Method for preventing an error during a splicing process

Abstract

Method for preventing an error in a splicing operation, in which a splicing operation is carried out by connecting a tape (24) on which a plurality of components (P) are mounted and which is wound onto a current reel (23) which is removably installed in a feeding device (21) which is arranged in a slot (22) which is provided in a component feeder (20) of a component placement machine (1, 40) to a tape (24) which is wound onto a reel (23) which is to be removably installed next on the feeding device (21), comprising the following steps: a step (steps 1-2) to identify a component type of a current roll, by which a type of component (P) is identified that is included on the tape that is wound onto the current roll by reading identification information about the current roll with a read device (80,83); a step (steps 3-4) to identify a component type of a delivered roll, by which a type of component is identified that is picked up on a tape that is wound onto a delivered roll which is delivered near the feeding device (21) as the next roll to be installed on it, by reading identification information about the delivered roll through the reading device (80,83); a step (steps 6-9, 31) of identifying a component type of an installation roll, by identifying a type of component that is picked up on a tape that is wound onto an installation roll, by reading identification information about the installation roll that is installed on the feeding device (21) as the next roll to be installed on it, using the reading device after the splicing operation; and a step (steps 10-12) for detecting a splicing error, which determines that a splicing error has occurred when it is determined that the type of component on the current reel, identified by the step to identify a component type of a current reel, differs from the type of component on the installation reel, identified by the step to identify a component type of an installation reel.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for preventing an error in a splicing process, by which the occurrence of an attachment error during a splicing process is prevented in which an incorrect roller is mistakenly installed on a feeding device in a component placement machine for placing a printed circuit board with a component. Technical background

[0002] A conventional component placement machine with a component feeder formed by a loading device has a removable reel onto which a component receiving tape is wound. The component placement machine serves to replenish components by means of a splicing process when the number of components runs low. That is, when the remaining quantity of components held in the feeder, to which the currently used reel is attached, decreases, the currently used reel is replaced by the next reel, which contains components of the same type. Then the splicing process is carried out, in which the tape wound onto the next reel is joined to the tape holding the small remaining quantity of components.The splicing process described above allows components to be fed in such a way that the component feeding process can be carried out continuously. During this splicing process, component identification is performed to prevent the use of incorrect components.

[0003] For example, according to the invention described in patent document 1, when the remaining quantity of components on the current reel (component unit) decreases and a reel replacement becomes necessary, the identification information for the next reel is read and compared with the identification information (data regarding the type of components and reel-specific data) of the pre-recorded assembly information. This comparison confirms that, if both sets of data identify the component type, the component type on the next reel is the correct type. The identification information read for the next reel is then compared with the identification information for the current reel that was read during a previous reel replacement operation.If the comparison reveals that the data specific to the two roles does not match, it can be determined that the current role has no problems, such as duplicate data entry, etc., and it is assumed that the next role is the correct one.

[0004] Furthermore, according to the invention described in patent document 2, the identification information for the next reel (containing electrical components on the tape) is first read, and then the splicing process is carried out. After the process, if the time elapsed before the splicing section of the tape was read is within the normal timeframe, it is determined that the read identification information matches the information read during the splicing process, and it is compared with the reference identification information recorded beforehand. If this comparison reveals a match between the two sets of data, it is confirmed that the tape containing the correct components has been spliced.

[0005] Patent document 3, patent document 4 and patent document 5 provide further component placement machines from the prior art. List of state-of-the-art documents (patent documents) Patent document 1: JP 2006-135023 A (especially the description in sections

[0081] to

[0088] as well as Fig. 4. Patent document 2: JP 2000-13092 A (in particular the description in paragraph

[0115] as well as Fig. 32). Patent document 3: JP 2009 - 49 437 A Patent document 4: JP 2004 - 165 273 A Patent document 5: DE 11 2006 001 104 T5 Disclosure of the invention Problems to be solved

[0006] The invention described in the aforementioned patent document 1 prevents the insertion of an incorrect component by the following steps. A double verification of identification information is performed after the current reel has been replaced with the next one, and the splicing operation is carried out after confirmation that it has been replaced with the correct reel. However, since the reel replacement process is performed by a worker, it is not guaranteed that the replacement process has been carried out correctly according to the prescribed procedure or sequence. Accordingly, if the current reel has been replaced with the next one after the double verification of identification information, the problems listed below may occur.

[0007] One problem that can occur is that an operator confuses the next reel, which holds type B components (different from type A), with the next reel, which holds type A components, and, after double-checking the identification information, mistakes the former for the correct next reel. In this case, if the outer profile of the type A components differs from that of the type B components, when the type A component is picked up by a suction nozzle of the component placement machine, the picked-up type A component is imaged by a component recognition camera, and the image is processed to determine whether or not the wrong component has been picked up.However, if the outer profile of the type A component and that of the type B component are similar or essentially the same, the deviation cannot be detected using the image processing mentioned above, and consequently the circuit board may be populated with incorrect components.

[0008] In the invention described in the patent document, if the time elapsed before the splicing section of the tape is detected is within a normal timeframe, it is determined that the tape containing the correct components has been properly spliced. However, since the splicing process is again performed by a human operator, it is possible that, even if the operator correctly reads the identification information for the next reel, they might mistakenly identify the reel containing the type B components (which differ from the type A components) as the correct next reel and perform the splicing operation with the wrong reel. This could result in the printed circuit board being populated with the wrong components.

[0009] The inventions according to patent documents 1 and 2 can, as described above, exhibit problems that lead to costly rework. According to the inventions in patent documents 1 and 2, the reel containing type B components, which differ from the type A components, is incorrectly exchanged for the next reel containing type B components, or, even if the tape of the incorrectly exchanged reel is connected, this incorrect connection cannot be systematically checked, or incorrect type B components are drawn in by the suction nozzle, and the circuit board is incorrectly populated with them.

[0010] The present invention was made in view of the problems / deficiencies listed above, and the object of the invention is to provide a method for preventing an error in a splicing operation, which prevents the occurrence of a placement error in a splicing operation in which an incorrect roll is attached to a feed device. Means to solve the problem

[0011] The structural feature of the invention according to claim 1 for solving the problem is characterized in that the method for preventing an error in a splicing operation, in which a splicing operation is carried out by connecting a tape on which a plurality of components are mounted and which is wound onto a currently used reel, which is detachably installed in a feeding device arranged in a slot that is present in a component feeder of a component placement machine, to a tape that is wound onto a reel that is to be detachably installed next on the feeding device, comprises as steps a step for identifying a component type of a current reel, with which a type of component is identified that is mounted on the tape that is wound onto the current reel.by reading identification information about the current reel with a reading device, a step to identify a component type of a delivered reel, by identifying a type of component that is picked up on a tape that is wound onto a delivered reel that is delivered near the feeding device as the next reel to be installed on it, by reading identification information about the delivered reel by the reading device, a step of identifying a component type of an installation reel, by identifying a type of component that is picked up on a tape that is wound onto an installation reel, by reading identification information about the installation reel that is installed at the feeding device as the next reel to be installed on it, with the reading device after the splicing operation,as well as a step for detecting a splicing error, which determines that a splicing error has occurred when it is determined that the type of component on the current reel, identified by the step to identify a component type of a current reel, differs from the type of component on the installation reel, identified by the step to identify a component type of an installation reel.

[0012] The structural feature of the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the methods for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to claim 1, the step for identifying a component type of an installation roll includes a step for interrupting the supply of components, by interrupting a supply of components from the feeding device on which the installation roll is installed, unless the reading of the identification information about the installation roll is carried out by means of the reading device before the components are removed from a newly installed belt after the splicing operation.

[0013] The structural feature of the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the method for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to claim 1 or 2, the step for detecting an error in a splicing operation determines that an error has occurred in a splicing operation if the time elapsed from the time at which the identification information about the current roll is read by the reading device until the time at which the identification information about the installation roll is read by the reading device is as long as or longer than a first predetermined period.

[0014] The structural feature of the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the method for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to claim 3, the step for detecting an error in a splicing operation determines that the error in a splicing operation has occurred if the time elapsed from the time at which the identification information on the current roll is read by the reading device until the time at which the identification information on the installation roll is read by the reading device is as long as or shorter than a second predetermined period that is shorter than the first predetermined period.

[0015] The structural feature of the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the method for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to claim 1 or 2, the step for detecting an error in a splicing operation determines that the error in a splicing operation has occurred when the installation of the installation roll is detected and it is determined that the type of component on the current roll, which is identified by the step for identifying a component type of a current roll, differs from the type of component on the installation roll, which is identified by the step for identifying a component type of an installation roll.

[0016] The structural feature of the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that, in the method for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to claim 1 or 2, the step of identifying a component type of an installation roll involves reading an identification device present on the installation roll, which is installed on the feeding device as the next roll to be installed on it, after the splicing operation by the reading device attached to the feeding device, and the step of detecting an error in a splicing operation involves determining that the error occurred in the splicing operation when the installation of the installation roll is confirmed by reading the identification device by the reading device, and when it is determined that the type of component on the current roll,which is identified by the step to identify a component type of a current roll, differs from the type of component on the installation roll, which is identified by the step to identify a component type of an installation roll. The effects of the invention

[0017] According to the invention related to claim 1, the component type on the current reel is identified by the reading device by reading the identification information about the current reel. This prevents the identification information of the reel installed on the adjacent feeding device from being mistakenly read as the identification information of the current reel, thus potentially leading to an incorrect identification of the component type. Furthermore, according to the invention, the component type of the delivered reel is identified by the reading device by identifying the identification information on the delivered reel as the next reel to be installed.Therefore, if the supplied reel containing a component of the wrong type is delivered for installation, the processing operation does not proceed to splicing, and unnecessary processing operations can be omitted. Furthermore, according to the invention, the component type of the installation reel is identified by reading the identification information of the installation reel as the next reel installed on the feeding device using the reading device after the splicing operation. This enables systematic checking to determine whether or not an exchange is performed for a reel containing the correct component type, or whether the tape is connected to the correct reel, thus preventing the installation of incorrect components on the printed circuit board.

[0018] According to the invention related to claim 2, the feed of components via the feeding device on which the installation reel has been installed is interrupted if the reading device does not perform the reading of the installation reel's identification information before the components are removed from the new reel after the splicing step. Accordingly, the installation of an incorrect component on the printed circuit board can be prevented.

[0019] According to the invention related to claim 3, the step of detecting an error in a splicing operation determines that an error has occurred in a splicing operation if the time elapsed from the time at which the identification information on the current reel is read by the reading device until the time at which the identification information on the installation reel is read by the reading device is as long as or longer than a first predetermined period.If the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the initial predetermined period, the operations from reading the identification information of the current reel to reading the identification information of the installation reel are not performed as a sequence, and another operation may have been incorrectly performed during the sequence. However, according to the invention, the working time is limited to a predetermined time, and if the time spent on the reading operation exceeds the set time, it is determined that the splicing operation was performed incorrectly. Therefore, the operator can concentrate on the reading operation, thus avoiding erroneous operations.

[0020] According to the invention related to claim 4, the step of detecting an error in a splicing operation determines that an error has occurred in a splicing operation if the time elapsed from the time the identification information on the currently used reel is read by the reading device until the time the identification information on the installation reel is read by the reading device is equal to or longer than the second predetermined period. If the elapsed time is equal to or shorter than the second predetermined period, it is likely that the splicing operation was not performed. However, according to the invention, the work effort is limited to a fixed time, and if the time for the reading operation is shorter than the fixed time, it is determined that the splicing operation was not performed correctly.Therefore, an unintentional skipping of the splicing process can be prevented.

[0021] According to the invention related to claim 5, the step for detecting an error in a splicing operation establishes that the error occurred during the splicing operation when the installation of the installation reel is detected and it is determined that the type of component on the current reel, identified by the step for identifying a component type of a current reel, differs from the type of component on the installation reel, identified by the step for identifying a component type of an installation reel. This prevents an unintentional skip of the splicing operation.

[0022] According to the invention related to claim 6, the step for detecting an error in a splicing operation determines that the error occurred during the splicing operation when the installation of the installation reel is confirmed by the reading device via the identification device, and when it is determined that the type of component on the current reel, identified by the step for identifying a component type of a current reel, differs from the type of component on the installation reel, identified by the step for identifying a component type of an installation reel. This prevents an unintentional skip of the splicing operation. Brief explanation of the attached drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a component placement system with which an example of an embodiment of the method for preventing an error in a splicing process according to the invention can be implemented; Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a feeding device and its peripheral components in the component placement system in Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the main part of a control device for the component placement system in Fig. 1 shows; Fig. Figure 4 is a top view of a terminal device of the component placement system in Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 5 is a flowchart to illustrate a first embodiment of the method for preventing an error in a splicing process according to the invention; Fig. Figure 6 is an example presented in tabular form showing the correspondence relationship between the reel number and the type of components used in the method for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to the invention; Fig. Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of the method for preventing an error in a splicing process according to the invention; and Fig. Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of the method for preventing an error in a splicing process according to the invention. Embodiments for implementing the invention

[0023] The method for preventing errors during a splicing operation according to the embodiments is explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in the above explanation and description, the plate feed direction is referred to as the X-axis direction. The direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction within the same plane is referred to as the Y-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the X and Y directions is referred to as the Z direction. The component placement system used to implement the method for preventing errors during a splicing operation according to the invention comprises, as shown in Fig. Figure 1 shows a component placement line consisting of a plurality (in the present embodiment two groups of) component placement devices 1, which include a plate feeder 10, a component feeder 20 and a component placement device 40, arranged in one direction of the X-axis, a control device (see Figure 1). Fig. 3), which controls the component placement line, as well as a terminal device 80 (see Fig. 4; corresponds to the “reading device” of the invention).

[0024] The component feeding device 20 is equipped with a plurality of slots 22 (see Fig. 2) provided, which are arranged in a row in the direction of the X-axis and in which a feed device 21 is removably installed. In the feed device 21, as shown in Fig. Figure 2 shows a removable roll 23 onto which a belt is wound. This belt carries a plurality of components P, which are arranged one after the other at a distance from each other. A gear 26, driven by a motor 25 as a drive source to transport the belt 24 stepwise, is arranged in the feed device 21 and rotatably mounted thereon. The gear 26 engages with a transport hole formed in the belt. Furthermore, a splice detection device 27 is formed on the feed device 21, with which the splice section (joining section) of the belt 24 is detected. A control section 28 for controlling the motor 25 is also included in the feed device 21.

[0025] The feeder 21 can be slidably or slidably engaged with the slot 22, and a transmission connector 30 is provided at one front end on an insertion side of the feeder and can be connected to another transmission connector 29 located in the slot 22. The transmission connector 30 is connected to the transmission connector 29 by sliding the feeder 21 into the slot 22, so that current is supplied to the feeder 21 from side 22 of the slot to establish a signal transmission connection between the feeder 21 and the control device 60. A barcode 32 is attached to a roll 23 for identification information (ID information).The information in the barcode 32 is read by the terminal device 80, and the read ID information of the roll 23 is determined, sent to the control device 60 and stored in RAM 53, as explained in detail below.

[0026] During operation of the component feeder 20, the reel 23 is picked up and held by the feeder 21. When the feeder 21 is slidably engaged with the slot 22, the strip 24 wound onto the reel 23 is transported by a predetermined length (one step) as the gear 26 rotates. The component P picked up on the strip 24 is then fed to a feeder position 21a, defined at the front end of the feeder 21, and is in turn drawn in by the suction nozzle 47. The drawn-in component P is then discharged by the plate feeder 10 and installed on the plate S at a position defined as the component installation or placement position. When the remaining quantity of components P on the reel 23 decreases, components P are replenished by means of a splicing process.

[0027] The plate feeder 10 is shown as an example in Fig. Figure 1 shows the device 10, a double conveyor device with two parallel feed devices 11 and 12. Each feed device 11 and 12 is provided with a pair of guide rails 13a and 13b on the base 41, parallel to the horizontal plane and opposite each other. Paired conveyor belts (not shown) are arranged parallel and opposite each other. The paired conveyor belts carry the plates S and feed them to the base, guided by the guide rails 13a and 13b. A clamping or gripping device (not shown) is provided in the plate feed device 10 for receiving and gripping the plate S once it has been fed to the predetermined position.

[0028] During the operation of the plate feeding device 10, the plate S, which is equipped with the components P, is guided by the conveyor belts from the guide rails 13a and 13b to the component placement position in one direction of the X-axis.

[0029] The component placement device 40 is, as in Fig. Figure 1 shows a so-called XY robot equipped with a Y-axis slide 43, which is installed on the base 41 and located above the plate feeder 10 and the component feeder 20. The Y-axis slide 43 can be moved slidingly along a guide rail 42 in one direction of the Y-axis. The Y-axis slide 43 is moved slidingly in the Y-axis direction by the ball screw mechanism, which is equipped with a ball screw nut connected to an output shaft of a Y-axis servo motor 44. An X-axis slide 45 is guided by the Y-axis slide 43 and can be moved in one direction of the X-axis perpendicular to the direction of the Y-axis. The Y-axis slide 43 is equipped with an X-axis servomotor 46 and can be moved in the direction of the X-axis by means of a ball screw mechanism (not shown) which is connected to an output shaft of the X-axis servomotor 46.A component placement head 48 is located on the X-axis slide 45, and the component placement head 48 holds the suction nozzle 47 movable in one direction of the Z-axis for suctioning the component P. Furthermore, a plate recognition camera 49 is located on the X-axis slide 45, and a component recognition camera 50 is attached to the base 41.

[0030] During operation of the component placement device 40, the plate marking on plate S, which is positioned at the component placement position, is detected by the plate recognition camera 49. Based on this detected marking position, the position of the component placement head 48 is corrected in the X and Y directions. The component P, which is drawn in by the suction nozzle 47, is captured by the component recognition camera 50 as it moves from the component feed position 21a of the component feeder 20 to the predetermined position on plate S. This allows the camera to detect any centering deviation of component P relative to the center of the suction nozzle 47. Based on the detected centering deviation, the movement of the component placement head 48 in the X and Y directions can be corrected. This ensures that component P is installed at the correct, predetermined coordinate position on plate S.

[0031] The control device 60 contains, as shown in Fig. Figure 3 shows the CPU 61, ROM 62, RAM 63, and the bus line 64. The bus line 64 is connected to an input / output interface 65. The control device 60 is used to control the component placement line. Fig. Figure 3, however, only shows the control system of the component feeding device 20. The input / output interface 65 is connected to a component matching section 66, which executes a component matching program by sending signals to the terminal device 80, and to a timing section 67, which, as explained in more detail below, measures the time elapsed between the specified operations, as well as to a section 68 for driving or controlling the feeding device, with which the feeding device 21 is driven or controlled.

[0032] The control device 60 is further equipped with an input / output device 69 with a keyboard for inputting and outputting information and a display device for displaying the information. The ROM 62 of the control device 60 contains a component matching program and a table T (see Fig. 6), which stores the correspondence between the ID information on the reel 23 and the information about the component type of the component picked up on the reel 23, as well as a predefined time T1 to limit the elapsed time between the predefined operations measured by the timer 67, and a second predefined time T2, which is shorter than the first predefined time T1. The ID information read by the terminal device 80 from the reel 23 and the working time measured by the timer 67 are stored in the RAM 63 of the control device 60.

[0033] The terminal device 80 contains, as shown in Fig. Figure 4 shows a barcode reader that can read the information in the barcode 32, or a PDA (personal digital assistant), and it is equipped with a liquid crystal display section 81, an input section 82 with a touch-sensitive keypad, and a section 83 for reading optical information. This terminal device 80 can be connected to the control device 60 either wired or wirelessly. If the terminal device 80 has the wireless communication function, the component adjustment can take place at a remote location without restricting the worker's movement.

[0034] The following describes the method for preventing an error during a splicing process according to the first embodiment, with reference to the [document / reference] in [reference]. Fig. 5 and Fig. The flowcharts shown in section 6 explain this. When a worker notices that the remaining quantity of components on the current reel 23 attached to the feeding device 21 is decreasing, the ID information in the barcode 32 of the current reel 23 is read by section 83 for reading information from the terminal device 80, and the read ID information is sent to the control device 60 (step 1 in Fig. Step 5 corresponds to the step for identifying a component type of a current roll. When the worker enters the ID information of the current roll into the terminal device and the entered ID information is sent to the control device 60, the control device 60 identifies the information about the type of components of the current roll 23, which are recorded on the tape 24 wound onto the current roll 23, based on the table showing the correspondence relationship between the ID information of the roll and the information about the component type, as shown in Fig. 6 is shown (in step 2 in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the step for identifying a component type of a current roll). If the roll number of the captured current roll 23 is assumed to be "a-1", the component type is identified as "AAA-1".

[0035] The worker reads the ID information from the barcode 32 of the delivered roll as it is near the feeder 21 when the next roll 23 is delivered, from the reading section 83 of the terminal device 80 and sends the read ID information to the control device 60 (step 3 in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the step for identifying a component type of a delivered roll). When the worker enters the ID information about the delivered roll 23 at the terminal device 80 and sends the information to the control device 60, the control device 60 identifies the information about the type of components of the delivered roll 23, which are picked up on the tape 24 wound onto the delivered roll, based on Table T, which shows the correspondence relationship between the ID information of the roll and the information about the component type, as shown in Fig. 6 is shown (in step 4 in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the step for identifying a component type of a delivered roll).

[0036] The control device 60 determines whether the identified component type of the component on the delivered roll is the same as the component type of the component on the current roll ( Fig. 5, Step 5). If it is determined that the component types differ, the control device 60 determines that the delivered roll 23 is incorrect as the next roll, and the error message is displayed on the display section 81 of the terminal device 80. If the operator acknowledges the error message, the program returns to step 3, and a different roll is delivered as the next roll. Then, the identification information from the barcode 32 of the delivered roll 23 is read by the read section 83 of the terminal device. The read information is sent to the control device 60 to execute the operations of step 4 and thereafter.

[0037] If, however, in step 5 it is determined that the component types match, the control device 60 determines that the delivered roll 23 is the correct next roll, and a message indicating that the delivered roll 23 is the correct roll is displayed on the display section 81 of the terminal device 80. If the operator acknowledges the message, the splicing is performed by joining the tape 24 wound onto the delivered roll 23 to the tape 24 of the current roll 23 (step 6 in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the step of identifying a component type of an installation roll). The current roll 23 is then removed from the feeder 21, and the delivered roll 23 is installed as the next roll in the feeder 21.

[0038] The worker reads the ID information of the barcode 32 of the installation roll 23 installed at the feeder 21 as the next roll 23 from the reading section 83 of the terminal device 80, and the read ID information is sent to the control device 60 (step 7 in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the step for identifying a component type of an installation roll). The control device 60 determines whether the ID information of the barcode 32 of the installation roll 23 is read by the read section 83 of the terminal device 80 before the component is removed from the new tape after splicing (step 8 in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the step for identifying a component type of an installation reel). If it is determined that the ID information on the installation reel 23 has not been read, the control device 60 interrupts the feed of components from the feeder 21 on which the installation reel 23 is installed and displays the message to stop the production line on the display section 81 of the terminal device 80 (step 12 in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the locking step). The time before the component is removed from the new tape is, for example, the time from the installation of the next roll 23 until the time at which the splice detection device 27 detects the component, or the time until the number of remaining components reaches zero when the number of these remaining components on the tape 24 of the current roll 23 is counted. This prevents the plate from being loaded with the wrong components.

[0039] Furthermore, in step 8, after reading the ID information on the installation roll 23, when the worker enters the ID information on the installation roll 23 and the entered information is sent from the terminal device 80 to the control device 60, the control device 60 identifies a component type of the installation roll of the component that is included on the tape 24 wound onto the installation roll 23, based on Table T, which shows the correspondence relationship between the ID information and the information about the component type of the roll, as shown in Fig. 6 is shown (in step 9 in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the step for identifying a component type of an installation roll).

[0040] Then, the control device 60 determines whether the component information of the identified installation roll matches the component information of the currently installed roll (step 10 in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the locking step). If the component information differs, it is determined that the splicing operation is being performed on a strip on the wrong reel, and the control device 60 displays the instruction to stop production on the display section 81 of the terminal device 80 (step 11 in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the confirmation step). If a worker confirms the instruction to stop production, they stop the component placement system and interrupt the placement of components onto the printed circuit board according to the current production plan. However, if it is determined that the component information of the identified installation reel matches the component information of the currently installed reel, the splicing operation is determined to be performed correctly, and the control device 60 displays the instruction to resume production on display section 81 of the terminal device 80 (steps 13 and 14 in Fig. 5, which correspond to the locking step). When a worker confirms the instruction to continue production, they proceed to populate the circuit board with the components according to the current production plan.

[0041] In the method for preventing errors during a splicing operation according to an embodiment of the invention, the component type on the current reel is identified, as explained above, by reading the ID information of the current reel 23 using the terminal device 80. Accordingly, incorrect identification can be prevented, such as confusing the reel 23 installed on an adjacent feeder 21 with the current reel 23, which could lead to an incorrect identification of the component type. Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the component type on the feeder reel is identified by reading the ID information of the next reel 23 to be installed using the terminal device 80.Accordingly, unnecessary work processes can be prevented, such as splicing an incorrect component that was unintentionally picked up by the feed reel. Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the type of component on the installation reel is identified by reading the ID information of installation reel 23, the next reel with terminal device 80 after the splicing process. Therefore, a changeover to a reel containing the correct components can be performed, and a systematic comparison can be carried out when splicing tape 24 on the changeover reel 23 to prevent the printed circuit board from being populated with the wrong component.

[0042] The second embodiment of the method for preventing an error in a splicing process is described below with reference to the one in Fig. The flowchart shown in section 7 explains the corresponding flowchart in the diagram. Fig. 5 refers to this. It should be noted that in Fig. 7 the steps of the same processes as the steps in Fig. 5 are designated with the same reference numerals. The steps of both embodiments are largely the same when comparing the method in the first embodiment and the method for preventing a splicing error in the second embodiment, except that in the second embodiment new steps 21 and 22 are inserted between steps 9 and 10, and accordingly steps 9, 21, 22, 10 and 11 are explained below.

[0043] If in step 9 the control device 60 retrieves the information about a component type of the components of the installation roller on the installation roller 23 based on the table in Fig. Once identified in step 6, the control device 60 determines whether the time "t" elapsed between the time the ID information of the current roll is read by the input section 83 of the terminal device 80 in step 1 and the time the ID information of the installation roll 23 is read by the input section 83 of the terminal device 80 in step 7, and measured by the timing section 67, is equal to or longer than a first predetermined time T1 (step 21 in Fig. 7, which corresponds to the locking step). If it is determined that the time “t” is equal to or longer than the time T1, it is determined that the splicing operation is not being carried out correctly, and the control device 60 displays the instruction to stop production on the display section 81 of the terminal device 80 (steps 11 and 12 in Fig. 7) This production interruption is executed after the components on the current reel 23 have been consumed. The production interruption begins with the components on the next reel 23.

[0044] It should be noted that the first predefined time T1 is defined as the longest time required to complete the sequence of operations from the operation of reading the ID information via the current role 23 to the operation of reading the ID information via the installation role 23. If the elapsed time "t" is equal to or longer than the first predefined T1, it is very likely that another operation has been performed during the sequence of operations from the operation of reading the ID information at the current role 23 to the operation of reading the ID information at the installation role 23.However, there is a time limit for each operation, and accordingly, if the reading operation exceeds the applicable time limit, it is determined that the splicing operation is being carried out incorrectly, and accordingly, the worker can dedicate himself to the reading operation in order to avoid an incorrect operation.

[0045] If, however, the elapsed time “t” is shorter than the first predetermined time T1, the control device 60 further determines whether the elapsed time “t” is as long as or shorter than a second predetermined time T2 (step 22 in Fig. 7, which corresponds to the locking step). If the elapsed time “t” is equal to or shorter than the second predetermined time T2, the splicing operation is deemed to be faulty, and the instruction to stop production is displayed on display section 81 of terminal device 80 (steps 11 and 12 in Fig. 7) If, however, the elapsed time “t” exceeds the second predetermined time T2, the control device 60 determines whether the information about a component type of the installation roll 23 matches the information about a component type of the current roll 23 (step 10 in Fig. 7) and performs the operations of step 11 and the subsequent steps.

[0046] It should be noted that the second predefined time, T2, is defined as the shortest time required to complete the sequence of operations from the operation of reading the ID information via the current role 23 to the operation of reading the ID information via the installation role 23. If the elapsed time "t" is equal to or shorter than the second predefined time, T2, it is very likely that the splice operation has been omitted from the sequence of operations. However, a time constraint applies to each operation, and accordingly, if the time taken for the read operation is shorter than the applicable constraint time, the splice operation is determined to have been performed incorrectly, and therefore, the splice operation can be prevented from being omitted. It should be noted that step 22 can be omitted, and only step 21 can be executed.

[0047] The third embodiment of the method for preventing an error in a splicing process is described below with reference to the one in Fig. The flowchart shown in section 8 explains the corresponding flowchart in Fig. 5 refers to this. It should be noted that in Fig. 8 the steps of the same processes as the steps in Fig. 5 are provided with the same reference numerals. The steps of both embodiments are largely the same when comparing the method in the first embodiment and the method for preventing a splicing error in the third embodiment, except that in the third embodiment a new step 31 is inserted between steps 6 and 7, and accordingly, steps 6, 31, 7, 9 and 10, with the exception of step 8, are explained below.

[0048] If the worker confirms the notification that the delivered roll 23 is the correct roll, they perform the splicing operation, in which the tape 24 wound onto the delivered roll 23 is joined to the tape 24 of the current roll 23 (step 6 in Fig. 8) and then uninstalls the current role 23 from the feeder 21 and installs the delivered role 23 as the next role 23 on the feeder 21 (step 31 in Fig. 8, which corresponds to the step for identifying a component type of an installation reel). Whether the installation reel 23 is installed on the feeding device or not is detected by providing a sensor 31 on the feeding device at the installation section of the reel 23. This sensor 31 is either a contact sensor or a non-contact sensor, and an ON / OFF signal is input to the control device 60 via cable or wirelessly.

[0049] The worker reads the ID information in the barcode 32 of the installation roll 23, which is installed as the next roll 23 on the feeder 21, and the read section 83 of the terminal device 80, and sends the read ID information to the control device 60 (step 7 in Fig. 8) After receiving the ID information of the installation roll 23 transmitted by the worker via the terminal device 80, the control device 60 identifies the information about the type of components included on the tape 24 wound onto the installation roll 23, based on Table T, which shows the correspondence relationship between the ID information and the information about a component type of the roll, as shown in Fig. 6 is shown. Then, when the control device 60 detects via an ON signal from the sensor 31 in step 31 that the installation roll 23 has been installed on the feeding device 21, it determines whether the information about a component type of the installation roll is identical to the information about a component type of the current roll (step 10 in Fig. 8) and proceeds to step 11 and the subsequent steps. If it is detected that the installation reel 23 is installed on the feeder 21 and it is detected that the type of a component on the current reel 23 differs from the type of a component on the installation reel, it is determined that the splicing operation was performed incorrectly. Accordingly, it can be prevented that the splicing operation is not forgotten.

[0050] As a modified embodiment of the third embodiment, the method for preventing an error in a splicing operation includes a step in which an identification device attached to the installation roll installed as the next roll 23 on the feeding device is read by the reading device attached to the feeding device (step 7 in Fig. 8, which corresponds to the step for identifying a component type of an installation roll). RFID (radio frequency identification) can be used as such an identification device, and an ID reader is used as the reading device. The ID reader is mounted at a suitable position on the feeder 21 such that the RFID can be read when the installation roll 23 is installed on the feeder 21. The ID information of the installation roll is recorded in the RFID.

[0051] In the design described above, the operator does not need to read the ID information of the installation roll 23 using the input section 83 of the terminal device 80. They only need to install the installation roll 23 on the feeder 21, allowing the control device 60 to receive the ID information of the installation roll 23. Simultaneously, the control device 60 can detect that the installation roll 23 has been installed on the feeder 21. Once it has been detected that the installation roll 23 has been installed on the feeder 21, and it is also detected that the component type of the current roll differs from the component type of the installation roll 23, the control device 60 determines that an error has occurred during the splicing process and thus prevents the splicing operation from being omitted. Industrial applicability

[0052] The method for preventing an error in a splicing process according to the invention can be applied to a device for processing general components as well as to the component placement machine. Explanation of reference symbols 1 component placement machine 10 printed circuit board feeder 11 Delivery device 12 Delivery device 13a,b Guide rail 20 Component feeding device 21 Feeding device 22 slots 23 rolls Volume 24 25 engine 26 gear 27 Splice detection device 28 Control section 29 transmission connectors 31 Sensor 32 barcodes 40 Component placement device 41 sockets 42 Guide rail 43 Y-axis slides 44 Y-axis servo motor 45 X-axis slides 46 X-axis servo motors 47 Intake nozzle 48 Component placement head 49 recognition camera 60 Control device 61 CPU 62 ROM 63 RAM 64 Bus line 65 Input / Output Interface 66 Component balancing section 67 Timekeeping section Section 68 on driving the feeding device 69 Input / Output Device 80 Terminal device 81 Display section 82 Input section 83 Reading section 84-91 display range

Claims

[1] Method for preventing a defect in a splicing operation, wherein a splicing operation is carried out by connecting a strip (24) on which a plurality of components (P) are mounted and which is wound onto a current reel (23) which is removably installed in a feeding device (21) which is arranged in a slot (22) which is provided in a component feeder (20) of a component placement machine (1, 40) to a strip (24) which is wound onto a reel (23) which is to be removably installed next on the feeding device (21), comprising the following steps: a step (steps 1-2) to identify a component type of a current roll, by which a type of component (P) is identified that is included on the tape that is wound onto the current roll by reading identification information about the current roll with a read device (80,83); a step (steps 3-4) to identify a component type of a delivered roll, by which a type of component is identified that is picked up on a tape that is wound onto a delivered roll which is delivered near the feeding device (21) as the next roll to be installed on it, by reading identification information about the delivered roll through the reading device (80,83); a step (steps 6-9, 31) of identifying a component type of an installation roll, by identifying a type of component that is picked up on a tape that is wound onto an installation roll, by reading identification information about the installation roll that is installed on the feeding device (21) as the next roll to be installed on it, using the reading device after the splicing operation; and a step (steps 10-12) for detecting a splicing error, which determines that a splicing error has occurred when it is determined that the type of component on the current reel, identified by the step to identify a component type of a current reel, differs from the type of component on the installation reel, identified by the step to identify a component type of an installation reel. [2] Method for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to claim 1, wherein the step for identifying a component type of an installation roll includes a step (steps 8, 12) for interrupting the feed of components, by interrupting a feed of components from the feeding device on which the installation roll is installed, unless the reading of the identification information about the installation roll is carried out by means of the reading device (80, 83) before the components are removed from a newly installed belt after the splicing operation. [3] Method for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step (step 21) for detecting an error in a splicing operation determines that an error has occurred in a splicing operation if the time (“t”) elapsed from the time at which the identification information about the current roll is read by the reading device until the time at which the identification information about the installation roll is read by the reading device is as long as or longer than a first predetermined period (T1). [4] Method for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to claim 3, wherein the step (step 22) for detecting an error in a splicing operation determines that the error in a splicing operation has occurred if the time (“t”) elapsed from the time at which the identification information on the current reel is read by the reading device until the time at which the identification information on the installation reel is read by the reading device is as long as or shorter than a second predetermined period (T2) which is set to be shorter than the first predetermined period (T1). [5] Method for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step (steps 7, 9, 10, 11, 31) for detecting an error in a splicing operation determines that the error in a splicing operation occurred when the installation of the installation reel is detected and it is determined that the type of component on the current reel, which is identified by the step to identify a component type of a current reel, differs from the type of component on the installation reel, which is identified by the step to identify a component type of an installation reel. [6] A method for preventing an error in a splicing operation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the step (steps 6-9, 31) for identifying a component type of an installation reel, an identification device present on the installation reel which is installed on the feeding device as the next reel to be installed on it is read by the reading device attached to the feeding device after the splicing operation, and in the step (steps 7, 9, 10, 11, 31) for detecting an error in a splicing operation, it is determined that the error occurred in the splicing operation when the installation of the installation reel is confirmed by reading the identification device by the reading device, and when it is determined that the type of component on the current reel, which is identified in the step for identifying a component type of a current reel,differs from the type of component on the installation roll, which is identified in the step to identify a component type of an installation roll.

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