Taping device and taping method

Abstract

To insert a component into a pocket of a carrier tape while securing an adequate clearance between the pocket of the carrier tape and the component.SOLUTION: A taping device for sequentially inserting components into a plurality of pockets provided in a carrier tape includes: component information acquisition means for measuring dimensions of each of the plurality of the components and acquiring component information including information about the dimensions for each of the components; pocket information acquisition means for measuring dimensions of an opening for each of the plurality of the pockets and acquiring pocket information including information about the dimensions for each pocket; combination information generation means for generating combination information about which component is inserted into which pocket based on the component information and the pocket information; and component insertion means for inserting the components into the pocket combined with the components based on the combination information generated by the combination information generation means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a taping device and a taping method.

Background Art

[0002] In order to store and transport a large number of parts, a parts storage tape may be used. The parts storage tape is formed by attaching a cover tape for closing pockets to a carrier tape in which parts are inserted one by one into pockets (parts storage recesses). Conventionally, a taping system for sequentially inserting parts into the pockets of a carrier tape (see, for example, Patent Document 1) and a taping device (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 4) are known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Incidentally, the operation of inserting components into the pockets of the carrier tape is affected by the machining accuracy and operating accuracy of each part of the equipment used in the operation, and further by the dimensional accuracy of the pockets of the carrier tape and the dimensional accuracy of the components themselves. Therefore, if the clearance between the component and the pocket is set small, it is assumed that it will be difficult to insert the component into the pocket. Thus, if the dimensions of the component are relatively reduced and the dimensions of the pocket are set large to increase the clearance between the two, it becomes easier to insert the component into the pocket regardless of variations in various accuracies. However, when the clearance between the component and the pocket is set large, the component inserted into the pocket may rotate within the pocket. If the component rotates within the pocket and cannot maintain the desired posture, it is assumed that it will hinder the removal of the component by the component mounter (chip mounter). That is, a problem may occur where the component cannot be inserted if the clearance between the pocket and the component is too narrow, and a problem may occur where the component cannot be removed if the clearance between the pocket and the component is too wide. Such problems can also occur in Patent Documents 1 to 4.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a taping device and a taping method capable of inserting a component into a pocket of a carrier tape while ensuring an appropriate clearance between the pocket of the carrier tape and the component.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the taping device according to the present invention is a taping device that sequentially inserts components into a plurality of pockets provided in a carrier tape, and includes component information acquisition means for measuring the dimensions of each of the plurality of components and acquiring component information including information regarding the dimensions for each component, pocket information acquisition means for measuring the dimensions of the openings for each of the plurality of pockets and acquiring pocket information including information regarding the dimensions for each pocket, combination information generation means for generating combination information on which component is to be inserted into which pocket based on the component information and the pocket information, and component insertion means for inserting the component into the pocket combined with the component based on the combination information generated by the combination information generation means.

[0007] In the taping device having the above configuration, the component information acquisition means may be configured to include a component imaging unit that images the component supplied to the component placement unit and a component image processing unit that acquires the component information of the component supplied to the component placement unit from the image obtained by the component imaging unit.

[0008] Further, in the taping device having the above configuration, the component imaging unit may image a plurality of the components supplied on the component placement unit, and the component image processing unit may acquire the position information of the component included in the component information together with the information regarding the dimensions of the plurality of the components supplied on the component placement unit.

[0009] Furthermore, in the taping device having the above-described configuration, the component insertion means includes a component holding portion that moves to the position where the component is supplied based on the position information and holds the component, and has a dimension larger than the dimension of the pocket provided in the carrier tape, and includes a guide hole for guiding the component into the pocket. The guide hole is located above the pocket, and a guide plate is provided so as to face the carrier tape such that the guide hole communicates with the pocket. The component holding portion can be configured to insert the held component into the guide hole provided above the pocket that is combined with the held component based on the combination information.

[0010] Also, in the taping device having the above-described configuration, the guide plate can be configured to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the carrier tape.

[0011] Furthermore, in the taping device having the above-described configuration, the guide plate can be configured to include a plurality of guide holes arranged along the feeding direction of the carrier tape.

[0012] Also, in the taping device having the above-described configuration, the guide plate can be configured to be rotatable.

[0013] Furthermore, in the taping device having the above-described configuration, the guide plate can be configured to include a plurality of guide holes arranged along the rotation direction.

[0014] Also, in the taping device having the above configuration, the component imaging unit images a plurality of the components supplied while being aligned on the component placement unit, the component image processing unit acquires the alignment order information of the component included in the component information together with information regarding the dimensions of the plurality of the components supplied while being aligned on the component placement unit, the component insertion means includes a component transport unit that includes the component placement unit and transports the components in the alignment order, and a guide plate having a dimension larger than the dimension of the pocket provided in the carrier tape, having a guide hole that temporarily holds the component and guides the component to the pocket, the guide hole being located above the pocket, and being provided to face the carrier tape so that the guide hole communicates with the pocket, and the guide plate can be configured to rotate so as to position the guide hole above the pocket combined with the component held in the guide hole based on the combination information.

[0015] Furthermore, in the taping device having the above configuration, the tape guide on which the carrier tape is installed can be configured to include a vibration unit.

[0016] Also, in the taping device having the above configuration, the pocket information acquisition means can be configured to include a pocket imaging unit that images the pocket and a pocket image processing unit that acquires the pocket information of the pocket from the image obtained by the pocket imaging unit.

[0017] The pocket information can be configured to include order information indicating the order of the pockets sequentially sent.

[0018] Also, in order to solve the above problems, the taping method according to the present invention is a taping method for sequentially inserting components into a plurality of pockets provided in a carrier tape, comprising: a step of measuring the dimensions of each of the plurality of components by component information acquisition means and acquiring component information including information regarding the dimensions for each component; a step of measuring the dimensions of the openings for each of the plurality of pockets by pocket information acquisition means and acquiring pocket information including information regarding the dimensions for each pocket; a step of generating combination information by combination information generation means based on the component information and the pocket information, the combination information indicating which component is to be inserted into which pocket; and a step of inserting the components into the pockets combined with the components based on the combination information generated by the component insertion means.

[0019] In the taping method having the above configuration, the step of acquiring the component information for each component may include: a step of imaging the component supplied to the component placement unit by a component imaging unit included in the component information acquisition means; and a step of acquiring the component information of the component supplied to the component placement unit from the image obtained by the component imaging unit by a component image processing unit included in the component information acquisition means.

[0020] Also, in the taping method having the above configuration, the step of acquiring the pocket information for each pocket may include: a step of imaging the pocket by a pocket imaging unit included in the pocket information acquisition means; and a step of acquiring the pocket information of the pocket from the image obtained by the pocket imaging unit by a pocket image processing unit included in the pocket information acquisition means.

Advantages of the Invention

[0021] According to the invention disclosed in this specification, components can be inserted into the pockets of a carrier tape while ensuring an appropriate clearance between the pockets of the carrier tape and the components.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figure 19

Figure 20

Figure 21

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] (First Embodiment) First, referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, the structure and control system of the taping device 1000 illustrated in FIG. 1, the component ECs that can be used in this taping device 1000, and the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 will be described.

[0024] The taping device 1000 shown in FIG. 1 selects a carrier tape having a pocket CTa (see FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C)) suitable for the component ECs to be handled among a plurality of types of carrier tapes CT1 to CT3. Then, the component ECs are sequentially inserted into the pockets CTa provided in the selected carrier tape. The taping device 1000 includes a moving means 10, a component placement section 20, a component supply means 30, a component information acquisition means 40, a component holding and insertion means 50, a component orientation recognition means 60, and a tape feeding means 70. The taping device 1000 further includes a pocket information acquisition means 80 and a component guiding means 90.

[0025] Note that the component ECs and the three carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 shown in FIG. 1 are drawn in accordance with the subsequent description of the taping method, and do not limit the sizes and types of the components and carrier tapes that can be used in the taping device shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] <Description of Components and Carrier Tapes Applicable to the Taping Device> Typical examples of component EC that can be used in the taping device 1000 shown in Fig. 1 are rectangular parallelepiped-shaped electronic components, such as capacitor elements, varistor elements, inductor elements, array elements, composite elements, etc. Of course, as component EC, components other than rectangular parallelepiped-shaped electronic components, non-rectangular parallelepiped-shaped electronic components, or components other than electronic components can also be used.

[0027] When the component EC to be inserted is a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped electronic component, taking major commercially available products as examples, the range of the length reference dimension is 0.4 mm to 3.2 mm, the range of the width reference dimension is 0.2 mm to 2.5 mm, and the range of the height (thickness) reference dimension is 0.2 mm to 2.5 mm. Also, the relationship among the length reference dimension, the width reference dimension, and the height reference dimension is any one of length reference dimension > width reference dimension = height reference dimension, length reference dimension > width reference dimension > height reference dimension, and length reference dimension > height reference dimension > width reference dimension.

[0028] The carrier tape that can be used in the taping device 1000 shown in Fig. 1 only needs to have pockets CTa (component storage recesses) that can store the components EC to be handled at equal intervals. That is, there are no special restrictions on the width of the carrier tape, the size and pitch of the pockets CTa, nor on the material.

[0029] Here, with reference to Figs. 2(A) to 2(C), carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 that can be handled by the taping device 1000 of the present embodiment will be described. Carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 are examples, and the taping device 1000 can also handle carrier tapes other than these. Note that although the components handled by each of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 have different sizes, the same reference numerals are used in the following description.

[0030] The width Wt of the carrier tape CT1 shown in Fig. 2(A) is 4 mm, the pitch Pa of the rectangular parallelepiped-shaped pockets CTa is 1 mm, the pitch Pb of the circular tape feed holes CTb is 2 mm, and each pocket CTa can store a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped component (electronic component) EC with a length reference dimension of 0.4 mm, a width reference dimension of 0.2 mm, and a height reference dimension of 0.2 mm.

[0031] The width Wt of the carrier tape CT2 shown in Fig. 2(B) is 8 mm, the pitch Pa of the rectangular parallelepiped pockets CTa is 1 mm, and the pitch Pb of the circular tape feed holes CTb is 4 mm. Each pocket CTa can accommodate a rectangular parallelepiped part (electronic component) EC with a length reference dimension of 0.6 mm, a width reference dimension of 0.3 mm, and a height reference dimension of 0.3 mm.

[0032] The width Wt of the carrier tape CT2 shown in Fig. 2(C) is 8 mm, the pitch Pa of the rectangular parallelepiped pockets CTa is 2 mm, and the pitch Pb of the circular tape feed holes CTb is 4 mm. Each pocket CTa can accommodate a rectangular parallelepiped part (electronic component) EC with a length reference dimension of 0.6 mm, a width reference dimension of 0.3 mm, and a height reference dimension of 0.15 mm.

[0033] <Description of the moving means 10> As shown in Fig. 1, the moving means 10 has a Y-direction moving part 11 and an X-direction moving part 12 provided on the base plate BP. As indicated by the arrows on the left side of Fig. 1, the Y direction refers to the vertical direction in Fig. 1, the X direction refers to the horizontal direction in Fig. 1, and the Y direction and the X direction are orthogonal in the plane.

[0034] The Y-direction moving part 11 has a first table 11a and a linear movement mechanism (not shown) using a motor 11b (see Fig. 10). The first table 11a is connected to the movable part of the linear movement mechanism and can move in the +Y direction and the -Y direction by the forward and reverse rotation of the motor 11b.

[0035] The X-direction moving part 12 has a second table 12a and a linear movement mechanism (not shown) using a motor 12b (see Fig. 10). The second table 12a is connected to the movable part of the linear movement mechanism and can move in the +X direction and the -X direction by the forward and reverse rotation of the motor 12b.

[0036] <Description of the component placement part 20> As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4(A), and 4(B), the component placement unit 20 includes a tray unit 21 having a flat placement surface 21a, and an electrically actuated component diffusing unit 22 (see also FIG. 10) capable of applying vibration, preferably vibration in the XY direction, to the tray unit 21. The lower surface of the component placement unit 20 is connected to the first table 11a, and it can move in conjunction with the first table 11a to the component supply location P1 and the component information acquisition location P2 shown in FIG. 1. Incidentally, the component supply location P1 and the component information acquisition location P2 are locations predetermined by XY coordinates in the XY plane, and the X-direction coordinate values of the centers of the respective locations P1 and P2 are the same.

[0037] By applying vibration to the tray unit 21, the component diffusing unit 22 can diffuse the components EC supplied from the component supply means 30 to the placement surface 21a of the tray unit 21 at the component supply location P1, specifically, increase the gaps between the components.

[0038] Also, the placement surface 21a is located at a position lower than the upper surface of the tray unit 21 and is surrounded by walls. When the components EC are drop-supplied from the component supply means 30 to the placement surface 21a of the tray unit 21 (see FIG. 3), the components EC do not spill out to the outside from the periphery of the placement surface 21a.

[0039] Note that depending on the component drop distance, if the components drop-supplied from the component supply means 30 to the placement surface 21a of the tray unit 21 bounce, it is advisable to place a mat (not shown) formed of synthetic resin, synthetic rubber, elastomer, etc. on the placement surface 21a to prevent such bouncing. Also, the components EC on the placement surface 21a are transported as the component placement unit 20 moves. At this time, the placement surface 21a is preferably formed of a material with a high coefficient of friction so that the positions of the respective components EC on the placement surface 21a do not shift. Further, the components EC on the placement surface 21a are adsorbed and held by the suction nozzle 52 (see FIGS. 5(A), etc.) described later. For this reason, in order to smoothly take out the components EC, it is also required that the placement surface 21a be formed of a material to which the components EC are less likely to adhere.

[0040] <Description of Component Supply Means 30> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the component supply means 30 includes a component storage section 31 capable of accommodating a large number (for example, thousands to millions) of components EC, and a component supply section 32 capable of guiding components from the outlet 31a of the component storage section 31 and transporting the guided components so that they can fall from its transport end to the component placement section 20. It is configured such that a number of components corresponding to the size can be supplied to the component placement section 20 at the component supply location P1 according to the transport distance of the component supply section 32. The component supply means 30 is arranged adjacent to the component supply location P1 shown in FIG. 1, and its frame (not shown) is connected to the base plate BP. Note that the component supply means 30 may be connected to the first table 11a and be movable together with the first table 11a. Thereby, it is not necessary to move the component placement section 20 to supply the component EC to the component placement section 20, and the replenishment time of the component EC can be shortened.

[0041] The component storage section 31 has an outer appearance in the shape of an inverted frustum of a cone and has a cylindrical portion (reference numeral omitted) at its lower part, and a rectangular outlet 31a in the cylindrical portion. The component supply section 32 includes an endless belt 32a having a flat support portion 32a1 capable of supporting the components led out from the outlet 31a of the component storage section 31, and a belt rotation section 32b capable of rotating the endless belt 32a. The belt rotation section 32b includes two pulleys (reference numeral omitted) around which the endless belt 32a is wound, and a motor 32b1 (see FIG. 10) that rotationally drives the pulley on the right side of FIG. 3 in the clockwise direction at a constant speed. The transport distance of the endless belt 32a can be controlled by the operation time of the motor 32b1.

[0042] Also, the transport end 32a2 of the endless belt 32a is located above the center of the component placement section 20 at the component supply location P1 (above the center of the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21). That is, the component EC that is drop-supplied from the transport end 32a2 of the endless belt 32a scatters on the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21 so as to spread from the center to the outside.

[0043] The operation of the component supply means 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. When the component placement section 20 is at the component supply location P1 (see Fig. 1), the component EC stored in the component storage section 31 is led out from its outlet 31a by the rotation of the endless belt 32a. Then, the led-out component EC is conveyed toward the component placement section 20 while being supported by the support portion 32a1 of the endless belt 32a, and is drop-supplied from the conveying end 32a2 of the endless belt 32a to the center of the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21 of the component placement section 20. Since this drop supply of the component EC continues until the rotation of the endless belt 32a stops (until the conveyance stops), the number of components corresponding to the conveyance distance of the endless belt 32a is supplied to the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21 of the component placement section 20.

[0044] The component EC supplied to the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21 of the component placement section 20 according to the conveyance distance of the endless belt 32a scatters so as to spread outward from the center of the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21. Further, the component diffusion section 22 of the component placement section 20 operates during the component supply process or after the component supply stops, and the component EC supplied to the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21 is diffused by the vibration from the component diffusion section 22. That is, the component EC supplied from the component supply means 30 to the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21 of the component placement section 20 becomes a scattered state on the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21, and is diffused by the vibration from the component diffusion section 22 to become a more appropriate scattered state (see Figs. 4(A) and 4(B)). Incidentally, the scattered state means a state in which the component on the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21 of the component placement section 20 can be held without trouble by each suction nozzle 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50.

[0045] Note that if the component EC drop-supplied from the conveying end 32a2 of the endless belt 32a to the center of the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21 becomes an appropriate scattered state on the placement surface 21a even without the vibration applied from the component diffusion section 22, the component diffusion section 22 may not be provided.

[0046] Here, the point of controlling the number of components supplied from the component supply means 30 to the component placement section 20 by the conveyance distance of the endless belt 32a of the component supply section 32 will be described in detail.

[0047] Since the component placement section 20 is shared by component ECs of various sizes, in order to scatter the component ECs supplied to the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21, it is necessary to vary the number of component ECs supplied to the placement surface of the tray section 21 according to the size of the component ECs.

[0048] Taking the case of an electronic component whose component EC is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped as an example, for instance, when the range of the reference dimension of the length is 0.4 mm to 3.2 mm, the range of the reference dimension of the width is 0.2 mm to 2.5 mm, and the range of the reference dimension of the height (thickness) is 0.2 mm to 2.5 mm, the area where the component with the smallest size (0.4 mm × 0.2 mm × 0.2 mm) contacts the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21 is 1 / 100 (in calculation) of the area where the component EC with the largest size (3.2 mm × 2.5 mm × 2.5 mm) contacts the placement surface 21a of the tray section 21. Therefore, in order to ensure a scattered state, it is necessary to reduce the number of the component ECs with the largest size when supplying them compared to the number of the component ECs with the smallest size when supplying them.

[0049] Also, when the component supply means 30 is shared by component ECs of various sizes, the size (height dimension and width dimension) of the outlet 31a of the component storage section 31 must be set to a size through which the component with the largest size (3.2 mm × 2.5 mm × 2.5 mm) can pass, for example, 10 mm × 10 mm or 5 mm × 5 mm. That is, if the size of the outlet 31a is adjusted according to the component EC with the largest size, the component EC with the smallest size (0.4 mm × 0.2 mm × 0.2 mm) is highly likely to be led out from the outlet 31a in an overlapping state. Moreover, since the orientation of the component ECs stored in the component storage section 31 is random, regardless of the size of the components, the number of component ECs led out from the outlet 31a at one time also changes slightly.

[0050] Therefore, when the component supply means 30 is shared by component ECs of various sizes, the optimal number of components to be supplied to the mounting surface 21a of the tray portion 21 of the component mounting portion 20 for each size of the component EC is determined in advance by a preliminary experiment. Further, the conveying distance of the endless belt 32a for supplying the optimal number to the mounting surface 21a of the tray portion 21 is determined in advance for each size of the component EC. Then, it is necessary to store the conveyance distance by size (which can also be substituted with the operation time by size when the motor 32b1 rotates at a constant speed) in the storage unit 104 (see FIG. 10) before operation.

[0051] In addition, in the present embodiment, the component supply means 30 is shown using an endless belt 32a as the component supply unit 32, but it is also possible to use a vibratory linear feeder that can exhibit a similar conveying function for the component supply unit 32.

[0052] <Explanation of Component Information Acquisition Means 40> As shown in FIG. 1, the component information acquisition means 40 includes a first imaging unit 41 (see FIG. 10) incorporating an imaging element such as a CMOS or a CCD and an optical system. Further, the component information acquisition means 40 has a first image processing unit 42 (see FIG. 10) capable of recognizing the position information (XY coordinates of the center of each component) and dimensional information of each component EC scattered on the component mounting portion 20 from the image obtained by the first imaging unit 41. The first imaging unit 41 functions as a component imaging unit, and the first image processing unit 42 functions as a component image processing unit. The position information and dimensional information of each component are included in the component information. It is assumed that the size of the component EC on the mounting surface 21a is small relative to the number of pixels (resolution) of the first imaging unit 41, and the position information and dimensional information of the component EC cannot be appropriately acquired. In such a case, the area of the mounting surface 21a can be divided into a plurality of regions, and each region can be imaged by the first imaging unit 41. In this case, the component mounting portion 20 is appropriately moved so that the region to be imaged is located directly below the first imaging unit 41. Thereby, making use of the imaging pixel number of the first imaging unit 41, more accurate measurement and information collection become possible. Here, the dimensions of the component EC are its length l and width w or thickness t (see FIGS. 8(A-1) and 8(A-2)). The length l, width w, and thickness t of the component EC will be described later.

[0053] The first imaging unit 41 has its upper surface connected to the second table 12a, is interlocked with the second table 12a, and can move to the component information acquisition location P2 shown in FIG. 1. That is, the first imaging unit 41 can image the scattered components EC on the component placement unit 20 from above at the component information acquisition location P2. Incidentally, the position information and dimension information of the component EC recognized by the first image processing unit 42 are stored in the storage unit 104 (see FIG. 10).

[0054] <Explanation of the component holding and inserting means 50> The component holding and inserting means 50 functions as a part of the component inserting means and includes a head portion 51 having a cylindrical appearance as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5(A) to 5(D). The head portion 51 is provided with a plurality of suction nozzles (16 in the drawing, hereinafter referred to as suction nozzles 52) as a plurality of component holding portions 52 and a head rotation portion 53 that can rotate the head portion 51. The head portion 51 is also provided with a nozzle lifting and lowering portion 55 that can individually lift and lower each suction nozzle 52 and a nozzle rotation portion 56 that can individually rotate each suction nozzle 52. Incidentally, the angular interval between the centers of each suction nozzle 52 is 22.5 degrees, and the distance between each center and the rotation center of the head portion 51 is the same.

[0055] The head rotation portion 53 has a motor 53a (see FIG. 10) provided on the upper surface of the second table 12a. The shaft 53b of the motor 53a is connected to the center of the upper surface of the head rotation portion 53 through the cylindrical hole 12a1 of the second table 12a (see FIG. 5(A)). That is, the component holding and inserting means 50 is interlocked with the second table 12a and can move to the component information acquisition location P2, the component orientation recognition location P3, and the component insertion location P4 shown in FIG. 1. Further, the head rotation portion 53 can rotate the head portion 51 in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction in a top view by the forward and reverse rotation of the motor 11b.

[0056] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the center of the component holding and inserting means 50 that interlocks with the second table 12a is separated from the center of the component information acquisition means 40 connected to the same second table 12a in the X direction. Incidentally, the component orientation recognition location P3 is a location predetermined by XY coordinates in the XY plane, and the Y-direction coordinate value of the center of the component orientation recognition location P3 is the same as the Y-direction coordinate value of the center of the component information acquisition location P2. The component insertion location P4 is a location along the common X direction for each carrier tape CT1 to CT3. The second table 12a can relatively change its position with respect to each carrier tape CT1 to CT3 by the movement of the table for tape feeding means 70a along the Y direction as will be described later. Specifically, the base plate BP can move to a position P4a where the center of one of the 16 suction nozzles 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50 intersects with the guide hole 92a to be inserted with the component EC at the component insertion location P4 in a top view (see FIG. 6(A)).

[0057] Each suction nozzle 52 integrally or separately has a nozzle support portion 52a and a rotation restricting portion 52b that are larger in outer shape than the suction nozzle 52, and is disposed in a vertically movable manner in a cylindrical nozzle holder 54 (see FIG. 5(C)). Further, the nozzle support portion 52a is vertically movably positioned in the cylindrical hole 54a at the lower part of the nozzle holder 54, and the rotation restricting portion 52b is vertically movably positioned in the nozzle holder 54 and is in a non-rotatable state. Although not shown, negative pressure and positive pressure can be supplied to the suction holes of each suction nozzle 52 via an air tube from an air supply source 105 (see FIG. 10). That is, each suction nozzle 52 is disposed in a state where only vertical movement is possible in each nozzle holder 54, and can hold a component at its lower end by supplying negative pressure, and can release the holding of the component EC by supplying positive pressure for a very short time to break the vacuum.

[0058] The nozzle lifting / lowering unit 55 has a servo motor 55a provided on the upper surface of each nozzle holder 54. A rod 55b that is movably provided in the axial direction by the servo motor 55a is in contact with the center of the upper surface of the rotation restricting portion 52b of the suction nozzle 52 through a columnar hole 54b in the upper part of the nozzle holder 54 (see Fig. 5(C)). Although not shown, each servo motor 55a can lower and raise the rod 55b by means of a gear mechanism.

[0059] As can be seen from Fig. 5(B) and Fig. 5(D), a unit including the suction nozzle 52, the nozzle holder 54, and the nozzle lifting / lowering unit 55 (see Fig. 5(C), reference numerals omitted) is rotatably arranged in a columnar hole 51a provided at equal angular intervals (22.5-degree intervals in the drawing) around the lower surface of the head portion 51 with the lower part of the nozzle holder 54 protruding downward.

[0060] The nozzle rotation unit 56 includes a motor 56a (see Fig. 10) arranged in the head portion 51 corresponding to each unit, a gear 56c connected to the shaft 56b of the motor 56a, and an external gear-shaped uneven portion 54c provided on the upper outer surface of the nozzle holder 54 of each unit and meshing with the gear 56c (see Fig. 5(B)). That is, each nozzle rotation unit 56 can rotate the suction nozzle 52 in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction in a top view by the forward and reverse rotation of the motor 56a.

[0061] <Explanation of the component orientation recognition means 60> As shown in Fig. 1, the component orientation recognition means 60 includes a second imaging unit 61 (see Fig. 10) incorporating an imaging element such as a CMOS or a CCD and an optical system. The component orientation recognition means 60 also has a second image processing unit 62 (see Fig. 10) that can recognize the orientation of each component held by each suction nozzle 52 of the component holding / inserting means 50 from the image obtained by the second imaging unit 61, specifically, the angle θ of the component with respect to the Y direction (see Fig. 18(A)), or the angle of the component with respect to the X direction (not shown) as component orientation information. The second image processing unit 62 also recognizes the amount of deviation (in the Y direction and the X direction) between the center of the component EC held by the suction nozzle 52 and the center of the suction nozzle 52 together with the orientation of the component EC.

[0062] The second imaging unit 61 has its lower surface connected to the base plate BP and is disposed at the component orientation recognition location P3 shown in FIG. 1. That is, the second imaging unit 61 can image the held components held by the respective suction nozzles 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50 from below at the component orientation recognition location P3. Information on the orientation of the component EC recognized by the second image processing unit 62 and information on the amount of deviation (in the Y direction and X direction) between the center of the component EC and the center of the suction nozzle 52 are stored in the storage unit 104 (see FIG. 10).

[0063] <Explanation of the tape feeding means 70> The tape feeding means 70 is provided separately from the base plate BP. The tape feeding means 70 is installed on a table 70a for the tape feeding means provided above the base plate BP. The table 70a for the tape feeding means is mounted on a rail portion 70b laid so as to extend along the Y direction on the base plate BP. Thereby, the tape feeding means 70 can move along the Y direction. Thereby, the relative positional relationship between the tape feeding means 70 and the base plate BP can be changed. Illustration of the driving unit for the table 70a for the tape feeding means to move on the rail portion 70a and its detailed explanation are omitted. The tape feeding means 70 has a pair of reel support portions 71 provided at intervals in the Y direction, a shaft 72 supported by the pair of reel support portions 71, and shaft fixing caps 73 covering both end protruding portions of the shaft 72.

[0064] Three carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 (see FIG. 2) are depicted in FIG. 1. The shaft 72 is provided with a supply reel TR1 around which the carrier tape CT1 is wound, a supply reel TR2 around which the carrier tape CT2 is wound, and a supply reel TR3 around which the carrier tape CT3 is wound. These are rotatably and detachably arranged via a spacer ring 74.

[0065] That is, by removing at least one of the caps 73 and taking out the shaft 72 from the reel support portion 71, it is possible to replace each of the supply reels TR1 to TR3. Incidentally, each of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 wound around each of the supply reels TR1 to TR3 is fed out from each of the supply reels TR1 to TR3 with each pocket CTa facing upward.

[0066] Also, the tape feeding means 70 includes three tape guides 75 to 77 provided at the component insertion location P4, and three tape feeding portions (not shown) capable of intermittently moving each of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 in the +Y direction in each of the tape guides 75 to 77. Each of the tape guides 75 to 77 has grooves 75a to 77a corresponding to the width W of each of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3, and each tape feeding portion includes a sprocket (not shown) engageable with a tape feeding hole CTb of each of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 in each of the tape guides 75 to 77, and motors 78a1, 78b1, 78c1 (see FIG. 10) capable of rotating each sprocket. That is, by the operation of the motors 78a1, 78b1, 78c1 of each tape feeding portion, each of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 fed out from each of the supply reels TR1 to TR3 can be intermittently moved in the +X direction at the pitch Pa of each pocket CTa while being guided by each of the tape guides 75 to 77.

[0067] Furthermore, in addition to the above, the tape feeding means 70 has three cover tape attaching portions (not shown) provided at a position farther in the +X direction than the component insertion location P4. Each cover tape attaching portion includes three cover tape supply reels (not shown) capable of supplying a heat-bondable cover tape corresponding to the width of each of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3, and movable heater portions 78a2, 78b2, 78c2 (see FIG. 10) capable of attaching the cover tape from each cover tape supply reel to each of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 by heat bonding. That is, by the operation of the movable heater portions 78a2, 78b2, 78c2 of each cover tape attaching portion, it is possible to attach a cover tape to each of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 after component insertion that intermittently moves in the +X direction to close each pocket CTa.

[0068] Further, in addition to the above, the tape feeding means 70 has three tape winding portions (not shown) provided at positions farther in the +Z direction than the respective tape guides 75 to 77. Each tape winding portion has three winding reels (not shown) capable of winding the respective carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 (component storage tapes) after component insertion and after cover tape attachment, and winding motors 78a3, 78b3, 78c3 (see FIG. 10) capable of rotating each winding reel in the winding direction. That is, by the operation of the winding motors 78a3, 78b3, 78c3 of each tape winding portion, the respective carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 (component storage tapes) after component insertion and after cover tape attachment can be wound onto the respective winding reels.

[0069] <Explanation of Pocket Information Acquisition Means 80> As shown in FIG. 1, the pocket information acquisition means 80 includes a third imaging unit 81 (see FIG. 10) incorporating an imaging element such as a CMOS or a CCD and an optical system. The pocket information acquisition means 80 also has a third image processing unit 82 (see FIG. 10) capable of recognizing information regarding the dimensions of the pockets CTa provided on the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 from the image obtained by the third imaging unit 81. The third imaging unit 81 functions as a pocket imaging unit, and the third image processing unit 82 functions as a pocket image processing unit. The dimension information of each pocket CTa is included in the pocket information together with the information on the arrangement order of the pockets CTa. Here, the dimensions of the pocket CTa are its length Lc and width Wc (see FIG. 8(B)). The length Lc and width Wc of the pocket CTa will be described later.

[0070] The third imaging unit 81 is connected at its upper surface to a support unit (not shown) extending from the base plate BP, is interlocked with the base plate BP, and can move on the tape guides 75 to 76. As a result, the third imaging unit 81 can move above the tape guide being used among the tape guides 75 to 78. Then, the third imaging unit 81 can image the pocket CTa provided in the carrier tape fed by the tape feeding means 70 from above. The dimensional information and arrangement order information of the pocket CTa recognized by the third image processing unit 82 are stored in the storage unit 104 (see FIG. 10).

[0071] <Description of the component guiding means 90> The component guiding means 90 includes a motor 91, an eccentric cam 91a, and a guide plate 92. The motor 91 and the eccentric cam 91a correspond to the vibrating unit. The component guiding means 90 is provided for each of the tape guides 75 to 77. Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 6(A), etc., the guide plate 92 is provided with guide holes 92a corresponding to the pockets CTa provided in the carrier tape CT1. The dimensions of the guide holes 92a are slightly larger than the dimensions of the pockets CTa. The guide plate 92 is prepared corresponding to the target carrier tape. That is, the arrangement pitch and dimensions of the guide holes 92a are provided corresponding to the pockets CTa of the carrier tape. FIG. 6(A) and FIG. 6(B) depict the tape guide 75 for guiding the carrier tape CT1, and the guide plate 92 corresponding to the carrier tape CT1 is shown. In the following description, the case of inserting the component EC into the pocket CTa of the carrier tape CT1 will be described, but the case of inserting the component EC into the carrier tape CT2 or the carrier tape CT3 is the same.

[0072] The guide hole 92a is provided to smoothly insert the component EC into the pocket CTa. Once the component EC is inserted into the guide hole 92a, it is then stored in the pocket CTa. A plurality of guide holes 92a are provided in the guide plate 92. In the present embodiment, 11 guide holes 92a are provided along the X direction, and these are provided in 3 rows along the Y direction. However, such an arrangement of the guide holes 92a is merely an example, and the number and arrangement of the guide holes 92a are not limited thereto and can be set as appropriate. For example, the number of guide holes 92a arranged in a row may be set according to the number of suction nozzles 52 (16 in the present embodiment).

[0073] The guide plate 92 is arranged so as to be slidable on the surface of a support plate 95 (omitted in FIGS. 1, 13, etc.) provided on a support portion (not shown) that supports the tape feeding means 70. The support plate 95 is arranged on the side of the tape guide 75. The guide plate 92 is provided so as to be movable in a direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the feeding direction (X direction) of the carrier tape CT1. The guide plate 92 can be moved in the Y direction by drive motors 93 arranged on both sides thereof. Although the guide hole 92a is a through hole, since the guide plate 92 is arranged to slide on the support plate 95, the component EC inserted into the guide hole 92a can stay in the guide hole 92a without falling. The component EC is inserted into the guide hole 92a by the suction nozzle 52 at the component insertion location P4. The guide plate 92 moves in the +Y direction by the drive motor 93 with the component EC inserted into all the guide holes 92a in a row along the X direction. The component EC moves onto the pocket CTa of the carrier tape CT1 and is stored in the pocket CTa as the guide plate 92 moves. The guide plate 92 and the support plate 95 are similarly equipped with respect to the tape guides 76 and 77.

[0074] The motor 91 and the eccentric cam 91a are provided to impart vibration to the tape guide 75 and to drop and store the component EC inserted into the guide hole 92a into the pocket CTa. The eccentric cam 91a is attached to the tape guide 75. Also, the rotation shaft portion of the motor 91 is connected to a position offset from the center point of the eccentric cam 91a. Thereby, when the motor 91 rotates, the tape guide 75 can be vibrated, and the component EC in the guide hole 92a can be stored in the pocket CTa. The eccentric cam 91a of the present embodiment imparts vibrations to the tape guide 75 in the X direction, the Y direction, and the direction (Z direction) orthogonal to these. Note that the amplitude by the eccentric cam 91a is set to be approximately the same as the position of the inner wall of the guide hole 92a, the size of which is set to be slightly larger than that of the pocket CTa, so that the inner wall position of the pocket CTa. Thereby, it is possible to avoid the component EC from being damaged by being sandwiched between the guide plate 92 and the carrier tape CT1. The motor 91 and the eccentric cam 91a are similarly provided in the tape guides 76 and 77.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 6(B), the tape guide 75 is provided with a groove 75a in which the carrier tape CT1 is disposed and a recess 75b into which the pocket CTa can enter. A magnet 75c is disposed in the recess 75b. When the component EC contains a material belonging to a ferromagnetic material, the posture of the component EC can be adjusted by the magnetic force of the magnet 75c. Thereby, the component EC can be stored in the pocket CTa in the correct posture.

[0076] Here, referring to FIG. 7(A) which shows an enlarged view of FIG. 6(B) and FIG. 7(B) which shows the components laminated on the tape guide 75 separated, a separator 94 is disposed between the tape guide 75 and the carrier tape CT1. The separator 94 is disposed so as to cover the carrier tape CT1, and the guide plate 92 is provided so that the moving guide plate 92 does not directly touch the carrier tape CT1 and damage the carrier tape CT1. An opening 94a is provided in the separator 94. The size of the opening 94a is set to be larger than the size of the guide hole 92a and the size of the opening of the pocket CTa, so as not to prevent the insertion of the component EC into the pocket CTa of the component EC.

[0077] Referring to FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B), a lift detection sensor 96 for detecting the lift of the guide plate 92 is provided on the side of the tape guide 75. If the component EC is not properly inserted into the pocket CTa, when the carrier tape CT1 is conveyed in this state, the guide plate 92 will lift up in a state of riding on the uninserted component EC. The lift detection sensor 96 detects such a lift of the guide plate 92. When the lift detection sensor 96 detects the lift of the guide plate 92, measures can be taken to temporarily stop the operation of the taping device 1000. Thereby, it is possible to cope with the insertion failure of the component EC into the pocket CTa. The lift detection sensor 96 is also provided in the tape guide 76 and the tape guide 77 in the same manner.

[0078] Here, referring to FIG. 8, the relationship between the dimensions of component EC, the dimensions of pocket CTa (the dimensions of the opening), and the dimensions of guide hole 92a will be described. First, referring to FIG. 8(A-1), the width and length of component EC are w and l, respectively. And the length of the diagonal on the plane where the width w and length l of component EC appear is d2. Next, referring to FIG. 8(A-2), the thickness (height) of component EC is t. And the length of the diagonal on the plane where the width w and thickness t of component EC appear is d1. Next, referring to FIG. 8(A-3), when the central axis AXy along the length direction of component EC is inclined at an angle A° with respect to the Y direction, the length along the X direction between the corners forming the diagonal is B. Next, referring to FIG. 8(B), the width and length of the opening of pocket CTa are Wc and Lc, respectively. Here, the width Wc of the opening of pocket CTa is the dimension along the X direction, and the length Lc of the opening of pocket CTa is the dimension along the Y direction. Next, referring to FIG. 8(C), the width and length of the opening of guide hole 92a are Wg and Lg, respectively. Here, the width Wg of the opening of guide hole 92a is the dimension along the X direction, and the length Lg of the opening of guide hole 92a is the dimension along the Y direction.

[0079] The dimensions of guide hole 92a and the dimensions of component EC are set to satisfy the following conditions. Condition (1) Wg > w Condition (2) Lg > l Condition (3) Wg(min) > d1(max) Condition (4) B ≦ Wg(min) Condition (5) Lg(min) > d2(max) Condition (6) Lg(max) ≦ l(min) × 2 Also, the dimensions of pocket CTa and the dimensions of guide hole 92a are set to satisfy the following conditions. Condition (7) Wg > Wc Condition (8) Lg > Lc

[0080] Here, Wg(min) is the minimum width assumed when considering the tolerance that may occur when creating the guide hole 92a. d1(max) is the maximum diagonal length assumed when considering the tolerance that may occur when manufacturing the component EC. Wg(max) is the maximum width assumed when considering the tolerance that may occur when creating the guide hole 92a. Lg(min) is the minimum width assumed when considering the tolerance that may occur when creating the guide hole 92a. d2(max) is the maximum diagonal length assumed when considering the tolerance that may occur when manufacturing the component EC. Lg(max) is the maximum length assumed when considering the tolerance that may occur when creating the guide hole 92a. l(min) is the minimum length assumed when considering the tolerance that may occur when manufacturing the component EC. Similarly, the minimum width assumed when considering the tolerance that may occur when manufacturing the component EC is denoted as w(min). When setting various dimensions, not only the manufacturing tolerances of each element but also the operating accuracy of the operating parts such as the component holding and inserting means 50 and the tape feeding means 70 provided in the taping device 1000 can be considered.

[0081] According to condition (1) and condition (2), the component EC can be inserted into the guide hole 92a. According to condition (3), even if the component EC rotates around the central axis AXy, the state where the component EC is pinched in the width direction with respect to the guide hole 92a is avoided. According to condition (4), the state where the central axis AXy of the component EC is inclined by an angle A° (for example, 30°) or more with respect to the Y direction and the component EC is pinched in the width direction with respect to the guide hole 92a is avoided. Here, the value of the angle A° can be appropriately set by experiments or simulations. According to condition (5), even if the component EC rotates around the central axis AXz, the state where the component EC is pinched in the length direction with respect to the guide hole 92a is avoided. According to condition (6), the components EC can be inserted into the guide hole 92a one by one. Also, according to condition (7) and condition (8), the operation of inserting the component EC finally inserted into the pocket CTa into the guide hole 92a once and then moving it into the pocket CTa becomes easy.

[0082] Note that the relationship between the dimensions of component EC and the dimensions of pocket CTa is w < Wc and l < Lc. Here, these numerical values are design values, but variations may occur in the relationship between the two due to tolerances that may occur during the manufacture of component EC or tolerances that may occur when forming pocket CTa. If the dimensions of component EC are relatively large compared to the dimensions of pocket CTa, it is assumed that component EC cannot be inserted or is difficult to insert. Conversely, if the dimensions of component EC are relatively small compared to the dimensions of pocket CTa, it is assumed that component EC rotates within pocket CTa and cannot be removed by the chip mounter. In the present embodiment, in order to avoid these situations, matching between component EC and pocket CTa is performed. This matching will be described in detail later.

[0083] Next, with reference to FIGS. 9(A) and 9(B), the setting of the intervals between the respective parts when component EC is inserted into guide hole 92a by suction nozzle 52 will be described. First, the interval g1 shown in FIG. 9(A) will be described. Interval g1 is the distance between the lower surface of component EC lowered for insertion into guide hole 92a and the upper surface of carrier tape CT1. By providing interval g1, damage to component EC and carrier tape CT1 can be avoided. Next, the interval g2 shown in FIG. 9(B) will be described. Interval g2 is the distance between the lower end surface of suction nozzle 52 lowered for inserting component EC into guide hole 92a and the upper surface of guide plate 92. By providing interval g2, damage to suction nozzle 52 and guide plate 92 can be avoided, and displacement of guide plate 92 can also be avoided. Next, the interval g3 shown in FIG. 9(B) will be described. Interval g3 is the distance between the lower end surface of suction nozzle 52 lowered for inserting component EC into guide hole 92a and the inner bottom surface of pocket CTa. Interval g3 is set such that the relationship with the diagonal length d2 of component EC (see FIG. 8(A-1)) is g3 > d2. Thereby, even when component EC is inserted in a state where its length direction and the direction in which the diagonal extends are generally perpendicular, it is possible to avoid a state where component EC is sandwiched between the inner bottom surface of pocket CTa and suction nozzle 52.

[0084] Here, the setting of the width Wg and the length Lg as the design values of the guide hole 92a in the present embodiment will be described. First, for the width Wg, a component EC having a length l(min) and a width w(min) considering tolerances is assumed, and the dimension B when such a component EC is inclined at an angle A° (for example, 30°) is set to Wg(max). The width Wg as the design value of the guide hole 92a is set such that the width considering tolerances becomes Wg(max). Then, for the length Lg as the design value, the difference between the length Lg(max) considering tolerances and the minimum value Lc(min) assumed as the length of the pocket CTa is set to be the same as the difference between the width Wg(max) of the guide hole 92a and the minimum value Wc(min) assumed as the width of the pocket CTa.

[0085] <Description of the control system> Next, the control system of the taping device 1000 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the control system of the taping device 1000 includes a main control unit 101 having a microcomputer, various drivers, an interface, etc., an input unit 102 such as a keyboard, a display unit 103 such as a liquid crystal display, and a storage unit 104 for storing various data. An operation control program is stored in the memory of the main control unit 101 or the storage unit 104. The main control unit 101 functions as combination information generation means. That is, the main control unit 101 generates combination information on which component EC is to be inserted into which pocket CTa based on the component information and the pocket information stored in the storage unit 104. Then, the main control unit 101 operates the component holding and inserting means 50 based on this combination information. Note that the description of the other control system elements and their functions shown in FIG. 10 has been described above, so the description thereof will be omitted.

[0086] Next, a taping method using the taping device 1000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 18 and FIG. 1.

[0087] <Description of the taping method by the taping device> First, before the operation of the taping device 1000, as preparation, various data inputs are performed using the input unit 102 and the display unit 103 of the control system. Specifically, the operator inputs all types of highly usable component ECs and all types of carrier tapes CT corresponding to each component EC, and stores them in the storage unit 104. Further, the operator inputs the conveyance distance for each size of the endless belt 32a of the component supply means 30 corresponding to each component EC determined in advance by a preliminary experiment (which can also be substituted by the operation time for each size when the motor 32b1 rotates at a constant speed), and stores it in the storage unit 104 (refer to steps S101 to S104 in Fig. 11(A)). Incidentally, part numbers, model numbers, etc. can be used for the types of components and carrier tapes. Also, it is desirable that the input data be in a format in which the type of carrier tape and the conveyance distance for each size are associated with each size of the component.

[0088] Subsequently, the operator uses the input unit 102 and the display unit 103 of the control system to input the actual operating conditions and stores them in the storage unit 104 (refer to steps S111 and S112 in Fig. 11(B)). Here, as an example, the case where there are three types of component ECs to be inserted corresponding to the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 will be described. First, regarding the component EC corresponding to the carrier tape CT1, the arrangement position of the carrier tape CT1 (the uppermost in Fig. 1), the number of components to be inserted, and the insertion order are input. Here, the insertion order is the order in which the insertions are performed for the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3. Similarly, regarding the component EC corresponding to the carrier tape CT2, the arrangement position of the carrier tape CT2 (the middle in Fig. 1), the number of components to be inserted, and the insertion order are input. Similarly, regarding the component EC corresponding to the carrier tape CT3, the arrangement position of the carrier tape CT3 (the lowermost in Fig. 1), the number of components to be inserted, and the insertion order are input. Incidentally, if the previous input data is in a format in which the type of carrier tape and others are associated with each size of the component EC, the selection of the carrier tape is unnecessary. Also, since the arrangement positions of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 (supply reels TR1 to TR3) can be arbitrarily selected from the three positions of upper, middle, and lower in Fig. 1, the order other than that shown in Fig. 1 may be adopted.

[0089] The operating conditions in this embodiment are as follows. In this embodiment, the insertion of component EC into carrier tape CT1 is the first, and the number of insertions is 10,000. Also, the insertion of component EC into carrier tape CT2 is the second, and the number of insertions is 5,000. Furthermore, the insertion of component EC into carrier tape CT3 is the third, and the number of insertions is 500.

[0090] When such operating conditions are set, as a preparation for the operation of the taping device 1000, first, as shown in FIG. 1, the component EC to be inserted into carrier tape CT1 is put into the component storage section 31 of the component supply means 30. Then, the supply reels TR1 to TR3 are attached to the tape feeding means 70 according to the above-mentioned arrangement positions. The respective end portions of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 pulled out from the respective supply reels TR1 to TR3 are connected to a take-up reel (not shown) through the respective tape guides 75 to 77.

[0091] After the operation preparation is completed, the operation based on the above-mentioned operating conditions is started using the input section 102 and the display section 103 of the control system. When the operation is started, as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the component supply section 32 of the component supply means 30 operates to supply an optimum number of component ECs to the component placement section 20 at the component supply location P1, and the component ECs supplied to the component placement section 20 are diffused by the operation of the component diffusion section 22 (see steps S121 to S123 in FIG. 11(C)). Note that if the component ECs after supply are in an appropriate scattered state even without operating the component diffusion section 22, the operation of the component diffusion section 22 is not necessary.

[0092] When the component supply is completed, as shown in FIG. 13, the component placement section 20 is moved to the component information acquisition location P2 by the Y-direction moving section 11. Then, the component ECs scattered on the component placement section 20 are imaged from above by the first imaging section 41 of the component information acquisition means 40 at the component information acquisition location P2. Then, the position information and dimension information of each of the component ECs scattered on the component placement section 20 are recognized by the first image processing section 42 from the image obtained by the first imaging section 41 and stored in the storage section 104 (see steps S131 to S133 in FIG. 12(A)).

[0093] Also, when the operation of the taping device 1000 is started, the winding of the carrier tape CT1 is also started. The winding of the carrier tape CT1 is performed intermittently. When the carrier tape CT1 is wound, each pocket CTa provided on the carrier tape CT1 is imaged from above by the third imaging unit 81 included in the pocket information acquisition means 80. Then, the dimension information of each pocket CTa is recognized by the third image processing unit 82 from the image obtained by the third imaging unit 81 and stored in the storage unit 104 (see steps S134 to S135 in FIG. 12(B)). The dimension information also includes the arrangement order information of each pocket CTa. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, when the pockets CTa1, CTa2,... are arranged in order from the +X direction to the -X direction of the carrier tape CT1, the dimension information of the opening of each pocket CTan is recognized and stored together with the arrangement order. Note that the component information and the pocket information only need to be stored in the storage unit 104 before the generation of the combination information described below is started. The acquisition of the pocket shape is performed each time the carrier tape CT1 moves intermittently.

[0094]

[0095] Next, the combination information is generated. The main control unit 101 combines the component EC with the pocket CTa based on the dimension information of the component EC included in the component information stored in the storage unit 104 and the dimension information of the pocket CTa included in the pocket information. For example, when the dimensions of the component EC1 and the pocket CTa1 shown in FIG. 14 match, these two are combined. Similarly, when the dimensions of the component EC2 and the pocket CTa2 match, these two are combined. The other components EC and pockets CTa are combined in the same way. Here, the matching of the dimension of the component EC and the dimension of the pocket CTa is determined by whether an appropriate clearance is maintained such that the component EC can be inserted into the pocket CTa and the component EC does not rotate within the pocket CTa.The combination information also includes the holding order information indicating which of the plurality of suction nozzles 52 included in the component holding and inserting means 50 holds which component EC. Thus, for example, the suction nozzle 52 that has adsorbed the component EC1 is associated with inserting the component EC1 into the pocket CTa1. Specifically, each suction nozzle 52 shall be distinguished as suction nozzles 52-1, 52-2, ··· (see Fig. 5(D)). In such a case, the component EC1 to be inserted into the pocket CTa1 shown in Fig. 14 is held by the suction nozzle 52-1. Similarly, the component EC2 to be inserted into the pocket CTa2 is held by the suction nozzle 52-2. Hereinafter, the holding order information is generated in the same manner.

[0096] The combination information generated in this way is stored in the storage unit 104 (see steps S136 to S139 in Fig. 12(C)).

[0097] When the generation of the combination information is completed, as shown in Fig. 15, the component holding and inserting means 50 is moved to the component information acquisition location P2 by the X-direction moving unit 12. Then, based on the holding order information included in the combination information stored in step S139, among the scattered components EC on the component placement unit 20 at the component information acquisition location P2, the components EC included in the combination information are sequentially held by the respective suction nozzles 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50 (see steps S141 to S143 in Fig. 12(D)).

[0098] Here, the component holding method in step S143 will be supplemented. In this embodiment, the component EC to be inserted into the pocket CTa is first inserted into the guide hole 92a of the guide plate 92. The number of guide holes 92a provided in the guide plate 92 of this embodiment is 11 per row. Therefore, out of the 16 suction nozzles 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50, 11 suction nozzles 52 are used. The number of suction nozzles 52 to be used can be appropriately changed according to the number of guide holes 92a in a row. For example, when the number of guide holes 92a in a row is 16, the insertion operation can be performed using all 16 suction nozzles 52 provided in the component holding and inserting means 50.

[0099] When the component holding is completed, as shown in FIG. 16, the component holding and inserting means 50 is moved to the component orientation recognition location P3 by the X-direction moving unit 12, and the components EC held by the respective suction nozzles 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50 are imaged from below by the second imaging unit 61 of the component orientation recognition means 60 at the component orientation recognition location P3. Then, the orientation of the component EC held by each suction nozzle 52, specifically, the angle θ of the component with respect to the Y direction (see FIG. 18(A)), or the angle of the component EC with respect to the X direction (not shown) is recognized by the second image processing unit 62 from the image obtained by the second imaging unit 61. Also, the amount of deviation (in the Y direction and X direction) between the center of the component EC and the center of the suction nozzle 52 is recognized. Then, the recognized component orientation information and information regarding the deviation amount are stored in the storage unit 104 (see steps S151 to S153 in FIG. 12(E)).

[0100] When the component orientation recognition is completed, as shown in FIG. 17, the component holding and inserting means 50 is moved to the component insertion location P4 by the X-direction moving unit 12. Specifically, the component holding and inserting means 50 moves above the guide plate 92 provided on the tape guide 75 (position P4a in FIG. 6(A)). Then, based on the component orientation information and information regarding the deviation amount stored in step S153, the components EC held by the respective suction nozzles 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50 are sequentially inserted into the guide holes 92a provided in the guide plate 92 after adjusting the orientation and the deviation of the center coordinates of the component EC. Here, each component EC is inserted into the guide hole 92a provided so as to be located above the pocket CTa combined with the component EC held by each suction nozzle 52. After the insertion of each component EC into the guide hole 92a is completed, the guide plate 92 is moved by the motor 3 so that the row of guide holes 92a into which the component EC is inserted is located on the carrier tape CT1. Then, the motor 91 to which the eccentric cam 91a is attached is operated to vibrate the tape guide 75, thereby dropping and storing the component EC in the guide hole 92a into the pocket CTa (see steps S161 to S163 in FIG. 12(F)).

[0101] After the insertion of the component EC into the pocket CTa is completed, the pocket CTa at the component insertion location P4 is intermittently moved in the +X direction by the operation of the tape feeding section corresponding to the carrier tape CT1 of the tape feeding means 70. Then, the pocket CTa after component insertion is closed with a cover tape by the operation of the cover tape attaching section corresponding to the carrier tape CT1 of the tape feeding means 70. Further, an operation of winding the carrier tape CT1 (component storage tape) after component insertion and after cover tape attachment onto the winding reel is performed by the operation of the tape winding section corresponding to the carrier tape CT1 of the tape feeding means 70.

[0102] When the above-described component orientation information is the angle θ of the component EC with respect to the X direction (see Fig. 18(A)), the angle θ with respect to the Y direction of the component EC held by the suction nozzle 52 at the above-described suction position is calculated based on the component orientation information. Then, the suction nozzle 52 is rotated so that this angle θ becomes zero. Thereby, the orientation of the component EC held by the suction nozzle 52 is adjusted to be aligned with the orientation of the guide hole 92a provided in the guide plate 92. By such adjustment of the orientation and adjustment of the deviation of the center coordinates of the component EC, the component EC is inserted into the guide hole 92a. Also, when the above-described component orientation information is the angle of the component with respect to the X direction (not shown), if the suction nozzle 52 is rotated so that the angle becomes 90 degrees, the orientation of the component EC held by the suction nozzle 52 is adjusted to be aligned with the orientation of the guide hole 92a of the guide plate 92, and by adjusting the deviation of the center coordinates of the component EC, the component EC can be inserted into the guide hole 92a.

[0103] In the above example of operating conditions, the number of components EC inserted into the carrier tape CT1 is 10,000. Therefore, when all the components EC held by each suction nozzle 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50 are inserted into the guide holes 92a of the guide plate 92 in step S163, the component holding and inserting means 50 moves again to the component information acquisition location P2 (see FIG. 15). Note that the movement of the component holding and inserting means 50 can be performed immediately after the insertion of the component EC into the guide hole 92a is completed. That is, the movement of the component holding and inserting means 50 can be performed in accordance with the timing of operating the motor 91 and vibrating the tape guide 75. In this way, by performing different operations in parallel, the overall working time can be shortened.

[0104] Then, based on the component position information stored in step S133, some of the components EC scattered on the component placement section 20 at the component information acquisition location P2 are again held by each suction nozzle 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50 (see steps S171 to S173 in FIG. 19(A)).

[0105] When the re-holding of the components is completed, the component holding and inserting means 50 is moved to the component orientation recognition location P3 by the X-direction moving section 12 (see FIG. 16). Then, the components EC held by each suction nozzle 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50 are imaged from below by the second imaging section 61 of the component orientation recognition means 60 at the component orientation recognition location P3. Then, the orientation of the component EC held by each suction nozzle 52 and the deviation (in the Y direction and X direction) between the center of the component EC and the center of the suction nozzle 52 are recognized by the second image processing section 62, and the recognized component orientation and deviation information are again stored in the storage section 104 (see steps S181 to S183 in FIG. 19(B)).

[0106] When the re - recognition of the component orientation and deviation is completed, as shown in Fig. 17, the component holding and inserting means 50 is moved to the component insertion location P4 by the X - direction moving part 12. Specifically, the component holding and inserting means 50 moves above the guide plate 92 provided on the tape guide 75 (position P4a in Fig. 6(A)). Then, based on the component orientation and deviation information stored in step S183, the component EC held by each suction nozzle 52 of the component holding and inserting means 50 is sequentially inserted again into the guide hole 92a provided in the guide plate 92. And each component EC is sequentially inserted into the pocket CTa of the carrier tape CT1 (refer to steps S191 - S193 in Fig. 19(C)).

[0107] By repeating such operations, that is, the operations in Figs. 19(A) - 19(C), the components EC scattered on the component placement part 20 gradually decrease. Therefore, at the timing when Figs. 19(A) - 19(C) are repeated a predetermined number of times, the component placement part 20 is moved to the component supply location P1 by the Y - direction moving part 11 (refer to the two - dot chain line in Fig. 17), and the component EC is supplied again to the component placement part 20 by the operation of the component supply part 32 of the component supply means 30 (refer to steps S201 - S203 in Fig. 19(D)).

[0108] Since a plurality of rows of guide holes 92a are provided, when repeating the operations in Figs. 19(A) - 19(C), a row of guide holes 92a different from the row of the guide holes 92a that was the insertion target last time is used as the insertion target. For example, when it takes a long time for the step of inserting the component EC into the pocket CTa and intermittently moving the carrier tape CT1 by the operation of the motor 91, by using other rows as the insertion target, the occurrence of wasted time can be avoided. In the taping device 1000 of the present embodiment, the time required for the component EC to be inserted from the guide hole 92a into the pocket CTa is not constant due to the vibration applied to the carrier tape CT1 by the motor 91, and the time required for generating the combination information is also not constant. Thus, the operation time of each function changes depending on the situation. To cope with such a situation, by providing a plurality of rows of guide holes 92a, efficient equipment operation becomes possible.

[0109] When the component resupply is completed, the component placement unit 20 is moved to the component information acquisition location P2 by the Y-direction moving unit 11. Then, the components EC scattered on the component placement unit 20 are imaged from above by the first imaging unit 41 of the component information acquisition means 40 at the component information acquisition location P2, and component information including the position information and dimension information of each of the components EC scattered on the component placement unit 20 is recognized by the first image processing unit 42. The recognized component information is stored again in the storage unit 104 (see steps S211 to S213 in Fig. 19(E)).

[0110] These operations are repeated until the insertion of 10,000 components EC set as operating conditions is completed.

[0111] In the above-described operating condition example, the insertion of the components EC (5,000) into the carrier tape CT2 is performed second. For this reason, the components EC that can be supplied by the component supply means 30 are exchanged from the components EC inserted into the carrier tape CT1 to the components EC inserted into the carrier tape CT2. As this exchange method, the components EC remaining in the component storage unit 31 may be removed and new components EC may be inserted, or the component storage unit 31 in which new components EC are stored may be replaced. Also, as a method, the component supply means 30 may be removed from the base plate BP, another component supply means 30 may be arranged, and then new components EC may be inserted into the component storage unit 31.

[0112] When the operation is restarted after the component replacement (see step S121 in Fig. 11(C)), 5,000 components EC are sequentially inserted into the pockets CTa of the carrier tape CT2 in the same procedure as in the case of the components EC inserted into the pockets CTa of the carrier tape CT1. As a result, a take-up reel on which the carrier tape CT2 (component storage tape) with 5,000 components EC inserted and the cover tape attached is taken up can be obtained. However, since the position of the carrier tape CT2 is shifted in the -Y direction with respect to the carrier tape CT1, the base plate BP is in a state of relative movement with respect to the tape feeding means 70.

[0113] Thereafter, in the same manner, a take-up reel can be obtained in which 5000 component ECs are inserted and a carrier tape CT3 (component storage tape) with a cover tape attached is taken up.

[0114] Next, the main effects that can be obtained by the taping device 1000 and the taping method of the present embodiment will be described.

[0115] The taping device 1000 of the present embodiment generates combination information on which component is inserted into which pocket based on component information including information on the dimensions of the component EC and pocket information including information on the dimensions of the pocket CTa. Then, based on this combination information, the component EC is inserted into the pocket CTa. As a result, the component EC is inserted while maintaining an appropriate clearance from the pocket CTa. As a result, a situation where the component EC is not inserted into the pocket CTa is avoided, and rotation of the component EC within the pocket CTa is also avoided.

[0116] The taping device 1000 has a dimension larger than the dimension of the pocket CTa and is provided with a guide hole 92a for guiding the component EC into the pocket CTa. Thereby, the component EC can be more easily inserted into the pocket CTa as compared with the case of directly inserting the component EC into the pocket CTa.

[0117] The guide plate 92 is provided so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3. Thereby, the operation of once inserting the component EC into the guide hole 92a and then inserting it into the pocket CTa becomes easy.

[0118] The guide plate 92 is provided with a plurality of guide holes 92a arranged along the feeding direction of the carrier tapes CT1 to CT3. Thereby, a plurality of component ECs can be inserted into the guide holes 92a at once, and thus a plurality of component ECs can be inserted into the pocket CTa at once.

[0119] The taping device 1000 includes a motor 91 and an eccentric cam 91a provided on tape guides 75 to 77 where carrier tapes CT1 to CT3 are installed. Thereby, the component EC inserted into the guide hole 92a can be dropped into the pocket CTa, making it easier to insert.

[0120] (Second Embodiment) Next, referring to FIG. 20, the second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment includes component guiding means 190 instead of the component guiding means 90 in the first embodiment. The component guiding means 190 is provided on each of the tape guides 75 to 77.

[0121] The component guiding means 190 includes a guide plate 192 rotatably provided on a support plate 195. The guide plate 192 is rotatably fitted into a circular recess 195a where the support plate 195 is provided. The guide plate 192 is a disk intermittently rotatably provided by a stepping motor 193 and forms an index table. The guide plate 192 is provided with a plurality of guide holes 192a arranged along the rotation direction at its peripheral portion. The guide holes 192a correspond to the guide holes 92a in the first embodiment and have a dimension larger than the dimension of the pocket CTa. The outer peripheral portion of the guide hole 192a is open, and when the guide plate 192 is fitted into the recess 195a, it is in a state of being closed by the inner peripheral wall surface of the recess 195a. Note that the motor 91 and the eccentric cam 91a are equipped in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Note that a servo motor may be employed instead of the stepping motor 193 to rotate the guide plate 192.

[0122] The support plate 195 is provided with an opening 195b at a position overlapping the carrier tape CT1, so that the guide hole 192a and the pocket CTa can communicate with each other.

[0123] Component EC is inserted into the guide hole 192a. The guide plate 192 rotates based on the combination information so that the guide hole 192a into which the component EC combined with the pocket CTa is inserted is located on the pocket CTa. If each component EC is inserted in accordance with the arrangement order of the pocket CTas combined along the rotation direction of the guide plate 192, by synchronizing the feed of the pocket CTa and the rotation of the guide plate 192, each component EC can be inserted into a desired pocket CTa.

[0124] Also in such a second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the component EC is inserted while maintaining an appropriate clearance from the pocket CTa. As a result, a situation where the component EC is not inserted into the pocket CTa is avoided, and rotation of the component EC within the pocket CTa is also avoided.

[0125] Note that by adopting the guide plate 192 that forms the index table, it becomes possible to perform appearance inspection of the upper and lower surfaces of the component EC, electrical characteristic inspection, and other various inspections. The guide plate 192 can be provided with a mechanism (not shown) for discharging such a component EC from the guide hole 192a before the component EC determined to be defective by various inspections reaches the position where it is inserted into the pocket CTa. When the component EC determined to be defective is discharged, the guide plate 192 is rotated reversely to return the guide hole 192a from which the component EC has been discharged to before the inspection station. And other component ECs can be replenished.

[0126] (Third Embodiment) Next, the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 21. The third embodiment includes a parts feeder 230 and a fourth imaging unit 241 instead of the moving means 10, the component placement unit 20, the component supply means 30, the first imaging unit 41, and the second imaging unit 61 in the first and second embodiments. Also, the third embodiment includes the same component guiding means 190 as in the second embodiment.

[0127] The parts feeder 230 corresponds to the component transfer section and includes a chute 230a corresponding to the component placement section. Component ECs are supplied to the chute 230a in an aligned state. The tip of the chute 230a penetrates the support plate 195 and opens to the inner peripheral wall surface of the recess 195a. As a result, the tip of the chute 230a can sequentially face the guide hole 192a provided in the rotating guide plate 192. Thereby, the component ECs that have moved along the chute 230a in an aligned state are sequentially inserted into the guide hole 192a. Since the function of the parts feeder 230 that supplies and moves the component ECs along the chute 230a is a conventionally known function, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[0128] Above the chute 230a, a fourth imaging unit 241 is provided. A fourth image processing unit 242 is connected to the fourth imaging unit 241. The fourth imaging unit 241 images the component ECs moving on the chute 230a. The fourth image processing unit 242 acquires information regarding the dimensions of each component EC and its alignment order information from the image obtained by the fourth imaging unit 241. The information regarding these dimensions and the alignment order information are included in the component information. And, similar to the first embodiment, based on the component information and the pocket information, combination information on which component EC is to be inserted into which pocket CTa is generated.

[0129] Based on the combination information, the guide plate 192 rotates so that the component EC inserted into the guide hole 192a is inserted into the desired pocket CTa.

[0130] Thereby, similar to the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the component EC is inserted while maintaining an appropriate clearance from the pocket CTa.

[0131] Note that the parts feeder 230 includes an air ejection section 230b in the middle of the chute 230a. The air ejection section 230b can blow off the component ECs that cannot be paired with the pocket CTa and exclude them from the chute 230a. The excluded component ECs are returned to the return path (not shown) of the component ECs so that they can be aligned again on the chute 230a.

[0132] Also in the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, it is possible to perform appearance inspection of the upper and lower surfaces of the component EC, electrical characteristic inspection, and other various inspections. The guide plate 192 can be provided with a mechanism (not shown) for discharging such a component EC from the guide hole 192a before the component EC determined to be defective by various inspections reaches the position where it is inserted into the pocket CTa. When there is a component EC that is determined to be defective and discharged, the component EC inserted into the guide hole 192a after the discharged guide hole 192a is also discharged once. Further, the component EC in the standby state in the chute 230a is also discharged outside the chute 230a once and aligned again. That is, the alignment of the component EC is reset, and alignment information is acquired again. Then, the insertion process of the component EC is restarted. In order to discharge the component EC aligned in the chute 230a, for example, the guide plate 192 may be equipped with an air ejection part (not shown) capable of ejecting air toward the outside of the guide hole 192a, and this air ejection part may be operated.

[0133] The above embodiments are merely examples for implementing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Modifying these examples variously is within the scope of the present invention. Further, it is obvious from the above description that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0134] EC... component (electronic component), CT1~CT3... carrier tape, CTa... pocket, 10... moving means, 11... Y-direction moving part, 12... X-direction moving part, 20... component mounting part, 21... tray part, 21a... mounting surface, 22... component diffusing part, 30... component supply means, 31... component housing part, 31a... outlet, 32... component supply part, 32a... endless belt, 32a1... support part, 32a2... conveying end, 32b... belt rotating part, 40... component information acquisition means, 41... first imaging part, 42... first image processing part, 50... component holding and inserting means, 51... head part, 52... component holding part (suction nozzle), 53... head rotating part, 54... nozzle holder, 55... nozzle lifting part, 56... nozzle rotating part, 60... component orientation recognition means, 61... second imaging part, 62... second image processing part, 70... tape feeding means, TR1~TR3... supply reels, 71... reel support part, 75~77... tape guides, 80... pocket information acquisition means, 81... third imaging part, 82... third image processing part, 90... component guiding means, 91... motor, 91a... eccentric cam, 92, 192... guide plates, 92a, 192a... guide holes, 1000... taping device, P1... component supply location, P2... component information acquisition location, P3... component orientation recognition location, P4... component insertion location.

Claims

1. A taping apparatus for sequentially inserting components into a plurality of pockets provided on a carrier tape, comprising: a part information acquisition means for measuring dimensions of each of the plurality of parts and acquiring part information including information relating to the dimensions for each part; a pocket information acquiring means for acquiring pocket information for each of the pockets, the pocket information including information related to the opening dimensions of the pockets; a combination information generating means for generating combination information indicating which part is to be inserted into which pocket based on the part information and the pocket information; a part insertion means for inserting the part into the pocket combined with the part based on the combination information generated by the combination information generation means; A taping device comprising:

2. the component information acquisition means includes a component imaging unit that images the components supplied to the component placement unit, and a component image processing unit that acquires the component information of the components supplied to the component placement unit from the images acquired by the component imaging unit, 2. The taping device according to claim 1.

3. the component imaging unit images the plurality of components supplied onto the component placement unit, and the component image processing unit acquires information on the dimensions of the plurality of components supplied onto the component placement unit and position information of the components included in the component information. The taping device according to claim 2 .

4. the component insertion means comprises: a component holder that moves to a position where the component is supplied based on the position information and holds the component; a guide plate having a dimension larger than the dimension of the pocket of the carrier tape, including a guide hole for guiding the component to the pocket, the guide hole being located above the pocket, and the guide plate being provided so as to be capable of facing the carrier tape so that the guide hole communicates with the pocket, the component holding unit inserts the held component into the guide hole provided so as to be positioned above the pocket combined with the held component based on the combination information; 4. The taping device according to claim 3.

5. The guide plate is provided so as to be movable in a direction that coincides with a width direction of the carrier tape perpendicular to a feed direction of the carrier tape.

5. The taping device according to claim 4.

6. The guide plate has a plurality of the guide holes arranged along the feed direction of the carrier tape.

6. The taping device according to claim 5.

7. The guide plate is rotatably provided.

5. The taping device according to claim 4.

8. The taping device according to claim 7 , wherein the guide plate includes a plurality of the guide holes arranged along a rotation direction.

9. the component imaging unit images the plurality of components aligned and supplied on the component placement unit, the component image processing unit acquires information about the dimensions of the plurality of components aligned and supplied on the component placement unit and information about the alignment order of the components included in the component information, the component insertion means includes the component placement unit, and a component transport unit that transports the components in an aligned order; a guide plate having a dimension larger than the dimension of the pocket of the carrier tape, the guide plate having a guide hole for temporarily holding the component and guiding it to the pocket, the guide hole being located above the pocket, the guide plate being provided so as to be opposed to the carrier tape so that the guide hole communicates with the pocket, the guide plate rotates to position the guide hole above the pocket that is combined with the part held in the guide hole based on the combination information; The taping device according to claim 2 .

10. A vibration unit is provided on a tape guide on which the carrier tape is placed. The taping device according to any one of claims 4 to 9.

11. The pocket information acquisition means includes a pocket imaging unit that images the pocket, and a pocket image processing unit that acquires the pocket information of the pocket from the image acquired by the pocket imaging unit. The taping device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The pocket information includes sequence information indicating the sequence of the pockets to be sequentially sent. The taping device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A taping method for sequentially inserting components into a plurality of pockets provided on a carrier tape, comprising the steps of: measuring dimensions of each of the plurality of components by a component information acquisition means and acquiring component information including information relating to the dimensions for each component; measuring the dimensions of an opening of each of the plurality of pockets by a pocket information acquisition means and acquiring pocket information including information related to the dimensions for each pocket; generating combination information indicating which part is to be inserted into which pocket based on the part information and the pocket information by a combination information generating means; a step of inserting the part into the pocket combined with the part by a part inserting means based on the combination information generated by the combination information generating means; A taping method comprising:

14. The step of acquiring part information for each part includes: a step of capturing an image of the component supplied to a component placement unit by a component capturing unit included in the component information acquisition means; acquiring, by a component image processing unit included in the component information acquisition means, the component information of the component supplied to the component placement unit from the image acquired by the component imaging unit; The taping method of claim 13, comprising:

15. The step of acquiring pocket information for each pocket includes: taking an image of the pocket by a pocket imaging unit included in the pocket information acquisition means; acquiring the pocket information of the pocket from the image acquired by the pocket imaging unit by a pocket image processing unit included in the pocket information acquisition means; The taping method according to claim 13 or 14, comprising:

Images