Taping device

Abstract

Provided is a taping device that can suppress an increase in footprint and can be provided with a plurality of tape lanes for transporting a carrier tape.　In a taping device 10 having tape lanes 11, 12 through which carrier tapes S1, S2 with pockets P1, P2 in which electronic components W are placed and cover tapes T1, T2 are fed, the tape lanes 11, 12 are arranged in parallel in N rows, and at least one of processing means 44, 48, 49, 50 for performing prescribed processing on at least one or a plurality of the carrier tapes S1, S2, the electronic components W placed in the pockets P1, P2, and the cover tapes T1, T2 is provided, the at least one of the processing means 44, 48, 49, 50 being commonly used in the N rows of tape lanes 11, 12. The taping device 10 comprises a lane movement mechanism that causes the N rows of tape lanes 11, 12 to be moved relative to the processing means 44, 48, 49, 50 so that one of the N rows of tape lanes 11, 12 can be disposed in a processing-enabled position where the processing means 44, 48, 49, 50 can perform prescribed processing with respect to the tape lanes 11, 12.

Description

Taping Equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a taping device that applies a cover tape to a carrier tape having electronic components placed in pockets to encapsulate the electronic components.

[0002] When electronic components that have undergone predetermined tests such as electrical property tests are enclosed in a carrier tape and a cover tape and then shipped, a taping device is used that applies the cover tape to the carrier tape with the electronic components placed in its pockets (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).The carrier tape with the cover tape applied is wound onto a drum, and the drum is replaced when the carrier tape wound onto the drum reaches a predetermined length.

[0003] Since the drum replacement is performed while the taping device is stopped, the process of encapsulating electronic components into carrier tapes is also stopped during the drum replacement. In order to avoid this interruption in the process of encapsulating electronic components, it is possible to adopt a design in which there are two taping devices, and a component transport device that can transport electronic components to the two taping devices is provided, so that while the drum corresponding to one taping device is being replaced, the encapsulation process of electronic components is performed using the other taping device.

[0004] Furthermore, by preparing multiple taping devices and providing a component transport device capable of transporting electronic components to the multiple taping devices, it is possible to rank the electronic components based on the inspection results and produce carrier tapes containing only electronic components of the same rank, equal to the number of ranks.

[0005] JP 2017-24756 A JP 2011-11748 A

[0006] However, providing multiple taping devices and component transport devices capable of transporting electronic components to those multiple taping devices increases the number of taping devices and also requires component transport devices with a long total transport path length, resulting in an increased footprint. Furthermore, since the taping devices have processing means (such as tape application means for applying the carrier tape to the cover tape) that perform predetermined processes on the carrier tape and cover tape, providing multiple taping devices also increases the number of processing means by the number of taping devices, further increasing the footprint. The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a taping device that can provide multiple tape lanes for transporting the carrier tape and cover tape while suppressing an increase in the footprint.

[0007] A taping device according to the present invention that meets the above-mentioned objective includes a tape lane that feeds carrier tapes onto which electronic components are placed in pockets and cover tapes to be attached to the carrier tapes, the tape lanes being arranged in parallel in N rows, and at least one processing means that is shared by the N rows of tape lanes and performs predetermined processing on one or more of the carrier tapes, the electronic components placed in the pockets, and the cover tapes, and a lane movement mechanism that moves the N rows of tape lanes relative to the processing means and positions any one of the N rows of tape lanes at a processing position where the processing means can perform the predetermined processing on the tape lane, where N is an integer of 2 or more.

[0008] The taping device of the present invention has N rows of tape lanes arranged in parallel and shared by all N rows of tape lanes, and is provided with at least one processing means that performs a predetermined process on one or more of the carrier tape, electronic components placed in the pockets, and cover tape, and is equipped with a lane movement mechanism that moves the N rows of tape lanes relative to the processing means and positions one of the N rows of tape lanes at a processing position where the processing means can perform the predetermined process on the tape lane.Therefore, it is possible to provide multiple tape lanes while suppressing the expansion of the footprint compared to when N taping devices and component transport devices that can transport electronic components to those multiple taping devices are provided.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a taping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the taping device. FIG. 3 is a side view of the taping device. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a tape lane is moved. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the connection of a movement control means. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a modified example of a component conveying device that can be used together with the taping device. FIG. 7 is a plan view of a taping device according to a first modified example. FIG. 8 is a front view of a taping device according to a first modified example. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a tape lane of the taping device according to the first modified example moves. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a taping device according to a second modified example.

[0010] 1, 2, and 3, a taping apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus having carrier tapes S1 and S2 into which electronic components W are inserted into pockets P1 and P2, a tape lane 11 along which a cover tape T1 to be attached to the carrier tape S1 is fed, and a tape lane 12 along which a cover tape T2 to be attached to the carrier tape S2 is fed. A detailed description will be given below.

[0011] 1, 2 and 3, the taping device 10 has a plate-shaped movable table 16 mounted so as to be reciprocable in the X-axis direction along linear guide rails 14 and 15 fixed to a base table 13, and a plate-shaped movable table 19 mounted so as to be reciprocable in the Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction along linear guide rails 17 and 18 fixed to the movable table 16. In this embodiment, both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are horizontal.

[0012] A driving means 20 is attached to the base table 13, which applies a force in the X-axis direction to the movable table 16, and a driving means 21 is attached to the movable table 16, which applies a force in the Y-axis direction to the movable table 19. In this embodiment, the driving means 20 (and the driving means 21) are configured to include a ball screw and a motor that applies a rotational force to the ball screw, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0013] Linear guide rails 22, 23 extending along the X-axis direction are fixed to the movable base 19. The guide rails 22, 23 are parallel to each other, and a cubic movable unit 24 is attached to the guide rails 22, 23 so as to be able to reciprocate along the guide rails 22, 23. A driving means 25 is attached to the movable base 19, and applies a force to the movable unit 24 in a direction along the guide rails 22, 23 (X-axis direction). Like the driving means 20, 21, the driving means 25 is also configured to include a ball screw and a motor, but is not limited to this.

[0014] 3, the movable unit 24 is provided at its upper portion with pulleys 26, 27, 28, and 29, each of which receives rotational force from a servo motor (not shown). The pulleys 26 and 27 are positioned at the same location in the X-axis direction and spaced apart in the Y-axis direction. The pulley 28 is positioned adjacent to the pulley 26 in the X-axis direction, and the pulleys 28 and 29 are positioned at the same location in the X-axis direction and spaced apart in the Y-axis direction.

[0015] Near the movable unit 24 are arranged a first tape supply drum on which an empty carrier tape S1 with no electronic components W placed in the pocket P1 is wound, and a first tape take-up drum on which the carrier tape S1 and cover tape T1 with the electronic components W enclosed therein are wound. Further, near the movable unit 24 are arranged a second tape supply drum on which an empty carrier tape S2 with no electronic components W placed in the pocket P2 is wound, and a second tape take-up drum on which the carrier tape S2 and cover tape T2 with the electronic components W enclosed therein are wound.

[0016] That is, in this embodiment, two tape supply drums and two tape take-up drums (an example of N drums) are provided, where N is an integer equal to or greater than 2. The first tape supply drum and the first tape take-up drum correspond to pulleys 26 and 27. The carrier tape S1 is hung on the pulleys 26 and 27, and is intermittently fed from the first tape supply drum to the first tape take-up drum by repeatedly rotating and pausing the pulleys 26 and 27.

[0017] The second tape supply drum and the second tape take-up drum correspond to pulleys 28 and 29. The carrier tape S2 is looped around the pulleys 28 and 29 and is intermittently fed from the second tape supply drum to the second tape take-up drum by repeatedly rotating and pausing the pulleys 28 and 29. The rotation and pausing of the pulleys 26 and 27 are controlled independently of the rotation and pausing of the pulleys 28 and 29. Therefore, the movement and stopping of the carrier tapes S1 and S2 can be controlled independently. For example, one of the carrier tapes S1 and S2 can be moved while the other is stopped. The first and second tape supply drums and the first and second tape take-up drums are not shown. Also, the electronic components W in the pockets P1 and P2 are not shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

[0018] In this embodiment, the transport path along which the carrier tape S1 is fed from the first tape supply drum to the first tape take-up drum is referred to as tape lane 11, and the transport path along which the carrier tape S2 is fed from the second tape supply drum to the second tape take-up drum is referred to as tape lane 12. The tape lanes 11 and 12 are arranged in parallel. That is, in this embodiment, there are two rows (an example of N rows) of tape lanes 11 and 12 arranged in parallel.

[0019] 1 and 2, a component conveying device 30 is provided near the taping device 10, which includes the base table 13, movable tables 16 and 19, driving means 20, 21 and 25, and movable unit 24, for transporting electronic components W obtained from the outside and providing them to the tape lanes 11 and 12. The component conveying device 30 includes a conveying unit 31 for obtaining electronic components W from the outside (in this embodiment, wafer sheets U, but not limited to this), a conveying unit 32 for obtaining electronic components W from the conveying unit 31, and a conveying unit 33 for obtaining electronic components W from the conveying unit 32.

[0020] The transport unit 31 includes a rotating body 34 and a plurality of suction nozzles 35 arranged at equal intervals along an imaginary circumference centered on the rotating body 34. Each suction nozzle 35 sucks an electronic component W by vacuum pressure and releases the sucked electronic component W by opening it to the atmosphere or by blowing air. The transport units 32 and 33 have the same configuration as the transport unit 31, and each has the same number of suction nozzles 35 as the rotating body 34 and the transport unit 31. In this embodiment, the transport units 31, 32, and 33 are arranged so that the rotation axes of the respective rotating bodies 34 are parallel, but other arrangements are also possible, and the number of transport units does not have to be three.

[0021] 2 , the suction nozzle 35 of the transport unit 31 acquires and picks up an electronic component W from the wafer sheet U at the 3 o'clock position, moves together with the electronic component W to the 9 o'clock position as the rotor 34 of the transport unit 31 rotates counterclockwise, and provides the electronic component W to the suction nozzle 35 of the transport unit 32. The transport unit 32 also performs the same operation as the transport unit 31 to provide the electronic component W acquired from the transport unit 31 to the transport unit 33. The suction nozzle 35 of the transport unit 33 moves to the 6 o'clock position as the rotor 34 rotates counterclockwise, and inserts the picked-up electronic component W into the pocket P1 of the carrier tape S1 arranged on the tape lane 11 or the pocket P2 of the carrier tape S2 arranged on the tape lane 12.

[0022] Here, the placement area of ​​pocket P1 or pocket P2 where electronic components W can be inserted into pocket P1 of carrier tape S1 or pocket P2 of carrier tape S2 by the conveying unit 33 is defined as the insertable area R, and the driving means 25 can move the movable unit 24 (tape lanes 11, 12) so that either one of pockets P1 of carrier tape S1 or one of pockets P2 of carrier tape S2 is positioned in the insertable area R.

[0023] The allowable insertion area R is an area that includes both an area where electronic components W can be reliably inserted into pocket P1 or pocket P2, and an area where it is possible to insert electronic components W, albeit unreliably. In this embodiment, the allowable insertion area R is larger than one pocket P1 (pockets P1 and P2 are the same size), but is large enough to accommodate two pockets P1, two pockets P2, or adjacent pockets P1 and P2 in the X-axis direction. Therefore, only one pocket P1 or one pocket P2 is arranged in the allowable insertion area R.

[0024] With one actuation, the driving means 25 horizontally moves the movable unit 24 in the X-axis direction relative to the movable base 19 by the distance between the widthwise centers of the tape lanes 11 and 12. Therefore, when the driving means 25 is actuated with one pocket P1 located in the input area R as shown in Fig. 1, one pocket P2 is located in the input area R as shown in Fig. 4, and when the driving means 25 is actuated with one pocket P2 located in the input area R as shown in Fig. 4, one pocket P1 is located in the input area R as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the driving means 25 switches between the tape lanes 11 and 12, parts of which are located in the input area R.

[0025] 2, an electrical characteristic inspection unit 36 ​​that inspects the electrical characteristics of electronic components W sucked by the suction nozzles 35 of the transport unit 32 is located near the transport unit 32, and imaging means 37 and 38 that perform imaging are fixed to support members (not shown) near the transport unit 33. As shown in FIG. 5, the imaging means 37 is connected to a defect detection section 40 that detects abnormalities in the appearance of the electronic components W, such as cracks and chips, based on the images of the electronic components W captured by the imaging means 37. The imaging means 38 is connected to a position detection section 41 that detects the position of the electronic components W relative to the transport unit 33 based on the images of the electronic components W captured by the imaging means 38.

[0026] 3, an imaging means 44 (an example of a processing means for performing a predetermined process on the carrier tape S1 or S2) is fixed to a support member (not shown) near the movable unit 24. The imaging means 44 captures an image of either an empty pocket P1 of the carrier tape S1 arranged in the insertable area R or an empty pocket P2 of the carrier tape S2 arranged in the insertable area R via light reflecting members 42, 43. The imaging means 44 is connected to a position detection unit 45 that detects the position of the pocket P1 or the pocket P2 arranged in the insertable area R based on the image captured by the imaging means 44, as shown in FIG.

[0027] The electrical characteristic inspection unit 36 ​​and the defect detection section 40 are connected to a control section 46 which is in turn connected to the driving sections 20, 21, 25. The control section 46 can be configured with a CPU, a memory, etc. In this embodiment, the control section 46 selects either pocket P1 of the carrier tape S1 or pocket P2 of the carrier tape S2 as the destination for the next electronic component W, based on the inspection results of the electrical characteristic inspection unit 36 ​​and the detection results of the defect detection section 40, and causes the transport unit 33 to move the movable unit 24 on the movable base 19 under the control of the driving section 25, thereby placing the selected pocket P1 or pocket P2 in the insertion region R.

[0028] In this embodiment, electronic components W whose results in both the electrical characteristic test and the appearance test are of a predetermined rank or higher (good rank) are placed in pocket P1 of carrier tape S1, and electronic components W whose results in either test are of a rank lower than the predetermined rank are placed in pocket P2 of carrier tape S2. When pocket P1 corresponding to tape lane 11 is placed in input area R, the imaging means 44 can image the corresponding pocket P1, and when pocket P2 corresponding to tape lane 12 is placed in input area R, the imaging means 44 can image the corresponding pocket P2. In other words, the imaging means 44 is used for both tape lanes 11 and 12.

[0029] In this embodiment, a lane movement mechanism is constituted by guide rails 22, 23 and a drive means 25, which moves two rows of tape lanes 11, 12 relative to an imaging means 44, which is an example of a processing means, and positions one of the two rows of tape lanes 11, 12 at an imaging position (an example of a processing position) where the imaging means 44 can perform imaging (predetermined processing) on ​​that tape lane 11 (or tape lane 12).

[0030] Furthermore, the position of pocket P1 (or pocket P2) in the insertion area R where the transport unit 33 can reliably insert electronic components W is set as a target position, and a movement amount calculation means 47 is connected to the position detection units 41, 45. The movement amount calculation means 47 calculates the movement direction and movement amount of the movable unit 24 for locating the pocket P1 (or pocket P2) arranged in the insertion area R at the target position. In this embodiment, the movement amount calculation means 47 derives the target position based on the position of the electronic component W to be next inserted into pocket P1 (or pocket P2) relative to the transport unit 33 (i.e., the detection result of the position detection unit 41). Note that, depending on the facility, a common target position is set for each electronic component W.

[0031] The movement amount calculation means 47 derives the movement direction and movement amount of the movable unit 24 for placing an empty pocket P1 in the target position corresponding to that pocket P1, each time the carrier tape S1 is moved by the pulleys 26, 27. The reason why the movement direction and movement amount of the movable unit 24 are derived for each individual pocket P1 is because the position of each pocket P1 when placed in the input area R is different (strictly speaking, different) for each pocket P1.

[0032] The same is true for pocket P2, and each time an empty pocket P2 is placed in the input area R by the movement of the carrier tape S2, the movement amount calculation means 47 derives the movement direction and movement amount of the movable unit 24 for placing the pocket P2 at the target position. Therefore, the taping device 10 is equipped with movement amount calculation means 47 that derives the movement direction and movement amount of the two tape lanes 11, 12 for placing the empty pocket P1 or the empty pocket P2 at the target position based on the images captured by the imaging means 38 and the images captured by the imaging means 44.

[0033] The defect detection unit 40 and the position detection units 41, 45 can be configured by a chip or the like equipped with an image processing program, and the movement amount calculation means 47 can be configured by a CPU, memory, etc. The control means 46 and the movement amount calculation means 47 are connected, and the control means 46 adjusts the position of the movable unit 24 by operating the drive means 20, 21 based on the result derived by the movement amount calculation means 47, thereby placing pocket P1 (or pocket P2) arranged in the insertion area R at the target position. In this embodiment, the tape lanes 11, 12 move parallel to each other as a unit by operating the drive means 20, 21.

[0034] The following describes the process of inserting an electronic component W (hereinafter also referred to as the "target electronic component W") into an empty pocket P2 when an empty pocket P1 is arranged in the insertion area R. (1) At the timing when the transport unit 33 is transporting the target electronic component W to the insertion area R, the control means 46 controls the drive means 25 to move the movable unit 24 and place one pocket P2 in the insertion area R.

[0035] (2) The imaging means 44 captures an image of the pocket P2 placed in the insertion area R, and the position detection unit 45 detects the position of the pocket P2 from the captured image. (3) The movement amount calculation means 47 determines a target position based on the position of the target electronic component W detected by the position detection unit 41 based on the image captured by the imaging means 38 and the position of the pocket P2 detected by the position detection unit 45, and derives the movement direction and movement amount of the movable unit 24 for placing the pocket P2 at the target position.

[0036] (4) The control means 46 controls the drive means 20, 21 to adjust the X-axis and Y-axis positions of the movable unit 24 based on the result of calculation by the movement amount calculation means 47, and positions the pocket P2 in the insertion area R at the target position. (5) The transport unit 33 inserts the target electronic component W into the pocket P2 arranged at the target position.

[0037] Furthermore, instead of capturing an image of an empty pocket P1 (or pocket P2) placed in the deposit-enabled area R, the imaging means 44 may capture an image of the empty pocket P1 (or pocket P2) before it is placed in the deposit-enabled area R. For example, when the imaging means 44 captures an image of the pocket P1 (or pocket P2) one step upstream of the deposit-enabled area R, the movement amount calculation means 47 stores the position of the pocket P1 (or pocket P2) detected by the position detection unit 45 based on the image captured by the imaging means 44, by linking it to the corresponding tape lane 11 (in the case of pocket P2, by linking the position of the pocket P2 to the corresponding tape lane 12), and uses the stored position (position information) of the pocket P1 (or pocket P2) to derive the movement direction and movement amount of the movable unit 24 (tape lanes 11, 12) for placing the pocket P1 (or pocket P2) at the target position.

[0038] In this case, the control means 46 controls the drive means 20, 21 (and drive means 25 if switching between tape lanes 11, 12 is required) at the timing when the tape lane 11 moves by the pulleys 26, 27 (the timing when the pocket P1 one position upstream of the input area R moves into the input area R), to adjust the position of the movable unit 24 and position the pocket P1 one position upstream of the input area R at the target position.

[0039] Furthermore, after an electronic component W is inserted into pocket P1, when the next electronic component W is inserted into pocket P2, the direction and amount of movement of the movable unit 24 for placing the pocket P2 at the target position are derived using the position of the pocket P2 detected based on an image taken when the pocket P2 was located one step upstream of the insertion area R and stored in association with the tape lane 12.

[0040] In addition, the imaging means 44 may be designed to image not only the pocket P1 (or pocket P2) arranged in the deposit-enabled area R, but also the empty pocket P1 (or pocket P2) before it is arranged in the deposit-enabled area R, i.e., multiple pockets P1 (or pockets P2), or may be designed to image one or multiple pockets P2 together with one or multiple pockets P1. In this case, for example, the positions of each of the multiple pockets P1 and P2 can be detected from one image.

[0041] In the above step (1), the process of switching from a state in which pocket P1 is arranged in input area R to a state in which pocket P2 is arranged in input area R can be performed by moving movable table 16 relative to base table 13 under the control of drive means 20, instead of by moving movable unit 24 relative to movable table 19 under the control of drive means 25. In this case, a lane movement mechanism that moves two rows of tape lanes 11, 12 and positions one of tape lanes 11, 12 at a processing position where the processing means can perform a predetermined process is composed of guide rails 14, 15 and drive means 20.

[0042] Conversely, in the above step (4), the process of matching the X-axis direction position of pocket P2 with the X-axis direction position of the target position can also be performed by moving the movable unit 24 relative to the movable table 19 under the control of the drive means 25, instead of by moving the movable table 16 relative to the base table 13 under the control of the drive means 20.

[0043] Therefore, it is possible to omit either the mechanism for moving the movable table 16 in the X-axis direction relative to the base table 13 by the driving means 20 or the mechanism for moving the movable unit 24 in the X-axis direction relative to the movable table 19 by the driving means 25. However, since the movement in the X-axis direction in the above step (1) and the movement in the X-axis direction in the above step (4) differ in the amount of movement and the required movement accuracy, it is preferable to provide mechanisms with different designs suited to the respective movements in the X-axis direction, and this preferred configuration is adopted in the present embodiment.

[0044] In the above step (4), the process of aligning the Y-axis direction position of pocket P2 with the Y-axis direction position of the target position can be performed by moving carrier tape S2 by rotating pulleys 28 and 29 instead of by moving movable table 19 relative to movable table 16 under the control of drive means 21 (by moving carrier tape S1 by rotating pulleys 26 and 27 to adjust the Y-axis direction position of pocket P1).

[0045] 3 and 4, in this embodiment, an imaging means 48 is fixed to a support member (not shown) downstream of the insertion area R. The imaging means 48 images electronic components W in pocket P1 of carrier tape S1 to which cover tape T1 is not attached, or electronic components W in pocket P2 of carrier tape S2 to which cover tape T2 is not attached. Based on the image captured by the imaging means 48, it is determined whether electronic components W protrude from pocket P1 or pocket P2.

[0046] Then, downstream of the position where pocket P1 (or pocket P2) is imaged by imaging means 48 (i.e., downstream of the input area R), tape application means 49 is provided which applies cover tape T1 to carrier tape S1 (or cover tape T2 to carrier tape S2) by pressing or the like, and further downstream of that, imaging means 50 is fixed to a support member not shown which images the adhesive portion of cover tape T1 applied to carrier tape S1, i.e., the adhesive portion between carrier tape S1 and cover tape T1 (or the adhesive portion of cover tape T2 applied to carrier tape S2, i.e., the adhesive portion between carrier tape S2 and cover tape T2).

[0047] The imaging means 48, 50 are each an example of a processing means that is shared by both the two rows of tape lanes 11, 12 and performs a predetermined process on the electronic components W placed in the pocket P1 (or pocket P2). The tape application means 49 is an example of a processing means that is shared by both the two rows of tape lanes 11, 12 and performs a predetermined process on the carrier tape S1 and the cover tape T1 (or the carrier tape S2 and the cover tape T2). Therefore, in this embodiment, at least one processing means is provided that is shared by both the two rows of tape lanes 11, 12 and performs a predetermined process on one or more of the carrier tapes S1, S2, the electronic components W placed in the pockets P1, P2, and the cover tapes T1, T2.

[0048] While the present invention has been described above as an embodiment, it is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and any modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention are within the scope of the present invention. For example, a component conveying device for conveying electronic components to a taping device may be a component conveying device 60 that supports electronic components W by hanging them, as shown in FIG. 6, or a component conveying device of other designs. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the tape lanes may be provided in three or more rows (in the example shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, three rows of tape lanes 70, 71, and 72 are provided). The N rows of tape lanes do not have to move as a unit. Instead, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, a lane moving mechanism may be employed to individually move N movable units each provided with a tape lane (in the example shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, three movable units 73, 74, and 75 each provided with tape lanes 70, 71, and 72). Each tape lane may be moved individually.

[0049] 11 , a taping device 80 may be employed in which tape lanes 81, 82, and 83 are arranged radially from position Q in plan view. In plan view, the position where three extension lines of tape lanes 81, 82, and 83 intersect is set as position Q. Tape lanes 81, 82, and 83 move so as to rotate around position Q, and various adjustments are made so that one of tape lanes 81, 82, and 83 is positioned directly below transport unit 84.

[0050] Furthermore, there may be at least one processing means that is shared by all N rows of tape lanes and performs a predetermined process on one or more of the carrier tape, the electronic components inserted into the pockets, and the cover tape. For example, only an imaging means that images either or both of an empty pocket arranged in the insertion area and an empty pocket before being placed in the insertion area may be the processing means used in common by all N rows of tape lanes, and N imaging means that image electronic components in pockets downstream of the insertion area, tape application means, and imaging means that image the adhesive portion of the cover tape applied to the carrier tape may be provided.

[0051] 10: Taping device, 11, 12: Tape lane, 13: Base table, 14, 15: Guide rail, 16: Movable table, 17, 18: Guide rail, 19: Movable table, 20, 21: Driving means, 22, 23: Guide rail, 24: Movable unit, 25: Driving means, 26, 27, 28, 29: Pulley, 30: Part conveying device, 31, 32, 33: Conveying unit, 34: Rotating body, 35: Suction nozzle, 36: Electrical characteristic inspection unit, 37, 38: Imaging means, 40: Defect detection unit, 41: Position detection unit 42, 43: Light reflecting member, 44: Imaging means, 45: Position detection unit, 46: Control means, 47: Movement amount calculation means, 48: Imaging means, 49: Tape application means, 50: Imaging means, 60: Component conveying device, 70, 71, 72: Tape lane, 73, 74, 75: Movable unit, 80: Taping device, 81, 82, 83: Tape lane, 84: Conveying unit, P1, P2: Pocket, R: Insertable area, S1, S2: Carrier tape, T1, T2: Cover tape, U: Wafer sheet, W: Electronic component

Claims

1. A taping device having a carrier tape into which electronic components are inserted into pockets and a tape lane through which a cover tape to be affixed to the carrier tape is fed, the tape lanes are arranged in parallel in N rows, at least one processing means is provided that is used for the N rows of tape lanes and performs a predetermined process on one or more of the carrier tape, the electronic components inserted into the pockets, and the cover tape, and the device further comprises a lane movement mechanism that moves the N rows of tape lanes relative to the processing means and positions any one of the N rows of tape lanes at a processing position where the processing means can perform a predetermined process on the tape lane, where N is an integer of 2 or more.

2. A taping device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said processing means performs processing to image one or more of said carrier tape, said electronic components placed in said pockets, and said cover tape.

3. A taping device as described in claim 2, characterized in that the processing means is an imaging means for imaging either or both of an empty pocket arranged in an input area where the electronic component can be inserted into the pocket and the empty pocket before being placed in the input area, and the taping device further comprises a movement amount calculation means for deriving, based on the image taken by the imaging means, the movement direction and movement amount of the N rows of tape lanes so as to position the empty pocket at a target position within the input area where the electronic component can be reliably inserted into the empty pocket.

4. A taping device as described in claim 3, characterized in that the movement amount calculation means detects the position of the pocket based on the image captured by the imaging means of the empty pocket before it is placed in the insertion area, and uses the position of the pocket stored in association with the corresponding tape lane to derive the movement direction and movement amount of the N rows of tape lanes to place the pocket in the target position.

5. A taping device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the processing means is an imaging means for imaging the electronic components in the pockets of the carrier tape to which the cover tape is not attached, downstream of the insertion area in which the electronic components can be inserted into the pockets.

6. A taping device according to claim 2, wherein said processing means is imaging means for imaging the adhesive portion of said cover tape affixed to said carrier tape.

7. A taping device according to claim 1, wherein said processing means is a tape application means for applying said cover tape to said carrier tape downstream of an area in which said electronic components can be inserted into said pocket.

Images