Component feeder mounting structure and component feeder

Abstract

Provided is a component feeder mounting structure mounted on a feeder bank. A component feeder has a front surface part extending in the vertical direction and an upper surface part extending along a first direction above the front surface part, and includes a component extraction part on the upper surface part. The feeder bank includes a first facing part facing the front surface part, and a second facing part facing the upper surface part. A first positioning pin is provided on the front surface part of the component feeder, and a first positioning part for receiving the first positioning pin and restraining the first positioning pin is provided on the other side. A second positioning pin extending in the vertical direction is provided on the upper surface part of the component feeder, and a second positioning part for receiving the second positioning pin and restraining the second positioning pin is provided on the other side.

Description

Component feeder mounting structure and component feeder

[0001] The present invention relates to a component feeder mounting structure for positioning and fixing a component feeder to a component mounting device, a component supply cart, or the like, and to a tape feeder suitable for this mounting structure.

[0002] Conventionally, component mounting devices equipped with multiple component feeders, such as tape feeders and bulk feeders, along a transport path for substrates such as printed wiring boards have been well known. A tape feeder is a device that supplies electronic components (hereinafter referred to as components) to a predetermined removal position by feeding out a ribbon-shaped tape containing the components. A bulk feeder is a device that sequentially transports components placed on a transport belt to a removal position as the transport belt rotates.

[0003] In the component mounting device, a movable head picks up a component supplied to a removal position, removes the component from a component feeder, and transports the component to mount (place) it on a board.

[0004] The component feeder has an outlet (component removal section) at the front of its top surface, which serves as the removal position. The multiple component feeders are fixed in a state where they are positioned relative to a feeder bank so that their outlets are aligned along the transport path. The term "feeder bank" refers to the location where the component feeders are installed.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mounting structure in which a component feeder is positioned relative to a feeder bank using positioning pins and fixed in place, in which the front end face of the component feeder is positioned relative to the vertical wall of the feeder bank using horizontal pins, and the front lower surface of the component feeder is positioned relative to the bottom surface of the feeder bank using vertical pins.

[0006] However, in such a conventional mounting structure, the positioning pin is located away from the removal position, so the positioning accuracy of the removal position relative to the feeder bank may not be sufficient. For example, in recent years, cassette-type tape feeders have been developed in which the reel around which the tape is wound is stored inside the device. This type of tape feeder tends to be larger in size in the vertical direction. Therefore, with the above-mentioned conventional mounting structure, which positions the front end face or the front part of the lower surface of the component feeder, it is difficult to ensure the positioning accuracy of the removal position.

[0007] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-68693

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a technique that enables more accurate positioning of a component pick-up portion of a component feeder relative to a feeder bank.

[0009] The present invention provides a mounting structure for a component feeder that is detachably mounted to a feeder bank along a horizontal first direction, wherein the component feeder has a front surface extending in an up-down direction and an upper surface extending above the front surface along the first direction, and is provided with a component removal portion on the upper surface; the feeder bank has a first opposing portion facing the front surface and a second opposing portion facing the upper surface; one side of the front surface of the component feeder and the first opposing portion of the feeder bank is provided with a first positioning pin extending in the first direction, and the other side is provided with a first positioning portion that receives the first positioning pin and restrains the first positioning pin; and one side of the upper surface of the component feeder and the second opposing portion of the feeder bank is provided with a second positioning pin extending in an up-down direction, and the other side is provided with a second positioning portion that receives the second positioning pin and restrains the second positioning pin.

[0010] The component feeder of the present invention is a component feeder that is detachably attached to a feeder bank along a horizontal first direction, and comprises a front surface portion extending in the vertical direction, and an upper surface portion extending above the front surface portion along the first direction and having a component removal portion, the front surface portion being a pin member extending in the first direction and comprising a first positioning pin that can be inserted and removed into a first positioning portion formed in a first opposing portion of the feeder bank that faces the front surface portion, and the upper surface portion being a pin member extending in the vertical direction and comprising a second positioning pin that can be inserted and removed into a second positioning portion formed in a second opposing portion of the feeder bank that faces the upper surface portion.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a component mounting device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tape feeder. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a feeder bank. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of the feeder bank with a tape feeder installed. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main portion of the feeder bank with a tape feeder installed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main portion of the feeder bank showing a tape feeder guided along a lane. FIG. 7 is a front view of a main portion of the feeder bank showing a tape feeder guided along a lane. FIG. 8 is a front view of a main portion of the feeder bank showing a tape feeder installed. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of misalignment of a tape feeder.

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] [Overall Configuration of Component Mounting Apparatus] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a component mounting apparatus 1 to which a component feeder mounting structure according to the present invention is applied. The component mounting apparatus 1 is equipment for producing component-mounted boards in which electronic components (hereinafter simply referred to as components) are mounted (carried) on a substrate P such as a printed wiring board. To clarify directional relationships, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system is shown in FIG. 1 . The X direction is parallel to a horizontal plane, and the Y direction is perpendicular to the X direction on the horizontal plane. The direction perpendicular to the X and Y directions is the Z direction (sometimes referred to as the up-down direction). The Z axis is not shown in figures other than FIG. 1 . The Y direction corresponds to the "first direction" in the present invention, and the X direction corresponds to the "second direction" in the present invention.

[0014] The component mounting apparatus 1 includes a base 2, a board transport unit 3, a component supply unit 4, a head unit 6, and a component recognition camera 8. The base 2 is a mounting base for various devices that the component mounting apparatus 1 includes.

[0015] The board transport unit 3 constitutes a transport line for the board P. The board transport unit 3 is composed of a pair of belt-type conveyors 3a that extend in the X direction and are installed on the base 2. The board transport unit 3 receives the board P from the X1 side in Figure 1, transports it to a predetermined work position (the position of the board P shown in the same figure), and after the component mounting work is completed, transports the board P from the work position to the X2 side.

[0016] The component supply unit 4 is a supply area for components to be mounted on the board P, and is provided on both sides of the board transport unit 3 in the Y direction. Multiple tape feeders 5F are installed in the component supply unit 4. Each tape feeder 5F is one of the component feeders that supplies components, and supplies components by unwinding a ribbon-shaped component tape containing chip-shaped components from a reel around which the component tape is wound.

[0017] A feeder bank 50 is installed in the component supply unit 4, and a plurality of tape feeders 5F are detachably attached to the feeder bank 50. The tape feeders 5F can be transported, for example, by an automatic transport robot (not shown), and can be automatically attached to and detached from the feeder bank 50 by the transport robot. The configurations of the tape feeders 5F and the feeder bank 50 will be described in detail later.

[0018] The head unit 6 performs a component mounting process in which the component is taken out of the tape feeder 5F in the component supply section 4, transported to the work position, and mounted on the board P placed at the work position.

[0019] The head unit 6 moves horizontally (in the X and Y directions) within an area including the space above the work position and the space above the component supply unit 4 by operation of the head unit drive mechanism 10. The head unit drive mechanism 10 includes fixed rails 14 fixed to a pair of elevated frames mounted on the base 2, a beam 12 that moves in the Y direction along the fixed rails 14, and a unit support member (not shown) that moves in the X direction along the beam 12. The head unit 6 is attached to this unit support member. The beam 12 and the unit support member are each moved by the driving force of a motor. The movement of the beam 12 and the unit support member moves the head unit 6 in the X and Y directions.

[0020] The head unit 6 includes a plurality of shaft-shaped heads 7 extending vertically, and a head drive mechanism (not shown) that drives these heads 7. The head drive mechanism raises and lowers the heads 7 individually and rotates the heads 7 around their central axes. A nozzle for component suction is provided at the tip of each head 7. The nozzle is connected to an air circuit (not shown). By switching a valve (not shown), either negative pressure or positive pressure is selectively supplied to the nozzle, allowing the heads 7 to pick up components and release (mount) the components onto the substrate P.

[0021] The component recognition camera 8 is a camera with integrated lighting that captures images from below of components that the head unit 6 (head 7) has taken out of the component supply unit 4. The component recognition camera 8 is disposed between the board transport unit 3 and each component supply unit 4. The component recognition camera 8 captures images of components when the head unit 6 passes through the space above the component recognition camera 8. The component images captured in this manner are used in the process of recognizing the state of component suction by the head 7.

[0022] In the component mounting apparatus 1 described above, when a board P is carried into the work position along the conveyor 3a, the head unit 6 moves back and forth between the component supply unit 4 and the board P at the work position, picking up components from the tape feeder 5F and mounting them on the board P. Then, when all components have been mounted on the board P, the board P is carried out of the machine from the work position along the conveyor 3a. Component-mounted boards are produced by repeating the operations of each unit in this manner.

[0023] [Mounting Structure of Tape Feeder 5F to Feeder Bank 50] As described above, the feeder bank 50 is installed in the component supply unit 4. The feeder bank 50 is fixed to the base 2, and the tape feeder 5F is detachably mounted to this feeder bank 50. Below, the tape feeder 5F, the feeder bank 50, and the mounting structure of the tape feeder 5F to the feeder bank 50 will be described in detail using the component supply unit 4 on the Y1 side of the component supply unit 4 in Figure 1 as an example.

[0024] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of tape feeder 5F, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of feeder bank 50. For convenience, Fig. 3 shows a state in which only one tape feeder 5F is installed in feeder bank 50. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of feeder bank 50 with tape feeder 5F installed, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a main portion of feeder bank 50 with tape feeder 5F installed.

[0025] As previously described, the tape feeder 5F is a component feeder that supplies components by unwinding a ribbon-shaped component tape 16 containing chip-shaped components from a reel 15 around which the component tape 16 is wound. The tape feeder 5F shown in Figure 2 is a so-called cassette-type tape feeder in which the reel 15 is housed (built-in). Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the component tape 16 is composed of a tape body having pockets in which components are stored and a cover tape that covers the pockets. The pockets are opened by peeling the cover tape from the tape body, allowing the components to be removed.

[0026] The tape feeder 5F has a plate-shaped housing (referred to as a frame member 20) that is thick in the X direction. The frame member 20 is made of, for example, die-cast aluminum and is roughly rectangular in side view (viewed in the X direction). The conveyor 3a side, i.e., the Y2 side, of the tape feeder 5F is the front, and the opposite side (the Y1 side) is the rear. The frame member 20 roughly includes a frame center portion 21C, a frame front portion 21F located mainly at the upper front of the front end of the frame center portion 21C, and a frame upper portion 21U located above the frame center portion 21C.

[0027] A reel storage section 22 is provided in the frame center section 21C. The reel storage section 22 is a circular recess that is recessed in the X direction (X2 side) and is formed in the frame member 20. The reel storage section 22 has a space that can store the reel 15, and the reel 15 is stored in this space.

[0028] A swingable reel presser 23 that traverses the reel storage section 22 in the radial direction is provided in the frame center section 21C. The reel 15 stored in the reel storage section 22 is supported by the reel presser 23 so that it cannot fall off. With this configuration, the reel 15 is rotatably stored within the reel storage section 22. Note that the reel storage section 22 may be configured as a circular hole that is formed in the frame member 20 and penetrates in the X direction.

[0029] A tape path 24 is provided above the reel storage section 22. The tape path 24 guides the component tape 16 pulled out from the reel 15. The component tape 16 pulled out from the reel 15 is guided through the tape path 24 to the top of the front frame section 21F.

[0030] A tape retaining cover 25 (corresponding to the "component removal portion component" of the present invention) is provided on the upper portion of the frame front portion 21F. The tape retaining cover 25, together with a tape guide member 26 (contact portion 26A) described later, is a component that constitutes part of the upper surface and front surface of the tape feeder 5F.

[0031] The tape retaining cover 25 covers the tape passage 24 from above, and the component tape 16 is guided along the tape passage 24 to below the tape retaining cover 25. As shown in Figure 5, the tape retaining cover 25 has a tape peeling section 25b formed as a slit. The cover tape of the component tape 16 is folded back at the tape peeling section 25b and sent to the tape recovery section 35, which will be described later. This folding back peels the cover tape from the component tape 16 (the tape body), opening the pocket upward in front of the tape peeling section 25b.

[0032] An opening 25a extends vertically through the tape presser cover 25 in front of the tape peeling section 25b. The opening 25a serves as the component removal section of the tape feeder 5F. The head 7 moves up and down and picks up and holds components through the opening 25a, removing them from the component tape 16.

[0033] 2 and 4, a feed motor 32 and a sprocket 33 driven by the feed motor 32 are disposed below the tape path 24, across the tape presser cover 25. The teeth of the sprocket 33 engage with engaging holes formed in the component tape 16 (tape body). In other words, when the sprocket 33 is driven to rotate, the component tape 16 is pulled from the reel 15 and fed to the component removal section (opening 25a).

[0034] 4 and 5, a cylindrical tape guide member 26 is provided at the front end of the frame front portion 21F to guide the empty tape 17, i.e., the tape body after components have been removed. The tape guide member 26 extends downward in front of the tape presser cover 25. The empty tape 17 is inserted into the tape guide member 26 from its upper end portion and guided almost directly downward along the tape guide member 26. The empty tape 17 guided through the tape guide member 26 is ultimately stored and collected in a tape collection area (not shown) provided below the base 2.

[0035] The tape guide member 26 has an abutment portion 26A that serves to position mainly the upper front portion of the tape feeder 5F relative to the feeder bank 50. The abutment portion 26A has a front surface 261 that is a flat surface extending in the up-down direction, and an upper surface 262 that is a flat surface extending in the front-to-back direction (Y direction). The front surface 261 is part of the front surface of the tape feeder 5F, and the upper surface 262 is part of the upper surface of the tape feeder 5F. The front surface 261 and the upper surface 262 are surfaces that are perpendicular to each other.

[0036] A first positioning pin 27 protrudes forward (toward the Y2 side) from a front surface 261 (corresponding to the "contact surface" of the present invention) of the contact portion 26A. A second positioning pin 28 protrudes upward from an upper surface 262.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2 , a hollow tape recovery section 35 is provided in the upper frame section 21U. The tape recovery section 35 stores the cover tape peeled from the component tape 16 (the tape body). A take-up motor 34 and a pair of take-up rollers (not shown) driven by the take-up motor 34 are located in front of the tape recovery section 35. The cover tape peeled from the component tape 16 (the tape body) is caught between the pair of take-up rollers. In other words, the pair of take-up rollers are driven to rotate in synchronization with the sprocket 33, so that the cover tape is pulled up and stored in the tape recovery section 35 for recovery.

[0038] A third positioning pin 36 protrudes forward from the lower front end of the frame center portion 21C below the frame front portion 21F. In addition, a clamp 37 and a feeder-side connector 38 are provided below the third positioning pin 36, in this order from top to bottom.

[0039] The third positioning pin 36 mainly positions the front lower portion of the tape feeder 5F relative to the feeder bank 50. The clamp 37 is a locking member that is engaged with the feeder bank 50 to lock the tape feeder 5F in an attached state relative to the feeder bank 50. The feeder-side connector 38 connects the tape feeder 5F to the electrical circuit of the component mounting device.

[0040] A rail 40 is provided at the lower end of the frame member 20, specifically at the lower end of the frame central portion 21C. The rail 40 is a guided portion that is guided by a lane 65 (described later) of the feeder bank 50. The rail 40 extends linearly in the front-to-rear direction (Y direction). The rail 40 may be configured as a separate member from the frame member 20 and assembled to the lower end of the frame central portion 21C, or may be formed integrally with the frame member 20 as part of the frame member 20.

[0041] 3, the feeder bank 50 to which the tape feeder 5F is attached is generally shaped like a bookstand. More specifically, the feeder bank 50 includes a base 51B that supports the tape feeder 5F, a pair of side walls 51S erected at both ends of the base 51B in the X direction, a partition wall 51P erected on the base 51B between the pair of side walls 51S, and a front wall 51F. The front wall 51F is disposed at the front end of the pair of side walls 51S so as to straddle the pair of side walls 51S.

[0042] The base portion 51B, the side wall portion 51S, the partition wall portion 51P, and the front wall portion 51F are rigidly joined together to form a single rigid member.

[0043] The tape feeder 5F is installed from the rear side (Y1 side) in the space between the side wall portion 51S and the partition wall portion 51P of the feeder bank 50. Note that the side of the feeder bank 50 facing the conveyor 3a, i.e., the Y2 side, is the front, and the opposite side (Y1 side) is the rear.

[0044] A plurality of lanes 65 extending parallel to one another in the front-to-rear direction (Y direction) are provided on the upper surface of the base portion 51B. The lanes 65 are provided at equal intervals in the X direction. The lanes 65 determine the installation position of the tape feeder 5F in the feeder bank 50 and also function as guides for the tape feeder 5F when installing or removing it. As will be described later, the lanes 65 also function as positioning portions that position the lower end of the tape feeder 5F in the X direction.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, the tape feeder 5F is attached to the feeder bank 50 by being inserted from the rear side (Y1 side) of the feeder bank 50 along the lane 65 into the space between the side wall portion 51S and the partition wall portion 51P.

[0046] The front wall 51F is provided with an upper positioning portion 52 that positions the upper front end of the tape feeder 5F. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the upper positioning portion 52 includes a positioning front plate 53 (corresponding to the "first opposing portion" of the present invention) that faces the front surface of the tape feeder 5F, i.e., the front surface 261 of the abutting portion 26A, and a positioning top plate 54 (corresponding to the "second opposing portion" of the present invention) that faces the top surface of the tape feeder 5F, i.e., the top surface 262 of the abutting portion 26A.

[0047] The positioning front plate 53 has a flat opposing surface 531 that faces the front surface 261 of the abutment portion 26A. The opposing surface 531 is a surface that positions the tape feeder 5F in the Y direction relative to the feeder bank 50. The front surface 261 of the abutment portion 26A abuts against the opposing surface 531, and the clamp 37 is engaged with the feeder bank 50, thereby positioning the tape feeder 5F in the Y direction relative to the feeder bank 50.

[0048] A plurality of first positioning portions 55 are provided at equal intervals in the X direction on the opposing surface 531 of the front positioning plate 53. This interval is the same as the interval between the lanes 65. Each of the first positioning portions 55 is located at a position corresponding to a lane 65, i.e., on an extension of the lane 65.

[0049] The first positioning portion 55 is a positioning hole (hole) that receives and restrains the first positioning pin 27 of the tape feeder 5F. By inserting the first positioning pin 27 into the first positioning portion 55, the front end of the tape feeder 5F is positioned in the up-down direction and the X direction relative to the feeder bank 50.

[0050] The positioning top plate 54 is fixed to the upper end of the front positioning plate 53 and extends rearward (in the Y1 direction) from the opposing surface 531 of the front positioning plate 53. The positioning top plate 54 has a rectangular shape in a plan view that is elongated in the X direction. A plurality of second positioning portions 56 aligned in the X direction are provided on the rear edge of the positioning top plate 54. Like the first positioning portions 55, each of the second positioning portions 56 is located at a position corresponding to a lane 65, i.e., on an extension of the lane 65.

[0051] The second positioning portion 56 is a cutout portion that receives and restrains the second positioning pin 28 of the tape feeder 5F. As shown in FIG. 5 , the second positioning portion 56 has a V-shape in a plan view that opens toward the rear (Y1 side), and includes a fitting portion 56a into which the second positioning pin 28 fits, and a tapered portion 56b. The tapered portion 56b is a portion that guides the second positioning pin 28. When the second positioning pin 28 is inserted into the second positioning portion 56 and fitted into the fitting portion 56a, the front end of the tape feeder 5F is positioned mainly in the X direction with respect to the feeder bank 50.

[0052] The positioning top plate 54 is arranged so that its top surface 541 is flush with or lower than the top surface 251 of the tape presser cover 25 of the tape feeder 5F. The second positioning pin 28 is arranged so that it is inserted into the second positioning portion 56 below the top surface 541 of the positioning top plate 54. In other words, the upper end of the second positioning pin 28 is located lower than the top surface 541 of the positioning top plate 54. This configuration prevents the positioning top plate 54 and the second positioning pin 28 from getting in the way when the head 7 moves horizontally during component removal.

[0053] Figure 6 is an oblique view of the main parts of the feeder bank 50 showing the tape feeder 5F guided along the lane 65, and Figure 7 is a front view (viewed from the Y1 side) of the main parts of the feeder bank 50 showing the tape feeder 5F guided along the lane 65.

[0054] 3, 6, and 7, a plurality of lane component members 66 extending parallel to each other in the front-rear direction (Y direction) are provided on the upper surface of the base portion 51B. The lane 65 is formed by a pair of adjacent lane component members 66 among the plurality of lane component members 66.

[0055] The lane component 66 includes a main body 67 with a rectangular cross section located on the lower side and a retaining portion 68 with a rectangular cross section located on the upper side. The main body 67 extends from a position near the rear end (Y1 side end) of the base portion 51B to a position near the front end (Y2 side end). Meanwhile, the retaining portion 68 is provided from a predetermined position slightly rearward of the longitudinal center of the main body 67 to the front end. The width (size in the X direction) of the retaining portion 68 is larger than the width of the main body 67 and protrudes from the main body 67 approximately equally on both sides in the width direction. With this configuration, the region of the lane component 66 where the retaining portion 68 is located has a T-shaped cross section.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the tape feeder 5F is attached to and detached from the feeder bank 50 by the rails 40 being guided along the lanes 65.

[0057] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the rail 40 has a generally rectangular cross section and is provided with rollers 44 on its underside. The rollers 44 are driven rollers that rotate due to friction with the base portion 51B and are provided at multiple positions along the length of the rail 40. Furthermore, the side surfaces of the lower end of the rail 40 are provided with overhanging portions 42 that overhang on both sides in the width direction (X direction) and extend along the length. The overhanging portions 42 are inserted into the gap between the upper surface of the base portion 51B and the pressing portions 68 of the lane forming members 66. This configuration allows the overhanging portions 42 of the rail 40 and the pressing portions 68 of the lane forming members 66 to engage with each other in the vertical direction. In other words, this configuration restricts upward displacement of the tape feeder 5F attached to the feeder bank 50.

[0058] Additionally, a plurality of ball plungers 45 are provided at predetermined positions in the longitudinal direction of the rail 40. In this example, three ball plungers 45 are arranged adjacent to each other at positions rearward of the center of the tape feeder 5F in the front-to-rear direction of the rail 40. The ball plungers 45 are pressing members that press the rail 40 (i.e., the lower end of the tape feeder 5F) against the lane component member 66 on the X2 side.

[0059] Specifically, the ball plunger 45 includes a ball 45a that faces the outside from the X1-side side surface of the rail 40 at a position above the overhanging portion 42, and a spring (elastic member) (not shown) that biases the ball 45a toward the X1 side. The ball plunger 45 is disposed at a height position that allows the ball 45a to abut against the retaining portion 68 of the lane component 66. That is, when the ball plunger 45 reaches the position of the retaining portion 68 during the process of installing the tape feeder 5F in the feeder bank 50 along the lane 65, as shown in FIG. 8 , the ball 45a abuts against the side surface of the retaining portion 68 and is pushed back toward the X2 side against the resilient force of the spring. The repulsive force F caused by the ball 45a pushing back presses the rail 40 toward the X2 side, and the rail 40 is pressed against the lane component 66 (retaining portion 68) on the X2 side. As a result, the lower end of the tape feeder 5F is positioned in the X direction.

[0060] Ball plunger 45 is configured so that its pressing force (the repulsive force F) is greater than the frictional force between base portion 51B and roller 44. With this configuration, when tape feeder 5F moves along lane 65, it is possible to press rail 40 toward lane component 66.

[0061] 6, reference numeral 67a denotes a tapered surface formed at the rear end of the main body 67 of the lane forming member 66 for guiding the rail 40. Reference numeral 68a denotes a tapered surface formed at the rear end of the retaining portion 68 for guiding the ball plunger 45 (ball 45a).

[0062] 3 and 7, a feeder fixing portion 60 is provided at the innermost end of the top surface of the base portion 51B, i.e., at the end on the Y2 side. The feeder fixing portion 60 is a portion that locks the installation state of the tape feeder 5F in the feeder bank 50.

[0063] The feeder fixing part 60 is provided with a plurality of clamping parts 63 each having a third positioning part 62 at equal intervals in the X direction, and below the clamping parts 63, a plurality of main body side connectors 64 are provided at equal intervals in the X direction. The clamping parts 63 and the main body side connectors 64 are lined up vertically and are arranged at positions corresponding to the lanes 65, i.e., on the extension of the lanes 65.

[0064] The third positioning portion 62 is a positioning hole (hole) that receives and restrains the third positioning pin 36 of the tape feeder 5F. By inserting the third positioning pin 36 into the third positioning portion 62, the lower front end of the tape feeder 5F, specifically the lower front end of the frame central portion 21C, is positioned in the up-down direction and the X direction relative to the feeder bank 50. With the third positioning pin 36 inserted into the third positioning portion 62, the clamp 37 is locked by the clamp locking portion 63. This locking of the clamp 37 locks the tape feeder 5F in its attached state relative to the feeder bank 50.

[0065] The main body-side connector 64 is a mating connector that corresponds to the feeder-side connector 38 of the tape feeder 5F. When the tape feeder 5F is attached to the feeder bank 50, the feeder-side connector 38 fits into the main body-side connector 64, and this fitting connects the tape feeder 5F to the electrical circuit of the component mounting device 1. Then, as described above, the clamp 37 is engaged with the clamp engaging portion 63, thereby locking the connectors 38, 64 in the fitted state.

[0066] [Operational Effects, etc.] When the tape feeder 5F is attached to the feeder bank 50, as described above, the tape feeder 5F is inserted from the rear (Y1 side) along the lane 65 of the base portion 51B into the space between the side wall portion 51S and the partition wall portion 51P. In this case, because the rollers 44 are provided on the underside of the rails 40, the tape feeder 5F can be moved smoothly while being supported from below by the base portion 51B.

[0067] During the installation process of tape feeder 5F, when ball plunger 45 provided on rail 40 reaches the position of retainer 68 of lane component 66, as described above, rail 40 is pressed against lane component 66 on the X2 side by the elastic force (repulsive force F) of ball plunger 45. As a result, the lower end of tape feeder 5F is positioned in the X direction.

[0068] When tape feeder 5F moves to the innermost end of feeder bank 50, the upper front end of tape feeder 5F is positioned by upper positioning portion 52. Specifically, front surface 261 of abutment portion 26A abuts against opposing surface 531 of positioning front plate 53, and first positioning pin 27 is inserted into first positioning portion 55. Also, second positioning pin 28 is inserted into second positioning portion 56 of positioning top plate 54. As a result, the upper front end of tape feeder 5F is positioned in each of the X, Y, and Z directions relative to feeder bank 50.

[0069] Furthermore, the lower front end of tape feeder 5F is fixed to feeder bank 50 with the positioning being achieved by feeder fixing portion 60. Specifically, with third positioning pin 36 inserted into third positioning portion 62, clamp 37 is locked to clamp locking portion 63. As a result, the lower front end of tape feeder 5F is fixed to feeder bank 50 with the positioning achieved in each of the X, Y, and Z directions.

[0070] In the mounting structure of the tape feeder 5F relative to the feeder bank 50 as described above, the upper front end of the tape feeder 5F is positioned relative to the feeder bank 50 (upper positioning portion 52) by the first positioning pin 27 extending in the Y direction and the second positioning pin 28 extending in the up-down direction (Z direction) at a position rearward of the first positioning pin 27. This structure, which positions the upper front end of the tape feeder 5F using mutually perpendicular positioning pins 27, 28, highly suppresses displacement of the opening 25a, which serves as the component removal portion, in the X, Y, and Z directions, as well as displacement around each of the X, Y, and Z axes as shown in FIG. 9. In particular, the upper surface of the tape feeder 5F (in this example, the upper surface 541 of the abutment portion 26A) on which the opening 25a is provided is directly positioned relative to the feeder bank 50 by the second positioning pin 28, thereby positioning the opening 25a relative to the feeder bank 50 with high accuracy.

[0071] Therefore, compared to the conventional structure in which the front and bottom end faces of the component feeder are positioned relative to the feeder bank by positioning pins, the mounting structure of the tape feeder 5F of the above embodiment improves the positioning accuracy of the opening 25a, which is the component removal portion, relative to the feeder bank 50. As a result, machine troubles such as the head 7 failing to pick up components due to misalignment of the opening 25a are effectively prevented.

[0072] Additionally, according to the mounting structure of the above embodiment, the second positioning pin 28 is provided at a position between the front surface of the tape feeder 5F (in this example, the front surface 261 of the abutment portion 26A) and the opening 25a. With this configuration, displacement of the opening 25a in the X direction and around the Z axis, with the first positioning pin 27 as a fulcrum, is more effectively suppressed than when the second positioning pin 28 is provided at another position on the top surface of the tape feeder 5F. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the opening 25a can be positioned with greater precision relative to the feeder bank 50 than when the second positioning pin 28 is provided at another position on the top surface of the tape feeder 5F.

[0073] Furthermore, the first positioning pin 27 is provided on the front surface 261 of the abutment portion 26A, i.e., on the surface that positions the tape feeder 5F in the Y direction relative to the feeder bank 50 (upper positioning portion 52). This has the advantage of achieving a compact configuration in which the positioning elements of the tape feeder 5F are concentrated and arranged. The same applies to the mating side, i.e., the positioning front plate 53 of the feeder bank 50.

[0074] Furthermore, according to the mounting structure of the above embodiment, the tape feeder 5F is positioned by being pressed mainly by the lower rear end (rail 40) toward the lane component 66 on the X2 side. With this configuration, when the rigidity of the tape feeder 5F (frame component 20) is not high, the rear side of the tape feeder 5F is suppressed or prevented from shifting relative to the upper front end of the tape feeder 5F. This has the advantage of suppressing the occurrence of shifting on the rear side of the tape feeder 5F and suppressing the effect of such shifting on the positioning accuracy of the opening 25a.

[0075] As described above, the positioning of the lower end (rail 40) of the tape feeder 5F is achieved by the ball plunger 45 provided on the rail 40 abutting against the lane component 66 (holding portion 68). However, when the ball plunger 45 abuts against the lane component 66, sliding resistance is generated, hindering smooth movement when attaching or detaching the tape feeder 5F. For this reason, the position of the rear end of the holding portion 68 is set so that the contact distance of the ball plunger 45 (ball 45a) with the lane component 66 is made as short as possible. Specifically, as described above, the holding portion 68 is provided from a predetermined position slightly rearward of the center of the main body 67 in the longitudinal direction to the front end. With this configuration, the ball plunger 45 abuts against the pressing portion 68 only in the small section just before the tape feeder 5F is fully attached to the feeder bank 50, i.e., just before the abutment portion 26A (front surface 261) abuts against the opposing surface 531 of the upper positioning portion 52 (positioning front plate 53).

[0076] The mounting structure of the tape feeder 5F described above is an example of a preferred embodiment of the component feeder mounting structure according to the present invention, and the specific configuration of the component feeder and the specific mounting structure of the component feeder relative to the feeder bank 50 can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the following configurations are also applicable.

[0077] (1) In the embodiment, the mounting structure of the tape feeder 5F is described, but the component feeder of the present invention is not limited to a tape feeder. For example, it may be a bulk feeder as described in the background art, or a stick feeder that moves components to a removal position (component removal section) by their own weight through a stick-shaped cylindrical guide section.

[0078] (2) In the embodiment, the second positioning pin 28 is provided on the tape feeder 5F, and the upper positioning portion 52 (positioning top plate 54) is provided with the second positioning portion 56 into which the second positioning pin 28 is inserted. However, the opposite configuration may be used, i.e., the second positioning pin 28 may be provided on the upper positioning portion 52, and the second positioning portion 56 may be provided on the tape feeder 5F. The same applies to the relationship between the first positioning pin 27 and the first positioning portion 55, and the relationship between the third positioning pin 36 and the third positioning portion 62.

[0079] (3) In the embodiment, ball plunger 45 is provided on rail 40 of tape feeder 5F as the pressing member of the present invention, but the pressing member is not limited to ball plunger 45 and can be modified as appropriate as long as it is configured to be able to press rail 40 toward lane component 66. For example, the pressing member may be a swingable lever and an elastic member such as a spring that biases the lever toward lane component 66. In this case, instead of providing a pressing member on tape feeder 5F, a pressing member may be provided on lane component 66.

[0080] The present invention described above can be summarized as follows.

[0081] That is, the present invention provides an attachment structure for a component feeder that is detachably attached to a feeder bank along a horizontal first direction, wherein the component feeder has a front surface extending in an up-down direction and a top surface extending above the front surface along the first direction, and is provided with a component removal portion on the top surface; the feeder bank has a first opposing portion facing the front surface and a second opposing portion facing the top surface; one side of the front surface of the component feeder and the first opposing portion of the feeder bank is provided with a first positioning pin extending in the first direction, and the other side is provided with a first positioning portion that receives the first positioning pin and restrains the first positioning pin; and one side of the top surface of the component feeder and the second opposing portion of the feeder bank is provided with a second positioning pin extending in an up-down direction, and the other side is provided with a second positioning portion that receives the second positioning pin and restrains the second positioning pin.

[0082] With this configuration, the front surface of the component feeder is positioned to the first opposing portion of the feeder bank via the first positioning pin, and the top surface of the component feeder is positioned to the second opposing portion of the feeder bank via the second positioning pin. By directly positioning the top surface, which includes the component removal unit, relative to the feeder bank (second opposing portion), the accuracy of positioning the component removal unit relative to the feeder bank is improved.

[0083] In this case, the second positioning pin is preferably disposed at a position between the component removal portion and the front surface portion in the first direction.

[0084] With this configuration, the position between the front surface, which is positioned by the first positioning pin, and the component removal unit is determined by the second positioning pin, so that the component removal unit is less likely to be displaced than when the second positioning pin is provided in another location, thereby further improving the positioning accuracy of the component removal unit relative to the feeder bank.

[0085] In the mounting structure of the component feeder described above, it is preferable that the first positioning portion restrains the first positioning pin at least in the vertical direction, and the second positioning portion restrains the second positioning pin at least in a second direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the vertical direction.

[0086] This configuration restricts the displacement of the component feeder relative to the feeder bank in the vertical and second directions, thereby enabling the component removal unit to be accurately positioned relative to the feeder bank in the vertical and second directions.

[0087] In the above-mentioned component feeder mounting structure, the first opposing portion includes an opposing surface that faces the front portion of the component feeder, and the front portion of the component feeder includes an abutting surface that abuts against the opposing surface to position the component feeder in the first direction.

[0088] With this configuration, the component feeder is positioned in the first direction relative to the feeder bank by the contact surface of the component feeder contacting the opposing surface of the first opposing part, and as a result, the component removal part is accurately positioned in the first direction relative to the feeder bank.

[0089] In this case, the first positioning pin may be provided within a region where the opposing surface and the contact surface contact each other. This configuration achieves a compact configuration in which positioning elements are concentrated.

[0090] In the above-mentioned component feeder mounting structure, when the component removal portion is an opening that opens upward, it is preferable that the upper surface portion of the component feeder comprises a component removal portion component member having the opening on its upper surface, the second opposing portion is plate-shaped with a thickness in the vertical direction, and its upper surface is formed flush with or lower than the upper surface of the component removal portion component member, and the second positioning portion is configured to restrain the second positioning pin below the upper surface of the second opposing portion.

[0091] According to this configuration, for example, when a feeder bank is provided in a component mounting device, when the head member removes a component from the component removal section (opening), the second opposing section and the second positioning pin are less likely to interfere with the movement of the head member.

[0092] In the component feeder mounting structure described above, the feeder bank is provided with a pair of lane component members that form a lane that guides the lower end of the component feeder in the first direction, and it is preferable that one side of the pair of lane component members or the component feeder is provided with a pressing member that presses the lower end of the component feeder toward the lane component member on the other side.

[0093] This configuration allows the component feeder to be smoothly attached to and detached from the feeder bank by moving the component feeder along the lane in the first direction. Furthermore, the lower end of the component feeder is positioned by being pressed against one of the lane components. Therefore, even if the component feeder does not have high rigidity, the lower end of the component feeder is prevented from shifting. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of shifting of the lower end of the component feeder and reduce the impact of such shifting on the positioning accuracy of the component pick-up unit.

[0094] On the other hand, the component feeder of the present invention is a component feeder that is detachably attached to a feeder bank along a horizontal first direction, and comprises a front surface portion extending in the vertical direction, and an upper surface portion extending above the front surface portion along the first direction and having a component removal portion, the front surface portion being a pin member extending in the first direction and comprising a first positioning pin that can be inserted and removed into a first positioning portion formed in a first opposing portion of the feeder bank that faces the front surface portion, and the upper surface portion being a pin member extending in the vertical direction and comprising a second positioning pin that can be inserted and removed into a second positioning portion formed in a second opposing portion of the feeder bank that faces the upper surface portion.

[0095] This component feeder can be applied to the component feeder mounting structure described above, thereby contributing to improving the positioning accuracy of the component pick-up section of the component feeder mounted in the feeder bank.

[0096] In this case, the second positioning pin is preferably disposed at a position between the component removal portion and the front surface portion in the first direction.

[0097] With this configuration, the position between the front surface, which is positioned by the first positioning pin, and the component removal unit is determined by the second positioning pin, so that the component removal unit is less likely to be displaced than when the second positioning pin is provided in another location, thereby further improving the positioning accuracy of the component removal unit relative to the feeder bank.

[0098] In the above-mentioned component feeder, the feeder bank may include a pair of lane component members that form a lane that guides the lower end of the component feeder in the first direction, and the component feeder may include a pressing member that abuts against one of the pair of lane component members to press the lower end toward the other lane component member.

[0099] This configuration allows the component feeder to be smoothly attached to and detached from the feeder bank by moving the component feeder along the lane in the first direction. Furthermore, the lower end of the component feeder is positioned by being pressed against one of the lane components. Therefore, even if the component feeder does not have high rigidity, the lower end of the component feeder is prevented from shifting. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of shifting of the lower end of the component feeder and reduce the impact of such shifting on the positioning accuracy of the component pick-up unit.

[0100] The component feeder may be a tape feeder that supplies components by unwinding a ribbon-shaped component tape around which components are stored from a reel. In this case, the component feeder may have a plate-shaped frame member that is thick in a second direction, where the second direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the first direction, and the frame member may have a reel storage section that has a space large enough to store the reel. The reel may be stored in the reel storage section, thereby becoming part of the component feeder.

[0101] Component feeders with this configuration tend to be large in size in the vertical direction, and it is difficult to ensure accurate positioning of the component removal unit in conventional mounting structures where the front of the underside of the component feeder is positioned relative to the bottom surface of the feeder bank. Therefore, this is particularly useful for the component feeder mounting structure described above, which can improve the positioning accuracy of the component removal unit relative to the feeder bank.

[0102] In this case, the component feeder may include a tape guide member that guides the empty component tape downward after the components have been removed from the component tape, and the front surface may be provided on the tape guide member.

[0103] In a component feeder with this configuration, the distance from the component removal section to the first opposing section of the feeder bank becomes large, and the positioning accuracy of the component removal section tends to decrease if only the first positioning pin is used. For this reason, the component feeder configuration described above, which includes the second positioning pin, is particularly useful.

Claims

1. A component feeder mounting structure that is detachably mounted to a feeder bank along a horizontal first direction, wherein the component feeder has a front surface extending in a vertical direction and a top surface extending above the front surface along the first direction, and is provided with a component removal section on the top surface; the feeder bank has a first opposing section facing the front surface and a second opposing section facing the top surface; one side of the front surface of the component feeder and the first opposing section of the feeder bank is provided with a first positioning pin extending in the first direction, and the other side is provided with a first positioning section that receives the first positioning pin and restrains the first positioning pin; and one side of the top surface of the component feeder and the second opposing section of the feeder bank is provided with a second positioning pin extending in a vertical direction, and the other side is provided with a second positioning section that receives the second positioning pin and restrains the second positioning pin.

2. A component feeder mounting structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that the second positioning pin is positioned at a position between the component removal section and the front section in the first direction.

3. A component feeder mounting structure as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first positioning portion restrains the first positioning pin at least in the vertical direction, and the second positioning portion restrains the second positioning pin at least in a second direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the vertical direction.

4. A component feeder mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first opposing portion includes an opposing surface that faces the front portion of the component feeder, and the front portion of the component feeder includes an abutting surface that abuts against the opposing surface to position the component feeder in the first direction.

5. A component feeder mounting structure according to claim 4, characterized in that the first positioning pin is provided within the area where the opposing surface and the contact surface contact each other.

6. A component feeder mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the component removal section is an opening that opens upward, the upper surface of the component feeder comprises a component removal section component member having the opening on its upper surface, the second opposing section is plate-shaped with a thickness in the vertical direction, and its upper surface is formed flush with or lower than the upper surface of the component removal section component member, and the second positioning section restrains the second positioning pin below the upper surface of the second opposing section.

7. A component feeder mounting structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the feeder bank comprises a pair of lane component members that form a lane for guiding the lower end of the component feeder in the first direction, and one side of the pair of lane component members or the component feeder is provided with a pressing member that presses the lower end of the component feeder towards the lane component member on the other side.

8. A component feeder that is detachably attached to a feeder bank along a horizontal first direction, comprising: a front portion extending in the vertical direction; and an upper surface portion extending above the front portion along the first direction and having a component removal portion; the front portion is a pin member extending in the first direction and comprising a first positioning pin that can be inserted and removed into a first positioning portion formed in a first opposing portion of the feeder bank that faces the front portion; and the upper surface portion is a pin member extending in the vertical direction and comprising a second positioning pin that can be inserted and removed into a second positioning portion formed in a second opposing portion of the feeder bank that faces the upper surface portion.

9. A component feeder according to claim 8, wherein the second positioning pin is disposed at a position between the component removal section and the front section in the first direction.

10. A component feeder as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the feeder bank comprises a pair of lane component members forming a lane that guides the lower end of the component feeder in the first direction, and the component feeder comprises a pressing member that abuts against one of the pair of lane component members to press the lower end toward the other lane component member.

11. A component feeder as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, which is a tape feeder that supplies components by unwinding a ribbon-shaped component tape on which the components are stored from a reel on which the component tape is wound, and which has a plate-shaped frame member that is thick in a second direction, where a direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the first direction is defined as a second direction, and the frame member has a reel storage section that has a space capable of storing the reel, and the reel is built into the component feeder by being stored in the reel storage section.

12. A component feeder as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a tape guide member for guiding the empty component tape downward after components have been removed from the component tape, and the front surface is provided on the tape guide member.

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