JP3147969B2 - Storage device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a defective stocker which separates a detected defective product from a regular product in the process of transporting a flat product such as a printed circuit board on which electronic components, electronic components and the like are assembled. The present invention relates to a device to be stored in a storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Assembling a printed circuit board or a semiconductor substrate into which various electronic parts and electric parts are incorporated is performed by transferring a plurality of equipment to the substrate in each process while transporting the substrate along one transport path. Assembling and substrate are sequentially sent to the lower process. As the number of components incorporated in the board increases, the probability of mounting components on the board due to excessive positional relationship, posture, and the like increases, and the frequency of defective products increases.

Therefore, an inspection process is provided in the middle of the transport path,
The board on which the components are incorporated is inspected, and the board on which the components are normally mounted and the defective component-mounted board are determined. Various proposals have conventionally been made so that a defective component mounting board is removed from an original transport path, and only a normal board is transported in a lower process.

As means for removing defective substrates, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a branch station 2 is provided in the middle of the main transport path 1, and a sub-line is provided from the branch station 2 to the sub-transport path 4 via a transfer conveyor. Is common. The board on which the components are normally mounted is sent from the upstream main transport path 1a to the downstream main transport path 1b via the branch station as shown by an arrow 5. On the other hand, when the defective board is sent along the main transport path 1, as shown by the arrow 6, the defective board is sent to the transfer conveyor 3 at the branch station 2, and is sent from the transfer conveyor 3 to the sub-transfer path 4. As a result, the defective substrates are collected in a state of being separated from the normal substrates.

[0005]

When the auxiliary transport path 4 is arranged in parallel with the main transport path 1, the width of the entire transport line becomes large. For this reason, not only does the occupied space increase, but also, for example, it becomes difficult for a worker located on the side of the main transport path 1 to see defective products passing through the auxiliary transport path 4, which hinders line management. In addition, a stocker for storing only the defective substrate is provided downstream of the sub-transport path 4, and additional equipment for loading the defective substrate into the stocker is required. This also complicates the configuration of the transport line, increases the space occupied by the transport line, and hinders effective use of the space.

[0006] This type of problem is not limited to the conveyance of a printed circuit board or the like, but is common to the conveyance of a plate-shaped article through various processes. However, a transport line capable of separating defective products without increasing the width of the transport path or increasing ancillary equipment has not been put into practical use so far.

The present invention has been devised to solve such a problem, and separates defective products flowing along a transport line in the middle of the transport line without separately providing a branch line. It is an object of the present invention to provide a defective product storage device suitable for a transport line which can easily manage a line, occupies a small space, and does not require extra auxiliary equipment.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the object, a defective product storage device according to the present invention is arranged in the middle of a transport path, and has a plurality of pairs of storage projections formed therein so as to be movable up and down. A defective stocker, a short pusher that is provided to be reciprocable in the longitudinal direction of the transport path, and a pusher that pushes a plate-like article into the defective product stocker; and a short pusher that is reciprocally movable in the longitudinal direction of the transport path, A long pusher for extruding the plate-like articles in the non-defective product stocker to the downstream transport path, and when the normal plate-like article is sent along the transport path, advance the long pusher to move the transport section to the transport path. The defective stocker is raised or lowered when a defective plate-like article is sent along the defective stocker.

[0009]

[Operation] The defective product storage device of the present invention is schematically shown in FIG.
As shown in, it is interposed defective stocker B in the middle of the conveying path is provided movably the elongated pusher P _L and the short pusher P _S on the upstream side of the defective stocker B along the conveying direction D. The defective stocker B has a plurality of pairs of storage protrusions formed on the left and right inner surfaces in multiple stages so that defective plate-like articles can be stored in multiple stages.

[0010] defective product stocker B, all of the plate-like article S _0, including a defective article is pushed by the short pusher P _S. When the plate-like article S ₀ pushed into the defective stocker B is normal, the sheet is passed through the defective stocker B to be a normal plate-like article S ₁ by extrusion by the long pusher P _{L and} on the downstream side of the transport path. That is, it is sent to the lower process. On the other hand, when the plate-like article S ₀ pushed into the defective product stocker B is defective, the defective product stocker B
By one pitch of the receiving projections each time one of the defective plate-like article S ₂ are housed raised or lowered, facing the conveying path always storable state. Pressing of the plate-like article S ₀ by the short pusher P _S and elongated pusher P _L is switched by the cylinder P _H.

[0011] That is, poor plate-like article S ₂ is the rise or fall of the defective stocker B, plate-like article pushed into defective stocker B in short pusher P _S S ₀
Removed from the conveying path of the to S _1. Then, only the normal plate-like article S ₁ is sent out from the defective stocker B on the downstream side by the elongated pusher P _L. Thus, it is not necessary to branch the transport path for carrying out the defective product from the transport path, and it is possible to sort out defective plate-like articles without incurring complicated facilities.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, the defective product storage device of this embodiment has a long pusher 20 and a short pusher 30 movably arranged along the transport path 10 of the plate-like article PS, and a defective stocker 40 is provided downstream. Have been placed. On the downstream side of the defective product stocker 40, a transport path (not shown) for transporting the plate-shaped article further down is provided. In FIG. 3, a guide mechanism for guiding the plate-shaped article PS into the defective stocker 40 is omitted.

The transport path 10 forms a transport trajectory in which the plate-like article PS travels between a pair of L-shaped members 11a and 11b whose side portions are erected. The L-shaped members 11a and 11b are inserted through the lateral beams 13a and 13b of the support frame 12,
By driving the motors 14a and 14b, respectively, they can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal beams 13a and 13b. The opposing gap between the L-shaped members 11a and 11b is set to a gap corresponding to the size of the conveyed plate-shaped article PS, and the fixed levers 15a and 15b are tightened to place the L-shaped members 11a at predetermined positions on the horizontal beams 13a and 13b. , 11
b is fixed. Thereby, a traveling locus having a width corresponding to the size of the plate-shaped article PS is formed between the L-shaped members 11a and 11b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the long pusher 20 has a pressing portion 20b attached to a distal end of a long rod 20a. The long rod 20 a is longer than the depth of the defective stocker 40 and is slidably provided inside the cylinder 21. As means for sliding the long rod 20a in the cylinder 21, compressed air is sent to one end of the cylinder 21 to advance the long rod 20a, and compressed air is sent to the other end of the cylinder 21 to retreat the long rod 20b. A cylinder type can be adopted. Alternatively, a forward / backward mechanism using mechanical or spring elasticity may be connected to a part of the long rod 20a.

The cylinder 21 has a function of guiding the forward and backward movement of the long pusher 20.
It is supported by the base 23 via 2a, 22b. The base 23 can be moved up and down by a lifter 24 arranged below. When operating the long pusher 20, the lifter 24 lifts the base 23 together with the base 23, and causes the pressing portion 20 b of the long pusher 20 to face the rear end face of the plate-shaped article PS pushed into the defective stocker 40.

In the middle of the base 23, a bracket 31 is provided. The cylinder 32 and the guide rod 33 are inserted between the bracket 22a and the bracket 31, and the slide base 34 is inserted through the cylinder 32 and the guide rod 33. The slide base 34 moves forward by introducing compressed air to the rear end side of the cylinder 32, and moves backward by introducing compressed air to the rear end side of the cylinder 32. (Not shown). In addition, as the moving means of the slide base 34, a forward / backward moving mechanism using mechanical or spring elasticity may be connected instead of the air cylinder.

The short pusher 30 has a length such that its tip reaches the entry side of the defective stocker 40 when in the forward position. As shown in FIG. 5, a pressing portion 30b is provided at the tip of the bent lever portion 30a. Axis 3
At 0c, it is pivotally supported by the slide base 34. The short pusher 30 is urged clockwise in FIG. 5 by a tension spring 35 stretched between the rear end 30 d and the slide base 34.

As shown in FIG. 6, the base 23 is provided with a falling bracket 36 that stands upright behind the bracket 31. The lodging bracket 36 is formed in an inverted L-shape, and a roller 37 is rotatably supported at a tip portion thereof. When the slide base 34 further moves rightward from the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, the roller 37 is pressed against the lever 30a of the short pusher 30, and the short pusher 37 falls down as shown by the solid line.

Further, a sensor 38a for detecting the slide base 34 at the forward position is provided on the base 23 near the bracket 22a. A sensor 38b for detecting the slide base 34 at the retreat position and the forward position is also provided near the bracket 31. As the sensors 38a and 38b, for example, a sensor that includes a pair of light-emitting elements and a light-receiving element and detects the position of the slide base 34 by interposing a projection provided on the slide base 34 therebetween can be used.

Long pusher 20 and short pusher 3
As shown in FIG. 7, the defective stocker 40 located on the downstream side of the transport path 10 is a box-shaped body with both front and rear sides opened. Face downstream. A plurality of storage projections 42a ₁ , 42a ₂ , 42a ₃ ... 42a _n are provided on the inner surface of the right side wall 41a of the defective stocker 40 at the same pitch p.
Is provided. Also the inner surface of the left side wall 41b, likewise a plurality of housing protrusions _{42b 1, 42b 2, 42b 3} ····
42b _n are provided. Storage protrusions 42a ₁ , 42a
_2, 42a _{3 ····} 42a _n and accommodating protrusions 42b _1,
42b ₂ , 42b _3, ..., 42b _n correspond to the bottom wall 41 of the defective stocker 40 as a pair.
It is located at the same height from c.

As shown in FIG. 3, the defective stocker 40 is transported to the stocking station 4 by a conveyor 43.
It is carried to 4. The stocking station 44 is provided with an elevator (not shown) that pushes up the defective stocker 40 by the pitch p. As an elevator,
After the slide base 34 is detected by the sensor 38a, the one provided with a step driven when the slide base 34 is detected by the sensor 38b is used.

Next, the operation of the defective product storage device will be described. At an initial stage, as shown in FIG. 8, compressed air is introduced into the left end of the cylinder 32, and the slide base 34 is moved rightward. When the slide base 34 is located at the right end, the lever 30a of the short pusher 30
The roller 37 is pressed against. Therefore, the short pusher 30 is in the lying posture shown in FIG.

Compressed air is introduced into the right end of the cylinder 32 in synchronization with the movement of the plate-like article PS sent along the transport path 10. As a result, the slide base 34 moves to the left, and the pressed state of the roller 37 against the lever 30a is released. As a result, the short pusher 30
The pivot portion 30c is moved until the rear end portion 30d comes into contact with the side surface of the slide base 34 by the elastic resilience of the tension spring 35.
Rotate clockwise around.

After the rotation, the short stopper 30 assumes the upright posture shown in FIG. The pressing portion 30b of the short stopper 30 in the upright posture is set at the same height as the rear end surface of the plate-like article PS sent along the transport path 10. When the introduction of the compressed air to the right end of the cylinder 32 is further continued, the slide base 34 moves to the left while being guided by the cylinder 32 and the guide rod 33. The short pusher 30 moves integrally with the slide base 34 as shown in FIG. 10, and pushes the plate-shaped article PS into the defective stocker 40 by the pressing portion 30b. Pushed-in plate-like article PS is at both ends accommodating projections 42a ₁ and 42b _1, 42a
Is supported from below at ₂ and 42b _2, 42a ₃ and 42b ₃ · · · · either 42a _n and 42b _n.

The fact that the plate-like article PS has been stored in the defective stocker 40 can be determined by detecting that the slide base 34 has reached the forward position in FIG. 10 by the sensor 38a. Therefore, a detection signal from the sensor 38a is sent to a pressure control system (not shown) to exhaust compressed air from the right side of the cylinder 32 and to introduce compressed air to the left side of the cylinder 32.

With the introduction of the compressed air, the slide base 34 moves rightward while being guided by the cylinder 32 and the guide rod 33, and reaches the retracted position shown in FIG. At this time, since the lever portion 30a of the short pusher 30 is pressed against the roller 37, the short pusher 30
Rotates counterclockwise around the pivot 30c against the resilience of the tension spring 35, and assumes a lying posture. Whether the short pusher 30 has completely retracted from the defective stocker 40 can be determined by detecting that the slide base 34 has reached the retracted position in FIG. 8 by the sensor 38b.

Whether the plate-like article PS pushed into the defective product stocker 40 is a normal product or a defective product is determined by an inspection device (not shown) in the upper process. The result of the discrimination by the inspection device is input as a control signal to the pressure control system of the cylinder 21, the drive control system of the lifter 24, or the elevation control system of the defective stocker 40. Also, sensor 3
When a signal indicating that the slide base 34 has been detected is output from both of 8a and 38b, the short pusher 30 moves one stroke, and one sheet-like article PS is pushed into the defective stocker 40. I understand that Therefore, based on the control signal from the inspection device according to the state of pushing the plate-like article PS into the defective stocker 40,
It is determined whether the pushed plate-shaped article PS is sent out to the downstream transport path or stored in the defective stocker 40.

When the plate-like article pushed into the defective stocker 40 is normal, the whole is lifted by the lifter 24 in the state shown in FIG. Long pusher 2
The 0 pressing portion 20b is opposed. And the cylinder 21
Compressed air is introduced from the right end of the
Is pushed out of the defective stocker 40 to the downstream transport path.

The long pusher 20 is a defective stocker 4
0 in the depth direction, so that the plate-like article PS pressed by the pressing portion 20 b of the long pusher 20.
Are the corresponding storage protrusions 42a ₁ of the defective stocker 40.
And 42b ₁ , 42a ₂ and 42b ₂ , 42a ₃ and 42b ₃
While sliding on any of · · · · 42a _n and 42b _n, is fed to the transport path on the downstream side.

After the normal plate-like article PS has been sent out to the downstream transport path, compressed air is introduced from the left side of the cylinder 21, and the long pusher 20 is retracted to the illustrated standby position. Around the time when the long pusher 20 is retracted, the base 23 is lowered by the lifter 24 so that the subsequent plate-shaped article PS can pass through the transport path 10.

When the plate-like article PS pushed into the defective product stocker 40 is defective, the defective product stocker 40 is raised by the pitch p by the elevator. As the defective stocker 40 rises, the storage protrusions 42a ₁ and 42b ₁ ,
42a ₂ and 42b _2, 42a ₃ and 42b ₃ ···· 42
lower side of the ledge formed by a _n and 42b _n becomes the passage or storage ready for the next plate-like article PS.

In this manner, while the defective plate-shaped articles PS are sequentially stored in the defective article stocker 40 in multiple stages, the normal plate-shaped articles PS are passed through the defective article stocker 40 to the downstream transport path 10. Send out. Therefore, it is possible to sort out defective products on one transport path 10.

In the above example, the defective stocker 4
The apparatus provided with the conveyer 43 for transporting the 0 to the transport path 10 has been described. However, when the time required for the defective product stocker 40 to be fully loaded with the defective plate-like product is long and the frequency of sending the defective plate-like product is low, the worker can use the defective product without using the conveyor 43. It is also possible to arrange the stocker 40 at the stocking station 44.

Further, a method is adopted in which the long pusher 20 is advanced when the short pusher 30 is retracted to the initial position shown in FIG. 8, but is not restricted to this, and is interlocked with the short pusher 30. Long pusher 2
It is also possible to activate 0.

For example, the pressing portion 2 of the long pusher 20
0b is the pressing portion 20 of the short pusher 30 in an upright state.
The positional relationship between the long pusher 20 and the short pusher 30 can be determined so as to be located at the same height as b. In this case, both the long pusher 20 and the short pusher 30 push the rear end face of the plate-shaped article PS and push it into the defective article storage stocker 40. When the pressed plate-shaped article PS is normal, the long pusher 2
0, the plate-like article PS is extruded from the defective stocker 40 to the transport path 10 on the downstream side. On the other hand, when the pressed plate-shaped article PS is defective, both the long pusher 20 and the short pusher 30 are retracted, and the defective stocker 40 is raised by the pitch p. Due to the interlocking movement of the long pusher 20 and the short pusher 30, a normal plate-like article P that has passed through the defective stocker 40.
The transport to the downstream side of S and the storage of the defective plate-like article PS in the defective stocker 40 are performed quickly.

When raising the defective stocker 40 by the pitch p every time the defective plate-like article PS is fed,
The defective plate-shaped articles PS are stored in the defective stocker 40 in multiple stages from top to bottom. However, while lowering the defective stocker 40 by the pitch p, the defective plate-like article P
It is also possible to store S sequentially. In this case, the defective plate-like articles PS are stored in the defective stocker 40 in multiple stages from bottom to top. Whether the lower stacking method or the upper stacking method is adopted depends on whether the plate-like article PS or the short pusher 3 is used.
It is appropriately determined in consideration of the shape of 0, etc.

[0037]

As described above, in the defective article storage device of the present invention, of the plate-like articles pushed into the defective stocker by the short pusher, the normal plate-like articles are defective by the long pusher. The sheet is extruded through the stocker to the downstream conveying path, and defective plate-like articles are removed from the conveying path by raising the defective stocker. For this reason, it is possible to sort out defective products on one transport path without causing the difficulty of line management due to the parallel arrangement of the sub-transport paths as in the related art. Also, there is no need to use extraordinarily complicated equipment for the incidental facilities.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 A conventional transport line in which sub-transport paths for separating defective products are arranged in parallel.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a defective product storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view in which a defective product storage device is incorporated in a transport path in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a main part of the defective product storage device.

FIG. 5 Short pusher in advanced position

FIG. 6 shows a short pusher in the retracted position.

[Fig. 7] Defective stocker

FIG. 8 shows a state in which a plate-like article is carried in.

FIG. 9 is an initial state of transporting a plate-like article to a defective stocker.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which a plate-like article is pushed into a defective stocker.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 transport path 20, P _L long pusher 30, P _S short pusher 35 tension spring (standing for) 37 roller (for lodging) 40, B defective stocker _{42a 1, 42a 2, 42a 3} ··· 42a n, 42b
₁ , 42b ₂ , 42b ₃ ... 42b _n : storage protrusion PS, S ₀ plate-shaped article S ₁ normal plate-shaped article S ₂ defective plate-shaped article

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 1/00-1/20 B07C 1/00-9/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A defective stocker which is arranged in the middle of a transport path and has a plurality of pairs of storage protrusions formed therein and which can move up and down, and is provided so as to be reciprocally movable in a longitudinal direction of the transport path. A short pusher that pushes the plate-like article into the defective product stocker, and a long pusher that is provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the transport path and pushes out the plate-like article in the defective product stocker to the downstream transport path. When the normal plate-shaped article is fed along the transport path, the long pusher is advanced, and when the defective plate-shaped article is fed along the transport path, the defective product stocker is raised or lowered. A defective product storage device characterized by being made to work.