Carrier tape loading device

Abstract

To provide a carrier tape loading device that can accurately and fast load into a pocket an extremely small work sized down into a few millimeters or less.SOLUTION: A carrier tape loading device 1 includes: a tape carrier mechanism 2 that performs tact transportation of carrier tape T with pockets P for works to be loaded into at predetermined intervals intermittently by a plurality of the pockets P each; a work supply part 3 where the works to be loaded are provided in arrangement; and a work transfer mechanism 4 that transfers multiple works in a lump to the tape carrier mechanism 2. The work transfer mechanism 4 simultaneously sucks the multiple works by the whole surface thereof and simultaneously loads the multiple works by releasing the suction.EFFECT: Although the multiple works are transferred in a lump, works can be loaded onto the carrier tape in short time without requiring time to align the positions of the suction centers and the centers of gravity of the works.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a carrier tape loading device that efficiently loads individually very small workpieces into pockets of a carrier tape. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2001-18911 A) describes a configuration in which a unit provided with a plurality of nozzles that sucks and transfers a workpiece is moved onto a carrier tape. Patent Document 1 also describes that a filling means for filling a storage pocket (hereinafter referred to as a pocket) into which a workpiece cannot be sucked by all of the nozzles in the unit and the carrier tape cannot be inserted is provided downstream of the position where the workpiece is transferred by the unit in the transport direction of the carrier tape.

[0003] Recently, electronic components have become increasingly miniaturized, with some boards measuring less than a few millimeters in thickness and length and width. Therefore, with existing technologies and equipment, it is difficult to fit such extremely small workpieces into the pockets of the carrier tape for shipping. Even if it is possible, there are frequent cases where the workpieces fail to be grasped during handling or picking. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly difficult to precisely insert the workpieces into the embossments on the carrier tape using mechanical control.

[0004] The above problems have become apparent even in Patent Document 1, and even if the workpiece is sucked with a nozzle, it is difficult to accurately position the center of gravity of the workpiece at the center of the nozzle, or it is extremely difficult to accurately suck and transfer workpieces of the same size at the same speed as when workpieces of the previous size were sucked in. Therefore, the problem of the process of loading the workpieces into the pockets of the carrier tape taking a long time arises. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-18911 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved is that it is difficult for conventional carrier tape loading devices to load extremely small workpieces, each measuring a few millimeters or less, into pockets with high accuracy and at high speed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides Nowa The device for loading works onto a carrier tape comprises a tape transport mechanism that intermittently transports a carrier tape, which has pockets formed therein into which workpieces are loaded at predetermined intervals, by a number of the pockets at a time, a work supply unit that aligns and arranges the works to be loaded, and a work transfer mechanism that transfers a number of works from the work supply unit to the tape transport mechanism all at once, the work transfer mechanism being configured to simultaneously suck a number of workpieces across the entire surface and load the multiple workpieces simultaneously by releasing the suction, the work supply unit having a number of pits formed therein at the same intervals as the pockets of the carrier tape, being movable from a work suction position by the work transfer mechanism, and being tiltable toward one end of the X or Y direction of the surface on which the works are aligned and arranged. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the present invention, multiple workpieces aligned and arranged in the work supply section are sucked all over their surface at once by the work transfer mechanism, transferred to the tape transport mechanism, and then the suction is released, so that the workpieces are loaded into the pockets of the carrier tape.Although multiple workpieces are transferred all at once, since there is no nozzle that corresponds to one workpiece as in the past, it is not necessary to take time to align the suction center with the center of gravity of the workpiece, and the workpieces can be loaded onto the carrier tape in a short time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a carrier tape loading device according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 1A and 1B show a work supply section of a carrier tape loading device of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view (seen from above) and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1A. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B show a workpiece transfer mechanism of a carrier tape loading device of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a bottom view (viewed from below), and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1A. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B show a guide member of a carrier tape loading device of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 5] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing a state immediately before a workpiece is transferred from a workpiece supply unit by a workpiece transfer mechanism of a carrier tape loading device of the present invention. [Figure 6] 5(a) to 5(d) are diagrams illustrating the operation of the guide member of the carrier tape loading device of the present invention. [Figure 7] 5(a) to 5(c) are diagrams illustrating the operation of the guide member of the carrier tape loading device of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the carrier tape loading device of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a continuity inspection unit in a carrier tape loading device according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is Nowa In a device for loading work onto a carrier tape , WaThe difficulty in loading workpieces into pockets accurately and quickly is solved by providing a tape transport mechanism that intermittently transports a carrier tape, on which pockets into which workpieces are loaded at predetermined intervals, for a plurality of pockets at a time, a work supply unit that aligns and arranges the workpieces to be loaded, and a work transfer mechanism that transfers a plurality of workpieces from the work supply unit to the tape transport mechanism all at once, the work transfer mechanism being configured to suck up a plurality of workpieces simultaneously across the entire surface and load a plurality of workpieces simultaneously by releasing the suction, and the work supply unit being formed with a plurality of pits that are spaced the same as the pockets of the carrier tape, being movable from the work suction position used by the work transfer mechanism, and being tiltable toward one end of the X or Y direction of the surface on which the workpieces are aligned.

[0011] Book invention Before Work supply section Is, Ki Multiple pits are formed that are approximately the same size and spaced apart as the pockets on the carrier tape. , which is movable from the work suction position by the work transfer mechanism and can be tilted toward one end of the X direction or Y direction of the surface on which the work is aligned and arranged. Structure accomplished This allows the work supply section pit A row of multiple workpieces loaded on the carrier tape can be transferred at once by the workpiece transfer mechanism, and the pocket workpieces on the carrier tape can be loaded simply by releasing the suction of the workpiece transfer mechanism. ,time This can shorten the time required.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention may be configured such that a guide member having guide holes formed therein, the guide holes being slightly larger than the pockets of the carrier tape and spaced at the same intervals as the pockets of the carrier tape, is provided at a position where the workpieces are transferred by the workpiece transfer mechanism of the tape transport mechanism. This guide member guides the meandering of the carrier tape and guides the workpieces into the pockets. This makes it less likely that the pockets will be misaligned due to meandering of the carrier tape, and also makes it easier to load the workpieces into the pockets, thereby reducing the occurrence of loading errors.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the present invention may further include a guide member moving mechanism that allows the guide member to move back and forth in the carrier tape feed direction. After a workpiece is inserted into a pocket of the carrier tape, the guide member moving mechanism moves the guide member in the carrier tape feed direction to offset the positions of the guide hole and the pocket so that the space between the guide holes is above the pocket, and in this state, runs parallel to the carrier tape for a predetermined length.

[0014] This prevents a workpiece that has just been inserted into a pocket of the carrier tape from jumping out of the pocket or becoming misaligned due to bouncing when inserted into the pocket or when the carrier tape begins to be transported.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the present invention may be configured such that an imaging means is provided above the position where the workpieces are transferred by the workpiece transfer mechanism of the tape transfer mechanism, for imaging the state of the carrier tape being transported and the state where the workpieces are being loaded into the pockets of the carrier tape. In this way, it is possible to align the positions of the pockets of the carrier tape with the positions of the individual workpieces in the workpiece transfer mechanism, thereby preventing workpiece loading errors.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the present invention may be configured such that an imaging means for image inspection of the work is provided between the tape transport mechanism and the work supply unit, thereby enabling visual inspection of the work to be performed in the short time it takes to transfer the work between the tape transport mechanism and the work supply unit.

[0017] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the present invention may also be configured to provide a conductivity inspection unit that is movable between the work loading position on the carrier tape of the tape transport mechanism and a retracted position from the loading position that does not hinder the loading of the work onto the carrier tape, and that is movable so as to come into contact with or not come into contact with the work at the loading position.

[0018] This not only enables the loading of workpieces onto the carrier tape, but also makes it possible to detect the mixing of different types of workpieces or defective products without reducing loading efficiency and without making it a separate process, thereby improving the quality of the shipped tape. [Example]

[0019] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 9. Reference numeral 1 denotes a carrier tape loading device for loading workpieces W, each of which is extremely small, onto a carrier tape T, and is configured as follows.

[0020] Reference numeral 2 denotes a tape transport mechanism that transports the carrier tape T. The tape transport mechanism 2 performs tact transport by feeding the carrier tape T by the amount of a plurality of pockets P (for example, seven pockets in this example shown in FIG. 1) in one transport drive, stopping for a predetermined time, and then driving to transport again.

[0021] Reference numeral 3 denotes a work supply unit that supplies works W to be loaded into pockets P of the carrier tape T. As shown in FIG. 2, in this example, the work supply unit 3 comprises a porous plate 3B on which pits 3A are formed in seven rows at the same intervals as the intervals between the pockets P of the carrier tape T in the conveying direction (hereinafter also referred to as the Y direction) and six columns at predetermined intervals in the direction perpendicular to the Y direction (hereinafter also referred to as the X direction), and a porous plate 3B on which pits 3A are formed in seven rows at the same intervals as the intervals between the pockets P of the carrier tape T in the conveying direction (hereinafter also referred to as the Y direction), and a porous plate 3B on which pits 3A are formed in six rows at predetermined intervals in the direction perpendicular to the Y direction (hereinafter also referred to as the X direction), and a porous plate 3B on which pits 3A are formed in six rows at predetermined intervals in the direction perpendicular to the Y direction (hereinafter also referred Chamber 3a It is composed of:

[0022] Chamber 3a The upper surface of the six surfaces is open, and the porous plate 3B is provided on this open surface. Chamber 3a is connected to a pump (not shown) via a valve. Chamber 3a Except when the work W is transferred by the work transfer mechanism 4, that is, only when the work W is inserted into the pit 3A in the upstream process up to the carrier tape loading device 1, air is pumped into the pit 3A to create a positive pressure state, and the opening and closing of the valve is controlled as needed, so that the pit can be placed in a positive pressure state or a positive pressure release state.

[0023] The porous plate 3B is a plate with a certain degree of rigidity made of breathable ceramic or metal and has countless holes (pores) formed all over its surface that are smaller in size than the workpiece W. In this example, the porous plate 3B is provided with pits 3A into which the workpiece W is inserted. Furthermore, a variety of porous plates 3B with different sizes and spacings can be prepared to accommodate the sizes and spacings of the workpiece W and pockets P.

[0024] The work supply unit 3 inserts the work W into the pit 3A in the upstream process before reaching the carrier tape loading device 1, but in this example, for example, the work supply unit 3 uses its positive pressure function to insert the work W into the pit 3A as follows. That is, the work supply unit 3 is movable in the X and Y directions relative to the table D shown in FIG. 1 and is tiltable toward one end in the X or Y direction, and the work W is scattered from, for example, a hopper or the like onto the work supply unit 3 with the pit 3A facing upward at a location separate from the table D. At this time, Chamber 3a is kept in a positive pressure state and Chamber 3a Keep the whole thing tilted.

[0025] When the workpieces W are scattered on the porous plate 3B, the stacked workpieces W are formed into a single layer on the porous plate 3B by positive pressure and enter the open pit 3A. Once the workpieces W enter the pit 3A, they dance within the pit 3A (moving up and down and left and right), but do not jump out of the pit 3A.

[0026] Meanwhile, the workpieces W stacked on top of the workpieces W that have entered the pit 3A, and the workpieces W that have not yet entered the pit 3A, slide down the slope due to the air being supplied from the entire surface of the porous plate 3B (positive pressure) and the inclination. As a result, only the workpieces W can be placed in the pit 3A. After this, they are moved to the table D. Furthermore, by providing at least two workpiece supply units 3, the workpieces W can be inserted into the pit 3A while the workpieces W are being transferred onto the carrier tape T from another workpiece supply unit 3, which is efficient.

[0027] In addition, in this example, when transferring the work W onto the carrier tape T, the work supply unit 3 is configured so that the chamber 4a of the work transfer mechanism 4 described below moves in the X direction toward the untransferred row of the pit 3A, but instead, the X direction movement stroke of the chamber 4a of the work transfer mechanism 4 may be fixed and the work supply unit 3 may move one row in the X direction.

[0028] Reference numeral 4 denotes a workpiece transfer mechanism that transfers one row of works W all at once from the workpiece supply unit 3 toward the carrier tape T. As shown in FIG. 3, the workpiece transfer mechanism 4 has a chamber 4a with six sides, of which the lower side is open, and a porous film 4A is provided on this lower side. The chamber 4a is configured so that the inside is suctioned by a pump to create a negative pressure state, and the opening and closing of a valve is controlled as needed to create a negative pressure state or a negative pressure release state.

[0029] In this example, the porous film 4A is, for example, larger than the pits 3A of the work supply section 3 and is large enough to cover one row of the pits 3A in the Y direction. In this example, the porous film 4A is used, but a porous sheet with higher rigidity than a film may also be used. In the following description, when the work transfer mechanism 4 is referred to as the moving body, it will be referred to as the chamber 4a, but when the chamber 4a is referred to as the moving body, it means a state in which the porous film 4A and the like are integrated (the same applies to the chamber 9a of the supplementary work moving mechanism 9).

[0030] An X-direction feed mechanism 4x is provided on the upper surface of the workpiece transfer mechanism 4 (not shown in FIG. 3). In this example, the X-direction feed mechanism 4x is configured such that, for example, a motor and a gear attached to the output shaft of the motor are built into a case, and an X-axis screw extending in the X direction between the workpiece supply unit 3 and the carrier tape T of the tape transfer mechanism 2 meshes with the gear. In addition, a Z-direction lifting mechanism 4z is provided between the X-direction feed mechanism 4x and the chamber 4a, which moves the chamber 4a up and down in the height direction (hereinafter also referred to as the Z direction).

[0031] Furthermore, in this example, the workpiece transfer mechanism 4 is provided with a Y-direction feed mechanism 4y at the end of the X-axis screw on the tape transfer mechanism 2 side, which is beyond the tape transfer mechanism 2 in the X direction. In this example, the Y-direction feed mechanism 4y is configured such that, for example, a motor and a gear provided on the output shaft of the motor are built into a case, and a Y-axis screw extending in the Y direction parallel to the carrier tape T of the tape transfer mechanism 2 meshes with the gear.

[0032] Reference numeral 5 denotes a guide member that covers the conveying surface of the carrier tape T in the tape conveying mechanism 2. As shown in FIG. 4, this guide member 5 has an inverted concave cross section, and is provided with guide holes 5A equal to the number of works W that can be transferred collectively by the work transfer mechanism 4, at the same intervals as the pockets P of the carrier tape T. In addition, the height position of the surface of the guide member 5 is set to the same height as the height position of the surface of the porous plate 3B in the work supply unit 3.

[0033] An upwardly sloping taper 5B is formed at the upper opening edge of the guide hole 5A in the guide member 5. Furthermore, the guide member 5 has a lower edge portion of a wall surface 5a facing the inside of the inverted concave cross section, and is formed with lift prevention portions 5b through which both end edges in the X direction of the carrier tape T are inserted in the Y direction, thereby suppressing and correcting meandering and lifting of the carrier tape.

[0034] The guide member 5 has guide holes 5A on its upper surface, the number of which is equal to the number of works W that can be transferred all at once by the work transfer mechanism 4, and has an inverted concave cross section that is long in the Y direction.Therefore, the carrier tape T is guided by opposing wall surfaces 5a, 5a and anti-floating portions 5b, 5b inside, so that even slight meandering of the carrier tape T can be corrected into a straight line, and even slight floating from the conveying surface can be suppressed and corrected.

[0035] Therefore, the guide hole 5A of the guide member 5 can be aligned with the pocket P of the carrier tape T with high precision, and since a taper 5B is formed in the guide hole 5A, the work W can be guided by the taper 5B and reliably loaded into the pocket P.

[0036] In this example, a guide member moving mechanism 5C is provided on the guide member 5. This guide member moving mechanism 5C is for moving the guide member 5 parallel to the carrier tape T in the feeding direction of the carrier tape T.

[0037] Reference numeral 6 denotes a vibrating unit provided in a part of the guide member 5. This vibrating unit 6 vibrates the upper surface of the guide member 5, i.e., the guide hole 5A, very finely, for example, in the X direction, to quickly move the workpiece W from the guide hole 5A to the pocket P.

[0038] Furthermore, the vibrating unit 6 does not vibrate so much that the position of the guide hole 5A and the pocket P is changed so that the workpiece W cannot enter the pocket P, but actually vibrates very finely within the clearance of the pocket P set in relation to the dimensions of the workpiece W.

[0039] A camera 7 is provided above the guide member 5 and serves as an imaging means for capturing all of the guide holes 5A in the guide member 5 within its field of view. The camera 7 outputs image data of the field of view to a control unit (not shown).

[0040] In this example, the control unit determines based on the imaging data whether the positions of the guide holes 5A in the guide member 5 and the empty pockets P are aligned when the carrier tape T is transported to the work W transfer position, and whether work W is loaded into all of the pockets P after the work W is transferred to the carrier tape T. If the position is misaligned in the former case, in this example, the control unit controls the tape transport mechanism 2 to make fine adjustments by moving the carrier tape T forward or backward, and if the presence of an empty pocket P is detected in the latter case, the control unit controls a separately configured compensation mechanism to compensate for the work W toward the position of the empty pocket P.

[0041] The above is the basic configuration of the present invention, but in the carrier tape loading device 1 of this example, after the work W is transferred to the carrier tape T, if the control unit detects a pocket P in which no work W is loaded based on the image data from the camera 7, the work loading configuration shown in Figure 1 below is provided at a position downstream of the transfer position of the work W in the conveying direction of the carrier tape T, as a configuration for filling the empty pocket P with work W.

[0042] The workpiece replenishment configuration in this example is made up of, for example, a workpiece replenishment unit 8, a replenished workpiece moving mechanism 9, a replenished workpiece guide member 10, a vibration unit 11, and a camera 12. These will be explained individually below in comparison with the workpiece supply unit 3, the workpiece transfer mechanism 4, the guide member 5, the vibration unit 6, and the camera 7.

[0043] That is, the workpiece supplying unit 8 has the same configuration as the workpiece supplying unit 3, except that the workpieces W are inserted in one row in the Y direction (six columns in the X direction are the same).

[0044] The supplementary workpiece moving mechanism 9 has the same configuration as the workpiece transfer mechanism 4, except that it is configured to suck in one workpiece W in one row in the Y direction, but the movement range of the Y-direction feed mechanism 9y is wider than that of the workpiece transfer mechanism 4. This point will be described later.

[0045] The supplementary work guide member 10 has the same configuration as the guide member 5 except that it is configured to correspond to one pocket P, and the vibration unit 11 is the same as the vibration unit 6 except that it corresponds to the supplementary work guide member 10. However, the supplementary work guide member 10 and the vibration unit 11 are arranged to be able to work in conjunction with the Y-direction feed mechanism 9y, which is different from the guide member 5 and the vibration unit 6 which were fixedly arranged.

[0046] Camera 12 is the same as camera 7 in that it has a field of view of six pockets, but is simply placed downstream from the field of view of camera 7. However, the control unit handles the captured data differently. That is, when the control unit detects an empty pocket P containing no workpieces W based on the image data captured by camera 7, the control unit identifies where on the transport path that empty pocket P will be located at the time of the next transport stop, and moves the chamber 9a, the supplementary work guide member 10, and the vibration unit 11 in the Y direction to that position.

[0047] At this time, the camera 12 captures images of the chamber 9a together with the supplementary work guide member 10 and the vibration unit 11 moving in the Y direction, and the control unit monitors this, and in this respect the handling of the image data by the control unit differs from that of the camera 7. The control unit controls the Y-direction feed mechanism 9y to reach the position based on the image data of this camera 12, and after reaching the position, controls the release of the negative pressure in the chamber 9a and the turning on of the vibration unit 11 so that the work W is supplemented into the empty pocket P.

[0048] The carrier tape loading device 1 of this example configured as described above operates as follows: The work W has been inserted into the pits 3A and 8A of the work supply unit 3 and the work supply unit 8 in advance in the upstream process, and the positive pressure state of the work supply unit 3 and the work supply unit 8 is released.

[0049] The work transfer mechanism 4 waits with chamber 4a at a position on the work supply section 3 side that does not block the first row of pits 3A on the tape transport mechanism 2 side, and the supplementary work moving mechanism 9 waits with chamber 9a at a position on the work supplement section 8 side that does not block the first row of pits 8A on the tape transport mechanism 2 side. In this initial state, the tape transport mechanism 2 starts tact transport, which feeds the carrier tape T for a time equivalent to feeding six pockets P on the carrier tape T and stops transport for a predetermined time.

[0050] While the carrier tape T is transported within the guide member 5 so that the pockets P of the carrier tape T correspond to all of the guide holes 5A of the guide member 5, the work transfer mechanism 4 creates a negative pressure state within the chamber 4a, and further uses the Z-direction lifting mechanism 4z to lower the chamber 4a to a position where the porous film 4A is almost in contact with the surface of the porous plate 3B of the work supply section 2, and moves the chamber 4a in the X direction toward the pits 3A of the row to be transferred in the work supply section 3.

[0051] Then, when the chamber 4a is moved in the X direction to the pit 3A in the row to be transferred by the work supply section 3, as shown in Figure 5(a), immediately after the opening of the pit 3A overlaps with the porous film 4A, the work W in the pit 3A is sucked into the porous film 4A.

[0052] When the chamber 4a is further moved in the X direction toward the work supply unit 3, as shown in Fig. 5(b), the workpieces W in the pit 3A come into contact with the wall surface on the side of the work supply unit 3. Then, as shown in Fig. 5(c), when the chamber 4a is moved in the Y direction, for example, in the conveying direction in this example, the workpieces W in the pit 3A come into contact with the wall surface in the conveying direction, and finally, all of the workpieces W in one row are aligned on the porous film 4A.

[0053] In this state, the chamber 4a is raised by the Z-direction lifting mechanism 4z, and the chamber 4a is moved in the X direction toward the tape transport mechanism 2. Meanwhile, during this time, the tape transport mechanism 2 transports the carrier tape T so that the positions of all the guide holes 5A in the guide member 5 and the pockets P corresponding to the guide holes 5A in the carrier tape T are aligned, and after the positions are aligned, transport is stopped for a predetermined time.

[0054] The positional status of the guide hole 5A and the pocket P is monitored by the camera 7, and if the positions are misaligned, the control unit controls the tape transport mechanism 2 to transport the carrier tape T back and forth to immediately align the positions, and after transporting the carrier tape T so that the position of the pocket P corresponding to the guide hole 5A matches the position, the transport is stopped for a predetermined period of time.

[0055] Incidentally, in this example, the positional status of the guide hole 5A and the pocket P is grasped by the camera 7, but with regard to the transport of the carrier tape T, the anti-floating portion 5b of the guide member 5 guides both edges of the carrier tape in the X direction, so the carrier tape T is prevented from being transported in a meandering manner or floating off the transport surface, and therefore the possibility of the position being shifted is extremely low.

[0056] While the tape transport mechanism 2 is stopped for a predetermined time, the chamber 4a moves to a position above the guide member 5 where the workpiece W sucked into the porous film 4A and the guide hole 5A are aligned. When the chamber 4a moves to this position, the negative pressure state within the chamber 4a is released, and the workpiece W falls toward the guide hole 5A. In this example, for example, the vibration unit 6 is driven to slightly vibrate the guide member 5 when the chamber 4a moves to this position (although it may be driven in advance).

[0057] When the workpiece W falls from the porous film 4A, a taper 5B is formed in the guide hole 5A, and the taper 5B quickly guides the workpiece W from the surface with a large opening area to the pocket P with a small opening area, in conjunction with the vibration of the vibrating part 6, thereby preventing the workpiece W from losing its posture for some reason and getting caught in the guide hole 5A.

[0058] The workpiece transfer mechanism 4 is controlled so that immediately after dropping the workpiece W from the porous film 4A, the chamber 4a is raised in the Z direction while moving in the X direction to the next row on the workpiece supply unit 3 side. When the chamber 4a moves from above the guide member 5 as described above, the control unit processes the image data captured by the camera 7 and detects pockets P where no workpiece W is present.

[0059] The control unit uses the camera 7 to capture an image of the state of the pocket P through the guide hole 5A, and then the tape transport mechanism 2 transports the carrier tape T downstream by the amount of six pockets P containing the work W (i.e., the carrier tape T for the next six empty pockets P is transported into the guide member 5).

[0060] During the specified time required for the tape transport mechanism 2 to transport the carrier tape T downstream by the amount of work W currently loaded, the work transfer mechanism 4 moves the chamber 4a toward the work supply section 3, aligns and sucks in the work W inserted in the next row of pits 3A in the work supply section 3, and then, before the transport of the next carrier tape T stops, the chamber 4a moves above the guide member 5 to a position where the work W sucked into the porous film 4A and the guide hole 5A are aligned, and the above operations are repeated.

[0061] While the workpiece W is inserted into the pocket P of the carrier tape T from the workpiece supply unit 3 and transported downstream, the guide member moving mechanism 5C operates as follows: As shown in Figures 6(a) and 7(a), when the workpiece W has not yet been transferred from the workpiece transfer mechanism 4 to the tape transport mechanism 2, there is naturally no workpiece W in the pocket P of the carrier tape T (shown as a white outline), and the guide member 5 is positioned at the transfer position for the workpiece W in the tape transport mechanism 2.

[0062] As shown in Figure 6(b), after the workpiece W is inserted into the pocket P of the carrier tape T, in this example, as shown in Figures 6(c) and 7(b), the guide member 5 is moved in the conveying direction by the guide member moving mechanism 5C to a position between the guide holes 5A, 5A, i.e., a position where the guide hole 5A is not formed, to block the pocket P.

[0063] 6(d) and 7(c), the guide member 5 is moved by the guide member moving mechanism 5C in synchronization with the tape transport mechanism 2 of the carrier tape T by a predetermined length while blocking the pocket P where the workpiece W is inserted at a position where the guide hole 5A is not formed. In this way, the workpiece W can be transported while stably inserted in the pocket P.

[0064] In addition, in the above too When the last row of workpieces W in the workpiece supply section 3 is transferred, By providing at least two work supply units 3, the work of inserting the work W into the pit 3A can be performed as follows: To the evacuated work supply unit 3 hand , This is done while the workpiece W is being transferred to the carrier tape T. Load work W into all pits 3A and prepare it.

[0065] In the explanation of this example, if six workpieces W are transported at once to the pockets P of the carrier tape T by the workpiece transfer mechanism 4, that is, if the control unit processes the image data from the camera 7 and does not detect a pocket P in which no workpiece W exists, there is no need to fill it with workpieces W. However, if it detects that there is an empty pocket P in which no workpiece W exists among the six pockets P in a row, the following operation will occur.

[0066] When the control unit detects an empty pocket P that does not contain a workpiece W based on the image data captured by the camera 7, the control unit determines the position in the Y direction where the empty pocket P will stop at the next transport stop. After determining the stop position of the empty pocket P, the control unit moves the supplementary work guide member 10 and the vibration unit 11 together with the chamber 9a to that position in the Y direction while the carrier tape T is being transported.

[0067] The movement of the chamber 9a, the filling work guide member 10, and the vibration unit 11 in the Y direction is monitored by the control unit based on the image data captured by the camera 12. Then, the control unit controls the Y direction feed mechanism 9y to reach the relevant position based on the image data captured by the camera 12, and after the relevant position is reached, the control unit controls the release of the negative pressure in the chamber 9a and the turning on of the vibration unit 11 to fill the empty pocket P with the work W.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the present invention can be configured to not only load the workpieces W onto the carrier tape T but also perform quality inspection. Hereinafter, configurations different from the above embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9, and descriptions of overlapping components will be omitted. Note that overlapping components are given the same reference numerals.

[0069] Reference numeral 13 denotes a camera that serves as an imaging means for image inspection of the work W, in this example, for visual inspection, and is provided between the tape transport mechanism 2 and the work supply unit 3. As described above, this camera 13 is used to inspect the appearance of the work W for physical defects, etc.

[0070] In this example, the camera 13 is positioned at a height position of the table D of the work supply section 3 that is lower than the position of the porous plate 3B, and from this position it captures an image of the underside of the work W that has been sucked into the porous film 4A of the work transfer mechanism 4.

[0071] Reference numeral 14 denotes a continuity inspection unit for passing current through the workpiece W, which in this example is an electronic component, to inspect electrical characteristics such as capacity and withstand voltage. This continuity inspection unit 14 is movable between a loading position of the workpiece W on the carrier tape T of the tape transport mechanism 2 and a retracted position from the loading position so as not to interfere with loading of the workpiece W onto the carrier tape T, and is movable so as to be in contact with or out of contact with the workpiece W at the loading position.

[0072] Specifically, the continuity inspection unit 14 has a pair of electrode pins 14a, 14a provided on the underside of the main body 14A for each guide hole 5A (pocket P) of the guide member 5. The main body 14A is supported by an arm 14b. The arm 14b has an opposite side to the side supporting the main body 14A supported by a continuity inspection unit moving mechanism 14B, which in this example is provided at a position that does not interfere with the guide member moving mechanism 5C. The continuity inspection unit moving mechanism 14B moves the arm 14b in the vertical direction and in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the carrier tape T on the same plane.

[0073] In the operation of the carrier tape loading device 1 in this configuration, as described above, when the workpiece W is moved from the workpiece supply unit 3 to the tape transport mechanism 2 by the workpiece transfer device 4, the underside of the workpiece W is imaged by the camera 13. Workpieces with external defects are managed by a control unit (not shown) and removed from the pocket P of the carrier tape T by a pickup unit (not shown) provided in the transport path of the carrier tape T of the tape transport mechanism 2 up to the workpiece filling unit 8.

[0074] The control unit can also manage pockets P where no workpieces W are present in the pickup unit, and the workpiece replenishment unit 8 can replenish the workpieces W. Since the carrier tape loading device 1 is deployed in the process immediately before the shipment of the workpieces W, only non-defective products that have already passed the visual inspection and continuity inspection in the upstream process are transported thereto. Therefore, the visual inspection by the camera 13 and the continuity inspection are positioned as final checks (assuming the product is non-defective).

[0075] After the workpiece W is loaded into the pocket P and before the pocket P is blocked by the guide member 5, that is, after FIG. 6(b) (before FIG. 7(b)), the continuity inspection unit moving mechanism 14B moves the main body 14A (in the X direction) above the guide member 5, and as shown in FIG. 9(a), the electrode pins 14a, 14a are positioned in each of the guide holes 5A (pocket P) of the guide member 5, and then lowers the main body 14A to insert the respective electrode pins 14a, 14a into the respective guide holes 5A (pocket P), and as shown in FIG. 9(b), the electrodes of the workpiece W come into contact with the electrode pins 14a, 14a.

[0076] When the electrodes of the work W are brought into contact with the electrode pins 14a, 14a and a continuity test is performed, any work W that has defective electrical characteristics is managed by the control unit as described above, and is removed from the pocket P of the carrier tape T by the pickup unit in the same way as for defective products that have been inspected visually, and the work W is then replenished in the work replenishment unit 8.

[0077] The continuity tester 14 also has the effect of correcting the workpiece W in an unstable position in the pocket P to the correct position by inserting the electrode pins 14a, 14a into the respective guide holes 5A (pocket P).

[0078] Then, when the continuity test is completed, the continuity test section moving mechanism 14B raises the main body 14 until the electrode pins 14a, 14a are completely removed from the guide holes 5A, and moves it to a retracted position in the X direction that does not interfere with the loading of the work W onto the carrier tape T.

[0079] After the main body 14A has been retracted, the pocket P is blocked by the guide member 5 as shown in Figures 6(c) and 7(b) above, and if a pickup unit is interposed, the defective product is picked up and the same operations as above are then performed.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the tape transport mechanism 2 is configured to feed the carrier tape T in a tactile manner, but if it is desired to reliably prevent the work W from jumping out of the pocket P, it may be configured so that when a defective work is detected in appearance or conductivity, the work W is sucked in the insertion direction of the pocket P, excluding the pickup section that removes the defective work.

[0081] As described above, according to the present invention, the work supply unit 3, which supplies the work W in a state where it has been pre-aligned to a certain extent, and the work transfer mechanism 4, which applies negative pressure to multiple works W all at once across its entire surface, can overcome and improve the difficulty and inefficiency of transferring multiple works W all at once onto the carrier tape T and loading them into the pockets P, which are caused by their extremely small size, and can also shorten the work time.

[0082] For example, if one cycle is 3 seconds, with 2 seconds of transport and 1 second of stop, in this example, 120 workpieces W (= 6 × 20) can be reliably loaded into the pockets P of the carrier tape T in 1 minute, and 7,200 workpieces W in 1 hour. It goes without saying that if the number of workpieces W inserted in one row of the work supply unit 3 is increased and the length in the Y direction of the chamber 4a corresponding to the number of workpieces in one row of the work supply unit 3 is increased, the number of workpieces W that can be loaded into the pockets P of the carrier tape T per unit time will further increase. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1 Carrier tape loading device 2 Tape transport mechanism 3 Work supply section 3A Pit 3B Porous Plate 4 Workpiece transfer mechanism 4A Porous Film 5 Guide member 5A guide hole 5B tapered 5C Guide member moving mechanism 5a Wall 5b Floating prevention part 6 Vibration unit 7. Camera (imaging means) 13 Camera (imaging means) 14 Continuity Inspection Department

Claims

1. An apparatus for loading individual workpieces onto a carrier tape, the apparatus comprising: a tape transport mechanism that intermittently transports a carrier tape having pockets formed therein into which workpieces are loaded at predetermined intervals, the carrier tape being a plurality of pockets at a time; a work supply unit that aligns and arranges the works to be loaded; and a work transfer mechanism that transfers a plurality of workpieces from the work supply unit to the tape transport mechanism all at once, the work transfer mechanism being configured to simultaneously suck a plurality of workpieces across the entire surface and load a plurality of workpieces simultaneously by releasing the suction; and the work supply unit being formed with a plurality of pits that are spaced the same as the pockets of the carrier tape, the work supply unit being movable from a work suction position by the work transfer mechanism, and being tiltable toward one end of the X or Y direction of the surface on which the works are aligned.

2. A carrier tape loading device as described in claim 1, wherein a guide member having guide holes formed at the same intervals as the pockets of the carrier tape is provided at the position where the work is transferred by the work transfer mechanism of the tape transport mechanism.

3. A carrier tape loading device as described in claim 2, provided with a guide member moving mechanism that enables the guide member to move back and forth in the transport direction of the carrier tape.

4. A carrier tape loading device as described in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein an imaging means is provided above the position where the work is transferred by the work transfer mechanism of the tape transport mechanism, for imaging the transport status of the carrier tape and the status of loading the work into the pocket of the carrier tape.

5. A carrier tape loading device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an imaging means for image inspection of the work is provided between the tape transport mechanism and the work supply section.

6. A carrier tape loading device as described in any of claims 1 to 5, provided with a conductivity inspection unit that is movable between a work loading position on the carrier tape of the tape transport mechanism and a retracted position from the loading position that does not hinder the loading of the work onto the carrier tape, and that is movable so as to come into contact with or not come into contact with the work at the loading position.

Images