JP2002127064A - Automatic handling device for electronic part - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic handling device for electronic part for freely controlling operation of handling units. SOLUTION: The plural handling units 3 are arranged in an outer peripheral part of a rotary table 2 intermittently driven by a direct derive motor 5, and these handling units 3 are individually vertically driven by a linear motor 4. Plural process units 6 are arranged around the rotary table 2. The handling units 3 descend in a position of the respective process units 6, and deliver the electronic part to the process units 6, and measure, inspect or work the electronic part. When completing processing in the respective process units 6, the electronic part is picked up by the handling units 3, and then, the handling units 3 rise.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic handling device for electronic components.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As described in Japanese Patent No. 2531006 and Japanese Patent No. 262,646, the manufacturing process of chip-shaped electronic components such as semiconductor elements involves holding and transporting the electronic components. An automatic handling device is used, and this handling device typically includes one or more rotary tables, and a plurality of rotary tables disposed on the outer peripheral portion of each rotary table and spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction. (Typically a suction nozzle).

[0003] This type of automatic handling apparatus is typically used for continuously performing processes such as molding of leads of electronic parts, measurement and test of electrical characteristics, marking, and appearance inspection. That is, a station in which various process units for performing these processes are installed is arranged around the rotary table, and the rotary table performs an intermittent rotation operation while holding the electronic components by the handling unit, thereby enabling each station to rotate. The process unit processes electronic components, and exchanges electronic components between adjacent rotary tables. For a series of processing of electronic components using the electronic component handling device, see Japanese Patent No. 2620646.
The contents disclosed in this patent are incorporated herein by reference, since they are described in detail in the publications published in this issue.

The handling unit performs a relative operation with respect to a rotary table on which the handling unit is mounted, for example, in the following situations. (1) When transferring electronic components between adjacent rotary tables; (2) When picking up electronic components stored in a storage unit; (3) When transferring electronic components to and from a process unit.

A conventional driving mechanism relating to a handling unit is constituted by a cam mechanism as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2620646, and the handling unit moves up and down in conjunction with the rotation of a rotary table. I was

However, the driving mechanism for the handling unit using the cam mechanism has the following disadvantages. (1) Since the cam mechanism is composed of mechanical elements, it is difficult to maintain the initial performance for a long time due to wear and the like. (2) Since the operation timing of the handling unit is uniformly determined by the cam mechanism, it is practically impossible to adjust the timing corresponding to the fluctuation of the production situation. (3) When the speed is increased, the follower following the cam surface becomes uncertain. In other words,
As the speed increases, the accuracy of the position control tends to decrease. (4) Since the cam mechanism is constituted by a plurality of mechanical elements linked to each other, a heavy and relatively large installation space is required. (5) The degree of freedom in designing the operation timing of the handling unit is low. (6) In order to manufacture a handling device incorporating a cam mechanism, complicated function adjustment is required, and a long period of time is required for manufacturing the device.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic handling apparatus for electronic parts which can solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional apparatus.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a transporting means for holding and transporting an electronic component, and a first drive source for driving the transporting means. A handling unit provided on the transporting means for holding the electronic component, and a second drive source for driving the handling unit, wherein the second drive source is independent of the first drive source. This is attained by providing an automatic handling device for electronic components, characterized in that:

[0009] In a typical handling apparatus of the present invention, the transport means comprises one or more rotary tables, and a plurality of the handling units are provided on an outer peripheral portion of the rotary table so as to be separated from each other. Further, the second drive source is formed of a linear motor, and the handling unit is driven up and down by the linear motor to transfer electronic components to and from a process unit disposed around the rotary table.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to examples. 1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining the concept of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a turntable included in the automatic handling apparatus of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view thereof.

The automatic handling apparatus 1 includes a rotary table 2 which constitutes a transport means for holding and transporting electronic components (not shown), and an outer peripheral portion of the rotary table 2 has a circumferential direction. Are provided with a plurality of handling units 3 separated from each other. The handling unit 3 is typically configured by a suction nozzle. The handling unit 3 is driven up and down by a linear motor 4. On the other hand, the rotary table 2 is intermittently driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 by a direct drive motor 5 arranged at the center thereof.

A plurality of process units 6 are arranged around the rotary table 2 so as to be separated from each other in the circumferential direction.
These process units 6 include, for example, measurement of electrical characteristics of electronic components, appearance inspection, unloader, and the like. That is, the process unit 6 is arranged along the transport path of the electronic components transported by the rotary table 2, and sequentially measures, inspects, or processes the electronic components transported by the rotary table 2 as in the related art. .

The handling device 1 holds an electronic component (not shown) by a handling unit 3 and rotates the turntable 2 intermittently so that each process unit 6
Electronic components to the station where
After processing and inspection are completed at each station, the electronic components are transported to the next station.

When the handling unit 3 (electronic parts) arrives at each station by the rotating operation of the rotary table 2, the handling unit 3 is moved down by the linear motor 4 to deliver the electronic parts to the processing unit 6, and the processing unit 6 is transferred. After the processing or measurement is completed, the electronic component is picked up by the handling unit 3 and then moved up by the linear motor 4 to transport the electronic component to the next station. Thereafter, by repeating this operation sequentially, a series of processes for the electronic component is completed.

As can be understood from the above description, according to the present invention, each handling unit is driven by the linear motor 4 which is a separate drive source independent of the drive source of the rotary table 2 without using a conventional cam mechanism. 3 is operated, the operation of each handling unit 3 depends on the other handling units 3 and the turntable 2
The following effects are obtained, including that the control can be freely performed irrespective of the operation.

(1) Since there is no abrasion between the mechanical elements constituting the cam mechanism as in the prior art, the performance is hardly deteriorated, and the initial accuracy of the position control can be maintained for a long time. (2) Since the operation of the handling unit 3 can be controlled independently of the rotation of the rotary table,
Adjustment of the entire handling device is facilitated. (3) Higher speed is possible. (4) The operation of the handling unit 3 can be freely controlled according to the production situation. (5) A relatively large space for installing the cam mechanism is not required. (6) Since a relatively heavy cam mechanism can be omitted, the weight of the handling device can be reduced. (7) The handling device can be easily manufactured, and the manufacturing period can be shortened.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one rotary table 2, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a handling apparatus in which a plurality of rotary tables are continuously arranged. The present invention can also be applied to the transfer of electronic components between adjacent rotary tables.

The present invention includes the following modifications without being limited to the examples disclosed in the drawings for describing the present invention in detail. (1) Instead of transporting the electronic components along the circular path using the rotary table 2, the electronic components are inspected by various process units arranged on the transport path while the electronic components are transported linearly. The present invention may be applied to a handling device that performs processing such as measurement. (2) As the drive source of the handling unit 3, another drive source such as an air cylinder may be employed instead of the linear motor 4. The same applies to the drive source of the rotary table 2, and another drive source may be used instead of the direct drive motor 5. (3) The handling unit 3 is moved up and down. However, the direction of the movement is not limited to this, and it may be moved, for example, in the horizontal direction. (4) The electronic components are exchanged with the process unit 6 by moving the handling unit 3 up and down. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Is also good. (5) Although a drive source (linear motor 4) is provided for each handling unit 3, a plurality of handling units 3 may be driven by one drive source. (6) All the handling units 3 installed on the rotary table 2 may be driven by a single drive source.

[0019]

According to the present invention, an automatic handling apparatus for electronic parts which does not have the problems of the conventional apparatus using a cam mechanism and which can freely control the operation of the handling unit is provided, because the above-mentioned structure is employed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a turntable included in a handling device for explaining the concept of an automatic handling device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the rotary table of FIG. 1 and process units arranged around the rotary table, viewed from the side, with a part cut away.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic handling apparatus 2 Rotary table 3 Handling unit 4 Linear motor (2nd drive source) 5 Direct drive motor (1st drive source) 6 Process unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] A transport unit for holding the electronic component and transporting the electronic component; a first driving source for driving the transport unit; and a first drive source provided in the transport unit for holding the electronic component. An automatic handling device for electronic parts, comprising: a handling unit; and a second drive source for driving the handling unit, wherein the second drive source is independent of the first drive source. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transport means comprises one or more rotary tables, and a plurality of said handling units are provided on an outer peripheral portion of said rotary table so as to be separated from each other. Automatic handling equipment for electronic components. 3. The automatic handling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second drive source comprises a linear motor, and the handling unit is driven up and down by the linear motor.