Parts feeders and component placement devices

Abstract

A part feeder (13), which is used by being mounted in a slot of a feeder base of a component mounting device of the present disclosure, is provided with: a body unit (41) having a component supply mechanism for supplying a component to a component supply position; a slot insertion unit with which the body unit (41) is provided and which is slid in one direction to be inserted into the slot; an operating member (52) which is pressed and operated toward the front of the body unit (41); and a clamped member (51) of which the position is switched, each time the pressing operation of the operating member (52) is performed, between a clamp position for being clamped by a roller (34) provided on the feeder base and a release position for releasing the clamping by the roller (34).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a part feeder that is attached to a slot in a feeder base of a component mounting device, and to a component mounting device that includes this part feeder. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a part feeder that functions as a component supply unit in a component mounting device that mounts components on a circuit board has a slot insertion unit at the bottom of a main body that has a component supply mechanism that supplies components to a component supply position. The slot insertion unit is inserted horizontally into a slot formed in a feeder base, thereby attaching the part feeder to the feeder base. The main body is provided with a lever-shaped operating member. When the operating member is operated vertically with the slot insertion unit inserted into the slot, a movable engaging member connected to the operating member by a link mechanism is actuated and engages with an engaged member provided on the feeder base, thereby fixing the part feeder to the feeder base (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-3160 Summary of the Invention

[0004] In recent years, labor-saving efforts using robots have been progressing in the field of component placement devices, and it is expected that this labor-saving approach will also extend to part feeder replacement work in the future. In this case, the robot will need an operating axis for inserting the slot insertion section into the slot, as well as an operating axis for operating the lever-shaped operating member described above in the up and down direction. This could complicate the robot's operations and increase costs.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a parts feeder and a component mounting device that enable the parts feeder to be fixed to the feeder base and the release operation to be performed with a simple operation.

[0006] The parts feeder of the present disclosure is a parts feeder that is attached to a slot in a feeder base provided in a parts mounting device and is used, and includes: a main body portion equipped with a parts supply mechanism that supplies parts to a parts supply position; a slot insertion portion provided on the main body portion that slides in one direction and is inserted into the slot; an operating member provided on the rear of the main body portion that is pressed toward the front of the main body portion when the slot insertion portion is inserted into the slot; and a clamped member provided on the main body portion that can be switched between an engagement position in which it engages with a fixing mechanism provided on the feeder base and a release position in which it releases the engagement with the fixing mechanism each time the operating member is pressed.

[0007] The component mounting device of the present disclosure includes a board transport path that transports and positions boards, a feeder base having a slot, a part feeder of the present disclosure that is attached to the slot and supplies parts to a component supply position, and a mounting head that picks up the parts supplied by the part feeder and mounts them on a board positioned by the board transport path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, the parts feeder can be fixed to the feeder base and released therefrom with a simple operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a main portion of a component mounting device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a feeder base provided in the component mounting device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure and a part feeder attached thereto. [Figure 3A]FIG. 3A is a side view of a feeder base provided in the component mounting device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure and a part feeder attached thereto. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a side view of the feeder base and the part feeder attached to the feeder base included in the component mounting device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a roller unit (fixing mechanism) included in the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a state in which a slot insertion unit is inserted into a slot of a feeder base included in the component mounting device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the engaging protrusion is engaged with the slot of the feeder base included in the component mounting device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of a portion of the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of a portion of the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8A] FIG. 8A is a plan view of an alternate mechanism included in the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is a side cross-sectional view of the alternate mechanism included in the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of a cam block of an alternate mechanism included in the parts feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10A] FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating the operation of the alternate mechanism included in the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating the operation of the alternate mechanism included in the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10C] FIG. 10C is a diagram illustrating the operation of the alternate mechanism included in the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10D] FIG. 10D is a diagram illustrating the operation of the alternate mechanism included in the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11A] FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating the operation of the alternate mechanism included in the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11B] FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating the operation of the alternate mechanism included in the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11C] FIG. 11C is a diagram illustrating the operation of the alternate mechanism included in the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12A] FIG. 12A is a perspective side view of a portion of the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12B] FIG. 12B is a perspective side view of a portion of the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the part feeder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure attached to the feeder base. [Figure 14A] FIG. 14A is a perspective side view of a portion of the part feeder according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14B] FIG. 14B is a perspective side view of a portion of the part feeder according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15A] FIG. 15A is a perspective side view of a portion of the part feeder according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15B] FIG. 15B is a perspective side view of a portion of the part feeder according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16A] FIG. 16A is a perspective side view of a portion of the part feeder according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16B] FIG. 16B is a perspective side view of a portion of the part feeder according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a side view of a main part of a component mounting apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The component mounting apparatus 1 is an apparatus that repeatedly performs a component mounting operation in which components BH are mounted on a board KB carried in from an upstream process side and the board KB is carried out to a downstream process side. For ease of explanation, the conveyance direction of the board KB in the component mounting apparatus 1 (the left-right direction as seen from the operator OP) is defined as the X-axis direction, and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction (the front-rear direction as seen from the operator OP) is defined as the Y-axis direction. The up-down direction is defined as the Z-axis direction.

[0011] 1, component mounting device 1 includes a base 11, a board transport path 12, a parts feeder 13, a mounting head 14, a head movement mechanism 15, a component recognition camera 16, and a control device 17. Board transport path 12 is made up of a pair of belt conveyors 12a, and is provided extending in the X-axis direction on base 11. Board transport path 12 carries in boards KB sent from the upstream process side and positions them at a predetermined working position.

[0012] In FIG. 1, a feeder cart 21 is coupled to the end of base 11 on the front side (rear side) as seen from operator OP. A feeder base 22 is provided on top of feeder cart 21, and part feeders 13 are detachably attached to feeder base 22 and supply parts BH to part supply position 13K provided at the end on the back side (front side) as seen from operator OP. Multiple part feeders 13 can be attached to feeder base 22 and lined up in the X-axis direction. When feeder cart 21 is coupled to base 11, the multiple part feeders 13 attached to feeder base 22 are collectively connected to base 11.

[0013] 1, the mounting head 14 is equipped with multiple nozzles 14N extending downward. Each nozzle 14N can move up and down and rotate around the Z axis, and when supplied with vacuum pressure from a vacuum source (not shown), it can generate a suction force at its lower end. The head movement mechanism 15 is, for example, an XY beam mechanism, and moves the mounting head 14 in a horizontal plane (XY plane) above the base 11.

[0014] 1, the component recognition camera 16 is provided in an area between the board transport path 12 and the feeder cart 21 (i.e., the parts feeder 13) on the base 11. The component recognition camera 16 has an imaging optical axis facing upward. The component recognition camera 16 captures an image of each component BH as the mounting head 14, which has picked up the component BH with the nozzle 14N, passes above it.

[0015] The control device 17 controls the operation of each part constituting the component mounting device 1. Specifically, the control device 17 controls the transport operation of the board KB by the board transport path 12 and the positioning operation to the work position, and controls the supply operation of the components BH by each part feeder 13.

[0016] The control device 17 also controls the lifting and rotation of each of the multiple nozzles 14N provided on the mounting head 14, and controls the generation of suction force for the components BH at the bottom end of each nozzle 14N. The control device 17 also controls the operation of the head movement mechanism 15 to move the mounting head 14. The control device 17 also controls the imaging operation of the component recognition camera 16.

[0017] When component placement device 1 performs component mounting work, first, board KB sent from the upstream process side is received by board transport path 12 and positioned at the work position. Once board KB is positioned, head movement mechanism 15 is activated to move placement head 14 above part feeder 13, and placement head 14 picks up components BH onto each of multiple nozzles 14N. After nozzles 14N pick up components BH, placement head 14 is moved to pass above component recognition camera 16, which recognizes each component BH.

[0018] Once the component recognition camera 16 recognizes the component BH, the head movement mechanism 15 moves the mounting head 14 above the board KB, and the mounting head 14 places the component BH at the target placement coordinates set on the board KB. This series of operations consisting of component BH pickup, recognition, and placement is repeated until all the components BH to be placed on the board KB have been placed, at which point the board transport path 12 operates to transport the board KB to the downstream process side. This completes the placement operation for one board KB.

[0019] In the component mounting device 1 having such a configuration, the first embodiment is characterized by the configuration of the parts feeder 13, which will be described below.

[0020] First, the configuration of the feeder base 22 to which the part feeders 13 are attached will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the feeder base 22 and the part feeders 13 attached thereto. FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views of the feeder base 22 and the part feeders 13 attached thereto. In FIG. 2, the feeder base 22 is composed of a plate-like member formed into an overall rectangular shape. On the top surface of the feeder base 22, multiple slots 23S extending in the Y-axis direction are formed by multiple slot-forming members 23 with T-shaped cross sections extending in the Y-axis direction and aligned in the X-axis direction. Each part feeder 13 is attached by selectively inserting it into one of these multiple slots 23S. At this time, the part feeder 13 is inserted into the slot 23S from the front side to the back side as viewed from the operator OP.

[0021] 2, 3A, and 3B, a feeder stopper 24 is provided at the rear end of feeder base 22, against which the front end, or leading end, of part feeder 13 inserted into slot 23S abuts. Upper and lower portions of feeder stopper 24 are provided with upper pin insertion holes 24A and lower pin insertion holes 24B, respectively, in positions corresponding to each slot 23S.

[0022] 2, 3A, and 3B, a bracket 25 having a shape that protrudes downward and rearward from feeder base 22 is provided on the underside of the rear portion (the front side as seen from operator OP) of feeder base 22. Connectors 26 and lower engagement pins 27 are provided on bracket 25 in an arrangement corresponding to each slot 23S.

[0023] 2, 3A, and 3B, a plurality of roller units 31 serving as a fixing mechanism are arranged in the X-axis direction on bracket 25 in an arrangement corresponding to each slot 23S. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of roller unit 31 (fixing mechanism) provided in parts feeder 13. As shown in FIG. 4, each roller unit 31 includes a pair of arms 32 extending in the Y-axis direction as a whole, a connecting portion 33 connecting the pair of arms 32, and a roller 34 extending in the X-axis direction so as to connect the tip ends of the pair of arms 32. A biasing spring 35 is compressed between connecting portion 33 and feeder base 22, so that the roller unit 31 is biased downward as a whole.

[0024] Next, the configuration of the parts feeder 13 will be described. In Figures 2, 3A, and 3B, the parts feeder 13 has a main body 41 that extends in the YZ plane as a whole. The main body 41 has the above-mentioned component supply position 13K at the upper front end, and is equipped internally with a component supply mechanism (not shown) that supplies components BH to the component supply position 13K.

[0025] A slot insertion portion 42 having a shape (an inverted T-shaped cross section) that can be inserted into slot 23S provided in feeder base 22 protrudes downward from the lower front side of main body 41. Slot insertion portion 42 is inserted (slid forward, i.e., in one direction) from the rear of slot 23S, and main body 41 is pushed in until its front end abuts feeder stopper 24 provided in feeder base 22. FIG. 5A shows a cross section of slot insertion portion 42 inserted into slot 23S together with feeder base 22.

[0026] 2, 3A, and 3B, an upper pin 43 and a lower pin 44 are provided as front engagement portions that protrude forward from the front end of the main body 41. The upper pin 43 is provided at the top of the front end of the main body 41, and the lower pin 44 is provided at the bottom of the front end of the main body 41.

[0027] 2, 3A, and 3B, an engagement protrusion 45 is provided to protrude downward at a position behind the slot insertion portion 42 on the lower part of the main body 41. The engagement protrusion 45 engages (fits into) the rear end of the slot 23S when the slot insertion portion 42 is inserted all the way into the slot 23S.

[0028] 5B is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the engaging protrusion 45 is engaged (fitted) into the slot 23S. As shown in FIG. 5B, the dimension D of the engaging protrusion 45 in the groove width direction of the slot 23S is slightly smaller than the groove width MH of the slot 23S. In detail, the dimension D is larger than the width direction dimension W (FIG. 5A) of the portion of the slot insertion portion 42 that fits between the slots 23S, and is smaller than the groove width MH of the slot 23S (W <D<MH)。

[0029] 2, 3A, and 3B, a downward extension 46 is provided at the rear of main body 41. Feeder-side terminals 47 protrude forward from downward extension 46 and are connected to the connector 26 provided on feeder base 22 when main body 41 is attached to feeder base 22.

[0030] 2, 3A, and 3B, a lower engagement member 48 having a shape extending in the front-to-rear direction is attached to the lower end of downward extension portion 46, i.e., at a position below clamped member 51. The front end of lower engagement member 48 forms bent portion 48K that is bent upward, and a lower engagement portion 48H consisting of an opening is provided in the center of bent portion 48K. When slot insertion portion 42 is inserted all the way into slot 23S, lower engagement pin 27 engages with lower engagement portion 48H.

[0031] 6 and 7 are perspective side views of a portion of parts feeder 13. In FIGS. 3A, 3B, 6, and 7, a member to be clamped 51 is provided at a position rearward of slot insertion portion 42 of main body 41. Member to be clamped 51 has a shape that extends in the Y-axis direction as a whole, and its front end side is exposed in front of downward extension portion 46. A recessed portion 51K that is open upward is provided at the front end of member to be clamped 51, and its front end side forms tip portion 51F that protrudes upward.

[0032] The clamped member 51 is supported by swing pins 51P attached at both ends to the main body 41 and extending in the X-axis direction, and is swingable about the swing pins 51P. The clamped member 51 is swingable between a lowered position (FIG. 6) in which the clamped member 51 is substantially horizontal and the tip 51F is lowered, and a raised position (FIG. 7) in which the clamped member 51 is swung from the lowered position in a direction that raises the tip 51F. When the clamped member 51 moves (swings) from the lowered position to the raised position, the tip 51F moves from below to above in front of the downward extension 46.

[0033] 6 and 7, an operating member 52 is provided at the upper rear end of the main body 41 so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction (Y-axis direction). The rear portion of the operating member 52 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the main body 41. The operating member 52 is movable between a first position (FIG. 6) inside the main body 41 and a second position (FIG. 7) moved forward from the first position.

[0034] 6 and 7, a cam block 53 is fixed to the main body 41 below the operating member 52. Fig. 8A is a plan view of an alternate mechanism 58 provided in the parts feeder 13. Fig. 8B is a side cross-sectional view of the alternate mechanism 58. A cam groove 53M shown in Figs. 8A and 8B is formed on the upper surface of the cam block 53.

[0035] 6, 7, 8A, and 8B, a pivot pin 54 extending in the Z-axis direction is provided in the middle of the front-to-rear direction of the operating member 52, and one end of a oscillating piece 55 is pivoted to the lower end of the pivot pin 54. A cam rod 56 extending downward is connected to the other end of the oscillating piece 55. The lower end of the cam rod 56 is located in the cam groove 53M. The oscillating piece 55 can be oscillated freely in a horizontal plane with the pivot pin 54 as a fulcrum, and therefore the cam rod 56 can move on an arcuate path centered on the pivot pin 54.

[0036] 8A and 8B, a spring insertion portion 52S is provided at the front end of the operating member 52 and extends forward. A return spring 57 made of a coil spring is inserted into the spring insertion portion 52S. The rear end of the return spring 57 abuts against the operating member 52, and the front end abuts against a part of the main body 41, urging the operating member 52 rearward. When the operating member 52 is pressed from the rear to the front of the main body 41, the operating member 52 moves forward and compresses the return spring 57, and the compressed return spring 57 applies a force to the operating member 52 to push it back rearward.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of cam block 53 included in alternate mechanism 58 of parts feeder 13. FIGS. 10A to 10D and 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating the operation of alternate mechanism 58. In FIG. 9, cam groove 53M formed in cam block 53 is a so-called heart-shaped cam groove. When cam rod 56 is positioned at the rearmost position (P1) in cam groove 53M (FIG. 10A), cam rod 56 receives a biasing force from return spring 57 and abuts against the wall surface of cam groove 53M from the front, and operating member 52 is stationary at position (P1). The position of operating member 52 in this state corresponds to the first position described above (FIG. 6).

[0038] When the operator OP presses the operating member 52 forward while it is in the first position as shown in FIG. 10A, the operating member 52 moves forward while compressing the return spring 57. This causes the cam rod 56 to move within the cam groove 53M from position (P1) to position (P2) and position (P3) shown in FIG. 9, then to position (P4) (FIG. 10A → FIG. 10B → FIG. 10C). At position (P4), the cam rod 56 abuts against the wall of the cam groove 53M from behind. When the cam rod 56 abuts against the wall of the cam groove 53M, the operator OP can no longer press the operating member 52 forward. This causes the operator OP to sense that the operating member 52 has reached the stroke end in the pressing direction, and releases the operating member 52.

[0039] When the operator OP releases the operating member 52, the operating member 52 is biased by the return spring 57 and moves rearward. This causes the cam rod 56 to move from position (P4) to position (P5) in Figure 9 (Figure 10C → Figure 10D). At position (P5), the cam rod 56 abuts against the wall surface of the cam groove 53M from the front due to the biasing force of the return spring 57. In this state, the operating member 52 cannot move rearward any further and remains stationary at position (P5) (Figure 10D). The position of the operating member 52 in this state corresponds to the second position described above (Figure 7).

[0040] When the operator OP presses the operating member 52 forward when the operating member 52 is in the second position, the operating member 52 moves forward while compressing the return spring 57, and the cam rod 56 moves within the cam groove 53M from position (P5) to position (P6) shown in FIG. 9 (FIG. 10D → FIG. 11A). At position (P6), the cam rod 56 abuts against the wall of the cam groove 53M from behind. When the cam rod 56 abuts against the wall of the cam groove 53M, the operator OP can no longer press the operating member 52 forward. This lets the operator OP know that the operating member 52 has reached the stroke end in the pressing direction, and releases the operating member 52.

[0041] When the operator OP releases the operating member 52, the operating member 52 is biased by the return spring 57 and moves rearward. This causes the cam rod 56 to move from position (P6) to position (P7) in FIG. 9 and then to position (P1) (FIGS. 11A → 11B → 11C). At position (P1), the cam rod 56 abuts against the wall surface of the cam groove 53M from the front due to the biasing force of the return spring 57 and comes to a standstill (FIG. 11C). This causes the operating member 52 to return to the first position.

[0042] In this way, the cam block 53, cam rod 56 and return spring 57 provided in the parts feeder 13 constitute an alternate mechanism 58 (Figures 6, 7, 8A and 8B) that alternates the position of the operating member 52 between a first position and a second position set in the pressing direction of the operating member 52 each time the operating member 52 is pressed toward the front of the main body 41.

[0043] 6 and 7, a wire 60 that connects an operating member 52 and a clamped member 51 is provided inside the main body 41. One end (upper end) of the wire 60 is attached to the operating member 52 via an upper wire nut 60A (see, for example, FIG. 8A), and the other end (lower end) of the wire 60 is attached to a wire fixing portion 46K inside the main body 41 via a lower wire nut 60B.

[0044] 6 and 7, the middle portion of the wire 60 is supported by a plurality of pulleys (a first pulley 61, a second pulley 62, a third pulley 63, and a fourth pulley 64). The first pulley 61 is attached to the cam block 53, and the second pulley 62 and the third pulley 63 are attached to the wire fixing portion 46K. The fourth pulley 64 is attached to a portion of the clamped member 51 rearward of the swing pin 51P. The wire 60, whose upper end side is attached to the operating member 52, extends rearward up to the first pulley 61, extends downward between the first pulley 61 and the second pulley 62, extends forward between the second pulley 62 and the third pulley 63, extends upward between the third pulley 63 and the fourth pulley 64, and extends downward between the fourth pulley 64 and the lower end side.

[0045] 6 and 7, a spring member 65 is compressed between the rear portion of the swing pin 51P of the clamped member 51 (more specifically, the portion between the swing pin 51P and the fourth pulley 64) and the wire fixing portion 46K. The spring member 65 biases the clamped member 51 toward the lowered position, and as shown in FIG. 6, when the operating member 52 is in the first position, the clamped member 51 is in the lowered position (see also FIG. 12A). FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective side views of a portion of the parts feeder 13.

[0046] When the operator OP presses the operating member 52 forward from the state in which the operating member 52 is located at the first position (the member to be clamped 51 is located at the lowered position), the wire 60 is pulled in the direction in which the operating member 52 moves the upper wire nut 60A forward (FIGS. 10A → 10B → 10C and 12A → 12B). Then, the wire 60 is pulled up between the first pulley 61 and the second pulley 62 by a length equivalent to the distance SS (FIG. 12B) between the first position and the second position, which is the movement distance of the operating member 52 during this period. Then, the rear side of the member to be clamped 51 is pulled down by the wire 60 via the fourth pulley 64 by that amount, so that the member to be clamped 51 oscillates around the oscillating pin 51P as a fulcrum while compressing the spring member 65 (arrow R shown in FIG. 12B) and is located at the raised position (FIG. 12B).

[0047] On the other hand, when the operator OP presses the operating member 52 forward from the state where the operating member 52 is in the second position (the state where the clamped member 51 is in the raised position), the rear side of the clamped member 51 is pushed up by the biasing force of the spring member 65. As a result, the clamped member 51 swings around the swing pin 51P as a fulcrum (FIG. 12B → FIG. 12A) and returns to the lowered position (FIG. 12A).

[0048] When attaching the parts feeder 13 configured as described above to the feeder base 22, the operator OP places the operating member 52 in the first position (positioning the clamped member 51 in the lowered position) and inserts the slot insertion portion 42 horizontally into the slot 23S from the rear of the slot 23S. Then, the operator OP pushes the main body portion 41 toward the back of the feeder base 22 until the front end of the main body portion 41 abuts against the feeder stopper 24 (FIGS. 3A and 3B). As a result, the upper pin 43 fits into the upper pin insertion hole 24A, and the lower pin 44 fits into the lower pin insertion hole 24B. The engaging protrusion 45 also engages (fits) with the rear end of the slot 23S, and the lower engaging pin 27 on the feeder base 22 engages with the lower engaging portion 48H on the parts feeder 13.

[0049] The lower engagement portion 48H and the engagement protrusion 45 each serve as the rear engagement portion in embodiment 1. Here, the "rear engagement portion" refers to a portion that is provided at a position rearward of the slot insertion portion 42 of the main body 41 and that engages with a second member (lower engagement pin 27 in embodiment 1) that is a member on the feeder base 22 side different from the roller 34 or the slot 23S when the slot insertion portion 42 is inserted into the slot 23S.

[0050] Furthermore, when slot insertion section 42 is inserted further into slot 23S, feeder-side terminal 47 fits into connector 26, and part feeder 13 and control device 17 of component mounting device 1 are electrically connected. This allows control device 17 to control the operation of part feeder 13.

[0051] When the slot insertion portion 42 of the parts feeder 13 is inserted into the rear side of the slot 23S of the feeder base 22, the tip portion 51F of the clamped member 51, which is positioned in the lowered position, reaches below the roller 34 (below the roller 34) without coming into contact with the roller 34 (Figure 3B).

[0052] When the front end of the parts feeder 13, with its slot insertion portion 42 inserted into the slot 23S, abuts against the feeder stopper 24, the operator OP stops pushing the main body 41 toward the back of the feeder base 22 and presses the operating member 52 forward. This moves the operating member 52 from the first position to the second position, and the clamped member 51 moves (swings) from the lowered position to the raised position via the wire 60. This causes the tip 51F to rise, and the recessed portion 51K of the clamped member 51 engages with the roller 34, pushing it up against the biasing force of the biasing spring 35 (FIGS. 12A to 12B). This causes the roller 34 of the roller unit 31, which serves as the fixing mechanism, to clamp the clamped member 51 (FIGS. 12B and 13). FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of the parts feeder 13 attached to the feeder base 22. The raised position of the clamped member 51 is the engagement position where the roller unit 31 engages with the clamped member 51. This completes the installation of the parts feeder 13 on the feeder base 22, and thereafter the parts feeder 13 can supply parts BH.

[0053] When roller 34 clamps member 51 as described above, not only do front engagement portions (upper pin 43 and lower pin 44) provided at the front end of main body 41 engage with a first member (feeder stopper 24) on feeder base 22, but lower engagement portion 48H, serving as a rear engagement portion, also engages with lower engagement pin 27, which is a member (second member) on feeder base 22 different from roller 34 (FIG. 13). Lower engagement portion 48H engages with feeder base 22 at a location sufficiently distant from the front end engagement portion, so lateral shaking of parts feeder 13 is effectively suppressed.

[0054] Furthermore, when roller 34 clamps clamped member 51, engaging protrusion 45, which also serves as the rear engaging portion, engages (fits) with slot 23S. As described above, dimension D of engaging protrusion 45 in the groove width direction of slot 23S is slightly smaller than groove width MH of slot 23S, and engaging protrusion 45 engages with slot 23S with less backlash than slot insertion portion 42. Therefore, engaging protrusion 45 also effectively suppresses lateral shaking of parts feeder 13.

[0055] In this way, in the first embodiment, the rigidity against lateral vibration of the part feeder 13 when attached to the feeder base 22 is extremely high. Therefore, even if the mounting head 14 moves and stops frequently while the component mounting device 1 is in operation, causing the part feeder 13 to vibrate with a large excitation force, the lateral vibration of the part feeder 13 is suppressed, and the amplitude of the lateral vibration of the component supply position 13K can be kept to a very small amount.

[0056] When removing part feeder 13 attached to feeder base 22, operator OP presses operating member 52 in the same direction as when part feeder 13 was fixed to feeder base 22, i.e., forward. When operating member 52 is pressed to move from the second position to the first position, clamped member 51 moves (swings) from the raised position to the lowered position due to the biasing force of spring member 65, and tip portion 51F moves downward away from roller 34 (FIG. 12B → FIG. 12A). As a result, clamped member 51 is released from its clamped state. The lowered position of clamped member 51 is the release position where clamped member 51 is released from its clamped state by roller unit 31, which serves as the fixing mechanism.

[0057] As described above, in the first embodiment, alternate mechanism 58, wire 60, and spring member 65 constitute position switching mechanism 70 (FIGS. 3A, 3B, 6, and 7) that switches the position of clamped member 51 between a position (engagement position) where it is clamped by rollers 34 of roller unit 31 and a release position where clamping by rollers 34 of roller unit 31 is released each time operating member 52 is pressed, thereby enabling operator OP to clamp and release rollers 34 simply by pressing operating member 52 in the same direction (forward) relative to main body 41. Moreover, since the operating direction (pressing direction) of operating member 52 coincides with the direction in which slot insertion portion 42 is inserted into slot 23S, when a robot is caused to perform an operation to attach part feeder 13 to feeder base 22, it is possible to operate operating member 52 using a motion axis that the robot naturally has (a motion axis for inserting slot insertion portion 42 into slot 23S).

[0058] As described above, the first embodiment includes an alternate mechanism 58 that alternately switches the position of the operating member 52 between the first position and the second position each time the operating member 52 is pressed toward the front of the main body 41, a wire 60 that connects the operating member 52 and the member to be clamped 51, and a spring member 65 that urges the member to be clamped 51 from the engagement position toward the release position. When the operating member 52 is switched from the first position to the second position, the member to be clamped 51 moves (swings) from the release position to the engagement position via the wire 60, and when the operating member 52 is switched from the second position to the first position, the urging force of the spring member 65 moves (swings) the member to be clamped 51 from the engagement position to the release position.

[0059] Once the clamped state of the clamped member 51 has been released, the operator OP slides the main body 41 rearward to pull the slot insertion portion 42 out of the slot 23S. During this process, the upper pin 43 disengages from the upper pin insertion hole 24A, the lower pin 44 disengages from the lower pin insertion hole 24B, and the engaging protrusion 45 disengages from the slot 23S. In addition, the feeder-side terminal 47 disengages from the connector 26, and the lower engaging pin 27 disengages from the lower engaging portion 48H. This completes the removal of the parts feeder 13 from the feeder base 22.

[0060] (Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the parts feeder 13 is the same as in the first embodiment, but the positions of the operating member 52 and the clamped member 51 before insertion into the slot 23S of the feeder base 22 are different. That is, in the second embodiment, the operator OP places the operating member 52 in the second position, thereby positioning the clamped member 51 in the raised position (FIG. 7), and then inserts the slot insertion portion 42 into the slot 23S. Then, the operator OP pushes the main body portion 41 toward the back of the feeder base 22 until the front end of the main body portion 41 abuts against the feeder stopper 24.

[0061] 14A to 16B are perspective side views of a portion of part feeder 13 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As part feeder 13 is pushed deeper into feeder base 22, the front end (specifically, tip end 51F) of clamped member 51 in the raised position comes into contact with roller 34 (FIG. 14A → FIG. 14B). As part feeder 13 continues to be pushed deeper into feeder base 22 after the front end of clamped member 51 comes into contact with roller 34, roller 34 is pushed up by the front end of clamped member 51, and roller unit 31 as a whole swings in the rear end-up direction against the biasing force of biasing spring 35 (arrow A shown in FIG. 15A). When the leading end of member to be clamped 51 passes under roller 34 due to the swinging of roller unit 31 in the rear end raising direction, roller unit 31 swings in the direction returning to its original position (rear end lowering direction) due to the biasing force of biasing spring 35 (arrow B shown in FIG. 15B), and roller 34 engages with recess 51K (see FIGS. 6 and 7) of member to be clamped 51. As a result, roller 34 of roller unit 31 clamps member to be clamped 51.

[0062] In the second embodiment, too, after part feeder 13 is inserted into slot 23S of feeder base 22 and before roller 34 clamps member 51, upper pin 43 fits into upper pin insertion hole 24A and lower pin 44 fits into lower pin insertion hole 24B. Engagement protrusion 45 engages (fits into) the rear end of slot 23S, and lower engagement pin 27 on feeder base 22 engages with lower engagement portion 48H on part feeder 13 (FIGS. 3A and 3B). Feeder-side terminal 47 fits into connector 26, electrically connecting part feeder 13 to control device 17 of component mounting device 1, enabling control device 17 to control the operation of part feeder 13.

[0063] The operation for removing part feeder 13 attached to feeder base 22 is the same as in embodiment 1. That is, when operator OP presses operating member 52 forward, operating member 52 moves from the second position to the first position, and clamped member 51 moves (swings) from the raised position (engaged position) to the lowered position (released position) due to the biasing force of spring member 65 (arrow C shown in FIG. 16A). As a result, tip portion 51F moves downward away from roller 34 (FIG. 16A), and clamped member 51 is released from the clamped state. Therefore, operator OP can remove part feeder 13 from feeder base 22 by pulling main body 41 rearward (FIG. 16B).

[0064] As described above, in the part feeder 13 (and the component mounting device 1) in the first and second embodiments, each time the operating member 52 is pressed, the position of the clamped member 51 is switched between a clamped position (engagement position) where the member is clamped by the rollers 34 and a release position where the clamping by the rollers 34 is released. Moreover, since the direction of the pressing operation coincides with the direction in which the slot insertion portion 42 is inserted into the slot 23S, when a robot is used to attach the part feeder 13 to the feeder base 22, the operating member 52 can be operated using the motion axis (the motion axis for inserting the slot insertion portion 42 into the slot 23S) that the robot naturally possesses. In this way, the operations for fixing and releasing the part feeder 13 to the feeder base 22 are extremely simple, and the operation direction is the same (both in the Y-axis direction), so that high costs can be prevented even when these operations are performed by a robot.

[0065] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the engaging protrusion 45 is adapted to engage with the slot 23S. However, the engaging protrusion 45 may be adapted to engage with a protrusion engaging portion (not shown) as a second member (a member on the feeder base 22 side different from the rollers 34 of the roller unit 31) provided at a position rearward of the slot 23S of the feeder base 22. In this case, the groove width of the protrusion engaging portion does not need to be the same as the groove width MH of the slot 23S, and may be larger than the groove width MH. When the groove width of the protrusion engaging portion is larger than the groove width MH of the slot 23S, the dimension D of the engaging protrusion 45 in the groove width direction of the slot 23S can be increased accordingly (so that the engaging protrusion 45 can fit into the protrusion engaging portion).

[0066] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2, the lower engagement portion 48H and the engagement protrusion 45 are shown as rear engagement portions (members that engage with a member (second member) on the feeder base 22 side other than the slot 23S or the roller 34 when the slot insertion portion 42 is inserted into the slot 23S) provided at a position rearward of the slot insertion portion 42 of the main body portion 41, but the rear engagement portion may be only one of these, or may be provided at another. [Industrial Applicability]

[0067] A parts feeder and a parts mounting device can be provided that can fix and release a parts feeder to and from a feeder base with a simple operation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1. Component placement device 12 Substrate transport path 13 Parts feeder 13K Parts supply position 14 Placement head 22 Feeder Base 23S Slot 24 Feeder stopper (first member) 27 Lower engagement pin (second member) 31 Roller unit (fixing mechanism) 34 Laura 41 Main body 42 Slot insertion part 43 Upper pin (front engagement part) 44 Lower pin (front engagement part) 45 Engagement protrusion (rear engagement part) 48H Lower engaging part (rear engaging part) 51 Clamped member 52 Operating member 58 Alternate mechanism 60 wire 65 Spring material BH parts

Claims

1. A parts feeder that is attached to a slot of a feeder base of a component mounting device, a main body having a component supply mechanism for supplying components to a component supply position; a slot insertion portion provided on the main body portion and slidable in one direction to be inserted into the slot; an operating member provided at a rear portion of the main body portion and pressed toward the front of the main body portion when the slot insertion portion is inserted into the slot; a clamped member provided on the main body, the clamped member being switched between an engagement position where the clamped member engages with a fixing mechanism provided on the feeder base and a release position where the clamped member is released from the fixing mechanism each time the operating member is pressed; A parts feeder equipped with the above.

2. an alternate mechanism that alternately switches the position of the operating member between a first position and a second position each time the operating member is pressed toward the front of the main body; The clamping mechanism further includes a wire connecting the operating member and the clamped member, and a spring member biasing the clamped member from the engagement position toward the release position, 2. The parts feeder according to claim 1, wherein when the operating member is switched from the first position to the second position, the clamped member moves from the release position to the engagement position via the wire, and when the operating member is switched from the second position to the first position, the clamped member moves from the engagement position to the release position by the biasing force of the spring member.

3. a front engagement portion provided at a front end of the main body portion and configured to engage with a first member on the feeder base side when the slot insertion portion is inserted into the slot; one or more rear engagement portions provided at a position rearward of the slot insertion portion of the main body portion, and engaging with a second member that is a member on the feeder base side different from the slot or the fixing mechanism when the slot insertion portion is inserted into the slot; 3. The parts feeder according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. 4. A parts feeder as described in claim 3, wherein one of the one or more rear engagement portions is provided at a position below the clamped member of the main body portion and comprises a lower engagement portion that engages with a feeder side engagement portion provided on the feeder base side as the second member.

5. one of the one or more rear engagement portions is provided on the main body portion so as to protrude downward from a position rearward of the slot insertion portion, 5. The parts feeder according to claim 3, wherein said slot or said second member comprises an engaging protrusion that engages with a protrusion engaging portion provided at a position rearward of said slot of said feeder base.

6. A parts feeder as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the operating member is provided at the rear of the main body portion so as to be able to move freely back and forth relative to the main body portion along the one direction.

7. A parts feeder as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the position of the clamped member is switched in conjunction with the pressing operation of the pressing member.

8. a substrate transport path for transporting and positioning the substrate; the feeder base having the slot; a part feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is attached to the slot and supplies the component to the component supply position; a mounting head that picks up the components supplied by the parts feeder and mounts them on the board positioned by the board transport path; A component mounting device comprising:

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