CN116534668A - System for changing reels and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to control of handling and transport of workpieces on a semiconductor manufacturing line. In particular, the invention relates to a system (1) for changing reels and a method (100) thereof.

Description

System for changing reels and method thereof

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to control of handling and transport of workpieces on a semiconductor manufacturing line. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for automatically changing reels and a method thereof.

Background

Tape-and-reel (tape-and-reel) is a widely accepted standard for packaging electronic components for the purpose of safely transporting the electronic components to a customer for final assembly. Tape packaging is mostly the last step of semiconductor packaging in which semiconductor components of good quality and that have passed the required inspection are stored in packaging containers, as is generally done below. First, a plurality of holes in a carrier tape are used for accommodating semiconductor components, and in the case that the semiconductor components are stored in the holes respectively, the holes in the carrier tape are sealed by a cover tape, and then the carrier tape is wound on a reel by a winder. When the winder completes the carrier tape with the semiconductor assembly mounted thereon, the full reel must be replaced with an empty reel and moved to a storage area for collection. At this time, if the reels are manually replaced and the fully wound reels are manually collected and transported, the operator must feel tired, and the work efficiency is also low. How to transport the full reel after the tape-packing operation is completed has a great influence on the processing efficiency of the semiconductor device. In addition, conventional reel handling systems and methods require additional cassettes or additional materials for machine handling, which not only increases downtime, but also affects output. While conventional systems can perform at lower speeds, their stability, reliability, cost and efficiency are reduced if the throughput per unit time is increased.

In addition, as the production of semiconductor devices continues to grow under the drive of global demands, reel loading and unloading performance is increasingly important to the manufacturing line in order to meet the demands of mass production operations. And to meet the above requirements, it is necessary to technically push out new ones. Although KR20210025142a has disclosed an automatic replacement system for reels that can replace a full reel with an empty reel in an appropriate manner, the invention still requires an operator to manually load the empty reel onto a reel stacker and manually collect the full reel.

Accordingly, to overcome the above-described drawbacks, the following disclosure is in fact desirable to the public.

Disclosure of Invention

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a system and method for automatically changing reels.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for changing reels that utilizes an automated delivery system.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for changing reels that reduces downtime and improves output.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for changing reels that does not require additional cassettes or incidental material.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for changing reels that has high productivity, high reel insertion rate, and low maintenance costs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for changing reels with short reel replacement times (reel change over time).

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a one-stop automated system and method for changing reels and encompassing reel transfer, reel loading, reel packaging, and reel unloading operations.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention or the actual practice of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides:

a system for replacing a spool, comprising:

at least one loading port for loading at least one reel;

at least one tape winding unit for packaging the semiconductor packages onto the reel;

at least one unloading port for unloading at least one full reel;

the method is characterized in that:

the system further includes at least one overhead hoist conveyor for loading at least one empty reel onto the load port and unloading at least one full reel from the unload port.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides:

a method for changing reels, comprising the steps of:

loading at least one reel in a substantially horizontal state on a load port;

winding the belt body;

the method is characterized in that:

loading at least one empty reel in a substantially horizontal state on the load port by an overhead hoist conveyor;

the method further comprises the following steps:

loading the full spool into an unloading port after the tape winding operation; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

The full reel is picked up from the unload port, wherein the step is performed by the overhead hoist conveyor or another overhead hoist conveyor.

Drawings

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary layout of a system for changing reels according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary front view of a portion of an overhead hoist conveyor of a system for changing reels in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate another embodiment of FIG. 2 in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4J illustrate an exemplary operational flow of a system for changing reels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary method for changing reels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary method for changing reels in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate another exemplary method for changing reels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates another exemplary method for changing reels in accordance with the present invention;

fig. 9 illustrates another exemplary method for changing reels in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that these specific details need not be employed to practice the present invention. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention taken with the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are for illustration purposes only and the drawings are not to scale.

In this disclosure and the claims that follow, singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In the disclosure of this patent specification and the claims that follow, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to mean "including but not limited to", and not excluding, for example, other elements, integers or steps. "exemplary" means "as an example of …" and does not represent a preferred or ideal embodiment. The term "such as" is also not limiting, but rather is provided for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 1 shows a system (1) for changing reels according to the invention, wherein the system (1) comprises: at least one loading port (10) for loading at least one reel (5); at least one flipping unit (12) for flipping the reels; at least one tape winding unit (14) or winder for packaging semiconductor packages to reels (5); at least one reel transfer unit (16) for transferring the reels (5) between the flipping unit (12) and the tape winding unit (14); at least one unloading port (18) for unloading at least one full reel (5) therefrom; and at least one electric coil unit (20) comprising an electric module or assembly that can supply, control or regulate electric power to the various parts of the system (1) as a power supply system for the system (1) for replacing coils. Preferably, the system (1) comprises a first reel transfer unit (16 a) for transferring empty reels (5) from the flipping unit (12) to the web winding unit (14) and a second reel transfer unit (16 b) for transferring full reels (5) from the web winding unit (14) to the flipping unit (12).

The system (1) further comprises at least one overhead hoist conveyor (22) for loading at least one empty reel (5) into the load port (10) and unloading at least one full reel (5) from the unload port. The overhead ceiling-based conveyor (22) is, as the name implies, an automated conveyor system that is movable on overhead rails (24) and that can directly use either the load port (10) or the unload port (18) of the system (1). The overhead hoist conveyor (22) includes at least one hoist mechanism (not shown) for raising and lowering the reels (5) and at least one shaft (26) coupled to the hoist mechanism and adapted to receive, hold and/or release the reels (5). Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the shaft (26). The shaft (26) comprises a first end (26 a) connected to the hanging means and a body (26 b) extending from the first end (26 a) towards the second end (26 c) of the shaft (26), the body (26 b) being adapted to receive and hold at least one reel (5). It will be appreciated in the art that the spool (5) includes at least a through hole (5 a) in its center or other area of the spool, and therefore the shaft (26) is configured to penetrate the through hole (5 a) of the spool (5) to receive, retain and hold the spool (5), as shown in fig. 2.

In one embodiment, the shaft (26) may further include at least one securing mechanism (26 d) for retaining and locking the spool within the shaft (26). The shaft (26) may also include a lock or seat (not shown) having a diameter greater than the diameter of the through bore (5 a) to secure the spool (5) within the shaft (26) or may include a latch member (not shown). In one embodiment, the shaft 26 may also include at least one direction switch (not shown) for rotating the spool (5) if the spool (5) is not in the desired direction. In one embodiment, the shaft (26) is rotatable about its longitudinal axis to change the orientation of the shaft (26) relative to the hanging mechanism and thereby the direction of the spool (5).

Fig. 3A and 3B illustrate a bottom view of another embodiment of the shaft (26), wherein the shaft (26) includes at least one extension member (28) disposed proximate the second end (26 c) thereof, wherein the extension member (28) is configured to extend from a peripheral surface of the shaft (26). The extension assembly (28) includes a recess (30) disposed at least in the shaft (28) and an extension (32) disposed at least in the recess (30). The extension (32) is a linkage assembly comprising a first body portion (34) and a second body portion (36), the first end (34 a) of the first body portion (34) being pivotably secured to the groove (30), the first end (36 a) of the second body portion (36) being pivotably connected to the second end (34 b) of the first body portion (34), the second end (36 b) of the second body portion (36) being slidably secured within the groove (30), wherein the second end (36 b) of the second body portion (36) is configured to slide within the groove (30) between a non-sliding position and a sliding position. When it is desired to have the shaft (26) receive and hold the reel (5), the extension (32) is configured to extend from the recess (30), wherein the second end (34 b) of the first body portion (34) protrudes from the recess (30) from the retracted position to the extended position at an angle of less than 90 degrees (#) to the longitudinal axis of the shaft (26), while the second end (36 b) of the second body portion (36) slides from the un-slid or initial position towards the slid position; and, due to the pivoting of the extension (30), a substantially firm triangular structure is formed as shown in fig. 3B to hold the reel (5) within the shaft (26). When it is desired to release the spool (5) from the shaft (26), the extension (32) is configured to retract from an extended position to its retracted position in the recess (30), wherein the second end (34 b) of the first body portion (34) is retracted or returned into the recess (30) while the second end (36 b) of the second body portion (36) is slid back to its original or non-slid position, thereby returning the extension (32) into the recess (30), as shown in fig. 3A, thereby releasing the spool (5) from the shaft (26).

In another embodiment (not shown) of the extension assembly (28), the extension assembly (28) may include a recess (30) and only a body portion having a first end pivotally secured to the recess (30) and a free second end movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

Fig. 4A to 4J show an exemplary operation flow of the system (1) for changing reels, wherein the steps in this operation flow are divided by arrows and serial numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Referring to fig. 4A, when the overhead hoist conveyor 22 transfers or carries at least one empty reel 5 (preferably a plurality of empty reels) over the load port 10 using its shaft 26, the hoist mechanism of the overhead hoist conveyor 22 responsible for carrying the reels 5 is lowered to the load port 10 and the reels 5 are released from the shaft 26 onto the load port. It will be appreciated that the second end (26 c) of the shaft (26) may or may not be used as a mounting member to mount or position the spool (5) on the load port (10). It is worth mentioning that the reels (5) are loaded on the load port (10) in a substantially horizontal state by the overhead hanging conveyor (22). According to the invention, the loading of the reel (5) in the loading port (10) takes about 5 seconds. As shown in fig. 4B, once the reel (5) is loaded on the loading port (10), the flipping unit (12) of the system (1) picks up the empty reel (5) from the loading port (10) and flips the empty reel (5) from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state.

Subsequently, as shown in fig. 4C and 4D, the first reel transfer unit (16 a) carries and transfers the empty reel (5) in a substantially vertical state from the reversing unit (12) to the tape body winding unit (14) or the winder for the tape body winding operation or the tape packaging operation. According to the invention, the empty reel (5) takes about 2 seconds to load from the first reel transfer unit (16 a) to the tape winding unit (14). It should be appreciated that: in tape-and-reel packaging operations, a carrier tape containing semiconductor packages, devices or components is supplied to or inserted into the empty reel 5, and the reel (5) is also at this stage a full reel (5).

Then, as shown in fig. 4E, 4F, 4G and 4H, the full reel (5) is loaded from the tape winding unit (14) into the first reel transfer unit (16 a), preferably within 2 seconds. The first reel transfer unit (16 a) transfers the full reel (5) to the second reel transfer unit (16 b) for about 1.5 seconds, and the second reel transfer unit (16 b) is configured to transfer the full reel (5) to the flipping unit (12) of the system (1). Preferably, the first reel transfer unit (16 a) and the second reel transfer unit (16 b) are movable on a reel transfer track or conveyor that also acts as a buffer. It can be deduced that a reel replacement time of about 5.5 seconds is required for loading the empty reel (5) into the tape winding unit (14), transferring the full reel (5) from the tape winding unit (14), and transferring the full reel (5) from the first reel transfer unit (16 a) to the second reel transfer unit (16 b). When a full reel (5) is transferred from the tape spool unit (14), it will be appreciated that a subsequent empty reel (5) requires a subsequent carrier supply, so the buffer will handle and support 5.5 seconds of carrier transport to eliminate 5.5 seconds of reel replacement time, thereby maximizing or improving the output of the system.

As shown in fig. 4I, the full reel (5) is turned over from a substantially vertical state to a substantially horizontal state by the turning unit (12), and the full reel (5) is transferred to the load port (10). Finally, as shown in fig. 4J, the overhead hoist conveyor (22) picks up the full reel (5), unloads it from the unload port (18), and transfers it to the next station or to a subsequent operation. In one embodiment of the invention, the system (1) is operable or manipulated to unload any number of reels (5) from the unloading port (18) as required by the system. The overhead hoist conveyor (22) may be configured to load a stack of empty reels (5) onto the load port (10) and may unload one full reel (5) or a plurality of full reels (5) from the unload port (18). If it is desired to have the overhead hoist conveyors unload a plurality of reels (5) from the unload port (18), each of the full reels (5) is stacked onto the unload port (18) and awaiting transfer. At least one scanning system (40) with a bar code scanner and at least one sensor are provided in the system (1) to continuously detect the status of the reel, the orientation of the reel, and the position of the reel.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is preferred to use a plurality of overhead hoist conveyors (22), wherein a first overhead hoist conveyor (22 a) is used to load empty reels (5) onto the load port (10) and a second overhead hoist conveyor (22 b) is used to unload full reels (5) from the unload port (18). In this embodiment, the system (1) is also operable or manipulable to unload any number of reels (5) from the unloading port (18) according to the needs of the system, wherein a first overhead hoist conveyor (22 a) is used to load a stack of empty reels (5) onto the loading port (10), and a second overhead hoist conveyor (22 b) is used to unload a full reel (5) or a plurality of full reels (5) from the unloading port (18). If it is desired to have the overhead hoist conveyors unload a plurality of reels (5) from the unload port (18), each of the full reels (5) is stacked onto the unload port (18) and awaiting transfer.

Preferably, when the first reel transfer unit (16 a) transfers a first flipped, empty reel (5) from the flipping unit (12) to the tape winding unit (14), the flipping unit (12) immediately picks up a second empty reel (5) from the load port (10), flips the reel (5), and waits for the first reel transfer unit (16 a) to pick up. Immediately after transferring the first flipped reel (5) from the tape winding unit (14) to the second reel transferring unit (16 b), the first reel transferring unit (16 a) returns or moves back to the flipping unit (12) to transfer the second empty reel (5). When the second reel transfer unit (16 b) transfers the first full reel (5) to the flipping unit (12), the flipping unit (12) will flip the first full reel (5) and load it into the unloading port (18) after the second empty reel (5) is picked up from the flipping unit (12) by the first reel transfer unit (16 a). Then, the reversing unit (12) returns to pick up and reverse the next empty reel (5), and the second reel transfer unit (16 b) returns or moves back to the standby position to transfer the second full reel (5) from the first reel transfer unit (16 a). This is a continuous operation of the reel replacement operation, the tape packaging operation, and the reel transfer operation.

More preferably, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of flipping units (12) may be used, wherein a first flipping unit (12 a) is used to pick up a plurality of empty reels (5) from the load port (10) and flip the empty reels (5) from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state; the second flipping unit (12 b) is for flipping a plurality of full reels (5) from a substantially vertical state to a substantially horizontal state and loading the full reels (5) to the unloading port (18).

The system (1) further comprises at least one control unit (not shown) operable to operate the system (1). The control unit is electrically linked or operatively coupled to the system (1) to perform its function. The control unit coordinates the transfer of a reel (5) from a reel storage station (or another station/job) to a load port (10), coordinates the placement of an empty reel (5) on the load port (10), coordinates the flipping unit (12) to flip an empty reel (5), coordinates the transfer of a reel (5) from the flipping unit (12) to a tape winding unit (14) by a first reel transfer unit (16 a), coordinates the tape winding or tape packaging job of the tape winding unit (14), coordinates the transfer of a full reel (5) from the tape winding unit (14) to the flipping unit (12), coordinates the flipping unit (12) to flip a full reel (5), coordinates the loading of a full and flipped reel (5) on the load port (10), coordinates the transfer of a full reel (5) from the load port (10) by the overhead suspension conveyor (22), and coordinates the transfer of a full reel (5) from the load port (10) to a next full reel (5).

Another embodiment of the invention provides an exemplary method (100) for replacing a spool. Referring to fig. 5, the method (100) for replacing a reel includes the steps of: loading at least one empty reel (5) in a substantially horizontal state on a load port (10) (120), this step (120) being performed by an overhead hoist conveyor (22); a tape winding operation or a tape packaging operation (140) is performed on the empty reel (5); after the tape winding operation, loading the full reel (5) into an unloading port (18) (160); and picking (180) the full reel (5) from the unloading port (18), wherein the step is performed with an overhead hanging conveyor (22) or another overhead hanging conveyor.

Referring to fig. 6, the step (120) of loading at least one empty reel (5) in a substantially horizontal state on the load port (10) comprises the following sub-steps: carrying at least one empty reel (5) (121) with an overhead hoist conveyor (22); moving the overhead hoist transport (22) to a position above the load port (10) (123); engaging (125) the overhead hoist transport (22) with the load port (10); and releasing the reel (5) onto the load port (10) (127), wherein the substep (127) of releasing the reel (5) onto the load port (10) includes the step (127 a) of driving an extension assembly of the overhead hoist conveyor to retract from an extended position to a retracted position.

Referring to fig. 7A, the method (100) further includes: a step (130) of flipping the reel (5), this step (130) being performed by a flipping unit (12). The step (130) is performed at a timing after the step (120) of loading at least one empty reel (5) in the load port (10) and before the step (140) of performing a tape winding operation on the empty reel (5), thereby turning the empty reel (5) from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state. Referring to fig. 7B, the step 130 of flipping the reel 5 may also be performed after the tape winding operation of step 140 and before the step 160 of loading the full reel 5 into the unload port, thereby flipping the full reel 5 from a substantially vertical state to a substantially horizontal state.

Referring to fig. 8, the step (180) of picking up the full reel (5) from the discharge port (18) using the overhead hoist conveyor (22) or another overhead hoist conveyor comprises the following sub-steps: engaging (181) an overhead hoist conveyor (22) with the unload port (10); threading the shaft of the overhead hoist into the full reel (5) (183); an extension assembly of the drive shaft member to extend (185) from an outer periphery of the shaft member to retain the full spool in the shaft member; lifting the full reel (187) with an overhead hoist conveyor; and transferring the wound reel (5) to the next station (189).

Referring to fig. 9, the method (100) for replacing the reel further comprises the following steps: penetrating the shaft of the overhead hoist conveyor into at least one empty reel (116), and then driving the extension assembly to extend (118) from the outer periphery of the shaft to retain the empty reel in the shaft, wherein the steps are performed prior to the step (120) of loading the at least one empty reel (5) into the load port (10) in a substantially horizontal state.

From the above description, it can be seen that the present invention discloses a system (1) and a method (100) for automatically loading and unloading and replacing reels, whereby loading of reels (5), insertion and winding of tape, and unloading of reels (5) can be accomplished in a single station operation, through an automated conveyor system, in particular by means of at least one overhead hanging conveyor. The system and method of the present invention provide significant advantages over prior art manual reel loading and unloading approaches. From the above description, it will be seen that the present invention has a loading port (10) for loading empty reels and an unloading port for unloading full reels. Preferably, the invention is suitable for reels of dimensions 7 inches and 13 inches, and carrier tapes of widths 8 mm, 12 mm and 16 mm. It is contemplated that the present invention is applicable to reels and carrier tapes of other sizes. The overhead hoist conveyor (22) of the present invention can load an empty reel and unload a full reel approximately every 360 seconds.

While the present specification has provided drawings and descriptions of preferred embodiments of the invention and has shown the effects of the invention and its advantages over the prior art, the invention is not limited to those specific embodiments. Accordingly, the form of the invention depicted and described in this specification is to be taken by way of illustration only. Other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention encompasses various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. There are many alternative configurations and embodiments of the present invention that meet the specific installation and environmental requirements and provide the biological results exhibited by different designs.

[ symbolic description ]

1: system and method for controlling a system

5: reel disc

5a: through hole

10: load port

12: turnover unit

14: belt winding unit

16a: first reel transfer unit

16b: second reel transfer unit

18: unloading port

20: electric disk unit

22: overhead hanging conveyer

24: overhead track

26: shaft element

26a: first end

26b: body

26c: second end

26d: fixing mechanism

28: extension assembly

30: groove

32: extension piece

34: a first body part

34a: first end

34b: second end

36: a second body part

36a: first end

36b: second end

40: a scanning system.

Claims (16)

1. A system (1) for changing reels, comprising:

at least one loading port (10) for loading at least one reel (5);

at least one tape winding unit (14) for packaging semiconductor packages onto the reel (5); a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

At least one unloading port (18) for unloading at least one full reel (5);

the method is characterized in that:

the system (1) further comprises at least one overhead hoist conveyor (22) for loading at least one empty reel (5) into the load port (10) and unloading at least one full reel (5) from the unload port (18).

2. The system (1) for changing reels according to claim 1, wherein the overhead hoist conveyor (22) comprises at least one hoist mechanism and a shaft (26).

3. System (1) for changing reels according to claim 2, wherein the shaft (26) comprises a first end (26 a) and a second end (26 c), the first end (26 a) being connected to the hanging means, the second end (26 c) protruding from the first end (26 a) to receive and hold at least one reel (5).

4. A system (1) for changing reels according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the shaft (26) comprises at least one extension assembly (28) provided at a position near its second end (26 c), the extension assembly (28) being configured to extend from the outer periphery of the shaft (26).

5. The system (1) for changing reels according to claim 4, wherein the extension assembly (28) comprises at least one recess (30) and at least one extension member (32) disposed within the recess (30), the extension member (32) comprising a first body portion (34) and a second body portion (36), the first end (34 a) of the first body portion (34) being pivotally secured to the recess (30), the first end (36 a) of the second body portion (36) being pivotally secured to the second end (34 b) of the first body portion (34), the second end (36 b) of the second body portion (36) being slidably secured within the recess (30).

6. System (1) for changing reels according to claim 1, wherein the reels (5) are loaded in the loading port (10) in a substantially horizontal state.

7. System (1) for changing reels according to claim 1, wherein the system (1) further comprises at least one flipping unit (12) for flipping the position of the reel (5).

8. The system (1) for changing reels according to claim 7, wherein the flipping unit (12) flips the empty reel (5) from the loading port (10) to a substantially vertical state before the empty reel (5) is transferred to the tape winding unit (14), and the overhead hoist conveyor (22) unloads the full reel (5) from the unloading port (18) after the flipping unit (12) flips the full reel (5) from the tape winding unit (14) to a substantially horizontal state.

9. System (1) for changing reels according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the system (1) further comprises at least one reel transfer unit (16) for transferring the reels (5) between the flipping unit (12) and the tape winding unit (14).

10. A method (100) for changing reels, comprising the steps of:

loading at least one empty reel (5) in a substantially horizontal state on a loading port (120); a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

A tape winding operation (140);

the method is characterized in that:

the step (120) of loading at least one empty reel (5) in a substantially horizontal condition on the load port is performed by an overhead hanging conveyor (22); and is also provided with

The method (100) further comprises the steps of:

after the tape winding operation, loading the full reel (5) in an unloading port (18) (160); a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

The full reel (5) is picked (180) from the unloading port (18), wherein the step (180) is performed by the overhead hoist conveyor or another overhead hoist conveyor.

11. The method (100) for replacing a spool according to claim 10, further comprising: a step (130) of turning over the reels (5), the step (130) being performed after the step (120) of loading at least one empty reel (5) in a load port (10) and before the tape winding operation (140), or after the tape winding operation (140) and before the step (160) of loading the full reel (5) in the unload port (18).

12. The method (100) for changing reels as set forth in claim 11 wherein if the step (130) of flipping the reel (5) is after the step (120) of loading at least one empty reel (5) on a load port and before the tape winding operation (140), the reel (5) is flipped from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state.

13. The method (100) for changing reels according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the reel (5) is flipped from a substantially vertical state to a substantially horizontal state if the step (130) of flipping the reel (5) is after the tape winding operation (140) and before the step (160) of loading the full reel (5) on the unloading port (18).

14. The method (100) for changing reels according to claim 10, wherein the step (120) of loading at least one empty reel in a substantially horizontal state on a load port comprises the sub-steps of:

i. engaging (125) the overhead ceiling conveyor with the load port;

releasing the reel onto the load port (127).

15. The method (100) for changing a reel according to claim 14, wherein the substep (127) of releasing the reel to the load port includes the step of driving an extension assembly of the overhead hoist conveyor to retract from an extended position to a retracted position (127 a).

16. The method (100) for changing reels according to claim 10, wherein the step (180) of picking the full reel (5) from the unloading port (18) comprises the sub-steps of:

a. engaging (181) the overhead hoist conveyor with the unload port (18);

b. threading the shaft of the overhead hoist conveyor into the full reel (5) (183);

c. driving the extension assembly to extend (185) from the outer periphery of the shaft;

d. the full reel (187) is lifted by the overhead hoist conveyor.