Production assistance device

Abstract

This production assistance device is applied to a component-mounting machine that executes a collection cycle in which collection operations for collecting components from a component supply device equipped with a bulk feeder for supplying a plurality of components in a supply region are repeatedly performed, and a mounting cycle in which mounting operations for mounting a plurality of components on a substrate are repeatedly performed. The production assistance device comprises a setting unit that sets the execution order of the collection operations scheduled to be executed such that, among the collection operations, a collection operation for collecting components from the bulk feeder is preferentially executed in a predetermined collection cycle.

Description

Production Support Equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a production support device.

[0002] The production support device supports the production process of product boards by a component placement machine using a bulk feeder. The bulk feeder supplies components in bulk form in a supply area (see Patent Document 1). In a placement process as part of the production process, the component placement machine moves a placement head to pick up components supplied by a feeder such as the bulk feeder and place the components in predetermined positions on the board.

[0003] JP 2011-114084 A

[0004] In production processes, when a mounting head operates near a supply area while simultaneously holding multiple components with multiple suction nozzles, there is a risk of dropping a different type of component into the supply area. If a different type of component gets mixed into the supply area, maintenance of the bulk feeder becomes necessary, and even if the different type of component can be detected by inspecting the product board, it can still be a factor in reducing productivity.

[0005] The present specification aims to provide a production support device that can prevent different types of parts from being mixed into the supply area of ​​a bulk feeder and maintain productivity in the production processing of product substrates using a bulk feeder.

[0006] This specification discloses a production support device that is applicable to a component mounting machine that executes a collection cycle that repeats a collection operation of collecting components from a component supply device equipped with a bulk feeder that supplies a plurality of components in a supply area, and a mounting cycle that repeats a mounting operation of mounting the plurality of components on a board, and that includes a setting unit that sets the execution order of the collection operations so that, among the collection operations to be executed, the collection operation of collecting the components from the bulk feeder is executed with priority in a predetermined collection cycle.

[0007] This specification discloses a production support device that is applicable to a component mounting machine that includes a component supply device equipped with a bulk feeder that supplies a plurality of components in a supply area, and a mounting head that supports a plurality of holding members that hold the components, wherein the bulk feeder has a shutter that is openable and closable relative to the supply area and that closes the supply area when in a closed state, and wherein a different type of component different from the components supplied by the bulk feeder is held in the holding member and the shutter is in an open state, and the production support device includes a regulating unit that regulates at least one of the movement and rotation of the different type of component by the mounting head.

[0008] With this configuration, in the production process of product substrates using a bulk feeder, it is possible to prevent components of different types from those supplied by the bulk feeder from being mixed into the supply area of ​​the bulk feeder, thereby maintaining productivity.

[0009] 5 is a plan view schematically showing a component mounting machine. FIG. 6 is a top view schematically showing a mounting head. FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing a mounting head. FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing a part of a bulk feeder including a supply area. FIG. 9 is a plan view seen from direction V in FIG. 4. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the opening and closing operation of a shutter. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a production support device. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing mounting processing by a component mounting machine. FIG. 13 is a control program showing a comparison before and after setting of an execution order. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of a production support device. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing production support processing in the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of a production support device. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing production support processing in the third embodiment.

[0010] 1. First Embodiment 1-1. Overview of the Production Support Device 70 The production support device 70 supports the production processing of product boards by the component mounting machine 10 using the bulk feeder 30. In the first embodiment, the production support device 70 is incorporated into the host computer 60. The production support device 70 prevents malfunctions and maintains productivity by optimizing in advance the control program M1 used in the mounting processing executed by the component mounting machine 10 as part of the production processing.

[0011] The component mounting machine 10 described above performs a mounting process for mounting components on a board 91 as a predetermined substrate-related operation. The component mounting machine 10 is installed along with other substrate-related operation machines in the transport direction of the board 91 to form a production line. Each of the multiple substrate-related operation machines is communicably connected to a host computer 60 that controls the production line as a whole. The production line includes, for example, multiple substrate-related operation machines, such as a printing machine, the component mounting machine 10, a reflow oven, and an inspection machine.

[0012] 1-2. Configuration of the Component Mounting Machine 10 1-2-1. Board Transport Device 11 and Component Supply Device 12 As shown in FIG. 1, the component mounting machine 10 includes a board transport device 11. The board transport device 11 sequentially transports boards 91 in a transport direction and positions the boards 91 at predetermined positions within the machine. The component mounting machine 10 also includes a component supply device 12. The component supply device 12 supplies components to be mounted on the boards 91. The component supply device 12 has feeders 122 set in multiple slots 121. For example, a tape feeder that feeds and moves a carrier tape containing a large number of components to supply the components so that they can be picked is used as the feeder 122. Furthermore, a bulk feeder 30 that supplies components stored in bulk so that they can be picked is used as the feeder 122. Details of the bulk feeder 30 will be described later.

[0013] 1-2-2. Component Transfer Device 13 The component mounting machine 10 is equipped with a component transfer device 13. The component transfer device 13 transfers components supplied by the component supply device 12 to predetermined mounting positions on the board 91. The component transfer device 13 is equipped with a head drive device 131, a movable table 132, and the mounting head 20. The head drive device 131 moves the movable table 132 in horizontal directions (X and Y directions) using a linear motion mechanism. The mounting head 20 is detachably fixed to the movable table 132 by a clamp member (not shown), and is provided so as to be movable horizontally within the machine.

[0014] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the mounting head 20 has a rotary head 21 that is rotatable around an R axis parallel to a vertical axis (Z axis). The rotary head 21 supports a plurality of holders 22 so that they can move up and down and rotate around a rotation axis (Q axis) for each of the holders 22. Each of the holders 22 is fitted with a holding member that holds a component 92. In this embodiment, the holding member is a suction nozzle 23 that holds the component 92 by suction using supplied negative pressure air. Note that a chuck or the like that grips and holds a component may also be used as the holding member.

[0015] The mounting head 20 has an R-axis rotation device 24 that rotates the rotary head 21 around the R-axis. The R-axis rotation device 24 angles the rotary head 21 at a predetermined angle around the R-axis, thereby indexing one holder 22 to an elevation position where it is to be elevated or lowered by an elevation device 26, which will be described later. The mounting head 20 has a Q-axis rotation device 25 that rotates the holder 22 around the Q-axis. In this embodiment, the Q-axis rotation device 25 has a mechanism that rotates multiple holders 22 in unison, and is used to rotate the multiple holders 22. With the above configuration, when one holder 22 is angled at a predetermined angle around the Q-axis, the other multiple holders 22 are also angled at predetermined angles in unison.

[0016] The mounting head 20 has an elevator device 26 that raises and lowers a holder 22 that is indexed to a lift position by the rotation of the rotary head 21 among the plurality of holders 22. The elevator device 26 lowers and raises the holder 22, thereby lowering and raising the suction nozzle 23 attached to the holder 22. The mounting head 20 may be configured to have two or more lift positions and include a plurality of elevator devices that can be driven independently so as to raise and lower the holders 22 positioned at the respective positions.

[0017] The number of holders 22 supported by the mounting head 20 configured as described above may vary depending on the type of mounting head 20. The mounting head 20 may adopt various configurations in addition to the configuration in which multiple holders 22 are supported at equal intervals in a circular ring shape as in this embodiment. For example, the mounting head 20 may adopt a configuration in which multiple holders 22 are supported arranged in a line or in a matrix.

[0018] 1-2-3. Component Camera 14, Board Camera 15 The component mounting machine 10 is equipped with a component camera 14 and a board camera 15. The component camera 14 and the board camera 15 are digital imaging devices having imaging elements such as CMOS. The component camera 14 and the board camera 15 capture images based on control signals and send image data acquired by the images. The component camera 14 is configured to be able to capture images of components held by the suction nozzle 134 from below. The board camera 15 is mounted on a moving stage 132 so as to be movable horizontally integrally with the mounting head 133. The board camera 15 is configured to be able to capture images of the board 91 from above.

[0019] Furthermore, in addition to capturing an image of the surface of the circuit board 91, the board camera 15 can also capture an image of various devices within the movable range of the movable stage 132. For example, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the board camera 15 can capture an image of the supply area As to which the bulk feeder 30 supplies components and the reference mark 49 provided on the upper part of the bulk feeder 30 within the camera's field of view. In this way, the board camera 15 can be used to capture images of different objects in order to obtain image data to be used for various image processing.

[0020] 1-2-4. Control Device 16 The component placement machine 10 is equipped with a control device 16. The control device 16 is primarily composed of a CPU, various memories, a control circuit, and a storage device. The storage device of the control device 16 stores various data, such as a control program M1 used to control the placement process and component data M2. As shown in FIG. 7, the control program M1 and component data M2 are stored, for example, in a storage unit 61 of a host computer 60, and are downloaded via communication and stored in the control device 16.

[0021] 9, the control program M1 indicates the placement positions (P101, P102, ...), placement angles (θ101, θ102, ...), and component types (a, b, ...) of components to be placed on the board 91 in the planned placement order. The placement process includes a process of repeating a PP cycle (pick-and-place cycle), which includes a pickup cycle and a placement cycle, multiple times. The "pick-up cycle" refers to a process of repeating a pickup operation, in which components supplied by the component supply device 12 are picked up by the suction nozzle 23, multiple times.

[0022] Here, the components to be picked during the picking cycle may be supplied by the bulk feeder 30. If the supply area As of the bulk feeder 30 is formed with cavities 45 (see FIG. 5) that individually accommodate components, the picking cycle involves moving the mounting head 133 to sequentially pick up the components accommodated in the multiple cavities 45.

[0023] The above-mentioned "mounting cycle" refers to the process of sequentially mounting picked components onto the board 91, and more specifically, to the process of repeating a mounting operation multiple times to mount components at a predetermined mounting position on the board 91 at a predetermined mounting angle. In this way, the control program M1 presets the execution order of a PP cycle, which is made up of multiple picking operations and mounting operations grouped together, taking into consideration the number of suction nozzles 23 supported by the mounting head 133, the travel distance of the mounting head 20, etc.

[0024] The part data M2 includes shape data for each type of part. The "shape data" includes at least one of the outer edge shape of the part, the shape of the feature part of the part, and the dimensions of the part. The "outer edge shape" of a part corresponds to the shape of the outer edge when the inside of the part and the background are separated using the outer edge as a boundary.

[0025] The "shape of the characteristic part" of a part corresponds to the boundary shape of the characteristic part on the exterior due to the part's shape, pattern, color, etc. The characteristic part of a part may be a corner, bump, terminal, lead, etc. In addition to the shape data, the part data M2 may also include, for example, the maximum allowable movement speed (acceleration) for each part, the pick-up position (e.g., the position where the part comes into contact with the suction nozzle 23), etc.

[0026] The control device 16 executes a process for recognizing the holding state of the components held by each of the multiple holding members (suction nozzles 23). Specifically, the control device 16 processes image data acquired by image capture by the component camera 14, and recognizes the position and angle of each component relative to the reference position of the mounting head 20. Note that in addition to the component camera 14, the control device 16 may also process image data acquired by, for example, a head camera unit integrally provided on the mounting head 20 capturing an image of the component from the side, below, or above.

[0027] In the mounting process, the control device 16 controls the mounting operation by the mounting head 20 so that the component is mounted on the board 91 in a predetermined orientation. At this time, the control device 16 controls the mounting operation based on the recognized holding state of the component. In other words, the control device 16 corrects the position of the mounting head 20 and the angle of the suction nozzle 23 about the Q axis so as to correct any positional and angular deviations of the component held by the suction nozzle 23 relative to the Q axis (the axis of rotation of the suction nozzle 23). As a result, the component held by the suction nozzle 23 is mounted at a predetermined mounting position and angle instructed by the control program M1.

[0028] 1-3. Configuration of Bulk Feeder 30 The bulk feeder 30 is set in the component mounting machine 10 and functions as part of the component supply device 12. The bulk feeder 30 supplies components housed in component cases in a bulk state (loose, with each component in an irregular position) that is not packaged like a carrier tape. Therefore, unlike tape feeders, the bulk feeder 30 does not use carrier tape, which has the advantage of eliminating the need to load carrier tape and collect used tape.

[0029] Some bulk feeders 30 supply components in irregular positions to the planar supply area As. However, if the components are so close together in the supply area As that they touch each other, or if they are piled up (overlapping vertically), or if the components are positioned horizontally so that their widths are vertical, the component mounting machine 10 cannot pick these components. Therefore, to increase the percentage of components that can be picked, some bulk feeders 30 supply components in an aligned state in the supply area As. In this embodiment, a bulk feeder 30 that aligns components will be described as an example.

[0030] 1-3-1. Feeder Body 31 The bulk feeder 30 has a track unit 40 attached to a flat, box-shaped feeder body 31 so that the track unit 40 can be vibrated and detached from the feeder body 31. A connector 311 and two positioning pins 312 are provided at the front of the feeder body 31 (the right end in FIG. 4 ). When the feeder body 31 is set in the slot 121 of the component supply device 12, it is supplied with power via the connector 311 and is capable of communicating with the control device 16 of the component mounting machine 10.

[0031] 1-3-2. Track Unit 40 The track unit 40 includes a track member 41 that is detachably attached to the feeder body 31. The track member 41 is vibrated by the vibration device 34. The track member 41 defines a transport path R along which multiple components are transported, and a supply area As that is connected to the transport path R and opens upward so that multiple components can be picked up. Here, the "supply area As" refers to an area where components are supplied in bulk and from which the component mounting machine 10 can pick up the components. The "transport path R" refers to a path along which components circulated from the component case side to the track member 41 are transported to the supply area As.

[0032] The track member 41 is formed so as to extend in the front-to-rear direction (the left-to-right direction in FIG. 4 ) of the feeder body 31 as a whole. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 , an alignment member 42 is replaceably attached to the track member 41. The alignment member 42 is, for example, one or more plate-shaped members. In this way, the track unit 40 is unitized by attaching one of a plurality of types of alignment members 42 selected from a plurality of types corresponding to the shapes of a plurality of types of parts to the common track member 41.

[0033] 5, the alignment member 42 defines a plurality of cavities 45 arranged in a predetermined pattern (a staggered pattern in this embodiment). Each of the plurality of cavities 45 has a rectangular shape that is slightly larger than the outer shape of the components supplied by the bulk feeder 30. Thus, the bulk feeder 30 has a plurality of cavities 45 that store components in a supply area As that supplies the components so that they can be picked up, with the thickness direction of the components oriented vertically.

[0034] A pair of side walls 46 that protrude upward are formed on both edges of the track unit 40 in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 5 ). The pair of side walls 46, together with a tip 47 of the track unit 40, surround the periphery of the transport path R and prevent parts transported on the transport path R from leaking out. A cover 48 that covers the top of the transport path R is fixed above the track member 41. The cover 48 is configured to prevent parts from jumping out of the transport path R. A pair of circular reference marks 49, one on the left and one on the right, are provided on the upper surface of the tip 47 to indicate the reference position of the supply area As.

[0035] A shutter 50 is provided on the front end side of the track member 41. The shutter 50 is provided on the track member 41 so as to be able to open and close, and in the closed state, closes the opening of the supply area As. When the track unit 40 is attached to the feeder body 31, the shutter 50 is connected to the shutter drive device 35. The opening and closing operation of the shutter 50 is controlled by the shutter drive device 35. By opening and closing the shutter 50, the bulk feeder 30 can prevent components from flying out and foreign matter from entering the supply area As. The above-mentioned "foreign matter" includes different types of components that are different from the components supplied by the bulk feeder 30.

[0036] Shutter drive device 35 is a drive device that opens and closes shutter 50 when track unit 40 is attached to feeder body 31. Shutter drive device 35 switches shutter 50 between a closed state and an open state based on a command from feeder control device 36. The closed state of shutter 50 is a state in which shutter 50 contacts track member 41 and the opening of supply area As is completely closed, as shown by the dashed lines in Figures 5 and 6 .

[0037] The open state of the shutter 50 refers to a state in which the opening of the supply area As is not blocked and the main area of ​​the supply area As (the area where multiple cavities 45 are provided in this embodiment) is exposed (see the solid line in FIG. 6 ). At this time, the suction nozzle 23 can perform a component pick-up operation on any of the cavities 45. The state of the shutter 50 also includes intermediate states between the closed state and the open state. The intermediate state of the shutter 50 refers to a state in which the shutter 50 is slightly spaced apart from the track member 41 (sufficiently spaced apart so as not to interfere with the vibration of the track member 41 and so as not to allow components to leak through the gap). In this embodiment, the intermediate state is a state in which foreign matter can be prevented from entering, and therefore the intermediate state is considered to be included in the closed state.

[0038] 1-3-3. Feeder Control Device 36 The bulk feeder 30 is equipped with a feeder control device 36. The feeder control device 36 is mainly composed of a CPU, various memories, and control circuits. When the bulk feeder 30 is installed in a slot of the component mounting machine 10, the feeder control device 36 is supplied with power via the connector 311 and is able to communicate with the control device of the component mounting machine 10.

[0039] The feeder control device 36 controls the operation of the vibration device 34, the shutter drive device 35, etc. The feeder control device 36 controls the operation of the vibration device 34 based on, for example, preset parameters to execute the component supply process. As a result, vibration is applied to the track member 41, and the components on the conveying path R are conveyed by receiving an external force that moves them in the conveying direction. The feeder control device 36 also controls the operation of the shutter drive device 35, and switches the shutter 50 to a predetermined state.

[0040] 1-4. Mounting Process by Component Mounting Machine 10 The mounting process by the component mounting machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. Here, it is assumed that the bulk feeder 30 is set in the component supply device 12. In the mounting process, first, the board transport device 11 of the component mounting machine 10 executes a board 91 loading process (S11), as shown in FIG. 8. As a result, the board 91 is loaded into the machine and positioned at a predetermined position within the machine.

[0041] Next, the control device 16 executes a PP cycle. In the PP cycle, the control device 16 executes a pickup cycle in which the pickup operation of picking up components using the multiple suction nozzles 23 is repeated (S12). At this time, the control device 16 controls the operation of the mounting head 20 in the pickup operation so that the mounting head 20 is sequentially positioned according to the positions of the components that can be picked up. Furthermore, when the bulk feeder 30 is supplying the components to be picked up, the control device 16 positions the suction nozzle 23 by appropriately switching between the coordinate values ​​of the center of the cavity 45 or the coordinate values ​​of the reference position of the component as the position of the components that can be picked up.

[0042] The control device 16 executes the picking operations in the picking cycle in the same order as the execution order of the mounting operations shown in Fig. 9. Specifically, in the first PP cycle, the mounting operations are scheduled to be executed in the order of the mounting positions (P101, P102, P103, ...), and in the picking cycle (S12), a series of picking operations are executed to pick up the corresponding component types (a, b, c, ...) from the feeder 122.

[0043] Next, the control device 16 executes a process for recognizing the holding state of the components held by each of the plurality of suction nozzles 23 (S13). Specifically, the control device 16 moves the mounting head 20 above the component camera 14 and sends an image capture command to the component camera 14. The control device 16 processes the image data acquired by the component camera 14, and recognizes the orientation (position and angle) of the component held by each of the plurality of suction nozzles 23.

[0044] Thereafter, the control device 16 executes a mounting cycle (S14) in which the mounting operation of mounting components using the plurality of suction nozzles 23 is repeated. Note that, in the mounting operation of this mounting cycle (S14), the control device 16 controls the operation of the mounting head 20 so that each component is mounted at a mounting position specified by the control program M1. Furthermore, the control device 16 controls the operation of the mounting head 20 so that the suction nozzles 23 are positioned and angled relative to the mounting positions based on the results of the recognition process (S13).

[0045] The control device 16 determines whether all PP cycles have been completed based on the control program M1 (S15). If all PP cycles have not been completed (S15: No), the control device 16 executes the PP cycles (S12-S14). If all PP cycles have been completed (S15: Yes), the control device 16 executes the unloading process of the board 91 (S16). In the unloading process of the board 91, the board transport device 11 unclamps the positioned board 91 and unloads the board 91 from the component mounting machine 10.

[0046] 1-5. Production Support Device 70 The configuration of the production support device 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. The production support device 70 supports the production process of product boards by the component mounting machine 10 using the bulk feeder 30. Here, the bulk feeder 30 supplies components in bulk form in the supply area As. Then, in the picking cycle of the mounting process (S12 in FIG. 8), the component mounting machine 10 moves the mounting head 20 to pick up components 92 supplied by a feeder 122 such as the bulk feeder 30, and mounts the components in predetermined positions on the board 91.

[0047] Here, the bulk feeder 30 is provided with an openable / closable shutter 50, and the inclusion of foreign matter can be prevented by keeping the shutter 50 in a closed state except during the period when, for example, a picking operation is being performed on a supply component supplied by the bulk feeder 30. However, if the suction nozzle 23 supported by the mounting head 20 is already holding a different component during the picking operation on the supply component, for example, there is a risk that the different component will be dropped if the mounting head 20 performs an operation (XY movement, R-axis rotation, Q-axis rotation).

[0048] If a dropped foreign component accidentally gets into the supply area As of the bulk feeder 30, a component 92 different from the supplied component will be supplied, which requires maintenance of the bulk feeder 30. Even if the foreign component can be detected by inspection of the board product, this will result in a decrease in productivity. Therefore, the production support device 70 of this embodiment employs a configuration that prevents foreign components from getting into the supply area As of the bulk feeder 30 during the production process of product boards using the bulk feeder 30.

[0049] In the first embodiment, the production support device 70 prevents the mixing of different types of components into the supply area As by optimizing in advance the control program M1 used in the mounting process. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7 , the production support device 70 is incorporated into the host computer 60. The production support device 70 includes a setting unit 71.

[0050] The setting unit 71 sets the execution order of the picking operations so that, among the picking operations to be executed, the picking operation of picking components 92 from the bulk feeder 30 is executed with priority in a predetermined picking cycle (S12). In this embodiment, the setting unit 71 sets the execution order of the picking operations by editing the placement order in the control program M1. Here, the control device 16 of the component mounting machine 10 executes the picking operations in the picking cycle (S12) in the same order as the placement operations executed in the placement cycle.

[0051] When the picking operations scheduled to be executed in the first PP cycle include picking operations for picking components 92 from bulk feeder 30 (corresponding to the area surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. 9 ), setting unit 71 adjusts control program M1 so that these picking operations are executed with priority in a predetermined picking cycle. Note that the execution order of the picking operations from bulk feeder 30 may be adjusted within the picking cycle that was scheduled to be executed.

[0052] 9, in the first PP cycle, the picking operation for picking component types (a, b) is switched with the picking operation for picking supply component (c) from bulk feeder 30. As a result, in the adjusted control program M1, the execution order of the picking operations in the picking cycle is set so that supply component (c) is picked from bulk feeder 30, and then different component types (a, b, d) are picked from another feeder 122.

[0053] However, in the execution order of the picking cycles in the control program M1, the order of picking may not be changed in consideration of the efficiency of the PP cycle execution and the constraints on the execution order. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 9, there is a constraint that the components (e, f, f) in the second PP cycle must be mounted on the board 91 before the supply component (c) of the bulk feeder 30, and the change of the picking operations corresponding to these may be restricted.

[0054] In such a case, the setting unit 71 adjusts the control program M1 by moving the picking operation to a different PP cycle or by switching the picking operation. Specifically, when the first cycle L1, which is a picking cycle to be executed, includes a picking operation (corresponding to the area surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. 9 ) for picking up parts 92 from the bulk feeder 30, the setting unit 71 sets the execution order so that the picking operation is executed preferentially in the second cycle L2, which is a picking cycle different from the first cycle L1 (see the right column in FIG. 9 ).

[0055] In this case, the setting unit 71 may switch the picking operations between the first cycle L1 and the second cycle L2. For example, if the mounting operations of the components (g, g, ..., h) included in the third PP cycle including the second cycle L2 are permitted to be executed in the second PP cycle, the setting unit 71 adjusts these mounting operations to be executed in the second PP cycle. As a result, the execution order is set so that the picking operations of the components (g, g, ..., h) are executed at the end of the first cycle L1 and the picking operation of the supply component (c) is executed at the beginning of the second cycle L2.

[0056] With this configuration, the picking operation from the bulk feeder 30 is executed preferentially in the specified PP cycle (the first and third PP cycles in FIG. 9 ) without increasing the number of times the PP cycle in the previously set control program M1 is executed. When the placement process is executed using the control program M1 after such adjustment, the suction nozzle 23 supported by the placement head 20 does not hold a different type of component during the execution period of the picking operation from the bulk feeder 30. This prevents the intrusion of different types of components even if the placement head 20 operates with the shutter 50 open.

[0057] 2. Second Embodiment 2-1. Configuration of Production Support Device 170 The production support device 170 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. The production support device 70 of the first embodiment employs an aspect in which the control program M1 is optimized (edited the placement order) before the placement process is executed, thereby preventing the placement head 20 from holding a different type of component and operating near the supply area As.

[0058] Here, the mounting process of the component mounting machine 10 may use a control program M1 that has not been optimized as described above. Furthermore, when the mounting process is executed, if a component picking or placement error occurs, a mounting operation not planned by the control program M1 may be added and executed as a recovery process. In this case, the picking operation executed in the recovery process may include a picking operation from the bulk feeder 30.

[0059] To deal with such a situation, the production support device 170 of the second embodiment adopts a configuration in which the execution order of the picking operations is appropriately adjusted during the execution period of the mounting process. In the second embodiment, the production support device 170 is incorporated into the control device 16 of the component mounting machine 10, as shown in Figure 10. The other configurations are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description will be omitted.

[0060] 2-2. Production support processing by production support device 170 The production support device 170 executes production support processing as shown in Fig. 11. This production support processing is executed appropriately, for example, when the control device 16 downloads the control program M1 from the host computer 60, when mounting processing using the control program M1 is executed, when recovery processing occurs during mounting processing, etc.

[0061] If the scheduled picking cycle includes a picking operation for picking components 92 from the bulk feeder 30 (S21: Yes), the production support device 170 executes an operation mode setting process (S22). Here, the operation modes of the component mounting machine 10 include a safety mode that executes safety processing to prevent the intrusion of different types of components into the supply area As of the bulk feeder 30. The operation modes of the component mounting machine 10 also include a production mode that executes normal production processing because the possibility of the intrusion of different types of components into the supply area As of the bulk feeder 30 is low.

[0062] Various aspects can be applied to the operation mode setting process. For example, the operator of the component mounting machine 10 can set the operation mode to either the safety mode or the production mode for each type of mounting process or each production line. The operation mode may also be switched and set depending on the type of components to be picked up in the picking operation in the picking cycle. For example, if the planned picking cycle includes a picking operation for picking up components 92 from the bulk feeder 30 and a picking operation for picking up components different from the components 92 from a feeder 122 other than the bulk feeder 30, the operation mode may be set based on at least one of the type of the different components and the type of suction nozzle 23 that holds the different components.

[0063] Here, the production support device 170 prevents different types of components from being mixed into the supply area As during the placement process. For example, when components 92 are picked up from the supply area As of the bulk feeder 30, the type of different components already held in the placement head 20 may clearly differ from the type of components to be supplied by the bulk feeder 30. In such cases, if the different components are too large to be mixed into the supply area As, or if they are easily removed even if they are mixed in, there is no problem in setting the operating mode to production mode.

[0064] Furthermore, the possibility of dropping a dissimilar component may vary depending on the performance of the suction nozzle 23 as a holding member used to hold the dissimilar component and the pickup performance of the dissimilar component and the suction nozzle 23. For example, if the surface to be picked up of the dissimilar component is flat and has a sufficient area, and the suction nozzle 23 has sufficient pickup performance (determined by performance due to the shape of the suction nozzle 23, whether maintenance has been performed, etc.), there is no problem in setting the operation mode to production mode. In this way, the operation mode may be set based on equipment data indicating the type and characteristics of the suction nozzle 23 and component data M2 indicating the shape and size of the characteristic features of the component 92.

[0065] When the operating mode of the component mounting machine 10 when executing the picking cycle is the safety mode (S23: Yes), the setting unit 171 executes a picking operation execution sequence setting process (S24). This execution sequence setting process (S24) does not edit the control program M1, but rather edits the sequence data loaded into the control device 16 by reading the control program M1, to which recovery processing has been added as necessary. This picking operation execution sequence setting process (S24) is essentially the same as the setting process of the first embodiment (see FIG. 9 ), and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. On the other hand, when the operating mode is the production mode (S23: No), the setting unit 171 skips the picking operation execution sequence setting process (S24).

[0066] With this configuration, the picking operation from the bulk feeder 30 is executed with priority in the picking cycle of a predetermined PP cycle (including recovery processing). When the mounting process is executed with the execution order of the picking operations adjusted in this way, the suction nozzle 23 supported by the mounting head 20 does not hold a different type of component during the period in which the picking operation from the bulk feeder 30 is being executed. This prevents the mixing of different types of components even if the mounting head 20 operates with the shutter 50 open.

[0067] The bulk feeder 30 closes the shutter 50 after the picking operation that is executed with priority in the picking cycle is completed. This prevents different types of components from being mixed into the supply area As of the bulk feeder 30, even if a component 92 falls due to the operation of the mounting head 20, including the picking operation that is executed thereafter.

[0068] 3. Third Embodiment 3-1. Configuration of Production Support Device 270 The production support device 270 of the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13. Here, the production support device 170 of the second embodiment employs a configuration in which the order of execution of the picking operation and the placement operation in the PP cycle scheduled for execution is appropriately changed without editing the control program M1, thereby preventing the placement head 20 from holding a different type of component and operating near the supply area As.

[0069] Here, a control program M1 that has not been subjected to the above-described optimization process may be applied to the mounting process of the component mounting machine 10. In addition, it is possible that various circumstances may restrict the adjustment of the execution order of the picking operations during the execution period of the mounting process, or that the PP cycle may increase as a result of the adjustment of the execution order, thereby extending the required time for the mounting process.

[0070] To deal with such a case, the production support device 270 of the third embodiment employs a configuration in which, during the execution of the mounting process, the operation of the mounting head 20 is controlled so that the shutter 50 is in a closed state. In the third embodiment, the production support device 270 is incorporated into the control device 16 of the component mounting machine 10, as shown in FIG.

[0071] The production support device 270 includes a regulating unit 272. When a different component 92 different from the components 92 supplied by the bulk feeder 30 is held by the holding member (suction nozzle 23) and the shutter 50 is in the open state, the regulating unit 272 regulates at least one of the movement and rotation (R-axis rotation, Q-axis rotation) of the different component 92 by the mounting head 20. The other configurations are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0072] 3-2. Production support processing by the production support device 270 The production support device 270 executes production support processing as shown in Fig. 12. This production support processing is executed appropriately, for example, when an operation command for the mounting head 20 is sent. When the mounting head 20 is holding a different component and the shutter 50 is in the open state (S31: Yes), the production support device 270 executes processing to set the operation mode (S32).

[0073] Various modes can be applied to the process of setting the operation mode. For example, the operation mode may be set according to the likelihood of the introduction of different types of components due to the operation of the mounting head 20. For example, the operation mode may be set to a safety mode when the mounting head 20 is located within a predetermined range Na (see FIG. 1 ) from the supply area As, and a production mode when the mounting head 20 is located outside the predetermined range Na from the supply area As.

[0074] As in the second embodiment, the operation mode may be set based on the type of dissimilar component 92 and the type of suction nozzle 23 holding the dissimilar component 92. Furthermore, because the production support process is executed during the mounting process, the operation mode may be set based on the state of the dissimilar component 92 being held by the holding member (suction nozzle 23). In particular, the component camera 14 or a head camera unit (not shown) is used to check whether the dissimilar component is being held by the suction nozzle 23 in the correct posture and position, and if it is determined that there is a low possibility of the component falling, the operation mode is set to production mode.

[0075] If the operating mode of the component mounting machine 10 when executing the pickup cycle is the safety mode (S33: Yes), the restricting unit 272 executes a restricting process (S34) to restrict at least one of the movement and rotation of the dissimilar component 92. As a result, the mounting head 20 waits for the shutter 50 of the bulk feeder 30 to transition to the closed state, and then executes the operation that was scheduled to be executed after the restriction by the restricting unit 272 is released. Note that, in the restricting process, the restricting unit 272 may restrict all of the XY-direction movement, R-axis rotation, and Q-axis rotation of the mounting head 20, or may allow the Q-axis rotation along with the lifting and lowering of the suction nozzle 23. On the other hand, if the operating mode is the production mode (S33: No), the restricting unit 272 skips the restricting process (S34).

[0076] With this configuration, when the supply area As of the bulk feeder 30 is open, the mounting head 20 holding different parts 92 different from the parts 92 supplied by the bulk feeder 30 is prevented from operating around the supply area As, thereby preventing the different parts 92 from getting mixed into the supply area As.

[0077] 4. Modifications Here, a configuration such as the third embodiment in which the operation of the mounting head 20 is restricted depending on the position of the mounting head 20 and the open / closed state of the shutter 50 may be useful in that it does not require processing to change the execution order of the collection operations. On the other hand, because a wait time may occur while waiting for the shutter 50 to transition to the closed state, the configurations in which the execution order of the collection operations is adjusted (first and second embodiments) may result in a shorter time required for the mounting process.

[0078] However, adjusting the execution order of the collection operations may increase the number of times the PP cycle is executed, and in that case, even if a waiting time occurs due to the restriction process (S34), executing the collection operations in the scheduled order may shorten the time required for the mounting process. Therefore, the production support device 170, 270 may be configured to include a setting unit 171 and a restriction unit 272.

[0079] This allows the system to appropriately select the option that shortens the time required for the mounting process, for example, between performing the process of setting the execution order of the picking operations (S24) and performing the process of restricting the predetermined operation of the mounting head 20 without adjusting the execution order of the picking operations (S34). As a result, it is possible to prevent different types of parts from being mixed into the supply area As of the bulk feeder 30, and to maintain productivity.

[0080] 10: Component mounting machine, 12: Component supply device, 122: Feeder, 13: Component transfer device, 20: Mounting head, 23: Suction nozzle, 14: Component camera, 15: Board camera, 16: Control device, 30: Bulk feeder, 35: Shutter drive device, 36: Feeder control device, 40: Track unit, 41: Track member, 42: Alignment member, 45: Cavity, 50: Shutter, 60: Host computer, 70, 170, 270: Production support device, 71, 171: Setting unit, 272: Restriction unit, 91: Board, 92: Component, As: Supply area, R: Conveyance path, M1: Control program, Na: Predetermined range, L1: First cycle, L2: Second cycle

Claims

1. A production support device applied to a component mounting machine that executes a collection cycle in which a collection operation of collecting components from a component supply device equipped with a bulk feeder that supplies a plurality of components in a supply area is repeated, and a mounting cycle in which a mounting operation of mounting a plurality of the components on a board is repeated, the production support device having a setting unit that sets the execution order of the collection operations so that, among the collection operations to be executed, the collection operation of collecting the components from the bulk feeder is executed with priority in a given collection cycle.

2. The production support device of claim 1, wherein the component mounting machine executes the picking cycle and the mounting cycle based on a control program that indicates the mounting positions and order of the components to be mounted on the board, and the setting unit sets the execution order of the picking operations by editing the mounting order in the control program.

3. The production support device of claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the execution order of the multiple picking operations included in the planned picking cycle when the planned picking cycle includes the picking operation of picking the parts from the bulk feeder.

4. The production support device of claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the execution order so that, when a first cycle, which is the collection cycle scheduled to be executed, includes the collection operation of picking up the parts from the bulk feeder, the collection operation is executed preferentially in a second cycle, which is a collection cycle different from the first cycle.

5. The production support device according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit switches the collection operation between the first cycle and the second cycle.

6. A production support device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the setting unit executes a setting process for the execution order of the picking operations when the operating mode of the component mounting machine when executing the picking cycle is a safety mode, and skips the setting process for the execution order of the picking operations when the operating mode is a production mode.

7. A production support device as described in claim 6, wherein when the planned collection cycle includes a collection operation of collecting the part from the bulk feeder and a collection operation of collecting a different part from the part from a feeder other than the bulk feeder, the operating mode is set based on at least one of the type of the different part and the type of holding member that holds the different part.

8. A production support device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bulk feeder is provided with a shutter that can be opened and closed relative to the supply area and that closes the supply area when closed, and the shutter is closed after the collection operation that is executed with priority in the collection cycle is completed.

9. A production support device applied to a component mounting machine including a component supply device equipped with a bulk feeder that supplies a plurality of components in a supply area, and a mounting head that supports a plurality of holding members that hold the components, wherein the bulk feeder has a shutter that is openable and closable with respect to the supply area and closes the supply area when in a closed state, and wherein a different type of component different from the components supplied by the bulk feeder is held by the holding members and the shutter is in an open state, and the production support device includes a regulating section that regulates at least one of the movement and rotation of the different type of component by the mounting head when the shutter is in an open state.

10. The production support device described in claim 9, wherein the regulating unit executes a regulating process to regulate at least one of the movement and rotation of the different components when the operating mode of the component mounting machine when the mounting head is operating is a safety mode, and skips the regulating process when the operating mode is a production mode.

11. A production support device as described in claim 10, wherein the operating mode is the safety mode when the mounting head is located within a predetermined range from the supply area, and the production mode when the mounting head is located outside the predetermined range from the supply area.

12. A production support device as described in claim 10 or 11, wherein the operating mode is set based on at least one of the type of the dissimilar parts, the type of the holding member that holds the dissimilar parts, and the holding state of the dissimilar parts by the holding member.

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