Component Mounter Feeder Arrangement Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional component mounting line optimization methods are time-consuming, leading to delayed production starts and reduced efficiency when waiting for complete optimization, and starting production with unfinished optimization results in low efficiency and extended production times.

Innovation Solution

A component mounting line production management system that includes a production job optimization device, an automatic feeder exchanging device, and a production management device, which allows for partial optimization during production, enabling early production start with continuous optimization and feeder arrangement updates based on progress, ensuring improved efficiency and reduced production time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If optimization processing is performed completely before starting production, then production efficiency is improved, but production start time is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidproduction start time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary optimization processing to generate an initial production job before production starts, then continues optimization during production. This allows production to start with a sufficiently optimized job while still benefiting from ongoing optimization improvements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The optimization process transitions from a static pre-production-only approach to a dynamic continuous process that operates during production. The production job is updated in real-time based on ongoing optimization results, allowing the system to adapt and improve efficiency throughout the production run.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If production is started with incomplete optimization, then production start time is advanced, but production efficiency decreases and production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction start timeVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The optimization processing continues continuously during production rather than stopping before production starts. This ensures that the production job is constantly being improved, maintaining high production efficiency throughout the production run while allowing production to start immediately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where optimization results are continuously evaluated and used to update the production job. The production management device receives optimization results, determines whether to update the production job, and applies improvements in real-time, ensuring production efficiency is maintained and enhanced during production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If feeder arrangement is changed based on optimized production job, then production efficiency is improved, but production process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic exchanging device autonomously changes feeder arrangements based on optimization results without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the complexity of coordinating multiple component mounters and feeders, translating optimized production jobs into automatic feeder exchange operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The production management device acts as an intermediary between the optimization device and the automatic exchanging device. It receives optimization results, determines update timing, and coordinates feeder exchanges, thereby managing the complexity of the production process while enabling efficiency improvements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3541162B1Component mounting line production management system and production management method
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 FUJI CORP
  • EP3541162B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3541162B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3541162B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An optimization processing computer (61), before production starts, sends a production job on which optimization processing was performed but is incomplete to each component mounter (12), causes an automatic exchanging device (26) to operate so as to change the feeder arrangement of each component mounter (12) to a feeder arrangement specified in the production job, then causes each component mounter to operate so as to start production. After production is started, optimization processing on the production job is continued by the optimization processing computer, and during production, an updated production job for which optimization has progressed is acquired from the optimization processing computer so as to update the production job being executed by each component mounter, then the automatic exchanging device is operated so as to change the feeder arrangement of each component mounter to a feeder arrangement specified in the production job, then production continues.