Component packaging system

Abstract

To improve productivity of component packaging system.SOLUTION: A component packaging system consists of a storehouse 19 for storing an exchange unit 81 of multiple component packaging machines 12 arranged along a conveyance path for conveying a circuit board, a unit transporter 76 moving between a working space remote from the storehouse 19 and the storehouse 19, and transferring the exchange unit 81 to the storehouse 19, and returning to the working space while mounting the exchange unit 81 restored in the storehouse 19, and an automatic exchange device 26 for receiving the exchange unit 81 from the storehouse 19, moving to the component packaging machine 12 to be switched automatically, automatically switching the unit of the component packaging machine 12 requiring automatic switching with the exchange unit 81, and restoring it.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This specification discloses a technique relating to a component mounting system configured by arranging a plurality of component mounters. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a component mounting line is configured by arranging multiple component mounters on a transport path that transports circuit boards, and each component mounter picks up components supplied from a feeder with a suction nozzle and mounts them on a circuit board to produce component-mounted boards. If the feeder of any of the component mounters breaks down or the suction nozzle is damaged or clogged during production, an abnormality such as a component pickup error occurs, so when such an abnormality is detected, the operation of the component mounter is stopped, and the operator replaces the feeder or suction nozzle before resuming operation of the component mounter. In addition, feeders and suction nozzles also become more prone to failure as they are used for a long time, so in order to prevent such failures, it is necessary to periodically replace and maintain the feeders and suction nozzles.

[0003] Therefore, in the component mounter of Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication No. 2002-190700), the component pickup rate, mounting rate, component pickup position deviation amount, mounting position deviation amount, etc. are calculated for each feeder or suction nozzle during production to monitor whether maintenance is required, and when maintenance is required for any feeder or suction nozzle, that feeder or suction nozzle is displayed on the display, production is stopped, and an operator is prompted to perform maintenance on the feeder or suction nozzle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-190700 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when a feeder or suction nozzle requiring maintenance is displayed on the display, an operator must quickly and manually remove the feeder or suction nozzle from the component mounter and attach a replacement feeder or suction nozzle to resume production, which is a tedious task. Moreover, if an operator is performing another task when a feeder or suction nozzle requiring maintenance is displayed on the display, the feeder or suction nozzle requiring maintenance cannot be replaced immediately, which lengthens the downtime of production and reduces the operating rate (productivity). [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The component mounting system described in claim 1 is configured to include a plurality of component mounters that are arranged along a transport path for transporting the circuit boards and mount components onto the circuit boards; a storage facility for storing replacement units for the component mounters; a unit transporting device that moves between a work location remote from the storage facility and the storage facility, loading the replacement units and transporting them to the storage facility, and returning to the work location with the replacement units that have been collected in the storage facility; and an automatic exchange device that receives replacement units from the storage facility and moves them to the component mounter that is to be automatically replaced, and automatically exchanges units of the component mounter that need to be automatically replaced with the replacement units and collects them.

[0007] In this configuration, a unit transport device that moves between a work site away from the storage and the storage loads a replacement unit and transports it to the storage, and then returns to the work site with the replacement unit that has been collected in the storage, so that replacement units can be efficiently replenished and collected between the work site and the storage. Moreover, the automatic exchange device receives a replacement unit from the storage, moves to the component mounter that is to be automatically replaced, automatically exchanges the unit that needs to be automatically replaced in the component mounter with the replacement unit, and collects it, so that replacement units can be efficiently exchanged for replaced units between the storage and each component mounter, and replaced units removed from each component mounter can be efficiently collected.

[0008] The component mounting system described in claim 2 is configured to include a plurality of component mounters arranged along a transport path for transporting circuit boards, the component mounters mounting components onto the circuit boards; a storage facility provided on the transport path for storing replacement units for the component mounters; a unit transporting device that moves between a work area where a worker works on the replacement units and the storage facility, loading the replacement units and transporting them to the storage facility, and returning to the work area with the replacement units that have been collected in the storage facility; an operation monitoring device that monitors the operating status of the automatically replaceable units of the component mounters and monitors whether the automatically replaceable units require maintenance or replacement due to a malfunction; and an automatic exchange device that, in response to instructions from the operation monitoring device, receives a replacement unit from the storage facility and moves it to the component mounter to be automatically replaced, automatically replaces the unit of the component mounter that requires automatic replacement with the replacement unit, and collects it.

[0009] In this configuration, the operation monitoring device monitors the operating status of the automatically replaceable unit of each mounter to monitor whether the automatically replaceable unit needs maintenance or replacement due to a failure, and when it is determined that the automatically replaceable unit of any mounter needs maintenance or replacement due to a failure, the automatic replacement device moves to the mounter and automatically replaces the automatically replaceable unit of the mounter with a replacement unit by the automatic replacement device, so that when the automatically replaceable unit of any mounter needs maintenance or replacement due to a failure, the worker does not need to replace the automatically replaceable unit of the mounter, and the worker's workload can be reduced. Moreover, when the automatically replaceable unit of the mounter needs maintenance or replacement due to a failure, the automatically replaceable unit can be quickly automatically replaced by the automatic replacement device, which has the advantage of allowing production to be resumed early and not causing a significant decrease in the operating rate (productivity).

[0010] The component mounting system according to claim 3 includes a plurality of component mounters arranged along a transport path for transporting circuit boards, the component mounters mounting components onto the circuit boards, a storage unit for storing replacement units to be replaced with automatically replaceable units of the component mounters, an automatic exchange device that receives the replacement units from the storage unit, moves along the arrangement of the component mounters to be automatically replaced, automatically replaces the automatically replaceable units of the component mounters with the replacement units, and transfers the collected replaced units to the storage unit, and a work station away from the storage unit transports the replacement units loaded by a worker to the storage unit and transfers the replacement units to the storage unit. the unit transporting device which transfers the units to the storage facility and returns to the work site with the replaced units that have been collected in the storage facility; an operation monitoring device which monitors the operating status of the automatically replaceable units of the component mounters and monitors whether or not replacement of the automatically replaceable units is required; and a management device which, when the operation monitoring device determines that replacement of the automatically replaceable unit of any of the component mounters is required, moves the automatic exchange device to that component mounter and has the automatic exchange device automatically exchange the automatically replaceable unit of that component mounter for a replacement unit.

[0011] The invention according to claim 3 can also obtain the same effects as those of the invention according to claim 2. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a component mounting line according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the automatic exchange device and the component mounter. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a management system for a component mounting line equipped with an automatic exchange device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cassette type feeder. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cassette-type suction nozzle replacement unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the rotary nozzle station is removed from the cassette-type suction nozzle replacement unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] An embodiment will now be described. First, the configuration of a component mounting line 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The component mounting line 10 is configured by arranging a plurality of component mounters 12 along the transport direction (X direction) of the circuit board 11, and a solder printer (not shown) that prints solder on the circuit board 11, a storage 19 that stores a cassette-type feeder 14 (see FIG. 4) and a cassette-type suction nozzle replacement unit 81 (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 6), and the like are installed on the board carrying-in side of the component mounting line 10. In this embodiment, the cassette-type feeder 14 and the cassette-type suction nozzle replacement unit 81 are automatically replaceable units.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, each component mounter 12 is equipped with two conveyors 13 for transporting circuit boards 11, a mounting head 15 that replaceably holds suction nozzles (not shown) that pick up components supplied from a cassette-type feeder 14 and mount them on the circuit board 11, a head moving device 16 that moves the mounting head 15 in the XY directions (left-right and front-back directions), and a display device 23 such as an LCD display or CRT.

[0015] Each component mounter 12 on component mounting line 10 transports circuit board 11 transported from an upstream component mounter 12 to a predetermined position by conveyor 13 and clamps the circuit board 11 with a clamping mechanism (not shown), picks up components supplied from a cassette-type feeder 14 with a suction nozzle of a mounting head 15, moves the component from the suction position to an imaging position, images the component from below with a component imaging camera (not shown) to determine the amount of suction position deviation of the component, and then corrects the amount of suction position deviation and mounts the component on the circuit board 11 on the conveyor 13 to produce a component-mounted board.

[0016] Next, the configuration of the cassette-type feeder 14 will be described with reference to FIG. The cassette case 32 of the cassette-type feeder 14 is formed of a transparent or opaque plastic plate or metal plate, etc., and its side portion (cover) can be opened and closed. A tape loading section 35 is provided inside the cassette case 32, into which a tape reel 34 around which a component supply tape 33 is wound is detachably (replaceably) loaded. A reel holding shaft 36 that rotatably holds the tape reel 34 is provided in the center of the tape loading section 35.

[0017] Provided within the cassette case 32 are a tape feed mechanism 38 that feeds the component supply tape 33 pulled out from the tape reel 34 to the component suction position, and a top film peeling mechanism 39 that peels off a top film 40 (also called a cover tape) from the component supply tape 33 just before the component suction position to expose the components in the component supply tape 33.

[0018] The tape feed mechanism 38 is composed of a sprocket 42 located near the lower part of the component suction position, and a motor 43 which drives and rotates the sprocket 42. The teeth of the sprocket 42 engage with tape feed holes formed at a predetermined pitch on one side edge of the component supply tape 33 to rotate the sprocket 42, thereby pitch-feeding the component supply tape 33 to the component suction position.

[0019] The top film peeling mechanism 39 is composed of a tape presser 45 for pressing down the component supply tape 33 just before the component suction position and peeling off the top film 40 from the upper surface of the component supply tape 33, a top film feed gear mechanism 47 for pulling the top film 40 peeled off by the tape presser 45 in the direction opposite to the tape feed direction and feeding it into a top film recovery section 46 at the top of the cassette case 32, and a motor 48 for driving the top film feed gear mechanism 47.

[0020] A waste tape discharge passage 50 is provided extending downwardly at the edge portion of the cassette case 32 on the tape feed direction side, which guides downward and discharges the waste tape 33a (in this embodiment 1, only the carrier tape from which the top film 40 has been peeled off) which has passed the component suction position and had components removed from it, and an exit 50a of the waste tape discharge passage 50 is provided at a position below the center of the end face of the cassette case 32 on the tape feed direction side.

[0021] A control device 52 that controls the motor 43 of the tape feed mechanism 38 and the motor 48 of the top film peeling mechanism 39 is provided inside the cassette case 32. In addition, although not shown, the cassette case 32 is provided with a communication / power connector that is connected to a communication / power connector on the component mounter 12 side.

[0022] Next, the configuration of the cassette-type suction nozzle replacement unit 81 will be described with reference to FIGS. The cassette case 83 of the cassette type suction nozzle replacement unit 81 is formed of a transparent or opaque plastic plate or metal plate, etc., similar to the cassette type feeder 14, and its side part (cover) can be opened and closed. A circular recessed nozzle station loading part 85 is provided inside the cassette case 83, and a drive shaft 86 (see FIG. 6) is provided at the center of the nozzle station loading part 85 toward the inside in the width direction of the cassette case 83, and the center part of the rotary nozzle station 84 is connected to the drive shaft 86 in a rotationally transmitting and detachable manner. The outer periphery of the rotary nozzle station 84 is configured to radially arrange a plurality of suction nozzles 87 to be replaced with the suction nozzles of the mounting head 15 of the component mounter 12, and to detachably hold them.

[0023] Meanwhile, a rotary drive device 88 that rotates the rotary nozzle station 84 is provided inside the cassette case 83. This rotary drive device 88 is composed of a motor 89 that serves as a drive source, and a gear mechanism 90 that transmits the rotation of this motor 89 to the drive shaft 86.

[0024] A nozzle replacement opening 91 is formed in a position on the upper end surface of the cassette case 83 that corresponds to the uppermost end of the rotary nozzle station 84 (directly above the center of the rotary nozzle station 84), and replacement of the suction nozzle 87 is performed between the rotary nozzle station 84 and the mounting head 15 of the component mounter 12 through the nozzle replacement opening 91. The cassette case 83 is provided with a shutter mechanism 92 that opens and closes the nozzle replacement opening 91. The shutter mechanism 92 is composed of a shutter plate 93 that slides along the nozzle replacement opening 91, a motor 94 that serves as a drive source, a feed gear 95 that converts the rotation of the motor 94 into linear motion, and a link member 96 that connects the feed gear 95 and the shutter plate 93.

[0025] When the suction nozzle 87 in the cassette-type suction nozzle replacement unit 81 set in the feeder set section 24 of the component mounter 12 is to be held by the mounting head 15 of the component mounter 12, the mounting head 15 is moved above the nozzle replacement port 91 of the suction nozzle replacement unit 81, and the shutter plate 93 of the shutter mechanism 92 is opened to open the nozzle replacement port 91. Then, the rotary nozzle station 84 in the suction nozzle replacement unit 81 is rotated appropriately to position the suction nozzle 87 to be replaced this time at the nozzle replacement port 91, and then the nozzle holder (not shown) of the mounting head 15 is lowered to hold the suction nozzle 87 on the nozzle holder of the mounting head 15 through the nozzle replacement port 33, and then the nozzle holder of the mounting head 15 is raised to remove the suction nozzle 87 from the rotary nozzle station 84.

[0026] Furthermore, when returning the suction nozzle held in the nozzle holder of the mounting head 15 to an empty slot of the rotary nozzle station 84 in the suction nozzle replacement unit 81, the rotary nozzle station 84 is rotated appropriately to position the empty slot of the rotary nozzle station 84 at the nozzle replacement port 33, and the nozzle holder of the mounting head 15 is lowered to return the suction nozzle held in the nozzle holder of the mounting head 15 to the empty slot of the rotary nozzle station 84.

[0027] A control device 97 that controls the motor 89 of the rotation drive device 88 and the motor 94 of the shutter mechanism 92 is provided inside the cassette case 83. In addition, although not shown, the cassette case 83 is provided with a communication / power connector that is connected to a communication / power connector on the component mounter 12 side.

[0028] 1, an automatic exchange device 26 is installed on the front side of the component mounting line 10, which sets and removes the cassette-type feeders 14 to and from the feeder setting section 24 of each component mounter 12. This automatic exchange device 26 also sets and removes the cassette-type suction nozzle exchange unit 81 to and from the feeder setting section 24 of each component mounter 12.

[0029] A stock section 71 is provided below the feeder setting section 24 of each mounter 12 to temporarily store a plurality of replacement feeders 14 and suction nozzle replacement units 81 to be set in the feeder setting section 24. The automatic exchanger 26 takes out the feeder 14 and suction nozzle replacement unit 81 to be replaced from the feeder setting section 24 of each mounter 12 and recovers them in the stock section 71, and also takes out the feeder 14 and suction nozzle replacement unit 81 specified in the production job (production program) from the stock section 71 and sets them in the feeder setting section 24 of each mounter 12. At this time, if the replacement feeder 14 and suction nozzle replacement unit 81 are not stored in the stock section 71 of the mounter 12, the automatic exchanger 26 receives the replacement feeder 14 and suction nozzle replacement unit 81 from the storage 19 and moves them to the mounter 12 to automatically replace the replacement feeder 14 and suction nozzle replacement unit 81, as described below.

[0030] On the front side of the component mounting line 10, a guide rail 74 for moving the automatic exchanger 26 in the left-right direction (X direction) along the arrangement of the component mounters 12 is provided so as to extend in the X direction across the entire component mounting line 10, so that the automatic exchanger 26 moves between the most upstream storage 19 and the most downstream component mounter 12 of the component mounting line 10. The automatic exchanger 26 takes out the feeders 14 and suction nozzle replacement units 81 specified in the production job from the storage 19 and transports them to the stock section 71 of the specified component mounter 12, or takes out used feeders 14 and suction nozzle replacement units 81 from the stock section 71 and recovers them in the storage 19.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 20 of each mounter 12 on the component mounting line 10 and the control device 27 of the automatic exchanger 26 are communicatively connected to a production management computer 70 (management device) that manages the entire component mounting line 10 via a network 28 such as a wired LAN or wireless LAN, and the production management computer 70 manages the operation of each mounter 12 on the component mounting line 10 and the operation of the automatic exchanger 26.

[0032] Furthermore, the component mounting line 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a unit transporting device 76 (see FIG. 1) that automatically travels between a work location where a worker works and the storage 19, and at the work location, the worker loads the replacement feeder 14 and the suction nozzle replacement unit 81 onto the unit transporting device 76, which then transports them to the storage 19, where the unit transporting device 76 transfers the replacement feeder 14 and the suction nozzle replacement unit 81 to the storage 19, and also loads the replaced feeder 14 and the replaced suction nozzle replacement unit 81 that have been collected in the storage 19 onto the unit transporting device 76, which then returns to the work location. The unit transporting device 76 is equipped with a unit transfer mechanism (not shown) that transfers the feeder 14 and the suction nozzle replacement unit 81 between the storage 19 and the unit transporting device 76.

[0033] The production management computer 70 communicates with the unit transport device 76 via wireless LAN or the like, and also manages the operation of the unit transport device 76. In this embodiment, the work area where the workers work and the unit transport device 76 are shared by multiple component mounting lines 10.

[0034] The control device 20 of each mounter 12 also functions as an operation monitoring device that monitors the operating status of the feeder 14 and the suction nozzle replacement unit 81, which are automatically replaceable units of each mounter 12, and monitors whether the automatically replaceable units require maintenance or replacement due to a malfunction. In the following description, "automatically replaceable unit" means either the "feeder 14" or the "suction nozzle replacement unit 81."

[0035] Specifically, the control device 20 of each mounter 12 monitors the tape feed time of the feeder 14, the flow rate of the suction nozzle, the nozzle length, the axis operation time of the mounting head 15, and the valve operation time, which are automatically replaceable units, and monitors whether the automatically replaceable units need maintenance or replacement due to a malfunction, based on whether they exceed a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, it may monitor at least one of the presence or absence of a malfunction, the cumulative operation time, the number of operations, the error occurrence rate (for example, the occurrence rate of component suction failure, the occurrence rate of suction nozzle replacement mistakes due to malfunction of the suction nozzle replacement unit 81), and the number of errors from the operating status of the automatically replaceable units, to monitor whether the automatically replaceable units need maintenance or replacement due to a malfunction. For example, when the cumulative operation time, the number of operations, the error occurrence rate, and the number of errors exceed the respective predetermined thresholds (criteria), it is determined that the automatically replaceable units need replacement, and the information is sent to the production management computer 70. As a result, the production management computer 70 moves the automatic exchange device 26 to the component mounter 12 that requires unit replacement, and causes the automatic exchange device 26 to automatically replace the automatically replaceable unit of that component mounter 12 with the replacement unit.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a judgment criterion change unit (not shown) is provided that allows an operator to change the judgment criterion for the control device 20 of each mounter 12 to judge whether or not an automatically replaceable unit needs maintenance or replacement due to a failure. In this way, for example, if an operator thinks that the number of replacements due to maintenance is too many, the operator can change the judgment criterion to reduce the number of replacements due to maintenance, and if the number of replacements due to failure is too many, the operator can change the judgment criterion to increase the number of replacements due to maintenance. This allows an operator to change the judgment criterion so that both the number of replacements due to maintenance and the number of replacements due to failure are reduced. The judgment criterion change unit may be configured using an input operation device (not shown) such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel connected to the control device 20 of the mounter 12.

[0037] Furthermore, when the control device 20 of each mounter 12 can predict when an automatically replaceable unit will require maintenance or replacement due to a failure, it transmits information regarding the replacement of the automatically replaceable unit in advance to the production management computer 70. Then, when the production management computer 70 receives information regarding the replacement of an automatically replaceable unit of a mounter 12 in advance from the control device 20 of the mounter 12, it moves the automatic exchanger 26 to the mounter 12 or nearby and makes it wait in preparation for the replacement of the automatically replaceable unit. In this way, the automatically replaceable units of each mounter can be replaced in a short time, reducing the production downtime due to replacement and improving the operating rate (productivity).

[0038] Furthermore, in order to prepare for replacement of automatically replaceable units of each mounter 12, the production management computer 70 utilizes a period during which the automatic exchanger 26 does not automatically replace automatically replaceable units to move the automatic exchanger 26 to each mounter 12 and store the units to be replaced in the stock section 71, and also retrieve the replaced units from the stock section 71. Even in this manner, the replacement of automatically replaceable units of each mounter 12 can be performed efficiently.

[0039] According to the embodiment described above, the control device 20 of each mounter 12 monitors the operating status of the automatically replaceable unit to monitor whether the automatically replaceable unit needs maintenance or replacement due to a failure, and when it is determined that the automatically replaceable unit of any mounter 12 needs maintenance or replacement due to a failure, the production management computer 70 moves the automatic exchange device 26 to the mounter 12 and automatically replaces the automatically replaceable unit of the mounter 12 with a replacement unit by the automatic exchange device 26, so that when the automatically replaceable unit of any mounter 12 needs maintenance or replacement due to a failure, the worker does not need to replace the automatically replaceable unit of the mounter 12, and the worker's workload can be reduced. Moreover, when the automatically replaceable unit of the mounter 12 needs maintenance or replacement due to a failure, the automatically replaceable unit can be quickly automatically replaced by the automatic exchange device 26, which has the advantage of allowing production to be resumed early and not causing a significant decrease in the operating rate (productivity).

[0040] Moreover, the component mounting line 10 is provided with a storehouse 19 for storing replacement units to be replaced with the automatically replaceable units of a plurality of component mounters 12, and the automatic exchanger 26 receives replacement units from the storehouse 19 in accordance with instructions from the production management computer 70, moves to the component mounter 12 to be automatically replaced, automatically replaces the automatically replaceable unit of that component mounter 12 with the replacement unit, and transfers the recovered replaced unit back to the storehouse 19. This allows efficient exchange of replacement units and replaced units between the storehouse 19 and each component mounter 12, and allows efficient recovery of the replaced units removed from each component mounter 12.

[0041] Furthermore, a unit transport device 76 is provided that moves between a work location where a worker works and the storage 19, and at the work location, the worker loads a replacement unit onto the unit transport device 76, which transports it to the storage 19, and the unit transport device 76 transfers the replacement unit to the storage 19, and also loads the replaced unit that has been collected in the storage 19 onto the unit transport device 76 and returns to the work location, so that a worker can efficiently replenish replacement units and perform maintenance and repairs on the collected replaced units at a work location away from the storage 19. However, in the present invention, the unit transport device 76 may be omitted, and the supply of replacement units to the storage 19 and the collection of replaced units from the storage 19 may be performed manually by a worker.

[0042] In addition, in this embodiment, the work area and unit transport device 76 are shared by multiple component mounting lines 10, so that the supply of replacement units to the storage 19 of the multiple component mounting lines 10 and the maintenance and repair of replaced units collected from the multiple component mounting lines 10 can be performed by the same worker at a common work area, and there is no need to provide a work area and unit transport device 76 for each component mounting line 10. As a result, multiple component mounting lines 10 can be installed compactly within a factory, and the number of workers engaged in managing the multiple component mounting lines 10 can be reduced, enabling further labor savings. However, in the present invention, a separate work area and unit transport device 76 may be provided for each component mounting line 10.

[0043] In this embodiment, the control device 20 of each component mounter 12 is configured to function as an operation monitoring device that monitors the operating status of the automatically replaceable unit and monitors whether the automatically replaceable unit requires maintenance or replacement due to a malfunction, but it is also possible to use an external computer such as a production management computer 70 as the operation monitoring device to centrally monitor the operating status of the automatically replaceable units of multiple component mounters 12.

[0044] In addition, the automatically replaceable units of each component mounter 12 are not limited to the feeder 14 and the suction nozzle replacement unit 81. For example, if the mounting head 15 is held in the component mounter 12 in an automatically replaceable manner, the mounting head 15 may also be an automatically replaceable unit, and if the mounting head 15 holds a chuck for gripping a component in an exchangeable manner with a suction nozzle, the chuck may also be an automatically replaceable unit.

[0045] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, such as changing the configuration of the component mounting line 10, changing the configuration of the automatic exchange device 26 or the unit transport device 76, or changing the configuration of the feeder 14 or the suction nozzle exchange unit 81. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10...component mounting line, 11...circuit board, 12...component mounter, 14...cassette-type feeder, 15...mounting head, 16...head moving device, 19...storage, 20...component mounter control device (operation monitoring device), 24...feeder setting section, 26...automatic exchange device, 70...production management computer (management device), 71...stock section, 76...unit transport device, 81...cassette-type suction nozzle exchange unit, 87...suction nozzle

Claims

1. a plurality of component mounters arranged along a transport path along which a circuit board is transported, the component mounters mounting components onto the circuit board; a storage facility for storing replacement units for the component mounter; a unit transport device that moves between a work site away from the storage facility and the storage facility, loads the replacement unit, transports it to the storage facility, and returns to the work site with the replacement unit that has been collected in the storage facility; an automatic exchange device that receives a replacement unit from the storage, moves it to the component mounter that is to be automatically replaced, automatically exchanges the unit that needs to be automatically replaced with the replacement unit, and collects it; A component mounting system comprising:

2. a plurality of component mounters arranged along a transport path along which a circuit board is transported, the component mounters mounting components onto the circuit board; a storage facility provided on the transport path for storing replacement units for the component mounter; a unit transport device that moves between a work location where a worker works on the replacement unit and the storage, loads the replacement unit, transports it to the storage, and returns to the work location with the replacement unit that has been collected in the storage; an operation monitoring device that monitors the operation status of an automatically replaceable unit of each of the component mounters and monitors whether or not the automatically replaceable unit requires maintenance or replacement due to a malfunction; an automatic exchange device that, in response to an instruction from the operation monitoring device, receives a replacement unit from the storage, moves it to the component mounter that is to be automatically replaced, automatically replaces the unit that needs to be automatically replaced with the replacement unit, and collects it; A component mounting system comprising:

3. a plurality of component mounters arranged along a transport path along which a circuit board is transported, the component mounters mounting components onto the circuit board; a storage facility for storing replacement units to be replaced with the automatically replaceable units of the plurality of component mounters; an automatic exchange device that receives the replacement unit from the storage, moves along an arrangement of component mounters to be automatically replaced, automatically replaces an automatically replaceable unit of the component mounters with the replacement unit, and transfers the collected replaced unit back to the storage; a unit transporting device that transports the replacement unit loaded by a worker at a work site away from the storage to the storage and transfers the replacement unit to the storage, and also loads the replaced unit that has been collected in the storage and returns to the work site; an operation monitoring device that monitors the operation status of an automatically replaceable unit of each of the component mounters and monitors whether or not the automatically replaceable unit needs to be replaced; a management device which, when the operation monitoring device determines that an automatically replaceable unit of any one of the component mounters needs to be replaced, moves the automatic exchange device to the component mounter and causes the automatic exchange device to automatically exchange the automatically replaceable unit of the component mounter with a replacement unit; A component mounting system comprising:

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