Workpiece inversion device and workpiece transport device

Abstract

To quickly turn over workpieces such as electronic components. The workpiece reversing device (10) has a mounting table (12A) having a workpiece transfer section (13) and a workpiece receiving section (17), and a rotation mechanism (30). The rotation mechanism (30) has a first storage section (33) and a second storage section (34), the first storage section (33) communicating with the workpiece transfer section (13) via a first passage (14), and the second storage section (34) communicating with the workpiece receiving section (17) via a second passage (18).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a workpiece inverting device and a workpiece transport device that inverts the front and back orientation of a workpiece such as an electronic component. [Background technology]

[0002] Electronic components (workpieces) such as semiconductor elements undergo various processes, including visual inspection, electrical property inspection, and marking, and are then sorted according to the inspection results. After that, the electronic components are stored in carrier tape or the like and shipped. Visual inspection, electrical property inspection, and marking may require the electronic components to be properly oriented, so the workpieces may be turned over before these processes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-306516 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional structure for reversing the front and back of electronic components (workpieces), it takes time to turn them over.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a workpiece inversion device and a workpiece transport device that can quickly and reliably invert the front and back sides of a workpiece. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a work inversion device for inverting a workpiece, the work inversion device comprising: a loading table having a work transfer section, a first passage communicating with the work transfer section, a work receiving section, and a second passage communicating with the work receiving section; and a rotation mechanism provided near the loading table and having a first storage section and a second storage section, wherein the rotation mechanism is rotatable between a transfer position where the first storage section communicates with the first passage and the second storage section communicates with the second passage, and a receiving position where the first storage section communicates with the second passage and the second storage section communicates with the first passage.

[0007] The present disclosure relates to a work inversion device in which, in a plan view, at the transfer position, the work transfer section and the first storage section communicate with each other via the first passage extending in a straight line, and the work receiving section and the second storage section communicate with each other via the second passage extending in a straight line, and the first passage and the second passage are non-parallel to each other.

[0008] The present disclosure is a workpiece inverting device, in which the first storage section and the second storage section are provided with workpiece suction and discharge mechanisms that suck in and discharge the workpieces, respectively.

[0009] The present disclosure is a work inversion device in which the work transfer section is provided with a work discharge mechanism that discharges the work, and the work receiving section is provided with a work suction mechanism that sucks the work.

[0010] The present disclosure relates to a work inversion device in which a work sensor that detects the presence or absence of the work is provided in each of the work transfer section, the work receiving section, the first passage, the second passage, the first storage section, and the second storage section.

[0011] The present disclosure provides a work transport device comprising: a transport table provided with suction nozzles on its outer periphery that suction multiple workpieces; and a work flipping device arranged below the transport table and flipping the workpieces, wherein the work flipping device comprises a loading table having a work transfer section, a first passage communicating with the work transfer section, a work receiving section, and a second passage communicating with the work receiving section; and a rotation mechanism arranged near the loading table and having a first storage section and a second storage section, wherein the rotation mechanism is freely rotatable between a transfer position where the first storage section communicates with the first passage and the second storage section communicates with the second passage, and a receiving position where the first storage section communicates with the second passage and the second storage section communicates with the first passage.

[0012] The present disclosure is a work transport device in which, in a plan view, at the transfer position, the work transfer section and the first storage section communicate with each other via the first passage that extends linearly, and the work receiving section and the second storage section communicate with each other via the second passage that extends linearly, and the first passage and the second passage are non-parallel to each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present disclosure, the workpiece can be quickly and reliably turned over. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a workpiece reversing device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the workpiece inversion device, in which the first passage, the second passage, the first storage section, and the second storage section are shown to the outside for convenience. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the workpiece reversing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the workpiece inverting device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side view showing the relationship between the transport table, the workpiece transfer table, and the workpiece receiving table. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the relationship between the transport table, the workpiece transfer table, and the workpiece receiving table. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an overall view showing a workpiece transport device incorporating a workpiece reversing device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows the transfer table and the suction nozzle attached to the transfer table. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, a workpiece reversing device and a workpiece transport device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] 1 to 8 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a work reversing device and a work transport device according to the present disclosure.

[0017] First, the entire conveying device for electronic components (hereinafter also referred to as workpieces) incorporating the workpiece posture correction device will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Here, the workpiece conveying device 1 conveys electronic components (hereinafter also referred to as workpieces) W such as semiconductor elements, while subjecting the workpieces W to visual inspection, electrical property inspection, optical property inspection, marking processing, etc.

[0018] FIG. 7 shows the overall configuration of the work transportation device 1. The work transportation device 1 has a transport path 5 for the work W, aligns and transports the work W along the transport path 5, and sequentially performs various process treatments on the work W on the transport path 5, such as visual inspection, electrical property inspection, and marking treatment. At the start of the transport path 5, a supply unit 2 is provided that supplies the work W via a supply path 6, and at the end of the transport path 5, a storage unit 3 is provided that discharges and stores the work W. Various processing units U1, U2, U3, U4, etc. are installed on the transport path 5 between them to perform various treatments on the work W. Examples of such processing units U1, U2, U3, U4, etc. include a visual inspection unit, an electrical property inspection unit, an additional inspection unit, and a marking treatment unit.

[0019] The electronic components that make up the work W are components used in electrical appliances. Examples of electronic components include semiconductor elements, and resistor chips and capacitors other than semiconductor elements. Examples of semiconductor elements include inductors, transistors, diodes, LEDs, capacitors, discrete semiconductors such as thyristors, and integrated circuits such as ICs and LSIs. Of these, capacitors and the like do not have a distinction between the front and back of the work, and therefore may not be subject to this embodiment. The work that is subject to this embodiment is resistor chips, LEDs, inductors, and other work that require a distinction between the front and back of the work.

[0020] 7 and 8, the transport path 5 is formed on the outer periphery of the transport table 4, which rotates intermittently by a predetermined angle. Suction nozzles 50, which are means for holding the workpiece W, are supported on the outer periphery of the transport table 4. By intermittently rotating the transport table 4 while holding the workpiece W with the suction nozzles 50, the workpiece W moves along the outer periphery of the transport table 4 (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

[0021] 7 and 8, the conveying table 4 has a shape such as a disk or a star that spreads out radially from a single center. The conveying table 4 has its center 4a supported by a rotation shaft of a conveying table driving mechanism 4A. A plurality of suction nozzles 50 are provided on the outer periphery of the conveying table 4 at equal intervals along the circumferential direction and at equal distances from the center 4a of the conveying table 4 along the radial direction.

[0022] Each suction nozzle 50 is hollow and has an open end. The interior of each suction nozzle 50 is connected to an air pressure circuit of a negative pressure generating device such as a vacuum pump or an ejector. Each suction nozzle 50 generates negative pressure in the air pressure circuit, thereby sucking the workpiece W at its open end and releasing the workpiece W by breaking the vacuum in the air pressure circuit or releasing it to the atmosphere.

[0023] In this embodiment, the suction nozzle 50 is attached to the conveying table 4 via a suction nozzle holding mechanism 51. The suction nozzle 50 held by the suction nozzle holding mechanism 51 is driven in the vertical direction relative to the conveying table 4.

[0024] The conveying table driving mechanism 4A of the conveying table 4 is controlled by the control unit 60 so as to rotate intermittently by one pitch at a time. The rotation pitch of the conveying table 4 is equal to the arrangement interval of the suction nozzles 50, and the suction nozzles 50 move along the conveying path 5 and then stop.

[0025] As shown in Figure 7, various processing units, such as an appearance inspection unit, an electrical property inspection unit, an additional inspection unit, and a marking processing unit, are arranged on the transport path 5 formed on the outer periphery of the transport table 4, and of these, the appearance inspection unit performs an appearance inspection on the work W.

[0026] The electrical property inspection unit inspects the workpiece W for its resistance value and other electrical properties, and the additional inspection unit performs other additional inspections, such as optical property inspections, on the workpiece W. The marking processing unit performs marking processing on the workpiece W.

[0027] As shown in Figure 7, upstream of each processing unit U1, U2, U3, U4, etc. on the conveying path 5, a workpiece front / back inspection device 70 that detects the front / back orientation of the workpiece W adsorbed by the suction nozzle 50 of the conveying table 4, and a workpiece inversion device 10 that inverts the front / back orientation of the workpiece W are sequentially arranged.

[0028] In this embodiment, the workpiece W has its front and back orientation detected by the workpiece front and back inspection device 70. The workpiece W has its front and back orientation detected by the workpiece front and back inspection device 70 is sent to the control unit 60, and if the control unit 60 determines that the workpiece W should be flipped over, the workpiece W can be flipped over by the workpiece inverting device 10 in response to a signal from the control unit 60. In this embodiment, after the workpiece W has its front and back orientation detected by the workpiece front and back inspection device 70, the workpiece W is flipped over by the workpiece inverting device 10 as needed. However, if all of the workpieces W are to be flipped over, the workpiece front and back inspection device 70 does not necessarily need to be installed, and all of the workpieces W may be flipped over by the workpiece inverting device 10.

[0029] In this embodiment, the conveying table 4 and the workpiece reversing device 10 constitute a workpiece conveying device 1.

[0030] Next, the workpiece reversing device 10 of the workpiece transport device 1 will be described.

[0031] The workpiece reversing device 10 is installed upstream of the various processing units U1, U2, U3, U4, . . . provided on the outer periphery of the conveyor table 4 as described above.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the workpiece inversion device 10 comprises a first base 11, a workpiece transfer table 12 provided on the first base 11, a second base 15, a workpiece receiving table 16 provided on the second base 15, and a rotation mechanism 30 provided near the workpiece transfer table 12 and the workpiece receiving table 16.

[0033] Of these, the first base 11 and the second base 15 form the base 11A, and the workpiece transfer table 12 and the workpiece receiving table 16 form the mounting table 12A. In other words, the base 11A is made up of the first base 11 and the second base 15, and the mounting table 12A is made up of the workpiece transfer table 12 and the workpiece receiving table 16.

[0034] Of this loading table 12A, the workpiece transfer table 12 is formed with a workpiece transfer section 13 to which the workpiece W, which is sucked and transported by the suction nozzle 50 provided on the transport table 4, is transferred. Also, the workpiece receiving table 16 is formed with a workpiece receiving section 17 that holds the workpiece W received by the suction nozzle 50 provided on the transport table 4. In this embodiment, the workpiece W has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and correspondingly, the workpiece transfer section 13, the first storage section 33, the workpiece receiving section 17, and the second storage section 34 also have a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0035] The workpiece transfer section 13 is provided on the workpiece transfer table 12 and is open at the top. The side walls of the workpiece transfer section 13 are tapered from bottom to top so that the workpiece W picked up by the suction nozzle 50 of the conveying table 4 can be smoothly placed in a predetermined position.

[0036] The workpiece receiving section 17 is provided on the workpiece receiving table 16 and is open at the top. The side walls of the workpiece receiving section 17 do not need to widen upward, but may have a tapered shape widening upward like the workpiece transfer section 13.

[0037] In addition, the workpiece transfer table 12 is formed with a first passage 14 that is connected to the workpiece transfer section 13 and extends toward the rotation mechanism 30, and the workpiece receiving table 16 is formed with a second passage 18 that is connected to the workpiece receiving section 17 and extends toward the rotation mechanism 30.

[0038] The first passage 14 provided in the workpiece transfer table 12 is formed inside the workpiece transfer table 12 and cannot be seen from the outside (see FIG. 1), but in FIG. 2 the first passage 14 is shown outside for convenience.

[0039] The second passage 18 provided in the workpiece receiving table 16 is formed inside the workpiece receiving table 16 and cannot be seen from the outside (see FIG. 1), but in FIG. 2 the second passage 18 is shown outside for convenience.

[0040] Next, the rotation mechanism 30 provided near the workpiece transfer table 12 and the workpiece receiving table 16 will be described. The rotation mechanism 30 has a first storage body 31, a second storage body 32, a connecting body 35 that connects the first storage body 31 and the second storage body 32, and a rotating body 37 connected to the connecting body 35. The first storage body 31, the second storage body 32, the connecting body 35, and the rotating body 37 connected to the connecting body 35 are integrally held rotatably by a holding body 38. The holding body 38 is attached to a base 40.

[0041] Of these, first housing body 31, second housing body 32, and connecting body 35 constitute housing body 31A, and housing body 31A is connected to rotating body 37 via connecting body 35.

[0042] In addition, a first storage section 33 for storing the workpiece W is formed within the first storage body 31, and a second storage section 34 for storing the workpiece W is formed within the second storage body 32.

[0043] The first storage section 33 is formed inside the first storage body 31 and cannot be seen from the outside (see FIG. 1), but in FIG. 2 the first storage section 33 is shown to the outside for the sake of convenience.

[0044] The second storage section 34 is formed inside the second storage body 32 and cannot be seen from the outside (see FIG. 1), but in FIG. 2 the second storage section 34 is shown to the outside for the sake of convenience.

[0045] As described above, the rotation mechanism 30 has the first storage body 31, the second storage body 32, the connecting body 35 that connects the first storage body 31 and the second storage body 32, and the rotating body 37 connected to the connecting body 35. The rotation mechanism 30 is rotatable 180° between a delivery position where the first storage section 33 communicates with the first passage 14 and the second storage section 34 communicates with the second passage 18, and a receiving position where the first storage section 33 communicates with the second passage 18 and the second storage section 34 communicates with the first passage 14.

[0046] The workpiece transfer table 12 and the workpiece receiving table 16 are each provided with a workpiece sensor that detects the presence or absence of a workpiece W in the workpiece transfer section 13 and the workpiece receiving section 17. This workpiece sensor is made up of an optical fiber 21a that emits light and an optical fiber 21b that receives light.

[0047] In addition, the workpiece transfer table 12 and the workpiece receiving table 16 are each provided with a workpiece sensor that detects the presence or absence of a workpiece W in the first passage 14 and the second passage 18. This workpiece sensor is made up of an optical fiber 22a that emits light and an optical fiber 22b that receives light.

[0048] The first storage body 31 and the second storage body 32 are each provided with a work sensor that detects the presence or absence of a work W in the first storage section 33 and the second storage section 34. This work sensor is made up of an optical fiber 23a that emits light and an optical fiber 23b that receives the light.

[0049] 2, the first storage body 31 is provided with a workpiece suction and discharge mechanism 71 that sucks the workpiece W into the first storage section 33 by vacuum and discharges the workpiece W from the first storage section 33 by air injection. The second storage body 32 is provided with a workpiece suction and discharge mechanism 72 that sucks the workpiece W into the second storage section 34 by vacuum and discharges the workpiece W from the second storage section 34 by air injection.

[0050] The workpiece transfer table 12 is also provided with a workpiece discharge mechanism 73 that discharges the workpiece W in the workpiece transfer section 13 toward the first passage 14 by injecting air, and the workpiece receiving table 16 is provided with a workpiece suction mechanism 74 that vacuum-sucks the workpiece W from the second passage 18 into the workpiece receiving section 17.

[0051] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the workpiece suction and discharge mechanism 71 provided in the first storage body 31 is connected to the air line 41, and the workpiece suction and discharge mechanism 72 provided in the second storage body 32 is connected to the air line 42.

[0052] Both the air line 41 and the air line 42 are connected to an air pipe (not shown) inside the rotating body 37, and the air pipe inside the rotating body 37 is connected to a pipe inside the holding body 38 via a rotary joint (not shown).

[0053] The piping within the holder 38 is connected to an external vacuum generator and compressor via connecting piping 43, 44, 45, and 46.

[0054] In this embodiment, the conveying table 4, suction nozzle 50, suction nozzle holding mechanism 51, workpiece front / back inspection device 70, and workpiece reversing device 10 are all driven and controlled by a control unit 60. At the transfer position of the rotation mechanism 30, the workpiece transfer section 13 and the first storage section 33 communicate with each other via a first passage 14 that extends linearly in a plan view, and the workpiece receiving section 17 and the second storage section 34 communicate with each other via a second passage 18 that also extends linearly. In this case, the first passage 14 and the second passage 18 are not parallel to each other (see FIG. 2). In addition, in a plan view, the workpiece transfer section 13 and the first storage section 33 face in the same direction as the first passage 14 that extends linearly, and as a result, the workpiece transfer section 13, the first passage 14, and the first storage section 33 are arranged to extend linearly. Furthermore, in a plan view, the workpiece receiving section 17 and the second storage section 34 face in the same direction as the first passage 14, which extends in a straight line, so that the workpiece receiving section 17, the second passage 18, and the second storage section 34 are arranged to extend in a straight line.

[0055] Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described.

[0056] First, as shown in FIG. 7, the workpiece W is supplied from the supply unit 2 through the supply path 6 onto the transport path 5 provided on the transport table 4.

[0057] In this case, when the workpieces W reach the end of the supply path 6, they are picked up one by one by the suction nozzles 50 attached to the conveying table 4. When the workpieces W at the end of the supply path 6 are picked up by the suction nozzles 50, the conveying table 4 rotates intermittently, and the workpieces W picked up by the suction nozzles 50 are sent sequentially to the workpiece front / back inspection device 70, the workpiece inversion device 10, and the various processing units U1, U2, U3, U4, etc. During this time, the workpiece front / back inspection device 70 detects the front / back orientation of the workpiece W, and the workpiece W whose front / back orientation is not the desired orientation is inverted by the workpiece inversion device 10. The workpieces W are then subjected to a visual inspection, an electrical property inspection, and additional inspections such as an optical property inspection, as well as a marking process, in the various processing units U1, U2, U3, U4.

[0058] The workpiece W that has been subjected to the above-described processing is discharged from the transport path 5 in the storage unit 3 and stored in a storage section (not shown) provided in the storage unit 3.

[0059] Next, the operation of the workpiece reversing device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, the conveying table 4 rotates intermittently, and during this rotation, the workpiece W is conveyed while being sucked by the suction nozzles 50 provided on the outer periphery of the conveying table 4.

[0061] When the workpiece W picked up by the suction nozzle 50 reaches the workpiece front / back inspection device 70, the workpiece front / back inspection device 70 detects the front / back of the workpiece W. If the front / back orientation of the workpiece W picked up by the suction nozzle 50 is facing the desired direction, the workpiece inversion device 10 does not operate, and the suction nozzle 50 moves intermittently from the delivery point to the receiving point.

[0062] On the other hand, if the front and back of the workpiece W sucked by the suction nozzle 50 are not facing the desired direction, that is, if the front and back are facing the wrong way, the workpiece turning device 10 operates as follows.

[0063] First, when the suction nozzle 50 reaches the transfer point P1, the suction nozzle 50 is lowered by the suction nozzle holding mechanism 51 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0064] At this time, the rotation mechanism 30 is in a transfer position where the first storage section 33 and the first passage 14 communicate with each other, and the second storage section 34 and the second passage 18 communicate with each other.

[0065] Next, a work sensor provided in the work transfer section 13 detects whether or not a workpiece W is present in the work transfer section 13. After the control section 60 confirms that no workpiece W is present in the work transfer section 13, the vacuum in the suction nozzle 50 is broken and the workpiece W sucked by the suction nozzle 50 is introduced into the work transfer section 13. If a workpiece W is present in the work transfer section 13, an error alarm is issued. The work transfer section 13 opens upward, and its side walls are tapered, widening from the bottom to the top. Therefore, the workpiece W introduced into the work transfer section 13 is smoothly placed in the predetermined position in the work transfer section 13.

[0066] During this time, the control unit 60 causes the workpiece W in the workpiece transfer section 13 to be sucked in by the workpiece suction and discharge mechanism 71 provided in the first storage section 33, and at the same time, the workpiece W in the workpiece transfer section 13 is discharged to the first passage 14 side by air sprayed from the workpiece discharge mechanism 73 provided in the workpiece transfer section 13.

[0067] The workpiece W thus introduced into the workpiece transfer section 13 is sent to the first storage section 33 via the first passage 14. Next, a workpiece sensor provided in the first storage section 33 detects whether or not the workpiece W is present in the first storage section 33.

[0068] If there is no workpiece W in the first storage section 33, the control section 60 issues an error alarm.

[0069] On the other hand, when it is detected that there is work W in the first storage section 33, the presence or absence of work W is then detected by the work sensor provided in the first passage 14, and at the same time, the presence or absence of work W is detected by the work sensor provided in the second passage 18.

[0070] In this case, the workpiece sensor in the first passage 14 detects the presence or absence of the workpiece W at the end of the first passage 14 on the first storage section 33 side. Specifically, the workpiece sensor in the first passage 14 detects the presence or absence of the workpiece W between the first passage 14 and the first storage section 33.

[0071] Similarly, the workpiece sensor in the second passage 18 detects the presence or absence of a workpiece W at the end of the second passage 18 on the second storage section 34 side. Specifically, the workpiece sensor in the second passage 18 detects the presence or absence of a workpiece W between the second passage 18 and the second storage section 34.

[0072] If the workpiece sensor in the first passage 14 detects that there is a workpiece W between the first passage 14 and the first storage section 33, or if the workpiece sensor in the second passage 18 detects that there is a workpiece W between the second passage 18 and the second storage section 34, the workpiece W between the first passage 14 and the first storage section 33, or the workpiece W between the second passage 18 and the second storage section 34, becomes an obstacle and prevents the rotation mechanism 30 from rotating. Therefore, in this case, the control unit 60 issues an error alarm without rotating the rotation mechanism 30.

[0073] On the other hand, if the work sensor in the first passage 14 detects that there is no work W between the first passage 14 and the first storage section 33, and the work sensor in the second passage 18 detects that there is no work W between the second passage 18 and the second storage section 34, the control unit 60 rotates the rotation mechanism 30 by 180 degrees, and as a result, the rotation mechanism 30 takes up a receiving position where the first storage section 33 and the second passage 18 are connected and the second storage section 34 and the first passage 14 are connected.

[0074] At this time, the front and back of the workpiece W stored in the first storage section 33 is turned over by 180°.

[0075] During this time, the suction nozzle 50 rises, and as the conveyor table 4 intermittently rotates, the suction nozzle 50 advances by one pitch, and moves to the receiving point P2 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0076] Next, the suction action begins as or after the suction nozzle 50 descends. At the same time, the workpiece suction and discharge mechanism 71 in the first storage section 33 is activated, and the workpiece W in the first storage section 33 is discharged to the second passage 18 side by air jetted from the workpiece suction and discharge mechanism 71. At the same time, the workpiece W is sucked by the workpiece suction mechanism 74 provided in the workpiece receiving section 17, and in this way the workpiece W in the first storage section 33 can be sent to the workpiece receiving section 17 via the second passage 18.

[0077] Next, a work sensor provided in the work receiving section 17 detects whether or not a work W is present in the work receiving section 17, and if no work W is present in the work receiving section 17, the control section 60 issues an error alarm.

[0078] On the other hand, if there is a workpiece W in the workpiece receiving section 17, the suction action begins as the suction nozzle 50 descends or after the suction nozzle 50 descends, and the workpiece W is sucked in. After suctioning the workpiece W, the suction nozzle 50 then rises at the receiving point P2.

[0079] In this way, the work W is turned over by the work turnover device 10, and the work W whose front and back direction has been corrected to the desired direction is then sent to the next process as the conveyor table 4 rotates.

[0080] As described above, during the reversing action of the rotation mechanism 30, the suction nozzle 50 provided on the conveying table 4 moves to the delivery point P1 and the receiving point P2 in accordance with the intermittent rotation of the conveying table 4. In this embodiment, the delivery point P1 of the suction nozzle 50 is on a line L1 passing through the center 4a of the conveying table 4, and the receiving point P2 of the suction nozzle is on a line L2 passing through the center 4a of the conveying table 4 (see FIG. 6).

[0081] The angle between the straight lines L1 and L2 corresponds to the movement angle of the suction nozzle 50 when it moves by one pitch.

[0082] For example, when the angle between the lines L1 and L2 is α, the workpiece W transferred from the suction nozzle 50 at the transfer point P1 will be inclined by an angle α relative to the workpiece W received by the suction nozzle 50 at the receiving point P2 in a planar view.

[0083] For this reason, in this embodiment, the workpiece transfer section 13, where the workpiece W is transferred from the suction nozzle 50 at the transfer point P1, and the workpiece receiving section 17, where the suction nozzle 50 at the receiving point P2 receives the workpiece W, are inclined relative to each other in a plan view by the same angle as the angle α between the lines L1 and L2. By inclining the workpiece transfer section 13 and the workpiece receiving section 17 relative to each other in this way, when the workpiece W placed in the workpiece transfer section 13 is turned over by the rotation mechanism 30, the posture of the workpiece W picked up by the suction nozzle 50 relative to the suction nozzle 50 can always be kept the same in a plan view.

[0084] In FIG. 6, the line L0 is a reference line extending between the lines L1 and L2. As described above, at the transfer position, the workpiece transfer section 13 and the first storage section 33 communicate with each other through the first passage 14, which extends linearly, in a plan view, and the workpiece receiving section 17 and the second storage section 34 communicate with each other through the second passage 18, which also extends linearly. In this case, the first passage 14 and the second passage 18 are non-parallel to each other (see FIG. 2). Thus, the first passage 14 and the second passage 18 are both formed linearly in a plan view and are non-parallel to each other. Specifically, the first passage 14 is formed linearly so as to be aligned with the line L1 in a plan view, and the second passage 18 is formed linearly so as to be aligned with the line L2 in a plan view. Therefore, the first passage 14 and the second passage 18 are inclined relative to each other by an angle α.

[0085] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the rotation mechanism 30 is in the transfer position, simply by loading the workpiece W picked up by the suction nozzle 50 into the workpiece transfer section 13, the workpiece W in the workpiece transfer section 13 can be sent into the first storage section 33 of the rotation mechanism 30. Then, by rotating the rotation mechanism 30 180°, the front and back sides of the workpiece W in the first storage section 33 can be turned over, and the workpiece W in the first storage section 33 can then be sent to the workpiece receiving section 17, and the workpiece W in the workpiece receiving section 17 can be picked up again by the suction nozzle 50. In this way, simply by loading the workpiece W picked up by the suction nozzle 50 into the workpiece transfer section 13, the front and back sides of the workpiece W can be easily and reliably turned over, and the turned-over workpiece W can then be sent to the workpiece receiving section 17, and from the workpiece receiving section 17 it can be picked up again by the suction nozzle 50.

[0086] In this case, the workpiece W can be easily and quickly turned over simply by rotating the rotation mechanism 30 by 180°. Furthermore, since the workpiece W can be turned over simply by the rotation of the rotation mechanism 30, the workpiece W can be turned over continuously.

[0087] Furthermore, when the workpiece W is placed in the workpiece transfer section 13, the air sprayed from the workpiece discharge mechanism 73 provided in the workpiece transfer section 13 and the suction action of the workpiece suction and discharge mechanism 71 provided in the first storage section 33 enable the workpiece W in the workpiece transfer section 13 to be sent quickly and reliably from the first passage 14 to the first storage section 33.

[0088] Furthermore, after the rotation mechanism 30 rotates 180°, the work W in the first storage section 33 can be discharged to the second passage 18 side by air sprayed from the work suction and discharge mechanism 71, and at the same time, the work W in the first storage section 33 can be reliably guided to the work receiving section 17 via the second passage 18 by the work suction mechanism 74 provided in the work receiving section 17.

[0089] Furthermore, when the workpiece W sucked by the suction nozzle 50 is introduced into the workpiece transfer section 13, the workpiece W is introduced after confirming with a workpiece sensor that no workpiece W is present in the workpiece transfer section 13. Therefore, there is no collision between a workpiece W already present in the workpiece transfer section 13 and a newly introduced workpiece W in the workpiece transfer section 13.

[0090] Furthermore, after the work W placed in the work transfer section 13 is sent to the first storage section 33 via the first passage 14, the work sensor can confirm that the work W has been securely stored in the first storage section 33.

[0091] Furthermore, when rotating the rotation mechanism 30, the workpiece sensor in the first passage 14 confirms that no workpiece W is present between the first passage 14 and the first storage section 33, and the workpiece sensor in the second passage 18 confirms that no workpiece W is present between the second passage 18 and the second storage section 34, before rotating the rotation mechanism 30. Therefore, no workpiece W remains between the first passage 14 and the first storage section 33, or between the second passage 18 and the second storage section 34, and prevents the rotation of the rotation mechanism 30.

[0092] Furthermore, the workpiece transfer section 13 opens upward, and its side walls are tapered, widening from the bottom to the top, so that the workpiece W placed in the workpiece transfer section 13 can be smoothly guided to the predetermined position in the workpiece transfer section 13.

[0093] Furthermore, if the angle between a line L1 connecting the center 4a of the conveying table 4 and the transfer point P1 of the suction nozzle 50 and a line L2 connecting the center 4a of the conveying table 4 and the receiving point P2 of the suction nozzle 50 is α, the orientation of the workpiece W in the workpiece transfer section 13 in a plan view is inclined by the angle α with respect to the workpiece W in the workpiece receiving section 17. Therefore, even if the workpiece W loaded into the workpiece transfer section 13 is turned over by the rotation mechanism 30, the orientation of the workpiece W in a plan view relative to the suction nozzle 50 at the transfer point P1 can be made the same as the orientation of the workpiece W in a plan view relative to the suction nozzle 50 at the receiving point P2.

[0094] Therefore, when the workpiece W picked up by the suction nozzle 50 is turned over by the workpiece inversion device 10 and picked up again by the suction nozzle, there is no need to adjust the orientation of the workpiece W relative to the suction nozzle in a plan view, and there is no need to provide a separate orientation adjustment device for adjusting the orientation of the workpiece W. Furthermore, at the transfer position of the rotation mechanism 30, the workpiece transfer section 13 and the first storage section 33 face in the same direction as the linearly extending first passage 14 in a plan view, whereby the workpiece transfer section 13, the first passage 14, and the first storage section 33 are arranged to extend in a straight line. Furthermore, the workpiece receiving section 17 and the second storage section 34 face in the same direction as the linearly extending first passage 14 in a plan view, whereby the workpiece receiving section 17, the second passage 18, and the second storage section 34 are arranged to extend in a straight line. Therefore, the work W in the work transfer section 13 can be smoothly sent to the rotation mechanism 30 side via the first passage 14, and the work on the rotation mechanism 30 side can be smoothly sent to the work receiving section 17, which is inclined by angle α, via the second passage 18.

[0095] As described above, the first base 11 and the second base 15 form the base 11A, and the workpiece transfer table 12 and the workpiece receiving table 16 form the loading table 12A. The loading table 12A is located on the base 11A and fixed below the conveyor table 4. However, the loading table 12A may be disk-shaped and rotatably disposed below the conveyor table 4. The end of the first passage 14 on the side of the rotation mechanism 30 is formed so as to be perpendicular to the first passage 14, but this is not necessarily required. The end of the first passage 14 on the side of the rotation mechanism 30 may be inclined or curved with respect to the first passage 14. The end of the second passage 18 on the side of the rotation mechanism 30 is formed so as to be perpendicular to the second passage 18, but this is not necessarily required. The end of the second passage 18 on the side of the rotation mechanism 30 may be inclined or curved with respect to the second passage 18. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1 Work transport device 2 Supply Unit 3 Containment Unit 4 Transport table 5. Transport Route 6 Supply route 10 Work inversion device 11 First Foundation 11A base 12 Workpiece transfer table 12A Mounting table 13 Workpiece transfer section 14 1st aisle 15 Second Foundation 16 Work receiving table 17 Work receiving section 18 2nd aisle 21a, 21b Optical fiber 22a, 22b Optical fiber 23a, 23b Optical fiber 30 Rotation mechanism 31 First storage unit 31A Storage body 32 Second storage unit 33 First storage section 34 Second storage section 35 Connector 37 Rotating Body 38 Holding body 40 base 41 Airlines 42 Airlines 43 Connecting piping 44 Connecting piping 45 Connecting piping 46 Connecting piping 50 suction nozzle 51 Suction nozzle holding mechanism 60 Control Unit 70 Workpiece front and back inspection device 71 Workpiece suction and discharge mechanism 72 Workpiece suction and discharge mechanism 73 Work discharge mechanism 74 Workpiece suction mechanism U1, U2, U3, U4 processing units

Claims

1. In a workpiece inversion device that inverts a workpiece, a mounting table having a workpiece transfer section, a first passage communicating with the workpiece transfer section, a workpiece receiving section, and a second passage communicating with the workpiece receiving section; a rotation mechanism provided near the mounting table and having a first storage section and a second storage section; The rotation mechanism is rotatable between a transfer position where the first storage section communicates with the first passage and the second storage section communicates with the second passage, and a receiving position where the first storage section communicates with the second passage and the second storage section communicates with the first passage.

2. 2. The workpiece inversion device according to claim 1, wherein, in the transfer position, in a plan view, the workpiece transfer section and the first storage section communicate with each other via the first passage that extends linearly, the workpiece receiving section and the second storage section communicate with each other via the second passage that extends linearly, and the first passage and the second passage are non-parallel to each other.

3. 3. The workpiece inverting device according to claim 1, wherein the first storage section and the second storage section are provided with workpiece suction and discharge mechanisms for sucking and discharging the workpieces, respectively.

4. 3. The workpiece inverting device according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece transfer section is provided with a workpiece discharge mechanism for discharging the workpiece, and the workpiece receiving section is provided with a workpiece suction mechanism for sucking the workpiece.

5. 2. The workpiece inversion device according to claim 1, wherein a workpiece sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the workpiece is provided in each of the workpiece transfer section, the workpiece receiving section, the first passage, the second passage, the first storage section, and the second storage section.

6. a conveyance table provided with suction nozzles on its outer periphery for suctioning a plurality of workpieces; a workpiece inverting device disposed below the conveying table and inverting the workpiece, The workpiece inverting device includes a mounting table having a workpiece transfer section, a first passage communicating with the workpiece transfer section, a workpiece receiving section, and a second passage communicating with the workpiece receiving section; a rotation mechanism provided near the mounting table and having a first storage section and a second storage section; the rotation mechanism is rotatable between a transfer position where the first storage section communicates with the first passage and the second storage section communicates with the second passage, and a receiving position where the first storage section communicates with the second passage and the second storage section communicates with the first passage.

7. 7. The work transportation device according to claim 6, wherein, in the transfer position, in a plan view, the work transfer section and the first storage section communicate with each other via the first passage that extends linearly, and the work receiving section and the second storage section communicate with each other via the second passage that extends linearly, and the first passage and the second passage are not parallel to each other.

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