Maintenance assistance device and maintenance assistance 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

Maintenance support device and maintenance support method

[0001] The present invention relates to a maintenance support device and a maintenance support method for supporting maintenance of a unit that constitutes a work device.

[0002] A component mounting apparatus or other operating device that mounts components on a circuit board includes multiple units, such as a feeder that supplies components, a nozzle that holds the components, and a mounting head to which the nozzle is attached. To maintain the operating device in good condition, it is necessary to perform maintenance work on the feeder, nozzle, mounting head, etc. at appropriate times (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a system that calculates recommended implementation times for all maintenance work items related to the operating device and units, and creates a plan to perform maintenance work on a unit-by-unit basis based on the required time for each work item.

[0003] WO 2004 / 086841

[0004] However, in the prior art including Patent Document 1, a maintenance plan is created for each unit, which poses the following problem: A unit includes many equipment elements, and large units such as mounting heads are made up of many equipment elements, resulting in long maintenance times. Furthermore, if maintenance cannot be completed within the time required for the changeover work to change the type of mounting board produced by the operation device, production may be halted, or maintenance work may have to be scheduled at a time when the changeover work is long, resulting in the inability to create a flexible maintenance plan.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a maintenance support device and a maintenance support method that enable flexible creation of maintenance plans.

[0006] The maintenance support device of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires unit information regarding the status of units that constitute a work device that performs work on a substrate, and a judgment unit that determines, based on the unit information, when maintenance is required for equipment elements included in the unit.

[0007] The maintenance support method of the present invention includes an acquisition process for acquiring unit information regarding the status of a unit that constitutes a work device that performs work on a substrate, and a determination process for determining, based on the unit information, when maintenance is required for an equipment element included in the unit.

[0008] According to the present invention, a maintenance plan can be created flexibly.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a component mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of a component mounting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a main part of a mounting head provided in the component mounting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing system of a management computer (maintenance support device) according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of determination of a necessary time by a management computer (maintenance support device) according to an embodiment of the present invention; (a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams of an example of task information created by a management computer (maintenance support device) according to an embodiment of the present invention; (a) an explanatory diagram of an example of a production plan used in a management computer (maintenance support device) according to an embodiment of the present invention; (b) an explanatory diagram of an example of a created maintenance plan; (a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams of an example of a maintenance plan created by a management computer (maintenance support device) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The configurations, shapes, and the like described below are merely examples for explanatory purposes and may be modified as appropriate depending on the specifications of the component mounting system, management computer, component mounting line, printing device, component mounting device, and the like. Corresponding elements in all the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted. In FIG. 2 and in some portions described below, two axes perpendicular to each other in a horizontal plane are shown: an X-axis in the substrate transport direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 2 ), and a Y-axis perpendicular to the substrate transport direction (the up-down direction in FIG. 2 ). In FIG. 3 and in some portions described below, a Z-axis (the up-down direction in FIG. 3 ) is shown as a height direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

[0011] First, the configuration of a component mounting system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The component mounting system is configured such that the work devices that make up one component mounting line L are connected via a communication network 2 and managed by a management computer 3. Note that the component mounting system 1 does not need to have one component mounting line L, and may have two or more component mounting lines L. In this case, the management computer 3 manages two or more component mounting lines L.

[0012] The component mounting line L is configured by connecting in series, from upstream (left side of the drawing) to downstream (right side of the drawing) in the board transport direction, operation devices that perform operations on boards, such as a board supply device M1, a printing device M2, a print inspection device M3, component mounting devices M4 to M8, a mounting inspection device M9, a reflow device M10, and a board removal device M11. The component mounting line L has the function of producing mounted boards on which components are mounted. Note that the component mounting line L is a group of operation devices connected via a communication network 2, and the operation devices do not need to be physically connected to each other.

[0013] 1, board supply device M1 has a storage unit such as a rack for storing multiple boards, and performs a board supply operation of removing boards from the storage unit and supplying them to downstream devices. Printing device M2 is an operation device that performs a solder printing operation of printing solder paste onto boards carried in by a board transport unit from upstream through a screen mask attached to the printing operation unit.

[0014] The printing device M2 prints solder on the substrate by bringing the substrate into contact with a screen mask having a plurality of openings and moving a squeegee in contact with the screen mask to push the solder supplied onto the screen mask into the openings. During the solder printing operation, the printing device 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 the atmosphere, the number of squeegee movements, the squeegee movement time, the flatness of the screen mask, etc. The monitoring results are sent to the management computer 3.

[0015] 1, the print inspection device M3 is an operation device that performs print inspection work by inspecting the state of solder printed on a board using a print inspection operation unit including a camera and various sensors. The monitoring results of the print inspection device M3, such as the surface state of the board on which the solder has been deposited, are sent to the management computer 3.

[0016] The component mounting devices M4 to M8 are work devices that perform component mounting work by using nozzles attached to their mounting heads to pick up components supplied by component supply devices such as tape feeders and tray feeders and mount them on boards with solder printed on them. The component mounting devices M4 to M8 use cameras and various sensors during component mounting work to monitor for mounting errors by the mounting head, suction errors where the nozzles are not properly suctioning components, and supply errors where the component supply devices are not properly supplying components. The monitoring results are sent 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 one to four, or six or more component mounting devices M4 to M8.

[0017] 1, the mounting inspection device M9 is a work device that performs mounting inspection work by inspecting the state of components mounted on a board using a mounting inspection work unit that includes a mounting inspection camera. The monitoring results, such as mounting errors where components are not mounted in the specified positions on the board inspected by the mounting inspection device M9, are sent to the management computer 3.

[0018] The reflow device M10 performs a substrate heating operation by using a substrate heating unit to heat the substrate carried into the device, hardening the solder on the substrate and joining the electrodes and components on the substrate. The substrate recovery device M11 has a storage unit such as a rack that stores multiple substrates, and performs a substrate recovery operation by receiving substrates on which components have been mounted by the component mounting devices M4 to M8 and recovering them in the storage unit.

[0019] 1, the management computer 3 has the function of creating data and parameters necessary for the operation of the operation devices provided on the component mounting line L and transmitting them to each operation device. The management computer 3 also has the function of collecting information on the status of units that make up the operation devices from the multiple operation devices provided on the component mounting line L and creating a maintenance plan for the maintenance target.

[0020] Next, the detailed configuration of component mounting devices M4 to M8 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Component mounting devices M4 to M8 have similar configurations, and here, component mounting device M4 will be described as an example. Note that Figure 3 schematically shows a portion 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 a component supply unit to a board. A board transport unit 5 is arranged along the X-axis in the center of base 4. The board transport unit 5 transports boards 6 transported from upstream to the work position, positions them, and holds them. In addition, the board transport unit 5 transports boards 6 downstream after the component mounting work has been completed.

[0021] Component supply units 7 are disposed on both sides (front and rear directions along the Y axis) of the board transport unit 5. Each component supply unit 7 has multiple tape feeders 8 attached in parallel along the X axis. The tape feeders 8 feed component tape 17, which has pockets for storing components D formed at a predetermined pitch, from the outside of the component supply unit 7 toward the board transport unit 5 (the tape feed direction), thereby supplying components D to component supply positions 8a from which the components D are picked up by a mounting head, which will be described below.

[0022] 2 and 3 , a Y-axis table 9 equipped with a linear drive mechanism is arranged along the Y-axis at both ends of the X-axis on the top surface of the base 4. A beam 10 similarly equipped with a linear drive mechanism is connected to the Y-axis table 9 so as to be freely movable along the Y-axis. The beam 10 is arranged along the X-axis. A mounting head 11 is attached to the beam 10 via a plate 10a so as to be freely movable along the X-axis. The mounting head 11 is equipped with a mounting unit 20 that can lift up and down while suction-holding a component D. A nozzle 19 that suction-holds a component D at its tip 19a is attached to the lower end of each mounting unit 20. Each mounting unit 20 is also equipped with a sensor (not shown) that measures the flow rate or pressure of air flowing into the nozzle 19.

[0023] 2, the Y-axis table 9 and beam 10 constitute a moving mechanism 12 that moves the mounting head 11 along the X-axis and Y-axis between the board 6 and the component supply unit 7. The moving mechanism 12 and the mounting head 11 perform a mounting turn in which the component D is picked up by suction onto the tip 19a of the nozzle 19 from the component supply position 8a of the tape feeder 8 arranged in the component supply unit 7, and mounted at the mounting position on the board 6 positioned by the board 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 board 6.

[0024] 2 and 3, a component recognition camera 13 is disposed between the component supply unit 7 and the board 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 captures an image of the component D held by the nozzle 19. From the image capture result, the holding orientation of the component D is recognized. A head camera 14 is attached to the plate 10a to which the mounting head 11 is attached. 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 board 6 positioned on the board transport section 5 and captures an image of a board mark (not shown) provided on the board 6. The position of the board 6 is recognized from the image capture results. The head camera 14 also moves above the tape feeder 8 and captures an image of the component D supplied to the component supply position 8a. The image capture results enable recognition of the supply position of the component D by the tape feeder 8. When the mounting head 11 mounts components on the board 6, the mounting position is corrected taking into account the image capture results of the component D by the component recognition camera 13 and the image capture results of the board mark by the head camera 14.

[0026] 2, a touch panel 15 operated by the worker is installed in front of the component mounting device M4 at the position where the worker works. The touch panel 15 displays various information on its display unit, and the worker inputs data and operates the component mounting device M4 using operation buttons and the like displayed on the display unit.

[0027] 3, the component supply unit 7 includes a carriage 16 with a plurality of tape feeders 8 pre-installed on a feeder base 16a. The carriage 16 holds a tape reel 18 that stores a wound component tape 17 holding components D. The tape feeder 8 supplies components to the component supply position 8a by intermittently rotating a sprocket 8c using a built-in sprocket motor 8b, which feeds the component tape 17 pulled out from the tape reel 18.

[0028] Next, the configuration of the mounting head 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The mounting head 11 has multiple mounting units 20 (four in the X direction in this case) arranged on a mounting head base 11a. The mounting units 20 are configured such that a shaft 21 extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) is raised and lowered by a servo-controlled Z-axis motor 22, thereby raising and lowering the nozzle 19.

[0029] The shaft 21 is connected to a mover 23 of the Z-axis motor 22 via a bearing. The lower end of the shaft 21 is inserted into a spline guide portion 24 that is rotatable in the θ direction by bearings 24a arranged above and below, and protrudes outward from the lower surface of the mounting head base 11a. A nozzle holding portion 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 attached to the nozzle holding portion 29. In this way, the nozzle 19 is attached to the lower end of the shaft 21 that is raised and lowered by the Z-axis motor 22 (motor).

[0030] 4, a return spring 25, which is a compression spring, is attached to the shaft 21 between the mover 23 and the spline guide portion 24. The return spring 25 exerts an upward repulsive force on the mover 23. That is, when the nozzle holder 29 is to be lowered, the Z-axis motor 22 generates a downward thrust, which lowers the shaft 21 against the repulsive force of the return spring 25. When the nozzle holder 29 is to be raised, the Z-axis motor 22 reduces the thrust it generates, and the return spring 25 raises the mover 23 with the upward repulsive force, which raises the shaft 21.

[0031] A scale 26 that moves up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the mover 23, i.e., the up and down movement of the shaft 21, is provided to protrude upward from the top of the Z-axis motor 22. Also, a position detection sensor 27 that detects the movement of the scale 26 is arranged above the Z-axis motor 22. The position detection sensor 27 outputs encoder pulses that indicate the movement distance and direction of the scale 26 to the servo control unit as a position signal. The vertical position (height position) of the shaft 21 is detected from the position signal. 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 the nozzle 19).

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

[0033] Next, the configuration of the information processing system of the management computer 3 will be described with reference to Figure 5. Here, a configuration will be described in which the management computer 3 acquires the status of units U constituting the operation devices from the operation devices (printing device M2, print inspection device M3, component mounting devices M4 to M8, mounting inspection device M9, etc.) and creates a maintenance plan for multiple maintenance targets equipped in the operation devices (printing device M2, component mounting devices M4 to M8, etc.). Here, the description will focus on an example in which a maintenance plan is created based on the status of units U of component mounting devices M4 to M8 on the component mounting line L.

[0034] The management computer 3 includes a processing unit 30, a storage unit 35 as a storage device, 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 determination unit 34 as internal processing units. The management computer 3 does not need to be configured as a single computer, but may be configured as multiple devices. For example, all or part of the storage unit and processing unit may be provided in the cloud via a server.

[0035] 5, input unit 41 is an input device such as a keyboard, touch panel, or mouse, and is used for inputting operation commands and data. Display unit 42 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and displays various data stored in memory unit 35, as well as various information such as an operation screen and input screen for operation by input unit 41. Communication unit 43 is a communication interface, and transmits and receives data via communication network 2 to and from work devices (printing device M2, print inspection device M3, component mounting devices M4 to M8, mounting inspection device M9, etc.) that make up component mounting line L.

[0036] The storage unit 35 stores production plan information 36, unit information 37, maintenance work information 38, task information 39, maintenance plan 40, etc. The production plan information 36 includes the production sequence of mounted boards (board types) scheduled to be produced on the component mounting line L, the scheduled production start time, the scheduled production end time, and the changeover time, as well as information specifying equipment elements E such as tape feeder 8, mounting head 11, sprocket motor 8b, sprocket 8c, mounting unit 20, and nozzle 19 that are attached to the production equipment and used to produce mounted boards, and information on their usage positions.

[0037] 5 , an acquisition unit 31 acquires information (monitoring results, etc.) about a unit U constituting a work device during the production of a mounting board, and stores the information in a storage unit 35 as unit information 37. For example, from the printing device M2, the surface condition of the screen mask, the number of squeegee movements, the squeegee movement time, the flatness of the screen mask, etc. are acquired as unit information 37. Furthermore, from the print inspection device M3, the surface condition of the board 6 on which solder has been deposited (printed) by the printing device M2, etc. are acquired as unit information 37.

[0038] From component mounting devices M4 to M8, the unit information 37 acquired includes the drive current value (torque amount) of sprocket motor 8b of tape feeder 8, the number of times components have been supplied by tape feeder 8, the air flow rate value of mounting unit 20 when nozzle 19 is not attached, the air flow rate value of mounting unit 20 when nozzle 19 is attached, the drive current value (torque amount) of Z-axis motor 22 of mounting unit 20, the amount of deviation between the center of component D held by nozzle 19 and the position of tip 19a of the nozzle, a correction value when holding component D by nozzle 19, the amount of rotation of nozzle 19, an image of tip 19a of nozzle 19 when no component is held, the number of pickup errors by nozzle 19, the number of supply errors by tape feeder 8, the number of turn operations to pick up component D from tape feeder 8 and mount the picked-up component D on a board or the movement distance of mounting head 11 during the turn operation, and the number of times nozzle 19 is used.

[0039] The mounting inspection device M9 collects the amount of mounting position deviation by the mounting head 11, the number of mounting errors (hereinafter also referred to as quality information), and the like as unit information 37. In this way, the unit information 37 relates to the number of errors that occurred while the work device was producing the board or quality information of the board on which components were mounted, and the state of the unit U measured or photographed while the unit U was operating.

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

[0041] For example, the determination unit 32 determines the timing for maintenance of the equipment element E included in the tape feeder 8 (unit U) based on the trend of changes in the drive current value, number of feeds, number of feed errors, etc. of the sprocket motor 8b (equipment element E) of the tape feeder 8 (unit U). The determination unit 32 may also determine the timing for maintenance of the sprocket motor 8b (equipment element E) of the tape feeder 8 (unit U) based on the trend of changes in the drive current value, number of feeds, number of feed errors, etc. of the sprocket motor 8b. The determination unit 32 also determines the timing for maintenance of the equipment elements included in the mounting head 11 (unit U) based on the trend of changes in the air flow rate value of the mounting unit 20 (equipment element E) of the mounting head 11 (unit U), error in the amount of rotation of the nozzle 19, etc. 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 in the air flow rate of the mounting unit 20 (equipment element E) of the mounting head 11 (unit U), the error in the amount of rotation of the nozzle 19, and the like. The determination unit 32 may also determine when maintenance is required for the nozzle 19 based on trends in changes in the state of the nozzle 19 detected from a captured image of the tip 19a of the nozzle 19. In the case of the printing device M2, the determination unit 32 determines when maintenance is required for the equipment element E included in the printing device M2 based on trends in changes in the surface condition of the screen mask, the viscosity of the solder, the inspection results of the printing inspection device M3, and the like. The determination unit 32 may determine when maintenance is required for at least one of the screen mask or the squeegee based on trends in changes in the surface condition of the screen mask, the viscosity of the solder, the inspection results of the printing inspection device M3, and the like.

[0042] 6, an example of the determination of the timing when maintenance is required by the determination unit 32 will be described. Here, the required timing is described as an example based on the sliding value (measurement 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.

[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 or a decrease in grease adhering to the shaft 21, the drive current value of the Z-axis motor 22 that drives the shaft 21 up and down will increase. Below, an example will be described in which the sliding value is calculated by a control device (not shown) provided in each of the component mounting devices M4 to M8. Note that 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] 6, the control device of component mounting devices M4 to M8 acquires the drive current value of the Z-axis motor 22 from each of the multiple mounting units 20 equipped in the mounting head 11, converts the drive current value into a sliding value between 0 and 100 (the larger the number, the greater the friction), and transmits the sliding value to the management computer 3 as the state of the mounting head 11 indicated for each mounting unit 20. The acquisition unit 31 associates the sliding value with information identifying the mounting head 11 (unit U) and mounting unit 20 (equipment element E) and the measurement date and time when the sliding value was measured, and stores the association as unit information 37.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a graph plotting the sliding value of the mounting 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 between 0 and 60 is defined as a "normal state," a sliding value between 60 and 70 as a "quasi-normal state," a sliding value between 70 and 80 as a "warning state," and a sliding value above 80 as an "abnormal state." The determination unit 32 does not calculate the maintenance required time Tn until the sliding value exceeds a threshold value (40 in this example). When the sliding value exceeds the threshold value, the determination unit 32 determines a prediction function from the measurement date and time and the sliding value, and calculates the date and time when the sliding value reaches 80 (abnormal state) as the required time Tn. The prediction function may be a linear function, a polynomial, a logarithmic function, or the like derived by the least squares method. The slope of the prediction function indicates the tendency of change in the measurement value.

[0046] 5 , maintenance work information 38 stores, for each unit of maintenance work such as a unit U or an equipment element E, information such as the details of the maintenance work, the standard maintenance work time, and whether the maintenance work can be performed offline by removing the equipment from the maintenance device. Based on the necessary time Tn determined by the determination unit 32 and the maintenance work information 38, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 related to the maintenance of the equipment element E, etc., including information related to the necessary time Tn, and stores this information in the storage unit 35. The acquisition of unit information 37 by the acquisition unit 31, the determination of the necessary 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 times (e.g., every 8 hours) during the production of mounted boards on the component mounting line L.

[0047] An example of task information 39 created by the task information creation unit 33 will now be described with reference to FIG. 7 . Task information 39 is created for each unit of maintenance work. The 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 identify the unit U and equipment element E that are the maintenance targets. The required maintenance time 53 is the required period Tn determined by the determination unit 32. The estimated maintenance time 54 is the total standard maintenance work time included in the maintenance work information 38.

[0048] 7(a) is an example of task information 39 created using one equipment element E as the implementation unit. In other words, the shaft 21 of the mounting unit 20 (spindle No. 1) of the mounting head 11 (16-nozzle head) with serial number 001 is the unit for which maintenance is performed. The mounting head 11 (unit U) includes multiple mounting units 20 (equipment elements E), but the total estimated maintenance time 54 when multiple mounting units 20 are maintained together is the same as the total estimated maintenance time 54 when each of the multiple mounting units 20 is maintained individually. Therefore, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 using the mounting unit 20 as the implementation unit.

[0049] In this way, if the work efficiency (total of estimated maintenance times 54) when at least two of the multiple equipment elements E are maintained together is the same as the work efficiency when at least two of them are maintained individually, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 using the equipment elements E as an implementation unit (FIG. 7(a)). Also, if the work efficiency when at least two of the multiple equipment elements E are maintained together is higher than the work efficiency when at least two of them are maintained individually, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 using at least two as an implementation unit (FIG. 7(b)).

[0050] 7(b) is an example of task information 39 created using multiple equipment elements E as an implementation unit. In other words, the air duct, tip, and reflector of each of the three nozzles 19 (serial 230-001, serial 230-002, and serial 230-003) are the implementation unit for maintenance. Maintenance work on the nozzles 19 can be performed offline. It is also more efficient to remove the nozzles 19 from the component mounting devices M4 to M8 and perform maintenance on multiple nozzles 19 together offline. Therefore, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 using multiple nozzles 19 (equipment elements E) as an implementation unit.

[0051] In this way, when the maintenance work does not involve stopping the work equipment, for example, when the 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 an implementation unit (FIG. 7(b)). Also, when the maintenance work involves stopping the work equipment, that is, when the maintenance work is performed online, the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 using the equipment element E as an implementation unit (FIG. 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 the unit U based on the maintenance work content of 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] 5, the determination unit 34 determines the timing of maintenance related to the task information 39 based on task information 39 and production plan information 36 related to the production plan for mounted boards, creates a maintenance plan 40, and stores it in the storage unit 35. Specifically, the determination unit 34 determines the timing of maintenance so that the timing of maintenance work is earlier than the required time Tn. For example, the determination unit 34 may allocate the maintenance work related to the task information 39 to the timing of a changeover (see "internal changeover" in FIG. 8) that is performed by stopping production on the component mounting line L to change the type of mounted board to be produced, or may allocate the maintenance work to offline work.

[0054] An example of the maintenance plan 40 created by the determination unit 34 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8A 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 that can be produced without changeovers are produced. After the production of group 1 ends and before the production of group 2 starts, and after the production of group 2 ends and before the production of group 3 starts, internal changeovers are planned to stop the work equipment on the component mounting line L and perform changeovers.

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

[0056] 8(b) and 9(a), offline work is not possible for the maintenance with ticket number 50 "1." Therefore, the determination unit 34 determines that the maintenance with ticket number 50 "1" is inline maintenance and sets the internal setup execution time Te1 (10:10) between group 1 and group 2, which is earlier than the required time Tn (12:30). The scheduled maintenance time 55 included in the maintenance plan 40 in FIG. 9(a) is the maintenance execution time Te1. In this way, if the maintenance work involves stopping the maintenance device, for example, if offline work is not possible, the determination unit 34 sets the execution time Te1 of the maintenance related to the task information 39 to a time when the maintenance device is not operating.

[0057] In FIGS. 8B and 9B, the maintenance with ticket number 50 "2" can be performed offline. Therefore, the determination unit 34 determines that the maintenance with ticket number 50 "2" will be performed offline, at a performance time Te2 (8:00) during production of group 1, which is earlier than the required time Tn (12:40), while the component mounting devices M4 to M8 are detached from the component mounting devices. The scheduled maintenance time 55 included in the maintenance plan 40 in FIG. 9B is the maintenance performance time Te2. In this way, if the maintenance work does not require the shutdown of the maintenance device, for example, if offline work is possible, the determination unit 34 sets the maintenance performance time Te2 related to the task information 39 to when the maintenance device is operating.

[0058] 10 , a task information creation method for creating task information 39 used to create a maintenance plan 40 for supporting maintenance on the component mounting line L will be described. First, the acquisition unit 31 acquires, from a maintenance device on the component mounting line L, unit information 37 relating to the state of a unit U constituting a maintenance device that performs work on a board 6 (ST1: acquisition step). Next, the determination unit 32 determines, based on the unit information 37, a necessary time Tn when maintenance is required for an equipment element E (or each of a plurality of equipment elements E) included in the unit U (ST2: determination step).

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

[0060] 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 work efficiency is high when multiple equipment elements E are maintained together (ST4: work efficiency determination step).

[0061] If combining the maintenance of multiple equipment elements E results in higher work efficiency (Yes in ST4), the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 (FIG. 7(b)) with at least two equipment elements E as an implementation unit (ST5: multiple element task information creation step). 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 does not result in higher work efficiency (No in ST4), the task information creation unit 33 creates task information 39 (FIG. 7(a)) with each equipment element E as an implementation unit (ST6: individual element task information creation step).

[0062] 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 step), and then executes the acquisition step (ST1) at the next predetermined timing. Thus, the acquisition unit 31 continuously acquires unit information 37 while the maintenance 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 is changed, the task information creation unit 33 re-creates the task information 39 based on the changed required time Tn (ST5, ST6). This allows the task information 39 to be re-created (updated) even if the condition of the equipment element E suddenly deteriorates and the required time Tn is brought forward, making it possible to create an appropriate maintenance plan 40.

[0063] 11 , a maintenance plan creation method for creating a maintenance plan 40 by determining the timing of maintenance related to task information 39 as part of maintenance support for a component mounting line L will be described. First, the determination unit 34 acquires a production plan (production plan information 36) (ST11: production plan acquisition step) and task information 39 from the storage unit 35 or the like (ST12: task information acquisition step). Next, the determination unit 34 determines, based on the task information 39 and maintenance work information 38, whether offline maintenance is possible for the equipment element E that is the target of maintenance (ST13: second offline determination step).

[0064] If offline maintenance is possible (Yes in ST13), the decision unit 34 determines whether there is time for the maintenance device to be stopped before the necessary time Tn in the task information 39 (ST14: device stop determination step). If there is no time for the maintenance device to be stopped (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) ( FIG. 9B ).

[0065] 11, if offline maintenance is not possible (No in ST13), or if offline maintenance is possible (Yes in ST13) but there is also a time when the maintenance device will be down (Yes in ST14), the maintenance implementation time Te1 in task information 39 is allocated to the time when the maintenance device will be down or to the time for internal setup (ST16: non-operation allocation step) (FIG. 9(a)). That is, in the non-operation allocation step (ST16), the maintenance implementation time Te1 is set to a time when the maintenance device is not operating.

[0066] After the maintenance implementation times Te1 and Te2 of the task information 39 have been assigned (ST15, ST16), if there is 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 the maintenance implementation times Te1 and Te2 are determined (ST15, ST16). When the assignment of all task information 39 has been completed (Yes in ST17), the determination unit 34 stores the determined maintenance plan 40 in the storage unit 35 (ST18: maintenance plan storage step).

[0067] In this way, 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 times Te1 and Te2 for performing maintenance on equipment elements E included in unit U based on the production plan. This reduces the impact on the production plan, such as stopping production due to maintenance, and suppresses the occurrence of lost time in production. The created maintenance plan 40 is sent to a mobile terminal carried by the worker in charge of the maintenance work or to a work device to which the unit U to be maintained is attached, and is displayed on the display unit (touch panel 15) of the mobile terminal or work device when the maintenance work is to be performed.

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

[0069] The maintenance support device and maintenance support method of the present invention have the effect of enabling flexible creation of maintenance plans, and are useful in the field of mounting components on circuit boards.

[0070] 3 Management computer (maintenance support device) 6 Board E Equipment element M2 Printing device (work device) M3 to M8 Component mounting device (work device) Te1, Te2 Implementation time Tn Required time U Unit

Claims

1. A maintenance support device comprising: a task information creation unit that creates task information regarding maintenance of facility elements included in the unit, the task information including information regarding a required timing when unit information regarding a state of a unit constituting a work device that performs work on a substrate is required.

2. The maintenance support device according to claim 1, wherein the task information creation unit determines a maintenance implementation unit for each of the plurality of facility elements included in the unit based on the work content of maintenance of each of the plurality of facility elements included in the unit, and creates the task information for each implementation unit.

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

4. The maintenance support device according to claim 2, wherein when the work content does not involve stopping the work device, the task information creation unit creates the task information using at least two of the plurality of facility elements as the implementation unit.

5. The maintenance support device according to claim 2, wherein when the work efficiency when maintaining at least two of the plurality of facility elements together is the same as the work efficiency when maintaining each of the at least two individually, the task information creation unit creates the task information using the facility element as the implementation unit.

6. The maintenance support device according to claim 2, wherein when the work efficiency when maintaining at least two of the plurality of facility elements together is higher than the work efficiency when maintaining each of the at least two individually, the task information creation unit creates the task information using the at least two as the implementation unit.

7. An acquisition unit that continuously acquires the unit information while the work device is performing the work, and a determination unit that determines the required timing based on the unit information acquired by the acquisition unit, and further comprising: The maintenance support device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when the required timing determined by the determination unit is changed, the task information creation unit re-creates the task information based on the changed required timing.

8. The maintenance support device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a determination unit that determines a timing for performing maintenance on the task information based on the task information and production plan information regarding the production plan of the substrate.

9. The maintenance support device according to claim 8, wherein the determination unit determines the execution timing so that the execution timing is earlier than the required timing.

10. The maintenance support device according to claim 9, wherein when the work content involves stopping the work device, the determination unit sets the execution timing when the work device is not in operation.

11. The unit includes a plurality of the equipment elements, The task information creation unit creates task information regarding maintenance of the equipment element whose characteristic value becomes abnormal based on the characteristic value of each equipment element included in the unit information, according to the maintenance support device of claim 1.

12. further comprising a determination unit that determines the required timing based on the unit information, The unit information includes a plurality of measurement values measured at a plurality of time points regarding the state, The maintenance support device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the required timing based on at least one of the plurality of measurement values and a tendency of change in the plurality of measurement values.

13. A maintenance support method, including: a task information creation step of creating task information regarding maintenance of an equipment element included in the unit, the task information including information regarding a required timing at which unit information regarding a state of a unit constituting a work device that performs work on a substrate becomes abnormal.