Viscous fluid supply apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a viscous fluid supply apparatus capable of simplifying apparatus configuration for confirming the type of viscous fluid and determining the remaining amount of the viscous fluid.　The viscous fluid supply apparatus executes a process of supplying viscous fluid to a supply target. The viscous fluid supply apparatus comprises: an attachment unit to which a storage container for storing the viscous fluid can be detachably attached; a recognition unit for recognizing an identification information section provided on the storage container; and a control unit for determining the type of the viscous fluid stored in the storage container on the basis of the identification information indicated by the identification information section recognized by the recognition unit, and determining the remaining amount of the viscous fluid in the storage container on the basis of the position of an identification section on the storage container recognized by the recognition unit.

Description

Viscous fluid supply device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a viscous fluid supply device for supplying a viscous fluid.

[0002] Various techniques for detecting the remaining amount of viscous fluid in a viscous fluid supplying device have been proposed. For example, in a printing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, a piston is inserted into a solder container that contains solder paste. A pressing part is provided at the upper end of the piston. Furthermore, a through hole that penetrates vertically is formed in the piston and the pressing part.

[0003] The printing device drives a servo motor to lower the solder container and move a pressing part toward the bottom of the solder container, thereby pushing out the solder paste contained in the solder container through the through holes. The printing device of Patent Document 1 is equipped with an encoder that detects the rotation position of the servo motor, and calculates the amount of solder paste remaining in the solder container based on the detection value of the encoder.

[0004] JP 2012-106416 A (paragraphs 0037 and 0038)

[0005] In such a viscous fluid supplying device, it is preferable to confirm whether the type of viscous fluid contained in the solder container refilled by the operator is the appropriate type of viscous fluid to be used after refilling. However, if the device for confirming the type of viscous fluid is provided as a separate device from the device for detecting the remaining amount of viscous fluid, the structure of the viscous fluid supplying device may become complicated.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a viscous fluid supply device that can simplify the configuration of the device when confirming the type of viscous fluid and determining the remaining amount of viscous fluid.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, this specification discloses a viscous fluid supply device that performs a supply process of a viscous fluid to a supply target, and that includes an attachment unit that allows a storage container that stores the viscous fluid to be attached and detached, a recognition unit that recognizes an identification information unit provided on the storage container, and a control unit that determines the type of viscous fluid stored in the storage container based on the identification information indicated by the identification information unit recognized by the recognition unit, and that determines the remaining amount of viscous fluid in the storage container based on the position of a specific part of the storage container recognized by the recognition unit.

[0008] According to the viscous fluid supply device of the present disclosure, the control unit can determine the type of viscous fluid in the storage container based on the identification information of the identification information unit recognized by the recognition unit. It can determine whether the type of viscous fluid refilled into the storage container by the operator is appropriate for the type of viscous fluid to be used after refilling. The control unit can also determine the remaining amount of viscous fluid in the storage container based on the position of the specific part of the storage container recognized by the recognition unit. By determining the remaining amount, it can determine when to replace the storage container, etc. Therefore, the recognition unit can both confirm the type of viscous fluid and determine the remaining amount of viscous fluid, simplifying the configuration of the device.

[0009] 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a mounting system 10 including a printing device 11 of the present embodiment. An explanatory diagram of a supply unit 40. An explanatory diagram of a closing mechanism 17 and a fixing mechanism 45 in a state where the door element 16 is open. An explanatory diagram of a closing mechanism 17 and a fixing mechanism 45 in a state where the door element 16 is closed. An explanatory diagram of a printing unit 24, a mask unit 28, an imaging unit 35, and a supply unit 40. A block diagram showing the electrical connection relationship of the printing device 11. An explanatory diagram of a cartridge 60. A diagram showing the state of the cartridge 60 before using solder paste and the state of the cartridge 60 after the solder paste has been reduced. A flowchart of a supply printing process. A flowchart of a cartridge replacement process.

[0010] An embodiment embodying the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a mounting system 10 including a printing apparatus 11 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting system 10 according to this embodiment is a system for mounting components on a substrate S. The mounting system 10 includes a printing apparatus 11, multiple mounting apparatuses 12, and a management computer (PC) 13. The mounting line of the mounting system 10 includes multiple mounting apparatuses 12 that mount components on the substrate S, arranged downstream of the printing apparatus 11. Note that the following description will be based on the perspective of an operator viewing the printing apparatus 11 and the mounting apparatuses 12 from the front, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 . Specifically, the direction in which the substrate S is transported on the mounting line will be referred to as the left-right direction (X-axis), the direction parallel to the plane of the transported substrate S and perpendicular to the left-right direction will be referred to as the front-back direction (Y-axis), and the direction perpendicular to both the left-right direction and the front-back direction will be referred to as the up-down direction (Z-axis).

[0011] The printing device 11 is a device that applies (prints) solder paste as a viscous fluid onto a substrate S serving as a printing target below by forcing solder paste on a screen mask M into pattern holes formed in the screen mask M using a squeegee 27 (see FIG. 5 ) through the pattern holes. Examples of printing targets include a substrate S on which components are mounted, as well as three-dimensional objects. Examples of viscous fluids include solder paste, conductive paste, adhesives, and the like. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which a substrate S is used as an example of a printing target, and solder paste is used as an example of a viscous fluid.

[0012] The multiple mounting devices 12 are devices that mount components on the board S on which solder paste has been printed by the printing device 11. The management PC 13 is a device that manages information about each device in the mounting system 10. The management PC 13 manages the progress status of each device on the mounting line. Each device in the mounting system 10 exchanges information with the management PC 13 and obtains information such as the progress status of other devices.

[0013] Next, details of the printing device 11 will be described. The printing device 11 includes a control unit 20 (see FIG. 6), a printing unit 24, a mask unit 28, a substrate processing unit 30, a cleaning unit 32, an imaging unit 35 (see FIG. 5), and a supply unit 40. The control unit 20 is configured as a microprocessor centered around a CPU 21 (see FIG. 6), and controls the entire printing device 11.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 , a main body 14 supporting various components is provided at the front end of the printing device 11. Also, as shown in FIG. 2 , the supply unit 40 is provided with a storage section 42 that stores a cartridge 60 containing solder paste. As shown in FIGS. 3 , 4 , and 5 , the main body 14 is provided with a door member 16 that opens and closes an opening 15 of the storage section 42. The door member 16 can be locked in a closed state by a closing mechanism 17 (described later). When replacing the cartridge 60, the supply unit 40 is positioned in a standby area at the front end in the front-to-rear direction, as shown in FIG. 5 . The storage section 42 that stores the cartridge 60 is positioned in a standby position at the right end in the left-to-right direction, as shown in FIG. 2 . In this state, an operator replaces the cartridge 60 in the storage section 42 through the opening 15 from the front of the printing device 11. The opening 15 is located in a position that corresponds to the front of the storage section 42 when the supply unit 40 is positioned so that the storage section 42 is in front of it when the storage section 42 is located at the front end of the printing device 11. The door member 16 is located on the right side of the front of the main body 14. The door element 16 is a sliding window that slides left and right, and by sliding, it switches between a state in which the opening 15 is opened and a state in which the opening 15 is closed.

[0015] The door element 16 is opened only when replacing the cartridge 60. After the storage section 42 is positioned in the standby position, an operator can replace the cartridge 60 by opening the door element 16. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the printing device 11 is provided with a closing mechanism 17 located to the right of the door element 16 when the printing device 11 is positioned in the closed position. The closing mechanism 17 closes the door element 16 when a joint member 19 fixed to the door element 16 is inserted into an insertion hole 18 formed in the housing of the closing mechanism 17. The closing mechanism 17 includes a solenoid 17A (see FIG. 6 ) that drives a lock pin provided inside the insertion hole 18. A hole is formed at the tip of the joint member 19, and the closing mechanism 17 drives the solenoid 17A to insert the lock pin into the hole and lock the door element 16 in the closed state. The closing mechanism 17 also includes a closing sensor 17B (see FIG. 6 ) that can detect the insertion and locked states of the joint member 19. The control unit 20 can detect that the door element 16 is locked and closed based on the output signal of the closing sensor 17B.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 , the printing unit 24 is provided in the upper portion of the printing device 11 and is a unit that prints solder paste on a substrate S using a screen mask M. The printing unit 24 includes a squeegee lifting / lowering unit 22 (see FIG. 6 ), a print head 25, a print moving unit 26, and a squeegee 27. The print moving unit 26 moves the print head 25 in a predetermined printing direction (the front-to-rear direction in this embodiment) and includes a slider that moves along a guide formed in the front-to-rear direction and a motor that drives the slider. The squeegee 27 is provided on the underside of the print head 25 and is raised and lowered by the squeegee lifting / lowering unit 22. The printing unit 24 includes two squeegees 27, each of which is provided at a different position on the print head 25 in the front-to-rear direction. The printing unit 24 can switch the connection state between, for example, the slider of the print moving unit 26 and the supply unit 40 using a connecting unit 50 (described later). While connected, the printing movement section 26 moves the slider to move the supply unit 40 together with the print head 25. The supply unit 40 does not have a movement mechanism such as a motor, but is connected to the printing movement section 26 by a connection section 50, and thus moves back and forth between the supply area and the standby area shown in FIG.

[0017] The mask unit 28 is a unit that is provided at a position between the printing unit 24 and the substrate processing unit 30 in the vertical direction and that fixes the screen mask M. The mask unit 28 includes a mask fixing unit 29. The mask fixing unit 29 positions the screen mask M and supports and fixes it in a horizontal position.

[0018] The substrate processing unit 30 is provided below the mask unit 28 and includes a substrate transport unit 31, a substrate support member that supports the substrate S from below, and a support lifting unit that raises and lowers the entire substrate processing unit 30 and the substrate support member. The substrate transport unit 31 includes a circular conveyor belt or the like, and transports the substrate S in the left-right direction to carry it into the printing device 11, and positions and holds the carried-in substrate S. The substrate processing unit 30 raises the substrate support member using the support lifting unit, thereby bringing the substrate S held by the substrate transport unit 31 into contact with the screen mask M from below. The substrate processing unit 30 also lowers the substrate support member to separate the substrate S from the screen mask M.

[0019] The cleaning unit 32 is provided at a position between the mask unit 28 and the substrate processing unit 30 in the vertical direction, and is a unit that cleans the back surface of the screen mask M with a cleaning member 33. An example of the cleaning member 33 is cleaning paper. The imaging unit 35 includes a camera 36 that captures images of the substrate S and the screen mask M. The control unit 20 aligns the screen mask M and the substrate S based on image data from the camera 36.

[0020] The supply unit 40 is movably provided above the mask unit 28 at the same height as the printing unit 24. The supply unit 40 supplies solder paste stored in a storage container 71 (see FIG. 7 ) in the cartridge 60 onto the screen mask M. The supply unit 40 is provided in front of the print head 25 (see FIG. 5 ). The supply unit 40 applies pressure to the cartridge 60 to eject the solder paste from the storage container 71. As shown in FIG. 2 , the supply unit 40 includes an attachment unit 41, a storage unit 42, a drive unit 43, and a cover member 44. The attachment unit 41 is capable of attaching the cartridge 60, which stores the storage container 71. The attachment unit 41 is also capable of removing and replacing the attached cartridge 60. As described below, only the storage container 71 may be replaced, and the cartridge 60 may be reused. Alternatively, the storage container 71 may be refilled with solder paste, and the cartridge 60 and storage container 71 may be reused. In this case, the identification information section 77, described below, may be replaced. The mounting portion 41 is provided at the left end of the storage portion 42. The cartridge 60 is provided with a snap lock 58 (see FIG. 7) having a hook and a rotating lever. The cartridge 60 is mounted and fixed to the mounting portion 41 by the snap lock 58. The mounting portion 41 moves together with the storage portion 42 in the supply operation direction (left and right direction) by the drive unit 43. Note that the method of mounting the cartridge 60 to the mounting portion 41 is not limited to the snap lock 58, and other members such as a bolt may also be used.

[0021] The accommodation section 42 is a box-shaped member, and has an attachment section 41 provided therein, so that the cartridge 60 can be housed therein. The accommodation section 42 has surfaces that cover the left, right, rear, and bottom sides of the cartridge 60 attached to the attachment section 41, and has an opening 15 formed on the front surface. The opening 15 is formed to a size that allows the cartridge 60 to pass through, and is also formed to a size that can be closed by a door member 16. The supply unit 40 supplies solder paste to the screen mask M with the cartridge 60 housed in the accommodation section 42.

[0022] The drive unit 43 moves the cartridge 60 mounted in the mounting unit 41 together with the storage unit 42 in the supply operation direction. The drive unit 43 includes a drive roller connected to a motor and located on the right end of the supply unit 40, a driven roller located on the left end of the supply unit 40, and a belt stretched left-right across the drive roller and driven roller. The mounting unit 41 and the storage unit 42 are fixed to a slider connected to the belt, and the mounting unit 41 and the storage unit 42 move in the supply operation direction in response to the rotation of the belt. Therefore, the storage unit 42 and the cartridge 60 can move in the front-rear direction by connecting the supply unit 40 to the print movement unit 26, and can move left-right by driving the drive unit 43. The cover member 44 covers the front and top of the supply unit 40 and protects the drive unit 43 and other components.

[0023] 3 and 4, the printing device 11 also includes a fixing mechanism 45. When the cartridge 60 is in the standby position and the door member 16 is in the open state, the fixing mechanism 45 restricts movement of the mounting portion 41 and the storage portion 42 in the supply operation direction. On the other hand, when the door member 16 is in the closed state, the fixing mechanism 45 allows movement of the mounting portion 41 and the storage portion 42 in the supply operation direction. The fixing mechanism 45 includes a fixing stay 46, a hook member 47, a biasing member 48, a release pin 49, and a release stay 56. The fixing stay 46 is fixed to the front of the mounting portion 41. The fixing stay 46 is a vertical plate-shaped member formed forward from the lower portion of the cover member 44. The fixing stay 46 is a member that fixes the cartridge 60 (storage portion 42) in the standby position. The hook member 47 is a member formed with a groove into which the upper end of the fixing stay 46 is inserted, and rotates around a support shaft fixed to the frame member that holds the door element 16 between a fixed position shown in FIG. 3 and a released position shown in FIG. 4 . Note that the enlarged views in FIGS. 3 and 4 show the hook member 47 and other components as viewed from the back (rear). The biasing member 48 is an elastic body such as a spring, and biases the hook member 47 toward the fixed position. The release pin 49 is a member that moves the hook member 47 to the released position when a release stay 56 provided on the door element 16 abuts against and is pressed. When the door element 16 is closed, the fixing mechanism 45 positions the hook member 47 in the released position by the release stay 56, allowing the mounting portion 41 and the storage portion 42 to move (see FIG. 4 ). When the door element 16 is in the open state, the hook element 47 of the fixing mechanism 45 engages with the fixing stay 46 at the fixed position, and the mounting portion 41 and the storage portion 42 are fixed at the standby position (see FIG. 3). In this way, the fixing mechanism 45 restricts or releases the restriction on the movement of the cartridge 60 depending on the position of the door element 16.

[0024] The connecting unit 50 switches between a state in which the supply unit 40 and the moving printing unit 26 of the printing unit 24 are connected and a state in which the connection is released. The connecting unit 50 also functions as a fixing unit that fixes the supply unit 40 to the main body 14. When replacing the cartridge 60, the connecting unit 50 fixes the supply unit 40 to the main body 14 of the printing device 11 in the standby area and releases the connection between the connecting unit 50 and the moving printing unit 26. On the other hand, when moving the storage unit 42 to supply solder paste after replacing the cartridge 60, the connecting unit 50 connects the supply unit 40 and the moving printing unit 26 and releases the fixation of the supply unit 40 and the main body 14.

[0025] The connecting portion 50 is provided at the left and right ends of the supply unit 40. The connecting portion 50 includes a fixed rod 51 (see FIG. 5) and an air cylinder 52 (see FIG. 6). The fixed rod 51 is driven by the air cylinder 52. The fixed rod 51 connects the supply unit 40 to the slider of the moving printing portion 26 and moves between a moving portion connecting position where the fixed rod 51 releases the supply unit 40 from the main body 14 and a main body fixing position where the fixed rod 51 secures the supply unit 40 to the main body 14 and releases the connection between the supply unit 40 and the slider of the moving printing portion 26. The slider of the moving printing portion 26 is provided with an engaging member 23 (see FIG. 5) that is connected to the supply unit 40 by the connecting portion 50. The engaging member 23 has an insertion hole into which the fixed rod 51 of the connecting portion 50 is inserted. In addition, a fixing member 53 (see FIG. 5) is fixed to the main body 14. The fixed member 53 has an insertion hole formed therein into which the fixed rod 51 is inserted. The fixed rod 51 is inserted only into the engaging member 23 at the moving unit connection position, and only into the fixed member 53 at the main body connection position. The control unit 20 switches the connection state of the supply unit 40 by driving the air cylinder 52. The fixed member 53 is also provided with a fixed detection sensor 54 (see FIG. 6 ). The fixed detection sensor 54 outputs a different signal depending on whether a detection target provided on the supply unit 40 is inserted. This allows the control unit 20 to determine whether the supply unit 40 is present in the standby area based on the signal from the fixed detection sensor 54.

[0026] (Regarding the Cartridge 60) As shown in FIG. 7 , the cartridge 60 includes, for example, a base portion 61 and a storage member 62. The cartridge 60 is a member that stores a storage container 71 that stores solder paste. As described above, the cartridge 60 is provided with a snap lock 58. The snap lock 58 is attached to a metal bracket 59 attached to the base portion 61. The snap lock 58 secures the bracket 59 to the mounting portion 41, thereby fixing the cartridge 60 in position relative to the mounting portion 41 (storage portion 42). The cartridge 60 is attached to the mounting portion 41 by the snap lock 58 while housing the storage container 71. The storage container 71 is, for example, a cylindrical, cup-shaped container that has an opening 71A at one end and a bottom, and that holds solder paste. Therefore, the opening 71A and the bottom 71B of the storage container 71 are circular. FIG. 7 also illustrates the storage container 71 attached to the cartridge 60. When the storage container 71 is attached to the cartridge 60, the opening 71A faces downward. Note that Figures 2 to 4 show a state in which the storage container 71 is removed from the cartridge 60. In the following description of the cartridge 60 and the storage container 71 using Figure 7, the description will be made using the orientation in the attached state shown in Figure 7. That is, the description will be made assuming that the bottom 71B of the storage container 71 faces upward and that the axial direction of the storage container 71 is the up-down direction.

[0027] The base portion 61 has a cylindrical shape that is thick in the vertical direction. An insertion portion 63 is provided on the upper surface of the base portion 61. The insertion portion 63 has a generally cylindrical shape that is long in the axial direction of the base portion 61, i.e., in the vertical direction. The base portion 61 and the insertion portion 63 are formed along the same axis. A flange portion 63A, which has a radial length longer than the other portions, is formed at the upper end of the insertion portion 63. The insertion portion 63 is attached by inserting the insertion portion 63 into an opening 71A of the storage container 71 and placing the storage container 71 over the insertion portion 63. For example, the size of the storage container 71 attached to the insertion portion 63 (cartridge 60) is specified in advance. That is, the multiple replaceable storage containers 71 have the same radial length and depth. When the insertion portion 63 is inserted into the storage container 71, the flange portion 63A contacts the inner wall of the storage container 71, providing a lid to prevent solder paste leakage. The flange portion 63A may be formed of an elastic material. A nozzle 65 is formed in the base portion 61 and the insertion portion 63, penetrating them in the vertical direction. The nozzle 65 is, for example, a cylindrical hole that is long in the vertical direction. The nozzle 65 is formed in the center of the insertion portion 63 and the base portion 61, penetrating them in the vertical direction. The solder paste contained in the storage container 71 is discharged to the outside from the lower opening 65A via the nozzle 65. As the solder paste contained in the storage container 71 decreases, the flange portion 63A slides along the inner wall of the storage container 71, causing the storage container 71 to move downward.

[0028] The storage member 62 has a cylindrical portion 62A and a lid portion 62B. The storage member 62 is attached to the base portion 61 from above so as to cover the storage container 71 attached to the insertion portion 63. The cylindrical portion 62A has, for example, a cylindrical shape that is longer in the vertical direction than the insertion portion 63, is formed of a transparent member, and is formed with a radius large enough to store the storage container 71. Therefore, the storage container 71 is visible from the outside through the storage member 62. An identification information section 77 provided on the storage member 62, which will be described later, is visible from outside the storage member 62.

[0029] The lid portion 62B is generally disk-shaped and sized to close the upper opening of the cylindrical portion 62A, with the cylindrical portion 62A attached to its underside. A connection hole 62C is formed in the lid portion 62B, penetrating it in the vertical direction. The connection hole 62C is, for example, formed in the center of the disk-shaped lid portion 62B and is a hole with a circular cross section. In addition, an annular ring portion 62D is formed on the top surface of the lid portion 62B to surround the connection hole 62C.

[0030] With the cartridge 60 having the storage container 71 attached to the insertion portion 63, the storage member 62 is attached from above the base portion 61. The storage member 62 is attached to the base portion 61 to form a sealed space. The storage container 71 is housed in the sealed space formed by the base portion 61 and the storage member 62. The connection hole 62C is a hole for supplying gas to this sealed space, and a pipe 67 is attached to it. Note that, although air is used as the gas of the present disclosure in this embodiment, the gas of the present disclosure is not limited to air and may be a single gas such as nitrogen.

[0031] The storage unit 42 is provided with a connector (not shown) to which the piping 67 is connected. Connectors 68A and 68B are attached to both ends of the piping 67. The connector 68A at one end of the piping 67 is attached to the connection hole 62C, and the connector 68B at the other end is connected to the connector of the storage unit 42. For example, when preparing a cartridge 60, an operator opens the lid of a new storage container 71 and inserts the insertion portion 63 from above, then turns the base portion 61 and the storage container 71 upside down, and attaches the storage member 62 to the base portion 61 from above. In this way, the storage container 71 is housed within the cartridge 60. The method for fixing the storage member 62 to the base portion 61 is not particularly limited, and may include a method of screwing the storage member 62 to the base portion 61, or a method of fixing the storage member 62 to the base portion 61 using screws or bolts. The worker places the cartridge 60 containing the storage container 71 in the storage section 42 and fixes the cartridge 60 to the mounting section 41 with the snap lock 58. The worker connects the connector 68B of the piping 67 attached to the cartridge 60 to the connector of the storage section 42. The worker may remove the storage container 71 from the cartridge 60 and replace only the storage container 71 without replacing the entire cartridge 60.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6 , the printing device 11 includes an air supply unit 73. The air supply unit 73 is connected to the connector of the storage unit 42 through an air pipe. The air supply unit 73 supplies air to the pipe 67 under the control of the control unit 20, thereby supplying air to the sealed space housing the storage container 71 of the cartridge 60. The storage container 71 is pressed downward by the air supplied through the connection hole 62C, moving relative to the insertion portion 63 and in a direction (downward) that brings the bottom portion 71B closer to the flange portion 63A. The solder paste contained in the storage container 71 is pushed out by the insertion portion 63 and ejected from the opening 65A through the nozzle 65. By adjusting the air pressure and supply amount, the amount of solder paste ejected (used) can be changed. The shapes and materials of the cartridge 60 and storage container 71 shown in FIG. 7 are merely examples. For example, the cartridge 60 may be rectangular. The storage container 71 may also be a box-shaped member having an opening 71A. The cylindrical portion 62A may also be made of a translucent material.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the printer 11 also includes a recognition unit 75 in the storage unit 42. The recognition unit 75 is fixed, for example, to the inside of the right side wall of the storage unit 42. As shown in FIG. 7 , the storage container 71 also includes an identification information unit 77. The identification information unit 77 is, for example, a tape with a barcode 77A printed on it, and is attached to the outer periphery of the side of the storage container 71. For example, when storing a newly purchased storage container 71 in a warehouse, an operator registers the storage container 71 in the database of the management PC 13. The operator associates information about the storage container 71, such as the identification number of the storage container 71, the type of solder paste contained in the storage container 71, and the expiration date, with the barcode 77A and registers it in the management PC 13. After registration, the operator prints the identification information unit 77 with the barcode 77A using a label printer connected to the management PC 13 and attaches it to the storage container 71.

[0034] The recognition unit 75 is a device capable of recognizing the barcode 77A of the identification information section 77 and recognizing the position of a specific section of the storage container 71. Specifically, the recognition unit 75 is, for example, a camera. The recognition unit 75 is fixed to the inside of the right side wall of the storage section 42, and the image capturing position is fixed. The recognition unit 75 has its image capturing direction fixed, facing the storage container 71. As described above, the cylindrical section 62A is formed of a transparent member. Therefore, the recognition unit 75 can capture an image of the identification information section 77 of the storage container 71 from outside the cartridge 60. The control unit 20 determines the type of solder paste contained in the storage container 71 based on the information of the barcode 77A recognized by the recognition unit 75.

[0035] The control unit 20 also determines the remaining amount of solder paste in the storage container 71 based on the position of the specific portion of the storage container 71 recognized by the recognition unit 75. In this embodiment, a case where an identification information unit 77 is used as the specific portion of the present application will be described. The control unit 20 detects the position of the barcode 77A as the position of the identification information unit 77 based on image data captured by the recognition unit 75. The control unit 20 compares the amount of change (distance) in the detected position with a reference distance and performs processing according to the remaining amount of solder paste. The recognition unit of the present disclosure is not limited to a camera (image capture device) and may be other devices such as a barcode reader. The identification information of the identification information unit 77 is not limited to a barcode and may be, for example, a two-dimensional code or a character string. Therefore, the identification information unit of the present disclosure can be various devices capable of indicating information about the viscous fluid contained in the storage container 71.

[0036] Fig. 8 shows the cartridge 60 and image data 79A and 79B captured by the recognition unit 75. To avoid cluttering the image, Fig. 8 only shows the barcode 77A in the image data 79A and 79B, and does not show the seal portion of the container 71 or the identification information unit 77. The upper diagram in Fig. 8 shows the state before the solder paste is used, and the state immediately after the cartridge 60 is replaced. The lower diagram in Fig. 8 shows the state after the solder paste has run out.

[0037] For example, when the cartridge 60 with a new storage container 71 attached is attached to the mounting portion 41, the barcode 77A is located as shown in FIG. 8 . As described above, the identification information section 77 is affixed to the storage container 71 by an operator. Therefore, the position of the identification information section 77 varies depending on the storage container 71. However, the size and shape of the storage containers 71 are standardized. Therefore, the amount of solder paste contained in each new storage container 71 is the same.

[0038] Therefore, the control unit 20 sets the position of the barcode 77A immediately after the cartridge 60 is replaced as a reference position, and determines the remaining amount of solder paste based on the amount of change from that reference position. The position at which the identification information section 77 is affixed may be fixed. For example, a mark indicating the position at which the identification information section 77 should be affixed may be provided on the storage container 71, and an operator may affix the identification information section 77 at the position of that mark. Alternatively, the barcode 77A may be printed with a laser marker or the like at the same position on the outer circumferential surface of the storage container 71 during the production stage of the storage container 71.

[0039] As shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 8 , the control unit 20 captures an image of the barcode 77A when the cartridge 60 is replaced and detects the position of the barcode 77A from the captured image data 79A. The control unit 20, for example, uses image processing to detect the center position of the barcode 77A and sets the detected center position as the reference position P1. As shown by the dashed lines in the image data 79A and 79B in FIG. 8 , the control unit 20, for example, uses image processing to detect the outer edges of the barcode 77A and sets a rectangular frame surrounding the barcode 77A. The control unit 20 detects the intersection of a line connecting the midpoints of the two short sides and a line connecting the midpoints of the two long sides of the set rectangular frame as the center position. Furthermore, the control unit 20, for example, sets the upward direction in the image data 79A as the positive Y direction and the rightward direction as the positive X direction, and sets the X and Y coordinates. In the example shown in FIG. 8 , the X and Y coordinates of the reference position P1 are (1638, 2823).

[0040] As shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 8 , when the solder paste is used, the container 71 descends, and the identification information section 77 also descends. As described below, the control unit 20 causes the recognition unit 75 to capture an image of the barcode 77A at predetermined time intervals (see FIG. 10 ). In this embodiment, the recognition unit 75 has a fixed imaging position. Therefore, when the identification information section 77 descends, the position of the barcode 77A in the image data 79A and 79B shifts in the negative Y direction. Furthermore, the flange portion 63A of the insertion portion 63 contacts the container 71 from the inside, preventing the container 71 from rotating. Therefore, the X coordinate is unlikely to change as the container 71 descends. In the example shown in FIG. 8 , the XY coordinates of the center position P2 of the barcode 77A after use are (1638, 1723). The control unit 20 compares the difference in the Y coordinate between the reference position P1 and the center position P2 (in the above example, 1100 = 2822 - 1723), i.e., the distance that the barcode 77A has descended, with the threshold value (distance) used for judgment, and determines whether the remaining amount of solder paste is low.

[0041] The above-described method for determining the remaining amount of solder paste is merely an example. For example, the position of the identification information section 77 to be detected is not limited to the center of the barcode 77A. For example, the position of the identification information section 77 may be a corner position of the barcode 77A or an edge of the tape of the identification information section 77. Furthermore, the position of a pattern whose position can be detected, such as a finder pattern of a QR code (registered trademark), may be detected as the position of the identification information section 77.

[0042] (Regarding Control Configuration) As shown in FIG. 6 , the control unit 20 of the printing device 11 is connected to each device (closing mechanism 17, printing unit 24, mask unit 28, substrate processing unit 30, cleaning unit 32, imaging unit 35, supply unit 40, connection unit 50, fixed detection sensor 54, air supply unit 73, and recognition unit 75) included in the printing device 11. The printing device 11 also includes a storage unit 81 that stores a control program 82 and other data. The storage unit 81 includes, for example, RAM, ROM, and a HDD. The storage unit 81 may have a configuration other than the above, such as an SSD instead of a HDD. The control unit 20 executes the control program 82 using the CPU 21 and controls the above devices to perform the printing process (see FIG. 9 ) and the process for replacing the cartridge 60 (see FIG. 10 ). The printing device 11 also includes an external interface (IF) 83 connected to the management PC 13. The external IF 83 is, for example, a LAN interface. The printing device 11 also has a touch panel 85. The control unit 20 displays information about the printing device 11 on the touch panel 85 and accepts instructions for the printing device 11 via the touch panel 85. Note that the user interface provided in the printing device 11 is not limited to the touch panel 85, and may be a liquid crystal panel, hardware keys, or a mobile terminal connected via wireless communication.

[0043] The printing device 11 executes various processes using the above-described configuration. In the following description, the printing device 11 executing the control program 82 with the CPU 21 of the control unit 20 may be simply referred to as the printing device 11 or the control unit 20. For example, the description "the control unit 20 controls the substrate processing unit 30 to load the substrate S from the previous process equipment and transport it to the work position" means that the control unit 20 controls the substrate processing unit 30 by executing the control program 82 with the CPU 21, to load the substrate S from the previous process equipment and transport it to the work position.

[0044] (Regarding the Supply Printing Process) Next, the supply printing process executed by the printing device 11 will be described. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the supply printing process executed by the control unit 20. The control unit 20 starts the supply printing process shown in FIG. 9 when it receives an instruction to start the supply printing process, for example, via the touch panel 85. When the control unit 20 starts the supply printing process, in step (hereinafter simply referred to as S) 10 of FIG. 9 , the control unit 20 controls the substrate processing unit 30 to load the substrate S from the previous process device and transport it to the work position. Next, the control unit 20 uses the imaging unit 35 to capture images of the reference marks on the substrate S and the screen mask M, aligns the substrate S with the screen mask M based on the reference marks, and brings the substrate S into contact with the screen mask M from below (S11).

[0045] Next, the control unit 20 determines whether it is time to supply solder paste (S13), and if it is (S13: YES), connects the printing unit 24 to the supply unit 40 (S14). The timing to supply solder paste is, for example, before the first printing after replacing the screen mask M. The control unit 20 also determines that it is time to supply solder paste when the solder paste runs short due to the execution of the printing process in S17, which will be described later. As a method for determining whether there is a shortage, for example, a method can be used in which the amount used per printing is determined based on the type of screen mask M (e.g., the number of pattern holes), and the supply timing is determined based on the amount used. Alternatively, the control unit 20 may determine the supply timing based on the printing time. In S14, the control unit 20 moves the printing unit 24 next to the supply unit 40 waiting in the waiting area (see Figure 5), drives the air cylinder 52 of the connecting unit 50 to move the fixed rod 51 to the moving unit connecting position, connecting the printing moving unit 26 and the supply unit 40 and releasing them from the main body 14.

[0046] After executing S14, the control unit 20 executes a supply process in which the supply unit 40 supplies solder paste onto the screen mask M (S15). The control unit 20 moves the supply unit 40 above the screen mask M, drives the air supply unit 73 to move the storage container 71 downward, and discharges solder paste from the opening 65A of the nozzle 65. After executing S15, the control unit 20 moves the supply unit 40 to the standby area using the printing movement unit 26, controls the connection unit 50 to move the fixed rod 51 to the main body fixed position, releases the connection between the printing unit 24 and the supply unit 40, and fixes the supply unit 40 to the main body 14 (S16).

[0047] After executing S16, the control unit 20 executes the printing process (S17). Furthermore, if the control unit 20 determines in S13 that it is not the timing to supply solder paste (S13: NO), the control unit 20 executes the printing process (S17). The control unit 20 moves the print head 25 and supplies solder paste onto the substrate S placed on the underside of the screen mask M with the squeegee 27 (S17). Upon completing the printing process, the control unit 20 controls the substrate processing unit 30 to transport the printed substrate S to the downstream mounting device 12 (S18).

[0048] After executing S18, the control unit 20 determines whether production of all boards has been completed (S19). If not completed (S19: NO), the control unit 20 executes the process from S10 again, loads the next board S, and executes printing. Furthermore, if printing of all boards S has been completed (S19: YES), the control unit 20 ends the process shown in FIG. 9 . The control unit 20 may also use the cleaning unit 32 to clean the screen mask M as needed. For example, the control unit 20 performs cleaning after replacing the screen mask M or when the time that printing processes have been continuously executed exceeds a predetermined time.

[0049] (Cartridge Replacement Process) Next, the cartridge replacement process executed by the control unit 20 will be described. Fig. 10 shows a flowchart of the cartridge replacement process. For example, when the control unit 20 receives an instruction to start the supply printing process of Fig. 9 via the touch panel 85, the control unit 20 starts the process of Fig. 10, and while the supply printing process is being executed, the control unit 20 repeatedly executes the process of Fig. 10 at predetermined time intervals in parallel with the supply printing process. By executing the process of Fig. 10, the control unit 20 determines the remaining amount of solder paste using the recognition unit 75 and executes processing according to the remaining amount.

[0050] 10 , the control unit 20 first calculates in S21 the distance L that the barcode 77A has descended from its current position. The control unit 20 then uses the recognition unit 75 to capture an image of the barcode 77A and detects the X and Y coordinates of the current center position of the barcode 77A. For ease of explanation, the center position of the barcode 77A captured in S21 will be referred to as the center position P2 of the barcode 77A that has descended using the solder paste shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 8 . The control unit 20 calculates the difference in Y coordinate between the reference position P1 set when the cartridge 60 was replaced and the center position P2 captured in S21, i.e., the distance L that the barcode 77A has descended.

[0051] Next, the control unit 20 determines whether the distance L calculated in S21 is equal to or greater than the first distance L1 (S22). The container 71 descends as the remaining amount of solder paste decreases. Therefore, the distance L increases as the remaining amount of solder paste decreases. If the distance L is less than the first distance L1 (S22: NO), the control unit 20 ends the process shown in FIG. 10. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the process ended, the control unit 20 executes the process again from S21. Therefore, the time interval for executing the process of FIG. 10 is set to the time interval at which the remaining amount of solder paste needs to be determined.

[0052] If the distance L is equal to or greater than the first distance L1 (S22: YES), the control unit 20 determines whether a prior notification has been issued (S23). If a prior notification has not been issued (S23: NO), the control unit 20 issues a prior notification (S24). If a prior notification has been issued (S23: YES), the control unit 20 executes S25. In S24, the control unit 20 issues a prior notification indicating that the remaining amount of solder paste is low. For example, the control unit 20 displays a message on the touch panel 85 such as, "The remaining amount of solder paste is low. Please prepare a new container." This allows the worker to check the display on the touch panel 85 and recognize in advance that the solder paste is low and that replacement work will be required in the near future. A replacement container 71 can be prepared in advance. Note that the method of issuing the prior notification is not limited to displaying a message on the touch panel 85, and may also be, for example, a voice notification.

[0053] After executing S24, the control unit 20 stores information indicating that the advance notification has been issued in the storage unit 81 and ends the process shown in FIG. 10 . As a result, the control unit 20 makes a positive determination based on the information in the storage unit 81 when it next executes S23 (S23: YES). Therefore, the control unit 20 issues the advance notification only once. The control unit 20 may issue the advance notification multiple times. Furthermore, when the replacement of the storage container 71 (described below) is completed (S31: YES), the control unit 20 resets the information stored in the storage unit 81 indicating that the advance notification has been issued. As described above, the first distance L1 is a distance used to determine the timing of issuing the advance notification. Therefore, the first distance L1 can be set to an appropriate value based on the time required for the worker to prepare a replacement storage container 71, the amount of solder paste lost per unit time, and the like.

[0054] Meanwhile, in S25, the control unit 20 determines whether the distance L is equal to or greater than a second distance L2. The second distance L2 is longer than the first distance L1 and is the distance used to determine whether the storage container 71 needs to be replaced. For example, the second distance L2 can be set to the distance between the reference position P1 and the center position P2 when the storage container 71 has descended to a position where it can no longer dispense solder paste from the storage container 71. Alternatively, the second distance L2 can be set based on the volume of solder paste that can be held in the storage container 71. In this embodiment, since the capacity of the storage container 71 is the same, the same value can be used for the first distance L1 and the second distance L2.

[0055] If the distance L is less than the second distance L2 (S25: NO), the control unit 20 ends the process shown in Fig. 10. Therefore, if the control unit 20 starts the process in Fig. 10 while the distance L is equal to or greater than the first distance L1 and less than the second distance L2, the control unit 20 makes a negative determination in S25 and ends the process (S25: NO).

[0056] If the distance L is equal to or greater than the second distance L2 (S25: YES), i.e., if the remaining amount of solder paste has decreased to a level that requires replacement of the storage container 71, the control unit 20 starts a process for replacement. The control unit 20 determines whether the supply unit 40 is in the standby area, the cartridge 60 is in the standby position, and the connection between the supply unit 40 and the printing movement unit 26 is released (S26). For example, if all three conditions are met (S26: YES), namely, that the supply unit 40 is in the standby area, that the cartridge 60 is in the standby position, and that the connection between the supply unit 40 and the printing movement unit 26 is released), the control unit 20 executes S28. On the other hand, if at least one of the three conditions is not met (S26: NO), the control unit 20 temporarily suspends the process (e.g., printing process or cleaning process) until the currently executing process is completed, without starting the next process of S27. After the currently executing process is completed, the control unit 20 performs control so that all three of the above conditions are satisfied. That is, the control unit 20 executes the necessary process among the process of moving the supply unit 40 to the standby area, the process of moving the cartridge 60 to the standby position, and the process of releasing the connection between the supply unit 40 and the printing movement unit 26 (S27). After executing S27, the control unit 20 executes S28.

[0057] In S28, the control unit 20 drives the closing mechanism 17 to release the door element 16 from its closed state. This allows the operator to open the door element 16 and replace the cartridge 60. After executing S28, the control unit 20 displays a message on the touch panel 85 prompting the operator to replace the cartridge 60, informing the operator of the need for replacement (S29). This allows the operator to notify the operator of the timing of replacement by comparing the distance L with the second distance L2. Note that the notification method for replacement may also be other methods, such as audio. After confirming the message displayed in S29, the operator opens the door element 16, unlocks the snap lock 58, and removes and takes the cartridge 60 to the outside. When the door element 16 is opened, the hook member 47 of the locking mechanism 45 engages with the locking stay 46, locking the mounting portion 41 and the storage portion 42 (see FIG. 3 ). After removing the used cartridge 60, the operator attaches a new cartridge 60 to the mounting portion 41, fastens the snap lock 58, and closes the door element 16. At this time, the operator may prepare another cartridge 60 with a new storage container 71 already attached, and replace the used cartridge 60 with this. When the door member 16 is closed, the hook member 47 of the fixing mechanism 45 is pushed up, and the attachment portion 41 and the storage portion 42 become movable (see FIG. 4).

[0058] After executing S29, the control unit 20 determines whether replacement of the cartridge 60 is complete (S31). After executing S29, the control unit 20 determines whether an operation indicating that the replacement work is complete has been received via the touch panel 85. When the control unit 20 receives the operation indicating that the replacement work is complete, the control unit 20 determines whether the door element 16 is closed using the closing sensor 17B of the closing mechanism 17. When the control unit 20 determines that the door element 16 is not closed, the control unit 20 notifies the touch panel 85 that the door element 16 is open. The control unit 20 repeatedly executes S31 until it receives the operation indicating that the replacement work is complete and detects that the door element 16 is closed (S31: NO). When it receives the operation and detects that the door element 16 is closed (S31: YES), it executes S32.

[0059] In S32, the control unit 20 captures an image of the barcode 77A of the replaced storage container 71 using the recognition unit 75. After capturing the image in S32, the control unit 20 determines whether the barcode 77A in the captured image data was successfully read (S33). For example, if the storage container 71 is not inserted into the insertion unit 63 with the barcode 77A facing the recognition unit 75, the reading may fail. For this reason, the cartridge 60 or the insertion unit 63 may be provided with a protrusion or recess to ensure that the orientation (position in the rotational direction) of the barcode 77A is consistent. Alternatively, a mark calling attention to the orientation may be provided. Furthermore, the reading may fail if the identification information unit 77 is not affixed. If the reading fails (S33: NO), the control unit 20 notifies the user of the failure via the touch panel 85 or the like (S35) and terminates the processing of FIG. 10 . This allows the user to take appropriate action, such as confirming the position of the barcode 77A. The user can then determine the cause of the reading failure. The operator may replace the identification information section 77. For example, if a used cartridge 60 is mistakenly reinstalled, the barcode 77A will be positioned at a lower position where the distance L is equal to or greater than the second distance L2. In such a case, the control unit 20 may make a negative determination in S33 and notify an error.

[0060] If the control unit 20 successfully reads the barcode 77A (YES at S33), it executes a process (verify) to confirm whether the information on the read barcode 77A is correct (S36). The control unit 20 then confirms whether the type of solder paste indicated by the barcode 77A matches the type of solder paste to be used in production, i.e., whether the type of solder paste is appropriate for use after replenishment. The control unit 20 then transmits the information on the read barcode 77A to the management PC 13, for example. The management PC 13 then searches the database for the information on the barcode 77A received from the control unit 20 and transmits the solder paste type of the corresponding registered information to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 then determines whether the type of solder paste received from the management PC 13 matches the type of solder paste to be used in production. The information on the type of solder paste to be used in production is included in the information on the boards to be produced, acquired from the management PC 13 at the start of production. During the verify process, the control unit 20 may also check the expiration date of the solder paste, for example.

[0061] If the information on the barcode 77A is incorrect, i.e., if verification fails (S36: NO), the control unit 20 issues an error notification indicating the verification failure on the touch panel 85 or the like (S37), and terminates the process shown in FIG. 10 . This prompts the worker to take appropriate action, such as confirming the type of solder paste that was replaced. After executing S35 or S37, the control unit 20 may receive a notification indicating whether the worker has taken action and completed the work, such as correcting the position of the storage container 71. The control unit 20 then executes a process similar to S31, and if it determines that the work is complete, may execute the processes from S32 onward for the storage container 71 after the work has been completed.

[0062] If the verification is successful (S36: YES), the control unit 20 sets a reference position P1 (S39). The control unit 20 detects the center position of the barcode 77A in the image data 79A captured in S32 and sets the XY coordinates of the center position as the reference position P1. The control unit 20 sets the distance L for S22 and S25 from the next time onwards based on this set reference position P1. After executing S39, the control unit 20 ends the process shown in FIG. 10. In this way, the printing device 11 can execute the supply printing process and the cartridge replacement process in parallel, and can execute the printing process while the cartridge 60 is being replaced.

[0063] As described above, in this embodiment, the identification information unit 77 is employed as the identifying unit of the present disclosure. This allows the target for detecting identification information and the target for determining the remaining amount to be the same. The range imaged by the recognition unit 75 can be narrowed. A mechanism for changing the position or size of the image capture range is not required. Note that the identifying unit of the present disclosure is not limited to the identification information unit 77. For example, the identification information unit 77 may be a specific position on the storage container 71. The control unit 20 may use the recognition unit 75 to detect the edge of the bottom 71B of the storage container 71 as the position of the specific portion. The control unit 20 may also detect the position of a mark or protrusion on the storage container 71 as the position of the specific portion. Therefore, various devices capable of recognizing the position of the specific portion on the storage container 71 can be employed as the recognition unit 75. The recognition unit of the present disclosure is not limited to a 2D camera, and may also be a 3D camera or LiDAR (laser scanner) capable of three-dimensionally recognizing the storage container 71. The control unit 20 may then determine the remaining amount of solder paste based on the three-dimensional coordinates of a specific part of the storage container 71 recognized by a 3D camera or the like. The recognition unit 75 may also be configured to include an imaging device such as a camera and a reader such as a barcode reader. The recognition unit 75 may also be configured to be able to change the imaging direction. The printing device 11 may also be provided with an actuator that changes the imaging direction of the recognition unit 75.

[0064] The control unit 20 also photographs the identification information section 77 using the recognition unit 75, detects the amount of change in the position of the identification information section 77 based on the photographed image data 79A and 79B, and determines the remaining amount of solder paste from the detected amount of change in position. This allows the barcode 77A to be detected from the image data 79A and 79B, and the identification information to be detected. The position of the identification information section 77 can also be detected by image processing the image data 79A and 79B.

[0065] Furthermore, the control unit 20 detects the center position P2 (reference position P1) of the barcode 77A as the position of the specific portion of the present disclosure based on the image data 79A and 79B, and determines the remaining amount from the amount of change in the detected center position P2. This allows the displacement of the barcode 77A to be detected with high accuracy, and the remaining amount of solder paste to be appropriately determined.

[0066] The control unit 20 also determines the type of solder paste contained in the storage container 71 based on the identification information indicated by the identification information unit 77 recognized by the recognition unit 75 (S36). If the control unit 20 determines that the type is appropriate (S36: YES), it sets the position of the barcode 77A recognized by the recognition unit 75 as the reference position P1 at that time (S39). The control unit 20 determines the remaining amount of solder paste from the distance L between the reference position P1 and the position of the barcode 77A, which changes as the supply process (S15) is performed. This allows the remaining amount of solder paste to be determined based on the position of the barcode 77A at the time of verification, i.e., the position of the barcode 77A when the storage container 71 is full of solder paste immediately after replacement. The first distance L1 and the second distance L2 can be set based on the amount of solder paste when the storage container 71 is full. Note that the control unit 20 may set the reference position P1 at other times, such as after the first supply process (S15) or the first printing process (S17).

[0067] As described above, the control unit 20 drives the air supply unit 73 to lower the storage container 71 and supply solder paste from the nozzle 65. The recognition area (image capture range) of the recognition unit 75 includes the range from the upper end to the lower end, where the upper end is the position of the identification information section 77 when the refilled storage container 71 is attached to the cartridge 60, and the lower end is the position of the identification information section 77 when the remaining amount of solder paste has become low enough to require replacement of the storage container 71. In other words, the image capture range of the recognition unit 75 is set to a range in which the barcode 77A can be captured from the time the storage container 71 is refilled until it is replaced. Specifically, for example, it is assumed that the space on the storage container 71 for attaching the identification information section 77 is limited to a certain range. The storage container 71 is provided with a recess or the like for attaching the identification information section 77. In this case, the identification information section 77 is attached to the end of the attachment range on the bottom 71B side, and the upper edge of the identification information section 77 when a new storage container 71 is attached to the insertion section 63 is defined as the upper end. Furthermore, the identification information section 77 is attached to the end of the attachment range on the opening 71A side, and the lower edge of the identification information section 77 when an empty storage container 71 is attached to the insertion section 63 is defined as the lower end. In this case, the position, imaging direction, and imaging range of the recognition section 75 are adjusted so that the imaging range of the recognition section 75 includes positions from the upper end to the lower end. This allows the identification information section 77, whose position changes from before use until replacement, to be properly imaged. Furthermore, the imaging range can be limited to the minimum necessary range.

[0068] The above-described setting of the recognition area (image capture range) is an example. For example, if the range to which the identification information section 77 is attached is not limited, the upper end may be the edge of the bottom 71B when a new storage container 71 is attached to the insertion section 63. Also, the lower end may be the edge of the opening 71A when an empty storage container 71 is attached to the insertion section 63.

[0069] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by pressing the storage container 71 with air, the storage container 71 can be pressed more evenly than in conventional configurations using a motor or pressing unit, and the pressing mechanism can be simplified. On the other hand, if a configuration in which a pressing unit (rod or plate) driven by a motor directly presses the bottom 71B of the storage container 71, the position can be determined based on encoder information from the motor. However, if the storage container 71 is pressed indirectly with air, a mechanism for detecting the position of the storage container 71 is required in addition to the air supply unit 73. Therefore, by detecting the position of the storage container 71 using a camera that recognizes the barcode 77A as in this embodiment, the structure can be simplified and costs can be reduced in a configuration in which pressing is performed with air.

[0070] Incidentally, the correspondence between the terms used in this embodiment and those described in the claims will be explained below. The printing device 11 of this embodiment is an example of a viscous fluid supply device of the present disclosure. The barcode 77A is an example of identification information. The air supply unit 73 is an example of a gas supply unit. The touch panel 85 is an example of a user interface. The screen mask M is an example of a supply target. The processing of S15 is an example of a supply process.

[0071] As described above, the above-described embodiment provides the following advantages. In one aspect of this embodiment, the control unit 20 determines the type of solder paste contained in the storage container 71 based on the barcode 77A of the identification information unit 77 recognized by the recognition unit 75 (S36), and also determines the remaining amount of solder paste in the storage container 71 based on the position of the barcode 77A (an example of an identifying unit) of the storage container 71 recognized by the recognition unit 75 (S22, S25). This allows the control unit 20 to use the recognition unit 75 to both confirm the type of solder paste and determine the remaining amount of solder paste. For example, the device configuration can be simplified compared to a configuration that includes a sensor that detects the position of the storage container 71 in addition to a barcode reader that reads the barcode 77A.

[0072] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, the configuration of the mounting system 10 in the above-described embodiment is merely an example. The printing device 11 may be configured to accommodate multiple cartridges 60 in the storage unit 42. In this case, multiple recognition units 75 corresponding to each cartridge 60 may be attached to the storage unit 42. Furthermore, the device that moves the storage container 71 to dispense the solder paste is not limited to the air supply unit 73. For example, the printing device 11 may include a device that uses a motor to move a rod or plate in contact with the bottom 71B of the storage container 71 to press the storage container 71 downward. In this case, the printing device 11 does not need to include the cartridge 60.

[0073] The content and order of each step in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are merely examples and can be modified as appropriate. For example, the solder paste supply process and printing process may be executed in parallel. The control unit 20 may not execute the advance notification of S24. In this case, the control unit 20 may execute S25 immediately after S21, without executing S22, S23, and S24 of FIG. 10. The process shown in FIG. 10 is executed at predetermined time intervals, but this does not necessarily have to be executed. For example, the process shown in FIG. 10 may be executed after S15 or S17 of FIG. 9. Before starting the supply printing process of FIG. 10, the control unit 20 may photograph the barcode 77A using the recognition unit 75. If the remaining amount of solder paste is less than the planned amount of solder paste to be used in the planned supply printing process, the control unit 20 may notify the user to prepare solder paste. The control unit 20 calculates the planned amount of solder paste to be used based on the number of boards S to be produced, the number of pattern holes in the screen mask M, etc. Furthermore, because the capacity of the storage container 71 is fixed, the control unit 20 can predict the remaining amount from the amount of change in the barcode 77 A. This allows the operator to know before starting the supply printing process that the storage container 71 will need to be replaced during the supply printing process, and allows the operator to prepare a new storage container 71 in advance.

[0074] Although the above embodiment employs a printing device 11 as the viscous fluid supplying device of the present disclosure, this is not limiting. The viscous fluid supplying device of the present disclosure may be a device that only supplies a viscous fluid without performing a printing process. Furthermore, while the size of the container 71 is constant in the above embodiment, the size of the container 71 may vary. In this case, for example, the barcode 77A may be associated with information on the container depth (container size) in addition to the type of solder paste. The control unit 20 may then change the first distance L1 and the second distance L2 depending on the container depth and size. Furthermore, while the position of the recognition unit 75 is fixed in the above embodiment, the recognition unit 75 may be detachable. For example, a setting unit for attaching a portable recognition unit 75 (such as a camera or barcode reader) may be provided within the container 42. The recognition unit 75 is detachably attached to the setting unit, and while attached to the setting unit, it reads the barcode 77A and detects the position of the identification information unit 77. By removing the recognition unit 75 from the setting unit, the worker can read identification information (such as the barcode 77A) provided on other members (such as the squeegee 27) other than the storage container 71. The barcode 77A of the storage container 71 may be read either while the recognition unit 75 is set in the setting unit, or after the worker removes the recognition unit 75 from the setting unit.

[0075] The contents of the present disclosure are not limited to the dependent relationships set forth in the claims. For example, this specification also discloses the technical idea of ​​changing "the viscous fluid supply device according to claim 1 or claim 2" in claim 5 to "the viscous fluid supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4." This specification also discloses the technical idea of ​​changing "the viscous fluid supply device according to claim 1 or claim 2" in claim 7 to "the viscous fluid supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6." This specification also discloses the technical idea of ​​changing "the viscous fluid supply device according to claim 1 or claim 2" in claim 8 to "the viscous fluid supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7."

[0076] 11 Printing device (viscous fluid supply device), 20 Control unit, 41 Mounting unit, 60 Cartridge, 61 Base unit, 62 Storage member, 63 Insertion unit, 65 Nozzle, 71 Storage container, 71A Opening, 73 Air supply unit (gas supply unit), 75 Recognition unit, 77 Identification information unit (specification unit), 79A, 79B Image data, 85 Touch panel (user interface), L Distance, L1 First distance, L2 Second distance, M Screen mask (supply target), P1 Reference position, P2 Center position.

Claims

1. A viscous fluid supply device that executes a supply process of a viscous fluid to a supply target, comprising: an attachment unit that allows a storage container that stores the viscous fluid to be attached and detached; a recognition unit that recognizes an identification information unit provided on the storage container; and a control unit that determines the type of viscous fluid stored in the storage container based on the identification information indicated by the identification information unit recognized by the recognition unit, and that determines the remaining amount of viscous fluid in the storage container based on the position of a specific part of the storage container recognized by the recognition unit.

2. The viscous fluid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the specific part of the container is the identification information part.

3. A viscous fluid supply device as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the recognition unit is an imaging device, and the control unit photographs the specific part using the recognition unit, detects the amount of change in position of the specific part based on the image data, and determines the remaining amount of viscous fluid from the detected amount of change in position.

4. The viscous fluid supply device of claim 3, wherein the control unit detects the center position of the specific part as the position of the specific part based on the image data, and determines the remaining amount of the viscous fluid from the amount of change in the detected center position.

5. A viscous fluid supply device as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control unit determines the type of viscous fluid contained in the storage container based on the identification information indicated by the identification information unit recognized by the recognition unit, and if it determines that the type of viscous fluid is appropriate, sets the position of the identification unit recognized by the recognition unit as a reference position at that time, and determines the remaining amount of viscous fluid from the distance between the position of the identification unit, which changes depending on the execution of the supply process, and the reference position.

6. The viscous fluid supply device of claim 5, wherein the control unit issues a prior notification indicating that the remaining amount of viscous fluid is low when the distance between the position of the specific part, which changes in response to the execution of the supply process, and the reference position becomes equal to or greater than a first distance, and issues a replacement notification urging the replacement of the storage container when the distance between the position of the specific part, which changes in response to the execution of the supply process, and the reference position becomes equal to or greater than a second distance longer than the first distance.

7. The device further comprises a cartridge that houses the storage container and is attached to the attachment part, wherein the storage container has an opening and is cylindrical with a bottom, the cartridge has a storage member that houses the storage container, and a base part that has an insertion part, the base part has a nozzle formed therein for discharging the viscous fluid, the insertion part is inserted into the opening of the storage container housed in the storage member, and the storage container is attached in a state where the insertion part is inserted into the opening of the storage container and the storage container is placed over the insertion part, the viscous fluid supply device further comprises a gas supply part that supplies gas into the storage member and pushes the storage container downward so that the bottom of the storage container approaches the insertion part, the control part drives the gas supply part to lower the storage container and supply the viscous fluid from the nozzle, and the recognition area of ​​the recognition part is 3. The viscous fluid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the area includes a range from the upper end to the lower end, where the position of the specific part when the refilled storage container is attached to the cartridge is the upper end, and the position of the specific part when the remaining amount of viscous fluid has decreased to a level that requires replacement of the storage container is the lower end.

8. A viscous fluid supply device as described in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a user interface, wherein when the control unit receives an instruction via the user interface indicating that replacement of the storage container has been completed, the control unit recognizes the identification information unit using the recognition unit, determines the type of viscous fluid stored in the storage container based on the identification information indicated by the identification information unit, and when the recognition unit is unable to recognize the identification information indicated by the identification information unit, notifies the user interface that the identification information cannot be recognized.

Images