 40 of the parts tower 3 to reel out the elements E of the same kind as the elements E stored in the reel 26. When the parts tower 3 is instructed to reel out the reel 26 from the surface mount machine 14, the second moving process is started. Note that the instruction to reel out can also be performed by an operator operating the operation section 41.

[0104] In S201, the control section 40 moves the reel 26 storing the elements E of the instructed kind to reel out from the priority storage place 80 to the reeling and de-reeling place 39.

[0105] In S202, the control section 40 determines whether or not the same kind of elements E is stored in the non-priority storage place, and proceeds to S203 in the case of storage, and proceeds to S204 in the case of non-storage.

[0106] In S203, the control section 40 moves the reel 26 stored in the non-priority storage place and the same kind of reel 26 as the reel 26 for which the withdrawal is instructed to the priority storage place 80. Specifically, the control section 40 moves the reel 26 to the priority storage place 80 in the case where the number of the same kind of reel 26 stored in the non-priority storage place is only one, and moves the reel 26 having the highest priority among the plurality of the same kind of reels 26 to the priority storage place 80 in the case where the plurality of the same kind of reels 26 exist.

[0107] In S204, the control section 40 excludes the storage place 38 having the longest movement time to the storage and withdrawal place 39 from the priority storage place 80 among the storage places 38 secured as the priority storage place 80. The control section 40 moves the reel 26 stored in the priority storage place 80 having the longest movement time to the storage and withdrawal place 39 to the other priority storage place 80 (for example, the priority storage place 80 storing the reel 26 to be withdrawn) which is vacant, and excludes the priority storage place 80 storing the reel 26 from the priority storage place 80.

[0108] (10) Effects of the Embodiment

[0109] According to the parts tower 3, at least one reel 26 is moved to the priority storage place 80 for each kind of the component E housed in the parts tower 3 before the instruction of the withdrawal of the reel 26 is accepted. The priority storage place 80 has a short movement time to the storage and withdrawal place 39 compared to the non-priority storage place, and thus the reel 26 can be moved to the storage and withdrawal place 39 in a short time regardless of which kind of reel 26 is instructed to be withdrawn. Therefore, according to the parts tower 3, the time required for the withdrawal of the reel 26 can be shortened regardless of which kind of reel 26.

[0110] According to the parts tower 3, the two storage shelves 32A, 32B are arranged side by side, and the priority storage place 80 can be secured in the storage shelf 32B at the rear side. Therefore, the parts tower 3 can secure the priority storage place 80 in the storage shelf 32B at the rear side. Thus, the time required for the withdrawal can be shortened regardless of which kind of reel 26.

[0111] According to the parts tower 3, in the case where the reel 26 housing the component E of the kind not housed in the parts tower 3 is stored, the priority storage place 80 is newly secured, and thus even if the reel 26 of the new kind is stored, the newly stored reel 26 of the kind can be stored in the priority storage place 80.

[0112] According to the parts tower 3, the priorities of the spools 26 are set, and for each kind of spool 26, the spool 26 of the highest priority is moved to the priority storage place 80, so that for each kind of component E, the spool 26 of the highest priority can be discharged first.

[0113] <Embodiment 2>

[0114] By Figure 13 Embodiment 2 is described.

[0115] (1) Discharge waiting place

[0116] Referring to Figure 13 , the discharge waiting place ensured by the front storage rack 32A is described. In Embodiment 2, as in Embodiment 1, the priority storage place 80 is ensured by the rear storage rack 32B. Also, in Embodiment 2, the storage places 38 around the in-out storage place 39 of the front storage rack 32A are set as the discharge waiting place 81. Specifically, in the front storage rack 32A, for the storage places 38, a prescribed number (52 in the example shown in FIG. 8, the storage places 38 enclosed by the rectangular frame indicated by the thick line 61, in other words, the storage places 38 on which hatching is drawn) of the storage places 38 are set as the discharge waiting place 81 in order from the shortest to the longest movement time to the in-out storage place 39. Figure 13

[0117] In Embodiment 2, the movement time from the discharge waiting place 81 to the in-out storage place 39 is shorter than the movement time from the priority storage place 80 ensured by the rear storage rack 32B to the in-out storage place 39. The discharge waiting place 81 is closer to the in-out storage place 39 than the other storage places 38, so when discharge is instructed, the spool 26 can be moved to the in-out storage place 39 in a shorter time than the other storage places 38.

[0118] (2) Movement of spool

[0119] As in Embodiment 1, the control section 40, before receiving an instruction to discharge a component E, moves at least one spool 26 to the priority storage place 80 for each kind of component E stored in the parts tower 3 (an example of the first movement process).

[0120] ​Next, the control section 40 receives the component remaining number information of each reel 26 from the surface mounter 14 via the communication network 5. The component remaining number information includes the component remaining number of each reel 26 installed to the component supply device. Also, the control section 40 receives the production plan information of the board from the surface mounter 14 at the start of the production of the board or the like. The production plan information of the board includes the kind of the board to be produced, the order of the kinds of the board to be produced, the number of the kinds of the board to be produced, the kind of the component E to be mounted to each kind of the board, and the number of each kind, and the like. The control section 40 can also receive these information from the management computer 4.

[0121] The control section 40 determines the order of the reels 26 stored in the parts tower 3 to be shipped out, based on the received production plan information, component remaining number information, and the like. Also, the control section 40 causes the reels 26 to be shipped out in the order relatively early among the plurality of reels 26 stored in the priority storage place 80 to be moved from the priority storage place 80 to the shipment waiting place 81 before being instructed to be shipped out (an example of the third movement processing).

[0122] The control section 40, when receiving the instruction to ship out a certain kind of the reel 26, causes the reel 26 stored in the shipment waiting place 81 to be moved to the in-out storage place 39 by the movement section 34 (an example of the fourth movement processing).

[0123] Hereinafter, the third movement processing and the fourth movement processing will be described specifically.

[0124] (2-1) Third Movement Processing

[0125] The control section 40, for example, when starting the production of the board, determines the number of the components E stored in each reel 26 to be used for each board for each of the reels 26 installed to the component supply device. Also, the control section 40 calculates the number of the boards that can be produced for each of the reels 26 by dividing the component remaining number of the reel 26 by the number of the components E to be used for each board for each of the reels 26.

[0126] Since the reel 26 for which the number of the boards that can be produced is smaller needs to be replaced earlier, the reel 26 in which the same kind of the components E as the kind of the components E stored in the reel 26 for which the number of the boards that can be produced is smaller is stored needs to be shipped out earlier. Therefore, the control section 40 determines the order of the components E of each kind to be shipped out based on the kind of the components E of each of the reels 26 in the order from the reel 26 for which the number of the boards that can be produced is smaller to the reel 26 for which the number of the boards that can be produced is larger for each of the reels 26 installed to the component supply device. Also, the control section 40 determines the order of the reels 26 to be shipped out based on the order of the components E of each kind to be shipped out.

[0127] For example, the type of the component E housed in the spool 26 in which the number of the remaining producible substrates is the least is A, the type of the component E housed in the second least is B, and the type of the component E housed in the third least is C. In this case, the control section 40 determines that the spools 26 in which the components E of A, the components E of B, and the components E of C are housed are discharged in this order.

[0128] The control section 40 moves the spool 26 in which the component E of the component E to be discharged in the early order, in other words, the spool 26 in which the component E to be discharged in the early order is housed, from the preferential storage place 80 to the discharge waiting place 81. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given. In order to facilitate understanding, in the following description, initially, the discharge waiting place 81 is empty.

[0129] The control section 40 controls the moving head 34A and the head moving section 34B to move the spools 26 stored in the preferential storage place 80 to the discharge waiting place 81 in order from the component E to be discharged in the early order to the component E to be discharged in the late order.

[0130] When the discharge waiting place 81 is full, the control section 40 determines whether the spool 26 of the same type as the spool 26 moved from the preferential storage place 80 to the discharge waiting place 81 is stored in the component tower 3, and in the case where the spool 26 of the same type is stored in the component tower 3, moves the spool 26 of the same type from one non-preferential storage place to the preferential storage place 80. In the case where the spool 26 of the same type as the spool 26 moved from the preferential storage place 80 to the discharge waiting place 81 is not stored in the component tower 3, the control section 40 excludes the storage place 38 having the longest moving time to the in-out place 39 among the storage places 38 serving as the preferential storage place 80 from the preferential storage place 80. In the case where the spool 26 is stored in the storage place 38 having the longest moving time, the control section 40 moves the spool 26 stored in the storage place 38 having the longest moving time to the preferential storage place 80.

[0131] (2-2) Fourth moving process

[0132] When the number of components of one spool 26 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined number, the surface mount machine 14 instructs the control section 40 of the component tower 3 to discharge the component E of the same type as the component E housed in the spool 26. The control section 40 moves the spool 26 in which the component E of the instructed type is housed from the discharge waiting place 81 to the in-out place 39 when the discharge is instructed.

[0133] When the control section 40 makes the reel 26 stored in the withdrawal waiting place 81 vacant by moving the reel 26 to the in-out place 39, it sequentially moves the reels 26 to be withdrawn in order from the early order among the reels 26 stored in the priority storage place 80 to the withdrawal waiting place 81. When the control section 40 stores the same kind of reel 26 as the reel 26 moved from the priority storage place 80 to the withdrawal waiting place 81 in the part tower 3, it moves the same kind of reel 26 to one priority storage place 80.

[0134] (3) Effects of Embodiments

[0135] According to the part tower 3 of Embodiment 2, the reel 26 to be withdrawn in the relatively early order is moved from the priority storage place 80 to the withdrawal waiting place 81 before the withdrawal of the reel 26 is instructed. Therefore, compared with the case where the reel 26 is not moved from the priority storage place 80 to the withdrawal waiting place 81, the time until the reel 26 to be withdrawn is moved to the in-out place 39 can be shortened when the instruction of the withdrawal of the reel 26 is accepted. Therefore, according to the part tower 3, the time required for the withdrawal of the reel 26 can be shortened.

[0136] <Embodiment 3>

[0137] By Figure 14 , Embodiment 3 will be described.

[0138] As shown in Figure 14 , the part tower 3 of Embodiment 3 has two dehumidifiers 71 at the rear side. In the part tower 3, an unillustrated suction port and a blow port are respectively provided in the vicinity of each dehumidifier 71, and the suction port and the blow port are respectively connected to the dehumidifier 71. The air in the part tower 3 is sucked into the dehumidifier 71 from the suction port, and is blown into the part tower 3 from the blow port after being dehumidified by the dehumidifier 71.

[0139] The vicinity of the in-out place 39 is likely to be in contact with outside air, and therefore, the element E of the kind which is not suitable to be in contact with air having a high humidity (hereinafter, referred to as an element E requiring humidity management) is not suitable to be stored in the vicinity of the in-out place 39. Therefore, in Embodiment 3, as an exception, the priority storage place 80 is ensured in the vicinity of the blow port for the reel 26 on which the element tape 25 having the element E of the kind requiring humidity management is wound. Specifically, the priority storage place 80 is ensured for the number of the kind of the reel 26 requiring humidity management in order from the storage place 38 closest to the blow port.

[0140] In Embodiment 3, for example, information indicating whether or not humidity management is required is included in the information of the reel 26 acquired from the management computer 4. The control section 40 determines whether or not the reel 26 stored is of a kind for which humidity management is required, based on the information acquired from the management computer 4, and in the case of a reel 26 of a kind for which humidity management is required, the storage place 38 in the vicinity of the blowout port of the dehumidifier 71 is secured as the preferential storage place 80.

[0141] According to the parts tower 3 of Embodiment 3, regarding the reel 26 in which the component E of a kind that is not suitable for contact with high-humidity air is accommodated, as an exception, the storage place 38 in the vicinity of the blowout port of the dehumidifier 71 is secured as the preferential storage place 80, and thus the possibility of the component E of a kind that is not suitable for contact with high-humidity air coming into contact with high-humidity air can be reduced.

[0142] <Other Embodiments>

[0143] The technology disclosed by the present specification is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and for example, embodiments such as the following are also included in the scope of the technology disclosed by the present specification.

[0144] (1) In Embodiment 1 described above, a case in which two storage shelves (32A and 32B) are provided was described as an example, but the storage shelves can be only one.

[0145] (2) In Embodiment 1 described above, a case in which the preferential storage place 80 is secured in the storage shelf 32B on the rear side was described as an example, but when the moving time to the in-out storage place 39 is shortened in the case in which the preferential storage place 80 is secured in the storage shelf 32A on the front side, the preferential storage place 80 can be secured in the storage shelf 32A on the front side.

[0146] (3) In the embodiments described above, a case in which one preferential storage place 80 is secured for each kind of component E was described as an example, but two or more preferential storage places 80 can be secured depending on the kind of component E. For example, in the case in which the possibility of simultaneously taking out two reels 26 with respect to a certain kind of component E is high, two preferential storage places 80 can be secured with respect to that kind.

[0147] (4) In the embodiments described above, a case in which the earlier the consumption deadline of the reel 26, the higher the priority for taking out was described as an example, but the criteria for the priority is not limited thereto, and can be appropriately decided.

[0148] (5) In the above-described embodiments, the case where the priority of the judgment of the withdrawal of the parts tower 3 is described, but the priority can not be judged. In this case, in the case where a plurality of reels 26 of the same kind are stored in the parts tower 3, any one of the reels 26 of the same kind can be stored in the priority storage place 80. Alternatively, it can be a first-in first-out in which the earlier the reel 26 is stored, the earlier the reel 26 is withdrawn.

[0149] (6) In the above-described embodiment 2, the case where the control section 40 of the parts tower 3 judges the order of the withdrawal of the reels 26 based on the production plan information, the component remaining quantity information, and the like is described. In contrast to this, the surface mount machine 14 or the external management computer 4 can judge the order of the withdrawal of the reels 26 and notify the control section 40.

[0150] (7) In the above-described embodiments, the reel 26 is described as an example of the component storage body, but the component storage body can be a component tray on which the component E is placed.

[0151]

Label Description

[0152] 3: Parts tower (example of component storage)

[0153] 26: Reel (example of component storage body)

[0154] 32: Storage shelf

[0155] 32A: Storage shelf

[0156] 32B: Storage shelf

[0157] 34: Moving section

[0158] 38: Storage place

[0159] 39: In / Out place

[0160] 40: Control section

[0161] 40C: Communication section (example of reception section)

[0162] 71: Dehumidifier

[0163] 80: Priority storage place

[0164] 81: Withdrawal waiting place

Claims

1. An element storage library that stores element storage bodies that store elements to be mounted on a substrate, wherein the element storage library comprises: a plurality of storage sites that respectively store one of the element storage bodies; a storage-in / out site that holds the element storage body to be stored in or out; a moving section that moves the element storage bodies within the element storage library; a reception section that receives an instruction to store out the elements; and a control section, for the storage sites, a number of the storage sites that store a number of types of the elements stored in the element storage library equal to or more than a predetermined number are secured as priority storage sites in order from short to long in moving time to the storage-in / out site, the control section performs: a first moving process that, before receiving the instruction to store out the elements, moves at least one of the element storage bodies to the priority storage sites for each type of the elements stored in the element storage library by the moving section; and a second moving process that, when receiving the instruction to store out the elements of a certain type, moves the element storage body that stores the elements of the certain type from the priority storage sites to the storage-in / out site by the moving section, the control section performs a securing process that newly secures the priority storage sites in a case where the element storage body that stores the elements of a type not stored in the element storage library is stored in, the control section performs an exclusion process that excludes the storage site that is secured as the priority storage site and has the longest moving time to the storage-in / out site from the priority storage sites in a case where the element storage body that stores the elements of the same type as the elements stored in the element storage body moved to the storage-in / out site by the second moving process does not store in the storage site.

2. The element storage library according to claim 1, wherein two storage racks are provided side by side, the two storage racks respectively have a plurality of the storage sites, the storage-in / out site is provided in one of the storage racks, and the priority storage sites are secured in the other storage rack.

3. An element storage library that stores element storage bodies that store elements to be mounted on a substrate, wherein the element storage library comprises: two storage racks provided side by side; a plurality of storage sites provided in each of the storage racks that respectively store one of the element storage bodies; a storage-in / out site provided in one of the storage racks that holds the element storage body to be stored in or out; a moving section that moves the element storage bodies within the element storage library; a reception section that receives an instruction to store out the elements; and a control section, for the storage sites in the one storage rack, a predetermined number of the storage sites are secured as a storage-out waiting site in order from short to long in moving time to the storage-in / out site, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ In another of the storage shelves, for the storage sites, a number of the storage sites in which the components of a kind stored in the component storage are stored is ensured as the priority storage sites in order from short to long in movement time to the in-out site, The control section executes: first movement processing, before an instruction to take out the components is accepted, for each kind of the components stored in the component storage, moving at least one of the component holders to the priority storage site by the movement section; third movement processing, moving, by the movement section, the component holder in which the components to be taken out in order relatively early among the component holders stored in the priority storage site to the take-out waiting site; and fourth movement processing, when an instruction to take out the components of a certain kind is accepted, moving, by the movement section, the component holder in which the components of the kind are stored from the take-out waiting site to the in-out site.

4. The component storage according to claim 3, wherein in a case where the component holder in which the components of a kind not stored in the component storage is stored is stored, the control section executes an ensuring processing of newly ensuring the priority storage site.

5. The component storage according to claim 4, wherein in a case where the component holder in which the components of a kind same as the components stored in the component holder moved to the in-out site by the third movement processing is stored is not stored in the storage site, the control section executes an excluding processing of excluding the storage site in which the movement time to the in-out site is the longest among the storage sites ensured as the priority storage site from the priority storage site.

6. The component storage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a priority degree of taking out is set for each of the component holders, in the first movement processing, the control section moves the component holder having the highest priority degree to the priority storage site for each kind of the component holders.

7. The component storage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the component storage is provided with a dehumidifier that dehumidifies the inside of the component storage, for the component holder in which the components of a kind not suitable for contact with air having a high humidity are stored, as an exception, for the storage sites, the priority storage site is ensured in order from near to far from the outlet of the dehumidifier.

8. A management method of a component storage that stores component holders in which components to be mounted on a substrate are stored, wherein the component storage is provided with: a plurality of storage sites that respectively store one of the component holders; an in-out site that places the component holder to be taken in or out; a movement section that moves the component holders in the component storage; and an accepting section that accepts an instruction to take out the components, ​ For the storage site, a number of the storage sites in which the number of kinds of the components stored in the component storage library is more than the number of kinds of the components is ensured as a priority storage site in order from short to long of a movement time to the in-out storage site, The management method includes: a first movement step of moving at least one of the component storage bodies to the priority storage site by the movement section for each kind of the components stored in the component storage library before an instruction of the component out is accepted; and a second movement step of moving the component storage body in which the components of the kind are stored from the priority storage site to the in-out storage site by the movement section when an instruction of the component out of the kind is accepted, in a case where the component storage body in which the components of the kind not stored in the component storage library is stored is stored, an ensuring process of newly ensuring the priority storage site is executed, in a case where the component storage body described above in which the components of the kind same as the components stored in the component storage body moved to the in-out storage site by the second movement step are stored is not stored in the storage site, an exclusion process of excluding the storage site ensured as the priority storage site from the priority storage site is executed, the storage site being the storage site in which the movement time to the in-out storage site is the longest among the storage sites.

9. A management method of a component storage library that stores component storage bodies in which components to be mounted on a substrate are stored, wherein the component storage library is provided with: two storage shelves arranged side by side; a plurality of storage sites provided in each of the storage shelves and storing one of the component storage bodies respectively; an in-out storage site provided in one of the storage shelves and on which the component storage body to be stored or taken out is placed; a movement section that moves the component storage bodies in the component storage library; and an acceptance section that accepts an instruction of the component out, in the one storage shelf, for the storage sites, a predetermined number of the storage sites are ensured as an out waiting site in order from short to long of a movement time to the in-out storage site, in the other storage shelf, for the storage sites, a number of the storage sites in which the number of kinds of the components stored in the component storage library is more than the number of kinds of the components is ensured as a priority storage site in order from short to long of a movement time to the in-out storage site, the management method includes: a first movement step of moving at least one of the component storage bodies to the priority storage site by the movement section for each kind of the components stored in the component storage library before an instruction of the component out is accepted; a third movement step of moving the component storage body in which the components of the kind not stored in the component storage library is stored to the out waiting site by the movement section, and a fourth movement step of moving the component storage body in which the components of the kind stored in the component storage library are stored to the priority storage site by the movement section. A fourth moving step of moving the element container in which the element of the kind is accommodated from the delivery waiting place to the delivery and withdrawal place by the moving unit when an instruction of delivery of the element of the kind is received.

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