Predicting time for pick and place material replenishment for a pick and place line

Abstract

To improve the efficiency of pick and place lines.SOLUTION: A method for predicting a time for pick and place material replenishment for a pick and place line includes the steps of: (a) detecting a current filling level of component material from a first component feeder; (b) determining planned pick and place operations with a component material assigned to a first feed track, populated operations being still required in order to populate all component carriers (PCB) of a current batch production in a first pick and place station; (c) determining a position of a component carrier along a transport path which has been populated in a second pick and place station and which is still to be populated in the first pick and place station; and (d) predicting the time for replenishing a material at the first feed track based on the current filling level, the determined planned populated operations and the determined current position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the manufacture of electronic assemblies using a pick and place line comprising at least one, and typically several, serially connected pick and place machines, and in particular to (i) a method for predicting a time for replenishing pick and place material for a first pick and place station of the pick and place line, (ii) a method for predicting a time for replenishing pick and place material in different predetermined feed runs of at least one pick and place station of the pick and place line, (iii) a method for determining a temporal sequence for replenishing pick and place material in at least two feed runs of the pick and place line, and (iv) a pick and place line with a data processing device configured to perform or control the sequence of the methods. [Background technology]

[0002] Electronic components are loaded onto component carriers, such as printed circuit boards or substrates, using a pick-and-place machine having a pick-and-place head that (i) picks up the electronic component at a pick position on a component dispenser, (ii) moves the electronic component to a pick-and-place area of ​​the pick-and-place machine where the component carrier to be loaded is located, and (iii) places the picked component onto the component carrier at a predetermined pick-and-place position.

[0003] To produce an electronic assembly consisting in each case of one component carrier and several different types of components, the component carrier in question is typically loaded by several pick-and-place machines, whereby several component supply devices are assigned to each pick-and-place machine, by means of which different types of electronic components are supplied to the pick-and-place process.

[0004] The pick and place machines used to manufacture an assembly are typically arranged one after the other in a pick and place line, and the component carriers are transported by means of transport devices through the pick and place areas of the various pick and place machines, so that each component carrier is at least partially loaded in each case in a different pick and place area.

[0005] To ensure that a pick and place line operates with as few interruptions as possible, it must be ensured that there is always a sufficient amount of pick and place material or a sufficient number of components for each component supply device. This can be done in different ways (A) and (B).

[0006] (A) Threshold monitoring In this variant, a current fill level of pick and place material is always assigned to each individual component dispenser. When components are loaded, the fill level is updated. The consumption of pick and place material for an optimally operating pick and place line can be predicted using software. If the material falls below a certain threshold, a queue is generated to replenish the pick and place material at the component dispenser in question. This queue is then executed by an operator or a robot, which moves new pick and place material to the component dispenser in question.

[0007] (B) Calculate pick-and-place material requirements. This is done using a software-supported logistics workflow solution that ensures and monitors the continuous supply of pick-and-place materials in the pick-and-place line. Based on the planned material consumption, actual material consumption, and current material inventory in the pick-and-place line, the required electronic components to be packaged in a component belt are picked up in a central material storehouse. This picking process involves winding an appropriate length of component belt onto a belt reel. Alternatively, a belt reel with an already wound component belt may be delivered to the central material storehouse by the manufacturer or distributor. The determination of the required amount of picked belt reel and its movement to the pick-and-place line takes place, for example, in an hourly cycle. The actual replenishment process in the pick-and-place machine, or more precisely, in the component supply device, is not monitored.

[0008] The continuous supply of pick-and-place material in a component dispenser currently involves so-called splicing. In the splicing process, the end of a component belt that is about to be exhausted by the removal of a component is connected to the beginning of a new component belt using a connecting element. In this way, the component belt that is about to be exhausted is extended, ensuring a continuous supply of pick-and-place material. Splicing is typically performed manually by an operator. To prevent the component dispenser from running out, the operator has a limited amount of time to perform or complete the splicing process.

[0009] To automate the component replenishment process, a component supply device with a housing that accommodates a belt reel is known. The process of replenishing components or materials in the so-called component supply runway of the pick-and-place machine is then carried out by replacing the entire component supply device, which can be done automatically by a robot. To prevent the pick-and-place machine from coming to a standstill, it is necessary to replace the component supply device as soon as it is emptied. Therefore, accurate prediction is required to predict the time of such replacement as accurately as possible. It is then possible to operate the pick-and-place line at a high level of efficiency without long downtimes of at least some of the pick-and-place machines. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The invention is based on the object of increasing the efficiency of pick-and-place lines, in particular in an automated manner, in which pick-and-place machines are supplied with pick-and-place material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method is described for predicting a time to replenish pick and place materials for a first pick and place station of a pick and place line, the pick and place line comprising at least (i) a first pick and place station to which pick and place materials are supplied in a first supply path (selected) by a first component supply device, and (ii) a second pick and place station to which pick and place materials are supplied in a second supply path by a second component supply device, the second pick and place station being positioned upstream of the first pick and place station along a transport path (predetermined direction of transport) for loading onto component carriers. The described method is characterized by the steps of (a) detecting a current fill level of component material from a first component supply device; (b) determining a planned pick and place operation at least according to the component material to be assigned to the first supply runway, where a mounting operation is still required to mount all component carriers of the current batch production at the first pick and place station; (c) determining a current position along the transport path of at least one component carrier that has been mounted at the second pick and place station and will still be mounted at the first pick and place station; and (d) predicting a time for replenishing the pick and place material in the first supply runway based on (d1) the detected current fill level, (d2) the determined planned mounting operation, and (d3) the determined current position.

[0013] The described method is based on the realization that the prediction of the time when pick-and-place material must be replenished in the first supply run is based not only on information about the ideal operation of the pick-and-place line, but also on information about the current actual operation of the pick-and-place line. The current actual operation is characterized by a greater or lesser number of significant perturbations that cause deviations from the ideal pick-and-place operation compared to the idealized pick-and-place operation. Thus, the method according to the invention can determine the time for replenishment of pick-and-place material with greater accuracy than is possible with known methods in which only the operating conditions for the ideal pick-and-place operation are considered.

[0014] The described method ensures that a pick and place line with several pick and place stations, and typically several component feeders per pick and place line, always has enough pick and place material in practical or actual operation so that undesired downtime of the pick and place line can be prevented. Specifically, by accurately predicting the time that replenishment of pick and place material is required at each feed run, it can be ensured that an adequate supply of pick and place material is on-site at the right time.

[0015] Sufficient pick-and-place material can be provided manually by an operator. Alternatively, or for selected supply tracks, pick-and-place material can be provided by a robot before replenishment. Accurately predicting replenishment times for different supply tracks, preferably for all supply tracks, also allows for determining the order for replenishing pick-and-place material in the different supply tracks. This allows for prioritizing the replenishment of pick-and-place material in supply tracks that are currently "threatened" next by a decrease in available pick-and-place material. Furthermore, supply tracks in different pick-and-place stations can also be prioritized depending on the occupancy or availability of buffer areas with temporarily stored component carriers, which buffer areas are provided in known manner along the transport path before and / or after the pick-and-place area of ​​the pick-and-place station. Thus, for example, supply stations in pick-and-place areas where many component carriers are gathered in front can be assigned a higher priority. This allows for undesirable congestion to be resolved as quickly as possible. These considerations apply in particular to automated replenishment of pick-and-place materials using at least one robot, which collects new pick-and-place materials from (intermediate) storage and transports them to the respective supply tracks. Furthermore, the tracks can also be optimized for robots that can transport several types of pick-and-place materials simultaneously. Thus, for example, the replenishment of a first pick-and-place material that is actually needed next can be postponed until a later time if there is still enough time until the corresponding predicted time to perform a less urgent replenishment of a second pick-and-place material in another supply track. Both the prioritization and optimization of the transport paths described above can, of course, also be performed by an operator during manual replenishment of pick-and-place materials.

[0016] Deviations from an idealized pick-and-place operation can be caused by a variety of different minor or major disturbances. Minor disturbances can be corrected independently and automatically, in particular by the pick-and-place line or the corresponding pick-and-place machine. Such minor disturbances include, for example, the loss of a component to be placed due to a failure to pick up a component at a component pick-up location and / or due to a non-optimal (negative) suction pressure at the tip of a component holding device designed as a suction gripper at a pick-and-place head. A major disturbance that can typically be eliminated only by corrective intervention by an operator is, for example, a tear in the cover foil of a component belt, on which components are held in a known manner in so-called holding pockets and fed to a component pick-up location. Such a cover foil is removed, also in a known manner, immediately before the planned pick-up of a component at the associated component pick-up location so that the pick-and-place head, or more precisely, the suction gripper of the pick-and-place head, can access the component to be picked from above. Disruptions to the pick and place operation may result, for example, from an opening (accidental or necessary) of the protective cover of at least one pick and place station, which, for safety reasons, results in the stopping of the pick and place operation of the pick and place station under consideration.

[0017] It is pointed out that disruptions do not necessarily result in delays in the pick-and-place operation. Disruptions can also occur, for example, if, before or during the loading of a larger component carrier with several so-called individual panels, it becomes apparent that (at least) one individual panel can no longer be loaded in a significant way. This can be due, for example, to the fact that the component carrier is damaged, particularly in the region of the individual panel in question, so that further processing, in particular the further loading of this individual panel, is no longer sensible. This means that for this particular component carrier, not all individual panels can be loaded, so the component carrier can be loaded more quickly. The component carrier can therefore be moved from one pick-and-place station to the next pick-and-place station along the transport path earlier in an idealized pick-and-place operation.

[0018] The two pick-and-place stations described can be directly adjacent along the transport path, i.e., directly following each other from the point of view of the transported component carriers. Alternatively, the two pick-and-place stations can be separated further apart, with a further pick-and-place station or other stations in the pick-and-place line being located between the second pick-and-place station and the first pick-and-place station. One such other station can be, for example, a measuring station, using which a successful pick-and-place operation at the second pick-and-place station is optically detected, whereby the measurement results of such a measuring station can be used, for example, for quality monitoring of the pick-and-place operation.

[0019] The second pick and place station can be any selected pick and place station in the pick and place line, except for the last pick and place station along the transport path. In the described context as used herein, the first pick and place station can be any selected pick and place station (including the last pick and place station in the pick and place line), so long as it is located downstream from the second pick and place station. Thus, from the perspective of a component carrier transported along the transport path, placement at the second pick and place station occurs before placement at the first pick and place station.

[0020] The method according to the invention is described in this document (in principle) from the perspective of a downstream first pick-and-place station, more precisely from the perspective of a selected first supply track or a (selected) first component supply device assigned to the selected first supply track. However, it is noted that the described method may also be (simultaneously) implemented for at least one further first supply track or for a further first component supply device of a first pick-and-place station assigned to a further first supply track. This means that not only the replenishment time for a first supply track can be predicted, but also, in principle, the replenishment time for all other first supply tracks of the first pick-and-place station. This allows for a comprehensive and accurate prediction of the replenishment time for several, preferably all, first supply tracks of the first pick-and-place station.

[0021] It is noted that in a pick-and-place line in which at least three pick-and-place stations are arranged along the transport path, and a third pick-and-place station is arranged upstream of the second pick-and-place station, to which pick-and-place material is supplied in (at least) a third supply run by a third component supply device, the described method can also be performed from the viewpoint of at least one of the second supply runs of the second pick-and-place position. In this case, the filling level of the associated second component supply device is then (additionally) detected. Furthermore, the planned pick-and-place operations that are still required to load all component carriers of the current batch production at the second pick-and-place station are (additionally) determined. Furthermore, the current position along the transport path of at least one component carrier that has been loaded at the third pick-and-place station and that still needs to be loaded at the second pick-and-place station (and at the first pick-and-place station) is (additionally) determined. This means that the replenishment time of pick and place material can in principle be predicted with a high degree of accuracy for the pick and place line for all supply tracks except for the supply track assigned to the pick and place station where the loading of component carriers by the pick and place line begins.

[0022] Specifically, the prediction of at least one "pick-and-place material replenishment time" according to the present invention takes into account the "reality" of the pick-and-place operation by identifying possible congestions in transport along the transport path by determining the current position of (at least) one component carrier that still needs to be loaded by the respective (first) pick-and-place station arranged downstream. In this situation, it is clear that such congestion can be resolved and / or prevented from worsening only if the further transport of component carriers is not hindered by delays in the first pick-and-place station arranged downstream, whereby such delays are clearly caused by late replenishment of pick-and-place material.

[0023] Detecting the fill level of the pick and place material from the (selected) first component dispenser can be done in known manner using a suitable sensor. Alternatively or in combination, the fill level can be detected by a (central) machine control system for the associated pick and place station or for the entire pick and place line, which (central) machine control system controls or coordinates the pick and place operations and which typically knows the fill levels of all component dispensers currently in use.

[0024] Determining the pick-and-place operations still required for the current batch production with the pick-and-place material assigned to the first supply run can also be performed by the machine control system, specifically by the machine control system for the entire pick-and-place line. In this situation, the number of pick-and-place operations still required is particularly important, since it indicates how much pick-and-place material is still required in the (selected) first supply run for the current batch production. Specifically, determining the (number of) planned pick-and-place operations as described above allows for a prognosis regarding the expected consumption of pick-and-place material, which is, of course, crucial for a reliable prediction of replenishment times.

[0025] In this document, the term "pick-and-place operation" is understood to mean specifically the placement of a component, which includes (i) picking up a component from a component pick-up location with a component holding device of a pick-and-place head, (ii) transporting the picked component to the pick-and-place area of ​​the considered pick-and-place station, (iii) placing the transported component on an associated component carrier at a given pick-and-place location, and (iv) moving the pick-and-place head back to the component pick-up location or to an adjacent component pick-up location in a component provider system having multiple component provider devices so that the next component can be picked up for the next pick-and-place operation.

[0026] In this document, the term "pick and place station" refers to a single pick and place machine. In the case of a larger pick and place machine, a pick and place station may also be part of a pick and place machine with its own pick and place area, whereby the pick and place area is assigned to at least one pick and place head that can be moved, typically using a gantry system, between (i) a component picking location and (ii) a component carrier held in the pick and place area.

[0027] In this document, the term "batch production" specifically refers to the loading or manufacturing of a particular type of component carrier that is loaded onto a pick and place line (as a whole) as part of a production batch and / or in a particular loading order.

[0028] The current position of at least one component carrier along the transport path that has been loaded at the second pick-and-place station and that is to be loaded at the first pick-and-place station can also be determined using appropriate sensors and / or by using the (central) machine control system. In other words, the position of an at least partially loaded component carrier, or the positions of several at least partially loaded component carriers, is determined, and this component carrier is positioned upstream of the selected first pick-and-place station relative to the direction of transport.

[0029] The position determination described above provides information about how long it will take until the next component carrier can be at or delivered to the first pick and place station. The next component carrier is a component carrier whose placement has already been completed at the second pick and place station and therefore can be delivered to the first pick and place station and can also be delivered without component carrier congestion (at the first pick and place station) during an optimal pick and place operation.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the pick-and-place material comprises electronic components held in a component belt or a component magazine. The component magazine can have a two-dimensional structure with multiple magazine pickup areas spatially arranged along two, preferably mutually perpendicular, axes. The component magazine can also have a one-dimensional structure with several magazine pickup areas arranged along the longitudinal direction of the magazine.

[0031] Storing electronic components on a component belt and feeding them during the component picking process to a pick-and-place head that can pick up one component at a time directly from a receptacle or pocket on the component belt has the advantage that the fill level of the associated pick-and-place material can be detected in a particularly reliable manner. Compared to feeding the components as bulk material, the components on the component belt are reliably separated in a known manner, so that, when the components that have been used and the number of components initially present on the component belt are known, the number of components still present on the component belt or the amount of pick-and-place material that has not yet been used can be easily detected.

[0032] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes a step of determining a batch size for a current batch production, and the step of predicting a time for replenishing pick-and-place materials in the first supply runway is further based on the determined batch size.

[0033] In this document, the term "batch size" specifically refers to the number of component carriers loaded in the current batch production. The batch size may be the total number of component carriers that are (or will be) loaded as part of a production batch and / or in a particular loading order. However, the term "batch size" may alternatively be understood as the number of component carriers that still need to be loaded after the start of the current batch production, whereby the batch size continuously changes as the current batch production progresses.

[0034] Batch size is a very easy-to-determine variable that characterizes the operation of a pick-and-place line. Taking the batch size into account to predict replenishment times contributes to a high prediction accuracy of the predicted replenishment times, especially at the beginning or early stages of the current batch production. In this situation, it should also be mentioned that pick-and-place materials may need to be replenished at the beginning of batch production, since a larger amount of pick-and-place materials is not always provided at the beginning of the supply runs. This is because batch production often begins with residual pick-and-place materials, at least in individual supply runs, that are still left over from previous batch production runs and that, of course, should be used up for cost reasons.

[0035] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes a step of determining a length of time for transporting at least one component carrier that is loaded at the second place station and that will still be loaded at the first place station from the second place station to the first place station, and the step of predicting a time for replenishing pick-and-place materials in the first supply runway is further based on the determined length of time.

[0036] The length of time for the described component carrier transport is also an important factor for the expected replenishment time. This length of time actually directly represents the "arrival" of the component carrier in or at the first pick-and-place station. As a result, taking them into account can contribute to (further) improving the accuracy of the replenishment time prediction.

[0037] The recited lengths of time can be determined, for example, using a sensor that optically detects other component carriers positioned between the associated component carrier and the first pick-and-place station in the transport path. In this situation, it is clear that at least one such other component carrier will prevent the transport of the component carrier to the first pick-and-place station, since the component carrier needs to "queue up."

[0038] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises replenishing the pick-and-place material in the (selected) first supply track in time (or just in time) before the predicted time, which ensures that there is always a (sufficient amount of) pick-and-place material in the selected supply track.

[0039] As already explained above, the method according to the invention is described in this document essentially from the perspective of one first supply run or a selected first supply run of the first pick-and-place station. However, the method according to the invention can also be performed (simultaneously) for other supply runs of the first supply run or other supply runs of other pick-and-place stations, so that the described determination of the current position of at least one (partially loaded) component carrier along the transport path only needs to relate to an upstream-positioned component carrier that is still (further) loaded in the (downstream) first supply run. Therefore, the replenishment described herein can also refer to all possible supply runs from all possible pick-and-place stations of the pick-and-place line, with the exception of pick-and-place stations that are directly positioned along the direction of transport or at the very beginning of the transport line.

[0040] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the step of replenishing placement materials includes the steps of: (a) removing a first component supply device from the first transport track, wherein any remaining unused pick-and-place material is removed together with the first component supply device; and (b) attaching another first component supply device to the (selected) first supply track together with new pick-and-place material, wherein the new pick-and-place material is positioned within or on the other first component supply device.

[0041] The described replenishment of pick-and-place material associated with the relocation of a component supply device has the advantage that the replenishment can be realized in a simple, error-resistant manner. Compared to a replenishment in which the (selected first) component supply device remains on the (selected first) supply runway and the pick-and-place material is, for example, only in the form of a component belt wound on a belt reel, the replacement of the complete component supply device does not require, for example, the manual, error-prone operation of threading the head of the component belt into the guide path of the component supply device in question, which in practice often has to be done by an operator under great time pressure to ensure an uninterrupted supply of pick-and-place material to the entire placement line. The component supply device to which the pick-and-place material is attached or held can be pre-assembled in an (intermediate) warehouse at the production site, so that the replacement of the component supply device with the pick-and-place material can be carried out particularly reliably but also particularly quickly.

[0042] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the removal of the first component provision device and the installation of the other first component provision device are automated using a robot.

[0043] The automated replacement of component dispensers described above can significantly reduce the manual labor required to operate a pick-and-place line, thereby advantageously reducing the manufacturing costs of electronic assemblies.

[0044] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises determining a further current position along the transport path of at least one further component carrier that has been loaded at a third pick-and-place station and that is yet to be loaded at the first pick-and-place station and / or the second pick-and-place station, whereby the third pick-and-place station is located upstream from the second pick-and-place station along the transport path, and the step of predicting the time for replenishing the pick-and-place material on the first supply run is also based on the determined further current position.

[0045] The described inclusion of the position of at least one further component carrier located after the previously described first component carrier along the direction of transport allows a particularly clear depiction of the current "component carrier congestion" before or upstream of the first pick-and-place station. As a result, a particularly high level of accuracy can be achieved when predicting the replenishment time in the (selected) first supply rung of the (selected) first pick-and-place station.

[0046] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method is described for predicting (at least two) times for replenishing pick-and-place material at different predetermined supply runs of at least one first pick-and-place station of a pick-and-place line, the pick-and-place line having a plurality of pick-and-place stations arranged successively along a transport path of the pick-and-place line (in a predetermined direction of transport) for loading component carriers. The described method is performed (separately) for two different supply runs. Thus, the described method includes, on the one hand, the step of implementing the previously described method, where the first supply run is a first predetermined supply run of the pick-and-place line and the predicted time is a first replenishment time associated with the first predetermined supply run. The described method also includes, on the other hand, the step of implementing the previously described method, where (here) the first supply run is a second predetermined supply run of the pick-and-place line and the predicted time is a second replenishment time associated with the second predetermined supply run.

[0047] The described method for predicting at least two replenishment times is based on the realization that an uninterrupted supply of pick-and-place material can be ensured for several predetermined supply runs, preferably for all supply runs of a pick-and-place line, as long as it is ensured that replenishment of pick-and-place material occurs in time, i.e., before the respective determined replenishment times, for all relevant supply runs. This reliably ensures a continuous supply of pick-and-place material along the entire pick-and-place line, minimizing undesired downtime of the pick-and-place line, or even just of an area of ​​the pick-and-place line.

[0048] According to a further embodiment, the method further includes determining a temporal sequence for (i) replenishing pick-and-place material at a first predetermined supply run and (ii) replenishing pick-and-place material at a second predetermined supply run based on the first replenishing time and the second replenishing time. The logistics of supplying pick-and-place material to a pick-and-place line can be optimized by determining a temporal sequence for at least two "replenishing" operations as described. This applies to automatic replenishing of pick-and-place material using at least one robot, as well as manual replenishing by at least one operator.

[0049] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the determined temporal order establishes a priority according to which pick-and-place materials (from the first and second predetermined supply tracks) are replenished first in the predetermined supply track assigned an earlier replenishment time (the first and second replenishment times). The described priority of replenishment is particularly relevant for reliable provision of pick-and-place materials, at least when the earlier replenishment time is not long in coming and / or when two replenishment times are close together. In this case, promptness is crucial to avoid missing the earlier replenishment time.

[0050] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the first replenishment time occurs before the second replenishment time, and the described method further includes (a) replenishing pick-and-place materials in a second predetermined supply track, followed by (b) replenishing pick-and-place materials in the first predetermined supply track. This type of temporary reversal of the determined time sequence for corresponding replenishments or replenishment procedures in various predetermined supply tracks can be performed, in particular, when a relatively long period of time still remains until the two replenishment times are reached. One advantage of the described temporary reversal can be seen, for example, in the fact that, in some operating situations, the travel distance for a robot to automatically replenish pick-and-place materials or the walking distance for an operator manually replenishing pick-and-place materials can be shortened. This can be particularly true when the robot or operator can simultaneously transport two types of pick-and-place materials to their respective predetermined supply tracks. Thanks to the described reversal, the overall logistics of an uninterrupted supply of pick-and-place materials can be more efficiently realized, at least in some operating situations. A further advantage of the described temporary reversal in many cases that occurs in practice is that undesirable congestion of component carriers in intermediate storage provided along the transport path before the pick-and-place area can be eliminated as quickly as possible.

[0051] It is pointed out that for the actual replenishment of pick-and-place materials, changing the determined temporal order to a reverse, or from a reverse back to the above-described priority, according to the predicted replenishment time, can be done in particular at a time before the robot for automatic replenishment of pick-and-place materials leaves the (intermediate) store of the pick-and-place materials. In some operating situations, the temporal order can also be changed at a later point in time, i.e., when the robot is already on its way to the supply path. Specifically, this means that a change in a specific temporal order causes the respective robot to change its path and / or replenishment order "on the fly" while transporting the pick-and-place materials.

[0052] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method is described for determining a temporal order for replenishing pick-and-place material in at least two supply runs of a pick-and-place line having at least two pick-and-place stations for loading component carriers, each pick-and-place station having a pick-and-place area and at least two buffer areas for buffering component carriers, the pick-and-place areas and the buffer areas being arranged along a transport path (a predetermined direction of transport) of the pick-and-place line, and each upstream (i.e., opposite the direction of transport) pick-and-place area being in each case assigned to one of the two buffer areas. The method described according to this aspect of the invention comprises the steps of (a) detecting an occupancy state of at least one of the two buffer areas, and (b) determining the temporal order based (among other things) on the detected occupancy state of at least one.

[0053] The described method is based on the realization that the component carrier occupancy status (in addition to other current operational status variables) of a buffer area arranged upstream in the transport path is an important indicator of when the next component carrier can start at the next (downstream) pick-and-place station after the previous component carrier has been loaded. The time at which loading of the next component carrier starts necessarily has an impact on the consumption of pick-and-place material and, in turn, on the time at the latest that new pick-and-place material must be made available at the associated supply runway in order to prevent undesired shortages of pick-and-place material and, in turn, to prevent interruptions of the pick-and-place operation, at least at the associated pick-and-place station.

[0054] The particular order may determine the priority of the actual replenishment, however, as previously described, the particular temporal order for the actual replenishment may be changed or reversed.

[0055] A buffer area within the meaning of the technology described in this document may be any configuration of intermediate storage for component carriers. The component carrier occupancy of the buffer area can be detected, for example, using a suitable (optical) sensor. Alternatively or in combination, the current component carrier occupancy may be monitored and / or controlled and (then) output by the control system of the associated pick-and-place station, in particular by a central control system for the entire pick-and-place line.

[0056] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the described method further comprises a step of detecting a current fill level of the pick and place material in each of the at least two supply tracks, and the determination of the temporal order is further based on the detected fill level.

[0057] As mentioned above, detecting the fill level can be done by a suitable sensor of the associated component feeder or by a suitable sensor in the associated component feeder. Alternatively or in combination, the fill level can also be detected by a (central) machine control system of the associated pick and place station or of the entire pick and place line, which (central) machine control system controls or coordinates the pick and place operations and which typically knows the fill level of all component feeders currently in use.

[0058] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes a step of (a) determining the planned pick-and-place operations still to be performed by at least the pick-and-place material assigned to at least one of the at least two supply lanes for loading all component carriers of the current batch production.

[0059] When the planned pick-and-place operations are determined as described, the number of pick-and-place operations still required until the completion of the current batch production can be specifically determined. As a result, the time sequence for pick-and-place material replenishment can be determined with a particularly high degree of reliability. For example, if the fill level of the batch production is low, the current batch production is almost complete, and pick-and-place material that is no longer required for the current batch production and is not required at all for the next batch production is provided (before switching to the next batch production), it is possible to avoid unnecessary replenishment of pick-and-place material. Roughly speaking, any unnecessary replenishment of pick-and-place material can be effectively prevented.

[0060] According to a further aspect of the invention, a pick and place line for automatically mounting electronic components on component carriers is described, the electronic components being in each case supplied as pick and place material to individual pick and place stations of the pick and place line in a supply runway by means of a component supply device. The described pick and place line comprises a data processing device configured (programmed) to perform (among other things) one of the methods described above.

[0061] The described pick-and-place line is based on the realization that the data processing device not only considers information about the ideal operation of the pick-and-place line, but also considers information about the current actual operation of the pick-and-place line to predict the time when pick-and-place material must be replenished in at least one supply line. The current actual operation is characterized by a greater or lesser number of significant perturbations that cause deviations from the ideal pick-and-place operation compared to the ideal pick-and-place operation. This makes it possible to determine the time for replenishment of pick-and-place material for a selected supply runway or several selected supply runs with an accuracy superior to that possible in known pick-and-place lines (without the data processing device according to the invention) in which only the operating conditions for the ideal pick-and-place operation are considered to predict the pick-and-place material replenishment time.

[0062] The described data processing device may be part of the (central) control device of a pick-and-place line or at least one pick-and-place station. The data processing device may be realized using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0063] It is pointed out that embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to different objects of the invention. In particular, some embodiments of the present invention are described in device claims, and other embodiments of the present invention are described in procedural claims. However, upon reading this document, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that, unless expressly stated otherwise, any combination of features belonging to different object types of the invention is possible in addition to combinations of features belonging to one object type of the invention.

[0064] Further advantages and features of the present invention emerge from the following illustrative description of presently preferred embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0065] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of an automated supply of a pick and place line with pick and place material comprising components held on a component belt each contained in a component supply device; [Figure 2] 10A-10C illustrate the operation of a robot for moving a component supply device filled with pick and place material from an intermediate store to a pick and place line, and for moving a component supply device at least partially emptied of pick and place material back to the intermediate store. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a pick and place line with three consecutively connected pick and place stations, each having a pick and place area and a buffer area for intermediate storage of component carriers. [Figure 4A] 1 is a diagram of the transport of component carriers in ideal operation of a pick and place line. [Figure 4B] 1 is a diagram of the transport of component carriers in the actual operation of a pick and place line, which occurs regularly in practice. [Figure 5A] 10 is a flow diagram for calculating the time when the available pick and place material at a pick and place station will (likely) be depleted. [Figure 5B] 10 is a flow diagram of the calculation of the time when the next component carrier will (likely) be present in the pick and place area of ​​the pick and place station. [Figure 6A] 1 is a diagram of the transport of component carriers in ideal operation of a pick and place line. [Figure 6B] 1 is a diagram of the transport of component carriers in real operation of a pick and place line in which the component carriers are congested in a buffer area in front of the pick and place station; [Figure 7A] FIG. 10 illustrates noticeable changes in the sequence for replacing component supply devices for a pick and place line with four pick and place stations based on a comparison of the actual operation of the pick and place line (with chaotic transport of component carriers) with the ideal pick and place operation. [Figure 7B] FIG. 10 illustrates reasonable changes in the sequence for replacing component delivery devices for a pick-and-place line with four pick-and-place stations, based on a comparison of the real operation of the pick-and-place line (with chaotic transport of component carriers) with the ideal pick-and-place operation. [Figure 8A] FIG. 10 illustrates the rational preservation of the order for changing component supply devices for a pick and place line with four pick and place stations based on a comparison of the actual operation of the pick and place line with the ideal pick and place operation. [Figure 8B] FIG. 10 illustrates the rational preservation of the order for changing component supply devices for a pick and place line with four pick and place stations based on a comparison of the actual operation of the pick and place line with the ideal pick and place operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0066] It is pointed out that in the following detailed description, features or components of different embodiments that are identical or at least functionally identical to corresponding features or components of other embodiments are provided with the same reference numerals, or are provided with reference numerals that are the same in the last two digits of the reference numerals of the corresponding identical or at least functionally identical features or components. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, features or components that have already been described based on the previously described embodiments will not be described in detail thereafter.

[0067] Furthermore, it is noted that the following described embodiments depict only a limited selection of possible variations of embodiments of the present invention. In particular, the features of individual embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner, such that numerous different embodiments can be considered as being clearly disclosed to one skilled in the art in the embodiments explicitly described herein.

[0068] 1 shows a block diagram of an automated supply of a pick-and-place line 100 with pick-and-place material C comprising electronic components. The electronic components are held in a known manner, not shown in detail, on a component belt and are fed to the pick-and-place process in a so-called feed run by means of the component belt and a suitably designed component feeder F. According to the embodiment shown here, the component belt is held in a pick-up area A of the component feeder F. When a component belt is emptied by the successive removal of electronic components, the component feeder F in question must be replaced at the latest by a new component feeder F containing new pick-and-place material C in the form of a component belt that has not yet been depleted.

[0069] The pick-and-place line 100 has several pick-and-place stations. According to the embodiment shown here, the pick-and-place line 100 has two pick-and-place stations, namely, a first pick-and-place station P1 and a second pick-and-place station P2. The two pick-and-place stations P1 and P2 are connected to each other via a transport path Tp, along which a component carrier or a printed circuit board (not shown in FIG. 1 ) can be moved from the second pick-and-place station P2 to the first pick-and-place station P1 along the direction of transport Td. This means that the second pick-and-place station P2 is arranged upstream of the first pick-and-place station P1 with respect to the direction of transport Td. Thus, in the embodiment shown here, a component carrier can first be (partially) loaded with a set of electronic components in a known manner using the second pick-and-place station P2. After such partial loading, the component carrier can then be loaded with another set of electronic components using the second pick-and-place station P2.

[0070] Of course, further pick and place stations can be arranged along the transport path Tp, which can make further contributions to the loading of component carriers. In the embodiments described below involving more than two pick and place machines, loading of component carriers begins at the third pick and place station or the fourth pick and place station.

[0071] Pick and place operations using the pick and place line 100 are controlled by a data processing device 102. The data processing device 102 may directly control the individual pick and place stations P1, P2. Alternatively or in combination, the data processing device 102 may be a higher level data processing device that controls the pick and place operations by the individual pick and place stations P2, P1 via data processing devices subordinate to the pick and place stations P2, P1.

[0072] According to the embodiment shown here, an "old" component provider, which is at least nearly depleted of pick-and-place material, is automatically replaced by a "new" component provider with "unused" pick-and-place material using a robot R. The robot R removes the "new" component provider filled with pick-and-place material from the intermediate store 120 and transports it to the pick-and-place station P2 or P1, where the associated "old" component provider F, which is at least nearly empty of pick-and-place material, is positioned on the feed runway of the pick-and-place station. Upon arriving at the associated pick-and-place station P2 / P1, the robot R then removes the "old" component provider F from its assigned feed runway and attaches the "new" component provider F to the associated feed runway of the pick-and-place station P2 / P1. In FIG. 1 , the outer path of the robot R from the intermediate store 120 to the pick-and-place line 100 is indicated by the arrow Rf. The return path from the pick-and-place line 100 to the intermediate store 120 is indicated by the arrow Rb. It is pointed out that the robot R can also transport some "new" component provider F along the outer path Rf. The same applies to the return path Rb, in which the robot R can transport some "old" component provider F back to the intermediate store 120.

[0073] 2 shows the operation of a robot R for automatically supplying pick-and-place materials to a pick-and-place line 100. According to the embodiment shown, the pick-and-place line 100 comprises four pick-and-place stations: a fourth pick-and-place station P4, a third pick-and-place station P3, a second pick-and-place station P2, and a first pick-and-place station P1. Thus, the transport path of a component carrier (not shown), which is mounted in a transport path Tp along a direction of transport Td, extends from the fourth pick-and-place station P4 via the third pick-and-place station P3 and the second pick-and-place station P2 to the first pick-and-place station P1.

[0074] The robot R moves "new" component provider F, which is filled with pick-and-place material, from the illustrated intermediate store 120 to the pick-and-place line 200. This is done along the outer path Rf. Furthermore, the robot R moves "old" component provider F, which is at least mostly depleted of pick-and-place material, from the pick-and-place line 200 back to the intermediate store 120. This is done along the return path Rb. The robot R is preferably configured in such a way that it can hold several provider devices F. This means that in one large transport or operation, several "old" component provider F can be replaced with "new" component provider F in the provider runway of one of the different pick-and-place stations P4, P3, P2, and P1.

[0075] 3 shows a pick-and-place line 300 with three consecutively connected pick-and-place stations P3, P2, and P1. Each of the three pick-and-place stations P3, P2, and P1 has a pick-and-place area Pa and two buffer areas Pb for intermediate storage of component carrier PCBs. According to the embodiment shown here, one of the two buffer areas Pb is arranged upstream of the pick-and-place area Pa along the direction of transport Td in each of the three pick-and-place stations P3, P2, and P1, and the other of the two buffer areas Pb is arranged downstream of the pick-and-place area Pa.

[0076] 3, a congestion in the transport of component carrier PCBs occurs in front of the pick-and-place area Pa of the second pick-and-place station P2. This means that component carrier PCBs already placed by the third pick-and-place station P3 are located in the buffer area Pb upstream of the second pick-and-place station P2. This is due to the fact that the placement of the "previous" component carrier PCB in the pick-and-place area Pa of the second pick-and-place station P2 has not yet been completed.

[0077] According to the illustrated exemplary operating state of pick and place line 300, no further component carrier PCBs have yet been moved to third pick and place station P3, which means that pick and place area Pa of third pick and place station P3 is not yet occupied by a component carrier PCB.

[0078] Figure 4A illustrates the transport of component carrier PCBs during ideal operation of pick and place line 300. Figure 4B illustrates the transport of component carriers during actual operation of pick and place line 300, as occurs regularly in practice.

[0079] As can be seen from Figure 4A, from the point of view of the flow of component carrier material along the direction of transport Td, a first component carrier PCB1 is positioned at a first pick-and-place station P1 and is to be loaded with electronic components in its pick-and-place area Pa. A second component carrier PCB2 is currently being loaded at a second pick-and-place station P2, and a third component carrier PCB3 is currently being loaded at a third pick-and-place station P3.

[0080] In the next cycle of pick and place line 300, a first component carrier PCB1 is loaded and transported from first pick and place station P1, a second component carrier PCB2 is loaded at first pick and place station P1, a third component carrier PCB3 is loaded at second pick and place station P2, and another fourth component carrier PCB4 is loaded at third pick and place station P3.

[0081] 4B shows the operation of the pick and place line with no component carriers at the second pick and place station P2 (due to a temporary disruption in the flow of component carrier material). As a result, the first component carrier PCB1 is loaded at the first pick and place station P1 and the second component carrier PCB2 is loaded at the third pick and place station P3.

[0082] In the next cycle of pick and place line 300, a first component carrier PCB1 is loaded and transported from first pick and place station P1. The pick and place area Pa of first pick and place station P1 is now empty. Additionally, a second component carrier PCB2 is now at second pick and place station P2 and loaded there. Also, a third component carrier PCB3 is now transported to third pick and place station P3 and loaded there.

[0083] In the next cycle of pick and place line 300, a second component carrier PCB2 is positioned at first pick and place station P1, a third component carrier PCB3 is positioned at second pick and place station P2, and a fourth component carrier PCB4 is now transported to and installed at third pick and place station P3.

[0084] 5A shows a flow diagram for calculating the time when the available pick and place material at a pick and place station will (likely) be used up. This calculation is performed repeatedly for all possible supply runs of the associated pick and place station in order to always know when new pick and place material will (likely) be needed.

[0085] The calculation sequence shown in Figure 5A begins at "Start." In step S1, a query is made as to whether a component carrier is present at the pick and place station in question. If so, the time at which the associated pick and place material will (likely) be used up to load this component carrier and the remaining component carriers of the current batch size is calculated in step S3a based on the number of pick and place operations for which pick and place material from the associated supply runway is still required.

[0086] If query step S1 indicates that a component carrier is not currently available at the pick-and-place station, step S2 calculates when the next component carrier will (probably) become available in the pick-and-place area of ​​this pick-and-place station. For this purpose, the position of at least one or the next component carrier along the transport path that is located upstream of the pick-and-place station is taken into account. Once this calculation of the availability of this component carrier has been made, the result of the calculation of the availability of this component carrier is also taken into account in step S3a described above.

[0087] 5B shows a flow diagram for calculating the time when the next component carrier will (likely) be present in the pick and place area of ​​the pick and place station. The current operating state of the upstream pick and place station is taken into account for this calculation.

[0088] As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 5A and 5B, steps S1 and S2 are identical for both calculation orders, however, calculation step S3b in Figure 5B reports the (expected) remaining production time for loading a component carrier at the current pick and place station in question.

[0089] The calculation sequence shown in Figure 5B can be performed or invoked before the calculation sequence shown in Figure 5 A. Additionally, the calculation sequence of Figure 5B can also be invoked automatically if, for example, a component carrier is not currently available at the pick-and-place station in question.

[0090] 6A and 6B show the transport of component carrier PCBs in ideal operation of pick and place line 600 (see FIG. 6A) or in actual operation of pick and place line 600. During ideal operation, there is exactly one PCB component carrier at each pick and place station P1, P2, P3. The buffer areas of pick and place stations P1, P2, P3, not shown here, are unoccupied.

[0091] During actual operation of the pick-and-place line 600 shown in FIG. 6B, an unexpected disruption occurs at the first pick-and-place station P1. This type of disruption could occur, for example, if the machine hood is open and pick-and-place operations at the pick-and-place station P1 are suspended for safety reasons. As a result, the transport of component carriers is impeded in such a way that two component carrier PCBs are congested upstream of the still-occupied pick-and-place area Pa of the first pick-and-place station P1, thereby occupying one buffer area of ​​each of the two pick-and-place stations P1 and P2.

[0092] 7A and 7B show reasonable changes in the order for replacing component supply equipment for a pick-and-place line 700 with four pick-and-place stations P1, P2, P3, and P4 based on a comparison of the actual operation of the pick-and-place line 700 (with chaotic transport of component carriers) with the ideal pick-and-place operation.

[0093] In an ideal pick-and-place operation shown in Figure 7A, there is exactly one component carrier PCB at each pick-and-place station P1, P2, P3, P4. Based on the calculation process shown in Figures 5A and 5B (without step S2 in each case), it has been determined that the pick-and-place material in question will first be used up at time t1 for the supply rung of the component supply device F of the third pick-and-place station P3, and then used up at a later time t2 for the supply rung of the component supply device F of the second pick-and-place station P2. As a result, the replenishment of the pick-and-place material is adjusted in such a way that the pick-and-place material for the associated supply rung of the third pick-and-place station P3 is replenished first, and the pick-and-place material for the associated supply rung of the second pick-and-place station P2 is replenished next.

[0094] 7B, the transport of component carriers is disrupted (disrupted) in such a way that the pick-and-place area Pa of the third pick-and-place station P3 is not occupied. As a result, it makes sense here to first reload the pick-and-place material in the associated supply track of the second pick-and-place station P2 at time t1, and then reload the pick-and-place material in the associated supply track of the third pick-and-place station P3.

[0095] According to the described embodiment, replenishing with component material is performed as described above by replacing an "old" component dispenser that is at least partially empty of component material with a "new" component dispenser that contains new pick and place material, the component dispenser preferably being replaced automatically using a robot.

[0096] 8A and 8B show the rational maintenance of the time sequence for replacing component supply devices or replenishing pick-and-place materials for a pick-and-place line 800 with four pick-and-place stations P1, P2, P3, and P4 for the actual operation of the pick-and-place line 800 (see FIG. 8B) based on a comparison with the ideal pick-and-place operation of the pick-and-place line 800 (see FIG. 8A).

[0097] Specifically, according to the embodiment shown here, it has been determined, based on the calculation sequence shown in Figures 5A and 5B (in each case without step S2), that the respective pick-and-place material will first be used up at time t1 for the supply track of the component supply device F of the first pick-and-place station P1, and then at a later time t2 for the supply track of the component supply device F of the fourth pick-and-place station P4. As a result, the replenishment of pick-and-place material is coordinated in such a way that the pick-and-place material for the associated supply track of the first pick-and-place station P1 is replenished first, and the pick-and-place material for the associated supply track of the fourth pick-and-place station P4 is replenished next.

[0098] In the state of pick-and-place line 800 shown in Figure 8B, the pick-and-place areas Pa of two pick-and-place stations P2 and P3 have (unfortunately) remained empty due to the disrupted transport of component carriers. Nevertheless, the calculation sequence of Figures 5A and 5B (including calculation step S2) shows, among other things, that in this case it would not make sense to change the order of replenishment of pick-and-place materials in order to ensure an uninterrupted supply of pick-and-place materials throughout pick-and-place line 800.

[0099] It is noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements, and that the words "one" or "a" do not exclude a plurality. Elements described in the context of different exemplary embodiments may also be combined. It is also noted that reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] 100 Pick and Place Lines 102 Data processing devices 120 Interim Storage Facility P1 First pick and place station P2 Second pick and place station Tp transport route Td transport direction F. Component supply device A. Area of ​​focus C Pick and place material / component belt / electronic components R Robot Rf outer path Rb Return path 200 pick and place lines P3 Third pick and place station P4 4th pick and place station 300 pick and place lines Pa Pick and Place Area Pb buffer area PCB component carrier PCB1 First Component Carrier PCB2 Secondary Component Carrier PCB3 Third Component Carrier PCB4 Fourth Component Carrier S1 First Step (Question) S2 Second step (calculation) S3a / b 3rd step (calculation) 600 Pick and place line 700 pick and place lines 800 Pick and place line t1, t2 Time for "component supply device to empty"

Claims

1. 1. A method for predicting a time to replenish pick and place material (C) for a first pick and place station (P1) of a pick and place line (100), said pick and place line (100) comprising: (i) said first pick and place station (P1) to which pick and place material (C) is supplied in a first supply track by a first component supply device (F); (ii) a second pick and place station (P2) to which pick and place material (C) is supplied in a second supply runway by a second component supply device (F), the second pick and place station (P2) being arranged upstream of the first pick and place station (P1) along the transport path (Tp) for placement on component carriers (PCB); The method comprises at least detecting a current fill level of pick-and-place material (C) from said first component supply device (F); determining planned pick and place operations according to the pick and place material (C) allocated to at least the first supply runway, the pick and place operations still being required to populate all component carriers (PCBs) of the current batch production at the first pick and place station (P1); - determining the current position along said transport path (Tp) of at least one component carrier (PCB) that has been placed at said second pick-and-place station (P2) and that is still to be placed at said first pick-and-place station (P1); predicting a time for replenishing pick-and-place material (C) in the first supply run based on (i) the detected current fill level, (ii) the determined planned pick-and-place operation, and (iii) the determined current position; A method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pick-and-place material (C) comprises electronic components, in particular held on a component belt or a component magazine.

3. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a batch size for the current batch production, whereby the predicting the time for replenishing pick-and-place material (C) in the first supply runway is also based on the determined batch size.

4. The method further comprises the step of determining a length of time for transporting the at least one component carrier (PCB) that has been mounted at the second pick and place station (P2) and that will still be mounted at the first pick and place station (P1) from the second pick and place station (P2) to the first pick and place station (P1); 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of predicting the time to replenish pick-and-place material (C) in the first supply runway is also based on the determined length of time.

5. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising replenishing the pick-and-place material (C) in the first supply runway prior to the predicted time.

6. The step of replenishing the pick-and-place material (C) comprises: removing said first component dispenser (F) from said first dispense track, wherein any remaining unused pick and place material (C) is removed together with said first component dispenser (F); mounting another first component supply device (F) on said first supply track with new pick-and-place material (C), said new pick-and-place material (C) being positioned in or at said other first component supply device (F); The method of claim 5 , comprising:

7. A method as described in claim 6, wherein the removal of the first component supply device (F) in the step of removing the first component supply device (F) from the first supply track and the installation of the other first component supply device (F) in the step of installing the other first component supply device (F) together with new pick-and-place material (C) on the first supply track are automated using a robot (R).

8. determining a further current position along said transport path (Tp) of at least one further component carrier (PCB) which has been mounted at a third pick-and-place station (P3) and which is yet to be mounted at said first pick-and-place station (P1) and / or said second pick-and-place station (P2), the third pick-and-place station (P3) is arranged upstream of the second pick-and-place station (P2) along the transport path (Tp); the step of predicting the time for replenishing the pick-and-place material (C) in the first supply runway is also based on the determined further current position; The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

9. A method for predicting times for replenishing pick and place materials (C) in different predetermined supply runs of at least one first pick and place station (P1) of a pick and place line (100), said pick and place line (100) having a plurality of pick and place stations arranged successively along a transport path (Tp) of said pick and place line (100) for loading component carriers (PCBs), said method comprising:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first delivery run is a first predetermined delivery run of the pick and place line (100) and the predicted time is a first replenishment time associated with the first predetermined delivery run; 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first delivery run is a second predetermined delivery run of the pick and place line (100), and the predicted time is a second replenishment time associated with the second predetermined delivery run. A method comprising:

10. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a time sequence (t1, t2) for (i) replenishing the pick-and-place material (C) in the first predetermined supply path and (ii) replenishing the pick-and-place material (C) in the second predetermined supply path based on the first replenishment time and the second replenishment time.

11. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the determined temporal order establishes a priority according to which the pick-and-place material (C) is replenished first in the predetermined supply runway to which the earlier replenishment time is assigned.

12. the first replenishment time is before the second replenishment time, and the method further comprises: Replenishing pick-and-place material (C) in the second predetermined supply track; Next, replenishing the pick-and-place material (C) in the first predetermined supply path; The method of claim 10 further comprising:

13. 1. A method for determining a temporal sequence for replenishing pick-and-place material (C) in at least two supply runs of a pick-and-place line (100, 700) having at least two pick-and-place stations (P1, P2, P3, P4) for loading component carriers (PCB), each pick-and-place station (P1, P2, P3, P4) having a pick-and-place area (Pa) and at least two buffer areas (Pb) for buffering component carriers (PCB), said pick-and-place areas (Pa) and said buffer areas (Pb) being arranged along a transport path (Tp) of said pick-and-place line (100, 700), each upstream pick-and-place area (Pa) being assigned in each case to one of said two buffer areas (Pb), said method comprising: detecting an occupancy state of at least one of the two buffer areas; determining the temporal order based on the detected occupancy state of the at least one buffer area (Pb); A method comprising:

14. The method further comprises detecting a current fill level of pick-and-place material (C) in each of the at least two supply tracks; 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining the temporal order is also based on the detected fill level.

15. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a planned pick-and-place operation still to be performed by at least the pick-and-place material (C) assigned to at least one of the at least two supply runs in order to populate all component carriers (PCBs) of the current batch production.

16. A pick-and-place line (100) for automatically mounting electronic components on component carriers (PCB), said electronic components being supplied as pick-and-place material (C) to individual pick-and-place stations (P1, P2) of said pick-and-place line (100) in a supply runway by means of a component supply device (F) in each case, said pick-and-place line (100) comprising: A pick and place line (100) having a data processing device (102) configured to perform the method of claim 1.

Images