DE102018133183B4 - Process for controlling an assembly process of automatic placement machines, electronic control of automatic placement machines, automatic placement machine and system for controlling a production line in the circuit board production - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for controlling an assembly process of an automatic placement machine (BA) in a production line (FL) with several automatic placement machines (BA1, BA2, ... Ban) for the assembly of printed circuit boards (LP), whereby an automatic placement machine (BA) carries out a partial task of an assembly plan , with the following procedural steps: - reading in (S1) a placement order (ba) individually generated for the respective placement machine (BA), which specifies which position on the circuit board (LP) is to be equipped with which component type, the placement order being made more flexible by In addition to each position, an adjustment parameter is provided, which contains a calculated SHOULD, CAN or MUST data set, in order to determine which placement position should or can be carried out by the placement machine (BA); - Detection (S2) of a processing state (or ) for the printed circuit board (LP); - Execution (S3) of an adaptation algorithm for flexible adaptation of the inserted placement order (ba) based on the adjustment parameters and the recorded processing status (bz) for calculating an adapted placement order (ba '), which determines which placement positions differ from the reading placement order (ba) and which placement positions deviate from the read placement order (ba ) cannot be assembled; - control (S5) of the automatic placement machine (BA) with the adapted placement order (ba '); - detection (S6) of a processing state (bz) of the printed circuit board (LP) after execution of the adapted placement order (ba').

Description

The present invention is in the field of assembling printed circuit boards with electronic components by means of several automatic placement machines which are arranged in a production line. The invention relates in particular to a — in particular software-based — control of the automatic placement machines.

State of the art

In assembly technology, in particular in so-called surface-mounted technology (SMT), electronic components from so-called assembly machines are attached to a surface of a printed circuit board. The components to be assembled are provided with the aid of feed devices for an assembly process at a pick-up position. For the positioning of the electronic components, placement heads that can be moved by a positioning system are used in the placement machines.

As a rule, several placement machines are arranged in a production line, with a transport device conveying the circuit boards to be assembled from placement machine to placement machine, with each placement machine assembling different circuit boards in parallel in one time cycle.

For the entire assembly of the printed circuit board, it must now be determined which components are to be positioned by which assembly machines at which time. This is done using a digital assembly plan, e.g. can be created using a computer program. Such an assembly plan is drawn up for each circuit board type to be assembled, the circuit board types differing, inter alia, in the design of the circuit to be assembled and by a predetermined conductor track structure. The assembly plan is preferably generated in such a way that the total processing time for manufacturing the printed circuit board is minimized as far as possible. The assembly plan can therefore be subjected to optimization. A so-called line optimizer can be used for this, which centrally generates an optimized assembly plan for all placement machines in the production line.

Basically, the efficient processing of the assembly process with a high quality standard is of great importance in the production of printed circuit boards, especially in SMT production. Is e.g. If the component required for assembly is not available or is available too late in a particular placement machine in the line, this placement machine cannot carry out the partial task of the placement plan provided for it, or can do so only with delay. This has a negative impact on the entire manufacturing process. The production line is either interrupted or there are delays. This in turn has the disadvantage that additional costs arise.

The cycle time for advancing the conveyor belt in order to convey the circuit boards from one placement machine to the next is determined by the slowest link in the chain, that is, by the slowest machine. Therefore, an optimized higher-level design of the subtasks to be performed by the placement machines in the production line is of great importance. For this purpose, it is known in the prior art to use a line optimizer that breaks down the entire assembly process into individual subtasks in such a way that it can be handled as efficiently as possible by the available placement machines. In the applicant's SIPLACE Pro program, the optimizer used is that all placement machines in the line require an identical processing time to process their placement program so that there are no waiting times in some of the machines. If no errors occur, a maximum performance or overall placement performance of the line can be achieved.

However, if there are brief faults (e.g. splicing errors, drop in pick-up rate, film tear) on individual placement machines or machines, this has a negative effect on the board throughput of all machines. The undisturbed machines stand still after completing their placement program until the machine with a fault has also completed their placement program. Thus, in addition to the placement performance of the malfunctioning machine, capacity utilization and the placement performance achieved by the undisturbed machines also decrease and the overall placement performance decreases.

The weakness of today's system is that the short-term disturbances have a cumulative effect. If, after the fault has been remedied, a further fault occurs in the further course of the line, the delays add up and the overall placement performance of the line continues to decrease.

Short-term malfunctions cannot be foreseen and occur on different machines. Other procedures are too slow for this.

SMT manufacturing continues to demand increasing flexibility in assembly. On the one hand, different types of printed circuit boards are often to be assembled in any order on a placement machine in a production line. During production, for example, it can happen that different circuit boards are grouped together in the individual placement machines become. Basically, only components for which the respective automatic placement machine is equipped can be assembled in an automatic placement machine. So z. B. in a first placement machine circuit boards with components of type A and type B and in a second placement machine circuit boards with components of type A and type C. The problem may arise, for example, that individual placement positions are either loaded several times or not at all, since the individual placement positions are processed by the various placement machines and are therefore not known to the other placement machines. In order to avoid this problem, it is important to have a central instance that is higher than the individual placement machines and that controls the entire placement process. In addition, this central tax authority can also be entrusted with the task of central line optimization.

With such a central control, however, local changes to the individual placement machine (e.g. in the event of locally occurring errors) cannot be reacted to, or cannot be adequately. This can adversely affect the entire manufacturing process.

Publication US 2014/0 090 244 A1 relates to a setup process for deciding which component feeders to attach to each pick and place machine in a pick and place system.

Publication DE 10 2009 043 642 A1 describes a method for assembling printed circuit boards with electronic components in an assembly device, the components to be assembled for each circuit board type being specified by an assembly program.

Publication WO 98/49 646 A2 refers to an assembly line for the production of electronic assemblies such as printed circuit boards with discrete components.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a technical implementation by means of which assembly of printed circuit boards in a production line can be carried out more efficiently with a plurality of automatic placement machines, without impairing the flexibility in processing by the individual automatic placement machines.

The inventors have recognized that a fixed or static specification of placement orders can only react inadequately to short-term disturbances in the course of the placement line. A more flexible adjustment of the respective placement order, which takes into account the current processing status or possible machine errors, is therefore desirable.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims, in particular by a method, a computer program, a control module, an automatic placement machine with a control module and by a system. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims and the description below.

• - Einlesen eines individuell für den jeweiligen Bestückautomaten erzeugten Bestückauftrags (umfasst Steuerbefehle zu Bestückung), der vorgibt, welche Position auf der Leiterplatte mit welchem Bauteiltyp zu bestücken ist, wobei der Bestückauftrag flexibilisiert ist, indem zusätzlich zu jeder Position einen Anpassungsparameter bereitgestellt ist, der einen berechneten SHOULD, CAN oder MUST-Datensatz enthält, um jeweils festzulegen, welche Bestückposition von dem Bestückautomaten ausgeführt werden sollte, kann oder muss;
• - Prüfen, ob ein Bearbeitungszustand von einem vorhergehenden Bestückautomaten oder von einer anderen Instanz empfangen worden ist und bejahendenfalls: Erfassen eines Bearbeitungszustandes für die zu bestückende Leiterplatte;
• - Ausführen eines Adaptionsalgorithmus zur flexiblen Adaption des eingelesenen Bestückauftrags auf Basis der Anpassungsparameter und (gegebenenfalls) des erfassten Bearbeitungszustands zum Berechnen eines angepassten Bestückauftrags, der festlegt, welche Bestückpositionen abweichend von dem eingelesenen Bestückauftrag bestückt und welche Bestückpositionen abweichend von dem eingelesenen Bestückauftrag nicht bestückt werden;
• - Ansteuern des Bestückautomaten mit dem angepassten Bestückauftrag;
• - Erfassen eines Bearbeitungszustandes der Leiterplatte nach Ausführung des angepassten Bestückauftrags (wobei der Bearbeitungszustand angibt, welche Position bestückt wurde und welche nicht).

According to a first aspect, the invention thus relates to a method for controlling an assembly process, to execute assembly machines in a production line with a plurality of assembly machines for assembling printed circuit boards. A placement machine in the production line carries out a partial task of a comprehensive placement plan. The process comprises the following process steps:

• - Reading in an individually generated placement order for the respective placement machine (includes control commands for placement), which specifies which position on the circuit board is to be populated with which component type, the placement order being made more flexible by providing an adjustment parameter for each position, which provides one contains the calculated SHOULD, CAN or MUST data set in order to determine which placement position the placement machine should or can perform;
• - Check whether a processing status has been received from a previous placement machine or from another entity and if so: Detect a processing status for the circuit board to be assembled;
• - Execution of an adaptation algorithm for flexible adaptation of the read placement order on the basis of the adjustment parameters and (if applicable) the recorded processing status for calculating an adapted placement order, which determines which placement positions differ from the read placement order and which placement positions differ from the read placement order;
• - Control of the placement machine with the adapted placement order;
• - Detection of a processing state of the printed circuit board after execution of the adapted placement order (the processing state indicating which position was and which was not).

The inventors had the idea of centralizing the placement plan with the fixed ones To be able to make processing orders for the individual placement machines in the line more flexible and adapt them to the local machine conditions (e.g. delays).

Basically, the printed circuit boards are transported on a transport mechanism from the automatic placement machine to a subsequent automatic placement machine in the production line after a placement cycle (or a time slice in which the transport mechanism has a constant position and does not move). The transport, i.e. forwarding, is usually not carried out synchronously for all machines. The individual conveyor belts are synchronized with the predecessors / successors via light barriers so that it is known when they can be transported further.

• „Nachfolgender Bestückautomat ist noch nicht fertig“ UND („weitere CAN Positionen sind verfügbar“ ODER „es gibt noch SHOULD/MUST Positionen“).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the steps "executing the adaptation algorithm" - and optionally the step "providing the adapted placement order as a result data record" - and "controlling the placement machine with the adapted placement order" are repeated iteratively until an abort condition is met. Only when this abort condition is met, does the step 'capture the processing state' continue. The termination condition can be preconfigured. The termination condition is preferably:

• "The following placement machine is not yet finished" AND ("further CAN positions are available" OR "there are still SHOULD / MUST positions").

• „Die anderen Bestückautomaten der Fertigungslinie sind noch nicht fertig“ UND („weitere CAN Positionen sind auf dem aktuellen Bestückautomaten verfügbar“ ODER „es gibt noch SHOULD- oder MUST Positionen“).

Conversely, the iteration can be carried out as long as a repeat condition applies:

• "The other placement machines in the production line are not yet finished" AND ("further CAN positions are available on the current placement machines" OR "there are still SHOULD or MUST positions").

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adapted placement order comprises a DO MORE and / or a DO LESS command.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processing state (as an electronic data record) recorded after the adapted placement order has been carried out is electronically transmitted directly to a placement machine following in the production line. This is done via M2M communication over a provided network. In particular, a Whisper protocol can be used here (the disclosure content of the WO 2000015017 References) and / or via an IPC-HERMES-9852 protocol. In this case, it can be provided that a machine M1 carries out less assembly, which, however, cannot be equipped by the directly following machine M2, but only later, for example by the fourth machine M4 (more). The respective processing states are then iteratively advanced from M1, to M2 to M3 to M4. This data exchange from placement machine to placement machine preferably takes place each time it is pushed forward by means of the transport mechanism.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the processing state can additionally be sent to a control module for controlling the production line. The control module can be designed with a production line optimization function. This has the advantage that the current processing status is not only communicated locally from machine to machine, but can also be kept centrally, e.g. to be able to carry out further analysis.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the adaptation algorithm detects whether a delay or an error condition has been detected on at least one of the placement machines in the production line in order to calculate the adapted placement order as a function thereof or based thereon. The delay may have been recorded locally on the respective machine. However, the delay may also have occurred on another machine in the line and may result in the adaptation algorithm dynamically adapting or changing the placement order.

According to another advantageous development of the invention, the processing state recorded after the adapted placement order has been carried out comprises an electronic data record (which can be designed in particular as an OMIT or DONE parameter or flag). A command for modified control of the machine can be calculated automatically from the processing state, in particular for the initiation of an additional assembly (DO MORE command) or a lower assembly (DO LESS command) by the respective placement machine, which has been triggered according to the adapted placement order. The processing status can also include other data, such as Metadata, a timestamp etc. The DO MORE command is issued and executed when the successor machine is not finished. The DO LESS command is issued and executed when the successor machine is finished.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, in the case of a multiple placement to be carried out (DO MORE), the respective multiple placement order (as an adapted placement order) can be distributed to the individual placement machines of the production line. The distribution can be advantageously adapted to the workload and the current resources of the placement machines. The distribution can be carried out by a central entity, for example the central line optimizer or by the placement machine. The distribution is preferably carried out independently of the individual placement machines.

The SHOULD data record preferably defines that the respective position should be populated by the respective placement machine if there are no delays or no errors and then possibly not populated if delays or an error occur. It can be provided that not all positions that are assigned a SHOULD data record are “omitted” (ie not populated); a part can already be fitted at the time of the error. The decision about the placement / non-placement is made autonomously by the respective placement machine by using the adaptation algorithm.

The CAN data record preferably defines that the respective position can be populated by the respective placement machine if a delay or an error occurs. The delay or the error (or the reason for this) can only be a delay on a different line for positions occupied by CAN. If the machine itself is faulty, then it will be loaded less (DO LESS) and not more.

The MUST data record preferably defines that the respective position must be populated by the respective placement machine. This is particularly the case if it is the last placement machine in the line with the respective functionality.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, an efficiency increase value for the execution of the assembly plan can be calculated, which represents a time saving of the method when using the adaptation algorithm compared to a method without its application. The performance gain can thus be represented based on numbers.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a prediction data record can be calculated, which provides a prediction for an improved upgrade of the placement machine from an analysis of placement plans that have already been carried out, taking into account the adaptation algorithms used.

In a further, preferred embodiment of the invention, the automatic placement machine can determine an estimated value for the delay caused by the error for the placement in the event of a delay or an error. The application of the adaptation algorithm can e.g. can only be activated if the estimated value exceeds a preconfigurable threshold. In this way, the local resources of the placement machine can be saved. In an advantageous development of the invention, it can be provided that the estimated value is also transmitted to the central line optimizer, e.g. for the purpose of analysis.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a computer program with program code or program means, wherein the computer program can be stored on a computer-readable data carrier, wherein the program code or the program means cause a computer to carry out a method - as described above - when the computer program runs a computer or a computer-based processing unit is executed.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a control module for an automatic placement machine which, together with other automatic placement machines, is designed for the assembly of printed circuit boards in a production line. The control module is designed to control the placement machine using a method as described above.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control module can be designed with an interface to other control modules from other placement machines. In particular, this can be a local network interface, e.g. around Ethernet or SMEMA.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to an automatic placement machine with an (electronic) control module, as described above.

• - mehreren Bestückautomaten zur Bestückung der Leiterplatten, wobei jeweils ein Bestückautomat jeweils eine Teilaufgabe eines Bestückungsplans ausführt und wobei jeweils ein Bestückautomat ein elektronisches Steuermodul aufweist;
• - einem Linienoptimierer, der dazu bestimmt ist, den Bestückungsplan in Teilaufgaben zur Zuweisung auf die einzelnen Bestückautomaten der Fertigungslinie zu zergliedern und der weiterhin dazu bestimmt ist, jeweils einen individuell für den jeweiligen Bestückautomaten erzeugten flexiblen Bestückauftrags zu berechnen, der vorgibt, welche Position auf der Leiterplatte mit welchem Bauteiltyp (und vorzugsweise gibt der Linienoptimierer auch vor, wann und in welcher Reihenfolge bestückt werden soll) zu bestücken ist, wobei der Bestückauftrag flexibilisiert ist, indem zusätzlich zu jeder Position einen Anpassungsparameter bestimmt wird, der einen berechneten SHOULD, CAN oder MUST-Datensatz enthält, um jeweils festzulegen, welche Bestückposition von dem Bestückautomaten ausgeführt werden soll, kann oder muss;
• - Einer Datenverbindung zwischen den einzelnen Bestückautomaten und einer Datenverbindung zwischen den einzelnen Bestückautomaten und dem Linienoptimierer

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a system for controlling a production line for the production of printed circuit boards, with:

• a plurality of automatic placement machines for assembling the printed circuit boards, an automatic placement machine in each case carrying out a subtask of an assembly plan, and an automatic placement machine each having an electronic control module;
• - A line optimizer, which is designed to break down the assembly plan into sub-tasks for assignment to the individual placement machines of the production line and which is also intended to calculate a flexible placement order individually generated for the respective placement machine, which specifies which position on the PCB with which component type (and preferably gives the Line optimizer also before, when and in which order is to be assembled), whereby the placement order is made more flexible by additionally determining an adjustment parameter for each position, which contains a calculated SHOULD, CAN or MUST data record, in order to determine which one Placement position from the placement machine should, can or must be performed;
• - A data connection between the individual placement machines and a data connection between the individual placement machines and the line optimizer

In previous placement processes according to the state of the art, a placement plan was drawn up by a central line optimizer and broken down into “task packages” and dedicated to the respective placement machine for execution in the form of unchangeable, static placement orders. Subsequent changes to the placement order were no longer possible. If a machine malfunctions, it cannot be reacted to flexibly enough. The fault usually affected the other machines in the line, which e.g. could not continue to work until the problem was resolved. Until then the line was broken. It was not possible to change the centrally created and locally executed placement orders locally and dynamically and to adapt them to the condition of the placement line. In addition, the individual machines in the prior art could not process the information about the processing status of the other machines in the line, if it was available at all. It was therefore not possible for an automatic placement machine to react accordingly to this information. This disadvantage is resolved according to one aspect of the solution proposed here, in that a processing state is now communicated directly and immediately from one machine to the next machine in order to enable a local placement decision and to generate corresponding machine control signals in response thereto (by means of the adapted placement order ).

The invention thus offers the important advantage that the assembly plan can be adapted more flexibly to the current operating situation and, in particular, better line utilization can be achieved in the event of brief errors. The adaptation of the original (original and centrally created) placement order can be carried out locally on the placement machine. The adaptation thus takes place locally and can be carried out by means of the adaptation algorithm, in particular at runtime. This enables the line to react very quickly and quickly to short-term changes. The production time can be shortened and idle times of individual placement machines that have to "wait" for faulty machines can be avoided. This can save costs. There is also more data available that can be used to analyze and improve the production process. Thus, according to the invention, a processing state is recorded on every placement machine after each placement cycle or after execution of the adapted placement order. This processing status provides information about the quality and correctness of the previous assembly. The transmission of the processing status provides the technical basis for the automatic initiation of measures to compensate for any delays or errors (e.g. due to non-assembly). The processing status can be on the placement machines immediately following in the line and / or on the central line optimizer and / or on e.g. further computer-based processing units connected via a network are sent for further analysis.

The terms of this application are defined below.

The term “automatic placement machine” can refer to a machine device that is suitable for equipping a component carrier, such as an electronic circuit board, with components. As already described above, an automatic placement machine (also referred to below as an automatic machine or machine) can have a placement head, which picks up the components from a component feed device, transports them into a placement area of the automatic placement machine and places them there on the component carrier. Here, the placement machine can have a chassis which has a support arm on which the placement head can be arranged displaceably. The placement machine or parts thereof can preferably be controlled electronically. An automatic placement machine preferably comprises an electronic processing unit, which in particular can comprise a control module. These are electronic, computer-based components that comprise a digital processing unit for processing digital data, such as a CPU, a microprocessor, a microcontroller or an integrated circuit, for example in the form of an FPGA, etc. The placement machines are usually a component a production line and arranged sequentially. “Sequential” here refers to the fact that a conveyor belt or other transport device guides the circuit board (s) to be assembled from machine to machine. The respective machines process the placement orders assigned to them in a quasi parallel manner. One circuit board is processed in one machine per cycle or time slice. The circuit boards are moved from one cycle to the next by a conveyor belt or transported to another transport device. Further synchronous transport is desirable. If there was a malfunction in the prior art, all of the placement machines had to wait for the malfunctioning machine, which means a loss in performance. By adapting the placement order according to the invention, the rigid assignment of the placement order per machine can be removed and made more flexible.

The term “production line” can in particular refer to a production system in which several stations, in particular processing stations, are connected within a process line. The process line has a transport direction. The processing stations, which can have automatic placement machines, for example, can be arranged one behind the other and along the process line in the transport direction, and they can be connected by means of a transport device, in particular a conveyor belt. The direction of transport corresponds to the main direction of extension of the production line. In other words, the transport direction denotes the direction in which a product to be manufactured (e.g. a printed circuit board) traverses the production line. In addition to automatic placement machines, a production line can, for example, have the following “processing stations”: a solder paste printer, an oven, a magazine unloader, a marker, a solder paste inspection device, a buffer, a CPI device, a device for automatic optical inspection (AOI) and / or a magazine loader. For example, a component carrier, in particular a printed circuit board, can be picked up by a magazine unloader in a production line and then transported along a transport device, for example a conveyor belt, along the main direction of extension and can be equipped with components by automatic placement machines. At the end of the production line, an electronic assembly, in particular an assembled printed circuit board, can then be removed from the production line by a magazine loader. Several production lines can be positioned essentially parallel to one another. In addition, the production system can have further components, for example a material store, from which component storage elements can be conveyed to the production lines. Furthermore, the production system can also have control units that are required to coordinate the process steps of the production lines, such as a line optimizer.

A line optimizer can include an electronic processing unit. These are electronic, computer-based components that include a digital processing unit for processing digital data, such as a CPU, a microprocessor, a microcontroller or an integrated circuit, e.g. in the form of an FPGA etc. Usually a memory is provided locally or centrally, which is in data exchange with the processing unit. The line optimizer is centrally designed to control and optimize the entire line. The line optimizer can preferably be designed for all or selected placement machines in the line. The line optimizer can be designed to implement an assembly plan for a component carrier, e.g. for a printed circuit board. Using an algorithm, the placement plan can be broken down into a number of placement orders that are executed on the individual placement machines. A first placement order is e.g. assigned to a first placement machine, a second placement order is assigned to a second placement machine etc.

• - Bauteiltyp1, zu bestücken an Position 1, MUST
• - Bauteiltyp2, zu bestücken an Position 2, SHOULD
• - Bauteiltyp2, zu bestücken an Position 3, CAN
• - ...

The placement order is an electronic data record and includes control commands for the individual assembly of the circuit board by the respective machine (e.g. with the respective functionality, armor, etc.). The placement order can comprise several elements and in particular comprises data which define which component type is to be assembled at which position on the printed circuit board and possibly also in which order. Basically, the assembly is serial. This means that the printed circuit board is usually equipped with one component after the other, e.g. first component A, then B, then C. However, this sequence is not mandatory, but only the result of path optimization (Traveling Salesman algorithm). The placement order also includes at least one calculated adjustment parameter. The adaptation parameter in turn comprises a SHOULD, CAN or MUST data record per placement position. The adjustment parameter is used to determine which placement position should be performed by the placement machine (SHOULD), can (CAN) or must (MUST). For example, a placement order can be a quantity from the following data records:

• - Component type 1, to be assembled at position 1, MUST
• - Component type 2, to be assembled at position 2, SHOULD
• - Component type 2, to be fitted at position 3, CAN
• - ...

The "adapted placement order" differs from a "placement order" in that the adaptation algorithm has been applied to the (read) placement order.

The adaptation algorithm evaluates the supplied adjustment parameter per position and performs an adjustment based on the available resources and / or the current status of the placement machine (error-free or faulty / faulty) out. The adaptation algorithm is carried out in particular after each head cycle. A head cycle represents approx. 12-20 positions, for example depending on the number of pipettes. Basically, the placement head picks up said 12-20 components from the conveyors before it is moved to the assembly circuit board and assembles it. This process of picking up and loading, including the travel path, is called the head cycle.

If e.g. If the adjustment parameter signals a certain amount of free space when assembling (e.g. CAN, SHOULD) and there is a delay or fault in the execution of this assembly, then a "DO LESS" command can be generated which is added to the adjusted assembly order. In this case, the machine would be “less” than actually ordered in the original placement order, without causing an interruption in the line. If e.g. If the adjustment parameter limits the free space in the placement of the respective position (e.g. MUST) and there is no fault in the execution of this placement and the placement order has not provided placement in this position, then a command "DO MORE" (additional placement) can be generated that the customized placement order is added. In this case, the machine would be "more" than actually ordered in the original placement order. The adjusted placement order is calculated locally on the respective placement machine. The original placement order is dynamically and situationally adapted to the current production situation in the placement machine and in particular overwritten with the command DO MORE or DO LESS in order to generate the adapted placement order that is locally optimized for the current production situation (e.g. error, delay, etc .). The decision (DO MORE or DO LESS) is made for the individual positions. The decision is preferably made in one adjustment step and ideally for entire head cycles at once. If neither a DO MORE nor a DO LESS command has been generated for at least one position, the (original) placement order can also match the customized placement order for the respective situation.

• SCHLEIFE ((solange Bestückautomat fertig) UND (Nachfolger Bestückautomat nicht fertig)) DANN Ausführen weiterer Bestückung mit Kopfzyklus (=12-20 Positionen);

The following rule (described as pseudo code) can be used to generate a DO MORE command:

• LOOP ((as long as placement machine finished) AND (successor placement machine not finished)) THEN carry out further placement with head cycle (= 12-20 positions);

• WENN ((Bestückautomat nicht fertig) UND (Nachfolger fertig))
• DANN Nicht-Bestücken (Auslassen) von PROZENTZAHL der verbleibenden SHOULD Bestückpositionen;

The following rule (described as pseudo code) can be used to generate a DO LESS command:

• IF ((placement machine not finished) AND (successor finished))
• THEN not populating (skipping) the PERCENTAGE of the remaining SHOULD placement positions;

PERCENTAGE is a selectable parameter that should be optimized.

The data record or the message "successor (not) ready" can be calculated from a readiness message from the transport mechanism. The message signals whether the placement machine downstream in the production line is ready. The readiness message can e.g. are recorded from the state that the output belt is free. This state signals that the successor is finished. Otherwise it can be concluded that the machine is on the critical path if the input tape is occupied and the output tape is free at the same time.

The term “processing status” is an electronic data record and identifies or represents the current assembly or assembly situation of the circuit board. The processing status can e.g. represent that the respective placement order has already been carried out completely or incompletely. The total of all processing states characterizes the assembly status of the circuit board. A processing status can be recorded for each position (placement position on the circuit board). An error can be derived from the processing status. The processing status is transferred from machine to machine - and in particular to the machine that follows each line - by means of electronic data transmission. Communication can be based on the Whisper protocol and / or an IPC Hermes 9852 protocol. The processing status can also be transmitted to the central line optimizer or to another central entity for further analysis. Each local placement machine individually determines its processing status after the placement has been carried out in accordance with the adjusted placement order or after "done work". There are basically two options for how this processing state can be determined: First and preferably, it can be derived from the result of the adaptation algorithm (then it would be assumed that the placement machine can always correctly implement all control commands from the adapted placement order). Secondly - possibly cumulatively or alternatively - sensory detection, e.g. be carried out optically. In the latter case it is possible e.g. Detect deviations between the actual assembly and the target assembly.

The adaptation algorithm is an automatically executed computer program that runs locally on the Pick and place machines can be executed. The adaptation algorithm is used to adapt the original placement order with regard to possible more or less placement depending on the detected condition of the placement machine or the production line. Short delays in particular should be taken into account here. The method has a positive effect in the event of multiple delays and when the production line starts up. The adaptation algorithm overwrites the original placement order with an adapted placement order, which can contain a DO MORE or DO LESS command per position or which can also be identical to the original placement order (if, for example, there is no error or no fault).

The solution to the problem was described above using the method. Features, advantages or alternative embodiments mentioned here are also to be transferred to the other claimed objects and vice versa. In other words, the objective claims (which are directed, for example, to a system or a computer program product) can also be developed with the features that are described and / or claimed in connection with the method. The corresponding functional features of the method are formed by corresponding objective modules, in particular hardware modules or microprocessor modules, of the system or the product and vice versa.

A further task solution provides a computer program with computer program code for performing all method steps of the method described in more detail above when the computer program is executed on a computer. It is also possible for the computer program to be stored on a medium that can be read by a computer.

Figure list

• 1 eine Übersicht über mehrere Bestückautomaten, die mit einem Linienoptimierer betrieben werden;
• 2 eine schematische Übersicht über mehrere Bestückautomaten, die mit einer Transportvorrichtung betrieben werden;
• 3 ein Interaktionsdiagramm zum Nachrichtenaustausch zwischen Steuermodulen der Bestückautomaten und dem Linienoptimierer;
• 4 Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung,
• 5 eine weiteres Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung und
• 6 zeigt eine übersichtsartige schematische Darstellung einer Fertigungslinie mit vier Bestückautomaten in mehreren Zeittakten.

In the following detailed description of the figures, exemplary embodiments to be understood in a non-restrictive manner are discussed with their features and further advantages with reference to the drawing. In this show:

• 1 an overview of several placement machines that are operated with a line optimizer;
• 2nd a schematic overview of several placement machines that are operated with a transport device;
• 3rd an interaction diagram for the exchange of messages between control modules of the placement machines and the line optimizer;
• 4th Flow chart of a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
• 5 another flowchart of a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and
• 6 shows an overview-like schematic representation of a production line with four placement machines in several time cycles.

Detailed description of the figures

The invention is used for the local adaptation of centrally generated placement orders and is described below using the example of printed circuit board manufacture. However, the invention can also be applied to other components to be assembled.

1. 1. Mehrbestückung (DO MORE Befehl) Wenn eine Maschine A ihr Bestückprogramm (gleichbedeutend mit Bestückauftrag) abgeschlossen hat, aber die nachfolgende Maschine B ihre Bereitschaft noch nicht signalisiert hat (bspw. aufgrund einer kurzzeitigen Störung), übernimmt Maschine A einen Teil des Bestückprogramms von allen nachfolgenden Maschinen C/D/... und auch von der gestörten Maschine B, falls die in Maschine A gerüsteten Bauelemente dafür verwendet werden können. Die Information über diese Mehrbestückung wird mittels des Bearbeitungszustandes (Daten, die signalisieren, dass zusätzliche Bestückpositionen bereits besetzt sind) an nachfolgende Maschinen weitergeleitet. Dazu kann eine Netzwerkverbindung verwendet werden. Die (nachfolgenden) Maschinen B/C/D/..., die diese Bestückpositionen eigentlich bestücken sollten, lassen diese entsprechend dem angepassten Bestückauftrag aus.
2. 2. Minderbestückung (DO LESS Befehl) Wenn eine Maschine A durch eine kurzzeitige Störung die verbleibenden Linienmaschinen aufhalten würde, lässt diese Maschine die Bestückung von einem Teil der verbleibenden Bestückpositionen aus. Der angepasste Bestückauftrag enthält dann einen DO LESS Befehl. Voraussetzung ist, dass diese Bestückpositionen im weiteren Linienverlauf bestückt werden können. Es muss insbesondere sichergestellt werden, dass die Bauelemente gerüstet sind, dass die korrekten Pipetten vorhanden sind etc. Die Bestückung dieser Bestückposition wird spätestens in der letzten Maschine Z nachgeholt, die diese durchführen kann. Die Information über die ausgelassene Bestückung wird mit dem Bearbeitungszustand weitergewhispert, so dass die fehlende Bestückung im weiteren Verlauf der Fertigungslinie (auch kurz „Linie“ genannt) ausgeführt werden kann.

The rigid assignment of placement order to a placement machine is loosened. There are two types:

1. 1.Multiple assembly (DO MORE command) If a machine A has completed its assembly program (synonymous with assembly order) but the subsequent machine B has not yet signaled its readiness (e.g. due to a short-term fault), machine A takes over part of the assembly program from All subsequent machines C / D / ... and also from the faulty machine B, if the components equipped in machine A can be used for this. The information about this additional assembly is forwarded to subsequent machines by means of the processing status (data which signal that additional assembly positions are already occupied). A network connection can be used for this. The (subsequent) machines B / C / D / ..., which should actually populate these placement positions, leave them out according to the adjusted placement order.
2. 2. Shortage of equipment (DO LESS command) If a machine A were to stop the remaining line machines due to a short-term fault, this machine omits the assembly from a part of the remaining assembly positions. The adjusted placement order then contains a DO LESS command. The prerequisite is that these placement positions can be populated in the further course of the line. In particular, it must be ensured that the components are equipped, that the correct pipettes are available, etc. The placement of this placement position is made up for at the latest in the last machine Z, which can carry it out. The information about the omitted assembly is with the Processing status whispers so that the missing assembly can be carried out in the further course of the production line (also called “line” for short).

The line optimizer (also called “optimizer” for short) specifies centrally which placement positions may be left out or additionally equipped, since the armament of the entire line is known to it. It is also determined in which machine of the line a particular placement position must be occupied at the latest. This is done using the adjustment parameters contained in the placement order.

If there is a short-term malfunction, the individual machines decide autonomously and autonomously about more or less equipment. The optimizer is not involved in this decision.

The machines report - as in the previous procedure with station-based material data recording - e.g. to a traceability application which components were fitted. This ensures the traceability of the components even when the placement assignment is relaxed.

• - SHOULD:
  • Soll eigentlich bestückt werden, muss aber nicht. Dieses Attribut bekommen Bestückpositionen zugewiesen, die laut Optimierer an dieser Maschine bestückt werden sollen, um im störungsfreien Fall die optimale Gesamt-Bestückleistung zu erreichen. Die Bestückung darf jedoch im Falle einer Minderbestückung aufgrund einer Störung ausgelassen werden. Eine Bestückung erfolgt selbstverständlich nur, wenn dort noch kein Bauteil bestückt wurde.
• - CAN:
  • Wenn dort noch kein Bauteil ist, dann kann es bestückt werden, muss aber nicht. Dieses Bauteil wird in der Maschine nur bestückt, wenn eine Mehrbestückung aufgrund einer Störung einer anderen Maschine erfolgt.
• - MUST:
  • Wenn dort noch kein Bauteil ist, dann muss es bestückt werden. Dieses Attribut erhalten Bestückpositionen in der letzten Maschine der Linie, die diese bestücken kann. Dies kann die gleiche Maschine sein, in der sie im störungsfreien Fall bestückt wird.

First, the optimizer calculates which placement positions can be left out of a machine or which can / must be additionally equipped. This is done by calculating the adjustment parameters per position and individually for each placement machine. This calculation is carried out centrally for all placement machines, since he knows the armament of the entire line. It is also determined up to which machine of the line a certain placement position must be occupied at the latest. The attributes of the placement positions in the adjustment parameter data record are:

• - SHOULD:
  • Should actually be equipped, but does not have to. This attribute is assigned to placement positions which, according to the optimizer, should be equipped on this machine in order to achieve the optimal overall placement performance in the event of a fault. However, the equipment may be left out in the event of insufficient equipment due to a fault. Of course, assembly only takes place if no component has been assembled there.
• - CAN:
  • If there is no component there, it can be assembled, but does not have to. This component is only assembled in the machine if additional assembly occurs due to a fault in another machine.
• - MUST:
  • If there is no component there, then it must be assembled. This attribute is given to placement positions in the last machine of the line, which can load them. This can be the same machine in which it is loaded in the event of a fault.

• Mehrbestückung / DO MORE:
  • Tritt an einer Maschine eine Störung auf, so warten die übrigen Maschinen nach Abschluss ihres Bestückprogramms nicht untätig auf das Bereitschaftssignal der gestörten Maschine. Stattdessen setzt sie den Bestückvorgang fort, wenn gerüstete Bauelemente auf weiteren Bestückpositionen verwendet werden können. Die Entscheidung über diese Mehrbestückung wird autonom und autark in der jeweiligen Maschine gefällt auf Basis des vom Optimierer übermittelten Anpassungsparameters „CAN“ der Bestückposition. Dies hat zunächst keine Auswirkung auf den Board-Durchsatz oder die Gesamt-Bestückleistung der Linie. Tritt nur diese eine Störung auf, ergibt sich kein Vorteil durch dieses Verfahren, da eine mögliche Verkürzung der Board-Bearbeitungszeit im weiteren Linienverlauf nicht zu einer Reduktion des Gesamt-Bestückleistung führt. Da hinter der kurzzeitig gestörten Maschine angesiedelte Bestückautomaten lediglich einen Teil ihrer eigentlich geplanten Bauelemente bestücken, stehen diese anschließend still. Die verringerte Auslastung wurde dementsprechend nur in den hinteren Teil der Linie verschoben. Tritt jedoch im weiteren Linienverlauf eine weitere Störung, wird der Vorteil dieses Verfahrens sichtbar: Die zweite Störung führt nicht oder nur in geringerem Maße zu einer Verringerung der Gesamt-Bestückleistung, da die nun gestörte Maschine weniger Bauteile bestücken muss aufgrund der Mehrbestückung durch vorangehende Maschinen. Der Board-Durchsatz der Linie verringert sich somit nicht weiter, wodurch eine weitere Verringerung der Gesamt-Bestückleistung vermieden wird.

The two types of additional equipment and less equipment are described below:

• Additional equipment / DO MORE:
  • If a machine malfunctions, the other machines do not wait for the ready signal of the malfunctioning machine after completing their placement program. Instead, it continues the placement process when equipped components can be used in other placement positions. The decision about this additional assembly is made autonomously and autonomously in the respective machine on the basis of the adjustment parameter “CAN” of the assembly position transmitted by the optimizer. Initially, this has no effect on the board throughput or the overall placement performance of the line. If only this one malfunction occurs, there is no advantage from this method, since a possible shortening of the board processing time in the further course of the line does not lead to a reduction in the overall placement performance. Since the placement machines behind the briefly disrupted machine only populate part of their originally planned components, they then stand still. Accordingly, the reduced occupancy was only moved to the rear of the line. However, if a further fault occurs in the further course of the line, the advantage of this method becomes apparent: the second fault does not lead to a reduction in the overall placement performance, or only to a lesser extent, since the machine which is now faulty has to assemble fewer components due to the additional assembly by previous machines. The line throughput of the line therefore does not decrease further, which avoids a further reduction in the overall placement performance.

The information about additional assembly and thus that additional assembly positions are already occupied is passed on via the network ("whispered") and the machine, which should actually equip these assembly positions, omits them.

• Tritt an einer Maschine A eine Störung auf, so lässt diese einen Teil der zu bestückenden Bauteile aus. Dies erfolgt nur für Bauteile, die im weiteren Verlauf der Linie noch bestückt werden können, also gerüstet sind. Die Folge des Auslassens ist, dass die übrigen Maschinen nach Abschluss ihres Bestückauftrags nicht untätig auf das Bereitschaftssignal/das Board der gestörten Maschine warten, sondern im normalen Takt weiterarbeiten können. Das Auslassen eines Teils der zu bestückenden Bauteile verhindert zunächst eine Auswirkung der Störung auf die Taktzeit.

Shortage / DO LESS:

• If a malfunction occurs on machine A, it will omit some of the components to be fitted. This is only done for components that can still be equipped in the further course of the line, i.e. are equipped. The consequence of the omission is that the other machines do not wait idly for the ready signal / board of the faulty machine after completing their placement order, but can continue to work in the normal cycle. The omission of a part of the components to be assembled initially prevents the malfunction from affecting the cycle time.

The components omitted by machine A must be made up for by the subsequent machines B / C / ..., so there is necessarily an additional assembly here. While the additional assembly takes place in the machines B / C / ..., which are in the line behind the originally disrupted machine A, the machine A, which is no longer disrupted, and its predecessors can now carry out additional assembly (see above under the section "Additional equipment"), since the following machines have not yet signaled readiness. This means that a potential new disorder is mitigated and preventively mitigated.

The machines report - as in the previous procedure with station-based material data recording - e.g. to a traceability application which components were fitted. This ensures the traceability of the components even when the placement assignment is relaxed.

By recording and saving the processing status, further forecasting and analysis is possible. In particular, a past time interval can be analyzed and the positive effect can be determined. An analysis of the unused potential in the past time interval and a conclusion about the future is also possible. In order to be able to work effectively, the invention presupposes that the same components are equipped in as many different machines as possible. It can be analyzed which performance increase in the past time interval would have been achieved by this method if the component Z had also been equipped in a certain machine Y. The analysis of the past can be used to make predictions about the future. The customer is informed of the advantage of the additional armor. He can then choose to make this additional armor, assuming that it will also be an advantage in the future.

The invention is explained below with reference to the figures.

1 shows several placement machines BA1 , BA2 , ... BAn that are exchanging data over a network. The placement machines BA are also available with a line optimizer LO in data exchange. Each placement machine includes an electronic processing unit V . On a respective processing unit V can be a control module SM be implemented. So on a first placement machine BA1 a first processing unit V1 be arranged, which is a first control module SM1 includes and on a second placement machine BA1 can a second processing unit V1 be arranged, the second control module SM1 includes etc.

It is also possible to provide an alternative architecture so that e.g. the result of the locally executed adaptation algorithm (which represents the decision about DO MORE / DO LESS) is transmitted to a central processing unit. It is important that the adaptation algorithm is always executed locally on or for the respective machine and that its manufacturing situation and the (previous and transmitted) processing status of the circuit board are taken into account.

2nd shows the placement machines in a schematic representation BA1 , BA2 , BAn , wherein the circuit boards to be assembled via a transport device TV , for example a conveyor belt, clocked and synchronized, can be transported from Automat BAi to Automat Bai + 1. The placement machines BA (usually 3-12) form a production line FL . (But there are also significantly longer production lines FL ). It happens at one of the machines BA for a delay, this is represented in a processing state and this is reported as a message to the following machines, which can execute the adaptation algorithm in response to this message. The transmission of the message and the associated data exchange is subsequently described in connection with 3rd explained in more detail.

Short-term malfunctions occur on individual machines BA consecutively, the negative impact of the further disturbances on the overall placement performance is reduced or avoided. This increases the line's actual performance FL .

• Kopfzyklus (KZy) -> Adaptionsalgorithmus (AA) -> KZy -> AA -> KZy -> AA -> KZy -> AA -> KZy -> AA -> etc.

In 3rd a sequence diagram is shown. The control modules SM that in the placement machines BA are arranged, communicate with each other and with the line optimizer LO . Initially, the i-th control module receives SMi from the line optimizer LO the placement order ba . This includes the adjustment parameter individually for the placement position to be filled on the respective placement machine with an indication SHOULD, CAN or MUST. The control module SMi detects the processing status of its "predecessor" in the production line, the control module SMi-1 or . The adaptation algorithm can then be executed on the control module SMi. This is used to locally decide which position - possibly deviating from the originally entered placement order - is or is not being populated. The adaptation algorithm transforms the placement order of the line optimizer LO into a locally optimized customized placement order ba '. Then the assembly takes place in the placement machine BAi with the adapted placement order ba ', which may include more or less placement (DO MORE or DO LESS command). As in 3rd shown, the method is carried out iteratively. The length of the disturbance is not known in advance. For this reason, after the SHOULD and MUST positions have been completed (that is, those positions that are assigned a SHOULD or MUST data record), CAN positions are processed per head cycle (i.e. for 12-20 positions at a time) until the circuit board LP can be transported further. The same applies to the execution of DO LESS commands. This is also checked iteratively in a loop. Thus, even after each head cycle, it is re-evaluated whether a DO LESS command has to be executed. This results in the following repetition pattern:

• Head cycle (KZy) -> adaptation algorithm (AA) -> KZy -> AA -> KZy -> AA -> KZy -> AA -> KZy -> AA -> etc.

After the assembly has been carried out, the current processing status becomes or and thus records the current placement situation. The processing status or is passed on to the Bai + 1 automatic placement machine that follows immediately. The processing status or can then optionally be connected to the line optimizer LO to get redirected. Since this is only optional, this is in 3rd marked with a dotted line.

4th shows a flow chart. At the reference number 1 gives the line optimizer LO a first placement order ba1 at the first placement machines BA1 (When designating the figures, attention should be paid to upper and lower case letters: while ba represents the placement order, the reference symbol indicates BA the placement machines).

• - Einen Bauteiltyp t1, eine Position_1 bzw. POS_1 und einen Anpassungsparameter MUST
• - Einen Bauteiltyp t2, eine Position_2 (POS_2) und einen Anpassungsparameter SHOULD
• - Einen Bauteiltyp t2, eine Position_3 (POS_3) und einen Anpassungsparameter CAN
• - ...

In this example, the placement order ba1 includes the following data records:

• - A component type t1, a Position_1 or POS_1 and an adjustment parameter MUST
• - A component type t2, a Position_2 (POS_2) and an adjustment parameter SHOULD
• - A component type t2, a Position_3 (POS_3) and an adaptation parameter CAN
• - ...

The specified component type must be assembled at the specified placement position and the adaptation parameter is assigned for this subtask (MUST, SHOULD or CAN).

The placement machine BA comprises a processing unit V1 which in turn is a control module SM1 includes. In this example the placement machine is BA1 trained to equip component types t1 and t2. A placement machine BA can of course only fit the types of components for which it is equipped. In this example, the machine is BA1 equipped for component types t1 and t2 and the automat BA2 for component types t2 and t3.

 ba1 = {...
     (t2, Position_2, SHOULD)
     mit}
     ba1' = {...
     (t2, Position_2, DO LESS)
     ...}

In a first embodiment, the control module decides SM1 the processing unit V1 at the reference number 2a that the position_2 should not be populated, but should be omitted. Therefore a DO LESS command is issued for Position_2. This is possible because of this position 2nd was assigned the adjustment parameter SHOULD. The decision can be based, for example, on the fact that the circuit board has already come from the following placement machine BA2 has been removed and the next placement machine BA2 is already finished. The original placement order ba the respective position is overwritten. This is explained schematically in the stored data records as follows:

 ba1 = {...
     (t2, position_2, SHOULD)
     With}
     ba1 '= {...
     (t2, position_2, DO LESS)
     ...} 

The processing status or can accordingly contain an entry OMIT for position_2, which represents that this position has not been populated to BA2 to inform.

 ba1 = {...
     (t2, Position_3, CAN)
     ]
     mit
     ba1' = {...
     (t2, Position_3, DO MORE)
     ...}

Der Bearbeitungszustand bz kann entsprechend für Position_3 eine Angabe DONE enthalten, die repräsentiert, dass diese Position bestückt worden ist, um BA2 zu informieren.In a second, alternative exemplary embodiment, the control module decides SM1 the processing unit V1 at the reference number 2 B that the position_3 should be additionally populated (contrary to the original placement order ba of the line optimizer LO ). Therefore a DO MORE command is issued for position_3. This is possible because this position_3 was occupied with the adaptation parameter CAN. The decision can be based, for example, on the fact that the placement order for the circuit board has already been finalized and the circuit board has not yet been taken from the placement machine BA away could be (e.g. because the next instance or the next placement machine is not yet ready). This is explained schematically in the stored data records as follows:

 ba1 = {...
     (t2, position_3, CAN)
     ]
     With
     ba1 '= {...
     (t2, position_3, DO MORE)
     ...} 

The processing status or can accordingly contain a statement DONE for position_3, which represents that this position has been populated to BA2 to inform.

The two examples described above are to be understood as exclusive alternatives, since it does not make sense to fill more on the one hand and omit positions on the other. Basically, the DO MORE or DO LESS command is used to overwrite the placement order ba locally on the placement machine BA generated and implemented directly.

1. 1. Eine Positionsangabe auf der Leiterplatte und
2. 2. Eine Angabe über den aktuellen Bestückzustand (bestückt / nicht-bestückt).

The processing status or thus comprises in the first example an entry for Position_2 with the identification of a still missing assembly of this position or in the second example an entry for Position_3 with the identification of an already executed assembly.
This processing status is at the next placement machine BA2 transmitted. The processing state is an electronic data record and can, for example, be binary coded, comprising at least two elements:

1. 1. A position on the circuit board and
2. 2. An indication of the current state of assembly (assembled / unequipped).

At the reference number 3a becomes the processing state bz1 for position_2 and for reference signs 3b the processing status bz2 for Position_3 on the following placement machines BA2 passed on. At this point it should be pointed out that the reference symbols marked in a circle in 4th do not represent a chronological sequence. For example, the processing status can only be changed bz2 and then be transmitted to bz1. The transmission is preferably carried out in a common data packet in order to save the technical network resources.

The second placement machine BA2 receives the current and actual processing status bz1, bz2 from the previous placement machine.

• - Einen Bauteiltyp t2, eine Position_3 und einen Anpassungsparameter MUST
• - Einen Bauteiltyp t3, eine Position_4 und einen Anpassungsparameter MUST
• - Einen Bauteiltyp t2, eine Position_2 und einen Anpassungsparameter MUST
• - ...

The second placement machine BA2 also receives the placement order ba2 from the line optimizer. This became the reference number 1 output and in this example includes the following data records:

• - A component type t2, a Position_3 and an adjustment parameter MUST
• - A component type t3, a Position_4 and an adjustment parameter MUST
• - A component type t2, a Position_2 and an adjustment parameter MUST
• - ...

At the reference number 4a decides the control module SM2 of the second placement machine BA2 locally that a DO MORE command should be issued and executed for Position_2, since the position has not yet been populated according to processing status bz1.

At the reference number 4b decides the control module SM2 of the second placement machine BA2 locally, that a DO LESS command should be issued and executed for Position_3, since the position has already been populated in accordance with the transmitted processing status bz2.

If there is another delay as a result, time can be saved with the adapted placement order and the placement can be carried out more efficiently overall.

5 shows a flowchart of the method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. After starting the local optimization process, step S1 one for the placement machine BA individually from the line optimizer LO generated placement order recorded. In step S2 becomes the processing state or captured by the previous machine Bai-1 or read from a buffer. In step S3 the adaptation algorithm is executed in step S4 to provide an adapted placement order ba 'as a result data record. In step S5 the placement machine BA controlled with the adapted placement order ba '. In step S6 becomes the current processing status or recorded, which is sent to the subsequent machines via direct machine-to-machine communication. This means that the previous processing status can be received regardless of the receipt of the placement order. The respective machine therefore has more information and can therefore better optimize locally. This leads to an improvement in performance.

6 shows a general sequence of the assembly process in a schematic representation, and in particular how the circuit boards (or boards, in 6 with the reference symbol LP marked) in the various placement machines BA be equipped. The timeline runs from top to bottom and is shown on the left side as a downward arrow. The conveyor belt TV transports the boards LP from automat BA to machine in one conveying direction TV (in 6 to the right). The lines shown one below the other represent the successive time cycles or time slices t0, t1, t2 etc. For the sake of simplicity, the printed circuit board is LP divided into four quadrants for better comprehensibility, which should identify areas on the circuit board that are used by the four placement machines BA1-4 to be assembled. The first pick and place machine BA1 populate the upper left quadrant, the second pick and place machine BA2 the right, upper quadrant, the third placement machine BA3 the lower left and the fourth placement machine BA4 the lower right quadrant. It should be noted that this is only a very simplified schematic description and illustration and is intended to explain the basic process movement. Usually, the positions to be populated are not specified in the form of quadrants, but rather by unambiguous position information or location coordinates. The machines can also be equipped for the same or different types of components. The first circuit board LP1 goes through the process first, followed by the other circuit boards LP2 , LP3 and LP4 . The first circuit board is in cycle t0 on the fourth machine BA4 . The last circuit board LP4 that in the example of 6 is shown, is in the first cycle t0 on the first placement machine BA1 , in the second cycle t1 in the second machine BA2 and in the third cycle t2 in the third machine BA3 and in the fourth cycle t3 in the fourth machine BA4 .

In the in 6 The third machine now has the example shown BA3 a delay in the third cycle t2 so that it cannot execute its original placement order in the TARGET time. According to the invention, it is now provided that the control module SM3 of the third machine BA3 based on the adaptation algorithm "decides" not to populate the position around the belt TV to be able to switch on and the other machines in the line FL unstopable. This is possible because the position was occupied by a CAN. In 6 this is represented by the unfilled circle. The following fourth placement machine BA4 receives about the transmitted processing status bz3 this information about the non-assembly and fetches this position, so to speak, for the predecessor machine BA3 to. This is possible because he is equipped accordingly. This is in 6 represented with the cross in a circle.

Basically, with a short delay on a placement machine BA Now, according to the invention, the adaptation algorithm can be executed locally in order to initiate a more or less configuration by issuing a DO MORE or DO LESS command. This is possible because of the assigned processing status or is communicated at the following machines. This is in 6 by the arrows with the reference symbol or marked above. According to the invention, the waiting time that arises from the fact that another placement machine is used BA in the line FL is delayed, used sensibly (output of a DO MORE command) and downtime can be avoided. Likewise, it is made possible according to the invention that other placement machines BA can continue to load if there are delays on a machine and the normal processing time (cycle) is not sufficient to load all positions. In this case, only the MUST positions are populated and the SHOULD positions can be omitted (output of a DO LESS command for these positions) in order to be populated by a subsequent machine (so to speak "made up").

In conclusion, it should be pointed out that the description of the invention and the exemplary embodiments are in principle not to be understood as restrictive with regard to a specific physical implementation of the invention.

It is particularly obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention can be used not only for SMT technology, but also for other placement technologies that require the execution of a placement process from several placement machines, such as e.g. the machine-supported THT technology (through hole technology). Furthermore, the components of the control module and the system can be implemented in several physical products. Furthermore, the invention is not restricted to a specific type of printed circuit board assembly system. Thus, the invention can also be applied to machines which move the printed circuit board for assembly while the head is stationary or to machines which have no feed units and in which the components are located directly in the head. In principle, the invention can be applied to all production lines with individual placement machines connected in series. The processing step of a single machine must be subdivided into smaller units. The smaller units must be able to be carried out by several individual machines in the line.

Reference list

BA

Placement machine

SM

Control module

V

Processing unit

LP

Circuit board

NW

Network, especially local

LO

Line optimizer

TV

Transport device

FL

Production line

ba

Placement order

ba '

customized placement order

or

Processing status

t

Component type

S1

Read a placement order ba

S2

Record the processing status or

S3

Apply the adaptation algorithm

S4

Providing an adapted placement order ba 'as a result data record

S5

Control of the placement machine with the adapted placement order ba '

Claims (18)

Method for controlling an assembly process of an automatic placement machine (BA) in a production line (FL) with several automatic placement machines (BA1, BA2, ... Ban) for the assembly of printed circuit boards (LP), whereby an automatic placement machine (BA) carries out a partial task of an assembly plan , with the following procedural steps: - Reading (S1) a placement order (ba) generated individually for the respective placement machine (BA), which specifies which position on the circuit board (LP) is to be populated with which component type, the placement order being made more flexible by adding a position to each Adaptation parameter is provided, which contains a calculated SHOULD, CAN or MUST data set in order to determine in each case which placement position should or can be carried out by the placement machine (BA); - Detecting (S2) a processing state (bz) for the printed circuit board (LP) to be assembled; - Execution (S3) of an adaptation algorithm for flexible adaptation of the read placement order (ba) on the basis of the adjustment parameters and the recorded processing status (bz) for calculating an adapted placement order (ba '), which determines which placement positions deviate from the read placement order (ba) assembled and which assembly positions differ from the read assembly order (ba); - Control (S5) of the placement machine (BA) with the adapted placement order (ba '); - Detection (S6) of a processing state (bz) of the printed circuit board (LP) after execution of the adapted placement order (ba '). Method according to the preceding method claim, in which the processing state (bz) recorded after the adapted placement order (ba ') has been carried out is transmitted electronically directly to at least one placement machine (BA) following in the production line. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which the steps execute (S3) and control (S5) are carried out repeatedly until a preconfigurable termination condition is fulfilled. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which the adaptation algorithm detects whether a delay has occurred at at least one of the placement machines (BA) in the production line (FL) and to calculate the adapted placement order (ba ') as a function thereof. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which the processing state (bz) recorded after execution of the adapted placement order (ba ') contains an electronic data record of an increase or decrease in placement by the respective placement machine (BA). Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which, in the case of an additional assembly to be carried out, the respective additional assembly order is distributed to the individual automatic placement machines (BA) which follow in the production line (FL). Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which the placement machines (BA) exchange data with one another via machine-to-machine communication, in particular via a Whisper protocol and / or via an IPC-HERMES-9852 protocol, and the data after execution of the adapted Send the placement order (ba ') the processing status (bz) to the respective placement machine (BA) that follows in the production line. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which the SHOULD data record defines that the respective position should be populated by the respective placement machine (BA) if there are no delays or no errors and then not populated if delays or an error occur. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which the CAN data record defines that the respective position can be loaded by the respective placement machine (BA) if a delay or an error occurs. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which the MUST data record defines that the respective position must be equipped by the respective placement machine (BA). Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which an efficiency increase value for the execution of the assembly plan is calculated, which represents a time saving of the method when using the adaptation algorithm compared to a method without its application. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which a prediction data record is calculated, which provides a prediction for improved upgrading of the placement machine (BA) from an analysis of placement plans already carried out, taking into account the adaptation algorithms used. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, in which the placement machine (BA) in the event of a delay or in the event of an error determines an estimate for the delay caused by the error in the placement, and in which the application of the adaptation algorithm is only activated if the determined estimate is a preconfigurable threshold value exceeds. Computer program with program code or program means, wherein the computer program can be stored on a computer-readable data carrier, wherein the program code or program means cause a computer to carry out a method according to one of the preceding method claims, if the computer program on a computer or a computer-based processing unit (SM , V) is executed. Control module (SM) for an automatic placement machine (BA), the automatic placement machine (BA) being designed together with other automatic placement machines (BA) for the assembly of printed circuit boards (LP) in a production line (FL), the control module (SM) being designed To control placement machines (BA) with a method according to one of the preceding method claims. Control module (SM) according to the immediately preceding claim, wherein the control module (SM) is formed with an interface to other control modules (SM) from other placement machines (BA). Automatic placement machine (BA) with a control module (SM), according to one of the preceding claims directed to the control module (SM). System for controlling a production line (FL) for the production of printed circuit boards (LP), with: - Several placement machines (BA) for assembling the printed circuit boards (LP), with one placement machine (BA) each carrying out a partial task of a placement plan and one placement machine (BA) each with an electronic control module (SM) according to one of the preceding ones on the control module (SM ) has directed claims; - A line optimizer (LO), which is intended to break down the assembly plan into sub-tasks for assignment to the individual placement machines (BA) of the production line (FL) and which is also intended to generate one for each placement machine (BA) to calculate a flexible placement order, which specifies which position on the circuit board (LP) is to be equipped with which component type (t), the placement order (BA) being made more flexible by additionally determining an adjustment parameter for each position, which calculates a calculated SHOULD, Contains CAN or MUST data records in order to determine which placement position should, or must, be carried out by the placement machine (BA); - A data connection between the individual placement machines (BA) and a data connection between the individual placement machines (BA) and the line optimizer (LO).

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