JP2024115010A - Parts supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a parts supplying device that can improve the ease of maintenance of the internal mechanism. [Solution] A tape feeder 14 that supplies parts to a parts removal position 14T includes a frame 31 and a side cover 32 that is provided to cover the side of the frame 31. A cover piece 70 that is part of the side cover 32 is detachable from the frame 31, and some of the parts that make up the internal mechanism provided within the frame 31 are attached to the cover piece 70. [Selected Figure] Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a part supply device that supplies parts to a part removal position.

Conventionally, there is known a component mounting device that uses a mounting head to pick up components supplied from a component supply device and mount them on a board. The component supply device may be, for example, a tape feeder that transports a carrier tape and supplies the components to a component removal position. The component supply device has a frame and a side cover that covers the side of the frame, and various mechanisms (internal mechanisms) are provided within the frame (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2022-053723 A

Normally, some of the side covers are removable from the frame, so that when it is time to perform maintenance on the internal mechanism, the cover covering the part to be maintained can be removed from the frame. However, the internal mechanism often has many parts packed into a small space, and in many cases maintenance cannot be performed without removing some parts. In particular, the task of separating interlocking gears takes time, making it difficult to work with.

The present invention aims to provide a parts supply device that can improve the ease of maintenance work on the internal mechanism.

The component supply device of the present invention is a component supply device that supplies components to a component removal position, and includes a frame and a side cover that covers the side of the frame, a cover piece that is a part of the side cover and is detachable from the frame, and some of the parts that make up the internal mechanism provided within the frame are attached to the cover piece.

The present invention can improve the ease of maintenance of the internal mechanism.

1 is a side view of a component mounting device equipped with a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a side view of a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the leading end of a carrier tape fed by a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape feeder with a cover piece removed from the tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cover piece removed from a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention;

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a component mounting device 1 in one embodiment of the present invention. The component mounting device 1 is a device that repeatedly performs a component mounting operation in which components BH are mounted on a board KB sent from an upstream process side and then the board is transported to the downstream process side.

In FIG. 1, the component mounting device 1 includes a base 11, a pair of conveyors 12, a feeder cart 13, a tape feeder 14, a head moving mechanism 15, a mounting head 16, and a control unit 17. For the sake of convenience in the following explanation, the left-right direction as seen by the worker OP is referred to as the X direction, the front-back direction as seen by the worker OP is referred to as the Y direction, and the up-down direction is referred to as the Z direction. In addition, within the Y direction, the back side as seen by the worker OP is referred to as the "front" and the front side as seen by the worker OP is referred to as the "rear".

In FIG. 1, a pair of conveyors 12 are provided on a base 11. The pair of conveyors 12 are arranged facing each other in the Y direction, and are attached to the base 11 in a position extending in the X direction. The pair of conveyors 12 support both ends of the board KB in the Y direction from below, transport it in the X direction, and position it at a predetermined work position. The feeder cart 13 is connected to the end of the base 11 in the Y direction. The feeder cart 13 has a block-shaped feeder base 13B on the upper part.

The tape feeder 14 is detachably attached to the feeder base 13B (Fig. 1). The tape feeder 14 functions as a component supplying device in the component mounting device 1, pulling out the carrier tape CT containing the components BH from the reel RL, transporting it, and supplying the components BH to a component removal position 14T (see also Fig. 2) set at the upper front. Multiple tape feeders 14 can be attached to the feeder base 13B in a line in the X direction, and by connecting the feeder cart 13 to the base 11, multiple tape feeders 14 can be connected to the base 11 all at once.

In FIG. 3, the carrier tape CT has a row of pockets PK for storing components BH. A top tape TT is attached to the upper surface of the carrier tape CT, and each pocket PK is covered by the top tape TT. In other words, the carrier tape CT is configured to store components BH and have the top tape TT attached. At one end of the carrier tape CT in the width direction, a row of feed holes KH is provided extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape CT (i.e., parallel to the row of pockets PK). The configuration of the tape feeder 14 will be described later.

The head movement mechanism 15 is, for example, a Cartesian coordinate robot, and moves the mounting head 16 in a horizontal plane. A number of nozzles 16N are attached to the mounting head 16, each facing downward (see also FIG. 2). The mounting head 16 generates a vacuum suction force at the bottom end of the nozzle 16N, and picks up the component BH supplied to the component removal position 14T by the tape feeder 14 by suctioning the component BH to the nozzle 16N.

The control unit 17 is provided in the base 11 (Figure 1). The control unit 17 controls the operation of each part of the component mounting device 1 and the operation of the tape feeders 14. This causes the conveyor 12 to transport and position the board KB, and each tape feeder 14 supplies the components BH. The head movement mechanism 15 moves the mounting head 16, and the mounting head 16 adsorbs the components BH onto the nozzles 16N.

When the component mounting device 1 configured in this way performs a component mounting operation, first the conveyor 12 operates to receive the board KB sent from the upstream process side and position it at a prescribed work position. Once the conveyor 12 has positioned the board KB at the work position, the tape feeder 14 supplies the component BH to the component removal position 14T, and the head movement mechanism 15 moves the mounting head 16 to above the tape feeder 14. The mounting head 16 that has moved above the tape feeder 14 adsorbs the component BH to the lower end of the nozzle 16N.

After the mounting head 16 has adsorbed the component BH to the lower end of the nozzle 16N, it moves to above the board KB, which is positioned at the work position. The nozzle 16N is then lowered from above a predetermined position (component mounting position) set on the board KB to mount the component BH onto the board KB. This series of component mounting operations is repeated until all of the components BH to be mounted on the board KB have been mounted, at which point the conveyor 12 is activated to transport the board KB to the downstream process side. This completes the component mounting operation for one board KB.

Next, the configuration of the tape feeder 14 will be described. In Figures 2 and 4, the tape feeder 14 comprises a main body 21 that is detachably attached to the feeder cart 13 (more specifically, the feeder base 13B), and a tape cover 22 that is attached to the upper front part of the main body 21.

In FIG. 4, the main body 21 includes a frame 31 and side covers 32 attached to both sides of the frame 31 in the width direction (X direction). A transport surface 33 for the carrier tape CT is formed within the frame 31 (FIG. 2).

In Figures 2 and 4, upper and lower positioning pins 31P are provided protruding forward from the front end of the frame 31. When the main body 21 is attached to the feeder base 13B, the upper and lower positioning pins 31P fit into upper and lower positioning holes (not shown) provided in a feeder stopper 13F (Figure 1) that extends upward from the front end of the feeder base 13B. This positions the tape feeder 14 relative to the feeder base 13B.

In FIG. 2, the conveying surface 33 extends from the rear to the front inside the frame 31. A tape inlet 34 is formed at the rear end of the frame 31, which is connected to the rear end of the conveying surface 33, and a tape outlet 35 is formed at the front end of the frame 31, which is connected to the front end of the conveying surface 33. The conveying surface 33 is formed inside the frame 31, extending from the rear end to near the front end, but is exposed on the top surface of the frame 31 near the front end of the frame 31. The tape cover 22 is provided to cover from above the area of the conveying surface 33 that is exposed on the top surface of the frame 31, and serves to hold down from above the carrier tape CT that runs on the exposed area of the conveying surface 33. The tape cover 22 is provided with a component removal opening 22K that opens at the component removal position 14T (FIG. 4).

In FIG. 2, a downward extension 21E is formed at the rear of the main body 21, extending downward. An engagement hook 36 and a connector 37 are provided on the downward extension 21E, each of which protrudes forward. When the frame 31 is attached to the feeder base 13B, the engagement hook 36 engages with a horizontal rod-shaped portion (not shown) provided on the feeder base 13B side, thereby fixing the frame 31 to the feeder base 13B. When the frame 31 is attached to the feeder base 13B, the connector 37 connects to a connector (not shown) on the feeder base 13B side (i.e. the base 11 side).

In FIG. 2, a carrier tape transport mechanism 40 is provided in the front area of the main body 21. The carrier tape transport mechanism 40 transports the carrier tape CT inserted into the frame 31 from the tape inlet 34 toward the tape outlet 35.

In FIG. 2, the carrier tape transport mechanism 40 includes three sprockets (introduction sprocket 41, positioning sprocket 42, and discharge sprocket 43), a drive motor 44, and a transmission gear mechanism 45 that transmits the rotational driving force of the drive motor 44 to these three sprockets. The introduction sprocket 41, positioning sprocket 42, and discharge sprocket 43 are provided in this order from the rear (upstream side).

The lead-in sprocket 41, positioning sprocket 42, and discharge sprocket 43 rotate when the rotational power of the drive motor 44 is transmitted via a transmission gear mechanism 45. The three sprockets (lead-in sprocket 41, positioning sprocket 42, and discharge sprocket 43) rotate synchronously in the same direction (clockwise in FIG. 2), and transport the carrier tape CT along the transport surface 33 by engaging sprocket pins (not shown) on the outer periphery of each sprocket with the feed holes KH of the carrier tape CT.

In FIG. 2, a top tape peeling mechanism 50 is provided upstream of the carrier tape transport mechanism 40 in the main body 21. The top tape peeling mechanism 50 includes an air ejection unit 51, a drive roller 52, and a driven roller 53.

In FIG. 2, the air blowing unit 51 is provided below the conveying surface 33. The air blowing unit 51 blows air from holes (not shown) formed in the conveying surface 33. The air blowing operation of the air blowing unit 51 is controlled by the control unit 17.

In FIG. 2, the drive roller 52 and the driven roller 53 are provided at positions vertically facing the air ejection portion 51 above the conveying surface 33. The driven roller 53 is located behind (downstream of) the drive roller 52 and is provided in contact with the drive roller 52. The drive roller 52 receives the rotational power of the introduction sprocket 41 driven by the drive motor 44 through the power transmission mechanism 60 (FIGS. 4 and 5), and rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 (the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the three sprockets). Here, FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the region RY shown in FIG. 4. The driven roller 53 rotates in the opposite direction to the drive roller 52 (the clockwise direction in FIG. 2).

In Figures 4 and 5, the power transmission mechanism 60 includes a wheel 61, a first transmission gear 62, a second transmission gear 63, and a third transmission gear 64. The wheel 61 and the first transmission gear 62 are arranged coaxially, and the wheel 61 is driven by a sprocket pin on the outer periphery of the lead-in sprocket 41.

The second transmission gear 63 meshes with the first transmission gear 62, and the third transmission gear 64 meshes with the second transmission gear 63. The rotation shaft 64J (Figure 5) of the third transmission gear 64 also serves as the rotation shaft of the drive roller 52 of the top tape peeling mechanism 50.

When the drive motor 44 rotates the lead-in sprocket 41, the wheel 61 rotates in the opposite direction to the lead-in sprocket 41, and the first transmission gear 62, which is provided coaxially with the wheel 61, rotates in the same direction as the wheel 61. When the first transmission gear 62 rotates, the second transmission gear 63 meshed with it rotates in the opposite direction to the first transmission gear 62, and the third transmission gear 64 meshed with the second transmission gear 63 rotates in the opposite direction to the second transmission direction. As a result, the drive roller 52, which rotates integrally with the third transmission gear 64 on the same axis, rotates in the same direction as the third transmission gear 64 (the opposite direction to the three sprockets), and the driven roller 53 in contact with the drive roller 52 rotates in the opposite direction to the drive roller 52.

In this manner, in the tape feeder 14 of this embodiment, the three sprockets (inlet sprocket 41, positioning sprocket 42, and discharge sprocket 43) that constitute the carrier tape transport mechanism 40, and the drive roller 52 and driven roller 53 that constitute the top tape peeling mechanism 50 are operated (rotated) by the rotational power of the drive motor 44.

As shown in FIG. 3, the carrier tape CT is inserted into the tape inlet 34 with the top tape TT having an extended piece ED at the tip. Here, the "extended piece ED" of the top tape TT refers to the portion of the tip of the top tape TT that extends from the tip of the carrier tape CT. The leading end of the carrier tape CT inserted from the tape inlet 34 is transported forward by the introduction sprocket 41 and handed over to the positioning sprocket 42, and is further handed over from the positioning sprocket 42 to the discharge sprocket 43, running forward (downstream) on the transport surface 33.

When the carrier tape CT runs on the transport surface 33 and the extension piece ED of the top tape TT reaches between the introduction sprocket 41 and the positioning sprocket 42, air is ejected upward from the air ejection unit 51 provided in the main body 21 at that timing. As described above, the air ejection unit 51 is provided below the transport surface 33, and the air ejected by the air ejection unit 51 blows the extension piece ED of the top tape TT in a direction (upward) away from the transport surface 33.

When the air ejected from the air ejection unit 51 blows the extension ED of the top tape TT upward, the extension ED is sandwiched between the rotating drive roller 52 and driven roller 53 and pulled upward. When the carrier tape CT is run downstream while the top tape TT is being pulled upward, the top tape TT is peeled off from the carrier tape CT, passes between the drive roller 52 and driven roller 53, and is sent into the storage space 65 formed at the rear of the main body 21 (Figure 2).

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned carrier tape transport mechanism 40, top tape peeling mechanism 50, and power transmission mechanism 60 constitute part of the internal mechanism provided within the frame 31. There are other internal mechanisms (e.g., sensors, etc.), but they will not be described here.

As described above, in the tape feeder 14 in this embodiment, the carrier tape transport mechanism 40 transports the carrier tape CT from rear to front (from upstream to downstream) along the transport surface 33, while the top tape peeling mechanism 50 peels off the top tape TT from the carrier tape CT. As a result, the pockets PK of the carrier tape CT are sequentially positioned at the component removal position 14T (below the component removal opening 22K provided in the tape cover 22) set at the front upper part of the main body 21, but when the pocket PK is positioned at the component removal position 14T, the top tape TT covering the pocket PK has already been peeled off from the carrier tape CT, so the component BH is in an open state upward within the pocket PK. Therefore, the mounting head 16 can use the nozzle 16N to remove the component BH positioned at the component removal position 14T.

In the tape feeder 14 configured as described above, the side covers 32 attached to both sides of the side of the frame 31 are configured with a plurality of cover pieces 70 that can be attached and detached to the frame 31. In this embodiment, of the plurality of cover pieces 70, the wheel 61 and the first transmission gear 62 are attached to the cover piece 70 (indicated by the reference symbol "70M" in the figure) located opposite the wheel 61, the first transmission gear 62, the second transmission gear 63, and the third transmission gear 64, which are parts that constitute the power transmission mechanism 60 described above. Therefore, when the cover piece 70 is removed from the frame 31 (FIG. 6), the wheel 61 and the first transmission gear 62 are removed together with the cover piece 70 (FIG. 7).

In this manner, in the tape feeder 14 of this embodiment, some of the parts constituting the internal mechanism provided within the frame 31 are attached to the cover piece 70, which is detachable from the frame 31. When the cover piece 70 is removed from the frame 31, some of the parts of the internal mechanism that are the subject of maintenance, etc., are removed, improving the ease of maintenance work.

In this embodiment, the parts provided on the cover piece 70, i.e., the parts that are removed together with the cover piece 70 when the cover piece 70 is removed from the frame 31, include one (the second transmission gear 63) of the two meshed gears (here, the second transmission gear 63 and the third transmission gear 64), and the troublesome task of separating the meshed gears is performed simply by removing the cover piece 70 (i.e., without any special consideration). Moreover, in this embodiment, the parts are parts that constitute the power transmission mechanism 60 that transmits power to the top tape peeling mechanism 50 that peels the top tape TT from the carrier tape CT transported by the carrier tape transport mechanism 40, and have a great advantage in that they can be easily accessed in the event of a malfunction in the operation of feeding the top tape TT into the storage space 65, etc.

In the above example, some of the parts of the internal mechanism are attached to the cover piece 70 located opposite the parts that make up the power transmission mechanism 60, out of the multiple cover pieces 70 that are detachably attached to the frame 31. However, parts of the internal mechanism may be attached to the other cover pieces 70. Note that the parts referred to here also include parts related to electronic devices, such as sensors, switches, and circuit boards.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the tape feeder 14 as a parts supplying device has a cover piece 70 consisting of part of the side cover 32 that covers the side of the frame 31, which can be attached and detached from the frame 31, and some of the parts that make up the internal mechanism provided within the frame 31 are attached to the cover piece 70. Therefore, when the cover piece 70 is removed from the frame 31, the parts are removed together with the cover piece 70, improving the ease of maintenance of the internal mechanism.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, the present invention is not limited to those described above, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the component supply device to which the present invention is applied has been described as a tape feeder 14, but the component supply device may be any device configured to supply components to a component removal position, and is not limited to a tape feeder 14, and may be a bulk feeder, stick feeder, tray feeder, etc.

To provide a parts supply device that can improve the ease of maintenance of internal mechanisms.

1 Component mounting device 14 Tape feeder (component supply device)
14T: component removal position 21: main body 22: tape cover 22K: component removal opening 31: frame 32: side cover 40: carrier tape transport mechanism (internal mechanism)
50 Top tape peeling mechanism (internal mechanism)
60 Power transmission mechanism 61 Wheel 62 First transmission gear 63 Second transmission gear (gear)
64 Third transmission gear (gear)
64J Rotating shaft 70 Cover piece CT Carrier tape BH Parts

Claims (3)

A component supplying device that supplies a component to a component removal position,
A frame,
A side cover is provided to cover a side surface of the frame,
A cover piece formed as a part of the side cover is detachable from the frame,
A parts supplying device, in which some of a plurality of parts constituting an internal mechanism provided within the frame are attached to the cover piece. The part supply device according to claim 1, wherein the part attached to the cover piece includes one of two meshed gears. The part supply device according to claim 2, wherein the internal mechanism includes a power transmission mechanism, and the two gears are parts that constitute the power transmission mechanism.

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