Component mounting device and component supply tape feeding method

Abstract

To provide a component mounting device and a method of feeding a component supply tape capable of reducing the occurrence of component pickup errors without causing a mounting head to wait for a component.SOLUTION: When a component feeding tape BT is pitch-fed by a component mounting device having a tape feeder which pitch-feeds the component feeding tape to supply components and a mounting head which picks up the supplied components with a nozzle and repeatedly performs an operation of mounting the components on a substrate, a time from when the mounting head picks up the supplied components to when the next component is picked up is calculated as an interval time (step ST3), and a pitch feeding time which is a time required for a feeding operation of one pitch of the component feeding tape BT is set based on the calculated interval time (step ST4). After the mounting head picks up the component (Step ST5), the component feeding tape is pitch-fed for the set feeding time (Step ST6).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a component mounting device and a component supply tape feeding method in which components supplied by a tape feeder that pitch feeds a component supply tape are picked up by a mounting head and mounted onto a board. [Background technology]

[0002] A component mounting device is configured such that a parts feeder supplies components, which are then picked up by a mounting head and mounted onto a board. Various types of parts feeders are known, but a tape feeder that pitch-feeds a component supply tape to continuously supply components to a component pick-up position is commonly used. The component supply tape stores components in multiple pockets arranged in a row, and the tape feeder's sprocket intermittently feeds the components one pitch at a time (one pitch between two adjacent pockets on the component supply tape), thereby supplying the components one after another to the component pick-up position. The mounting head is controlled to repeatedly perform a series of movements (mounting turns) consisting of moving above the tape feeder, picking up components supplied by the tape feeder with a nozzle above the tape feeder, moving above the board with the components picked up, and mounting the components onto the board from above the board (see, for example, Patent Document 1 listed below).

[0003] In a component mounting device with this configuration, the time required for a single mounting turn by the mounting head (the interval) depends on the distance between the component pick-up position on the tape feeder and the component mounting position on the board, and therefore varies for each mounting turn. The time required for the tape feeder to advance the component supply tape by one pitch (the pitch feed time) can be selected from multiple predefined options (pitch feed time options). However, it is important to ensure that the mounting head does not wait for components. Here, "waiting for components" refers to the state in which the mounting head, having completed a mounting turn and returned to the component pick-up position, waits for the tape feeder to supply components to the component pick-up position. It also refers to the state in which, within the same mounting turn, one of the mounting head's multiple nozzles picks up a component supplied by the tape feeder, and then another nozzle waits for the same component supplied by the tape feeder. If the mounting head waits for components, the start of the mounting turn is delayed, resulting in a decrease in takt time. For this reason, conventionally, the pitch feed time of the component supply tape is set to the shortest possible value (the value that results in the highest component supply tape feed speed), and the component supply tape is pitch fed using that shortest pitch feed time for all mounting turns. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-73964 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, as described above, when the component supply tape is always fed at the maximum feed speed, the mounting head does not have to wait for components, but when the component supply tape stops from its feeding state, the vibration of the components in the pockets is large, and the mounting head ends up picking up components in an unstable position, making pickup errors more likely to occur.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a component mounting device and a component supply tape feeding method that can reduce the occurrence of component pickup errors without causing the mounting head to wait for components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The component mounting device of the present disclosure is a component mounting device comprising: a tape feeder that pitch-feeds a component supply tape containing components to supply the components to a component removal position; a mounting head that repeatedly performs the operation of picking up the components supplied to the component removal position with a nozzle and mounting them on a board; and a control unit that controls the tape feeder and the mounting head, wherein the control unit comprises: an interval calculation unit that calculates, as an interval, the time between when the mounting head picks up a component supplied to the component removal position and when it picks up the next component; a pitch feed time setting unit that sets, based on the interval calculated by the interval calculation unit, a pitch feed time that is the time required for one pitch of feeding operation of the component supply tape; and a feed operation execution unit that, after the mounting head picks up a component, pitch-feeds the component supply tape at the pitch feed time set by the pitch feed time setting unit.

[0008] The component supply tape feeding method disclosed herein is a component mounting device that includes a tape feeder that pitch-feeds a component supply tape containing components to supply the components to a component removal position, and a mounting head that repeatedly performs the operation of picking up the components supplied to the component removal position with a nozzle and mounting them on a board, and includes an interval calculation step that calculates, as an interval, the time between when the mounting head picks up a component supplied to the component removal position and when it picks up the next component; a pitch feed time setting step that sets a pitch feed time, which is the time required for one pitch of feeding operation of the component supply tape, based on the interval calculated in the interval calculation step; and a feed operation execution step that, after the mounting head picks up a component, pitch-feeds the component supply tape using the pitch feed time set in the pitch feed time setting step. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of component pick-up errors without causing the mounting head to wait for components. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a main portion of a component mounting device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a component mounting device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a component supply tape that is pitch-fed by a tape feeder provided in a component mounting device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the component mounting device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram showing pitch feed time candidates stored in a storage unit included in the component mounting device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, for each type of component supply tape. FIG. [Figure 6]10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a pitch feed operation of a component supply tape executed by a component mounting device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a component mounting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The component mounting device 1 is a device that mounts components BH on a board KB sent from the upstream side and carries it out to the downstream side. For ease of explanation, the transport direction of the board KB in the component mounting device 1 (the left-right direction as seen from the operator OP) is referred to as the X direction, the horizontal direction perpendicular to the X direction (the front-rear direction as seen from the operator OP) is referred to as the Y direction, and the up-down direction is referred to as the Z direction.

[0012] In FIG. 1, the component mounting device 1 includes a base 11, a conveyor 12, a plurality of tape feeders 13, a mounting head 14, and a head moving mechanism 15.

[0013] 1, conveyor 12 extends in the X direction on base 11, and transports board KB in the X direction from the upstream side to the downstream side. Multiple tape feeders 13 are detachably attached to the top of carriage 11D connected to base 11. Each tape feeder 13 uses a built-in sprocket 13S (see also FIG. 2) to pull out component supply tape BT from reel RL held on carriage 11D and pitch feeds it toward the rear side (the rear side as seen from operator OP, the conveyor 12 side).

[0014] As shown in Figure 3, the component supply tape BT is composed of a carrier tape CT and a cover tape TT. The carrier tape CT has a number of pockets PK arranged in a row, and each pocket PK stores one component BH. The cover tape TT is attached to the surface of the carrier tape CT and seals the components BH inside the pockets PK. A row of feed holes KH is provided on the carrier tape CT parallel to the row of pockets PK.

[0015] The tape feeder 13 intermittently rotates while engaging feed pins 13P provided on the outer periphery of the sprocket 13S with feed holes KH, thereby pitch-feeding the component supply tape BT and intermittently positioning components BH at component take-out positions 13T set at the upper back position. The cover tape TT of the pitch-fed component supply tape BT is peeled off by a peeling unit 13H provided on the tape feeder 13 before the pocket PK reaches the component take-out position 13T (Figure 2). Therefore, when the pocket PK reaches the component take-out position 13T, the component BH in the pocket PK is released from its encapsulation by the cover tape TT and is open upward.

[0016] The head movement mechanism 15 is composed of, for example, an XY table mechanism, and moves the mounting head 14 in a horizontal plane. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mounting head 14 is equipped with multiple nozzles 14N extending downward. The mounting head 14 can generate a vacuum suction force at the bottom end of each nozzle 14N, and can pick up a component BH supplied to the component removal position 13T by suctioning it to the bottom end of the nozzle 14N (Figure 2).

[0017] In FIG. 4, the control unit 16 included in the component mounting device 1 controls the operation of the conveyor 12, multiple tape feeders 13, mounting head 14, and head movement mechanism 15. As a result, the conveyor 12 transports and positions the board KB, and each tape feeder 13 supplies a component BH to a component removal position 13T. The head movement mechanism 15 moves the mounting head 14, and the mounting head 14 picks up the component BH at the bottom end of the nozzle 14N. Specifically, the control unit 16 is composed of a processor that processes information, as well as memory that stores specific programs for operating the processor and temporarily stores variables during processor operation. More specifically, the processor can be realized by using integrated circuit devices such as a CPU, MPU, DSP, GPU, or FPGA, and the memory can be realized by using various storage devices such as ROM and RAM.

[0018] When the component mounting device 1 configured as described above performs a component mounting operation of mounting components BH on a board KB, the control unit 16 first operates the conveyor 12 to carry in the board KB, which has been supplied from the outside upstream of the component mounting device 1, and positions it at a predetermined work position. Once the board KB has been positioned, the control unit 16 causes each tape feeder 13 to perform a component BH supply operation, while operating the head moving mechanism 15 to move the mounting head 14 back and forth between the tape feeders 13 and the board KB.

[0019] The mounting head 14 repeatedly performs an operation (mounting turn) of picking up components BH supplied by the tape feeder 13 with the nozzle 14N and mounting them on the board KB while reciprocating between the tape feeder 13 and the board KB. When the mounting head 14 repeatedly performs the mounting turn and all of the components BH to be mounted on the board KB are mounted, the control unit 16 operates the conveyor 12 to transport the board KB to the outside, downstream of the component mounting device 1. This completes the component mounting operation for one board KB.

[0020] In the component mounting device 1 configured as above, the present embodiment is characterized by the feed control of the component supply tape BT by the tape feeder 13, which will be described below. In the present embodiment, the control unit 16 of the component mounting device 1 includes a memory unit 21, an interval calculation unit 22, a pitch feed time setting unit 23, and a feed operation execution unit 24, as shown in FIG.

[0021] 4, the memory unit 21 stores not only the operating program PG executed by the component mounting device 1 during the component mounting operation, but also a plurality of candidates (candidate pitch feed time KD) that can be selected as the time required for the tape feeder 13 to feed the component supply tape BT by one pitch (pitch feed time). As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the candidate pitch feed time KD indicates candidates for pitch feed times for each of a plurality of types (four types in this case) of component supply tapes BT that differ from one another in terms of the type of component BH, tape width, and feed pitch. While the selectable parameters here are time, other selectable parameters may also be used, such as the feed speed or a feed speed rank (e.g., high, medium, low), which can change the supply speed of the tape feeder 13.

[0022] 5 shows pitch feed time candidates corresponding to three time levels, high (standard), medium, and low, for various types of component supply tapes BT, and at the same time level, the wider the component supply tape BT, the larger the pitch feed time value (longer pitch feed time). This is because the component supply tape BT with a larger tape width (i.e., the size of the component supply tape BT) generally has a larger feed amount.

[0023] The interval calculation unit 22 calculates the "interval" as the time between when the mounting head 14 picks up a component BH supplied to the component take-out position 13T and when it picks up the next component BH. The interval is calculated based on the number of nozzles 14N equipped on the mounting head 14, the type and pickup order of the components BH picked up by the multiple nozzles 14N and the associated movement path of the mounting head 14, the movement path of the mounting head 14 when moving from the component take-out position 13T to the board KB, the order in which the multiple nozzles 14N place the components BH on the board KB and the associated movement path of the mounting head 14, and the movement path when returning the mounting head 14 from the board KB to the component take-out position 13T. Furthermore, when calculating the interval, the interval will be relatively small when, for example, multiple nozzles 14N continuously pick up components BH from a certain tape feeder 13. Conversely, if the substrate KB is not carried into the predetermined work position, or if the operation of the mounting head 14 is required to wait for the completion of another process, the interval becomes relatively long.

[0024] As described above, the interval is calculated and determined based on the predetermined operational process and the actual operational status for carrying in the board KB and mounting the components BH. This process is executed by the operation program PG stored in the memory unit 21. Note that if multiple component supply tapes BT are provided, the above various conditions will be different for each component supply tape BT. Therefore, the interval calculation unit 22 may calculate the interval individually for each component supply tape BT.

[0025] The pitch feed time setting unit 23 sets the pitch feed time, which is the time required for feeding the component supply tape BT for one pitch, based on the interval calculated by the interval calculation unit 22. Specifically, the pitch feed time setting unit 23 selects a time that is shorter than the interval and close to the interval (more preferably, the closest time) from among a plurality of times stored in the storage unit 21 (i.e., predetermined as candidates for the pitch feed time), and sets this as the pitch feed time.

[0026] For example, if the component supply tape BT to be fed by the tape feeder 13 corresponds to component "3" shown in Figure 5, and the interval (IT) calculated by the interval calculation unit 22 is within the range of 65 < IT < 90 (msec) (e.g., IT = 80 msec), the pitch feed time setting unit 23 sets the pitch feed time to 65 (msec), which is a candidate pitch feed time that satisfies the above condition. Also, if the interval IT is within the range of 90 < IT < 135 (msec) (e.g., IT = 110 msec), the pitch feed time setting unit 23 sets the pitch feed time to 90 (msec), which is a candidate pitch feed time that satisfies the above condition. Also, if the interval IT is within the range of IT ≥ 135 (msec) (e.g., IT = 140 msec), the pitch feed time setting unit 23 sets the pitch feed time to 135 (msec), which is a candidate pitch feed time that satisfies the above condition.

[0027] Furthermore, in cases such as when multiple nozzles 14N successively pick up components BH from the same tape feeder 13, the interval may be smaller (e.g., IT = 30 msec) than the smallest interval value (here, IT = 65 msec) that can be set for that component BH (here, component BH "3"). In such cases, the smallest (shortest) value may be selected from the available options. In other words, in the above case, the pitch feed time is set to 65 msec, the smallest of the options 65 msec, 90 msec, and 135 msec.

[0028] After the placement head 14 picks up a component BH, the feed operation execution unit 24 pitch-feeds the component supply tape BT at the pitch feed time set by the pitch feed time setting unit 23. When the feed operation execution unit 24 pitch-feeds the component supply tape BT at the pitch feed time set by the pitch feed time setting unit 23, the next component BH is supplied to the component take-out position 13T by the time the placement head 14 completes its placement turn and returns. This prevents the placement head 14 from waiting for a component. Furthermore, the feed speed of the component supply tape BT is kept low enough to prevent the placement head 14 from waiting, thereby suppressing vibration of the component BH in the pocket PK when the component supply tape BT stops from its feeding state. If the placement head 14 has multiple nozzles 14N, the number of components BH placed on the board KB in one placement turn increases, and therefore the time required for one placement turn also increases. Therefore, the effect of slowing down the feed speed of the component supply tape BT within a range that does not cause the mounting head 14 to wait and does not feed the component supply tape BT at an unnecessarily high feed speed becomes greater as the number of nozzles 14N increases.

[0029] 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the pitch feed operation of the component supply tape BT (the method for feeding the component supply tape BT) performed by the component mounting device 1 in this embodiment. As shown in this flowchart, when the component mounting device 1 performs the pitch feed operation of the component supply tape BT, first, the control unit 16 sets an initial value for the pitch feed time (step ST1). At this time, the control unit 16 selects any one of the above-mentioned multiple pitch feed time candidates KD (FIG. 5) stored in the memory unit 21 and sets this as the initial value for the pitch feed time, but it is also possible to set a time not shown in FIG. 5 as the initial value for the pitch feed time.

[0030] After setting the initial value of the pitch feed time in step ST1, the control unit 16 pitch-feeds the component supply tape BT at the set pitch feed time (step ST2). After the component BH is supplied to the component take-out position 13T by pitch-feeding the component supply tape BT, the control unit 16 calculates the time from when the mounting head 14 picks up the component BH supplied to the component take-out position 13T until when it picks up the next component BH, i.e., the interval IT, based on the operation program PG stored in the memory unit 21 (step ST3, interval calculation step).

[0031] After calculating the interval IT in step ST3, the control unit 16 sets the pitch feed time based on the calculated interval IT (step ST4, pitch feed time setting step). Specifically, as described above, of the multiple times (predetermined as candidates for the pitch feed time) stored in the storage unit 21, the time that is shorter than the interval and closest to the interval is set as the pitch feed time.

[0032] After setting the pitch feed time, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the component positioned at the component take-out position 13T has been picked up by the mounting head 14 (step ST5, determination step). If the component BH positioned at the component take-out position 13T has not been picked up by the mounting head 14, the control unit 16 waits until the component BH is picked up by the mounting head 14, and if the component BH is picked up by the mounting head 14, the control unit 16 pitch-feeds the component supply tape BT using the pitch feed time set in step ST4 (step ST6, feed operation execution step). After pitch-feeding the component supply tape BT in step ST6, the control unit 16 returns to step ST3 and repeats steps ST3 to ST6.

[0033] In this way, in the component mounting device 1 of this embodiment, when pitch-feeding the component supply tape BT, the interval calculation unit 22 calculates the interval IT, which is the time from when the mounting head 14 picks up a component BH supplied to the component take-out position 13T until it picks up the next component BH (interval calculation process), and then the pitch-feed time setting unit 23 sets the pitch-feed time, which is the time required to feed the component supply tape BT by one pitch, based on the interval IT calculated by the interval calculation unit 22 (pitch-feed time setting process). Then, after the mounting head 14 picks up the component BH located at the component take-out position 13T, the feed operation execution unit 24 pitch-feeds the component supply tape BT using the pitch-feed time set by the pitch-feed time setting unit 23 (feed operation execution process).

[0034] In this embodiment, the pitch feed time, which is the time required to feed the component supply tape BT by one pitch, is set to a time shorter than the interval IT between mounting turns performed by the mounting head 14. This prevents the mounting head 14 from waiting for components and prevents a decrease in takt time. Furthermore, by setting the pitch feed time to a time close to the interval, the feed speed of the component supply tape BT is kept lower than the maximum selectable speed. This suppresses vibration of the component BH that occurs in the pocket PK when the component supply tape BT stops from a feeding state. If the component BH stored on the component supply tape BT is smaller than a predetermined size (e.g., "1005" or smaller), the posture of the component BH can be quickly stabilized. This reduces the occurrence of component BH pickup errors by the mounting head 14. Furthermore, because the feed speed of the component supply tape BT is slower than the maximum speed, the increase in power consumption of the tape feeder 13 is suppressed, which is favorable in terms of cost and environmental impact. Furthermore, since the tape feeder 13 feeds the component supply tape BT slowly, the mechanical load on the tape feeder 13 can be reduced, and the service life of the tape feeder 13 can be extended.

[0035] As described above, according to the component mounting device 1 (method of feeding the component supply tape BT) in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent a decrease in takt time by not causing the mounting head 14 to wait for components, and it is possible to suppress the vibration of the component BH in the pocket PK when the component supply tape BT is stopped by limiting the feeding time of the component supply tape BT to a speed lower than the maximum speed, thereby reducing the occurrence of errors in picking up the component BH by the mounting head 14.

[0036] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the pitch feed time setting unit 23 sets the pitch feed time to a time selected from a plurality of times predetermined as pitch feed time candidates. However, if the pitch feed time can be set to any time without selecting from a plurality of times, the component supply tape BT may be fed pitch by pitch at the arbitrarily set pitch feed time. In this case, it is preferable to set the pitch feed time to a time shorter than the interval IT and as close as possible to the interval IT. [Industrial Applicability]

[0037] To provide a component mounting device and a component supply tape feeding method capable of reducing the occurrence of component pick-up errors without causing a mounting head to wait for components. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1. Parts mounting device 13 Tape feeder 13T Parts removal position 14 Mounting head 14N nozzle 16 Control Unit 21 Memory section 22 Interval calculation section 23 Pitch feed time setting section 24 Feed operation execution unit IT interval KD pitch feed time candidates BT Parts Supply Tape BH parts KB board

Claims

1. A component mounting device comprising: a tape feeder that pitch-feeds a component supply tape containing components to supply the components to a component removal position; a mounting head that repeatedly picks up the components supplied to the component removal position with a nozzle and mounts them on a board; and a control unit that controls the tape feeder and the mounting head, The control unit an interval calculation unit that calculates, as an interval, a time period from when the mounting head picks up a component supplied to the component pick-up position until when the mounting head picks up a next component; a pitch feed time setting unit that sets a pitch feed time, which is the time required for one pitch of feeding of the component supply tape, based on the interval calculated by the interval calculation unit; and a feed operation execution unit that, after the mounting head picks up a component, pitch-feeds the component supply tape at the pitch feed time set by the pitch feed time setting unit; A component mounting device comprising:

2. 2. The component mounting device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores a plurality of predetermined times as candidates for the pitch feed time, and wherein the pitch feed time setting unit selects a time from the plurality of times stored in the storage unit that is shorter than the interval and close to the interval, and sets the selected time as the pitch feed time.

3. 2. The component mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the components stored on said component supply tape are components of a predetermined size or smaller.

4. 2. The component mounting device according to claim 1, wherein said mounting head comprises a plurality of nozzles, and said plurality of nozzles sequentially pick up components supplied to said component removal position by the same tape feeder.

5. A component supply tape feeding method for a component mounting device including a tape feeder that pitch-feeds a component supply tape containing components to supply the components to a component removal position, and a mounting head that repeatedly picks up the components supplied to the component removal position with a nozzle and mounts them on a board, comprising: an interval calculation step of calculating, as an interval, a time period from when the mounting head picks up a component supplied to the component pick-up position until when the mounting head picks up a next component; a pitch feed time setting step of setting a pitch feed time, which is the time required for one pitch of feeding of the component supply tape, based on the interval calculated in the interval calculation step; a feed operation execution step of pitch-feeding the component supply tape at the pitch feed time set in the pitch feed time setting step after the mounting head picks up the component; A component supply tape feeding method having the above structure.

6. 6. The component supply tape feeding method according to claim 5, wherein in the pitch feed time setting step, a time that is shorter than the interval and close to the interval is selected from a plurality of times predetermined as candidates for the pitch feed time, and this time is set as the pitch feed time.

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