Component mounting system

Abstract

This component mounting system comprises a component mounting line and a work device. The component mounting line includes: a component mounting machine that mounts a component onto a substrate; a storage that is disposed side by side with the component mounting machine and temporarily stores a feeder capable of supplying the component; and a loader that moves between the storage and the component mounting machine to replace the feeder. The work device outputs work information related to prescribed work executed by a worker and, when the work information is output, the loader sets a stop position in accordance with a work position where the worker executes the prescribed work.

Description

Component mounting system

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a component mounting system. In particular, it relates to a component mounting system having a loader that moves between a component mounter and a storage and exchanges feeders.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a work system having a loader. The loader includes a monitoring sensor that detects an operator. When the operator is detected by the monitoring sensor during movement, the loader stops moving until the operator is no longer detected. This prevents the loader from coming into contact with the operator.

[0003] International Publication No. 2018 / 198333

[0004] In Patent Document 1, when an operator is detected by a monitoring sensor, the moving loader stops regardless of the position where the operator is working. For this reason, for example, when an operator is performing work in the storage, the loader may stop in front of the storage. In this case, the work efficiency deteriorates due to the loader. This specification provides a technology that can prevent the work efficiency of an operator from deteriorating depending on the stop position of the loader.

[0005] The component mounting system disclosed in this specification includes a component mounting line and a working device. The component mounting line includes a component mounter that mounts components on a substrate, a storage that is arranged alongside the component mounter and temporarily stores feeders capable of supplying the components, and a loader that moves between the storage and the component mounter and exchanges the feeders. The working device outputs work information regarding a predetermined work executed by an operator. When the work information is output, the stop position of the loader is set according to the work position where the operator executes the predetermined work.

[0006] In the above-described component mounting system, the stop position of the loader is set according to the work position where the operator executes a predetermined work. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the work efficiency from deteriorating due to the stop position of the loader.

[0007] A plan view showing a schematic of the component mounting system in the embodiment. A control configuration diagram of the component mounting system. A flowchart of the work instruction processing performed by the control unit of the management device. A flowchart of the work information display processing performed by the control unit of the work device.

[0008] The main features of the embodiments described below are listed below. Note that the technical elements described below are independent technical elements that exhibit technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing.

[0009] (Feature 1) In the component mounting system described above, the work device may be located in a work area where at least one of the following operations is performed: an installation operation in which a tape reel containing the components is attached to the feeder, and a removal operation in which the tape reel is removed from the feeder.

[0010] When workers are working in a different work area from the component mounting line, and the loader's stopping position is set independently of the worker's work position, the efficiency of the work may be negatively affected by the loader's stopping position. With this configuration, the loader's stopping position can be set according to the work position of the worker performing the above-mentioned work in the work area.

[0011] (Feature 2) In the component mounting system described above, the storage facility may include a first storage facility which temporarily stores a supply feeder for supplying components to the component mounting machine, and a second storage facility which temporarily stores a recovery feeder recovered from the component mounting machine. In this case, the predetermined operation may include the operation of storing the supply feeder to which the tape reel is attached in the first storage facility, and the operation of taking the recovery feeder stored in the second storage facility out of the second storage facility and moving it to the work area.

[0012] With this configuration, the stopping position of the loader can be set according to the working positions of the workers in the first and second storage facilities.

[0013] (Feature 3) In the component mounting system described above, the stopping position of the loader may be set by the work device transmitting setting information for setting the stopping position to the loader.

[0014] With this configuration, the loader's stopping position can be set based on setting information transmitted by a work device that outputs work information related to a predetermined task performed by the worker.

[0015] (Feature 4) In the component mounting system described above, the component mounting line may further include a management device configured to communicate with the work device and the loader. In that case, the work device may transmit the setting information to the loader via the management device.

[0016] With this configuration, the loader's stopping position can be set with a relatively simple configuration by having the work device transmit setting information to the loader via the management device. However, in another embodiment, the work device may transmit the setting information directly to the loader.

[0017] (Feature 5) In the component mounting system described above, the storage facility may include a first storage facility which temporarily stores supply feeders for supplying components to the component mounting machine, and a second storage facility which temporarily stores recovery feeders recovered from the component mounting machine. In this case, the work device may output work information prompting the worker to perform the predetermined operation of taking out the recovery feeders from the second storage facility when the current amount of recovery feeders stored in the second storage facility exceeds a predetermined amount.

[0018] With this configuration, if the amount of data stored in the second storage facility's recovery feeder exceeds a predetermined amount, the operator can be prompted to remove the recovery feeder from the second storage facility.

[0019] (Feature 6) In the component mounting system described above, the first storage unit and the second storage unit may have openings through which the feeder passes. In this case, the work position may be near the second storage unit, and the work device may transmit the setting information to the loader to set the stop position at a position where the loader covers at least a part of the opening of the first storage unit but does not cover the opening of the second storage unit.

[0020] With this configuration, the loader covers at least a portion of the opening of the first storage chamber, thereby informing the operator that the recovery feeder will be retrieved from the second storage chamber rather than the first.

[0021] (Feature 7) In the component mounting system described above, the storage facility may include a first storage facility which temporarily stores a supply feeder for supplying components to the component mounting machine, and a second storage facility which temporarily stores a recovery feeder recovered from the component mounting machine. In this case, the first and second storage facilities may have openings for the feeder to pass through, and the work device may output work information prompting the operator to perform the predetermined operation of storing the supply feeder in the first storage facility when the number of times the supply feeder has been newly stored in the second storage facility exceeds a predetermined number of times. Furthermore, the setting information for setting the stop position where the loader covers at least a part of the opening of the second storage facility but does not cover the opening of the first storage facility may be transmitted to the loader.

[0022] If the replenishment feeder is stored in the second storage unit more than a predetermined number of times, the worker may have mistakenly identified the storage unit where the replenishment feeder should be stored. With this configuration, if it is assumed that the worker has mistakenly stored the replenishment feeder in the second storage unit, the loader can inform the worker that the replenishment feeder should be stored in the first storage unit instead of the second storage unit by covering at least a portion of the opening of the second storage unit.

[0023] (Feature 8) In the component mounting system described above, the storage facility may include a first storage facility which temporarily stores a supply feeder for supplying components to the component mounting machine, and a second storage facility which temporarily stores a recovery feeder recovered from the component mounting machine. In this case, the feeder may include a specific feeder that can be stored in the second storage facility only for a predetermined time, and the work device may output work information prompting the worker to perform the predetermined work of moving the specific feeder from the second storage facility when the specific feeder is stored in the second storage facility.

[0024] With this configuration, if a specific feeder is stored in the second storage area, it is possible to prompt the worker to move the specific feeder from the second storage area.

[0025] (Feature 9) In the component mounting system described above, the first storage unit and the second storage unit may have openings through which the feeder passes. In this case, the work position may be near the second storage unit, and the work device may transmit the setting information to the loader to set the stop position at a position where the loader covers at least a part of the opening of the first storage unit but does not cover the opening of the second storage unit.

[0026] With this configuration, the loader covers at least a portion of the opening of the first storage area, thereby informing the operator that a specific feeder is being moved from the second storage area rather than the first.

[0027] (Feature 10) In the component mounting system described above, the storage facility may include a first storage facility which temporarily stores a supply feeder for supplying components to the component mounting machine, and a second storage facility which temporarily stores a recovery feeder recovered from the component mounting machine. The first and second storage facilities may have openings for the feeder to pass through, and the predetermined operation may include a first operation performed by the operator near the first storage facility and a second operation performed by the operator near the second storage facility. Furthermore, the work device may transmit the setting information to the loader to set a stopping position where the loader covers at least a portion of the opening of the second storage unit but does not cover the opening of the first storage unit when the predetermined work is the first work, and transmit the setting information to the loader to set a stopping position where the loader covers at least a portion of the opening of the first storage unit but does not cover the opening of the second storage unit when the predetermined work is the second work.

[0028] With this configuration, if the prescribed task is the first task, the loader can cover at least a portion of the opening of the second storage room to inform the worker that the first task should be performed in the first storage room and not the second. Furthermore, if the prescribed task is the second task, the loader can cover at least a portion of the opening of the first storage room to inform the worker that the second task should be performed in the second storage room and not the first.

[0029] (Example) As shown in the schematic diagram of Figure 1, the component mounting system 100 of this embodiment comprises a component mounting line 10, a work device 50, and a management device 60. The component mounting system 100 is a system for mounting electronic components 4 onto a circuit board 2 using the component mounting line 10. The component mounting line 10 comprises three component mounting machines 20A, 20B, and 20C, four storage cabinets 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D, two loaders 40A and 40B, and an AMR (abbreviation for Autonomous Mobile Robot) 42. The component mounting line 10 may also be further equipped with other circuit board work machines such as a solder printing machine and a circuit board inspection machine. Hereinafter, electronic components will be simply referred to as "components," and circuit boards will be simply referred to as "boards."

[0030] Each component mounting machine 20A, 20B, and 20C is a device that mounts components 4 onto a substrate 2, and is sometimes called a chip mounter. The substrate 2 on which components 4 have been mounted in component mounting machine 20A is then transported to component mounting machine 20B. The substrate 2 on which components 4 have been mounted in component mounting machine 20B is then transported to component mounting machine 20C, where components 4 are further mounted onto the substrate 2. In other words, in this embodiment, multiple components 4 are mounted onto the substrate 2 as it is transported in the order of upstream component mounting machine 20A, then component mounting machines 20B, and then 20C.

[0031] Component 4 is supplied to each component mounting machine 20A, 20B, and 20C by a replenishment feeder F20. The replenishment feeder F20 is a so-called tape feeder and contains multiple components 4. For example, when all of the multiple components 4 contained in the replenishment feeder F20 are mounted on the circuit board 2 in component mounting machine 20A, the feeder is removed from component mounting machine 20A by loader 40B as a recovery feeder F10. Also, even when the replenishment feeder F20 contains multiple components 4, if, for example, a component different from component 4 is mounted on the circuit board 2 in component mounting machine 20A, the replenishment feeder F20 may be removed from component mounting machine 20A as a recovery feeder F10.

[0032] As shown by arrow C2 in Figure 1, the loader 40B moves along rail L2 from in front of component mounting machine 20A (i.e., at the bottom of the page in Figure 1) to in front of component mounting machine 20C. The loader 40B moves in front of component mounting machine 20A, for example, and attaches the replenishment feeder F20 to component mounting machine 20A. The loader 40B also removes the recovery feeder F10 from component mounting machine 20A, for example. The recovery feeder F10 is temporarily stored in storage unit 30A by AMR 42 and loader 40A.

[0033] Each storage unit 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D is located upstream of each component mounting machine 20A to 20C. That is, each storage unit 30A to 30D is arranged alongside each component mounting machine 20A to 20C. In this embodiment, of the storage units 30A to 30D, the storage unit 30A located furthest upstream (i.e., on the left side of Figure 1) stores only the recovery feeder F10, while the other storage units 30B to 30D store the replenishment feeders F20. Thus, in this embodiment, of the multiple storage units 30A to 30D, the storage unit 30A located furthest upstream is used as a storage unit exclusively for the recovery feeder F10. Therefore, the operator can easily identify the storage unit 30A where the recovery feeder F10 is stored.

[0034] Furthermore, each storage unit 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D is equipped with multiple slots. For example, storage unit 30A is equipped with three slots 31A to 33A. Each of the slots 31A to 33A stores one recovery feeder F10. The front ends of slots 31A to 33A are open. The recovery feeder F10 is stored in or removed from storage unit 30A by passing through the openings of slots 31A to 33A. Each of the slots 31A to 33A is equipped with a connector that obtains a feeder ID from the stored feeder to identify that feeder by electrically connecting to it.

[0035] As indicated by arrow C1, loader 40A moves along rail L1 from the front of storage unit 30A to the front of storage unit 30D. Loader 40A moves, for example, to the front of storage unit 30A and places the recovery feeder F10 into storage unit 30A. Loader 40A also moves, for example, to the front of storage unit 30B and retrieves the replenishment feeder F20 from storage unit 30B. The replenishment feeder F20 retrieved by loader 40A is then supplied to one of the component mounting machines 20A to 20C by AMR 42 and loader 40B.

[0036] The management device 60 is a computer for managing the component mounting line 10. Details will be described later with reference to Figure 2, but the management device 60 can communicate with each device and work device 50 of the component mounting line 10. The management device 60 is, for example, a desktop computer. In modified examples, the management device 60 may be a laptop computer, or a terminal device such as a smartphone or PDA.

[0037] The work device 50 is a computer capable of communicating with the management device 60. The work device 50 is, for example, a desktop personal computer. In a modified example, the work device 50 may be a laptop computer, or a terminal device such as a smartphone or PDA. The work device 50 is located in the work area A1. The work area A1 is located away from the component mounting line 10. The work area A1 is the area where worker M1 performs work. In the work area A1, worker M1 performs, for example, a removal operation W2 to remove the tape reel R1 from the recovery feeder F10, and an installation operation W3 to attach a new tape reel R2 to the recovery feeder F10. As a result, the recovery feeder F10 becomes a new replenishment feeder F20 and can be used to replenish any of the component mounting machines 20A to 20C.

[0038] The work device 50 provides various information to the worker M1 located in the work area A1. The worker M1 performs the work according to the information displayed on the work device 50. For example, in addition to the removal work W2 and installation work W3 described above, the worker M1 also performs a retrieval work W1 and a replenishment work W4 according to the information displayed on the work device 50. The retrieval work W1 is the work of taking the retrieval feeder F10 out of the storage unit 30A in area A2 located in front of the storage unit 30A and moving it to the work area A1. The replenishment work W4 is the work of supplying the new replenishment feeder F20 manufactured by the installation work W3 to the storage unit 30B in area A3 located in front of the storage unit 30B.

[0039] Referring to Figure 2, the control configurations of each device in the component mounting system 100 will be described. In this specification, the control configurations of the storage unit 30A, loader 40A, work device 50, and management device 60 of the component mounting system 100 will be described in particular.

[0040] The storage unit 30A includes connectors for each slot 31A to 33A, as well as a communication interface 37A and a control unit 36A. The communication interface 37A is an interface for communicating with the management device 60. The control unit 36A transmits slot information to the management device 60, for example, when the connectors of each slot 31A to 33A are electrically connected to the feeders. The slot information includes a slot ID (e.g., 31A) that identifies the slot and a feeder ID obtained from the feeder stored in that slot.

[0041] The loader 40A comprises a drive unit 41A, a communication interface 43A, and a control unit 44A. The drive unit 41A moves the loader 40A along the rail L1. The communication interface 43A is an interface for communicating with the management device 60. The control unit 44A controls the drive unit 41A, for example, according to instructions from the management device 60. As a result, the loader 40A moves between each storage unit 30A to 30D and stops.

[0042] The working device 50 includes an operation unit 51, a display unit 52, a communication I / F 53, and a control unit 54. The operation unit 51 receives various instructions from the operator M1. The display unit 52 is a display that displays various information to the operator M1. Note that the display unit 52 may be a touch screen (i.e., the operation unit 51) that receives instructions from the operator M1. The communication I / F 53 is an I / F for executing communication with the management device 60. The communication I / F 53 may be a wired I / F or a wireless I / F.

[0043] The control unit 54 of the working device 50 includes a CPU 55 and a memory 56. The memory 56 is composed of a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory, and stores a program 57. In this embodiment, the CPU 55 of the working device 50 executes various processes according to the program 57. For example, the CPU 55 executes the work information display process shown in FIG. 4 according to the program 57. In this embodiment, the program 57 is installed in the working device 50 since the shipment of the working device 50. In a modified example, the program 57 may be downloaded to the working device 50 from an external server afterwards, or may be imported into the working device 50 from a medium shipped together with the working device 50, for example.

[0044] The management device 60 includes an operation unit 61, a display unit 62, a communication I / F 63, and a control unit 64. The operation unit 61 receives various instructions from the administrator (not shown) or the operator M1. The display unit 62 is a display that displays various information to the administrator or the operator M1. Note that the display unit 62 may be a touch screen (i.e., the operation unit 61) that receives instructions from the operator M1. The communication I / F 63 is an I / F for executing communication with the working device 50, the storage vaults 30A to 30C, the loaders 40A, 40B, and the component mounters 20A to 20C. The communication I / F 63 may be a wired I / F or a wireless I / F.

[0045] The control unit 64 of the management device 60 includes a CPU 65 and a memory 66. The memory 66 consists of non-volatile memory and volatile memory, and stores a program 67, a threshold count Th1, a specific feeder ID, and a storage feeder table T1. The CPU 65 of the management device 60 executes various processes according to the program 67. For example, the CPU 65 executes the work instruction process shown in Figure 3 according to the program 67.

[0046] Threshold count Th1 is the threshold for the number of incorrect storages, which will be described later. The number of incorrect storages is the number of times the replenishment feeder F20 has been mistakenly stored in the storage facility 30A where the recovery feeder F10 should be stored, and is a value used to determine that the worker M1 has mistakenly identified the storage location of the replenishment feeder F20 as storage facility 30A. Specific feeder ID is information that identifies a specific feeder. A specific feeder is, for example, a feeder that requires stricter humidity control than other feeders, and if stored in storage facility 30A for more than a predetermined time, it will become unusable even if installation work W3 is performed.

[0047] The storage feeder table T1 stores storage identification information for each storage cabinet 30A to 30D. The storage identification information identifies whether the feeder to be stored in the corresponding storage cabinet (for example, 30A) is a recovery feeder F10 or a replenishment feeder F20. The storage identification information includes "S" to indicate that the feeder to be stored in the slot of the storage cabinet is a replenishment feeder F20, and "W" to indicate that it is a recovery feeder F10. The storage feeder table T1 further stores a feeder ID associated with each slot of each storage cabinet 30A to 30D. For example, the feeder ID 11 shown in Figure 2 is information that identifies the recovery feeder F10 stored in slot 31A of storage cabinet 30A. Although not shown in the figure, the management device 60 further stores, for example, the mounting record of components 4 on the circuit board 2 and the remaining number of components 4 for each feeder, associated with the feeder ID. The management device 60 manages the mounting status of the circuit board 2 on the component mounting line 10.

[0048] When the control unit 64 of the management device 60 receives slot information (i.e., slot ID and feeder ID) from the connectors of the above-described slots, it associates the two IDs and stores them in the storage feeder table T1. For example, when the collection feeder F10 is taken out from the slot of the storage 30A, the storage 30A transmits the slot ID of the slot to the management device 60. As a result, the control unit 64 of the management device 60 deletes the feeder ID stored in association with the slot ID from the storage feeder table T1. As a result, for example, as shown in slot 33A of the storage feeder table T1, there is no feeder ID stored in association with slot 33A.

[0049] In this embodiment, the program 67 and each piece of information are stored in the memory 66 since the shipment of the management device 60. In a modified example, the program 67 and each piece of information may be downloaded to the management device 60 from an external server afterwards, or may be imported into the management device 60 from a medium shipped together with the management device 60, for example. Further, for example, the threshold number Th1 may be changed afterwards by an administrator.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 3, the work instruction process executed by the CPU 65 of the control unit 64 of the management device 60 will be described. The work instruction process is a process in which the CPU 65 outputs a work instruction to the worker M1 located in the work area A1 based on the information received from each device (for example, the storage 30A) on the component mounting line 10. The CPU 65 executes the work instruction process, for example, in response to receiving slot information from the storage 30A. Hereinafter, the slot information that triggers the start of the work instruction process may be described as "target slot information". Further, the slot identified by the slot ID included in the target slot information may be described as the "target slot", and the storage including the target slot may be described as the "target storage". Further, the feeder ID included in the target slot information may be described as the "target feeder ID", and the feeder identified by the target feeder ID may be described as the "target feeder".

[0051] In S10, the CPU 65 uses the storage feeder table T1 to determine whether or not there are any empty slots in the target storage unit (for example, 30A). As mentioned earlier, an empty slot is a slot in the storage feeder table T1 that is not associated with a feeder ID (see slot 33A in the storage feeder table T1 in Figure 2). That is, if there are empty slots, the target storage unit can store additional new recovery feeders F10, and if there are no empty slots, the target storage unit cannot store any new recovery feeders F10. If the CPU 65 determines that there are no empty slots and proceeds to S12, it checks if the target storage unit has slots in the storage feeder table T1 that are not associated with a feeder ID (YES in S10).

[0052] In S12, the CPU 65 transmits screen data D1 to the work device 50. When the processing in S12 is completed, the CPU 65 terminates the processing shown in Figure 3.

[0053] In S20, the CPU 65 determines whether the type of the target feeder matches the type indicated by the storage identification information. Specifically, the CPU 65 uses the target feeder ID included in the target slot information to identify the remaining number of parts 4 on the tape reel of the target feeder. If the identified remaining number is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, the CPU 65 determines that the target feeder is a replenishment feeder F20, and if it is less than the predetermined number, the CPU 65 determines that the target feeder is a recovery feeder F10. If the determined type of target feeder differs from the storage identification information (NO in S20), the CPU 65 determines that worker M1 may have stored a target feeder of a different type in the target storage unit and proceeds to S22. If the type of target feeder matches the storage identification information (YES in S20), the CPU 65 determines, for example, that the recovery feeder F10 has been properly stored in storage unit 30A, and skips S22 to S30, proceeding to S40.

[0054] In S22, the CPU 65 increments the number of incorrect storage counts.

[0055] In S30, the CPU 65 determines whether the number of misaccepted items incremented in S22 matches the threshold number Th1 in memory 66. If the number of misaccepted items matches the threshold number Th1 (YES in S30), the CPU 65 proceeds to S32; otherwise, it proceeds to S40.

[0056] In S32, the CPU 65 transmits screen data D2 to the work device 50. When the processing in S32 is completed, the CPU 65 terminates the processing shown in Figure 3.

[0057] In S40, the CPU 65 determines whether the target feeder ID matches the specific feeder ID in memory 66. If both IDs match (YES in S40), the CPU 65 determines that the target feeder is the specific feeder mentioned above and proceeds to S42. If both IDs do not match (NO in S40), the CPU 65 determines that the target feeder is not the specific feeder and terminates the process shown in Figure 3.

[0058] In S42, the CPU 65 transmits screen data D3 to the work device 50. When the processing in S42 is completed, the CPU 65 terminates the processing shown in Figure 3.

[0059] Referring to Figure 4, the work information display processing performed by the CPU 55 of the control unit 54 of the work device 50 will now be described. The CPU 55 performs the work information display processing in response to receiving any of the screen data D1 to D3 described above from the management device 60. Hereinafter, the screen data received from the management device 60 may be referred to as "target screen data".

[0060] In S50, the CPU 55 identifies the target screen data received from the management device 60. The CPU 55 determines whether the target screen data is screen data D1. If the target screen data is screen data D1 (YES in S50), the CPU 55 proceeds to S60; if the target screen data is screen data D2 (NO in S50), the CPU 55 proceeds to S70; and if the target screen data is screen data D3 (NO in S50), the CPU 55 proceeds to S80.

[0061] In S60, the CPU 55 displays the work screen SC1 on the display unit 52 of the work device 50. The work screen SC1 includes a message indicating that the recovery feeder F10 should be taken out of the target storage (for example, 30A) and moved to the work area A1, and an OK button. In other words, the work screen SC1 is a screen that prompts the worker M1 to perform the recovery operation W1. In this way, the work device 50 displays the work screen SC1 prompting the worker M1 to take out the recovery feeder F10 from the target storage when there are no empty slots in the target storage (NO in S10 of Figure 3). This allows the worker M1 to be prompted to take out the recovery feeder F10 from the target storage when the amount of recovery feeders F10 stored in the target storage exceeds the capacity of the target storage. When the CPU 55 receives the selection of the OK button from the worker M1, it proceeds to S62.

[0062] In S62, the CPU 55 transmits the setting information SI1 to the management device 60. In this case, the management device 60 transmits the setting information SI1 received from the work device 50 to the loader 40A. That is, the work device 50 transmits the setting information SI1 to the loader 40A via the management device 60. The setting information SI1 is information to stop the loader 40A in area A3, which is in front of the storage unit 30B. When the loader 40A receives the setting information SI1, it moves to area A3 and stops. In this way, the stopping position of the loader 40A can be set according to the area A2 in which the recovery work W1, prompted by the work screen SC1 displayed by the work device 50, is performed.

[0063] As can be seen by referring to Figure 1, when the loader 40A stops in area A3, the loader 40A is positioned in front of slots 31B to 33B of the storage unit 30B. In other words, the loader 40A covers slots 31B to 33B. This allows the worker M1, who is viewing the work screen SC1 and performing the recovery operation W1, to be informed that the recovery feeder F10 should be retrieved from storage unit 30A, not storage unit 30B.

[0064] In S70, the CPU 55 displays the work screen SC2 on the display unit 52 of the work device 50. The work screen SC2 includes, for example, a message indicating that the replenishment feeder F20 should be stored in the storage unit 30B, and an OK button. In other words, the work screen SC2 is a screen that prompts the worker M1 to perform the replenishment work W4. In this way, the work device 50 displays the work screen SC2 to inform the worker M1 that the replenishment feeder F20 should be stored in the storage unit 30B when the replenishment feeder F20 is stored in the storage unit 30A more than the threshold number Th1 (YES in S30 of Figure 3). This makes it possible to make the worker M1 aware that the replenishment feeder F20 should be stored in the storage unit 30B, for example, if the worker M1 mistakenly believes that the storage location of the replenishment feeder F20 is the storage unit 30A. When the CPU 55 receives the selection of the OK button from the worker M1, it proceeds to S72.

[0065] In S72, the CPU 55 transmits setting information SI2 to the loader 40A via the management device 60, similar to S62 described above. Setting information SI2 is information to stop the loader 40A in area A2, which is in front of the storage unit 30A. Upon receiving setting information SI2, the loader 40A moves to area A2 and stops. As can be seen by referring to Figure 1, when the loader 40A stops in area A2, the loader 40A is positioned in front of slots 31A to 33A of the storage unit 30A. That is, the loader 40A covers slots 31A to 33A. This makes it possible to inform worker M1, who mistakenly believes that the storage location of the replenishment feeder F20 is storage unit 30A, that the replenishment feeder F20 is stored in storage unit 30B, not storage unit 30A.

[0066] In S80, the CPU 55 displays the work screen SC3 on the display unit 52 of the work device 50. The work screen SC3 includes a message indicating that the specific feeder should be taken out of the storage cabinet 30A and moved to the humidity control room (not shown), and an OK button. In this way, the work device 50 displays the work screen SC3 prompting operator M1 to move the specific feeder from the storage cabinet 30A to the humidity control room when the specific feeder is stored in the storage cabinet 30A (YES in S40 of Figure 3). This allows the operator M1 to be prompted to move the specific feeder from the storage cabinet 30A to the humidity control room when the specific feeder is stored in the storage cabinet 30A. When the CPU 55 receives the selection of the OK button from operator M1, it proceeds to S82.

[0067] In S82, the CPU 55 transmits the setting information SI1 to the loader 40A via the management device 60, similar to S62 described above. As a result, the loader 40A stops in area A3 and covers slots 31B to 33B of the storage unit 30B. This informs the worker M1, who is viewing the work screen SC3 and moving a specific feeder, that the specific feeder should be moved from storage unit 30A, not storage unit 30B.

[0068] (Effects of this embodiment) As described above, in the component mounting system 100 of this embodiment, for example, when the work screen SC1 is displayed (S60 in Figure 4), the stopping position of the loader 40A is set to area A3 according to the area A2 in which the worker M1 performs the retrieval work W1 (S72). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the loader 40 from worsening the efficiency of each of the worker M1's tasks W1 and W4.

[0069] Furthermore, in the component mounting system 100, worker M1 performs removal work W2 and installation work W3 in a work area A1 separate from the component mounting line 10. For this reason, the stopping position of the loader 40A is easily set independently of the work of worker M1. According to the component mounting system 100 described above, the work device 50 is placed in the work area A1, and the work device 50 transmits setting information SI1 to SI2 to the loader 40A via the management device 60. For this reason, the stopping position of the loader 40A can be set according to the work position of worker M1 working in the work area A1.

[0070] The correspondence in this embodiment is as follows: Recovery operation W1 and replenishment operation W4 are examples of "predetermined operations". Operation screens SC1 to SC3 are examples of "operation information". Storage 30B is an example of a "first storage shed", and storage 30A is an example of a "second storage shed". Slots 31B to 33B are examples of "openings for the first storage shed", and slots 31A to 33A are examples of "openings for the second storage shed". Threshold count Th1 is an example of a "predetermined count".

[0071] The following points should be noted regarding the component mounting system 100 described in the embodiment. For example, in S60 of Figure 4, the work device 50 may prompt the worker M1 to retrieve the recovery feeder F10 from the target storage unit by voice instead of displaying the work screen SC1 on the display unit 62.

[0072] The work device 50 does not have to be located in the work area A1. For example, the work device 50 may be located adjacent to the storage room 30A.

[0073] Storage units 30A to 30D may be located adjacent to component mounting machines 20A to 20C. In this modified example, the component mounting system 100 does not need to be equipped with an AMR 42.

[0074] The component mounting line 10 may consist only of a storage unit 30A and a component mounting machine 20A. In that case, the loader 40A may stop in front of the component mounting machine 20A, for example, when an operator M1 performs a retrieval operation W1 in the storage unit 30A.

[0075] The CPU 55 of the work device 50 does not have to execute the processes S62, S72, and S82 in Figure 4. That is, the work device 50 does not have to transmit the setting information SI1 to SI2 to the loader 40A. In this modified example, the CPU 65 of the management device 60 may, for example, transmit the setting information SI1 to the loader 40A after transmitting the screen data D1 to the work device 50 in S12 of Figure 3.

[0076] The component mounting system 100 does not necessarily have a management device 60. In this modified example, the work device 50 may, for example, display a work screen on the display unit 52 that checks the storage status of the storage cabinet 30A at predetermined intervals. In that case, the work device 50 may directly transmit the setting information SI1 to the loader 40A after displaying the work screen. In a further modified example, the work device 50 may transmit screen data D1 to the management device 60, and the management device 60 may transmit the setting information SI1 to the loader 40A based on the retrieval operation W1 indicated by the received screen data D1. That is, the setting information SI1 may be generated by the management device 60.

[0077] The CPU 65 of the management device 60 does not need to execute the processes in S10 and S12.

[0078] The CPU 65 of the management device 60 does not need to execute the processes in S20-30 and S32.

[0079] The CPU 65 of the management device 60 does not need to execute the processes in S40 and S42.

[0080] The CPU 55 of the work device 50 may, for example, instead of transmitting setting information SI1 in S62 of Figure 4, transmit setting information SI2 to the loader 40A via the management device 60. This allows the operator M1 to know that the loader 40A will retrieve the recovery feeder F10 from the storage unit 30A, which is stopped in front of it, rather than from the storage unit 30B.

[0081] The technical elements described herein or in the drawings demonstrate technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technologies illustrated herein or in the drawings achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving even one of these objectives constitutes technical usefulness in itself.

[0082] For example, this specification also discloses a technical concept in which "the component mounting system described in claim 4" is changed to "the component mounting system described in claim 4 or 5" in claim 6. Similarly, a technical concept in which "the component mounting system described in claim 4" is changed to "the component mounting system described in claim 4 or 5" in claim 8, a technical concept in which "the component mounting system described in claim 4" is changed to "the component mounting system described in claim 4 or 5" in claim 9, and a technical concept in which "the component mounting system described in claim 4" is changed to "the component mounting system described in claim 4 or 5" in claim 11.

Claims

1. A component mounting system comprising a component mounting line and a work device, wherein the component mounting line comprises: a component mounting machine for mounting components onto a circuit board; a storage unit arranged alongside the component mounting machine for temporarily storing feeders capable of supplying the components; and a loader that moves between the storage unit and the component mounting machine to exchange the feeders; the work device outputs work information relating to a predetermined task to be performed by an operator; and when the work information is output, the loader's stopping position is set according to the work position where the operator performs the predetermined task.

2. The component mounting system according to claim 1, wherein the work apparatus is located in a work area where at least one of the following operations is performed: an installation operation in which a tape reel containing the components is attached to the feeder, and a removal operation in which the tape reel is removed from the feeder.

3. The component mounting system according to claim 2, wherein the storage facility includes a first storage facility which temporarily stores a supply feeder for supplying components to the component mounting machine, and a second storage facility which temporarily stores a recovery feeder recovered from the component mounting machine, and the predetermined operation includes the operation of storing the supply feeder to which the tape reel is attached in the first storage facility, and the operation of taking the recovery feeder stored in the second storage facility out of the second storage facility and moving it to the work area.

4. The component mounting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stopping position of the loader is set by the work device transmitting setting information for setting the stopping position to the loader.

5. The component mounting system according to claim 4, wherein the component mounting line further comprises a management device configured to communicate with the work device and the loader, and the work device transmits the setting information to the loader via the management device.

6. The component mounting system according to claim 4, wherein the storage facility includes a first storage facility which temporarily stores supply feeders for supplying components to the component mounting machine, and a second storage facility which temporarily stores recovery feeders recovered from the component mounting machine, and the work device outputs work information prompting the worker to perform the predetermined work of taking the recovery feeders out of the second storage facility when the current amount of recovery feeders stored in the second storage facility exceeds a predetermined amount.

7. The component mounting system according to claim 6, wherein the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber have openings through which the feeder passes, the work position is near the second storage chamber, and the work device transmits setting information to the loader for setting the stop position at a position where the loader covers at least a portion of the opening of the first storage chamber but does not cover the opening of the second storage chamber.

8. The component mounting system according to claim 4, wherein the storage facility includes: a first storage facility which temporarily stores a supply feeder for supplying components to the component mounting machine; and a second storage facility which temporarily stores a recovery feeder recovered from the component mounting machine, the first and second storage facilities each having an opening for the feeder to pass through; and the work device, when the number of times the supply feeder has been newly stored in the second storage facility exceeds a predetermined number of times, outputs work information prompting the worker to perform the predetermined work of storing the supply feeder in the first storage facility, and transmits setting information to the loader to set a stop position in which the loader covers at least a part of the opening of the second storage facility but does not cover the opening of the first storage facility.

9. The component mounting system according to claim 4, wherein the storage facility includes a first storage facility which temporarily stores a supply feeder for supplying components to the component mounting machine, and a second storage facility which temporarily stores a recovery feeder recovered from the component mounting machine, the feeder includes a specific feeder which can be stored in the second storage facility only for a predetermined time, and the work device outputs work information prompting the worker to perform a predetermined operation to move the specific feeder from the second storage facility when the specific feeder is stored in the second storage facility.

10. The component mounting system according to claim 9, wherein the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber have openings through which the feeder passes, the work position is near the second storage chamber, and the work device transmits setting information to the loader for setting the stop position at a position where the loader covers at least a portion of the opening of the first storage chamber but does not cover the opening of the second storage chamber.

11. The component mounting system according to claim 4, wherein the storage facility includes: a first storage facility which temporarily stores a supply feeder for supplying components to the component mounting machine; and a second storage facility which temporarily stores a recovery feeder recovered from the component mounting machine, the first storage facility and the second storage facility each have an opening for the feeder to pass through; the predetermined operation includes: a first operation performed by the operator near the first storage facility; and a second operation performed by the operator near the second storage facility; the operation device transmits setting information to the loader for setting a stop position where the loader covers at least a portion of the opening of the second storage facility but does not cover the opening of the first storage facility when the predetermined operation is the first operation; and transmits setting information to the loader for setting a stop position where the loader covers at least a portion of the opening of the first storage facility but does not cover the opening of the second storage facility when the predetermined operation is the second operation.

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