Maintenance support device and maintenance support method

Abstract

In this maintenance assistance method, unit information relating to the state of a unit constituting a work device that performs work on a substrate is acquired, and a required time necessary for implementing maintenance on an equipment element included in the unit is assessed on the basis of the unit information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a maintenance support device and a maintenance support method for supporting the maintenance of units constituting a working device.

Background Art

[0002] A working device such as a component mounting device for mounting components on a substrate includes a plurality of units such as a feeder for supplying components, a nozzle for holding components, and a mounting head to which the nozzle is attached. In order to keep the working device in good condition, it is necessary to perform maintenance work on the feeder, nozzle, mounting head, etc. at appropriate times (for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a system that calculates the recommended implementation time for all maintenance work items related to the working device and the units, and formulates a plan to perform maintenance work in units based on the required time for the work items.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0004] However, the conventional technologies including Patent Document 1 have the following problems because they create maintenance plans for each unit. That is, a unit includes many equipment elements, and in a large-scale unit such as a mounting head, there are many equipment elements and the maintenance time becomes long. And if the maintenance cannot be completed within the time of the setup work for changing the type of mounting substrate produced by the working device, there is a problem that the production stops or the maintenance work has to be planned at a timing when the setup work is long, and thus a flexible maintenance plan cannot be created.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a maintenance support device and a maintenance support method that can flexibly create maintenance plans.

[0006] The maintenance support device of the present invention comprises an acquisition unit that acquires unit information relating to the state of a unit constituting a work device that performs work on a circuit board, and a determination unit that determines the necessary timing for performing maintenance on the equipment elements included in the unit based on the unit information.

[0007] The maintenance support method of the present invention includes an acquisition step of acquiring unit information relating to the state of a unit constituting a work apparatus that performs work on a substrate, and a determination step of determining the necessary timing for performing maintenance on the equipment elements included in the unit based on the unit information.

[0008] According to the present invention, maintenance plans can be created flexibly. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Diagram illustrating the configuration of a component mounting system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Plan view of the main part of a component mounting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Diagram illustrating the configuration of a component mounting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the main part of the mounting head of a component mounting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing system of a management computer (maintenance support device) according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Diagram illustrating the determination of the necessary timing by a management computer (maintenance support device) according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] (a)(b) Explanatory diagram of an example of task information created by a management computer (maintenance support device) according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8]In one embodiment of the present invention, a management computer (maintenance support device) shows (a) an explanatory diagram of an example of a production plan used and (b) an explanatory diagram of an example of a created maintenance plan. [Figure 9] (a)(b) Explanatory diagram of an example of a maintenance plan created in a management computer (maintenance support device) according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Flowchart of a method for creating task information according to one embodiment of the present invention [Figure 11] Flowchart of a maintenance plan creation method according to one embodiment of the present invention [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The configurations, shapes, etc. described below are illustrative examples for illustrative purposes and can be modified as appropriate according to the specifications of the component mounting system, management computer, component mounting line, printing device, component mounting device, etc. In the following, corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in all drawings, and redundant explanations are omitted. In Figure 2 and some parts described later, the X-axis in the substrate transport direction (left-right direction in Figure 2) and the Y-axis in the substrate transport direction (up-down direction in Figure 2) are shown as two mutually orthogonal axes in the horizontal plane. In Figure 3 and some parts described later, the Z-axis (up-down direction in Figure 3) is shown as the height direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

[0011] First, let's explain the configuration of the component mounting system 1 with reference to Figure 1. The component mounting system is configured to connect the work equipment constituting one component mounting line L via a communication network 2 and to be managed by a management computer 3. Note that the component mounting system 1 does not need to have just one component mounting line L; it may have two or more. In this case, the management computer 3 will manage two or more component mounting lines L.

[0012] The component mounting line L is configured by connecting a series of work devices that perform operations on substrates, such as a substrate supply device M1, a printing device M2, a printing inspection device M3, component mounting devices M4-M8, a mounting inspection device M9, a reflow device M10, and a substrate recovery device M11, from upstream (left side of the page) to downstream (right side of the page) in the substrate transport direction. The component mounting line L has the function of producing mounted substrates with components mounted on them. Note that the component mounting line L is a group of work devices connected via a communication network 2, and the work devices do not necessarily have to be physically connected to each other.

[0013] In Figure 1, the substrate supply device M1 is equipped with a storage section such as a rack for storing multiple substrates, and performs the substrate supply operation by supplying the substrates taken from the storage section to the downstream device. The printing device M2 is a work device that performs the solder printing operation by printing paste-like solder onto the substrates transported from the upstream side by the substrate transport section via a screen mask attached to the printing work section.

[0014] The printing apparatus M2 presses a substrate against a screen mask having multiple openings, and then moves a squeegee in contact with the screen mask to push the solder supplied onto the screen mask into the openings, thereby printing solder onto the substrate. During the solder printing process, the printing apparatus M2 uses a camera and various sensors (viscosity detection sensor, pressure sensor, etc.) to monitor the surface condition of the screen mask, the viscosity of the solder, the time the solder is exposed to air, the number of squeegee movements, the squeegee movement time, and the flatness of the screen mask. The monitoring results are transmitted to the management computer 3.

[0015] In Figure 1, the printing inspection device M3 is a work device that performs printing inspection work, inspecting the condition of the solder printed on the substrate using a printing inspection work unit that includes a camera and various sensors. The monitoring results, such as the surface condition of the solder-deposited substrate inspected by the printing inspection device M3, are transmitted to the management computer 3.

[0016] The component mounting devices M4 to M8 are working devices that take out components supplied by component supply devices such as tape feeders and tray feeders with nozzles mounted on the mounting head and perform component mounting operations to mount them on a substrate on which solder has been printed. During the component mounting operation, the component mounting devices M4 to M8 use cameras and various sensors to monitor mounting errors by the mounting head, adsorption errors where the nozzles do not normally adsorb components, supply errors where the component supply devices do not normally supply components, etc. The monitoring results are transmitted to the management computer 3. The component mounting line L is not limited to a configuration of five component mounting devices M4 to M8, and may have 1 to 4 or 6 or more component mounting devices M4 to M8.

[0017] In FIG. 1, the mounting inspection device M9 is a working device that performs a mounting inspection operation to inspect the state of components mounted on a substrate by a mounting inspection working section including a mounting inspection camera. Monitoring results such as mounting errors where components are not mounted at a predetermined position on the substrate inspected by the mounting inspection device M9 are transmitted to the management computer 3.

[0018] The reflow device M10 heats the substrate carried into the device by a substrate heating section to cure the solder on the substrate and performs a substrate heating operation to join the electrode section of the substrate and the components. The substrate recovery device M11 includes a storage section such as a rack for storing a plurality of substrates, and performs a substrate recovery operation to receive the substrates on which components have been mounted by the component mounting devices M4 to M8 and recover them in the storage section.

[0019] In FIG. 1, the management computer 3 has a function of creating data and parameters necessary for the operation of the working devices included in the component mounting line L and transmitting them to each working device. Further, the management computer 3 has a function of collecting the states of the units constituting the working devices from the plurality of working devices included in the component mounting line L and creating a maintenance plan for the maintenance targets.

[0020] Next, with reference to Figures 2 and 3, the details of the configuration of component mounting devices M4 to M8 will be explained. Component mounting devices M4 to M8 have similar configurations, and here, component mounting device M4 will be used as an example. Figure 3 schematically shows a part of component mounting device M4 in Figure 2. Component mounting device M4 has the function of performing component mounting work, which involves attaching components supplied from the component supply unit to the substrate. A substrate transport unit 5 is positioned along the X-axis in the center of the base 4. The substrate transport unit 5 transports the substrate 6, which has been transported from upstream, to the work position, positions it, and holds it. The substrate transport unit 5 also transports the substrate 6, after the component mounting work is completed, downstream.

[0021] Component supply units 7 are located on both sides (front and rear directions along the Y-axis) of the substrate transport unit 5. Multiple tape feeders 8 are mounted in parallel along the X-axis on each component supply unit 7. The tape feeders 8 supply component D to component supply positions 8a from which the component D is picked up by the mounting head described below by feeding a component tape 17, in which pockets for storing component D are formed at a predetermined pitch, from the outside of the component supply unit 7 toward the substrate transport unit 5 (tape feeding direction).

[0022] In Figures 2 and 3, Y-axis tables 9 equipped with linear drive mechanisms are arranged along the Y-axis at both ends of the X-axis on the upper surface of the base 4. A beam 10, similarly equipped with a linear drive mechanism, is coupled to the Y-axis tables 9 so as to be movable along the Y-axis. The beam 10 is arranged along the X-axis. A mounting head 11 is mounted on the beam 10 via a plate 10a so as to be movable along the X-axis. The mounting head 11 is equipped with a mounting unit 20 that can hold and lift components D by suction. A nozzle 19 is attached to the lower end of each mounting unit 20, with its tip 19a for holding components D by suction. In addition, each mounting unit 20 is provided with a sensor (not shown) for measuring the flow rate or pressure of air flowing into the nozzle 19.

[0023] In Figure 2, the Y-axis table 9 and beam 10 constitute a moving mechanism 12 that moves the mounting head 11 along the X and Y axes between the substrate 6 and the component supply unit 7. The moving mechanism 12 and the mounting head 11 perform a mounting turn in which they pick up a component D from the component supply position 8a of the tape feeder 8 located in the component supply unit 7 by attracting it with the tip 19a of the nozzle 19 and mounting it to the mounting position on the substrate 6 positioned in the substrate transport unit 5. In other words, the Y-axis table 9, beam 10 and mounting head 11 constitute a component mounting means that holds the component D supplied to the component supply position 8a of the tape feeder 8 with the nozzle 19 and mounts it on the substrate 6.

[0024] In Figures 2 and 3, a component recognition camera 13 is positioned between the component supply unit 7 and the substrate transport unit 5. When the mounting head 11, which has picked up a component D from the component supply unit 7, moves above the component recognition camera 13, the component recognition camera 13 images the component D held by the nozzle 19. The holding posture of the component D is recognized from the imaging result. A head camera 14 is attached to the plate 10a to which the mounting head 11 is mounted. The head camera 14 moves integrally with the mounting head 11.

[0025] As the mounting head 11 moves, the head camera 14 moves above the substrate 6 positioned on the substrate transport unit 5 and captures images of the substrate marks (not shown) provided on the substrate 6. The position of the substrate 6 is recognized from the image capture results. The head camera 14 also moves above the tape feeder 8 and captures images of the components D supplied to the component supply position 8a. The supply position of the components D by the tape feeder 8 is recognized from the image capture results. During the component mounting operation on the substrate 6 by the mounting head 11, the mounting position is corrected by taking into account the image capture results of the components D by the component recognition camera 13 and the image capture results of the substrate marks by the head camera 14.

[0026] In Figure 2, a touch panel 15 is installed at the front of the component mounting machine M4 where the worker works. The touch panel 15 displays various information on its display, and the worker uses the operation buttons displayed on the display to input data and operate the component mounting machine M4.

[0027] In Figure 3, the parts supply unit 7 is set with a trolley 16 that has multiple tape feeders 8 pre-mounted on a feeder base 16a. The trolley 16 holds a tape reel 18 that stores a parts tape 17 holding parts D in a wound state. The tape feeder 8 intermittently rotates a sprocket 8c using a built-in sprocket motor 8b, feeding the parts tape 17 pulled from the tape reel 18, thereby supplying parts to the parts supply position 8a.

[0028] Next, the configuration of the mounting head 11 will be explained with reference to Figure 4. The mounting head 11 has multiple mounting units 20 (four in the X direction in this case) arranged on the mounting head base 11a. The mounting units 20 are configured to move up and down a shaft 21 extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) using a servo-controlled Z-axis motor 22, thereby moving the nozzle 19 up and down.

[0029] The shaft 21 is connected to the movable element 23 of the Z-axis motor 22 via a bearing. The lower end of the shaft 21 is inserted into a spline guide section 24 that is rotatable by θ by bearings 24a arranged vertically, and protrudes outward from the lower surface of the mounting head base 11a. A nozzle holding section 29 is provided at the lower end of the shaft 21 that protrudes from the lower surface of the mounting head base 11a. A nozzle 19 is mounted on the nozzle holding section 29. In this way, the nozzle 19 is attached to the lower end of the shaft 21 which moves up and down by the Z-axis motor 22 (motor).

[0030] In Figure 4, a compression spring, a return spring 25, is installed between the movable element 23 and the spline guide section 24 on the shaft 21. The return spring 25 acts as an upward repulsive force on the movable element 23. That is, when lowering the nozzle holding section 29, the Z-axis motor 22 generates a downward thrust, causing the shaft 21 to descend against the repulsive force of the return spring 25. When raising the nozzle holding section 29, the Z-axis motor 22 reduces the thrust it generates, and the upward repulsive force of the return spring 25 pushing up the movable element 23 causes the shaft 21 to rise.

[0031] A scale 26 is provided above the Z-axis motor 22, protruding upwards and moving up and down in accordance with the vertical movement of the movable element 23, i.e., the vertical movement of the shaft 21. A position detection sensor 27 is also positioned above the Z-axis motor 22 to detect the movement of the scale 26. The position detection sensor 27 outputs encoder pulses indicating the distance and direction of movement of the scale 26 as a position signal to the servo control unit. From the position signal, the vertical position (height position) of the shaft 21 is detected. In other words, the scale 26 and the position detection sensor 27 constitute an encoder 28 that detects the height position of the shaft 21 (or nozzle 19).

[0032] Thus, component mounting devices M4 to M8 are work devices that perform component mounting work on a substrate 6, and are composed of units U such as a substrate transport unit 5, a tape feeder 8, a mounting head 11, a moving mechanism 12, a component recognition camera 13, and a head camera 14. The tape feeder 8 (unit U) includes equipment elements E such as a sprocket motor 8b and a sprocket 8c. The mounting head 11 includes equipment elements such as a shaft 21 and a Z-axis motor 22 (hereinafter, these will also be referred to as "mounting unit 20" when there is no need to distinguish between them). The nozzle 19 attached to the mounting unit 20 of the mounting head 11 includes an air duct, a tip, and a reflector as equipment elements (hereinafter, these will also be referred to as "nozzle 19 (equipment element E)" when there is no need to distinguish between them). The moving mechanism 12 (unit U) includes equipment elements E such as a Y-axis table 9 and a beam 10.

[0033] Next, with reference to Figure 5, the configuration of the information processing system of the management computer 3 will be described. Here, we will describe a configuration in which the management computer 3 has multiple functions, acquires the status of the units U that make up the work equipment (printing device M2, printing inspection device M3, component mounting devices M4~M8, mounting inspection device M9, etc.) from the work equipment, and creates maintenance plans for multiple maintenance targets of the work equipment (printing device M2, component mounting devices M4~M8, etc.). Here, we will mainly describe an example in which a maintenance plan is created based on the status of the units U of the component mounting devices M4~M8 on the component mounting line L.

[0034] The management computer 3 includes a processing unit 30, a storage unit 35, as well as an input unit 41, a display unit 42, and a communication unit 43. The processing unit 30 is a data processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and includes an acquisition unit 31, a determination unit 32, a task information creation unit 33, and a decision unit 34 as internal processing units. The management computer 3 does not need to be a single computer, but may be composed of multiple devices. For example, all or part of the storage unit and processing unit may be provided in the cloud via a server.

[0035] In Figure 5, the input unit 41 is an input device such as a keyboard, touch panel, or mouse, and is used when entering operation commands or data. The display unit 42 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, which displays various data stored in the storage unit 35, as well as various information such as operation screens and input screens for operations performed by the input unit 41. The communication unit 43 is a communication interface that transmits and receives data between the work equipment (printing device M2, printing inspection device M3, component mounting devices M4-M8, mounting inspection device M9, etc.) that make up the component mounting line L via the communication network 2.

[0036] The memory unit 35 stores production plan information 36, unit information 37, maintenance work information 38, task information 39, maintenance plan 40, and the like. The production plan information 36 includes the production order, planned start time, planned end time, and setup change time of the mounted circuit boards (circuit board types) to be produced on the component mounting line L, as well as information identifying the units U such as the tape feeder 8 and mounting head 11 used in the production of mounted circuit boards, the sprocket motor 8b, the sprocket 8c, the mounting unit 20, and the nozzle 19, and information on their usage location.

[0037] In Figure 5, the acquisition unit 31 acquires information (such as monitoring results) related to the unit U that constitutes the work apparatus during the production of the mounted substrate, and stores it in the storage unit 35 as unit information 37. For example, from the printing apparatus M2, the surface condition of the screen mask, the number of squeegee movements, the squeegee movement time, and the flatness of the screen mask are acquired as unit information 37. Also, from the printing inspection apparatus M3, the surface condition of the substrate 6 on which solder has been deposited (printed) by the printing apparatus M2 is acquired as unit information 37.

[0038] From the component mounting devices M4 to M8, unit information 37 is acquired, including the drive current value (torque amount) of the sprocket motor 8b of the tape feeder 8, the number of times components were supplied by the tape feeder 8, the air flow rate value of the mounting unit 20 when the nozzle 19 is not attached, the air flow rate value of the mounting unit 20 when the nozzle 19 is attached, the drive current value (torque amount) of the Z-axis motor 22 of the mounting unit 20, the amount of deviation between the center of the component D held by the nozzle 19 and the position of the tip 19a of the nozzle, the correction value when the nozzle 19 holds the component D, the amount of rotation of the nozzle 19, the image of the tip 19a of the nozzle 19 when it is not holding a component, the number of times the nozzle 19 made a suction error, the number of supply errors by the tape feeder 8, the number of turn operations to pick up the component D from the tape feeder 8 and mount the picked-up component D onto the substrate or the distance traveled by the mounting head 11 during the turn operation, and the number of times the nozzle 19 was used.

[0039] The mounting inspection device M9 collects unit information 37, including the amount of mounting position deviation by the mounting head 11 and the number of mounting errors (hereinafter also referred to as quality information). Thus, the unit information 37 relates to the number of errors that occurred while the circuit board was being produced by the work device, or quality information of the circuit board on which the components were mounted, and the state of the unit U measured or imaged during the operation of the unit U.

[0040] In Figure 5, the determination unit 32 determines the necessary timing for maintenance to be performed on the equipment element E included in unit U, based on the unit information 37. If the unit information 37 consists of multiple measured values ​​taken at multiple points in time regarding the state of unit U, the determination unit 32 determines the necessary timing based on at least one of the multiple measured values ​​and the trend of change in the multiple measured values. In this embodiment, the slope of a prediction function that shows the temporal progression of the multiple measured values ​​(see Figure 6) is used as the trend of change in the multiple measured values, but an index that can be calculated from the multiple measured values, such as the deviation of each of the multiple measured values ​​from a reference value, may also be used.

[0041] For example, the determination unit 32 determines when maintenance is needed for the equipment element E of the tape feeder 8 (unit U) based on trends in changes such as the drive current value, supply cycles, and supply error counts of the sprocket motor 8b (equipment element E) of the tape feeder 8 (unit U). The determination unit 32 may also determine when maintenance is needed for the sprocket motor 8b (equipment element E) of the tape feeder 8 (unit U) based on trends in changes such as the drive current value, supply cycles, and supply error counts of the sprocket motor 8b (equipment element E) of the tape feeder 8 (unit U). In addition, the determination unit 32 determines when maintenance is needed for the equipment elements of the mounting head 11 (unit U) based on trends in changes such as the air flow rate value of the mounting unit 20 (equipment element E) of the mounting head 11 (unit U) and the error in the rotation amount of the nozzle 19. More specifically, the determination unit 32 may determine when maintenance is required for at least one of the shaft 21 and the Z-axis motor 22 based on trends in changes such as the air flow rate value of the mounting unit 20 (equipment element E) of the mounting head 11 (unit U) and the error in the rotation amount of the nozzle 19. Alternatively, the determination unit 32 may determine when maintenance is required for the nozzle 19 based on trends in changes in the state of the nozzle 19 detected from the captured image of the tip portion 19a of the nozzle 19. In the case of the printing apparatus M2, the determination unit 32 determines when maintenance is required for the equipment element E of the printing apparatus M2 based on trends in changes such as the surface condition of the screen mask, the viscosity of the solder, and the inspection results of the printing inspection apparatus M3. The determination unit 32 may also determine when maintenance is required for at least one of the screen mask or the squeegee based on trends in changes such as the surface condition of the screen mask, the viscosity of the solder, and the inspection results of the printing inspection apparatus M3.

[0042] Here, with reference to Figure 6, an example of the determination of when maintenance is necessary by the determination unit 32 will be explained. Here, the necessary timing will be explained using the sliding value (measured value) when the shaft 21 of the mounting unit 20 (equipment element E) included in the mounting head 11 (unit U) moves up and down as an example.

[0043] The sliding value of the shaft 21 of the mounting unit 20 is calculated from the drive current value (torque amount) of the Z-axis motor 22. For example, if the friction (sliding value) when the shaft 21 moves up and down increases due to an increase in dirt adhering to the shaft 21 or a decrease in grease, the drive current value of the Z-axis motor 22 that drives the shaft 21 up and down will increase. The following explanation will describe an example in which the control devices (not shown) provided in the component mounting devices M4 to M8 calculate the sliding value. Alternatively, the management computer 3 may acquire the drive current value of the Z-axis motor 22, and the processing unit 30 of the management computer 3 may calculate the sliding value.

[0044] In Figure 6, the control devices of component mounting machines M4 to M8 acquire the drive current value of the Z-axis motor 22 from each of the multiple mounting units 20 provided by the mounting head 11, convert the drive current value into a sliding value from 0 to 100 (higher numbers indicate greater friction), and transmit the sliding value to the management computer 3 as the state of the mounting head 11 for each mounting unit 20. The acquisition unit 31 stores the sliding value as unit information 37, associating it with information that identifies the mounting head 11 (unit U) and the mounting unit 20 (equipment element E), and the measurement date and time when the sliding value was measured.

[0045] Figure 6 is a graph plotting the sliding value of the implemented unit 20 included in the unit information 37 on the vertical axis and the measurement date and time on the horizontal axis. In this example, a sliding value of 0 to 60 is defined as "normal state," 60 to 70 as "semi-normal state," 70 to 80 as "warning state," and 80 or more as "abnormal state." The determination unit 32 does not calculate the required maintenance time Tn until the sliding value exceeds the threshold (40 in this example). When the sliding value exceeds the threshold, the determination unit 32 determines a prediction function from the measurement date and time and the sliding value, and calculates the required time Tn as the date and time when the sliding value becomes 80 (abnormal state). As the prediction function, a linear function, polynomial, or logarithmic function derived by the least squares method is used. The slope of the prediction function indicates the trend of change in the measured value.

[0046] In Figure 5, the maintenance work information 38 stores the content of the maintenance work, the standard maintenance work time, and whether or not offline maintenance work can be performed after removing the work device, for each maintenance unit such as unit U or equipment element E. The task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 related to the maintenance of equipment element E, etc., including information about the required time Tn, based on the required time Tn determined by the determination unit 32 and the maintenance work information 38, and stores it in the storage unit 35. The acquisition of unit information 37 by the acquisition unit 31, the determination of the required time Tn by the determination unit 32, and the creation of task information 39 by the task information creation unit 33 are performed at predetermined intervals (for example, every 8 hours) during the production of mounted boards by the component mounting line L.

[0047] Here, with reference to Figure 7, an example of task information 39 created by the task information creation unit 33 will be described. Task information 39 is created for each unit of maintenance. Task information 39 includes a ticket number 50, target materials 51, target parts 52, required maintenance time 53, and estimated maintenance time 54. The ticket number 50 is information that identifies the task information 39 and is assigned when the task information creation unit 33 creates the task information 39. The target materials 51 and target parts 52 are information that identifies the unit U and equipment element E to be maintained. The required maintenance time 53 is the required time Tn determined by the determination unit 32. The estimated maintenance time 54 is the sum of the standard maintenance work times included in the maintenance work information 38.

[0048] Figure 7(a) shows an example of task information 39 created with one equipment element E as the unit of work. Specifically, the shaft 21 of the mounting unit 20 (spindle no. 1) of the mounting head 11 (16 nozzle head) of serial 001 is the unit of work for maintenance. The mounting head 11 (unit U) contains multiple mounting units 20 (equipment element E), but the sum of the estimated maintenance time 54 when maintaining multiple mounting units 20 together is the same as the sum of the estimated maintenance time 54 when maintaining each of the multiple mounting units 20 individually. Therefore, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 with the mounting unit 20 as the unit of work.

[0049] Thus, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 using equipment element E as the unit of work if the work efficiency (total estimated maintenance time 54) when maintaining at least two of the multiple equipment elements E together is the same as the work efficiency when maintaining each of the two individually (Figure 7(a)). Also, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 using at least two as the unit of work if the work efficiency when maintaining at least two of the multiple equipment elements E together is higher than the work efficiency when maintaining each of the two individually (Figure 7(b)).

[0050] Figure 7(b) shows an example of task information 39 created with multiple equipment elements E as the unit of work. Specifically, the air duct, tip, and reflector of each of the three nozzles 19 (serial numbers 230-001, 230-002, and 230-003) are the units of work for maintenance. Maintenance work on the nozzles 19 can be done offline. Furthermore, it is more efficient to remove the nozzles 19 from the component mounting devices M4-M8 and perform maintenance on multiple nozzles 19 together offline. Therefore, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 with multiple nozzles 19 (equipment elements E) as the unit of work.

[0051] Thus, when the maintenance work does not involve stopping the work equipment, for example, when maintenance work is performed offline, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 using at least two of the multiple equipment elements E as the unit of execution (Figure 7(b)). Furthermore, when the maintenance work involves stopping the work equipment, that is, when maintenance work is performed online, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 using equipment element E as the unit of execution (Figure 7(a)).

[0052] As described above, the task information creation unit 33 determines the maintenance implementation unit for each of the multiple equipment elements E included in unit U based on the maintenance work content for each of the multiple equipment elements E, and creates task information 39 for each implementation unit. This makes it possible to create a flexible and efficient maintenance plan.

[0053] In Figure 5, the decision unit 34 determines the timing of maintenance related to the task information 39 based on the task information 39 and the production plan information 36 related to the production plan of the mounted board, creates a maintenance plan 40, and stores it in the storage unit 35. Specifically, the decision unit 34 determines the timing of the maintenance work so that it is performed earlier than the required time Tn. For example, the maintenance work related to the task information 39 may be assigned to the timing of a setup change (see "internal setup" in Figure 8) which is performed by stopping production to change the type of mounted board produced on the component mounting line L, or the maintenance work may be assigned to an offline operation.

[0054] Here, with reference to Figures 8 and 9, an example of a maintenance plan 40 created by the decision unit 34 will be described. Figure 8(a) shows an example of a production plan included in the production plan information 36. Groups 1 to 3 represent the types of mounted boards produced on the component mounting line L. Groups 1 to 3 include cases where one type of mounted board is produced, as well as cases where multiple types of mounted boards are produced without performing changeovers. Internal setup is planned to stop the work equipment on the component mounting line L and perform changeovers between the end of production for group 1 and the start of production for group 2, and between the end of production for group 2 and the start of production for group 3.

[0055] Figures 8(b) and 9 show examples of a maintenance plan 40 in which the maintenance implementation timings Te1 and Te2 for the two task information 39 shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b) are determined based on the production plan shown in Figure 8(a).

[0056] In Figures 8(b) and 9(a), the maintenance with ticket number 50 "1" cannot be performed offline. Therefore, the decision unit 34 determines that the maintenance with ticket number 50 "1" is inline maintenance and sets the implementation time Te1 (10:10) for the internal setup between group 1 and group 2 to be earlier than the required time Tn (12:30). The scheduled maintenance time 55 included in the maintenance plan 40 in Figure 9(a) is the maintenance implementation time Te1. In this way, if the maintenance work involves stopping the work equipment, for example, if offline work is not possible, the decision unit 34 sets the maintenance implementation time Te1 for the task information 39 when the work equipment is not in operation.

[0057] In Figures 8(b) and 9(b), the maintenance with ticket number 50 "2" can be performed offline. Therefore, the decision unit 34 decides to perform the maintenance with ticket number 50 "2" as offline maintenance, at the execution time Te2 (8:00) during production for group 1, earlier than the required time Tn (12:40), with the components removed from the component mounting equipment M4-M8. The scheduled maintenance time 55 included in the maintenance plan 40 in Figure 9(b) is the maintenance execution time Te2. Thus, when the maintenance work does not involve stopping the work equipment, for example, when offline work is possible, the decision unit 34 sets the maintenance execution time Te2 for the task information 39 to be when the work equipment is in operation.

[0058] Next, following the flow in Figure 10, a method for creating task information 39 used to create a maintenance plan 40 as part of maintenance support for the component mounting line L will be explained. First, the acquisition unit 31 acquires unit information 37 from the work equipment of the component mounting line L, concerning the state of the unit U that constitutes the work equipment that performs work on the substrate 6 (ST1: acquisition step). Then, the determination unit 32 determines the necessary time Tn for when maintenance is required for each of the equipment elements E (or each of the multiple equipment elements E) included in the unit U, based on the unit information 37 (ST2: determination step).

[0059] For example, if the indicator showing the unit's status does not exceed the threshold, it is determined that maintenance is not required (No in ST2), and the acquisition process (ST1) is executed at the next predetermined timing. If the indicator showing the unit's status exceeds the monitoring threshold, it is determined that maintenance is required (Yes in ST2), and the required time Tn is calculated.

[0060] In Figure 10, if maintenance is required (Yes in ST2), the task information creation unit 33 determines whether offline maintenance is possible based on the maintenance work information 38 (ST3: First Offline Determination Step). If offline maintenance is possible (Yes in ST3), the task information creation unit 33 determines whether it is efficient to maintain multiple equipment elements E together (ST4: Work Efficiency Determination Step).

[0061] If combining the maintenance of multiple equipment elements E would increase work efficiency (Yes in ST4), the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 (Figure 7(b)) with at least two equipment elements E as the unit of work (ST5: Multiple element task information creation process). If offline maintenance is not possible (No in ST3), or if offline maintenance is possible (Yes in ST3) but combining the maintenance of multiple equipment elements E would not increase work efficiency (No in ST4), the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 (Figure 7(a)) with each equipment element E as the unit of work (ST6: Individual element task information creation process).

[0062] In Figure 10, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 (ST5, ST6), stores the created task information 39 in the storage unit 35 (ST7: task information storage process), and then the acquisition process (ST1) is executed at the next predetermined timing. In this way, the acquisition unit 31 continuously acquires unit information 37 while the work device is performing work (ST1), the determination unit 32 continuously determines the required time Tn based on the unit information 37 (ST2), and if the required time Tn changes, the task information creation unit 33 recreates the task information 39 based on the changed required time Tn (ST5, ST6). As a result, even if the condition of the equipment element E deteriorates rapidly and the required time Tn is brought forward, the task information 39 is recreated (updated), and an appropriate maintenance plan 40 can be created.

[0063] Next, following the flow in Figure 11, a method for creating a maintenance plan will be described for determining the timing of maintenance related to task information 39 and creating a maintenance plan 40 as part of the maintenance support for the component mounting line L. First, the decision unit 34 acquires the production plan (production plan information 36) (ST11: production plan acquisition process) and task information 39 from the storage unit 35, etc. (ST12: task information acquisition process). Then, the decision unit 34 determines from the task information 39 and maintenance work information 38 whether or not offline maintenance is possible for the equipment element E that is the target of maintenance (ST13: second offline determination process).

[0064] If offline maintenance is possible (Yes in ST13), the decision unit 34 determines whether there is time for the work equipment to stop before the required time Tn in the task information 39 (ST14: equipment stop determination step). If there is no time for the work equipment to stop (No in ST14), the decision unit 34 assigns the maintenance implementation time Te2 in the task information 39 to offline maintenance (ST15: offline assignment step) (Figure 9(b)).

[0065] In Figure 11, if offline maintenance is not possible (No in ST13), or if offline maintenance is possible (Yes in ST13) but there is a period of time when the work equipment is stopped (Yes in ST14), the maintenance implementation time Te1 in task information 39 is assigned to the time when the work equipment is stopped or to the internal setup time (ST16: Non-operational assignment process) (Figure 9(a)). In other words, in the non-operational assignment process (ST16), the maintenance implementation time Te1 is set when the work equipment is not in operation.

[0066] After assigning maintenance implementation dates Te1 and Te2 to task information 39 (ST15, ST16), if there are any remaining task information 39 (No in ST17), the process returns to the task information acquisition step (ST12) to acquire the next task information 39 and determine the maintenance implementation dates Te1 and Te2 (ST15, ST16). Once all task information 39 has been assigned (Yes in ST17), the determination unit 34 stores the determined maintenance plan 40 in the storage unit 35 (ST18: Maintenance plan storage step).

[0067] As described above, the maintenance support method (task information creation method, maintenance plan creation method) of this embodiment can flexibly create a maintenance plan 40 by determining the implementation timings Te1 and Te2 for performing maintenance on the equipment elements E included in the unit U based on the production plan. This reduces the impact on the production plan, such as production stopping due to maintenance, and suppresses the occurrence of loss time in production. When the date and time for the maintenance work are to be performed, the created maintenance plan 40 is transmitted to a portable terminal held by the worker in charge of the maintenance work or to the work device on which the unit U to be maintained is installed, and is displayed on the display unit (touch panel 15) of the portable terminal or work device.

[0068] As described above, the management computer 3 of this embodiment is a maintenance support device comprising: an acquisition unit 31 that acquires unit information 37 relating to the state of a unit U constituting a work device that performs work on the circuit board 6; and a determination unit 32 that determines the required time Tn for when maintenance is required for the equipment element E included in the unit U, based on the unit information 37. By determining the required time Tn for the equipment element E, a maintenance plan 40 can be flexibly created. [Industrial applicability]

[0069] The maintenance support device and maintenance support method of the present invention have the effect of enabling the creation of flexible maintenance plans and are useful in the field of mounting components onto a circuit board. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0070] 3. Management computer (maintenance support device) 6 circuit boards E Equipment elements M2 Printing device (work device) M3-M8 Component Mounting Equipment (Working Equipment) Implementation period for Te1 and Te2 Tn Required period U Unit

Claims

1. The system includes a task information creation unit that creates task information relating to the maintenance of equipment elements included in a unit, which includes information regarding the required timing determined based on unit information relating to the status of the unit constituting a work device that performs work on a circuit board, The task information creation unit determines the maintenance implementation unit for each of the multiple equipment elements included in the unit based on the maintenance work content for each of the multiple equipment elements, and creates the task information for each implementation unit, thereby providing maintenance support.

2. The maintenance support device according to claim 1, wherein the task information creation unit creates the task information using the equipment element as the unit of implementation when the work involves stopping the work device.

3. The maintenance support device according to claim 1, wherein the task information creation unit creates the task information using at least two of the plurality of equipment elements as the implementation unit when the work content does not involve stopping the work device.

4. The maintenance support device according to claim 1, wherein the task information creation unit creates the task information using the equipment elements as the implementation unit when the work efficiency when maintaining at least two of the plurality of equipment elements together is no different from the work efficiency when maintaining each of the at least two individually.

5. The maintenance support device according to claim 1, wherein the task information creation unit creates the task information using the at least two of the multiple equipment elements as the implementation unit when the work efficiency when maintaining at least two of the multiple equipment elements together is higher than the work efficiency when maintaining each of the at least two individually.

6. An acquisition unit that continuously acquires the unit information while the work device is performing the work, The system further comprises a determination unit that determines the required time based on the unit information acquired by the acquisition unit, The maintenance support device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the task information creation unit re-creates the task information based on the changed required time if the required time determined by the determination unit is changed.

7. The maintenance support device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a determination unit that determines the timing of maintenance related to the task information based on the task information and production plan information related to the production plan of the substrate.

8. The maintenance support device according to claim 7, wherein the determination unit determines the implementation time such that the implementation time is earlier than the required time.

9. The maintenance support device according to claim 8, wherein the determination unit sets the timing of the work to a time when the work device is not in operation, if the work content involves stopping the work device.

10. A task information creation unit that creates task information relating to the maintenance of equipment elements included in a work device that performs work on a substrate, including information relating to the required timing determined based on unit information relating to the state of the unit that constitutes the work device, The unit includes a plurality of the equipment elements, The task information creation unit is a maintenance support device that creates task information relating to the maintenance of equipment elements whose characteristic values ​​are abnormal, based on the characteristic values ​​of each equipment element included in the unit information.

11. The system further comprises a determination unit that determines the required timing based on the unit information, The unit information includes a plurality of measured values ​​measured at multiple points in time for the state, The maintenance support device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the necessary timing based on at least one of the plurality of measured values ​​and the trend of change of the plurality of measured values.

12. The process includes creating task information, which includes creating task information relating to the maintenance of equipment elements included in a unit, including information on the required timing determined based on unit information relating to the state of the unit constituting a work device that performs work on a substrate, The task information creation step is a maintenance support method that determines a maintenance implementation unit for each of the multiple equipment elements based on the maintenance work content for each of the multiple equipment elements included in the unit, and creates the task information for each implementation unit.

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