Feeder management system and method

Abstract

This feeder management system, for managing feeders that supply components to a mounting device, includes multiple feeder conveyance cars which each can support and move multiple feeders, a management device to which the feeder conveyance cars are connected so as to allow communication and which acquires and manages information from the feeder conveyance cars and the feeders, and notification units which are associated with each of the multiple feeder conveyance cars and which actuate in response to a command from the management device, wherein the management device determines the feeder conveyance car supporting at least one feeder to be used or replaced on the basis of the aforementioned information, and actuates the notification unit that corresponds to the specified feeder conveyance car.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a feeder management system and method for managing a plurality of feeders each of which supplies components to a mounting machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a mounting machine including a feeder set table that supports a plurality of feeders, and a control device that determines whether any of the feeders set on the feeder set table needs to be replaced with a replacement feeder due to a component shortage or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). When the control device of this mounting machine determines that a feeder needs to be replaced, it turns on one of a plurality of feeder replacement position indicators provided on the feeder set table that corresponds to the feeder that needs to be replaced. Furthermore, the control device identifies the position of the replacement feeder on a feeder preparation cart or a feeder placement shelf that supports a plurality of feeders, and turns on one of a plurality of indicators provided on the feeder preparation cart or the like that corresponds to the replacement feeder. This makes it possible to easily replace the feeder that needs to be replaced with the replacement feeder.

[0003] Further, a component mounting device used together with a carriage on which a feeder is set is known (for example, see Patent Document 2). When mounting components using this component mounting device, a plurality of feeders are set in advance on the carriage in an external setup area in an arrangement state corresponding to the production type. The carriage on which the feeders are set is moved to a component mounting line and connected to the component mounting device. Further, in the external setup area, an external setup changeover work is performed to arrange feeders to be used in the next production onwards on the carriage removed from the component mounting device, and a work support device is used to support the external setup changeover work. The work support device acquires information on the arrangement state of the feeders on the carriage connected to the component mounting device and information on the arrangement state of the feeders on the carriage removed from the component mounting device. Furthermore, the work support device derives work instruction information that specifies the external setup changeover work required to change the arrangement state of the feeders on the carriage that is the target of the external setup changeover work to correspond to the switching of the production type to a first production type from the arrangement state before the start of the external setup changeover work to a first arrangement state corresponding to the first production type. The derived work instruction information is displayed on the display screen of the work support device. Then, the worker places the feeder removed from the cart on the temporary parts shelf, or sets the feeder taken out from the parts shelf on the cart, according to the work instruction information displayed on the display screen. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-018968 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-146381 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The technology described in Patent Document 1 facilitates the exchange of feeders between a mounting machine and a feeder preparation cart or a feeder placement shelf, but when the technology described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a feeder placement shelf to efficiently manage feeders, the cost of the feeder placement shelf increases due to the provision of many displays on the feeder placement shelf. In addition, the appearance of feeders that supply components to a mounting machine often resembles that of feeders that accommodate different components. For this reason, even if work instruction information that specifies the off-site setup changeover work is displayed on a display screen as described in Patent Document 2, the efficiency of the off-site setup changeover work cannot be sufficiently improved.

[0006] Therefore, a primary object of the present disclosure is to improve the efficiency of feeder management and replacement work while promoting effective use of equipment related to component mounting. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The feeder management system disclosed herein is a feeder management system for managing feeders that supply components to a mounting machine, and includes a plurality of feeder transport carts each capable of moving while supporting a plurality of the feeders, a management device to which the plurality of feeder transport carts are communicatively connected and which acquires and manages information from the feeder transport carts and the plurality of feeders, and a plurality of alarm units each associated with the plurality of feeder transport carts and each operating in response to commands from the management device, wherein the management device identifies the feeder transport cart supporting at least one of the feeders to be used or replaced based on the information, and activates the alarm unit corresponding to the identified feeder transport cart.

[0008] The feeder management system of the present disclosure is configured by connecting a plurality of feeder transport vehicles, each capable of supporting a plurality of feeders, to a management device so as to be able to communicate with the management device, and aggregating information on the feeder transport vehicles and the plurality of feeders in the management device. This makes it possible to efficiently manage information related to a large number of feeders while effectively using the feeder transport vehicles, which are equipment related to component mounting, as racks. Furthermore, the feeder management system of the present disclosure includes a plurality of notification units each associated with the plurality of feeder transport vehicles. Then, the management device identifies a feeder transport vehicle supporting at least one feeder to be used or replaced based on the above information, and activates the notification unit corresponding to the identified feeder transport vehicle. This makes it possible to quickly identify the feeder transport vehicle supporting the feeder to be used or replaced, and therefore makes it possible to efficiently perform the feeder replacement work and external setup change work of the mounting machine. As a result, according to the feeder management system of the present disclosure, it is possible to effectively use the feeder transport vehicles as equipment related to component mounting, while improving the efficiency of feeder management, replacement work, and the like. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a feeder management system and a production line according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a feeder transport cart and a feeder used in the feeder management system and production line of the present disclosure. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a feeder management system of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a feeder management system of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a feeder management system of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating another feeder management system of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing yet another feeder management system of the present disclosure. [Figure 8]1 is a perspective view showing an alarm unit applicable to a feeder management system according to the present disclosure; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Next, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a feeder management system 20 of the present disclosure and a production line 1 used together with the feeder management system 20. As shown in the figure, the feeder management system 20 is provided in an off-site setup area As different from a production area Ap in which the production line 1 is installed. The production line 1 is for producing a board S on which components P are mounted, and includes a printing device 2, a print inspection device 3, a plurality of component mounters 4 (for example, four in this embodiment), a mounting inspection device 6, a reflow device 7, a reflow inspection device 8, and a production management device (control device) 10 that manages and controls the entire line. The printing device 2, the print inspection device 3, the plurality of component mounters 4, the mounting inspection device 6, the reflow device 7, and the reflow inspection device 8 are arranged in this order along a predetermined conveying direction of the board S.

[0012] The printing device 2 prints solder on the wiring pattern of the substrate S, and includes a substrate transport device that transports the substrate S, a print head, a head moving device that moves the print head, a fixed frame to which a screen mask is fixed, and a control device which is a computer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, storage device, etc. (all not shown). The print inspection device 3 inspects the state of the solder printed on the substrate S by the printing device 2, and includes an inspection mechanism and a control device (computer) that controls the inspection mechanism. The control devices of the printing device 2 and the print inspection device 3 exchange information with the production management device 10 via wireless or wired communication, respectively.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the multiple component mounters 4 are arranged downstream of the print inspection device 3 along the transport direction of the board S. Each component mounter 4 is a surface mounter capable of picking up components P from a tape sent out by one of the multiple feeders 50 supported by a feeder transport cart 5 functioning as a component supply unit and mounting the components P on the board S. Each component mounter 4 includes a housing to which the feeder transport cart 5 is connected, a board transport device, an XY movement device, a mounting head including at least one suction nozzle, a parts camera, a mark camera, a nozzle station, and a mounting control unit (all of which are not shown). The mounting control unit of each component mounter 4 is a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a storage device, etc., and exchanges information with the production management device 10 via wireless or wired communication. In addition, the mounting control unit acquires image data from the parts camera and the mark camera, and detection values ​​of various sensors (not shown) installed on the board transport device, the XY movement device, the mounting head, etc. Furthermore, the mounting control unit executes a production program based on information from the production management device 10, image data from the parts camera and mark camera, detection values ​​from various sensors, etc., and controls a plurality of feeders 50 (component supply units), a board transport device, an XY movement device, a mounting head, etc. The production program specifies the mounting order of components P on boards S in a plurality of component mounters 4 on the production line 1, the number of boards S to be produced, etc., and is stored in the ROM of the mounting control unit.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 2, the feeder transport cart 5 includes a cart frame 5F supporting a plurality of wheels (rolling wheels) W, and a feeder set table 5S integrated with the cart frame 5F, and is moved by being pushed by an operator. The feeder set table 5S has a plurality of slots SLT each numbered, and a plurality of feeder connectors 5cf (the same number as the slots SLT) corresponding to each of the plurality of slots SLT. Furthermore, the feeder transport cart 5 has an external connector 5co that is connected to the plurality of feeder connectors 5cf and can be coupled to a connector 4c (see Fig. 1) provided on the housing of the component mounter 4.

[0015] The feeder 50 is a cassette-type tape feeder, and includes a tape reel 51, a tape feeding mechanism 52, a light-emitting unit (notification unit) 53 such as an LED, a connector 54, and a feeder control device 55, as shown in FIG. 2. A tape containing a plurality of components P is wound around the tape reel 51. In each tape reel 51, the plurality of components P are protected by a film covering the surface of the tape, and the film is peeled off before the components P reach a component supply position in the component mounter 4. The tape feeding mechanism 52 pulls out the tape from the tape reel 51 and sends it out to the component supply position. The feeder control device 55 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and controls the tape feeding mechanism 52 and the light-emitting unit 53.

[0016] The feeders 50 are inserted into the corresponding slots SLT so that the connectors 54 are coupled to the corresponding feeder connectors 5cf of the feeder set table 5S, and are supported by the feeder set table 5S. When the external connector 5co of the feeder transport cart 5 is coupled to the connector 4c of the component mounter 4, the feeder control device 55 of each feeder 50 is connected to the mounting control device and power supply of the component mounter 4 via the corresponding feeder connector 5cf and external connector 5co. This enables the feeder control device 55 of each feeder 50 to communicate with the mounting control device, and the feeder information stored by the feeder control device 55 of each feeder 50 can be imported to the component mounter 4. The feeder information includes information such as the ID of the feeder 50, the ID of the tape reel 51 included in the feeder 50, the component type and the remaining number of components (the state of the feeder 50), and the position of the feeder connector 5cf to which the feeder 50 is attached (the position of the feeder 50 on the feeder set table 5S). Further, the feeder control device 55 of each feeder 50 controls the tape feeding mechanism 52 to feed out the tape in response to a command from the mounting control device, and causes the light emitting unit 53 to emit light when the feeder 50 needs to be replaced due to a component shortage or the like. Note that the multiple feeders 50 supported by one feeder transport cart 5 (feeder set table 5S) may store different components from each other, or may store the same components from each other. Furthermore, the feeder information may be managed by the production management device 10, and the mounting control device may obtain the feeder information from the production management device 10.

[0017] The mounting inspection device 6 inspects the mounting state of the components P mounted by each component mounter 4, and includes an inspection mechanism and a control device (computer) that controls the inspection mechanism. The control device of the mounting inspection device 6 also exchanges information with the production management device 10 via wireless or wired communication. The reflow device 7 is disposed downstream of the mounting inspection device 6, and includes a board transport device that transports the board S from the mounting inspection device 6, a heating unit that heats the board S transported by the board transport device, and a reflow control unit that controls the board transport device, the heating unit, and the like. The reflow device 7 melts the solder on the board S by heating the board S to a predetermined reflow temperature (for example, 220°C-260°C) with the heating unit. As a result, the molten solder is cooled and solidified, and each component is electrically connected and fixed to the wiring pattern of the board S. The reflow inspection device 8 inspects the state of the components P on the board S that has been subjected to the reflow process, and includes an inspection mechanism and a control device that controls the inspection mechanism. The control devices of the reflow device 7 and the reflow inspection device 8 are both computers including a CPU, ROM, RAM, storage device, etc., and exchange information with the production management device 10 via wireless or wired communication.

[0018] In this embodiment, the production management device 10 is a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a storage device, etc., and is connected to input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display. The storage device of the production management device 10 stores various production information related to the production of the board S. The production information includes the inventory status and supply status of the components P to be mounted on the board S, the production plan of the board S (including the use plan of the components P), the production status of the board S, and the operating status of the multiple component mounting machines 4 that make up the production line 1. In addition, the production management device 10 gives various command signals to the print control unit of the printing device 2, the mounting control unit of each component mounting machine 4, the reflow control unit of the reflow device 7, etc., in response to requests from the equipment side. The production management device 10 may be configured by a server and a terminal connected to the server via a network.

[0019] Next, the feeder management system 20 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 to 5. Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the feeder management system 20, and Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the feeder management system 20.

[0020] The feeder management system 20 of the present disclosure manages a large number of feeders 50 so that, during the production of a board S on which components P are mounted by a production line 1, an external setup operation in which a feeder 50 to be used in the next production is supported in advance on a feeder transport cart 5 as a component supply unit can be performed more efficiently. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to 5, the feeder management system 20 uses a plurality of the above-mentioned feeder transport carts 5 connected to a component mounter 4, and includes a cart connector 21 and a feeder information management device 25 in addition to the plurality of feeder transport carts 5.

[0021] The carriage coupling unit 21 is a partition wall-like member installed in the external setup area As so as to be able to face the multiple feeder transport carriages 5, and includes multiple connectors 22 each capable of being coupled to the external connector 5co of the feeder transport carriage 5. The multiple connectors 22 each have the same structure as the connector 4c of the component mounter 4, and are disposed at intervals from the carriage coupling unit 21 so that the heights from the installation surface of the external setup area As are the same. As a result, as can be seen from FIG. 4, by bringing the feeder transport carriage 5 close to the carriage coupling unit 21, the external connector 5co of the feeder transport carriage 5 can be coupled to the corresponding connector 22 of the carriage coupling unit 21, for example, manually by an operator. In addition, the carriage coupling unit 21 may include a stopper mechanism (not shown) that restricts the movement of the feeder transport carriage 5 in which the external connector 5co is coupled to the connector 22, and a stopper (not shown) may be provided on each wheel W of the feeder transport carriage 5.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 5, each connector 22 of the cart coupling section 21 is connected to the feeder information management device 25 via a repeater 23 and a communication unit (input / output module) 24. The repeater 23 functions as a power supply repeater that outputs power supplied from a power supply (not shown) to the connector 22 side, and also functions as a signal repeater that repeats signals between the connector 22 (feeder 50) side and the communication unit 24. As a result, when the external connector 5co of the feeder transport cart 5 is coupled to the connector 22 of the cart coupling section 21, the feeder transport cart 5, i.e., the multiple feeders 50 (feeder control device 55) supported by the feeder transport cart 5, is connected to the feeder information management device 25 so as to be able to communicate with the feeder information management device 25 and is also connected to the power supply of the external setup area As. As a result, when the feeder transport cart 5 is connected to the cart coupling section 21, information can be exchanged between the feeder transport cart 5 and the feeder information management device 25, and the light emitting section 53 of the feeder 50 can be made to emit light (or blink) in response to a command from the feeder information management device 25.

[0023] 1 and 3, the cart coupling unit 21 includes a plurality of light emitters (alert units) 27 associated with each of the plurality of connectors 22, in addition to the plurality of connectors 22 as connection units connected to the feeder transport carts 5. In this embodiment, the light emitters 27 are LEDs that emit light (blink) when power is supplied from the corresponding repeater 23 in response to a command from the feeder information management device 25. The plurality of light emitters 27 are provided one for each connector 22, and are arranged in positions that are easily visible to an operator of the cart coupling unit 21 so as to be close to the feeder transport carts 5 connected to the corresponding connectors 22.

[0024] The feeder information management device 25 is a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a storage device, etc., and is connected to an input device 25a such as a keyboard and a display 25b. The feeder information management device 25 acquires information such as production information from the production management device 10 via a network such as a LAN. The feeder information management device 25 is also connected to a barcode reader (not shown) for reading a barcode attached to the feeder transport cart 5 indicating the ID of the feeder transport cart 5. The feeder information management device 25 stores information indicating the ID of the feeder transport cart 5 acquired by an operator via the barcode reader in the storage device. However, the ID of the feeder transport cart 5 may be stored in an IC chip or the like that is built into the feeder transport cart 5 and connected to the external connector 5co. In this case, the feeder information management device 25 acquires the ID of the feeder transport cart 5 from the IC chip or the like when the external connector 5co of the feeder transport cart 5 is connected to the connector 22 of the cart connection part 21.

[0025] Furthermore, when the external connector 5co of the feeder transport cart 5 is connected to the connector 22 of the cart coupling section 21, the feeder information management device 25 acquires the above-mentioned feeder information from the multiple feeders 50 via the feeder transport cart 5. Then, the feeder information management device 25 stores the feeder information of the feeder 50 supported by the feeder transport cart 5 in a storage device in association with the ID of the feeder transport cart 5. Furthermore, the feeder information management device 25 displays information of the feeder transport cart 5 connected to the cart coupling section 21 and the feeder 50 (and the tape reel 51) supported by the feeder transport cart 5 on the display 25b in response to a request from the production management device 10 or a request from a worker via the input device 25a. The feeder information management device 25 may be configured by a server and a terminal connected to the server via a network.

[0026] When the production line 1 produces the board S including the component P, the feeder transport carts 5, each supporting a plurality of feeders 50, are connected to the cart connection unit 21 of the feeder management system 20 configured as described above so as to be able to communicate with the feeder information management device 25. That is, in the feeder management system 20, the feeders 50 not used in the production (including both the feeders 50 with the tape reels 51 set and the feeders 50 without the tape reels 51 set) are not stored in the equipment shelves (not shown) in the off-site setup area As, but are managed by the feeder information management device 25 in a state where they are mounted on the feeder transport carts 50. This allows the feeder transport carts 5, which are equipment related to the mounting of the component P, to be effectively used as racks. Also, the feeder information management device 25 acquires the feeder information of the plurality of feeders 50 supported by each feeder transport cart 5 as described above, and stores the information in a storage device in association with the ID of the corresponding feeder transport cart 5. This allows information on multiple feeder transport cars 5 and multiple feeders 50 supported by each feeder transport cart 5 to be aggregated in the feeder information management device 25, making it possible to efficiently manage information related to a large number of feeders 50.

[0027] In addition, when it becomes necessary to replace a plurality of feeders 50, i.e., a feeder transport cart 5 as a component supply unit, in any of the component mounters 4 during production of the board S including the components P by the production line 1, the production management device 10 requests the feeder information management device 25 to replace the feeder transport cart 5. In response to the request from the production management device 10, the feeder information management device 25 identifies the feeder transport cart 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be newly used from among the plurality of feeder transport carts 5 connected to the cart connector 21 based on the production information from the production management device 10 and the feeder information stored in the storage device. Furthermore, the feeder information management device 25 displays information such as the ID of the identified feeder transport cart 5 and the ID of the component mounter 4 to be mounted on the display 25b, and (individually) emits light (activates) the light emitter 27 corresponding to the connector 22 to which the feeder transport cart 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be newly used is connected. This allows the worker to quickly determine the feeder transport cart 5 (its position) supporting the new feeder 50 to be used from the state of the light emitter 27 of the cart connector 21, and quickly move the target feeder transport cart 5 from the external setup area As to the component mounter 4 in the production area Ap. As a result, the feeder management system 20 makes it possible to efficiently perform the replacement (setup) work of the feeder 50 of each component mounter 4 in the production line 1.

[0028] Furthermore, when the external connector 5co of the feeder transport cart 5 is connected to the connector 22 of the cart connection section 21, the feeder information management device 25 acquires the ID of the connected feeder transport cart 5 and the feeder information of the feeder 50 supported by the feeder transport cart 5. The feeder information management device 25 also determines, from the information acquired from the feeder transport cart 5 etc., whether the feeder transport cart 5 is an empty feeder transport cart 5 that is not supporting a feeder 50, or a feeder transport cart 5 that is supporting a used feeder 50 that has been removed by a worker from the component mounter 4 and moved from the production area Ap to the external setup area As.

[0029] When the feeder transport cart 5 connected to the cart connector 21 is a feeder transport cart 5 supporting an empty or used feeder 50, the feeder information management device 25 sets the feeder transport cart 5 as a setup target and determines the feeder 50 (or tape reel 51) to be newly set on the feeder set table 5S of the feeder transport cart 5 and the number of the slot SLT to which the feeder 50 (or tape reel 51) should be set based on the production information etc. acquired from the production management device 10. In addition, the feeder information management device 25 determines whether or not a feeder transport cart 5 that is not a setup target and supports the feeder 50 to be newly set is connected to the cart connector 21, and identifies the number of the slot SLT to which the corresponding feeder transport cart 5 and the feeder 50 to be newly set are attached. Furthermore, the feeder information management device 25 displays, as support information, on the display 25b, the identifier (ID, name, etc.) of the determined feeder 50 (or tape reel 51), the number of the slot SLT, the position information of the feeder transport cart 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be newly set, etc., and causes the light emitter 27 corresponding to the connector 22 to which the feeder transport cart 5 to which the feeder 50 is to be set to be connected to emit light (operate) (see FIG. 5). Furthermore, when a used feeder 50 is supported by the feeder transport cart 5, the feeder information management device 25 causes the light emitter 53 of the feeder 50 to be replaced to emit light (operate) (see FIG. 5). Furthermore, when the feeder transport cart 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be newly set is connected to the cart connector 21, the feeder information management device 25 causes the light emitter 27 corresponding to the connector 22 to which the feeder transport cart 5 is connected to emit light (operate) and causes the light emitter 53 of the corresponding feeder 50 to emit light (operate).

[0030] This allows the worker to quickly determine the position of the feeder transport cart 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be replaced and the feeder 50 to be replaced from the light emitting device 27 of the cart connector 21 and the state of the light emitting device 53 of the feeder 50. Furthermore, the worker can take out the feeder 50 (or the tape reel 51) to be newly set from the feeder transport cart 5 connected to the cart connector 21 (or from the equipment shelf in the external setup area As if there is no feeder) and set it on the feeder set table 5S of the feeder transport cart 5 to be set up, while referring to the information displayed on the display 25b and the light emitting state of the light emitting device 27. When the new feeder 50 is set on the feeder transport cart 5, the feeder information management device 25 stores the feeder information of the feeder 50 acquired from the feeder transport cart 5 in the storage device in association with the ID of the feeder transport cart 5. As a result, the feeder management system 20 allows the efficient execution of setup changeover work and replacement work of the feeder 50 in the external setup area As. In addition, for a feeder transport cart 5 for which setup of the feeder 50 has been performed based on a production plan, etc., a flag indicating completion of setup may be set on the feeder transport cart 5 side or on the feeder information management device 25 (server) side, and the light emitter 27 corresponding to the feeder transport cart 5 for which setup has been completed among the multiple feeder transport carts 5 connected to the cart connection section 21 may be illuminated to enable the completion of setup to be determined.

[0031] As described above, the feeder management system 20 of the present disclosure is a feeder 50 management system for managing the feeders 50 that supply components P to the component mounter 4, and includes a plurality of feeder transport vehicles 5, a feeder information management device 25, and a plurality of light emitters 27 as an alarm unit. The plurality of feeder transport vehicles 5 are movable while supporting a plurality of feeders 50, and are communicatively connected to the feeder information management device 25. The feeder information management device 25 acquires and manages information from the feeder transport vehicles 5 and the plurality of feeders 50. Furthermore, the plurality of light emitters 27 are associated with the plurality of feeder transport vehicles 5, respectively, and emit light (operate) in response to a command from the feeder information management device 25.

[0032] That is, the feeder management system 20 is configured by connecting a plurality of feeder transport vehicles 5 to the feeder information management device 25 so as to be able to communicate with each other, and by aggregating information on the feeder transport vehicles 5 and the plurality of feeders 50 in the feeder information management device 25. This makes it possible to efficiently manage information related to a large number of feeders 50 while effectively utilizing the feeder transport vehicles 5, which are equipment related to the mounting of components P, as racks. In particular, when the number of feeder transport vehicles 5 owned by a user, more specifically, the product of the number of feeder transport vehicles 5 and the number of slots SLT, is sufficiently large compared to the number of feeders 50 owned by the user, the feeder management system 20 is extremely useful because it can manage a larger number of feeders 50.

[0033] Furthermore, the feeder information management device 25 identifies the feeder transport cart 5 supporting at least one feeder 50 to be used or replaced based on the above production information, the ID of the feeder transport cart 5, the feeder information stored in the storage device, etc., and causes the light emitter 27 corresponding to the identified feeder transport cart 5 to emit light (activate). This allows the worker to quickly identify the feeder transport cart 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be used or replaced, making it possible to efficiently perform replacement work of the feeder 50 of the component mounter 4, external setup change work, etc. As a result, according to the feeder management system 20, it is possible to improve the efficiency of management of the feeder 50, replacement work, etc., while effectively utilizing the feeder transport cart 5 as equipment related to the mounting of the component P. However, in the feeder management system 20, instead of the light emitter 27, a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel or a sound generating device may be provided in the cart connection unit 21 as an alarm unit.

[0034] The feeder management system 20 also includes a carriage coupling section 21 having a plurality of connectors (connecting sections) 22 each communicatively connected to the feeder information management device 25 and communicatively connected to the feeder transport carriage 5, and a plurality of light emitters 27 are disposed in the carriage coupling section 21 so as to correspond to each of the plurality of connectors 22. This makes it possible to align a plurality of feeder transport carriages 5 used as a rack to further improve the usability of the feeder management system 20, and to notify a feeder transport carriage 5 supporting at least one feeder 50 to be used or replaced by illuminating the light emitter 27 of the carriage coupling section 21. However, in the feeder management system 20, a notification section such as the light emitter 27 may be provided in each of the plurality of feeder transport carriages 5.

[0035] Furthermore, the feeder transport cart 5 includes an external connector 5co used to connect the multiple feeders 50 to the component mounter 4, and each connector 22 of the cart connection unit 21 can be coupled to the external connector 5co of the feeder transport cart 5. This makes it possible to connect the feeder transport cart 5 to the feeder information management device 25 so as to be able to communicate with each other, without making any special modifications to the feeder transport cart 5.

[0036] Further, the feeder 50 has a light-emitting unit 53, and the feeder information management device 25 causes the light-emitting unit 53 of the feeder 50 to emit light, which is the feeder to be used or replaced among the multiple feeders 50 supported by the multiple feeder transport carts 5. This makes it possible to individually notify the feeder 50 to be used or replaced. Furthermore, the light-emitting unit 53 of the feeder 50 may be used as a notification unit for notifying the feeder transport cart 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be used or replaced. This makes it possible to omit the light-emitting device 27, which is a dedicated notification unit, from the feeder management system 20 (cart connection unit 21).

[0037] The feeder management system 20 includes a carriage connector 21 to which a plurality of feeder conveying carriages 5 are connected, but is not limited thereto. That is, in a feeder management system 20B shown in FIG. 6, the carriage connector 21 is omitted, and the feeder conveying carriage 5 and the feeder information management device 25 are communicatively connected via a plurality of cables 28. Each cable 28 of the feeder management system 20B has a cable connector 22B that can be coupled to the external connector 5co of the feeder conveying carriage 5 used for connecting a plurality of feeders 50 to the component mounter 4, and is connected to the feeder information management device 25 via a repeater and a communication unit (both not shown). Furthermore, a light emitter 27 such as an LED that emits light when power is supplied via the cable 28 is fixed to the cable connector 22B of each cable 28.

[0038] In this feeder management system 20B, it is possible to efficiently manage information related to a large number of feeders 50 while effectively utilizing the feeder transport cart 5, which is equipment related to the mounting of components P, as a rack. Furthermore, by providing a light emitter 27 to the cable connector 22B of the cable 28, it is possible to realize an alarm unit that makes it possible to easily identify the feeder transport cart 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be used or replaced, without making any special modifications to the feeder transport cart 5. Furthermore, by making the cable connector 22B of the cable 28 have the same structure as the connector 4c of the component mounter 4, it is possible to communicatively connect the feeder transport cart 5 to the feeder information management device 25, without making any special modifications to the feeder transport cart 5.

[0039] In the above-mentioned feeder management systems 20 and 20B, the feeder transport vehicle 5 and the feeder information management device 25 are connected (wired) to be able to communicate with each other via the external connector 5co and the connector 22 or 22B, but this is not limited thereto. That is, in the feeder management system 20C shown in FIG. 7, each feeder transport vehicle 5 and the feeder information management device 25 are connected via wireless communication. More specifically, each feeder transport vehicle 5 constituting the feeder management system 20C includes a wireless communication module 5cm connected to a plurality of feeder connectors 5cf that are respectively coupled to the connectors 54 of the feeders 50 via an input / output module not shown. In addition, a wireless communication module 29 capable of mutual communication with the wireless communication module 5cm of each feeder transport vehicle 5 is connected to the feeder information management device 25 constituting the feeder management system 20C. The wireless communication modules 5cm and 29 utilize optical communication, electromagnetic fields, radio waves, etc., and may or may not have directionality.

[0040] In the feeder management system 20C, the feeder transport cart 5, which is equipment related to the mounting of the components P, can be effectively used as a rack, while efficiently managing information related to a large number of feeders 50. Furthermore, in the feeder management system 20C, it is possible to reduce the effort required to connect each feeder transport cart 5 to the feeder information management device 25. Furthermore, each feeder transport cart 5 constituting the feeder management system 20C may exchange information with the mounting control unit of the component mounter 4 via a wireless communication module 5cm. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the light emitter 27 may be fixed to the wireless communication module 5cm installed on each feeder transport cart 5. In addition, in the feeder management systems 20 and 20B, each feeder transport cart 5 and the feeder information management device 25 may be connected via wireless communication, similar to the feeder management system 20C. In this case, the external connector 5co of the feeder transport cart 5 may be replaced with a wireless communication module or the like, and the connector 22 or 22B on the feeder information management device 25 side may be replaced with a wireless communication module or the like capable of communicating with the wireless communication module of the feeder transport cart 5.

[0041] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned feeder management system 20C, instead of the light emitter 27 fixed to the wireless communication module 5cm, a notification unit 500 as shown in FIG. 8 may be used as a notification section. The notification unit 500 includes the light emitter 27 and a connector 540 that can be coupled to the feeder connector 5cf of the feeder set table 5S, and is supported by the feeder conveying cart 5 in the same manner as the feeder 50. That is, the notification unit 500 is inserted into the corresponding slot SLT so as to be coupled to the corresponding feeder connector 5cf of the feeder set table 5S. By supporting such notification units 500 one by one on each of the multiple feeder conveying carts 5, it becomes possible to easily add the light emitter 27 as a notification section to the existing feeder conveying cart 5 without any special modification. It goes without saying that the notification unit 500 can be used in the above-mentioned feeder management systems 20 and 20B. In the feeder management systems 20 and 20B, by having each of the multiple feeder transport carriages 5 support one notification unit 500, the light emitter 27 can be omitted from the carriage coupling portion 21 and the cable connector 22B.

[0042] Further, the feeder transport cart 5 is detachably connected to the component mounter 4 and functions as a component supply unit of the component mounter 4, but is not limited thereto. That is, the feeder transport cart 5 may be one that detachably supports a feeder set table 5S that supports a plurality of feeders 50. In this case, the feeder set table 5S is connected to the feeder information management device 25 while being supported by the feeder transport cart 5, and is removed from the feeder transport cart 5 and connected to the component mounter 4. Furthermore, the feeder transport cart 5 is not limited to one that moves by being pushed by an operator, but may be an unmanned transport vehicle that can move by itself while supporting a plurality of feeders 50.

[0043] The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above embodiment is merely a specific form of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] The present disclosure is applicable to the industry of manufacturing substrates on which components are mounted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 production line, 2 printing device, 3 printing inspection device, 4 component mounting machine, 4c connector, 5 feeder transport cart, 5F cart frame, 5S feeder set table, 5cf feeder connector, 5cm wireless communication module, 5co external connector, 50 feeder, 51 tape reel, 52 tape feed mechanism, 53 light emitting unit, 54, 540 connector, 55 feeder control device, 500 notification unit, 6 mounting inspection device, 7 reflow device, 8 reflow inspection device, 10 production management device, 20, 20B, 20C feeder management system, 21 cart connection part, 22 connector, 22B cable connector, 23 repeater, 24 communication unit, 25 feeder information management device, 25a input device, 25b display, 27 light emitting device, 28 cable, 29 wireless communication module, Ap production area, As external setup area, P Parts, S board, SLT slot, W drive wheel.

Claims

1. A feeder management system for managing a feeder that supplies components to a mounting machine, comprising: A plurality of feeder transport carriages each capable of moving while supporting a plurality of the feeders; A management device to which the plurality of feeder transport vehicles are communicatively connected and which acquires and manages information from the feeder transport vehicles and the plurality of feeders; a carriage coupling unit having a plurality of connection parts each communicatively connected to the management device and communicatively connected to the feeder carriage; a plurality of notification units that are disposed in the carriage coupling section so as to correspond to each of the plurality of connection sections, and that correspond to each of the plurality of feeder carriages, and that operate in response to a command from the management device, The feeder management system includes a management device that identifies the feeder transport cart supporting at least one feeder that is to be used or replaced based on the information, and activates the alarm unit corresponding to the identified feeder transport cart.

2. 2. The feeder management system according to claim 1, the feeder transport cart includes connectors used to connect the plurality of feeders to the mounting machine, A feeder management system in which the connection portion is a connector that can be coupled to the connector of the feeder transport cart.

3. 2. The feeder management system according to claim 1, the feeder transport vehicle and the management device are communicatively connected via a cable having a cable connector; The notification unit is provided in the cable connector of the cable.

4. 4. The feeder management system according to claim 3, A feeder management system in which the feeder transport cart includes a connector that can be coupled to the cable connector of the cable and is used to connect the multiple feeders to the mounting machine.

5. 2. The feeder management system according to claim 1, A feeder management system in which the plurality of feeder transport vehicles are each communicatively connected to the management device via wireless communication.

6. A feeder management system for managing a feeder that supplies components to a mounting machine, comprising: a plurality of feeder transport carriages each capable of supporting and moving a plurality of the feeders and including a plurality of feeder connectors each capable of being coupled to the feeders; A management device to which the plurality of feeder transport vehicles are communicatively connected and which acquires and manages information from the feeder transport vehicles and the plurality of feeders; a plurality of notification units each corresponding to the plurality of feeder transport vehicles and each operating in response to a command from the management device; the management device identifies the feeder transport cart supporting at least one of the feeders to be used or replaced based on the information, and activates the notification unit corresponding to the identified feeder transport cart; A feeder management system, wherein the notification unit is an notification unit that is supported by the feeder transport cart in the same manner as the feeder and is connected to the management device via the feeder connector of the feeder transport cart.

7. The feeder management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The feeder has a light emitting unit, The management device is a feeder management system that illuminates the light-emitting portion of the feeder that is the object of use or replacement among the plurality of feeders supported by the plurality of feeder transport vehicles.

8. The feeder management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The feeder transport cart is a feeder management system that is detachably connected to the mounting machine and functions as a component supply unit for the mounting machine.

9. The feeder management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the feeder transport cart detachably supports a feeder set table that supports a plurality of the feeders; A feeder management system in which the feeder set table is connected to the management device while being supported by the feeder transport cart, and is detached from the feeder transport cart and connected to the mounting machine.

10. A feeder management method for managing feeders that supply components to a mounting machine, comprising: a carriage coupling unit having a plurality of connection parts communicatively connected to a plurality of feeder carriages each capable of moving while supporting a plurality of the feeders, and communicatively connecting the carriage coupling unit to a management device; aggregating information on the feeder transport vehicle and the plurality of feeders in the management device; a plurality of notification units each of which operates in response to a command from the management device are disposed in the carriage coupling section so as to correspond to each of the plurality of connection sections, and are associated with each of the plurality of feeder transport carriages; the feeder transport carriage supporting at least one of the feeders to be used or replaced is identified based on the information, and the notification unit corresponding to the identified feeder transport carriage is activated; Feeder management methods.

11. A feeder management method for managing feeders that supply components to a mounting machine, comprising: a plurality of feeder transport cars each capable of supporting and moving a plurality of the feeders and each including a plurality of feeder connectors each capable of being coupled to the feeders are communicatively connected to a management device; aggregating information on the feeder transport vehicle and the plurality of feeders in the management device; a plurality of notification units each of which operates in response to a command from the management device, the notification units being supported by the feeder transport cart in the same manner as the feeder and connected to the management device via the feeder connector of the feeder transport cart, are associated with each of the plurality of feeder transport cars, the feeder transport cart supporting at least one of the feeders to be used or replaced is identified based on the information, and the notification unit corresponding to the identified feeder transport cart is activated; Feeder management methods.

Images