Component Supply Unit Disposition Determination for SMT Feeder Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the disposition of component supply units in component placement machines are inefficient, particularly when changing board types, as they require extensive manual effort and are suboptimal due to limited automatic load feeder capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that acquire and utilize component supply unit information and constraint condition information to determine the optimal disposition of component reels and tape feeders within a holding unit, allowing for flexible layout selection and improved productivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual methods are used to determine component supply unit disposition, then flexibility in layout selection is maintained, but the process requires extensive manual effort and is inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisposition determination efficiencyVSAvoidautomatic disposition determination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical processes with an automated computer-based system. The management computer automatically acquires component supply unit information and constraint condition information, then determines the optimal disposition without manual intervention, thereby increasing productivity and reducing manual effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically acquiring necessary information from storage units and determining the disposition itself. The management computer independently processes component supply unit information and constraint conditions to generate optimal layouts without requiring manual analysis or intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automatic load feeder is fixedly disposed at center of holding unit, then the structure is simplified, but the replacement time increases when board type changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplacement timeVSAvoidholding unit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic reconfigurability to the holding unit structure. Instead of a fixed automatic load feeder position, the system allows flexible arrangement of component supply units and reels based on board type requirements. The management computer dynamically determines optimal dispositions that adapt to different production needs, reducing replacement time when board types change.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the spatial arrangement parameters of component supply units and reels based on board type information. The management computer adjusts positions, orientations, and configurations of supply units to optimize for different production scenarios, enabling rapid adaptation when board types change without manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If component supply unit disposition is optimized for specific board types, then productivity increases, but the complexity of determining disposition increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecycle timeVSAvoiddisposition determination process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management computer uses feedback from board type information and constraint conditions to automatically adjust component supply unit dispositions. The system continuously processes information about required board types and automatically determines optimal layouts, reducing cycle times while keeping the determination process simple through automated feedback loops.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary determination of optimal dispositions based on stored constraint condition information and board type requirements. The management computer pre-calculates and stores optimal arrangements for different board types, enabling rapid deployment when production needs change without complex real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11259450B2Method of determining disposition of component supply unit and apparatus for determining disposition of component supply unit

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A method of determining disposition of a component supply unit including a component reel obtained by winding a component accommodating tape accommodating a component and a tape feeder that supplies the component accommodating tape drawn out from the component reel, for determining component supply unit disposition in which the component supply unit is disposed in a holding unit that holds the component supply unit, includes acquiring component supply unit information including information on the number of the component reel and constraint condition information including information related to a layout that is capable of being selected when the component supply unit is disposed in the holding unit, and determining the component supply unit disposition, based on the constraint condition information and the information on the number of the component reel.