Tape loading device for external setup

Abstract

To support a cue of a carrier tape and the like after a feeder is loaded with the carrier tape as an external setup.SOLUTION: A tape loading device for an external setup comprises: a loading part that automatically loads a carrier tape into a feeder held by a feeder holding base; and a component presence / absence detection part that detects the presence or absence of a component in the carrier tape loaded into the feeder by the loading part, by moving so that the component can be arranged above a component take-out position, in which the component is taken out by an electronic component loading machine, from a cavity of the carrier tape.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present specification relates to an off-site setup tape loader. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an apparatus for aligning the beginning of a carrier tape loaded in a feeder (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This apparatus is an electronic component mounting machine that mounts components accommodated in cavities of a carrier tape loaded in a feeder onto a board. This apparatus includes a component supply unit and a component transfer unit. The component supply unit uses a feeder attached to a slot to transport the carrier tape and supply the components in the cavities to a component removal position. In addition, the component transfer unit uses a suction nozzle of the mounting head to pick up the components supplied to the component removal position and move the components to the board, and then releases the component suction by the suction nozzle and transfers the components to the board.

[0003] The above-mentioned device is equipped with a height measurement sensor that measures the height inside the cavity that has been supplied to the component removal position. This height measurement sensor is attached to the above-mentioned mounting head. In this device, the presence or absence of a component in the cavity is detected based on the measurement result of the height measurement sensor, and the position of the cavity that first contains a component from the leading end of the carrier tape is detected, and the carrier tape is aligned based on the leading end position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2012-142347 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, the lead positioning of the carrier tape is not only performed in the electronic component mounting machine as described above, but also in external setup units such as a tape loading device that loads the carrier tape into a feeder and a splicing device that splices carrier tapes together. However, the lead positioning of the carrier tape in the electronic component mounting machine described in Patent Document 1 is not directly applicable to the lead positioning of the carrier tape in an external setup unit.

[0006] The present specification aims to provide a tape loading device for off-site setup that can assist in the cueing of a carrier tape after the carrier tape has been loaded into a feeder as off-site setup. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This specification discloses a tape loading device for external setup, comprising: a loading unit that automatically loads a carrier tape into a feeder held on a feeder holding table; and a component presence / absence detection unit that moves to be positioned above a component removal position where components are removed from cavities in the carrier tape by an electronic component mounting machine, and detects the presence or absence of components on the carrier tape loaded into the feeder by the loading unit.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to assist with off-site setup such as positioning the beginning of a carrier tape after the carrier tape is loaded into a feeder. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic top view of a tape loading device including a tape cueing device for external setup according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of the carrier tape. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a feeder that transports the carrier tape. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic perspective view of a second tape transport device, a first opening device, and a second opening device provided in the tape loading device. FIG. [Diagram 5]2 is a schematic plan view of a tape routing device provided in the tape loading device. FIG. [Figure 6] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating a state in which a peeling device, a gripping device, and a first tape holding portion of a feeder provided in a tape loading device are separated from each other and are close to each other. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a tape cueing device for external setup. [Figure 8] 5 is a flowchart of an example of a control routine executed in a tape loading device equipped with a tape cueing device for external setup; [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining the cueing of a carrier tape in an external setup tape cueing device. [Figure 10] 13 is a diagram for explaining return transport after the carrier tape is indexed in the external setup tape indexing device. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of a tape cueing device for external setup and a tape loading device according to the present disclosure will be described.

[0011] 1. Overview of the tape indexing device and tape loading device for off-line setup The tape cueing device 400 for external setup in this embodiment is a device that performs cueing of a carrier tape 200 in an external setup unit outside an electronic component mounting machine. In this embodiment, the tape cueing device 400 for external setup is provided in a tape loading device 1 serving as an external setup unit, as shown in Fig. 1. The tape loading device 1 is a device that automatically loads a carrier tape 200 into a feeder 100 held by a feeder holding table 10.

[0012] Hereinafter, the tape transport direction in which the carrier tape 200 loaded on the feeder 100 is transported horizontally to supply components will be referred to as the X direction, the horizontal direction perpendicular to the X direction will be referred to as the Y direction, and the vertical direction perpendicular to both the X direction and the Y direction will be referred to as the Z direction.

[0013] 2. Carrier tape configuration The carrier tape 200 is a tape member in which a plurality of components 3 are accommodated in a row in the tape longitudinal direction. The carrier tape 200 has a base tape 210 and a cover tape 220, as shown in FIG.

[0014] The base tape 210 is made of a flexible material such as paper or resin. The base tape 210 has cavities 211, for example, in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, capable of housing components 3. The cavities 211 are provided at a predetermined pitch in the tape longitudinal direction. The components 3 housed in the cavities 211 are electronic components to be mounted on a substrate. The carrier tape 200 may be one in which the cavities 211 penetrate the base tape 210 and a bottom tape is attached to the lower surface of the base tape 210 to close the lower end of the cavities 211, or may be an embossed type in which the lower end of the cavities 211 is previously closed by the base tape 210.

[0015] The base tape 210 also has substantially circular or elliptical feed holes 212 that engage with engaging protrusions of a sprocket 131 described below. The feed holes 212 are provided penetrating the base tape 210 at predetermined intervals in the tape longitudinal direction. The feed holes 212 are arranged in a row in the tape longitudinal direction at the end of the base tape 210 in the tape width direction, adjacent to the cavities 211 in the tape width direction.

[0016] The cover tape 220 is a tape that closes the upper end of the cavity 211 of the base tape 210 to prevent the component 3 in the cavity 211 from popping out. The cover tape 220 is made of a transparent polymer film or the like. The cover tape 220 is bonded to the upper surface of the base tape 210 (the portion where the feed holes 212 are provided may be excluded) with an adhesive. The cover tape 220 is bonded to the base tape 210 on both sides in the width direction of the cavity 211, avoiding the cavity 211 of the carrier tape 200.

[0017] 3.Feeder configuration Feeder 100 is a device that feeds components 3 to be mounted on a board to a component removal position L by conveying carrier tape 200. Feeder 100 is removably mounted in a slot of an electronic component mounting machine provided on a board production line that produces boards. Components 3 supplied from feeder 100 to component removal position L are sucked and held by a suction nozzle or the like attached to the mounting head of the electronic component mounting machine, and then the suction is released to mount the components on the board.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the feeder 100 has a feeder body 110, a reel housing section 120, a tape feeding mechanism section 130, a cover tape feeding mechanism section 140, and a cover tape feeding guide 150.

[0019] The feeder body 110 is formed in a flat box shape. The feeder body 110 has a tape feed guide 111 provided on the upper part of the feeder body 110 to guide the carrier tape 200. The carrier tape 200 is pulled out from a tape reel 240 housed in a reel housing section 120 and guided by the tape feed guide 111. The tape feed guide 111 guides the carrier tape 200 between the reel housing section 120 and the tape feed mechanism section 130.

[0020] The tape feed mechanism 130 is disposed at the front end side of the feeder body 110, and feeds the carrier tape 200 pulled out from the tape reel 240 along the tape feed path by one pitch of the cavities 211 at a time. The tape feed mechanism 130 may be disposed not only at the front end side of the feeder body 110, but also at the rear end side. The tape feed mechanism 130 has a sprocket 131 and a first tape holding portion 133. The sprocket 131 has an engagement protrusion that engages with the feed hole 212 of the carrier tape 200 at the front end side of the feeder body 110. The sprocket 131 is rotated by the drive of a motor 132.

[0021] The first tape holding portion 133 is a guide portion that holds and guides the carrier tape 200 in which the engaging protrusion of the sprocket 131 engages with the feed hole 212. The first tape holding portion 133 covers the upper surface of the carrier tape 200 from above. The upper wall of the main body of the first tape holding portion 133 is provided with a window portion 133b and an opening portion 133c. The window portion 133b is a hole for preventing the engaging protrusion of the sprocket 131 from contacting the first tape holding portion 133 when the engaging protrusion reaches near the upper end and protrudes onto the tape transport path. The opening portion 133c is a hole for exposing the component 3 accommodated in the cavity 211. The opening portion 133c is provided at the component removal position L.

[0022] 6, a cover tape peeling portion 136 is provided on the upper wall of the main body of the first tape holding portion 133, which serves as a fulcrum when the cover tape 220 is pulled toward the rear end side of the feeder 100 while the carrier tape 200 is being transported. The cover tape peeling portion 136 is provided on the rear end side edge portion of the opening 133c. The cover tape 220 is pulled toward the rear end side of the feeder 100 with the cover tape peeling portion 136 as a fulcrum, and is thereby peeled off from the base tape 210.

[0023] First tape holding part 133 is rotatable about rotation fulcrum 133a provided on the front end side by the up and down movement of lever 138 protruding from the rear end part. When lever 138 is not lifted, first tape holding part 133 is able to hold carrier tape 200 between itself and sprocket 131 by the biasing force of a biasing member (not shown), and is able to release the hold of carrier tape 200 between itself and sprocket 131 when lever 138 is lifted against the biasing force of the biasing member.

[0024] The cover tape feed mechanism 140 is a mechanism that feeds the cover tape 220 peeled off from the base tape 210 in the direction opposite to the X direction, which is the transport direction of the carrier tape 200. The cover tape feed mechanism 140 is disposed at the center lower part of the feeder body 110. The cover tape feed mechanism 140 has a second tape holding part 143. The second tape holding part 143 is a part that holds the cover tape 220 to be fed so that it does not come off the feeder body 110. The second tape holding part 143 can hold the cover tape 220 by the spring biasing force, and can release the hold of the cover tape 220 by moving a predetermined lever against the spring biasing force.

[0025] The cover tape feed guide 150 is a portion that guides the peeled cover tape 220 to the cover tape feed mechanism 140, using the cover tape peeling unit 136 as a fulcrum. The cover tape feed guide 150 is provided between the cover tape peeling unit 136 of the feeder 100 and the cover tape feed mechanism 140.

[0026] The cover tape feed guide 150 has a pair of guide rollers 151, 152 that apply tension to the cover tape 220 to prevent slack in the cover tape 220 between the cover tape peeling section 136 and the cover tape feed mechanism section 140. The guide rollers 151, 152 are disposed above the carrier tape 200 that is guided onto the tape feed guide 111. The guide roller 151 supports the cover tape 220 at the lower end side on the front end side of the feeder 100. The guide roller 152 supports the cover tape 220 at the upper end side on the rear end side of the feeder 100 relative to the guide roller 151.

[0027] 4. Tape Loader Configuration The configuration of the tape loading device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 to FIG. The tape loading device 1 automatically sets the carrier tape 200 in the tape feeding mechanism 130 of the feeder 100, and also routes the cover tape 220 of the carrier tape 200 along a predetermined disposal path on the feeder 100 and sets it in the cover tape feeding mechanism 140.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the tape loading device 1 includes a feeder holding table 10, a first tape transport device 20, a second tape transport device 30, a first opening device 40, a second opening device 50, a tape arrangement device 60, a peeling device 70, a gripping device 80, a connecting device 90, and a tape cueing device 400 for external setup.

[0029] The feeder holder 10 is a base that holds the feeder 100. The feeder holder 10 is disposed in the center of the base 2 of the tape loading device 1. The feeder holder 10 has a mounting portion 11 on which the bottom surface of the feeder body 110 of the feeder 100 is mounted, and a contact portion 12 having a jack that positions the feeder 100 and can supply power to and communicate with the feeder 100.

[0030] The first tape transport device 20 and the second tape transport device 30 are devices that transport the carrier tape 200 in the X direction. The first tape transport device 20 and the second tape transport device 30 are capable of moving forward and backward in the Y direction on the base 2 so as to sandwich the feeder 100 held by the feeder holding table 10 from both sides.

[0031] The first tape transport device 20 has a plate-shaped guide 21 that guides the carrier tape 200 pulled out from the tape reel 240 and transported in the X direction, a roller 22 arranged midway along the longitudinal direction of the guide 21, and a motor 24 that rotates the roller. The first tape transport device 20 can be slid in the Y direction on the base 2 by an advance / retract device 27.

[0032] 4, the second tape transport device 30 is disposed downstream in the X direction from the guide 21 of the first tape transport device 20, and has a plate-shaped guide 31 that guides the carrier tape 200 transported in the X direction, a roller 32 that is disposed midway in the longitudinal direction of the guide 31, and a motor 33 that rotates the roller 32. The second tape transport device 30 can be slid in the Y direction on the base 2 by an advance / retract device 37.

[0033] The first opening device 40 is a device that releases and opens the carrier tape 200 held by the first tape holding part 133 of the feeder 100. The second opening device 50 is a device that releases and opens the cover tape 220 held by the second tape holding part 143 of the feeder 100. The first opening device 40 and the second opening device 50 are each disposed on the base 2 on the second tape transport device 30 side with respect to the feeder 100 held by the feeder holding table 10.

[0034] The first opening device 40 is mounted and fixed on the support base of the second tape transport device 30. The first opening device 40 can be slid in the Y direction toward the feeder 100 held on the feeder holding base 10 by the advancing and retreating device 37 on the base 2 in synchronization with the second tape transport device 30. As shown in Fig. 4, the first opening device 40 has a first lift lever 41 that abuts against a lever 138 of the first tape holding part 133 to raise and lower the lever 138 in the Z direction, a support 42 that supports the first lift lever 41 so that the tip of the first lift lever 41 protrudes toward the feeder 100, and an air cylinder 43 that moves the support 42 in the Z direction by air from an air supply source to raise and lower the first lift lever 41.

[0035] 4, the second opening device 50 has a second lift lever 51 that comes into contact with the lever of the second tape holding part 143 to move the lever in the X direction, a support 52 that supports the second lift lever 51 so that the tip of the second lift lever 51 protrudes toward the feeder 100, and an air cylinder 53 that moves the support 52 in the X direction by air from an air supply source, thereby moving the second lift lever 51 in the X direction. The second opening device 50 can be slid in the Y direction on the base 2 by an advancing and retracting device 57.

[0036] The tape arrangement device 60 is a device that arranges the temporary tape 300 so as to follow a shape that follows the disposal path of the cover tape 220 on the feeder 100. The tape arrangement device 60 can be advanced and retreated in the Y direction toward the feeder 100 held on the feeder holder 10 by an advance and retreat device 67 on the base 2.

[0037] The temporary tape 300 is a tape arranged so as to follow a shape following the disposal path of the cover tape 220 on the feeder 100. After being pulled out from the temporary tape reel 310, the temporary tape 300 is arranged so as to follow a shape following the above-mentioned disposal path, and is connected to the cover tape 220 peeled off from the base tape 210 of the carrier tape 200, and then transferred to the feeder 100 and rewound onto the temporary tape reel 310.

[0038] As shown in Figure 5, the tape arrangement device 60 has a main body plate 61 which is a substantially rectangular flat main body portion erected in the Z direction, a pivot arm 62 which is rotatably supported on the main body plate 61 around a rotation fulcrum 62a and which pulls out the temporary tape 300 from the temporary tape reel 310 by pivoting, and a first extrusion member 63 and a second extrusion member 64 which push out a portion of the temporary tape 300 pulled out by the movement of the pivot arm 62 radially outward in conjunction with the rotation of the pivot arm 62.

[0039] The main body plate 61 is provided with three guide holes 61a, 61b, and 61c each formed in an arc shape on a concentric circle. An outer support pin mechanism 61d that contacts and supports the temporary tape 300 from the outside is attached to the main body plate 61, and a temporary tape feed roller 61e that guides and supports the temporary tape 300 pulled out from the temporary tape reel 310 so as to sandwich the temporary tape 300 is attached to the main body plate 61. The temporary tape feed roller 61e is a tape feed section that feeds out the temporary tape 300 by being rotated by the drive of a drive motor (not shown).

[0040] A chuck portion 62b is attached to the tip of the rotating arm 62. The chuck portion 62b is supported on the edge of the guide hole 61a having the maximum diameter in the main body plate 61, and has gripping claws for gripping the temporary tape 300. The rotating arm 62 is provided with a first arm portion 62c extending in one circumferential direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 5) from between the rotation fulcrum 62a and the chuck portion 62b of the rotating arm 62, and a second arm portion 62d extending in the other circumferential direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5). Two contact rollers 62e supported on the edge of the guide hole 61b having an intermediate diameter are rotatably supported on the tip of the first arm portion 62c. A contact roller 62f supported on the edge of the guide hole 61c having the minimum diameter is rotatably supported on the tip of the second arm portion 62d.

[0041] The rotating arm 62 can be rotated by driving a drive motor (not shown). When the rotating arm 62 is rotated, the tip of the temporary tape 300 gripped by the chuck portion 62b is transferred along the guide hole 61a. In the process of the rotating arm 62 rotating from the initial angle to a predetermined transfer completion angle, the tip of the temporary tape 300 is transferred to a third position corresponding to the first tape holding portion 133 of the feeder 100 via a first position corresponding to the second tape holding portion 143 of the feeder 100 and a second position corresponding to the guide tape feed guide 150 of the feeder 100.

[0042] The first extrusion member 63 and the second extrusion member 64 are rotatably supported by the main body plate 61 at rotational supports 63a and 64a, respectively, and are biased in one circumferential direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 5) around the rotational supports 63a and 64a by a biasing member (not shown). The first extrusion member 63 is maintained in a state of contact with the contact roller 62f of the rotating arm 62 in the initial state. The first extrusion member 63 is provided with an inner support pin mechanism 63b and two guide pins 63c that contact and support the temporary tape 300 from the inside. The second extrusion member 64 is maintained in a state of being in a predetermined phase without contacting the contact rollers 62e and 62f of the rotating arm 62 in the initial state. Two guide pins 64b that contact and support the temporary tape 300 from the inside are arranged on the front side of the second extrusion member 64.

[0043] During rotation of the pivot arm 62, i.e., when the pivot arm 62 pivots while gripping the tip of the temporary tape 300, the first and second extrusion members 63 and 64 rotate in the other circumferential direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 5) around the rotation fulcrums 63a and 64a in conjunction with each other as their curved back surfaces come into contact with the contact rollers 62e and 62f of the pivot arm 62. During this rotation, the inner support pin mechanism 63b and each guide pin 63c of the first extrusion member 63, and each guide pin 64b of the second extrusion member 64 move toward the outer periphery of the body plate 61.

[0044] The peeling device 70 is a device that peels off the cover tape 220 from the base tape 210 of the carrier tape 200 that is loaded in the feeder 100 and held by the first tape holding section 133. As shown in Fig. 1, the peeling device 70 is disposed on the base 2 in front of the feeder 100 held on the feeder holding table 10 (i.e., downstream in the X direction). The peeling device 70 can be advanced and retreated in the X direction toward the feeder 100 held on the feeder holding table 10 by an advance / retract device 77 on the base 2.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the peeling device 70 has a peeling claw 71 that peels the cover tape 220 from the base tape 210. The peeling claw 71 is supported so as to protrude from a plate-shaped support 72 toward the upstream side in the X direction. The peeling claw 71 is inserted between the base tape 210 and the cover tape 220 of the carrier tape 200 guided by the first tape holding part 133 of the feeder 100 by the movement of the peeling device 70 in the X direction relative to the base 2. In addition, the peeling claw 71 can be raised and lowered between a position where it can be inserted between the base tape 210 and the cover tape 220 (peeling position) and a position where it cannot be inserted (retracted position) by the movement of the support 72 in the Z direction by the air cylinder 73. The peeling claw 71 reaches the peeling position when it descends until it fits into a groove-shaped support part 133d provided in the first tape holding part 133 of the feeder 100.

[0046] The gripping device 80 is a device that grips the leading end of the cover tape 220 peeled off from the base tape 210 by the peeling device 70. The gripping device 80 can be slid in the Y direction on the base 2 by an advancing / retreating device 87 toward the feeder 100 held on the feeder holding table 10. Before gripping the cover tape 220, the gripping device 80 is retreated so as not to interfere with the rotation of the second extrusion member 64, and when gripping is required, the gripping device 80 is advanced so as to be able to grip, and grips the leading end of the cover tape 220 by pinching it with the gripping claws 81.

[0047] As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the gripping device 80 has a gripping claw 81 that grips the tip of the cover tape 220. The gripping claw 81 extends in the Y direction while being supported by a support 82. The support 82 is supported so that it moves up and down in the Z direction in the lower region and pivots downstream in the X direction around an axis extending in the Y direction (i.e., the width direction of the carrier tape 200) in the upper region relative to a substantially rectangular support plate 84 that stands on the support base of the gripping device 80. When the support 82 is located at the lower end relative to the support plate 84, the gripping claw 81 is located at a gripping position where it can grip the cover tape 220 peeled off from the base tape 210, and when the support 82 is located at the upper end relative to the support plate 84 and the downstream end in the X direction, it is located at a connecting position where it is not possible to grip the cover tape 220 and the cover tape 220 is connected to the temporary tape 300.

[0048] The connecting device 90 is a device that connects the tip of the cover tape 220 gripped by the gripping device 80 to the tip of the temporary tape 300 arranged by the tape arrangement device 60 so as to follow the predetermined shape as described above. This connection is realized by heat bonding the cover tape 220 and the temporary tape 300. The connecting device 90 is attached to the main body plate 61 of the tape arrangement device 60.

[0049] The connecting device 90 supports the tip portions of the cover tape 220 and the temporary tape 300 in an overlapping state with a tape supporting member, and advances a heating member 91 facing the tape supporting member with the tapes 220, 300 sandwiched therebetween, thereby sandwiching the cover tape 220 and the temporary tape 300 between the tape supporting member and the heating member 91, thereby heat-bonding and connecting the two tapes 220, 300. When the tip portions of the two tapes 220, 300 are connected to each other, the temporary tape 300 is transferred from the tape arrangement device 60 to the feeder 100 and transported in the opposite direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 5) to the direction in which it was pulled out from the temporary tape reel 310.

[0050] The external setup tape cueing device 400 is a device that cue-aligns the carrier tape 200 in the tape loading device 1. Specifically, the cueing of the carrier tape 200 is to position the cavity 211 that first contains components 3 from the tape tip among all the cavities 211 of the carrier tape 200 at the component removal position L of the feeder 100. As shown in FIG. 7, the external setup tape cueing device 400 includes a component presence / absence detection unit 410 and a control device 420.

[0051] The component presence / absence detection unit 410 is a sensor that outputs a signal according to whether or not components 3 are accommodated in the cavities 211 of the base tape 210 of the carrier tape 200. The component presence / absence detection unit 410 is disposed above the feeder 100 held by the feeder holder 10 on the base 2 (specifically, above the component removal position L where the components 3 are removed from the cavities 211 of the carrier tape 200 in the feeder 100 by the electronic component mounting machine).

[0052] The component presence / absence detection unit 410 is attached to a robot driven on the upper part of the feeder holder 10. This robot is, for example, the first opening device 40, the peeling device 70, or the gripping device 80 of the tape loading device 1. The component presence / absence detection unit 410 can be moved by the movement of this robot so as to be positioned above the feeder 100 held on the feeder holder 10 on the base 2. The component presence / absence detection unit 410 has a laser displacement meter 411 and a camera 412. The laser displacement meter 411 and the camera 412 are arranged adjacent to each other on the robot, for example, in the horizontal direction.

[0053] The laser displacement meter 411 irradiates the cavity 211 that has reached the component removal position L with a laser beam from above through the opening 133c, receives the reflected light of the irradiated laser beam, and outputs a signal according to the reflected height position of the laser beam. The camera 412 has an optical axis directed toward the component removal position L, images the cavity 211 that has reached the component removal position L from above, and outputs an image signal. The signal output by the laser displacement meter 411 and the signal output by the camera 412 are each performed every time the cavity 211 from the tip of the carrier tape 200 reaches the component removal position L, i.e., every time the carrier tape 200 is transported by one pitch of the cavity 211.

[0054] The control device 420 is a device that executes control to perform cueing of the carrier tape 200. The control device 420 is composed of a CPU, a memory, and the like. The control device 420 may be a part of a control device that controls the tape loading device 1. The control device 420 has a first leading position detection unit 421, a second leading position detection unit 422, a detection method switching unit 423, and a drive control unit 424.

[0055] The first front position detector 421 detects the reflection height position of the laser light based on the output signal of the laser displacement meter 411, and determines whether or not a component is present in the cavity 211 depending on whether or not the reflection height position is higher than a threshold SH. The threshold SH is set to a predetermined height position (e.g., 40%) with respect to the height (thickness) H of the component 3 based on the bottom surface of the cavity 211, as shown in Fig. 9. If the reflection height position is equal to or lower than the threshold SH, it is determined that the component 3 is not contained in the cavity 211, and on the other hand, if the reflection height position is higher than the threshold SH, it is determined that the component 3 is contained in the cavity 211.

[0056] The second leading position detection unit 422 performs image processing on the image output of the camera 412 to detect the brightness in the captured image, and determines whether or not there is a component in the cavity 211 shown in the captured image depending on whether the brightness difference in the captured image is greater than a predetermined value. If the brightness difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it is determined that there is no component 3 having a brightness difference with the bottom surface of the cavity 211, and it is determined that no component 3 is contained in the cavity 211. On the other hand, if the brightness difference is greater than the predetermined value, it is determined that there is a component 3 having a brightness difference with the bottom surface of the cavity 211, and it is determined that the component 3 is contained in the cavity 211.

[0057] The first leading position detection unit 421 and the second leading position detection unit 422 perform the above-mentioned determination of the presence or absence of a component for each cavity 211 that reaches the component removal position L from the leading end of the carrier tape 200, that is, each time the carrier tape 200 is pitch-fed. Then, the first leading position detection unit 421 and the second leading position detection unit 422 detect the cavity 211 in which the component presence status has changed from absent to present as the leading position of the cavity 211 in the carrier tape 200 in which the component 3 is initially accommodated.

[0058] The detection method switching unit 423 is a component that selects either the detection of the leading position of the cavity 211 by the first leading position detection unit 421 or the detection of the leading position of the cavity 211 by the second leading position detection unit 422. Information indicating the type, size, etc. of the component 3 accommodated in the cavity 211 of the carrier tape 200 is supplied to the detection method switching unit 423 from a higher-level device, a host computer, etc.

[0059] The detection method switching unit 423 switches between detection of the leading position of the cavity 211 by a first leading position detection unit 421 (using a laser displacement meter 411) and detection of the leading position of the cavity 211 by a second leading position detection unit 422 (using a camera 412) depending on the size of the component 3 to be contained in the cavity 211 according to the information supplied.

[0060] The drive control unit 424 is a unit that locates the beginning of the carrier tape 200 based on the beginning position of the cavity 211 detected by the beginning position detection units 421, 422 selected by the detection method switching unit 423. After locating the beginning of the carrier tape 200, the drive control unit 424 also transports the carrier tape 200 back by a predetermined pitch, as will be described later in detail.

[0061] 5. Operation of the tape loader In the tape loading device 1, before the carrier tape 200 is loaded into the feeder 100, as shown in Fig. 1, the first tape conveying device 20, the second tape conveying device 30, the first opening device 40, the second opening device 50, the tape arrangement device 60, the peeling device 70, the gripping device 80, and the connecting device 90 are all separated from the feeder holding table 10. In addition, the tape arrangement device 60 arranges and holds the temporary tape 300 in a shape following the disposal path of the cover tape 220 in advance. Note that the arrangement or holding of the temporary tape 300 by the tape arrangement device 60 may be performed before the temporary tape 300 and the cover tape 220 are connected by the connecting device 90, and may be performed simultaneously with the conveyance of the carrier tape 200 by the feeder 100, for example.

[0062] When the operator loads the carrier tape 200 into the feeder 100 (step S100 shown in FIG. 8), the operator sets the feeder 100 on the feeder holder 10 of the tape loading device 1. Specifically, the bottom surface of the feeder body 110 is placed on the placement section 11 and sandwiched between a pair of support guide rails 13, and the positioning pin and communication connector of the feeder body 110 are inserted into the positioning section and communication jack of the abutment section 12, respectively. Then, the operator attaches the tape reel 240 to the reel housing section 120 and presses a feeder set completion button provided on the control device of the tape loading device 1. When the feeder set completion button is pressed, the tape arrangement device 60 may perform arrangement of the temporary tape 300.

[0063] When the feeder set completion button is pressed, first, the first tape transport device 20 and the second tape transport device 30 are each advanced in the Y direction approaching the feeder holding table 10, and the Y direction positions of the guides 21, 31 are positioned so as to be equal to the Y direction position of the tape feed guide 111 of the feeder 100. At this time, the first opening device 40 is advanced in the Y direction with the advancement of the second tape transport device 30, so that the first lift lever 41 of the first opening device 40 is inserted into the operation allowable side of the lever 138 of the first tape holding portion 133 of the feeder 100. In this state, when the support body 42 of the first opening device 40 is raised in the Z direction, the first lift lever 41 lifts the lever 138 of the first tape holding portion 133, so that the gap between the first tape holding portion 133 and the sprocket 131 becomes larger, and the carrier tape 200 can be inserted therebetween.

[0064] When an operator pulls out the carrier tape 200 from the tape reel 240 housed in the reel housing 120 and inserts the leading end of the carrier tape 200 into the rear end of the guide 21 of the first tape transport device 20, the leading end of the carrier tape 200 is detected by a sensor, and the motor 24 of the first tape transport device 20, the motor 33 of the second tape transport device 30, and the motor 132 of the feeder 100 are driven. As a result, the carrier tape 200 is sent out in the X direction and guided by the guides 21, 31 and the tape feed guide 111, and transported to the gap position between the first tape holding part 133 and the sprocket 131.

[0065] When the carrier tape 200 is transported to the first tape holding portion 133, each motor 24, 33, 132 is stopped, and the support body 42 and first lift lever 41 of the first opening device 40 are lowered, causing the lever 138 of the first tape holding portion 133 to lower, thereby holding the carrier tape 200 between the first tape holding portion 133 and the sprocket 131.

[0066] Furthermore, when the feeder setting completion button is pressed as described above, the peeling device 70 is advanced in the X direction approaching the feeder holding table 10, and after that advancement, the support 72 is lowered in the Z direction, whereby the peeling claws 71 are set to a peelable position where they can peel the cover tape 220 from the base tape 210 in the first tape holding section 133. Thereafter, the gripping device 80 is advanced in the Y direction approaching the feeder holding table 10, and the support 82 is lowered in the Z direction, whereby the gripping claws 81 come into contact with the upper surface of the peeling claws 71 and are set to a gripping position where they can grip the cover tape 220.

[0067] When the above setting is completed, the sprocket 131 is rotated by driving the motor 132, and the carrier tape 200 in the first tape holding portion 133 is transported in the X direction. When the carrier tape 200 is transported in the X direction, the tip of the peeling claw 71 is eventually inserted between the base tape 210 and the cover tape 220 that are joined to each other at the tip of the carrier tape 200, and the cover tape 220 is peeled off from the base tape 210. After being peeled off from the base tape 210, the cover tape 220 is gripped by the gripping claw 81, and in this gripped state, the gripping claw 81 moves to stretch the cover tape 220 upward from the first tape holding portion 133, and then the support 82 rotates by about 90° to fold back toward the upstream side in the X direction.

[0068] Furthermore, when the above setting is completed, the first tape transport device 20 and the second tape transport device 30 are each retreated in the Y direction away from the feeder holding table 10, and the second opening device 50 is advanced in the Y direction approaching the feeder holding table 10. When the second opening device 50 is advanced in the Y direction, the second lift lever 51 of the second opening device 50 is inserted into the operation allowing side of the lever of the second tape holding portion 143 of the feeder 100. When the support body 52 of the second opening device 50 is advanced in the X direction in this state, it becomes possible to insert the cover tape 220 into the second tape holding portion 143.

[0069] In this state, when the tape arrangement device 60 is advanced in the Y direction approaching the feeder holding table 10, the tape arrangement device 60 is positioned so that the Y direction position of the temporary tape 300 held by the tape arrangement device 60 is equal to the Y direction position of the carrier tape 200 held by the feeder 100. This positioning is performed so that the tip of the temporary tape 300 is adjacent to the cover tape 220 stretched upward from the first tape holding portion 133 of the feeder 100 by the gripping claws 81, and both tapes 220, 300 face each other.

[0070] In addition, the connecting device 90 advances in the Y direction with the advancement of the tape arrangement device 60. After completion of this advancement, the heating member 91 advances, so that the cover tape 220 and the temporary tape 300 are heated in a mutually overlapping state. When this heating is performed, the adhesive remaining on the peeled surface of the cover tape 220 when it was peeled from the base tape 210 is softened by the heat treatment and functions as an adhesive again, so that the cover tape 220 and the temporary tape 300 are connected to each other.

[0071] When the above connection is made, the heating member 91 is then retreated, and the grip of the temporary tape 300 by the chuck portion 62b of the rotating arm 62 is released, and the grip of the cover tape 220 by the gripping claws 81 of the gripping device 80 is released, so that the temporary tape 300 held by the tape arrangement device 60 is transferred to the feeder 100 together with the cover tape 220. After this transfer, the second opening device 50 is retreated in the Y direction away from the feeder holding table 10. When this retreat is performed, the support 52 of the second opening device 50 is moved in the X direction by the spring force of the feeder 100, so that the temporary tape 300 is held in the feeder 100. After this holding, the temporary tape 300 is cut by a tape cutter (not shown) of the tape arrangement device 60 between the second tape holding portion 143 and the temporary tape reel 310, and the loading of the cover tape 220 into the feeder 100 is completed.

[0072] In this way, in the tape loading device 1, when an operator inserts the carrier tape 200 into the rear end of the guide 21 of the feeder 100 set on the feeder holding table 10, the carrier tape 200 can be automatically loaded into the feeder 100 with the cover tape 220 peeled off from the base tape 210 and aligned along the disposal path.

[0073] When the carrier tape 200 is loaded in the feeder 100 as described above, the head alignment process of the carrier tape 200 is automatically started (step S110). Specifically, the control device 420 of the external setup tape head alignment device 400 first grasps the size of the component 3 accommodated in the cavity 211 of the feeder 100 set on the feeder holder 10 (step S120). Then, depending on the component size, the component presence / absence detection unit 410 used for component presence / absence detection and thus for detecting the leading position is selected from the laser displacement meter 411 and the camera 412 (step S130). For example, when the size of the component 3 is relatively large, the laser displacement meter 411 is selected, whereas when the size of the component 3 is relatively small, the camera 412 is selected.

[0074] When the component presence / absence detection unit 410 used for detecting the leading position is selected as described above, the selected component presence / absence detection unit 410 (more specifically, the laser displacement meter 411 or the camera 412) is moved so as to be positioned above (more specifically, directly above) the component removal position L of the feeder 100 (step S140). After this movement of the component presence / absence detection unit 410, the motor 132 is driven to rotate the sprocket 131, thereby transporting the base tape 210 of the carrier tape 200 in the X direction by one pitch of the cavity 211, and the motor of the cover tape feeding mechanism unit 140 is driven to feed the cover tape 220 to the disposal position.

[0075] During the transport of the carrier tape 200, the component presence / absence detection unit 410 selected and moved as described above outputs a signal every time the cavity 211 reaches the component removal position L (step S150). The output from the component presence / absence detection unit 410 is supplied to the control device 420.

[0076] In addition, the detection method switching unit 423 switches the head position detection units 421, 422 used for head position detection to the component presence / absence detection unit 410 selected as described above according to the size of the component 3 accommodated in the cavity 211 (step S160). For example, if the size of the component 3 is relatively large, the first head position detection unit 421 is selected, whereas if the size of the component 3 is relatively small, the second head position detection unit 422 is selected. The selected head position detection units 421, 422 then determine the presence or absence of a component in the cavity 211 based on the output signal supplied from the corresponding component presence / absence detection unit 410, and detect the head position of the cavity 211 in which the component 3 is first accommodated on the carrier tape 200.

[0077] When the leading position detectors 421, 422 determine that the component 3 is not contained in the cavity 211, the control device 420 drives the motor 132 to transport the carrier tape 200 in the X direction by one pitch of the cavity 211. Thereafter, this one-pitch transport of the carrier tape 200 is repeated until the leading position detectors 421, 422 determine that the component 3 is contained in the cavity 211.

[0078] Then, when the leading position detectors 421, 422 determine that the component 3 is housed in the cavity 211, the leading position detectors 421, 422 detect the position of the cavity 211 as the leading position (step S170). When this leading position is detected, the control device 420 stops driving the motor 132 to stop the transport of the carrier tape 200.

[0079] In this manner, in the tape loading device 1, after the carrier tape 200 is loaded onto the feeder 100 set on the feeder holding table 10, the component presence / absence detection unit 410 is first automatically moved and positioned above the component removal position L of the feeder 100. Then, while the carrier tape 200 is transported in the X direction by one pitch of the cavities 211, the leading position detection units 421, 422 determine the presence or absence of a component in the cavity 211 that has reached the component removal position L in the section where the cover tape 220 of the base tape 210 has been peeled off, based on the output signal of the component presence / absence detection unit 410, and detect the leading position of the cavity 211 in which the component 3 of the carrier tape 200 is initially accommodated.

[0080] Therefore, according to the tape loading device 1, the leading position of the cavity 211 in which the component 3 is initially contained is detected from the tip of the carrier tape 200 loaded in the feeder 100 at the component removal position L of the feeder 100, and at the time of detection, the cavity 211 in which the component 3 is initially contained can be caused to reach the component removal position L of the feeder 100, thereby realizing the leading edge of the carrier tape 200 within the feeder 100 (step S180).

[0081] Therefore, in the tape loading device 1, unlike devices in which the component presence / absence detection unit 410 is not positioned above the component removal position L of the feeder 100 (for example, a device positioned toward the rear end of the feeder 100), it is not necessary to transport the carrier tape 200 until the leading position of the cavity 211 in which the component 3 is initially contained reaches the component removal position L after detecting the leading position, so that the leading position of the carrier tape 200 within the feeder 100 can be accurately positioned.

[0082] Moreover, in order to realize the above-mentioned alignment of the carrier tape 200, it is not necessary for an operator to visually check the presence or absence of components in each cavity 211. Therefore, alignment of the carrier tape 200 in the feeder 100 can be realized without involving any work by an operator.

[0083] Furthermore, the method of detecting the leading position of cavity 211 in which component 3 is initially housed in carrier tape 200 can be switched between using laser displacement meter 411 by first leading position detection unit 421 and using camera 412 by second leading position detection unit 422 depending on the size of component 3 housed in that cavity 211. Specifically, when the component size is relatively large, the method using laser displacement meter 411 can be selected, and when the component size is relatively small, the method using camera 412 can be selected.

[0084] As the component size becomes smaller, the distance between the top surface of the component 3 and the bottom surface of the cavity 211 becomes smaller, and therefore the accuracy of detection of the reflection height position of the laser light in the cavity 211 by the laser displacement meter 411 decreases, and as a result, the accuracy of component presence / absence detection decreases. In contrast, in this embodiment, when the component size is small, component presence / absence detection is performed using the camera 412 without using the laser displacement meter 411. Therefore, even when the size of the component 3 accommodated in the cavity 211 is relatively small, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the detection accuracy of the component presence / absence in the cavity 211.

[0085] In the tape loading device 1, after the presence or absence of components in the cavities 211 in the section of the base tape 210 where the cover tape 220 has been peeled off is determined as described above and the leading position of the cavity 211 in which the component 3 is initially accommodated in the carrier tape 200 is detected, the drive control unit 424 conveys the carrier tape 200 back in the direction opposite to the X direction (step S190). This back conveyance is performed, for example, for one pitch of the cavity 211 until the cavity 211 in which the component 3 is initially accommodated moves from the leading end of the carrier tape 200 from the component removal position L of the feeder 100 to below the upper wall of the main body of the first tape holding unit 133, as shown in FIG.

[0086] When this return transport is performed, the cavity 211 in which the component 3 is initially housed transitions from a state in which its top surface is open to a state in which it is closed by the upper wall of the main body of the first tape holding part 133. Therefore, after the leading position of the cavity 211 in which the component 3 is initially housed is detected in the section of the base tape 210 where the cover tape 220 has been peeled off, the component 3 in the cavity 211 at the leading position can be prevented from jumping out of the cavity 211.

[0087] Therefore, even if vibration or impact is applied to the feeder 100 when the feeder 100 is transferred to an electronic component mounting machine after the carrier tape 200 is aligned in the feeder 100 in the tape loading device 1, the components 3 in the cavity 211 at the above-mentioned leading position will not pop out, so that it is possible to prevent an error in the alignment position of the carrier tape 200 in the feeder 100 due to the components popping out. Therefore, the electronic component mounting machine can appropriately perform component pickup and component mounting using the feeder 100.

[0088] Incidentally, component pickup, component mounting, etc. using feeder 100 in the electronic component mounting machine is started after carrier tape 200 loaded in feeder 100 has been transported in the X direction by the amount of the return transport described above. Therefore, after the return transport described above has been performed, it is possible to prevent feeder 100 from being used with an error occurring in the cue position of carrier tape 200 due to the return transport, and it is possible to appropriately perform component pickup, component mounting, etc. using feeder 100 in the electronic component mounting machine.

[0089] In the above embodiment, the feeder holding table 10 corresponds to the "set table" described in the claims, and the first tape conveying device 20, the second tape conveying device 30, the first opening device 40, the second opening device 50, the tape arrangement device 60, the peeling device 70, the gripping device 80, and the connecting device 90 correspond to the "loading section" described in the claims.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the external setup unit in which the carrier tape 200 is cue-aligned is the tape loading device 1 that loads the carrier tape 200 into the feeder 100. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and may be applied to a splicing device that uses a splicing tape to join two carrier tapes 200 with their tips butted together as the external setup unit. In this splicing device, the external setup tape cue-alignment device 400 may cue each of the two carrier tapes 200 such that no empty cavities 211 that do not house components 3 appear except in the sections where the splicing tapes overlap.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the component presence / absence detection unit 410 has both the laser displacement meter 411 and the camera 412, and switches between the component presence / absence detection unit 410 and the leading position detection unit used for detecting the presence / absence of a component, and in turn for detecting the leading position of the cavity 211 containing the component, depending on the size of the component 3 contained in the cavity 211. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and may be applied to a component presence / absence detection unit 410 having only one of the laser displacement meter 411 and the camera 412.

[0092] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modified examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 1: tape loading device, 2: base, 3: component, 10: feeder holding table, 20: first tape transport device, 30: second tape transport device, 40: first opening device, 50: second opening device, 60: tape routing device, 70: peeling device, 80: gripping device, 90: connecting device, 100: feeder, 133: first tape holding section, 133c: opening, 200: carrier tape, 210: base tape, 211: cavity, 220: cover tape, 400: tape head positioning device for external setup, 410: component presence / absence detection section, 411: laser displacement meter, 412: camera, 420: control device, 421: first leading position detection section, 422: second leading position detection section, 423: detection method switching section, 424: drive control section, L: component removal position.

Claims

1. a loading unit that automatically loads a carrier tape into a feeder held by the feeder holding table; a component presence / absence detection unit that moves to be positioned above a component removal position where components are removed from the cavities of the carrier tape by an electronic component mounting machine, and detects the presence or absence of components on the carrier tape loaded into the feeder by the loading unit; The tape loading device for off-site setup is provided.

2. the component presence detection unit has a camera that images, from above, the cavity that has reached the component removal position in a section where a cover tape has been peeled off from a base tape of the carrier tape, 2. The tape loading device for off-site setup according to claim 1, further comprising: a detection unit for detecting the cavity in which the component of the carrier tape is initially housed, based on the presence or absence of a component in the cavity shown in the image captured by the camera.

3. the component presence / absence detection unit has a laser displacement meter that outputs a signal corresponding to a reflection height position of light irradiated with a laser from above toward the cavity that has reached the component removal position in a section where a cover tape has been peeled off from a base tape of the carrier tape, 2. The tape loading device for external setup according to claim 1, further comprising: a detection unit for detecting the cavity in which the component on the carrier tape is initially housed, based on the presence or absence of a component in the cavity depending on whether the reflection height position based on the output signal of the laser displacement meter is higher than a threshold value.

4. 4. The tape loading device for off-site setup according to claim 1, wherein the component presence / absence detection unit is attached to a robot that is driven above the feeder held on the feeder holding table.

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