Thermal Compression Bonding Device for Carrier Tape

Abstract

Surely thermocompression-bond the top tape to the carrier tape. 【Solution means】The thermocompression-bonding device for the carrier tape includes a heating device 40, and the heating device 40 includes a pair of heating elements 60, 60 located on both sides in the width direction of the cavity 13 of the carrier tape 7. The width W1 of the preheating region 61 of the heating element 60 is larger than the width W2 of the pressurizing region 62.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermal compression bonding apparatus for a carrier tape, and more particularly to a thermal compression bonding apparatus for a carrier tape suitable for high-speed processing.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a taping system for a work has been known which conveys, inspects, and transfers the work into a cavity of a carrier tape. After the work is transferred into the cavity in this way, a top tape is placed on the carrier tape, and the top tape is thermally compression bonded to the carrier tape. Such a thermal compression bonding apparatus has a structure in which a heating body is swung down around a rotation axis. However, it is difficult to perform high-speed processing with such a thermal compression bonding apparatus.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure has been made in view of such considerations, and provides a thermal compression bonding apparatus for a carrier tape suitable for high-speed processing, a thermal compression bonding apparatus system for a carrier tape, and a thermal compression bonding method for a carrier tape.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a thermocompression bonding device for a carrier tape that includes a cavity in which a workpiece is housed and thermocompression bonds a top tape to a carrier tape extending in a conveyance direction. The device includes a conveyance rail that holds the carrier tape and the top tape in a superimposed state and includes a lower end portion, a heating device that is disposed parallel to and facing the conveyance rail above the conveyance rail and heats and presses the top tape, and a pneumatically driven drive portion that has an upper end portion that supports the lower end portion of the conveyance rail and moves the conveyance rail up and down. The upper end portion of the drive portion has a concave surface that curves when viewed from the conveyance direction, and the lower end portion of the conveyance rail has a convex surface that curves when viewed from the conveyance direction. A plurality of rollers are interposed between the concave surface and the convex surface. The heating device includes a pair of heating bodies located on both sides in the width direction of the cavity at its lower end portion. The pair of heating bodies are partitioned into a preheating region and a pressing region that are sequentially formed from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance direction. The widthwise length of the preheating region of each heating body is greater than the widthwise length of the pressing region. It is a thermocompression bonding device for a carrier tape.

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a thermocompression bonding device for a carrier tape, in which a center line along the conveyance direction of the preheating region of each heating body coincides with a center line along the conveyance direction of the pressing region.

[0007] The present disclosure relates to a thermocompression bonding device for a carrier tape, in which the length in the conveyance direction of the pair of heating bodies in the preheating region is longer than the length in the conveyance direction of the pair of heating bodies in the pressing region.

[0008] The present disclosure relates to a thermocompression bonding device for a carrier tape, in which the heating device is rotatably supported about a rotation axis extending parallel to the conveyance direction, and the heating device is rotatable between an operating position in which the pair of heating bodies face downward and a standby position in which the pair of heating bodies face laterally.

[0009] The present disclosure relates to a thermocompression bonding device for a carrier tape, in which a cooling flow path for cooling the rotation axis is formed in the rotation axis.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure as described above, a thermal compression bonding apparatus for a carrier tape suitable for high-speed processing can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

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

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] First, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the entire taping system of a workpiece incorporating a thermal compression bonding device for a carrier tape will be described.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the taping system 1A of the workpiece includes a parts feeder 1 that aligns and arranges the supplied workpieces W (see FIG. 6), a linear feeder 2 that receives the aligned workpieces from the parts feeder 1 and has a function of conveying them in a row, and an index table 3 that is circular and horizontally installed, receives the workpiece W from the linear feeder 2, and intermittently rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 about a vertical rotation axis 5 by the action of a power source (not shown). The index table 3 has workpiece storage holes (not shown) provided with openings facing outward on its outer peripheral portion, and the workpiece W conveyed by the linear feeder 2 is individually accommodated in these workpiece storage holes. A separation and supply unit 4 having a function of transferring the workpiece W from the linear feeder 2 to the workpiece storage holes of the index table 3 is provided between the linear feeder 2 and the index table 3.

[0014] Further, a workpiece insertion portion 6 for transferring the workpiece W in the workpiece storage hole of the index table 3 to the carrier tape 7 is provided outside the index table 3.

[0015] Next, the carrier tape 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Here, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the carrier tape, and FIG. 8 is a side view thereof. The carrier tape 7 has circular feed holes 12 regularly arranged at equal intervals T along the conveyance direction L of the carrier tape 7 in the vicinity of its edge. Further, cavities 13, which are recesses for storing the workpiece W at the workpiece insertion portion 6, are arranged at equal intervals on the carrier tape 7. Since the feed holes 12 are used for positioning when storing the workpiece W in the cavities 13, they have a correlation with the arrangement of the cavities 13 and are arranged at equal intervals T. Note that FIG. 7 shows an example in which one feed hole is provided for two cavities.

[0016] The carrier tape 7 is made of paper as a whole, and by punching the paper carrier tape 7, a cavity 13 is formed on the carrier tape 7.

[0017] The carrier tape 7 having such a configuration is supplied from the supply reel 8 and reaches the work insertion portion 6. Then, in the work insertion portion 6, the work W is transferred and stored in the cavity 13 of the carrier tape 7 as described above. The carrier tape 7 in which the work W is stored in the cavity 13 is then conveyed downstream (FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0018] Next, a synthetic resin top tape 17 is supplied to the carrier tape 7 in which the work W is stored in the cavity 13 from the top tape supply portion via the guide rollers 17A and 17B. Then, the top tape 17 is thermocompression bonded to the carrier tape 7 in which the work W is stored in the cavity 13 by the thermocompression bonding device for the carrier tape according to the present embodiment.

[0019] Next, the carrier tape 7 to which the top tape 17 is thermocompression bonded by the thermocompression bonding device 20 for the carrier tape is then sent to the ARC (auto reel changer) 10.

[0020] In FIGS. 9 and 10, a tape feed gear 9 for guiding the carrier tape 7 is provided immediately below the work insertion portion 6.

[0021] Next, the thermocompression bonding device 20 for the carrier tape according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 and FIGS. 11 to 14.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and FIGS. 11 to 14, the thermocompression bonding device 20 for the carrier tape thermocompression bonds the top tape 17 to the carrier tape 7 in which the work W is stored in the cavity 13.

[0023] The hot press device 20 for the carrier tape having such a configuration includes a lower cylinder block 30C connected to a base plate 30A to be described later, a cylinder block 30B provided on the lower cylinder block 30C, and a pair of transport rails 21A, 21B that are provided movably in the vertical direction as described later and hold the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 in a stacked state. The hot press device 20 also includes drive cylinders 23A, 23B that support the transport rails 21A, 21B and move the transport rails 21A, 21B up and down. Further, the cylinder block 30B is provided on the lower cylinder block 30C via a silicon rubber 52, and the base plate 30A, the cylinder block 30B, and the lower cylinder block 30C form a fixed-side structure.

[0024] The hot press device 20 for the carrier tape includes a pair of transport rails 21A, 21B and drive cylinders 23A, 23B that move the transport rails 21A, 21B up and down as described above. Among the pair of transport rails 21A, 21B, the transport rail 21A is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction L of the carrier tape 7, and the transport rail 21B is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction L. The drive cylinder 23A is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction L, and the drive cylinder 23B is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction L.

[0025] Above the pair of transport rails 21A, 21B, an elongated heating device 40 that heats and presses the top tape 17 is arranged along the transport direction L facing the transport rails 21A, 21B.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the heating device 40 incorporates a heating unit 80 and is heated by the heating unit 80. The heating device 40 also has a pair of heating elements 60, 60 formed at its lower part. The pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40 are located on both sides in the width direction of the cavity 13 with respect to the top tape 17, and the lower end surfaces 60a, 60a of the heating elements 60, 60 have a width of 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm (see FIG. 6).

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the pair of heating elements 60 of the heating device 40 are partitioned into a preheating region 61 and a pressurizing region 62 that are sequentially formed from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance direction L. And the width (also referred to as the length in the width direction) W1 of the lower end surface 60a of each heating element 60 in the preheating region 61 is larger than the width (also referred to as the length in the width direction) W2 of each heating element 60 in the pressurizing region 62.

[0028] Specifically, the width W1 of the lower end surface 60a of the heating element 60 in the preheating region 61 is, for example, 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm, and the width W2 of the lower end surface 60a of the heating element 60 in the pressurizing region 62 is 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm (see FIG. 14).

[0029] Also, as shown in FIG. 14, among the heating elements 60 of the heating device 40, a transition region 63 having a curved outer shape is formed between the preheating region 61 and the pressurizing region 62.

[0030] In the heat pressure bonding device 20 for the carrier tape having such a configuration, the pair of heating elements 60 in the preheating region 61 located on the upstream side in the conveyance direction L, and the conveyance rails 21A and the drive cylinders 23A corresponding to the pair of heating elements 60 mainly apply preheating to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17.

[0031] Also, the pair of heating elements 60 in the pressurizing region located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction L, and the conveyance rails 21B and the drive cylinders 23B corresponding to the pair of heating elements 60 mainly pressurize the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17.

[0032] Also, as shown in FIG. 14, the center line L1 of the lower end surface 60a of the heating element 60 in the preheating region 61 coincides with the center line L1 of the lower end surface 60a of the heating element 60 in the pressurizing region 62.

[0033] That is, the lower end surface 60a of the heating element 60 has a center line L1 along the conveyance direction L, and this center line L1 extends in a straight line across the preheating region 61, the transition region 63, and the pressurizing region 62.

[0034] Since the width W1 of the lower end surface 60a of the heater 60 in the preheating region 61 is larger than the width W2 of the lower end surface 60a of the heater 60 in the pressurizing region 62, first, in the preheating region 61, preheating is applied to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 by a pair of heaters 60. Next, in the pressurizing region 62, the top tape 17 can be pressurized against the carrier tape 7 at a high pressure per unit area by a pair of heaters 60. As a result, the top tape 17 can be thermocompression-bonded to the carrier tape 7 at high speed and reliably.

[0035] That is, in the preheating region 61, preheating is applied to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 between a pair of heaters 60 and the upstream conveyance rail 21A corresponding thereto. Next, in the pressurizing region 62, thermocompression bonding is performed on the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 between a pair of heaters 60 and the downstream conveyance rail 21B corresponding thereto. In this case, the pressing force between the pair of heaters 60 and the upstream conveyance rail 21A in the preheating region 61 is set to be substantially the same as the pressing force between the pair of heaters 60 and the downstream conveyance rail 21B in the pressurizing region 62. And since the width W1 of the lower end surface 60a of the heater 60 in the preheating region 61 is larger than the width W2 of the lower end surface 60a of the heater 60 in the pressurizing region 62, in the pressurizing region 62, even with a short pressurizing time for the carrier tape 7 by a pair of heaters 60, it is possible to perform thermocompression bonding with a high pressure per unit area.

[0036] Furthermore, since the center line L1 existing on the lower end surface 60a of the heater 60 extends in a straight line along the preheating region 61, the transfer region 63, and the pressurizing region 62, after preheating the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 by the heater 60, the preheated portions of the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 can be reliably pressurized and thermocompression-bonded. As a result, the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 can be easily and reliably thermocompression-bonded.

[0037] Incidentally, the heating device 40 including a pair of heaters 60 is made of a copper-based material having good thermal conductivity, and a hard chrome plating having high wear resistance is applied to its surface.

[0038] Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the heating device 40 is supported by a cover member 48 that rotates about a rotation axis 42 extending parallel to the conveyance direction L. The rotation axis 42 that rotatably supports the heating device 40 is held by a holding device 43. The holding device 43 is vertically movable by a heating device cylinder 45 provided below the base plate 30A.

[0039] As described above, the heating device 40 is supported by a cover member 48 that rotates about a rotation axis 42 extending parallel to the conveyance direction L. Among these, the rotation axis 42 is rotatably supported via a bearing 72 by a rotation axis holder 71 provided on the holding device 43 (see FIG. 13).

[0040] In this way, the rotation axis 42 that supports the heating device 40 via the cover member 48 is supported by the rotation axis holder 71. However, when the heating device 40 is heated, heat from the heating device 40 side is transferred through the cover member 48 to the rotation axis 42 side.

[0041] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, in order that heat from the heating device 40 side is transferred to the rotation axis 42 side and does not hinder the rotational operation of the rotation axis 42, a cooling flow path 75 through which cooling air for cooling the rotation axis 42 flows is provided in the rotation axis 42.

[0042] In FIG. 13, the rotation axis 42 is rotatably supported via a bearing 72 by a rotation axis holder 71. At an end of the rotation axis 42 on the side opposite to the cover member 48, a cooling air supply portion 73 for supplying cooling air into the cooling flow path 75 is provided. A cooling air supply source 77 is connected to the cooling air supply portion 73 via a cooling air supply line 76.

[0043] The cooling flow path 75 provided in the rotation axis 42 extends along the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis 42 and communicates from the communication port 72a of the bearing 72 to the discharge port 71a of the rotation axis holder 71.

[0044] In FIG. 13, cooling air is supplied from the cooling air supply unit 73 into the cooling flow path 75 of the rotating shaft 42. The cooling air supplied into the cooling flow path 75 flows while extending in the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft 42, and then is discharged outward from the communication port 72a of the bearing 72 through the discharge port 71a.

[0045] During this time, the rotating shaft 42 can be effectively cooled by the cooling air. Therefore, the rotating shaft 42 and the bearing 72 are not excessively heated by the heat from the heating device 40 side, and thus no hindrance occurs to the rotation operation of the rotating shaft 42 within the bearing 72.

[0046] In this way, the heating device 40 is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft holder 71 via the rotating shaft 42. Therefore, by rotating the heating device 40 around the rotating shaft 42, the heating device 40 can be rotated between an operating position where the pair of heating elements 60, 60 face downward and a standby position where the pair of heating elements 60, 60 face laterally.

[0047] When performing maintenance and inspection on the thermocompression bonding device 20 for the carrier tape, the holding device 43 is moved upward by the heating device cylinder 45. Then, after pulling the heating device 40 upward from the transport rail 21, the heating device 40 is rotated 90° via the rotating shaft 42. By this, the heating device 40 can be moved from an operating position where the pair of heating elements 60, 60 face downward to a standby position where the pair of heating elements 60, 60 face laterally.

[0048] In this way, the lower end surfaces 60a, 60a of the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40 are directed laterally, and visual inspection and cleaning work can be performed on these lower end surfaces 60a, 60a.

[0049] In addition, in the present embodiment, “upward”, “downward”, and “lateral direction” refer to “upward”, “downward”, and “lateral direction” when the thermocompression bonding device 20 for the carrier tape according to the present disclosure is arranged as shown in FIG. 1.

[0050] Next, the conveyance rails 21A and 21B that hold the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 in a superposed state, and the drive cylinders 23A and 23B provided corresponding to the conveyance rails 21A and 21B will be described.

[0051] The conveyance rail 21A and the drive cylinder 23A provided corresponding to the conveyance rail 21A, and the conveyance rail 21B and the drive cylinder 23B provided corresponding to the conveyance rail 21B have the same structure as each other. For this reason, hereinafter, the conveyance rail 21A and the drive cylinder 23A provided corresponding to the conveyance rail 21A will be described, but the structures of the conveyance rail 21B and the drive cylinder 23B are also the same as those of the conveyance rail 21A and the drive cylinder 23A.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the conveyance rail 21A is configured to move up and down by the drive cylinder 23A as described above. Further, the upper surface of the conveyance rail 21A is subjected to WPC treatment and DLC treatment (Diamond-Like-Carbon treatment), and the upper surface of the conveyance rail 21A is smoothed. Here, the WPC treatment refers to a treatment that forms a smooth micro-dimple surface (a surface where air serves as a lubricant) on the surface and at the same time increases the surface hardness of the material. The drive cylinder 23A is installed in the cylinder block 30B and is driven in the vertical direction by air to move the conveyance rail 21A up and down at a high speed, for example, 8000 times / minute. In the present embodiment, air is supplied to the drive cylinder 23A via a high-speed valve (not shown). Further, a pressure sensor 23a is connected to the drive cylinder 23A. Furthermore, the drive stroke of the drive cylinder 23A is 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. In this case, the pressing force of the drive cylinder 23A is 2 kgf to 6 kgf.

[0053] Incidentally, the conveyance rail 21A has a lower end portion 22 at its lower end, and the drive cylinder 23A has an upper end portion 24 at its upper end.

[0054] The upper end portion 24 of the drive cylinder 23A has a concave surface 24a that curves and recesses downward as viewed from the conveyance direction, and the lower end portion 22 of the conveyance rail 21A has a convex surface 22a that curves and protrudes downward as viewed from the conveyance direction (see FIG. 1).

[0055] A plurality of rollers 27 are interposed between the concave surface 24a of the upper end portion 24 and the convex surface 22a of the lower end portion 22. As a result, the lower end portion 22 of the conveyance rail 21A rotates about the virtual center point 21a by the rollers 27 with respect to the upper end portion 24 of the drive cylinder 23A. Further, buff polishing is performed on the concave surface 24a of the upper end portion 24 and the convex surface 22a of the lower end portion 22 to enhance the smoothness of the concave surface 24a and the convex surface 22a.

[0056] In this way, the lower end portion 22 of the conveyance rail 21 can rotate about the virtual center point 21a with respect to the upper end portion 24 of the drive cylinder 23A. In the present embodiment, when the top tape 17 is thermocompression bonded by the thermocompression bonding device 20 of the carrier tape, the heating device 40 is fixed, and the conveyance rail 21 moves up and down by the drive cylinder 23. In this case, for example, when the thickness and density of the carrier tape 7 are different in the width direction (the horizontal direction in FIG. 1 orthogonal to the conveyance direction), it is conceivable that the pressing force on the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 changes in the width direction between the conveyance rail 21A and the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40.

[0057] According to the present embodiment, when the thickness and density of the carrier tape 7 are different in the width direction (the left - right direction in FIG. 1 orthogonal to the conveyance direction), the lower end portion 22 of the conveyance rail 21A rotates about the virtual center point 21a with respect to the upper end portion 24 of the drive cylinder 23A. As a result, a uniform pressing force can be applied to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 in the width direction between the conveyance rail 21A and the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40.

[0058] In FIG. 1, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is the conveyance direction of the carrier tape 7, and the horizontal direction in FIG. 1 is the width direction of the carrier tape 7.

[0059] Incidentally, the transport rail 21A is supported by the upper end portion 24 of the drive cylinder 23A via a roller 27. At the same time, the transport rail 21A is supported by a pair of spring members 25 arranged in the lateral direction in the cylinder block 30B in FIG. 1.

[0060] That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a support 31 is provided above the cylinder block 30B, and one end of each spring member 25 is fixed to the support 31 by a bolt 31a. The other end of each spring member 25 is sandwiched between the transport rail 21A and a support 21b attached to the lower surface of the transport rail 21, and the support 21b is fixed to the transport rail 21A by a bolt 21c.

[0061] By supporting the transport rail 21A on the cylinder block 30B via a pair of spring members 25 in this way, even when the thickness of the carrier tape 7 varies in the width direction and the transport rail 21 rotates with respect to the drive cylinder 23, when the transport rail 21A is pulled downward from the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40, the transport rail 21A rotates again with respect to the drive cylinder 23A by the pair of spring members 25. As a result, the transport rail 21A can return its posture to the original posture, that is, the horizontal posture in FIG. 1.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the drive cylinder 23A is installed movably in the vertical direction with respect to the cylinder block 30B, and an air pipe 35 for driving the drive cylinder 23A is arranged in the cylinder block 30B.

[0063] The cylinder block 30B is provided with a resin stopper 33 for locking the downward movement of the drive cylinder 23A.

[0064] The initial position of the transport rail 21A is defined by a pair of spring members 25 and takes a horizontal position. When it is desired to change the height position of the transport rail 21A, the height of the transport rail 21A can be increased and it can be made closer to the heating device 40 side by inserting a spacer (not shown) between the lower surface of the transport rail 21 and the spring member 25.

[0065] Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 5, the above-described thermocompression bonding device 20 for a carrier tape includes a pair of carrier rails 21A and 21B installed side by side in the transport direction L, and a pair of drive cylinders 23A and 23B provided corresponding to the respective carrier rails 21A and 21B.

[0066] In this case, each thermocompression bonding device 20 for a carrier tape includes a common cylinder block 30B, a pair of carrier rails 21A and 21B that are movably provided in the vertical direction on the common cylinder block 30B and hold the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 in a superposed state, a heating device 40 that is disposed above the carrier rails 21A and 21B and faces the carrier rails 21A and 21B to heat and press the top tape 17, and drive cylinders 23A and 23B that support the respective carrier rails 21A and 21B and move the carrier rails 21A and 21B up and down.

[0067] Next, the operation of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described.

[0068] First, the operation of the entire taping system will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the workpieces W supplied to the parts feeder 1 are aligned in orientation by the action of the parts feeder 1 and transferred to the linear feeder 2. Then, by the action of the linear feeder 2, they are conveyed in a row and reach the index table 3. Further, the workpieces W are individually accommodated in workpiece storage holes (not shown) provided in the index table 3 by the action of the separation and supply unit 4.

[0069] The workpieces W accommodated in the workpiece storage holes are conveyed to a characteristic measurement unit (not shown) by the intermittent rotation of the index table 3 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 10, and various characteristics are measured. As a result of the measurement, the workpieces W determined to be defective are discharged from the workpiece storage holes by a discharge function (not shown). As a result of the measurement, the workpieces determined to be non-defective remain accommodated in the workpiece storage holes and reach the workpiece insertion unit 6 by the intermittent rotation of the index table 3.

[0070] The carrier tape 7 wound around the supply reel 8 is conveyed from the tape feed gear 9 installed directly below the work insertion part 6 toward the ARC 10 side. In this case, the tape feed gear 9 has a tooth-shaped part provided on its outer circumference, and the tooth-shaped part is inserted into the feed hole 12 of the carrier tape 7, and the carrier tape 7 wound around the supply reel 8 is conveyed.

[0071] Due to the intermittent rotation of the tape feed gear 9, the carrier tape 7 reaches the work insertion part 6 and stops. Next, when the work W can be transferred, the positioning of the carrier tape 7 for transferring the work W into the cavity 13 of the carrier tape 7 is performed. When the positioning is performed, the work W in the work storage hole of the index table 3 is transferred to the cavity 13 of the carrier tape 7.

[0072] Next, for the carrier tape 7 with the work W stored in the cavity 13, a synthetic resin top tape 17 is supplied from the top tape supply part via the guide rollers 17A and 17B. Next, in the thermocompression bonding device 20 of the carrier tape, the top tape 17 is thermocompression bonded to the carrier tape 7.

[0073] First, it is conveyed while being held in a state where the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 are overlapped on the upstream conveyance rail 21A.

[0074] At this time, a distance of about 0.1 mm is maintained between the top tape 17 on the conveyance rail 21A and the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40.

[0075] Next, the control unit 50 controls the upstream drive cylinder 23A, and the drive cylinder 23A is driven upward to raise the upstream conveyance rail 21A. As a result, the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 are clamped and pressurized between the upstream conveyance rail 21A and the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40, and at the same time, the top tape 17 is heated by the heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40.

[0076] During this period, the heating device 40 stays at a predetermined height position without moving up and down. Also, the heating temperature of the heating device 40 is measured by the thermocouple 47, and the heating temperature measured by the thermocouple 47 is sent to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 adjusts the heating temperature of the heating unit 80 built in the heating device 40 based on the measured heating temperature. Further, the control unit 50 adjusts the air pressure (pneumatic pressure) supplied to the drive cylinder 23A based on the signal from the pressure sensor 23a connected to the drive cylinder 23A, and controls the pressing force and pressing time by the drive cylinder 23A.

[0077] The heaters 60, 60 in the preheating area 61 of the upstream transport rail 21A and the heating device 40 corresponding to the transport rail 21A mainly apply preheating to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17. The heating temperature of the heating device 40 is 140°C to 190°C, the pressing force of the drive cylinder 23A is 2 kgf to 6 kgf, and the pressing time is 1 millisecond to 10 milliseconds. Thereafter, the drive cylinder 23A is driven downward by the control unit 50, and the transport rail 21A descends.

[0078] In this way, the thermocompression bonding action on the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 by the upstream transport rail 21A and the heaters 60, 60 in the preheating area 61 of the heating device 40 ends, and the carrier tape 7 is transported to the downstream transport rail 21B and the heaters 60, 60 in the pressing area of the heating device 40 corresponding to the transport rail 21B.

[0079] When thermocompression bonding the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 between the transport rail 21A and the pair of heaters 60, 60 of the heating device 40, the thickness and density of the carrier tape 7 may change in the width direction. In this case, since the lower end 22 of the transport rail 21A rotates around the virtual center point 21a with respect to the upper end 24 of the drive cylinder 23A, a uniform pressing force can be applied to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 in the width direction between the transport rail 21A and the pair of heaters 60, 60 of the heating device 40.

[0080] When the drive cylinder 23A is driven downward and the transport rail 21A descends, the transport rail 21 rotates again with respect to the drive cylinder 23A by a pair of spring members 25, and the transport rail 21 returns to its original posture.

[0081] Next, while the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 are held in a superimposed state on the downstream transport rail 21B, they are transported.

[0082] At this time, a distance of about 0.1 mm is maintained between the top tape 17 on the transport rail 21B and the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40.

[0083] Next, the downstream drive cylinder 23B is controlled by the control unit 50, the drive cylinder 23B is driven upward, and the downstream transport rail 21B rises. As a result, the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 are sandwiched and pressurized between the downstream transport rail 21B and the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40, and at the same time the top tape 17 is heated by the heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40.

[0084] During this time, the heating device 40 stays at a predetermined height position without moving up and down. Also, the heating temperature of the heating device 40 is measured by the thermocouple 47, and the heating temperature measured by the thermocouple 47 is sent to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 adjusts the heating temperature of the heating unit built in the heating device 40. Also, based on the signal from the pressure sensor 23a connected to the drive cylinder 23B, the control unit 50 adjusts the air pressure supplied to the drive cylinder 23B to control the pressing force and pressing time by the drive cylinder 23.

[0085] The heating elements 60, 60 in the pressurization region 62 of the downstream transport rail 21B and the heating device 40 corresponding to the transport rail 21B mainly perform pressurization on the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17. The heating temperature of the heating device 40 is 140°C to 190°C, the pressing force of the drive cylinder 23B is 2 kgf to 6 kgf, and the pressing time is 1 second to 10 seconds. Thereafter, the drive cylinder 23B is driven downward by the control unit 50, and the transport rail 21B descends.

[0086] In this way, the thermocompression bonding action on the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 is completed, and the carrier tape 7 is further conveyed downstream.

[0087] When thermocompression bonding the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 between the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the conveying rail 21B and the heating device 40, the thickness and density of the carrier tape 7 may change in the width direction. In this case, since the lower end 22 of the conveying rail 21B rotates around the virtual center point 21a with respect to the upper end 24 of the drive cylinder 23B, a uniform pressing force can be applied to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 in the width direction between the conveying rail 21B and the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40.

[0088] When the drive cylinder 23B is driven downward and the conveying rail 21B descends, the conveying rail 21 rotates again with respect to the drive cylinder 23B by the pair of spring members 25, and the conveying rail 21 returns to its original posture.

[0089] During this period, since the width W1 of the lower end surface 60a of the heating element 60 in the preheating region 61 is larger than the width W2 of the lower end surface 60a of the heating element 60 in the pressurizing region 62, preheating is applied to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 by the pair of heating elements 60 in the preheating region 61. Next, in the pressurizing region 62, the top tape 17 can be pressurized against the carrier tape 7 with a high pressure per unit area by the pair of heating elements 60. As a result, the top tape 17 can be thermocompression bonded to the carrier tape 7 at high speed and reliably.

[0090] Furthermore, since the center line L1 on the lower end surface 60a of the heating element 60 extends in a straight line along the preheating region 61, the transfer region 63, and the pressurizing region 62, the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 are preheated by the heating element 60. Next, the preheated portions of the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 can be reliably pressurized and thermocompression bonded. As a result, the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 can be easily and reliably thermocompression bonded.

[0091] Next, the carrier tape 7 with the top tape 17 heat-sealed by the heat-sealing device system 20A of the carrier tape is then sent to the ARC 10.

[0092] When performing maintenance and inspection on the heat-sealing device 20 of the carrier tape, the holding device 43 is moved upward by the heating device cylinder 45, and after separating the heating device 40 upward from the transport rail 21, the heating device 40 is rotated 90° via the rotating shaft 42. As a result, the pair of heating elements 60, 60 of the heating device 40 can be directed horizontally, and the lower end surfaces 60a, 60a of the pair of heating elements 60, 60 facing horizontally can be easily and surely cleaned. Further, the heat-sealing device 20, the transport rails 21A, 21B, the carrier tape 7, and the top tape 17 are arranged parallel to each other along the transport direction L.

[0093] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the thermocompression bonding device 20 for the carrier tape includes an elongated heating device 40 arranged along the conveyance direction L of the carrier tape 7, and a pair of conveyance rails 21A and 21B. Then, preheating is applied to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 between a pair of heating elements 60, 60 in the preheating region 61 located upstream of the heating device 40 and the upstream conveyance rail 21A. Next, the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 are pressed and thermocompression bonded between a pair of heating elements 60, 60 in the pressing region located downstream of the heating device 40 and the downstream conveyance rail 21B. In this way, the pair of heating elements 60, 60 in the preheating region 61 and the conveyance rail 21A are given the role of preheating, and the pair of heating elements 60, 60 in the pressing region 62 and the conveyance rail 21B are given another role of pressing. As a result, compared with a configuration in which a single thermocompression bonding device 20 for a carrier tape has functions of heating and pressing, the thermocompression bonding operation can be performed at high speed and with high accuracy. Further, since the thermocompression bonding device 20, the conveyance rails 21A, 21B, the carrier tape 7, and the top tape 17 are arranged along the conveyance direction L in parallel with each other, thermocompression bonding can be repeatedly and uniformly performed on the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17. Therefore, by repeatedly performing short-time thermocompression bonding on the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 during high-speed operation, a desired peel strength can be ensured.

[0094] Also, since the width W1 of the lower end surface 60a of the heating element 60 in the preheating region 61 is larger than the width W2 of the lower end surface 60a of the heating element 60 in the pressing region 62, first, preheating is applied to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 by the pair of heating elements 60 in the preheating region 61. Next, in the pressing region 62, the top tape 17 can be pressed against the carrier tape 7 with a high pressure by the pair of heating elements 60, and the top tape 17 can be thermocompression bonded to the carrier tape 7 at high speed and reliably. As a result, a desired peel strength can be obtained between the carrier tape and the top tape 17.

[0095] Also, since the center line L1 of the lower end surface 60a of the heating body 60 extends in a straight line along the preheating region 61, the transfer region 63, and the pressing region 62, after preheating the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 by the heating body 60, the preheated portions of the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 can be surely pressed and thermocompression-bonded.

[0096] Furthermore, as described above, the rotating shaft 42 that supports the heating device 40 can be effectively cooled by the cooling air. Therefore, the rotating shaft 42 and the bearing 72 are not excessively heated by the heat from the heating device 40 side, and thus the rotation operation of the rotating shaft 42 in the bearing 72 is not hindered.

[0097] Also, when performing maintenance and inspection on the thermocompression-bonding device 20 for the carrier tape, the heating device 40 is rotated 90° via the rotating shaft 42 so that the pair of heating bodies 60, 60 of the heating device 40 face laterally. As a result, the lower end surfaces 60a, 60a of the pair of heating bodies 60, 60 facing laterally can be easily and surely cleaned.

[0098] Also, during the operation of the thermocompression-bonding device 20 for the carrier tape, the heating device 40 does not move up and down, and the transfer rails 21A, 21B move up and down to perform thermocompression bonding of the top tape 17 to the carrier tape 7. Therefore, compared with a structure in which the heating device 40 is lowered to perform thermocompression bonding of the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17, it is not necessary to apply a large impact load to the carrier tape 7, and a large impact noise is not generated either.

[0099] Also, even if the thickness and density of the carrier tape 7 change along the width direction, the lower end portions 22 of the transfer rails 21A, 21B can be rotated about the virtual center point 21a with respect to the upper end portions 24 of the drive cylinders 23A, 23B, and a uniform pressing force can be applied to the carrier tape 7 and the top tape 17 in the width direction between the transfer rails 21A, 21B and the pair of heating bodies 41, 41 of the heating device 40.

[0100] Also, when the drive cylinders 23A and 23B are driven downward and the transport rails 21A and 21B are lowered, the transport rail 21 can be returned to its original position by a pair of spring members 25.

[0101] Furthermore, the control unit 50 can control the pressing force and pressing time of the drive cylinders 23A and 23B, operate the upstream drive cylinder 23A under conditions suitable for preheating, and operate the downstream drive cylinder 23B under conditions such that an appropriate pressing force is applied.

[0102] In the above embodiment, an example in which a paper carrier tape 7 is used and the carrier tape 7 is punched to form the cavity 13 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a through hole may be formed in the paper carrier tape 7, and a bottom material may be attached to the lower surface of the carrier tape 7 to form the cavity 13 by this through hole.

[0103] Alternatively, a synthetic resin carrier tape 7 may be used, and a sheet formed from a synthetic resin material having an emboss and a flange provided at the upper end of the emboss may be used.

Explanation of Signs

[0104] 1 Parts feeder 2 Linear feeder 3 Index table 4 Separation supply unit 5 Rotating shaft 6 Work insertion part 7 Carrier tape 8 Supply reel 9 Tape feed gear 10 ARC 12 Feed hole 13 Cavity 20 Heat pressure bonding device for carrier tape 21A, 21B Transport rail 22 Lower end 22a Convex surface 23A, 23B Drive cylinder 24 Upper end 24a concave surface 25 spring material 27 roller 30A base plate 30B cylinder block 40 heating device 42 rotating shaft 48 cover member 50 control unit 60 heating element 60a lower end surface 61 preheating region 62 pressurizing region 63 transfer region 71 rotating shaft holder 71a discharge port 72 bearing 72a communication port 73 cooling air supply unit 75 cooling flow path 76 cooling air supply line 77 cooling air supply source

Claims

1. A carrier tape thermocompression bonding device that includes a cavity in which a workpiece is housed and that thermocompresses a top tape onto a carrier tape extending in a transport direction, comprising: a conveying rail that holds the carrier tape and the top tape in an overlapping state and includes a lower end portion; a heating device disposed above the transport rail and parallel to the transport rail, the heating device heating and pressing the top tape; a pneumatic drive unit that has an upper end portion that supports a lower end portion of the transport rail and moves the transport rail up and down; an upper end of the drive unit has a concave surface curved when viewed from the conveying direction, a lower end of the conveying rail has a convex surface curved when viewed from the conveying direction, and a plurality of rollers are interposed between the concave surface and the convex surface; The heating device includes a pair of heating elements at a lower end thereof, the heating elements being positioned on both sides of the width of the cavity, the pair of heaters are partitioned into a preheating region and a pressurizing region which are successively formed from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveying direction, The width direction length of the preheating region of each heating body is greater than the width direction length of the pressurizing region, A carrier tape thermocompression device, wherein a center line along the transport direction of the preheating area of ​​each heating body coincides with a center line along the transport direction of the pressurizing area, the preheating area of ​​each heating body preheats the top tape, and the pressurizing area pressurizes the portion preheated by the preheating area.

2. 2. The carrier tape thermocompression bonding device according to claim 1, wherein a length of the pair of heating bodies in the preheating area in the transport direction is longer than a length of the pair of heating bodies in the pressurizing area in the transport direction.

3. 3. The carrier tape thermocompression bonding device of claim 1, wherein the heating device is supported so as to be freely rotatable about a rotation axis extending parallel to the conveying direction, and the heating device is rotatable between an operating position in which the pair of heating elements face downward and a standby position in which the pair of heating elements face horizontally.

4. 4. The carrier tape thermocompression bonding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a cooling passage for cooling said rotating shaft is formed in said rotating shaft.

Images