Tape feeder

Abstract

To reduce electrical power consumption of a take-up motor during standby.SOLUTION: A tape feeder FD uses a component feed tape 30 to feed components and includes: a feed motor 55; a sprocket 51 which rotates using the feed motor 55 as a driving source and transports the component feed tape 30 to a component feed position; a take-up motor 65; take-up rollers 61, 71 which rotate using the take-up motor 65 as a driving source and take up a top tape 37 from the component feed tape 30; and a control device 90. The control device 90 executes fadeout control in which torque of the take-up motor 65 is gradually reduced in a standby state in which rotation of the sprocket 51 is stopped and the component feed tape 30 is not fed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tape feeder. [Background technology]

[0002] A tape feeder is one of the component supply devices used in surface mount machines. Tape feeders are designed to use the rotation of a sprocket to feed a component supply tape that stores electronic components at regular intervals to a component supply position at the front of the machine. The component supply tape, which serves as the carrier, consists of a carrier tape with a component storage section and a top tape that is attached to cover the component storage section. By winding the top tape from the carrier tape near the component supply position, the electronic components are exposed at the component supply position, allowing them to be removed. Patent Document 1 below is a document disclosing technology related to tape feeders. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-157578 A DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The tape feeder is equipped with a feed motor for rotating the sprocket and a take-up motor for taking up the top tape. The take-up motor is constantly applying torque, even during standby. This poses a problem of high power consumption. Note that "standby" refers to the period when the sprocket is stopped rotating and the component supply tape is not being fed out.

[0005] The present invention was developed in light of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the power consumption of the winding motor during standby. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The present invention is a tape feeder that supplies components using a component supply tape, and includes a feed motor, a sprocket that rotates using the feed motor as a drive source and transports the component supply tape to a component supply position, a take-up motor, a roller that rotates using the take-up motor as a drive source and winds up a top tape from the component supply tape, and a control device.

[0007] The control device executes fade-out control to gradually reduce the torque of the take-up motor while the sprocket is stopped rotating and is not feeding out the component supply tape. Gradually reducing the torque means reducing the torque continuously or in multiple steps. In the tape feeder described in (1), any configuration other than the above is optional and may be used.

[0008] The configuration (1) is expected to reduce the power consumption of the take-up motor by finally reducing the standby torque after fade-out control is executed. Also, by gradually reducing the torque, it is possible to prevent a sudden drop in the torque of the take-up motor, and the tension of the top tape can be maintained.

[0009] (2) In the tape feeder described in (1), the fade-out control may be a control that gradually reduces the torque of the winding motor while maintaining a balance between the tension of the top tape and the force with which the winding motor pulls the top tape so that slack does not occur in the top tape.

[0010] According to the configuration (2), during fade-out control, the balance between the tension of the top tape and the force with which the winding motor pulls the top tape is maintained, preventing slack in the top tape. This prevents the mounting head from getting caught on the top tape. It also reduces the risk of the top tape getting caught under the tape guide.

[0011] (3) In the tape feeder described in (1) or (2), the control device may maintain the torque at the time the sprocket stopped rotating for a delay time after the sprocket stopped rotating, and execute the fade-out control after the delay time has elapsed. After the sprocket stopped rotating, the behavior of the feed motor may become unstable.

[0012] According to the configuration (3), by providing a delay time, the behavior of the feed motor stabilizes and the feed motor stops completely, so that fade-out control can be performed when the feed motor is completely stopped (or in a state close to that).

[0013] (4) In the tape feeder described in any one of (1) to (3), the control device may execute the fade-out control during standby after the pitch feed of the component supply tape is completed. According to the configuration of (4), when the take-up motor enters a standby state after the pitch feed is completed, the power consumption of the take-up motor can be reduced.

[0014] (5) In the tape feeder described in any one of (1) to (4), the control device may execute the fade-out control while the component supply tape is on standby after returning to the origin. According to the configuration of (5), when the take-up motor is on standby after returning to the origin, the power consumption of the take-up motor can be reduced.

[0015] (6) In the tape feeder described in any one of (1) to (5), the fade-out control may be a control that reduces the torque of the winding motor from an initial value at the time when the sprocket stops rotating to a final target value that is smaller than the initial value over a fade-out time.

[0016] (7) In the tape feeder described in (6), the final target value may be different for each individual tape feeder. According to the configuration of (7), the tension of the top tape can be maintained after fade-out control, regardless of individual differences in friction in the winding portion of the tape feeder.

[0017] (8) In the tape feeder according to any one of (1) to (7), the control parameters of the fade-out control may be changeable depending on the type of electronic component. According to the configuration of (8), fade-out control can be performed using control parameters depending on the type of component. The type of component is, for example, a chip capacitor or a chip resistor.

[0018] (9) In the tape feeder described in any one of (1) to (7), when a servo circuit of a surface mounter switches from off to on, the control device may control the take-up motor so that tension is applied to the top tape, and then perform the fade-out control. According to the configuration of (9), when the servo circuit starts up, the top tape can be prepared to be in a tensioned state, while the power consumption of the take-up motor can be reduced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the winding motor during standby. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] Front view of surface mounter [Figure 2] Plan view of surface mounter [Figure 3] Diagram showing the head unit support structure [Figure 4] Diagram showing the mounting head support structure [Figure 5] Perspective view of component supply tape [Figure 6] Tape feeder side view [Figure 7] Enlarged side view of the front of the tape feeder [Figure 8] Enlarged perspective view of the front of the tape feeder [Figure 9] Tape feeder block diagram [Figure 10] Diagram showing slack in top tape [Figure 11] A diagram showing the speed characteristics of the feed motor and the torque characteristics of the winding motor [Figure 12] Diagram explaining the forces acting on a spring [Figure 13] Enlarged view of the take-up roller and pinch roller area [Figure 14] Schematic diagram of operation when continuously feeding electronic components [Figure 15] Schematic diagram of operation when continuously feeding electronic components [Figure 16] Schematic diagram of operation when continuously feeding electronic components [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a torque command value of a winding motor (modification example); [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a torque command value of a winding motor (modification example); [Figure 19] Diagram showing the relationship between the servo circuit on / off and the torque of the winding motor [Figure 20] Diagram showing the control data library [Figure 21] A diagram showing the speed characteristics of the feed motor and the torque characteristics of the winding motor BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0021] <Embodiment 1> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a front view of a surface mounter 10, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the surface mounter 10, and Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing the support structure of a head unit. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the surface mounter 10 has various devices arranged on a base 11 having a flat top surface. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the base 11 (the left-right direction in Figs. 1 and 2) will be referred to as the X direction, and the Y direction and Z direction will be defined as the directions in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

[0022] 1. Overall structure of the surface mounter 10 A transfer conveyor 20 is disposed in the center of the base 11. The transfer conveyor 20 is provided with a pair of transfer belts 21, and transfers the substrate P on the belts 21 in the X direction.

[0023] In this embodiment, the right side shown in Fig. 2 is the entrance, and the substrate P is carried into the machine from the right side of Fig. 2 via the transfer conveyor 20. The carried-in substrate P is carried by the conveyor 20 to a working position G in the center of the base (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 2).

[0024] The surface mounter 10 includes a mounting head 185 that sucks and holds electronic components E, and a head moving device 130.

[0025] The head moving device 130 is, for example, a Cartesian coordinate robot equipped with three orthogonal drive axes 145, 155, and 165 of XYZ, and by driving these three drive axes 145, 155, and 165 in a combined manner, the mounting head 185 is moved and operated to any position on the base 11.

[0026] More specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, a pair of support legs 141 are installed on the base 11. Both support legs 141 are located on both sides (both sides in the X direction) of the work position G, and both extend straight in the Y direction (the up-and-down direction in Fig. 2).

[0027] Guide rails (Y-direction guide shafts) 142 extending in the Y direction are installed on the upper surface of the support legs 141, and head supports 151 are attached to the left and right guide rails 142 with both longitudinal ends fitted together.

[0028] 2, a Y-axis ball screw shaft (Y-direction drive shaft) 145 extending in the Y direction is attached to the support leg 141 on the right side, and a ball nut 146 is screwed onto the Y-axis ball screw shaft 145. A Y-axis motor 147 is provided on the shaft end of the Y-axis ball screw shaft 145.

[0029] When the Y-axis motor 147 is driven, the ball nut 146 moves back and forth along the Y-axis ball screw shaft 145, causing the head support 151 fixed to the ball nut 146, and ultimately the head unit 160 described below, to move horizontally in the Y direction along the guide rail 142 (Y-axis servo mechanism).

[0030] 3, a guide member (X-direction guide shaft) 153 extending in the X direction is installed on head support member 151, and further, head unit 160 is attached so as to be freely movable relative to guide member 153. An X-axis ball screw shaft (X-direction drive shaft) 155 extending in the X direction is attached to head support member 151, and further, a ball nut 156 is screwed onto X-axis ball screw shaft 155.

[0031] An X-axis motor 157 is provided at the shaft end of the X-axis ball screw shaft 155. When the X-axis motor 157 is driven, the ball nut 156 moves back and forth along the X-axis ball screw shaft 155, causing the head unit 160 fixed to the ball nut 156 to move in the X direction along the guide member 153 (X-axis servo mechanism).

[0032] Therefore, by controlling the X-axis servo mechanism and the Y-axis servo mechanism in a composite manner, the head unit 160 can be moved in the horizontal direction (XY directions) on the base 11.

[0033] 4, head unit 160 is equipped with a support bracket 163, and a Z-axis ball screw shaft (Z-direction drive shaft) 165 is attached to support bracket 163 with its axis facing up and down. A ball nut 171 is threadedly engaged with Z-axis ball screw shaft 165, and a mounting head 185 is attached to ball nut 171. Note that this ball nut 171 is prevented from rotating relative to head unit 160 by a guide means (not shown).

[0034] When the Z-axis motor 167 is driven, the ball nut 171 moves up and down along the Z-axis ball screw shaft 165, so that the mounting head 185 fixed to the ball nut 171 can be raised and lowered relative to the head unit 160.

[0035] Furthermore, a suction nozzle 186 is provided at the tip of the mounting head 185. The suction nozzle 186 is configured so that negative pressure is supplied from negative pressure means (not shown), and generates a suction force at the tip of the head.

[0036] In this embodiment, a plurality of mounting heads 185 are provided in the X direction for the head unit 160. Each mounting head 185 can rotate around its axis by being driven by an R-axis motor (not shown) attached to the head unit 160.

[0037] 2, four component supply units 15 are provided around work position G in the center of the base. In component supply unit 15, for example, a number of tape feeders FD (the detailed structure of which will be explained later) are arranged side by side via dollies DR. Tape feeders FD supply electronic components E to be mounted on substrate P.

[0038] From the above, by moving the head unit 160 back and forth between the component supply section 15 and the work position G in the center of the base while raising and lowering the mounting head 185 as appropriate, it is possible to take out electronic components E from the tape feeder FD equipped in the component supply section 15, and to mount the taken-out electronic components E on the substrate P backed up at the work position G.

[0039] The board P on which the electronic components E are mounted is transported leftward in FIG. 2 via the conveyor 20 and carried out of the machine.

[0040] 2. Component supply tape 30 and tape feeder FD Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the component supply tape 30, Fig. 6 is a side view of the tape feeder FD, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the front part of the feeder. The component supply tape 30 is composed of a carrier tape 31 and a top tape 37.

[0041] 5, the carrier tape 31 has upwardly opening hollow component storage sections 32 spaced at regular intervals Lo, and an electronic component E is stored in each component storage section 32. Engagement holes 33 penetrating vertically are provided at regular intervals along the edge of one side of the carrier tape 31. A top tape 37 is attached to the upper surface of the carrier tape 31 and covers the upper surfaces of the component storage sections 32.

[0042] The component supply tape 30 is wound around a reel (not shown) and supported at a position behind a tape feeder FD, which will be described next.

[0043] The tape feeder FD is composed of a delivery device 50, a winding device 60, a locking device 76, a tape guide 80, and a main body 40 with a container 45 fixed to the rear part.

[0044] The main body 40 and the container 45 are provided with a passage 41 for passing the component supply tape 30. The passage 41 extends horizontally in a straight line from the lower rear end of the container 45 to the front. It continues to the main body 40, then follows a diagonally upward path to the top of the main body 40, and faces the top surface of the main body 40 at the front.

[0045] The delivery device 50 is disposed on the front side (right side in FIG. 6) of the main body 40 across the passage 41, and the winding device 60 is disposed on the opposite side (left side in FIG. 6) across the passage 41.

[0046] The feed device 50 is a device that performs a feeding operation to intermittently feed electronic components E to a component supply position O. The feed device 50 is composed of a feed motor 55, a reduction gear 53, a sprocket 51, etc. The feed motor 55 is disposed near the center of the main body 40 (slightly toward the front).

[0047] As shown in Figure 7, the sprocket 51 is located near the front of the main body 40, almost directly below the component supply position O. The sprocket 51 has a driven gear 52 integrally formed on its side, and has locking teeth 51A provided at equal intervals on its outer circumferential surface. The locking teeth 51A engage with the engagement holes 33 of the component supply tape 30, which is passed through the passage 41 onto the upper front surface of the tape feeder FD.

[0048] The reduction gear device 53 is made up of a plurality of (four in this example) reduction gears 54A, 54B, 54C, and 54D. In this embodiment, six gears, namely, the motor gear 56, the reduction gears 54A to 54D, and the driven gear 52, make up a gear train that transmits power.

[0049] Therefore, when the feed motor 55 is driven to rotate in the forward direction (the R2 direction in FIG. 6), the power of the feed motor 55 is transmitted to the sprocket 51 via the gear train, causing the sprocket 51 to rotate in the R1 direction in FIG.

[0050] As a result, the sprocket 51 pulls the carrier tape 31 horizontally toward the front of the feeder (to the right in FIGS. 6 and 7), so that the component supply tape 30 can be unwound from the reel and sent toward the component supply position O at the front of the device.

[0051] In this embodiment, when the feed motor 55 rotates a predetermined angle (one rotation in this example), the sprocket 51 rotates accurately at a fixed angle, and the component supply tape 30 and electronic components E are fed by a distance Lo, which is the storage interval between the electronic components E, and are transported to the component supply position O (pitch feed).

[0052] As shown in Figure 8, the tape guide 80 is a component that guides the component supply tape 30 that is passed through the upper front surface of the tape feeder FD via the passage 41, and is composed of a pair of left and right guide walls 81, 82 and a rear ceiling wall 83 that connects the guide walls together.

[0053] A slit 86 is provided in front of the rear ceiling wall 83 of the tape guide 80, and a component holder 85 is formed further in front of that.

[0054] The top tape 37 attached to the upper surface of the carrier tape is folded back toward the rear of the feeder (direction A in FIG. 8) through the slit 86 and taken up by the take-up device 60. After the top tape is peeled off, the component holding portion 85 covers the upper surface of the component storage portion 32 until it reaches the component supply position O, thereby preventing the electronic components E from jumping out.

[0055] Returning to FIG. 6, the winding device 60 comprises a winding motor 65, a speed reducer 63, a winding roller 61, and a pinch roller 71.

[0056] The reduction gear 63 is made up of a plurality of (four in this example) reduction gears 64A, 64B, 64C, and 64D.

[0057] The six gears, motor gear 66, reduction gears 64A to 64D, and driven gear 62 formed on the side of winding roller 61, form a gear train that transmits power. Therefore, when winding motor 65 is driven, the power is transmitted via reduction gear 63, causing winding roller 61 to rotate.

[0058] Pinch roller 71 is attached to lever 70, which is rotatable around hinge 72. A coil spring (not shown) is attached to lever 70, and the pinch roller 71 is configured to contact the take-up roller 61 with a constant pressing force.

[0059] As described above, when the leading end of the top tape 37 folded back by the slit 86 is sandwiched between the rollers 61 and 71 and the take-up motor 65 is driven in this state, the top tape 37 is pulled toward the rear of the feeder (direction A in FIGS. 6 and 8) via the rollers 61 and 71. Therefore, when the component supply tape 30 passes through the slit 86, the top tape 37 can be peeled off from the carrier tape 31.

[0060] The top tape 37 peeled off from the carrier tape 31 is taken up by the two rollers 61 and 71 of the take-up device 60 and collected in the container 45.

[0061] 6, reference numeral 47 denotes a control box, and reference numeral 48 denotes a connector. The control box 47 houses a controller (control board) 90.

[0062] The connector 48 provides an electrical connection to the mounting machine main body (the part of the surface mounting machine 10 excluding the tape feeder FD), and is configured to transmit power from the main control unit 200 of the mounting machine main body to the controller 90 via this connector 48, as well as information such as commands for the feeding operation of the electronic component E and on / off of the servo circuit 210.

[0063] 9 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the feeder FD. The feeder FD is composed of a controller 90, a feed motor 55, a first detector 55A, a winding motor 65, and a second detector 65A. The first detector 55A is a detector that detects the rotation state (rotation speed and amount of rotation) of the feed motor 55. The second detector 65A is a detector that detects the rotation state (rotation speed and amount of rotation) of the winding motor 65. The first detector 55A and the second detector 65A are, for example, rotary encoders.

[0064] The controller 90 is composed of a CPU 91, an internal ROM 93, and an EEPROM 95. The controller 90 detects the state of the feed motor 55 based on the detection result of the first detector 55A, and detects the state of the take-up motor 65 based on the detection result of the second detector 65A. The feed motor 55 and the take-up motor 65 are servo motors whose rotation direction and rotation position can be controlled by the controller 90.

[0065] When the controller 90 receives a command for a feed operation from the main control unit 200 of the surface mounter 10, it drives the feed motor 55, rotates the sprocket 51, and feeds out the component supply tape 30, thereby supplying the electronic component E to the component supply position O.

[0066] Furthermore, the controller 90 executes fade-out control to gradually reduce the torque W of the take-up motor 65 during standby when the sprocket 51 has stopped rotating and the component supply tape 30 is not being fed out.

[0067] The built-in ROM 93 and EEPROM 95 store data for executing fade-out control. Specifically, data on a speed command value for the feed motor 55 and data on a torque command value for the take-up motor 65 shown in FIG. 11 are stored. The controller 90 is an example of a "control device" of the present invention. The built-in ROM 93 and EEPROM 95 are an example of a "storage unit" of the present invention.

[0068] 2. Fade-out control of the winding motor 65 (power saving control) The tape feeder FD may transition to a standby state after completing pitch feeding of the component supply tape 30. Pitch feeding of the component supply tape 30 is a feeding operation of the tape 30 to supply electronic components E to the component supply position O. The standby state is a state in which the sprocket 51 stops rotating and the component supply tape 30 is not being fed out.

[0069] Up until now, the winding motor 65 has been energized to apply torque W at all times, including during standby, which has led to the problem of large power consumption.

[0070] Therefore, during standby, controller 90 performs fade-out control to gradually reduce the torque W of take-up motor 65. Specifically, torque W is reduced by gradually reducing the current of take-up motor 65. By reducing the final torque W, the final current of take-up motor 65 can be reduced, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0071] Furthermore, if the torque W of the winding motor 65 is suddenly reduced to the final target value in one adjustment, the top tape 37 may become loose (curved) as shown in Fig. 10, which may cause the top tape 37 to get caught on the mounting head 185 moving above the tape feeder. There is also a possibility that the top tape 37 may get caught under the tape guide.

[0072] An advantage of this method is that the occurrence of slack can be suppressed by gradually reducing the torque W of the winding motor 65 (reducing the current little by little).

[0073] An example of fade-out control will be described below. 11 shows the speed characteristics of the feed motor 55 and the torque characteristics of the take-up motor 65 for the pitch feed operation (period TA) of the electronic component E and the subsequent standby period (period TB). The vertical axis represents the speed command value of the feed motor 55 (upper row) and the torque command value of the take-up motor 65 (lower row), and the horizontal axis represents time.

[0074] Time t0 in FIG. 11 indicates the timing at which the main control unit 200 of the surface mounter 10 sends a command to the controller 90 to send the electronic component E.

[0075] <Control during pitch feed operation> When the controller 90 receives a feed command from the main control unit 200, it controls the feed motor 55 in accordance with a trapezoidal speed characteristic (acceleration region V1, constant speed region V2, deceleration region V3). This causes the sprocket 51 to rotate, unwinding the component supply tape 30 and supplying the electronic component E to the component supply position O.

[0076] Furthermore, the torque W of the winding motor 65 during the feeding operation is set according to the speed characteristics of the feed motor 55. In this example, the torque W is controlled to W1 corresponding to the acceleration region V1 of the feed motor, to W2 corresponding to the constant speed region V2 of the feed motor, and to W3 corresponding to the deceleration region V3 of the feed motor 55 (W1>W2>W3).

[0077] The torques W1, W2, and W3 of the winding motor 65 are set to values ​​that maintain the trapezoidal speed characteristics of the feed motor 55 while pulling the top tape 37 so that tension is generated in the top tape 37 during the feeding operation of the electronic component E.

[0078] The torque W3 is set to a torque value with a certain amount of leeway so that tension is generated in the top tape 37 (in other words, so that slack does not occur) not only while the feed motor 55 is decelerating but also after it has stopped. An empirical value or an experimental value can be used as the torque W3.

[0079] The speed control of the feed motor 55 during the pitch feed operation is not limited to the above, and other speed characteristics may be used. The torque control of the winding motor 65 is also similar.

[0080] <Fade-out control> After time t1 when the feeding operation is completed, the speed command value of feed motor 55 is zero, and feed motor 55 stops rotating. Upon completion of the feeding operation, take-up motor 65 transitions to a standby state, and for delay time TB1, torque W3 at time t1 when the pitch feeding operation is completed is maintained.

[0081] After delay time TB1 has elapsed, controller 90 adjusts torque W of take-up motor 65 from W3 to W4 (W3>W4). Specifically, torque W is gradually reduced from W3 to W4 over fade-out time TB2 (fade-out control) in accordance with torque characteristic L1 (linear characteristic of a linear function) shown in Figure 11. Thereafter, torque W of take-up motor 65 is maintained at W4.

[0082] The relationship between the tension F1 of the top tape 37 during fade-out control and the force F2 with which the take-up motor 65 pulls the top tape 37 will be described below.

[0083] <Top tape 37 tension> 12 is a diagram showing the balance of forces in spring 300. Considering a state in which spring 300, with one end fixed, is pulled and stretched by hand, the spring force F1 generated in spring 300 is expressed by the following equation (Hooke's Law), where k is the spring constant and x is the amount of displacement of spring 300 (stretch from the initial state).

[0084] F1=kx (1)

[0085] The top tape 37 has a spring property, and like the spring 300, a tension F1 corresponding to the elongation x of the tape 37 is generated.

[0086] <Force balance during delay time> The delay time TB1 is set to allow the behavior of the feed motor 55 to stabilize, i.e., to wait for its rotation to completely stop. During the delay time TB1, the take-up motor 65 pulls the top tape 37 with force F2 to prevent slack, and the two forces F1 and F2 are balanced.

[0087] F1=F2=kxo····(2) xo is the elongation of the top tape 37 during the delay time TB1.

[0088] <Balance of forces during fade-out control> After the delay time TB1 has elapsed, if the torque W3 of the winding motor 65 is slightly weakened, the winding roller 61 and pinch roller 71 will yield to the tape tension F1 and rotate slightly in the pull-out direction (the opposite direction to the winding direction, S1 and S2 directions in Figure 13).

[0089] As a result, the elongation xo of the top tape 37 decreases, and the tension F1 weakens, so that it balances with the pulling force F2 of the winding motor 65.

[0090] F1=F2=k(xo-Δx) (3) Δx is the reduction in the elongation of the top tape.

[0091] After the delay time TB1 has elapsed, the torque W3 of the winding motor 65 is not suddenly reduced to the final target value W4, but is gradually reduced over the fade-out time TB2, thereby maintaining the balance between the two forces F1 and F2 during the fade-out and keeping the top tape 37 taut.

[0092] ΔW=(W3-W4) / TB2 (4) W3 is the initial torque value (torque value at the time when the feed motor stops), W4 is the final target torque value (final torque value), and TB2 is the fade-out time.

[0093] The final target value W4 is the minimum value of the torque W that can maintain the tension of the top tape 37, and may be set to zero due to friction of the winding device 60, or may be zero if the tension of the top tape 37 can be maintained.

[0094] The final target value W4 may be set for each model of tape feeder FD, or may be set for each individual tape feeder. For example, the torque W may be gradually increased from zero during the manufacturing process, and the torque W may be set to the value at which the take-up roller 61 and the pinch roller 71 start to move. When setting the final target value W4 for each model, it is preferable to obtain the final target value W4 for each model using the above method, store it in the built-in ROM 93, and read it out during control. When setting the final target value W4 for each individual tape feeder (FD), it is preferable to obtain the final target value W4 for each individual tape feeder (FD) using the above method, store it in the EEPROM 95, and read it out during control.

[0095] By setting a final target value W4 appropriate for the model and individual tape feeder FD, the balance between the two forces F1 and F2 can be maintained after the fade-out control is completed (after time t3 in Figure 11), and the tension of the top tape 37 can be maintained.

[0096] The fade-out control may be performed for each cycle of the feeding operation when the feeder FD pitch-feeds the electronic components E. Figures 14 to 16 are operation overview diagrams when the electronic components E are continuously fed.

[0097] FIG. 14 shows a case where the first cycle of the feed operation is completed and a command for the second cycle of the feed operation is received after the fade-out time TB2 has elapsed (part B in FIG. 14).

[0098] 15 shows a case where the first cycle of feeding operation is completed and a command for the second cycle of feeding operation is received during fade-out time TB2 (part B in FIG. 15). In this case, fade-out control of take-up motor 65 ends at time t0 when the command for the feeding operation is received.

[0099] 16 shows a case where the first cycle of feeding operation is completed and a command for the second cycle of feeding operation is received during delay time TB1 (part B in FIG. 16). In this case, fade-out control of take-up motor 65 is not executed.

[0100] As described above, by executing fade-out control, the torque during standby is ultimately reduced, and the power consumption of winding motor 65 can be reduced.

[0101] Furthermore, during fade-out control, the balance between the tension F1 of the top tape 37 and the tape pulling force F2 of the winding motor 65 is maintained, which prevents slack from occurring in the top tape 37. This prevents the mounting head 185 from getting caught on the top tape 37. It also reduces the risk of the top tape 37 getting caught under the tape guide.

[0102] <Other embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following embodiments, for example, are also included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0103] (1) In the first embodiment, during fade-out control, the torque W of the take-up motor 65 is reduced using a straight line based on a linear function (torque characteristic L1 in FIG. 11). The torque W may be reduced using a trigonometric function (torque characteristic L2) or an exponential function (torque characteristic L3) as shown in FIG. 17, or may be reduced in stages over multiple times (torque characteristic L4) as shown in FIG. 18. Furthermore, the present invention does not necessarily require that the two forces F1 and F2 be balanced during fade-out control; it is sufficient that the torque W is gradually reduced so that the tension F1 of the top tape 37 gradually decreases accordingly.

[0104] (2) In the first embodiment, the feed-out device 50 is configured from the sprocket 51, the reduction gear 53, and the feed motor 55. The feed-out device 50 is only required to include at least the feed motor 55 and the sprocket 51 that rotates using the feed motor 55 as a drive source and transports the component supply tape 30 to the component supply position O. The reduction gear 53 is an optional component and may be omitted.

[0105] (3) In the first embodiment, the winding device 60 is configured with the reduction gear 63, the winding motor 65, the winding roller 61, and the pinch roller 71. The winding device 60 is required to include at least the winding motor 65 and the rollers 61 and 71 that are rotated by the winding motor 65 as a drive source and wind the top tape 37 from the component supply tape 30. The reduction gear 63 is an optional component and may be omitted.

[0106] (4) Figure 19 shows the relationship between the ON / OFF state of the servo circuit 210 of the surface mounter 10 and the torque W of the winding motor 65. The controller 90 acquires ON / OFF information of the servo circuit 210 through communication with the main control unit 200 of the surface mounter 10. Servo OFF means that the switch of the servo circuit 210 is turned OFF to de-energize the circuit, and servo ON means that the switch of the servo circuit 210 is turned ON to energize the circuit.

[0107] When the servo circuit 210 is OFF, the controller 90 controls the torque W of the take-up motor 65 to zero. Then, when the servo circuit 210 switches from OFF to ON, the controller 90 rotates the take-up motor 65 to remove slack in the top tape 37, and then controls the torque to W5 with some reserve power so that the tension of the tape 37 is maintained. After a delay time TB1 has elapsed, the controller 90 executes fade-out control to slowly reduce the torque of the take-up motor 65 from W5 to W6. In this way, when the servo circuit 210 is started (OFF ⇒ ON), the top tape 37 is prepared to be tensioned, and the power consumption of the take-up motor 65 can be reduced during the subsequent standby period.

[0108] (5) In the first embodiment, fade-out control is executed during standby after the pitch feed of the component supply tape 30 is completed. Fade-out control may also be executed during standby after the component supply tape 30 is returned to the origin. The origin return operation is an operation in which, when the component supply tape 30 is replaced, the feed motor 55 is controlled to align the replaced component supply tape 30 with the initial position (origin).

[0109] (6) Furthermore, the control data for the fade-out control may be set to be changeable depending on the type of electronic component E to be supplied. For example, as shown in FIG. 20, a control data library may be prepared in the surface mounter 10, and the control data may be displayed upon request from the user. When the user refers to the library and selects the type of electronic component E to be supplied and the model of tape feeder FD, the main control unit 200 transmits control data according to the selection results to the controller 90 of the tape feeder FD. This allows the tape feeder FD to perform fade-out control using control data according to the type of electronic component E. The control data may include the initial value W3 of the torque W, the final target value W4, torque characteristics L1 to L4, and fade-out time TB2. The type of component may be, for example, a chip capacitor or a chip resistor.

[0110] By using control data according to the type of electronic component E to be supplied, the torque W of the winding motor 65 can be reduced while maintaining the balance between the two forces F1 and F2 during fade-out control, regardless of the component type.

[0111] (7) In the first embodiment, a delay time TB1 is provided after the feed motor 55 stops rotating. However, as shown in FIG. 21, the delay time TB1 may be omitted, and fade-out control may be executed immediately after the feed motor 55 stops rotating. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 10 Surface Mounting Machine 11 Foundation 30 Parts supply tape 31 Carrier tape 37 Top Tape 50 Delivery device 51 sprocket 55 Feed motor 60 Winding device 61 Winding roller 71 Pinch roller 65 Winding motor 90 Controller FD tape feeder

Claims

1. A tape feeder that supplies components using a component supply tape, A feed motor; a sprocket that rotates using the feed motor as a drive source and transports the component supply tape to a component supply position; A winding motor; a roller that rotates using the take-up motor as a drive source and takes up the top tape from the component supply tape; a control device; The control device executes fade-out control to gradually reduce the torque of the take-up motor during standby when the sprocket has stopped rotating and is not feeding out the component supply tape.

2. 2. The tape feeder of claim 1, The fade-out control is a control that gradually reduces the torque of the take-up motor while maintaining a balance between the tension of the top tape and the force with which the take-up motor pulls the top tape so that slack does not occur in the top tape.

3. 3. The tape feeder according to claim 1, The control device maintains the torque at the time the sprocket stops rotating for a delay time after the sprocket stops rotating, and executes the fade-out control after the delay time has elapsed.

4. 3. The tape feeder according to claim 1, The control device executes the fade-out control during standby after pitch feeding of the component supply tape is completed.

5. 3. The tape feeder according to claim 1, The control device executes the fade-out control while the component supply tape is on standby after returning to its origin.

6. 3. The tape feeder according to claim 1, The fade-out control is a control for reducing the torque of the take-up motor from an initial value at the time when the sprocket stops rotating to a final target value that is smaller than the initial value over a fade-out time.

7. 7. The tape feeder according to claim 6, The final target value differs for each individual tape feeder.

8. 3. The tape feeder according to claim 1, A tape feeder, wherein the control parameters of the fade-out control are changeable depending on the type of electronic component.

9. 3. The tape feeder according to claim 1, The control device controls the take-up motor so that tension acts on the top tape when a servo circuit of the surface mounter is switched from off to on, and then performs the fade-out control.

Images