Component mounting equipment and component mounting lines

Abstract

To provide a component mounting device and a component mounting line that enable effective use of an alternative feeder placed in a component supply unit at appropriate timing.SOLUTION: A control unit 30 of a component mounting device 2 executes a first calculation process S21 when controlling a component supply unit 24, a second calculation process S22, and a selection process S23. In the first calculation process S21, the control unit 30 calculates a reference cycle time CT1 when a reference feeder 241 is used. In the second calculation process S22, the control unit 30 calculates an allowable loading / unloading time TT2 on the basis of upstream carry-in status information J1 and downstream carry-in status information J2. When the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 is longer than the standard cycle time CT1, in the selection process S23, the control unit 30 selects an alternative feeder to be used for supplying components from among the plurality of alternative feeders 242 within a range that satisfies a constraint LC.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a component mounting apparatus and a component mounting line for mounting components onto a board. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, component mounting lines that mount components on boards such as printed circuit boards to produce component-mounted boards have been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the component mounting line, multiple processing devices such as printing devices, component mounting devices, and reflow devices are connected so that they can transport boards. The component mounting devices on the component mounting line include a transport unit that transports boards in and out between an upstream device on the upstream side and a downstream device on the downstream side in the board transport direction, a head unit that mounts components on the transported board, and a component supply unit that supplies components to be mounted on the board.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for maintaining production accuracy without reducing the productivity of component-mounted boards on a component mounting line. The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 calculates the gap time until the next board is transported from an upstream device, and performs automatic preparation operations such as calibration during that gap time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-46836 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] A component supply unit of a component mounting device is equipped with multiple feeders that supply components. In a component mounting line, if a feeder runs out of components and the supply of components stops, productivity of component-mounted boards may decrease. For this reason, a replacement feeder may be installed in the component supply unit. In this case, components can be supplied from the replacement feeder in place of the out-of-component feeder, preventing a component supply stoppage due to a feeder running out of components.

[0006] However, because the replacement feeder is used to replace a feeder that has run out of parts, it is not used frequently. As a result, parts stored in the replacement feeder may remain unused until their expiration date has passed. Therefore, there is room for improvement in using the replacement feeder effectively and at the right time.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a component mounting apparatus and a component mounting line that can effectively use an alternative feeder arranged in a component supply unit at an appropriate timing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a component mounting apparatus is provided as a processing apparatus in a component mounting line in which a plurality of processing apparatuses are connected so as to be able to transport a board in a predetermined transport direction, the component mounting apparatus including: a transport unit that transports a board removed from an upstream processing apparatus on the upstream side in the transport direction to a predetermined work position and transports the board from the work position so that the board at the work position can be transported to a downstream processing apparatus on the downstream side in the transport direction; a head unit that mounts components onto the board brought into the work position; a component supply unit that includes a plurality of reference feeders arranged in a reference area set based on the component mounting efficiency on the board by the head unit as feeders for supplying components to be mounted on the board by the head unit, and a plurality of alternative feeders arranged outside the reference area and capable of supplying the same type of components as the reference feeders; and a control unit that controls the supply of components in the component supply unit. The control unit performs a process of calculating a cycle time indicating the time required from the loading to the unloading of a board to the work position, including a first calculation process of calculating a standard cycle time when the multiple standard feeders are used as feeders for supplying components; a second calculation process of calculating an allowable loading / unloading time indicating the time allowable from the loading to the unloading of a board to the work position based on upstream unloading status information indicating the unloading status of the board in the upstream device and downstream unloading status information indicating the loading status of the board in the downstream device; and a selection process of selecting a feeder to use for supplying components, wherein if the allowable loading / unloading time is longer than the standard cycle time, an alternative feeder to be used for supplying components from the multiple alternative feeders is selected to the extent that the constraint that the loading and unloading of the board to the work position can be completed within the allowable loading / unloading time is satisfied.

[0009] According to this component mounting device, the control unit calculates a reference cycle time when each reference feeder arranged in the reference area of ​​the component supply unit is used in a first calculation process, and calculates an allowable loading / unloading time according to the board loading / unloading status of the upstream and downstream devices in a second calculation process. Then, in a selection process, if the allowable loading / unloading time is longer than the reference cycle time, the control unit selects an alternative feeder to be used to supply components from among multiple alternative feeders within a range that satisfies the constraint that board loading and unloading from the work position must be completed within the allowable loading / unloading time. If the allowable loading / unloading time is longer than the reference cycle time, using only the reference feeder arranged in the reference area of ​​the component supply unit as a feeder to supply components creates a time lag corresponding to the difference between the allowable loading / unloading time and the reference cycle time between the time board loading and unloading becomes possible. Therefore, by selecting an alternative feeder to be used in place of the reference feeder within a range that satisfies the constraint when the allowable loading / unloading time is longer than the reference cycle time, the alternative feeder arranged in the component supply unit can be used effectively and at the appropriate timing.

[0010] In the component mounting device, in the second calculation process, the control unit may acquire an upstream side scheduled ejection time indicating the scheduled time for ejecting the substrate from the upstream device as the upstream side ejection status information, and acquire a downstream side scheduled import time indicating the scheduled time for loading the substrate into the downstream device as the downstream side import status information, and calculate the allowable import / export time based on the upstream side scheduled ejection time and the downstream side scheduled import time.

[0011] In this aspect, the control unit can calculate the allowable loading / unloading time, which serves as an indicator of the timing to use an alternative feeder in place of the reference feeder, based on the upstream scheduled unloading time, which indicates the scheduled time for unloading the substrate from the upstream device, and the downstream scheduled loading time, which indicates the scheduled time for loading the substrate from the downstream device.

[0012] In the component mounting device, the control unit may, in the first calculation process, calculate, for each of the plurality of alternative feeders, an alternative cycle time when the alternative feeder is used in place of one of the plurality of reference feeders, and calculate a differential time indicating the difference between the reference cycle time and the alternative cycle time. In this case, in the selection process, the control unit adds the differential time for each of the plurality of alternative feeders to the reference cycle time within a range that is shorter than the allowable load / unload time, and selects an alternative feeder corresponding to each of the added differential times as the alternative feeder to be used that satisfies the constraint condition.

[0013] In this aspect, the control unit calculates, for each of the multiple alternative feeders, an alternative cycle time when the alternative feeder is used in place of one of the multiple reference feeders, and calculates a differential time indicating the difference between the reference cycle time and the alternative cycle time. In this case, the control unit adds the differential time for each of the multiple alternative feeders to the reference cycle time within a range that is shorter than the allowable load / unload time, and can select the alternative feeder corresponding to each added differential time as the alternative feeder to be used that satisfies the constraint conditions.

[0014] In the component mounting device, the control unit may, in the first calculation process, generate a plurality of combination patterns of the plurality of alternative feeders, calculate an alternative cycle time for each of the plurality of combination patterns when an alternative feeder belonging to the combination pattern is used in place of the plurality of reference feeders, and calculate a differential time indicating the difference between the reference cycle time and the alternative cycle time. In this case, in the selection process, the control unit identifies the combination pattern for which the time obtained by adding the differential time to the reference cycle time is shorter than the allowable carry-in / out time, and selects the alternative feeder belonging to the identified combination pattern as the alternative feeder to be used that satisfies the constraint condition.

[0015] In this aspect, the control unit generates multiple combination patterns of multiple alternative feeders, calculates, for each of the multiple combination patterns, an alternative cycle time when an alternative feeder belonging to the combination pattern is used in place of multiple reference feeders, and calculates a differential time indicating the difference between the reference cycle time and the alternative cycle time. In this case, the control unit can identify a combination pattern in which the time obtained by adding the differential time to the reference cycle time is shorter than the allowable load / unload time, and select an alternative feeder belonging to the identified combination pattern as a use alternative feeder that satisfies the constraint conditions.

[0016] In the component mounting device, components are set with a predetermined expiration date, and the control unit may, in the selection process, set a priority for selecting the alternative feeders to be used in order of the expiration date of each component held in each of the multiple alternative feeders.

[0017] In this aspect, the control unit sets a priority order for selecting an alternative feeder to be used in place of the reference feeder in order of the closest expiration date of each part held in the multiple alternative feeders, thereby enabling the alternative feeder to be used before the expiration date of the parts held in the alternative feeder expires.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting line in which a plurality of component mounting devices are connected so as to be able to transport boards in a predetermined transport direction, and the plurality of component mounting devices are the component mounting devices described above. The control unit of each component mounting device identifies, for boards transported sequentially between the component mounting devices, a target board for which the alternative feeder is to be selected as the feeder to be used to supply components in the selection process, in accordance with the positional relationship between the component mounting device and the other devices in the transport direction.

[0019] According to this component mounting line, boards are sequentially transported between multiple component mounting devices. In this case, when the allowable loading / unloading time exceeds the reference cycle time and an alternative feeder is used instead of the reference feeder, the boards being transported differ between the component mounting devices. Therefore, the control unit of each component mounting device identifies, for boards sequentially transported on the component mounting line, boards for which an alternative feeder will be selected as the feeder to be used to supply components, based on the relative position of the component mounting device relative to the other devices in the transport direction. This allows each component mounting device to effectively use the alternative feeder at the appropriate timing for the identified board. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a component mounting apparatus and a component mounting line that are capable of effectively using an alternative feeder arranged in a component supply unit at an appropriate timing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a component mounting line to which a component mounting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the component mounting device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the component mounting device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a head unit portion of the component mounting apparatus. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a component supply unit of the component mounting apparatus; [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the status of board loading and unloading in a plurality of component mounting devices on a component mounting line, showing a case where board loading and unloading in each component mounting device is progressing smoothly. [Figure 7] 10 is a diagram showing the status of board loading and unloading in a plurality of component mounting devices on a component mounting line, in which a delay occurs in board loading and unloading in each component mounting device. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a control unit provided in the component mounting apparatus. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of a process flow of component supply control executed by the control unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of the process flow of component supply control executed by the control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, a component mounting apparatus and a component mounting line according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0023] The component mounting line 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a production line for producing component-mounted boards in which components such as electronic components are mounted on a substrate PP such as a printed circuit board. The component mounting line 1 is connected to multiple processing devices so that the substrate PP can be transported in a predetermined transport direction X. The processing devices arranged in the component mounting line 1 include a printing device 1A that prints solder paste on the substrate PP, multiple component mounting devices 2 that mount components on the substrate PP, and a reflow device 1B that performs reflow processing. The component mounting line 1 includes the printing device 1A, multiple component mounting devices 2, and reflow device 1B, which are arranged in order from upstream to downstream in the transport direction X of the substrate PP. FIG. 1 also shows an example in which five component mounting devices 2, namely a first component mounting device 2A, a second component mounting device 2B, a third component mounting device 2C, a fourth component mounting device 2D, and a fifth component mounting device 2E, are arranged in order from upstream to downstream in the transport direction X of the substrate PP. In addition, in the transport direction X of the substrate PP, the inspection device may be arranged, for example, at a position between the printing device 1A and the component mounting device 2, a position between the component mounting device 2 and the reflow device 1B, or a position downstream of the reflow device 1B.

[0024] In addition, in the component mounting line 1, the printing device 1A, the multiple component mounting devices 2, and the reflow device 1B are connected so as to be able to communicate various information with each other. Note that the printing device 1A, the multiple component mounting devices 2, and the reflow device 1B may also be connected to a management device 1C so as to be able to communicate various information.

[0025] The component mounting apparatus 2 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 in addition to Figure 1. Note that, in the following, directional relationships will be described using XY Cartesian coordinates, which are orthogonal to each other on a horizontal plane. As shown in Figure 3, the component mounting apparatus 2 includes a main body frame 21, a transport unit 23, a component supply unit 24, and a head unit 25.

[0026] The main frame 21 is a structure in which each unit that constitutes the component mounting device 2 is arranged, and is formed in an approximately rectangular shape when viewed in a plane from a direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0027] The transport unit 23 is, for example, a conveyor extending in the X-axis direction parallel to the transport direction X of the board PP, and is disposed on the main frame 21. The transport unit 23 transports the board PP in the transport direction X. Specifically, the transport unit 23 transports the board PP, which has been unloaded from an upstream device located upstream of the component mounting line 1 in the transport direction X, to a predetermined work position WP, and unloads the board PP from the work position WP so that the board PP at the work position WP can be loaded into a downstream device located downstream of the transport direction X. In the component mounting line 1 shown in FIG. 1 , taking the first component mounting device 2A as an example, the transport unit 23 transports the board PP, which has been unloaded from the printing device 1A, which is the upstream device, to the work position WP, and unloads the board PP from the work position WP so that the board PP at the work position WP can be loaded into the second component mounting device 2B, which is the downstream device.

[0028] The substrate PP carried into the work position WP by the transport unit 23 is positioned by the substrate support device 28. The substrate support device 28 supports the substrate PP with push-up pins, thereby positioning the substrate PP at the work position WP.

[0029] The component supply units 24 are disposed at both ends of the main frame 21 in the Y-axis direction. The component supply unit 24 has a plurality of feeders 240 arranged in the X-axis direction to supply components. The feeders 240 are detachably attached to the component supply unit 24. The feeders 240 hold a plurality of components and supply the held components to predetermined component supply positions set within the feeders. The component supply method of the feeders 240 is not particularly limited as long as they are configured to supply components. Examples of feeders 240 that can be used include tape feeders that supply components using tape as a carrier, tray feeders that supply components by moving a tray on which the components are placed, and stick feeders that supply components stored in a cylindrical stick by pushing them out of the stick.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the head unit 25 is held by a moving frame 27. A fixed rail 261 extending in the Y-axis direction and a ball screw shaft 262 rotated by a Y-axis servo motor 263 are arranged on the main body frame 21. The moving frame 27 is placed on the fixed rail 261, and a nut portion 271 provided on the moving frame 27 is threadedly engaged with the ball screw shaft 262. The moving frame 27 also has a guide member 272 extending in the X-axis direction and a ball screw shaft 273 driven by an X-axis servo motor 274. The head unit 25 is movably held by the guide member 272, and a nut portion provided on the head unit 25 is threadedly engaged with the ball screw shaft 273. The moving frame 27 moves in the Y-axis direction due to operation of the Y-axis servo motor 263, and the head unit 25 moves in the X-axis direction relative to the moving frame 27 due to operation of the X-axis servo motor 274. That is, head unit 25 is movable in the Y-axis direction in conjunction with the movement of movable frame 27, and is also movable in the X-axis direction along movable frame 27. Head unit 25 is movable across component supply unit 24 and substrate PP carried into work position WP by transport unit 23.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, the head unit 25 includes multiple mounting heads 251. FIG. 4 illustrates a head unit 25 including eight mounting heads 251 aligned at equal intervals in the X-axis direction. Each mounting head 251 picks up components from the component supply unit 24 and mounts (mounts) the picked components on the substrate PP. Each mounting head 251 is capable of moving in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) and rotating around the nozzle center axis (R-axis) relative to the frame of the head unit 25, and is driven by an elevation drive unit and a rotation drive unit driven by a servo motor. Each mounting head 251 is also equipped with a suction nozzle 2511 at its tip (lower end). The suction nozzle 2511 is a holder capable of suctioning and holding components supplied by the feeders 240 arranged in the component supply unit 24. The suction nozzle 2511 can be connected to a negative pressure generator, a positive pressure generator, or the atmosphere via an electric switching valve. That is, supplying negative pressure to the suction nozzle 2511 enables the suction nozzle 2511 to suck and hold (remove) a component, and then supplying positive pressure releases the suction and holding of the component.

[0032] 3, a component recognition camera C1 is installed on the main body frame 21 between the component supply unit 24 and the transport unit 23. The component recognition camera C1 captures an image of the component that is sucked and held by the suction nozzle 2511 of the mounting head 251, thereby detecting the suction posture of the component with respect to the suction nozzle 2511.

[0033] Multiple types of components are mounted on each substrate PP. Furthermore, different types of components are mounted on different types of substrate PP. Therefore, in order for component mounting apparatus 2 to produce component-mounted substrates corresponding to multiple types of substrate PP, a number of feeders 240 corresponding to the types of components used in the production is required. Each of the multiple feeders 240 can be individually attached and detached to and from component supply unit 24, allowing for flexible placement within component supply unit 24.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5 , the component supply unit 24 includes, as feeders 240 for supplying components, multiple reference feeders 241 arranged in a reference area AR1 within the component supply unit 24 and multiple alternative feeders 242 arranged in an outer area AR2 outside the reference area AR1 within the component supply unit 24. The reference area AR1 is an area within the component supply unit 24 that is set based on the efficiency with which components are placed on the board PP by the head unit 25. The reference area AR1 is an area in which the reference feeders 241 required for the production of the board PP are densely arranged so that movement of the head unit 25 is minimized when placing components on the board PP. By using the reference feeders 241 arranged in the reference area AR1 of the component supply unit 24 as the feeders 240 for supplying components, the efficiency with which the head unit 25 places components on the board PP can be maximized. The alternative feeders 242 are feeders capable of supplying the same types of components as the reference feeders 241 and are used in place of the reference feeders 241.

[0035] The parts held in the reference feeder 241 and the alternative feeder 242 have predetermined expiration dates.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the component mounting apparatus 2 further includes a control unit 30, a communication unit 31, and a storage unit 32.

[0037] The communication unit 31 is an interface circuit that realizes communication with each processing device on the component mounting line 1. The storage unit 32 is a unit that stores various data calculated by the control unit 30.

[0038] The control unit 30 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage area such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory that stores a control program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area for the CPU, etc. The control unit 30 performs various processes for controlling the transport unit 23, the component supply unit 24, and the head unit 25 by the CPU executing the control program stored in the HDD or flash memory.

[0039] 6 and 7 show the loading and unloading of the substrate PP in a state where the control unit 30 controls the transport unit 23, component supply unit 24, and head unit 25 in the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E on the component mounting line 1. Figures 6 and 7 show an example in which the substrate PP1, substrate PP2, substrate PP3, substrate PP4, substrate PP5, and substrate PP6 are transported sequentially between the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E.

[0040] In component mounting line 1, the line balance is set so that when the reference feeder 241 arranged in reference area AR1 is used for component supply in each component supply unit 24 of the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E, the component mounting efficiency for sequentially transported boards PP1 to PP6 is approximately the same. In other words, the reference cycle time CT1, which indicates the time required from carrying in a board PP to carrying it out from work position WP, including the time it takes for head unit 25 to mount all components onto one board PP using the components supplied from the reference feeder 241, is approximately the same for the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E. In this case, when only the reference feeder 241 is used as the feeder 240 for supplying components and the loading and unloading of the boards PP1 to PP6 in the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E on the component mounting line 1 is progressing smoothly, the allowable loading and unloading time TT2, which indicates the allowable time from loading and unloading the board PP into and from the work position WP in the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E, is the same as the reference cycle time CT1 and is approximately the same for each of the boards PP1 to PP6 in the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E, as shown in Figure 6.

[0041] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7, when boards PP1 to PP6 are transported sequentially on the component mounting line 1, if there is a delay in the removal of board PP3 from, for example, the third component mounting device 2C among the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E, or if the component mounting efficiency for board PP3 on the third component mounting device 2C is low and the line balance of the component mounting line 1 is not appropriate, it is expected that the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 on the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E will not match the standard cycle time CT1, and will no longer be approximately the same for each of the boards PP1 to PP6 on the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E.

[0042] Specifically, if a delay occurs in carrying out the board PP3 from the third component mounting apparatus 2C, then upstream in the transport direction X, a delay occurs in carrying in / out the boards PP4 and subsequent boards PP4 and subsequent boards PP5 and subsequent boards PP4 and subsequent boards PP5 and subsequent boards PP4 and subsequent boards PP5 and subsequent boards PP5 and subsequent boards PP4 and subsequent boards PP5 and subsequent boards PP4 and subsequent boards PP5 and subsequent boards PP5 and subsequent boards PP5 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent boards PP1 ...1 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent boards PP1 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent boards PP1 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent boards PP1 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent boards PP1 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent boards PP1 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent boards PP1 and subsequent boards PP2 and subsequent board In this case, it is expected that the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 from board PP2 onwards in the fourth component mounting device 2D will be longer than the standard cycle time CT1, and it is expected that the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 from board PP1 onwards in the fifth component mounting device 2E will be longer than the standard cycle time CT1.

[0043] When the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 becomes longer than the reference cycle time CT1 as described above, if only the reference feeder 241 arranged in the reference area AR1 of the component supply unit 24 is used as the feeder 240 that supplies components, a time leeway equivalent to the difference between the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 and the reference cycle time CT1 will be generated from the time the board PP is loaded until it can be unloaded. Therefore, the control units 30 in the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E on the component mounting line 1 take advantage of the timing when the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 becomes longer than the reference cycle time CT1 to control the supply of components in the component supply unit 24 so that the alternative feeder 242 is used instead of the reference feeder 241.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 30 executes a transport control S1 for controlling the transport unit 23, a component supply control S2 for controlling the component supply unit 24, and a head control S3 for controlling the head unit 25.

[0045] The control unit 30 performs the transport process S11 in the transport control S1. When the control unit 30 performs the transport process S11, the transport unit 23 transports the board PP, which has been unloaded from an upstream device located upstream in the transport direction X on the component mounting line 1, into a predetermined work position WP, and unloads the board PP from the work position WP so that the board PP at the work position WP is loaded into a downstream device located downstream in the transport direction X.

[0046] The control unit 30 performs the component mounting process S31 in the head control S3. When the control unit 30 performs the component mounting process S31, the head unit 25 mounts components supplied from the component supply unit 24 onto the substrate PP that has been carried into the work position WP by the transport unit 23. Note that the control unit 30 performs the component mounting process S31 after the transport unit 23 has carried the substrate PP into the work position WP in the transport process S11 and before the substrate PP is carried out from the work position WP.

[0047] In the component supply control S2, the control unit 30 performs a first calculation process S21, a second calculation process S22, a selection process S23, and a component supply process S24.

[0048] In the first calculation process S21, the control unit 30 calculates at least a reference cycle time CT1 when only the reference feeder 241 is used as a feeder for supplying components, as the cycle time indicating the time required from when the board PP is carried in to when it is carried out from the work position WP. The reference cycle time CT1 calculated by the control unit 30 is stored in the memory unit 32.

[0049] In the second calculation process S22, the control unit 30 acquires upstream side unloading status information J1 indicating the unloading status of the substrate PP from the upstream apparatus and downstream side loading status information J2 indicating the loading status of the substrate PP from the downstream apparatus via the communication unit 31. Then, the control unit 30 calculates an allowable loading / unloading time TT2 indicating the time allowable from loading to unloading of the substrate PP from the work position WP based on the upstream side unloading status information J1 and the downstream side loading status information J2. The allowable loading / unloading time TT2 calculated by the control unit 30 is stored in the memory unit 32.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 30 performs a first calculation process S21 and a second calculation process S22 before performing the transport process S11.

[0051] In the selection process S23, the control unit 30 selects a feeder 240 to be used by the head unit 25 to supply components to be placed on the substrate PP from among the multiple feeders 240 arranged in the component supply unit 24, based on a comparison between the reference cycle time CT1 and the allowable loading / unloading time TT2. The control unit 30 performs the selection process S23 at the timing when the transport unit 23 transports the substrate PP to the work position WP in the transport process S11. Note that the control unit 30 may also perform the selection process S23 each time the head unit 25 mounts components on the substrate PP in the component mounting process S31.

[0052] In the component supply process S24, the control unit 30 causes the feeder 240 selected in the selection process S23 to supply a component. The control unit 30 performs the component supply process S24 in synchronization with the component mounting process S31.

[0053] Regarding the processing flow of the first calculation process S21, the second calculation process S22, the selection process S23 and the part supply process S24 in the part supply control S2 executed by the control unit 30, a first example will be explained with reference to Figure 9, and then a second example will be explained with reference to Figure 10.

[0054] (First example of processing flow for parts supply control) First, a first example of the processing flow of the component supply control S2 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0055] In the first calculation process S21, the control unit 30 calculates a reference cycle time CT1 when only the reference feeder 241 arranged in the reference area AR1 of the component supply unit 24 is used as a feeder for supplying components (step S211). Furthermore, the control unit 30 calculates an alternative cycle time CT2 when an alternative feeder 242 is used in place of one of the reference feeders 241 for each of the multiple alternative feeders 242 arranged in the outer area AR2 of the component supply unit 24 (step S212). Then, the control unit 30 calculates a differential time TT1 indicating the difference between the reference cycle time CT1 and the alternative cycle time CT2 for each of the multiple alternative feeders 242 (step S213). The reference cycle time CT1 calculated by the control unit 30 and the differential time TT1 for each alternative feeder 242 are stored in the storage unit 32.

[0056] In the second calculation process S22, the control unit 30 acquires upstream-side unloading status information J1 and downstream-side loading status information J2 via the communication unit 31 (step S221). Specifically, the control unit 30 acquires the upstream-side scheduled unloading time indicating the scheduled time for unloading the substrate PP from the upstream device as the upstream-side unloading status information J1, and acquires the downstream-side scheduled loading time indicating the scheduled time for loading the substrate PP into the downstream device as the downstream-side loading status information J2.

[0057] 7, for example, focusing on the period from time T5 to time T6 when board PP3 is carried in or out of the third component mounting apparatus 2C, the control unit 30 of the first component mounting apparatus 2A acquires, as upstream carry-out status information J1, the upstream scheduled carry-out time T5 indicating the scheduled time for carry-out of board PP5 from the upstream printing apparatus 1A, and acquires, as downstream carry-in status information J2, the downstream scheduled carry-in time T6 indicating the scheduled time for carry-in of board PP5 from the downstream second component mounting apparatus 2B. The control unit 30 of the second component mounting apparatus 2B acquires, as upstream carry-out status information J1, the upstream scheduled carry-out time T5 indicating the scheduled time for carry-out of board PP4 from the upstream first component mounting apparatus 2A, and acquires, as downstream carry-in status information J2, the downstream scheduled carry-in time T6 indicating the scheduled time for carry-in of board PP4 from the downstream third component mounting apparatus 2C. The control unit 30 of the fourth component mounting apparatus 2D acquires, as upstream side carry-out status information J1, an upstream side scheduled carry-out time T5 indicating the scheduled time for carrying-out of the board PP2 from the third component mounting apparatus 2C, which is an upstream apparatus, and acquires, as downstream side carry-in status information J2, a downstream side scheduled carry-in time T6 indicating the scheduled time for carrying-in of the board PP2 from the fifth component mounting apparatus 2E, which is a downstream apparatus. The control unit 30 of the fifth component mounting apparatus 2E acquires, as upstream side carry-out status information J1, the upstream side scheduled carry-out time T5 indicating the scheduled time for carrying-out of the board PP1 from the fourth component mounting apparatus 2D, which is an upstream apparatus, and acquires, as downstream side carry-in status information J2, a downstream side scheduled carry-in time T6 indicating the scheduled time for carrying-in of the board PP1 from the reflow apparatus 1B, which is a downstream apparatus.

[0058] Then, the control unit 30 calculates an allowable carry-in / out time TT2 based on the upstream side carry-out status information J1 and the downstream side carry-in status information J2 (step S222). The control unit 30 can calculate the allowable carry-in / out time TT2, which serves as an indicator of the timing to use the alternative feeder 242 in place of the reference feeder 241, based on the upstream side carry-out status information J1 indicated by the upstream side scheduled carry-in time and the downstream side carry-in status information J2 indicated by the downstream side scheduled carry-in time. The allowable carry-in / out time TT2 calculated by the control unit 30 is stored in the memory unit 32.

[0059] In the selection process S23, the control unit 30 determines whether the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 is longer than the reference cycle time CT1 (step S231). If the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 is equal to or shorter than the reference cycle time CT1 (NO in step S231), the control unit 30 selects the reference feeder 241 arranged in the reference area AR1 of the component supply unit 24 as the feeder 240 to be used for supplying components (step S232).

[0060] On the other hand, if the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 is longer than the reference cycle time CT1 (YES in step S231), the control unit 30 selects an alternative feeder 242 (used alternative feeder) to be used in place of the reference feeder 241 from among the multiple alternative feeders 242 arranged in the outer area AR2 of the component supply unit 24, within a range that satisfies the constraint condition LC that loading and unloading of the board PP into and from the work position WP is completed within the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 (step S233). Specifically, the control unit 30 adds the differential time TT1 for each of the multiple alternative feeders 242 to the reference cycle time CT1, within a range that is shorter than the allowable loading / unloading time TT2, and selects the alternative feeder 242 corresponding to each added differential time TT1 as the used alternative feeder 242 that satisfies the constraint condition LC.

[0061] When the selection of the feeder 240 for supplying components is completed in the selection process S23, the control unit 30 causes the feeder 240 selected in the selection process S23 to supply components in the component supply process S24.

[0062] As described above, in the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E on the component mounting line 1, the control unit 30 calculates at least the reference cycle time CT1 when using each reference feeder 241 arranged in the reference area AR1 of the component supply unit 24 in a first calculation process S21, and calculates the allowable carry-in / out time TT2 according to the status of carry-in / out of the board PP in the upstream and downstream devices in a second calculation process S22. Then, in a selection process S23, if the allowable carry-in / out time TT2 is longer than the reference cycle time CT1, the control unit 30 selects an alternative feeder 242 to be used to supply components from among the multiple alternative feeders 242 within a range that satisfies the constraint condition LC that the carry-in and carry-out of the board PP to and from the work position WP is completed within the allowable carry-in / out time TT2.

[0063] When the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 is longer than the reference cycle time CT1, if only the reference feeder 241 arranged in the reference area AR1 of the component supply unit 24 is used as the feeder 240 that supplies components, there will be a time leeway equivalent to the difference time TT1 between the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 and the reference cycle time CT1 between the time when the board PP is loaded and the time when it can be unloaded. Therefore, when the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 is longer than the reference cycle time CT1, by selecting an alternative feeder 242 to be used in place of the reference feeder 241 within a range that satisfies the constraint LC, the alternative feeder 242 arranged in the component supply unit 24 can be used effectively at the appropriate timing.

[0064] Furthermore, as described above, predetermined expiration dates are set for the components held in the reference feeder 241 and the alternative feeders 242. In this case, in the selection process S23, the control units 30 of the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E set a priority for selecting the alternative feeders 242 to be used in place of the reference feeder 241 in order of the components held in the multiple alternative feeders 242 with the nearest expiration date. This allows the alternative feeders 242 to be used before the expiration dates of the components held in the alternative feeders 242 expire.

[0065] 7, boards PP1-PP6 are sequentially transported between the first to fifth component mounting apparatuses 2A-2E on component mounting line 1. In the example shown in FIG. 7, for example, focusing on the period from time T5 to time T6, board PP5 is loaded / unloaded into / out of first component mounting apparatus 2A, board PP4 is loaded / unloaded into / out of second component mounting apparatus 2B, board PP3 is loaded / unloaded into / out of third component mounting apparatus 2C, board PP2 is loaded / unloaded into / out of fourth component mounting apparatus 2D, and board PP1 is loaded / unloaded into / out of fifth component mounting apparatus 2E. In this case, when allowable loading / unloading time TT2 becomes longer than reference cycle time CT1 and substitute feeder 242 is used instead of reference feeder 241, the boards PP loaded / unloaded differ among the first to fifth component mounting apparatuses 2A-2E.

[0066] Therefore, the control units 30 of the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E identify, in the selection process S23, the target substrate PP for which an alternative feeder 242 is to be selected as the feeder 240 to be used to supply components, based on the positional relationship between their own device and the other devices in the conveyance direction X, for the substrates PP1 to PP6 sequentially transported on the component mounting line 1. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 30 of the first component mounting device 2A identifies, in the selection process S23, the target substrate PP5 for which an alternative feeder 242 is to be selected, based on the positional relationship between the third component mounting device 2C, which is experiencing a delay in the transport of the substrate PP3, and the first component mounting device 2A. The control unit 30 of the second component mounting device 2B identifies, in the selection process S23, the target substrates PP4 and PP5 for which an alternative feeder 242 is to be selected, based on the positional relationship between the third component mounting device 2C, which is experiencing a delay in the transport of the substrate PP3, and the second component mounting device 2B. In selection process S23, control unit 30 of fourth component mounting apparatus 2D identifies substrate PP2 as the target substrate for which alternative feeder 242 is selected, depending on the positional relationship between third component mounting apparatus 2C, which is experiencing a delay in carrying out substrate PP3, and the fourth component mounting apparatus 2D, which is its own apparatus. In selection process S23, control unit 30 of fifth component mounting apparatus 2E identifies substrates PP1 and PP2 as the target substrates for which alternative feeder 242 is selected, depending on the positional relationship between third component mounting apparatus 2C, which is experiencing a delay in carrying out substrate PP3, and the fifth component mounting apparatus 2E, which is its own apparatus. This allows alternative feeder 242 to be used effectively at the appropriate time for substrates PP identified in first to fifth component mounting apparatuses 2A to 2E.

[0067] (Second example of processing flow for parts supply control) A second example of the processing flow of the component supply control S2 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0068] In the first calculation process S21, the control unit 30 calculates a reference cycle time CT1 when only the reference feeder 241 arranged in the reference area AR1 of the component supply unit 24 is used as a feeder for supplying components (step S211). Furthermore, the control unit 30 generates a plurality of combination patterns PT of a plurality of alternative feeders 242 arranged in the outer area AR2 of the component supply unit 24 (step S212). Then, for each of the generated combination patterns PT, the control unit 30 calculates an alternative cycle time CT2 when the alternative feeder 242 belonging to the combination pattern PT is used in place of the plurality of reference feeders 241 (step S213). Then, for each of the generated combination patterns PT, the control unit 30 calculates a differential time TT1 indicating the difference between the reference cycle time CT1 and the alternative cycle time CT2 (step S214). The reference cycle time CT1 calculated by the control unit 30 and the differential time TT1 for each combination pattern PT are stored in the storage unit 32.

[0069] In the second calculation process S22, the control unit 30 acquires upstream-side unloading status information J1 and downstream-side loading status information J2 via the communication unit 31 (step S221). Specifically, the control unit 30 acquires an upstream-side scheduled unloading time indicating the scheduled time for unloading the substrate PP from the upstream apparatus as the upstream-side unloading status information J1, and acquires a downstream-side scheduled loading time indicating the scheduled time for loading the substrate PP into the downstream apparatus as the downstream-side loading status information J2. The control unit 30 then calculates an allowable loading / unloading time TT2 based on the upstream-side unloading status information J1 and the downstream-side loading status information J2 (step S222). The allowable loading / unloading time TT2 calculated by the control unit 30 is stored in the storage unit 32.

[0070] In the selection process S23, the control unit 30 determines whether the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 is longer than the reference cycle time CT1 (step S231). If the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 is equal to or shorter than the reference cycle time CT1 (NO in step S231), the control unit 30 selects the reference feeder 241 arranged in the reference area AR1 of the component supply unit 24 as the feeder 240 to be used for supplying components (step S232).

[0071] On the other hand, if the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 is longer than the reference cycle time CT1 (YES in step S231), the control unit 30 selects an alternative feeder 242 (used alternative feeder) to be used in place of the reference feeder 241 from among the multiple alternative feeders 242 arranged in the outer area AR2 of the component supply unit 24, within the scope that satisfies the constraint condition LC that loading and unloading of the board PP into and from the work position WP is completed within the allowable loading / unloading time TT2. Specifically, the control unit 30 identifies a combination pattern PT such that the time obtained by adding the difference time TT1 for each combination pattern PT to the reference cycle time CT1 is shorter than the allowable loading / unloading time TT2 (step S233), and selects the alternative feeder 242 belonging to the identified combination pattern PT as the used alternative feeder 242 that satisfies the constraint condition LC (step S234).

[0072] When the selection of the feeder 240 for supplying components is completed in the selection process S23, the control unit 30 causes the feeder 240 selected in the selection process S23 to supply components in the component supply process S24.

[0073] As described above, in the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A-2E on the component mounting line 1, the control unit 30 calculates at least the reference cycle time CT1 when using each reference feeder 241 arranged in the reference area AR1 of the component supply unit 24 in a first calculation process S21, and calculates the allowable transfer time TT2 according to the status of transfer of the board PP in the upstream and downstream devices in a second calculation process S22. Then, in a selection process S23, if the allowable transfer time TT2 is longer than the reference cycle time CT1, the control unit 30 selects an alternative feeder 242 to be used to supply components from among the multiple alternative feeders 242 to the extent that the constraint LC that requires that the transfer of the board PP into and out of the work position WP be completed within the allowable transfer time TT2 is satisfied. This allows the alternative feeders 242 arranged in the component supply unit 24 to be used effectively and at the appropriate time.

[0074] Furthermore, as described above, the components held in the reference feeder 241 and the alternative feeders 242 are set with predetermined expiration dates. In this case, in the selection process S23, the control unit 30 of the first to fifth component mounting devices 2A to 2E sets a priority for selecting the alternative feeders 242 to be used in place of the reference feeder 241 in order of the components held in the multiple alternative feeders 242 with the closest expiration dates. Specifically, when specifying the combination pattern PT for selecting the alternative feeder 242 to be used in the selection process S23, the control unit 30 specifies, for example, the combination pattern PT to which the alternative feeder 242 holding the component with the closest expiration date belongs. This allows the alternative feeder 242 to be used before the expiration date of the component held in the alternative feeder 242 expires. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1. Component mounting line 2. Component mounting equipment 23 Transport unit 24 Parts supply unit 240 Feeder 241 Standard Feeder 242 Alternative Feeder 25 Head Unit 30 Control Unit CT1 Reference Cycle Time CT2 Alternative Cycle Time J1 Upstream transport status information J2 Downstream Delivery Status Information TT1 differential time TT2 Loading / unloading time limit

Claims

1. A component mounting device that is arranged as a processing device in a component mounting line in which a plurality of processing devices are connected so as to be able to transport a substrate in a predetermined transport direction, a transport unit that transports a substrate that has been unloaded from an upstream device, which is the processing device on the upstream side in the transport direction, into a predetermined work position, and unloads the substrate from the work position so that the substrate at the work position can be loaded into a downstream device, which is the processing device on the downstream side in the transport direction; a head unit that mounts components on the board that has been brought into the work position; a component supply unit having, as feeders for supplying components to be mounted on a board by the head unit, a plurality of reference feeders arranged in a reference area set based on the efficiency of component mounting on a board by the head unit, and a plurality of alternative feeders arranged outside the reference area and capable of supplying the same type of components as the reference feeders; a control unit that controls the supply of components in the component supply unit, The control unit a first calculation process for calculating a cycle time indicating a time required from carrying in to carrying out a board relative to the work position, the first calculation process calculating a reference cycle time when the plurality of reference feeders are used as feeders for supplying components; a second calculation process for calculating an allowable carry-in / out time indicating a time allowed from when the substrate is carried into the work position until when it is carried out, based on upstream-side carry-out status information indicating a carry-out status of the substrate in the upstream device and downstream-side carry-in status information indicating a carry-in status of the substrate in the downstream device; a process for selecting a feeder to be used for supplying components, wherein if the allowable loading / unloading time is longer than the reference cycle time, a selection process is performed to select an alternative feeder to be used for supplying components from among the plurality of alternative feeders within a range that satisfies the constraint that loading and unloading of boards into and from the work position must be completed within the allowable loading / unloading time.

2. 2. The component mounting device according to claim 1, wherein in the second calculation process, the control unit acquires an upstream side scheduled removal time indicating the scheduled time for removing the board from the upstream device as the upstream side removal status information, and acquires a downstream side scheduled load time indicating the scheduled time for carrying in the board from the downstream device as the downstream side load status information, and calculates the allowable load / unload time based on the upstream side scheduled removal time and the downstream side scheduled load time.

3. The control unit In the first calculation process, for each of the plurality of alternative feeders, an alternative cycle time when the alternative feeder is used in place of one of the plurality of reference feeders is calculated, and a differential time indicating a difference between the reference cycle time and the alternative cycle time is calculated; 2. The component mounting device according to claim 1, wherein in the selection process, the differential time for each of the plurality of alternative feeders is added to the reference cycle time within a range that is shorter than the allowable loading / unloading time, and the alternative feeder corresponding to each of the added differential times is selected as the alternative feeder to be used that satisfies the constraint conditions.

4. The control unit In the first calculation process, a plurality of combination patterns of the plurality of alternative feeders are generated, and for each of the plurality of combination patterns, an alternative cycle time is calculated when an alternative feeder belonging to the combination pattern is used in place of the plurality of reference feeders, and a differential time indicating a difference between the reference cycle time and the alternative cycle time is calculated; 2. The component mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the selection process identifies the combination pattern in which the time obtained by adding the difference time to the reference cycle time is shorter than the allowable loading / unloading time, and selects an alternative feeder belonging to the identified combination pattern as the alternative feeder to be used that satisfies the constraint conditions.

5. Parts have a predetermined expiration date.

2. The component mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, in the selection process, sets a priority for selecting the alternative feeders to be used in order of the expiration dates of the components held in the multiple alternative feeders.

6. A component mounting line in which a plurality of component mounting devices are connected so as to be able to transport a board in a predetermined transport direction, The plurality of component mounting devices are the component mounting devices according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A component mounting line in which the control unit of each component mounting device identifies, for a substrate being transported sequentially between each component mounting device, a substrate for which the alternative feeder will be selected as the feeder to be used to supply components in the selection process, depending on the positional relationship between the device itself and other devices in the transport direction.

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