Tape Feeder Replenishment Timing for Collective Component Reloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The frequent replenishment of components in feeders used for mounting components on boards is burdensome for operators, as it often requires multiple operations to maintain production planning, leading to inefficiencies and excessive component storage member attachment operations.
Innovation Solution
A component replenishment management apparatus and method that predicts the attachment possible period for each feeder, sets a common reference time for overlapping attachment periods of multiple feeders, and determines the execution mode of attachment operations based on production planning, allowing for collective replenishment operations and efficient use of component storage members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple component storage members are replenished individually to each feeder, then the production planning requirements are met, but the replenishment operation frequency increases and operator burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual replenishment operations into a single collective replenishment operation by identifying feeders with overlapping attachment possible periods. The management apparatus combines the replenishment targets of multiple feeders into one unified operation, allowing the operator to replenish components for several feeders simultaneously rather than performing separate replenishment operations for each feeder individually.
2Productivity
If component replenishment is performed frequently to meet production planning, then production requirements are satisfied, but unnecessary attachment operations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The management apparatus performs preliminary analysis by predicting the attachment possible period for each feeder before the actual replenishment operation. By calculating when each feeder will need reattachment and identifying overlapping periods in advance, the system determines the optimal timing to combine replenishment operations, thereby avoiding unnecessary attachments and reducing wasted time.
3Ease of operation
If components are replenished in large quantities to reduce replenishment frequency, then operator burden decreases, but excessive component storage is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the replenishment quantity parameter based on the specific production planning requirements and the predicted attachment possible periods of feeders. Rather than using a fixed large quantity for all replenishments, the management apparatus calculates the precise number of components needed for each combined replenishment operation, optimizing the balance between operation frequency and storage requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The attachment possible period during which the attachment operation of the component supply reel can be performed is predicted for each of the tape feeders equipped in the component mounting apparatus, and the attachment time indicating a timing of the attachment operation is set to overlap the attachment possible periods of the candidate feeders, out of the tape feeders. Therefore, a frequency of the component replenishment operation of the operator can be suppressed. Further, the execution mode of the attachment operation for the candidate feeder corresponding to the attachment time is determined based on the number of the components planned to be supplied in accordance with the production planning by the candidate feeder. Therefore, a number of the components suitable for the production planning of the components-mounted boards can be replenished.