JP7342257B2 - Parts feeding device and parts feeding method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for supplying components placed on a pallet for component mounting in which components are mounted on a board.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a component mounting machine that uses a mounting head to take out components from a magazine into which a plurality of pallets can be mounted, which is pulled out to a component supply position, and then mounts the components on a board. Furthermore, in Patent Document 1, two magazines are provided, and a pallet that has been transferred in advance from one magazine to the other magazine is pulled out from the other magazine to a component supply position and used for component mounting. Ru.

Patent No. 5478163

When components are supplied using a magazine in this manner, a pallet with zero remaining components is generated as component mounting is performed. In such a case, in order to efficiently supply parts, the operator is required to take out a pallet with zero parts remaining from the magazine while continuing to supply parts.

This invention was made in view of the above problem, and when a pallet with zero parts remaining occurs in a magazine, a worker can move the pallet with zero parts remaining into the magazine while continuing to supply parts. The purpose is to provide technology that allows extraction from

A component supply device according to the present invention has a plurality of supply slots, a supply magazine to which a pallet that can accommodate a plurality of parts can be attached to each of the plurality of supply slots, a plurality of use slots, and a plurality of use slots. The magazine has a magazine that allows pallets to be attached to each of the slots in use, and pallets can be inserted into and pulled out from supply slots and use slots, and the pallets used for mounting components on the board can be moved from the use slots to the component supply position. There is also a pallet transport mechanism that transports the pallet from which components have been taken out during component mounting from the component supply position to the usage slot, and a magazine that uses the pallet when the number of remaining components, which is the number of components stored on the pallet, has reached zero. In addition to having the pallet transport mechanism perform pallet collection from the storage area to the supply magazine, the pallet containing the same type of parts as the parts contained in the target pallet for pallet collection before the number of remaining parts reaches zero is and a control unit that causes the pallet transport mechanism to prepare a pallet to be loaded into the usage magazine. Pallet preparation is executed to exchange the pallet for pallet collection and the pallet for pallet preparation between the supply magazine and the used magazine.

A component supply method according to the present invention includes a supply magazine having a plurality of supply slots, each of the plurality of supply slots being capable of mounting a pallet capable of accommodating a plurality of parts, and a plurality of use slots, and a plurality of supply slots. A pallet holding device is provided with a usage magazine in which a pallet can be attached to each of the usage slots, and the pallet is transported from the usage slot to the component supply position of the pallet holding device, and the pallet used for mounting components on the board is supplied to the component supply position. The process of transporting the pallet from which parts have been taken out during component mounting from the component supply position to the usage slot, and the process of transporting the pallet from the usage magazine to the replenishment magazine when the number of remaining parts, which is the number of parts stored on the pallet, has become zero. At the same time, the pallet transport mechanism collects the pallet to be transported, and the pallet that contains the same type of parts as the part that was stored in the pallet to be collected before the number of remaining parts reaches zero is transferred to the used magazine. and a step of causing the pallet transport mechanism to prepare a pallet to be mounted. Swap the pallets for collection and pallets for pallet preparation between the supply magazine and the used magazine.

The present invention (components supply device, parts supply method) configured as described above is equipped with a supply magazine and a usage magazine each capable of accommodating a plurality of pallets, and the pallet is moved from the usage slot of the usage magazine to the component supply position. is transported, and the pallet used for mounting components on the board is supplied to the component supply position, and the pallet from which components are taken out during component mounting is transported from the component supply position to the use slot. Then, pallet collection is executed to transport the pallet with zero remaining parts from the used magazine to the supply magazine, and at the same time, the parts that were stored on the pallet targeted for pallet collection before the number of remaining parts reached zero are executed. Preparation of a pallet for mounting a pallet containing the same type of parts into a used magazine is carried out by transporting the pallet from the supply magazine to the used magazine. Therefore, while continuing to supply parts using the pallet loaded in the used magazine by pallet preparation, the operator can take out the pallet collected from the used magazine to the supply magazine by pallet recovery. In this way, when a pallet with zero parts remaining occurs in the magazine, the operator can take out the pallet with zero parts remaining from the magazine while continuing to supply parts.

Further, the component supply device may further include a notification unit that notifies a worker of information regarding a replenishment operation for replenishing pallets according to the usage status of components in component mounting performed after pallet collection is executed. may be configured. With this configuration, a worker can appropriately perform pallet replenishment work depending on the usage status of components in component mounting that is performed after pallet collection is performed.

The pallet supply unit further includes a pallet supply unit having a single slot into which a pallet can be mounted, the pallet transport mechanism transports the pallet used for component mounting from the pallet supply unit to the component supply position, and the control unit is configured to transport the pallet used for component mounting from the pallet supply unit to the component supply position. If there is a near-empty pallet that is predicted to have zero parts remaining within a predetermined time based on the usage status of parts in the subsequent part mounting process, the near-empty pallet is - The parts supply device may be configured to cause the notification unit to notify that the pallet supply unit is to be supplied with a pallet containing the same type of parts as the empty pallet. In such a configuration, an operator can quickly detect the presence of a near-empty pallet by simply loading a pallet containing parts of the same type as the near-empty pallet into a single slot in the pallet supply section. can correspond to Therefore, it is possible to avoid interruptions in the supply of parts due to the near-empty pallet running out of parts.

In addition, if there is no near-empty pallet among the pallets loaded in the used magazine, the control unit stores parts of the same type as the parts stored in the pallet targeted for pallet collection. The parts supply device may be configured to cause the notification unit to notify that the pallet is to be supplied to the supply magazine. In other words, when parts supply is not urgently required, the user can appropriately supply pallets to the supply magazine, and can supply pallets in a manner that corresponds to the urgency of parts supply. In particular, the pallets that need to be replenished can be replenished into the replenishment magazine all at once, so work can be carried out efficiently.

In addition, the control unit performs a process for replenishing pallets in a plurality of replenishment patterns with different combinations of types of components accommodated in pallets to be mounted in replenishment slots, and then replenishing the pallets according to the replenishment patterns necessary for subsequent component mounting. As a result of predicting the time until the pallet replenishment operation, the parts supply device may be configured to cause the notification unit to notify the replenishment slot to replenish the pallet according to the replenishment pattern in which the time will be the longest. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the frequent occurrence of pallet replenishment work and to suppress the work burden on the worker.

According to the present invention, when a pallet with zero parts remaining occurs in a magazine, it is possible for an operator to take out the pallet with zero parts remaining from the magazine while continuing to supply parts. ing.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a component mounting machine equipped with a component supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the component supply device. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the component supply device shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing both a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the external configuration of a pallet holding device included in the parts supply device of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing both a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the external configuration of a pallet holding device included in the parts supply device of FIG. 2; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration included in the component supply device. 5 is a flowchart showing a first example of parts supply management executed by the parts supply device. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an example of operations performed in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 7; 7 is a flowchart showing a second example of parts supply management executed by the parts supply device. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing an example of operations performed in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 9; FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing an example of operations performed in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 9; 12 is a flowchart showing a third example of parts supply management executed by the parts supply device. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing an example of operations performed in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 10; 12 is a flowchart showing a fourth example of parts supply management executed by the parts supply device.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a component mounting machine equipped with a component supply device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1 and the following figures, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system composed of an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction that are orthogonal to each other is shown as appropriate. Here, the X direction and the Y direction are each a horizontal direction, and the Z direction is a vertical direction. In this component mounting machine 1, the head unit 3 mounts the component E supplied by the component supply sections 41 and 42 onto the board B carried in by the board transport section 2.

In the component mounting machine 1, a board transport section 2 that transports a board B in the X direction (board transport direction) is arranged on a base 11. The substrate transport section 2 has two conveyors 21 each extending in the X direction. The two conveyors 21 are arranged in parallel in the Y direction (width direction) with an interval corresponding to the width of the substrate B, and transport the substrate B carried in from the upstream side in the X direction to the downstream side in the X direction. Then, it is stopped at a predetermined mounting work position (the position of board B in FIG. 1). Note that the board B stopped at the mounting work position is fixed at the mounting work position by a holding mechanism (not shown). Further, the two conveyors 21 transport the board B on which the component E is mounted at the mounting work position to the downstream side in the X direction from the mounting work position.

The head unit 3 transfers the component E supplied by the component supply sections 41 and 42 to the board B fixed at the mounting work position. The head unit 3 has a plurality of mounting heads 31 arranged in the X direction, and a suction nozzle is attached to the lower end of each mounting head 31. Then, by moving in the X direction and the Y direction above the conveyor 21, the head unit 3 picks up the supplied components E from the component supply sections 41 and 42 with the suction nozzles and transfers them to the board B at the mounting work position. do. Such movement of the head unit 3 is performed by the following drive mechanism.

That is, on the base 11, there are a pair of Y-axis fixed rails 32 provided parallel to the Y direction, a Y-axis ball screw 33 provided parallel to the Y direction, and a Y-axis rotating the Y-axis ball screw 33. A servo motor 34 is arranged. An X-axis beam 35 extending in the X direction is spanned over the pair of Y-axis fixed rails 32 . This X-axis beam 35 is supported movably in the Y direction by a Y-axis fixed rail 32, and a nut 36 attached to the X-axis beam 35 is screwed into the Y-axis ball screw 33. The X-axis beam 35 includes an X-axis rail (not shown) provided parallel to the X direction, an X-axis ball screw 37 provided parallel to the X direction, and an X-axis servo motor that rotates the X-axis ball screw 37. 38 is attached. The head unit 3 is supported movably in the X direction by an X-axis guide, and a nut (not shown) attached to the head unit 3 is screwed into an X-axis ball screw 37.

Therefore, when the Y-axis servo motor 34 rotates the Y-axis ball screw 33, the head unit 3 moves in the Y direction along with the X-axis beam 35. Further, when the X-axis servo motor 38 rotates the X-axis ball screw 37, the head unit 3 moves in the X direction. In this way, the head unit 3 moves between the position above the component supply sections 41 and 42 and the position above the mounting work position, and picks up and transfers E.

The component supply section 41 is arranged on the front side (one side in the Y direction) of the substrate transport section 2. The component supply section 41 includes a plurality of tape feeders 411 arranged in the X direction. Each tape feeder 411 is configured to feed out a tape containing relatively small chip parts E such as ICs (Integrated Circuits), transistors, and capacitors at predetermined intervals from a reel. The delivered component E is picked up by the head unit 3 and transferred to the board B at the mounting work position.

The component supply section 42 is arranged on the rear side (the other side in the Y direction) of the board transport section 2. In the example shown in FIG. 1, two component supply sections 42 are lined up in the X direction. However, since these components have common configurations and perform similar operations, basically one component supply section 42 will be explained below.

The parts supply section 42 is a QFP (Quad Flat
We supply relatively large package parts E such as Package) and BGA (Ball Grid Array). Specifically, the component supply unit 42 includes a component supply device 9 including a pallet holding device 5 and a pallet transport mechanism 6. The pallet holding device 5 accommodates a plurality of pallets P arranged in the Z direction. Further, the pallet transport mechanism 6 includes two pallet transport devices 61 as described later, and each pallet transport device 61 transports the pallet P in the Y direction between the pallet holding device 5 and the component supply position Ls. . Components E are placed on the pallet P via a tray T, and a plurality of packaged components E are arranged on this tray T. The pallet P supports a single tray or a plurality of trays T in a fixed state by magnetic force or the like.

As will be described in detail later, the pallet holding device 5 accommodates a plurality of pallets P lined up in the Z direction, and among these pallets P, the pallet P facing the pallet transport device 61 is held by the pallet transport device 61. It becomes possible to carry it out from the device 5. In addition, as the pallet transport device 61 moves up and down in the Z direction, the pallet P that the pallet transport device 61 faces is switched, and the pallet P to be carried out by the pallet transport device 61 is changed. Then, the pallet conveying device 61 conveys the pallet P from the pallet holding device 5 to the component supply position Ls, thereby performing component supply. That is, the component E on the pallet P transported to the component supply position Ls is picked up by the head unit 3 and transferred to the board B at the mounting work position (component mounting).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the parts supply device, FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the parts supply device in FIG. 2, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are the parts supply device in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing both a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the external configuration of the pallet holding device. In these figures and the following figures, an orthogonal coordinate system consisting of the width direction Dw, the drawing direction Dd, and the Z direction is shown as appropriate. Here, the width direction Dw and the drawing direction Dd are horizontal directions parallel to the horizontal plane, the width direction Dw is parallel to the X direction and perpendicular to the drawing direction Dd, and the drawing direction Dd is parallel to the Y direction as described above. be. Furthermore, one side Dda in the pull-out direction Dd (the supply side going from the pallet holding device 5 to the parts supply position Ls) and the other side Ddb in the draw-out direction Dd (the collection side going from the parts supply position Ls to the pallet holding device 5). Indicate as appropriate.

As described above, the component supply device 9 includes the pallet holding device 5 and the pallet transport mechanism 6 disposed on one side Dda of the pallet holding device 5, and the pallet transport mechanism 6 has two pallet transport devices 61. . Further, the component supply device 9 includes a housing 91 that accommodates the pallet holding device 5 and the pallet transport mechanism 6. In the housing 91, one side Dda of the pallet holding device 5 is connected to each pallet transport device 61 of the pallet transport mechanism 6. is a transport device elevating space 60 in which the pallet transport device 61 is raised and lowered, and each of the two pallet transport devices 61 is individually raised and lowered within the transport device elevating space 60 by an elevating device (not shown). This pallet transport device 61 is located at the same height as a target pallet slot S among the later-described pallet slots S arranged in the Z direction in the pallet holding device 5, and performs a pull-out operation or an insertion operation into the target pallet slot S. Execute. Here, the pull-out operation is an operation to pull out the pallet P from the pallet slot S, and the insertion operation is an operation to insert the pallet P into the pallet slot S.

The housing 91 has two side wall members 911 arranged in the width direction Dw, and the pallet holding device 5 and the pallet transport device 61 are arranged between the two side wall members 911 in the width direction Dw. In other words, the pallet holding device 5 and the pallet conveying device 61 are housed in the housing space 912 provided between the two side wall members 911 . Further, the housing space 912 has openings on both sides (one side Dda, the other side Ddb) in the drawing direction Dd, and the housing 91 has a plurality of openings (three pieces) that open and close the openings on the other side Ddb in the drawing direction Dd. covers 913, 914, and 915. These multiple covers 913, 914, and 915 are provided side by side in the Z direction and can be opened and closed individually.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pallet holding device 5 includes a pallet mounting section 51, a magazine mounting section 52, and a magazine mounting section 53. The pallet mounting part 51, the magazine mounting part 52, and the magazine mounting part 53 are arranged in the Z direction, the magazine mounting part 52 is located above the magazine mounting part 53, and the pallet mounting part 51 is located above the magazine mounting part 52. To position. This pallet holding device 5 has two side wall plates 50 (FIGS. 4 and 5) lined up in the width direction Dw, and an upper side wall portion 501 occupying the upper layer of the side wall plates 50 constitutes a side wall of the pallet mounting portion 51. , a middle side wall section 502 located below the upper side wall section 501 and occupying the middle stage of the side wall plate 50 constitutes the side wall of the magazine mounting section 52, and located below the middle stage side wall section 502 and occupying the lower stage of the side wall plate 50. The lower side wall portion 503 constitutes a side wall of the magazine mounting portion 53.

The pallet mounting section 51 has a pallet mounting space 512 between the two upper side wall sections 501 on both sides in the width direction Dw. A single pallet slot S is provided in the pallet mounting space 512, and a pallet P can be inserted into and removed from the single pallet slot S in the pull-out direction Dd. The pallet mounting space 512 has a pallet supply port 512a that opens on one side Dda in the pull-out direction Dd, and a pallet supply port 512b that opens on the other side Ddb. Therefore, the pallet transport device 61 can insert and remove the pallet P from the pallet slot S from one side Dda through the pallet supply port 512a, and the user (operator) can insert and remove the pallet P into the pallet slot S from the other side Ddb through the pallet supply port 512b. Pallet P can be inserted and removed from S.

The cover 913 is provided for the pallet supply port 512b of the pallet mounting section 51. When the cover 913 is opened, the pallet supply port 512b is opened, and the user can open the pallet supply port 512b for the pallet slot S of the pallet mounting section 51. Pallet P can be inserted and removed. On the other hand, when the cover 913 is closed, the pallet supply port 512b is closed, and insertion and removal of the pallet P into and from the pallet mounting portion 51 is prohibited.

The magazine mounting section 52 has a magazine mounting space 522 between the two middle side wall sections 502 on both sides in the width direction Dw. A supply magazine 54 into which a plurality of pallets P can be mounted can be inserted into and removed from the magazine mounting space 522 in the pull-out direction Dd. The magazine mounting space 522 has a pallet supply port 522a that opens on one side Dda in the pull-out direction Dd, and a pallet supply port 522b that opens on the other side Ddb. Then, the user can attach and detach the supply magazine 54 from the other side Ddb into the magazine mounting space 522 of the magazine mounting section 52 via the pallet supply port 522b.

The supply magazine 54 has two side wall plates 541 on both sides in the width direction Dw, and a pallet mounting space 542 is provided between the two side wall plates 541 in the width direction Dw. When the supply magazine 54 is attached to the magazine attachment part 52, the pallet attachment space 542 is open on both sides in the pull-out direction Dd, and the pallet P is inserted into and removed from the pallet attachment space 542 in the pull-out direction Dd. be able to. That is, inside each side wall plate 541 (on the pallet mounting space 542 side), a plurality of pallet holding members 543 are attached in line in the Z direction. The pallet holding member 543 extends parallel to the pull-out direction Dd, and protrudes inward from the side wall plate 541 in the width direction Dw. Then, the pallet P can be inserted and removed between a pair of pallet holding members 543 adjacent to each other in the Z direction. That is, the space between the pair of pallet holding members 543 functions as a pallet slot S, and the pallet P inserted into the pallet slot S is held horizontally by the pallet holding member 543 below the pallet slot S. Therefore, the pallet transport device 61 can insert and remove the pallet P into the pallet slot S of the supply magazine 54 from one side Dda through the pallet supply port 522a, and the user can insert and remove the pallet P into the pallet slot S of the supply magazine 54 from the other side Ddb through the pallet supply port 522b. Pallets P can be inserted into and removed from the 54 pallet slots S.

The cover 914 is provided for the pallet supply port 522b of the magazine mounting section 52, and when the cover 914 is opened, the pallet supply port 522b is opened. Therefore, the user can insert and remove the pallet P into and from the pallet slot S of the supply magazine 54 mounted on the magazine mounting section 52. Furthermore, since the supply magazine 54 can be inserted into and removed from the magazine mounting section 52, the user can attach and remove the supply magazine 54 that holds a plurality of pallets P to and from the magazine mounting section 52. It can be inserted into and removed from the portion 52 all at once. On the other hand, when the cover 914 is closed, the pallet supply port 522b is closed. Therefore, insertion and removal of the pallet P and replenishment magazine 54 into and from the magazine mounting portion 52 are prohibited.

The magazine mounting section 53 has a magazine mounting space 532 between the two lower side walls 503 on both sides in the width direction Dw. A fixed magazine 55 into which a plurality of pallets P can be mounted is mounted in the magazine mounting space 532 and fixed to the magazine mounting section 53. The magazine mounting space 532 has a pallet supply port 532a that opens on one side Dda in the pull-out direction Dd, and a pallet supply port 532b that opens on the other side Ddb.

The fixed magazine 55 has two side wall plates 551 on both sides in the width direction Dw, and a pallet mounting space 552 is provided between the two side wall plates 551 in the width direction Dw. When the fixed magazine 55 is attached to the magazine attachment part 53, the pallet attachment space 552 is open on both sides in the pull-out direction Dd, and the pallet P is inserted into and removed from the pallet attachment space 552 in the pull-out direction Dd. be able to. That is, inside each side wall plate 551 (on the pallet mounting space 552 side), a plurality of pallet holding members 553 are attached to be lined up in the Z direction at intervals. The pallet holding member 553 extends parallel to the pull-out direction Dd, and protrudes inward from the side wall plate 551 in the width direction Dw. The pallet P can be inserted and removed between a pair of pallet holding members 553 adjacent to each other in the Z direction. That is, the space between the pair of pallet holding members 553 functions as a pallet slot S, and the pallet P inserted into the pallet slot S is held horizontally by the pallet holding member 553 below the pallet slot S. Therefore, the pallet transport device 61 can insert and remove the pallet P into the pallet slot S of the fixed magazine 55 from one side Dda through the pallet supply port 532a, and the user can insert and remove the pallet P into the fixed magazine from the other side Ddb through the pallet supply port 532b. A pallet P can be inserted into and removed from the 55 pallet slots S.

Note that the fixed magazine 55 is higher in the Z direction than the supply magazine 54, and the number of pallet slots S of the fixed magazine 55 is greater than the number of pallet slots S of the supply magazine 54. However, the configuration of the fixed magazine 55 is not limited to this example, and the number of pallet slots S of the fixed magazine 55 may be the same as the number of pallet slots S of the supply magazine 54, or the number of pallet slots S of the supply magazine 54 may be the same as the number of pallet slots S of the supply magazine 54. It may be less than the number of pieces.

The cover 915 is provided for the pallet supply port 532b of the magazine mounting section 53, and when the cover 915 is opened, the pallet supply port 532b is opened. Therefore, the user can insert and remove the pallet P into and from the pallet slot S of the fixed magazine 55 mounted on the magazine mounting section 53. On the other hand, when the cover 914 is closed, the pallet supply port 532b is closed. Therefore, insertion and removal of the pallet P into and from the magazine mounting portion 53 is prohibited.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the pallet holding device 5 includes a pallet shutter 56 that opens and closes the pallet supply port 512a of the pallet mounting section 51 from one side Dda, and a pallet shutter 56 that is provided above the pallet mounting section 51 and opens and closes the pallet supply port 512a of the pallet mounting section 51. It has a shutter accommodating portion 571 for accommodating the shutter. The shutter accommodating portion 571 is a space (shutter accommodating space) provided between the two upper side wall portions 501 on both sides in the width direction Dw, and extends in parallel to the pull-out direction Dd. The pallet shutter 56 is movable along a pallet shutter path Wp from an open position Lpo housed in the shutter accommodating portion 571 to a closed position Lpc facing the pallet supply port 512a from one side Dda.

When the pallet shutter 56 is located at the open position Lpo, the pallet supply port 512a is opened. Therefore, the pallet transport device 61 can insert and remove the pallet P into and from the pallet slot S of the pallet mounting section 51 via the pallet supply port 512a. On the other hand, when the pallet shutter 56 is located at the close position Lpc, the pallet supply port 512a is closed. Therefore, access of the pallet transport device 61 to the pallet mounting space 512 of the pallet mounting section 51 is prohibited.

The pallet holding device 5 also includes a magazine shutter 58 that opens and closes the pallet supply port 522a of the magazine mounting section 52 from one side Dda, and a shutter accommodating section 591 that is provided above the magazine mounting section 52 and accommodates the magazine shutter 58. has. This shutter housing section 591 is located between the magazine mounting section 52 and the pallet mounting section 51 in the Z direction. The shutter accommodating portion 591 is a space (shutter accommodating space) provided between the two middle side wall portions 502 on both sides in the width direction Dw, and extends in parallel to the pull-out direction Dd. The magazine shutter 58 is movable along a magazine shutter path Wm from an open position Lmo housed in the shutter accommodating portion 591 to a closed position Lmc facing the pallet supply port 522a from one side Dda.

When the magazine shutter 58 is located at the open position Lmo, the pallet supply port 522a is opened. Therefore, the pallet transport device 61 can insert and remove the pallet P into and from the pallet slot S of the magazine mounting section 52 via the pallet supply port 522a. On the other hand, when the magazine shutter 58 is located at the close position Lmc, the pallet supply port 522a is closed. Therefore, access of the pallet transport device 61 to the magazine mounting space 522 of the magazine mounting section 52 is prohibited.

The magazine shutter 58 has a plurality of slats SL arranged along the magazine shutter path Wm. The length of the magazine shutter 58 along the magazine shutter path Wm is shorter than the length of the magazine shutter path Wm. Each slat SL extends in the width direction Dw orthogonal to the magazine shutter path Wm, and adjacent slats SL in the magazine shutter path Wm are rotatably attached to each other around an axis parallel to the width direction Dw. It is being In this configuration in which a plurality of slats SL are rotatably connected to each other, the magazine shutter 58 moves along the magazine shutter path Wm while the slat SL rotates according to the shape of the magazine shutter path Wm.

Like the magazine shutter 58, the pallet shutter 56 also has a plurality of slats SL rotatably connected to each other. However, the number of slats SL that the pallet shutter 56 has is smaller than the number of slats SL that the magazine shutter 58 has, and the pallet shutter 56 is shorter than the magazine shutter 58. Note that the length of the pallet shutter 56 along the pallet shutter path Wp is shorter than the length of the pallet shutter path Wp.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the magazine shutter 58 is located at the close position Lmc, among the plurality of slats SL included in the magazine shutter 58, the slat SL at the downstream end (end on the close position Lmc side) of the magazine shutter path Wm A plurality of opposing slats SL (six in the example of FIG. 4) are lined up in the Z direction on one side Dda of the pallet supply port 522a, and face the pallet supply port 522a from the one side Dda. In this way, the pallet supply port 522a is closed from one side Dda by the opposing number of slats SL of the magazine shutter 58.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the magazine shutter 58 is located at the open position Lmo, the magazine shutter 58 is retracted upward from the pallet supply port 522a, and the magazine shutter 58 is retracted upward from the pallet supply port 522a. A plurality of accommodated slats SL (six in the example of FIG. 4) are lined up in the pull-out direction Dd in the shutter accommodating part 591 from the slat SL at the upstream end (end on the open position Lmo side) of the shutter path Wm. It fits in 591. Here, the number of facing objects and the number of accommodated objects are equal. However, these do not necessarily have to be equal, and the number of accommodated pieces may be greater than the number of facing pieces.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the pallet shutter 56 is located at the close position Lpc, among the plurality of slats SL of the pallet shutter 56, the downstream end (the end on the close position Lmc side) of the pallet shutter path Wp is The slat SL faces the pallet supply port 512a from one side Dda. In this way, the pallet supply port 512a is closed off from one side Dda by the slat SL of the pallet shutter 56.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the pallet shutter 56 is located at the open position Lpo, the pallet shutter 56 is retracted upward from the pallet supply port 522a, and the plurality of slats SL of the pallet shutter 56 are moved into the shutter accommodating part. 571, they are housed in the shutter accommodating portion 571 in line with the pull-out direction Dd.

Furthermore, the pallet holding device 5 includes an opening/closing drive mechanism 581 that drives the magazine shutter 58 to open and close. This opening/closing drive mechanism 581 includes a linear actuator 582 (cylinder) attached to the outside of the interrupted side wall portion 502 (on the opposite side of the magazine mounting space 522), and a movable plate 583 attached to the rod of the linear actuator 582. , the linear actuator 582 moves the movable plate 583 linearly in the drawing direction Dd. Further, among the plurality of slats SL included in the magazine shutter 58, a driven plate 580 is attached to the slat SL at the upstream end of the magazine shutter path Wm (end on the close position Lmc side), and is movable with the driven plate 580. The plates 583 are lined up in the width direction Dw and connected to each other. Therefore, in response to the drive in the drawing direction Dd by the linear actuator 582, the driven plate 580 moves in parallel to the drawing direction Dd together with the movable plate 583. The magazine shutter 58 moves between the open position Lmo and the closed position Lmc along the magazine shutter path Wm as the driven plate 580 moves horizontally.

Further, the pallet holding device 5 includes an opening/closing drive mechanism 561 that drives the pallet shutter 56 to open and close. The opening/closing drive mechanism 561 includes a linear actuator 562 (cylinder) attached to the outside of the upper side wall 501 (on the opposite side of the pallet mounting space 512), and a movable plate 563 attached to the rod of the linear actuator 562. , the linear actuator 562 moves the movable plate 563 linearly in the drawing direction Dd. Further, among the plurality of slats SL of the pallet shutter 56, a driven plate 560 is attached to the slat SL at the upstream end of the pallet shutter path Wp (end on the close position Lpc side), and the driven plate 560 and the slat SL are movable. The plates 563 are lined up in the width direction Dw and connected to each other. Therefore, in response to the drive in the drawing direction Dd by the linear actuator 562, the driven plate 560 moves in parallel to the drawing direction Dd together with the movable plate 563. The pallet shutter 56 moves between the open position Lpo and the closed position Lpc along the pallet shutter path Wp as the driven plate 560 moves horizontally.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the component supply device. As shown in FIG. 6, the component supply device 9 includes a control unit 93, a UI (User
interface) 94 and a reader 95. The control section 93 includes a calculation section 931, a storage section 932, and an input/output section 933. The calculation unit 931 is composed of, for example, a processor, and executes calculations necessary for supplying the component E by the component supply device. The storage unit 932 is composed of, for example, a memory, and stores various information such as the number of remaining parts, which will be described later. The input/output unit 933 transmits and receives information to and from the UI 94 and the reader 95.

The UI 94 is configured with, for example, a touch panel display, and notifies the worker of information in accordance with commands from the control unit 93. Therefore, the operator can confirm instructions from the control unit 93 based on the content displayed on the display of the UI 94.

The reader 95 is composed of, for example, an optical sensor, reads an identifier (barcode) attached to a pallet P inserted into the pallet slot S, and transmits the identifier of the pallet P to the control unit 93. This reader 95 is attached to the pallet transport device 61 and is used to read the identifier of each pallet P loaded in the supply magazine 54 and fixed magazine 55. This identifier indicates the type and number of parts E accommodated in the pallet P to which the identifier is attached.

For example, when the cover 914 is opened or closed, there is a possibility that the pallet P attached to the supply magazine 54 has been changed by the worker's supply work. Therefore, when the control unit 93 confirms the opening/closing of the cover 914 using an opening/closing sensor or the like, the opening/closing drive mechanism 581 opens the magazine shutter 58, and then the pallet conveying mechanism 6 moves the pallet conveying device 61 in the Z direction. Along with this, the reader 95 attached to the pallet transport device 61 sequentially reads the identifiers of the respective pallets P mounted in the supply magazine 54 in the Z direction and transmits them to the control unit 93. Based on the identifier of each pallet P, the control unit 93 acquires the type and number of parts accommodated in the pallet P mounted in each pallet slot S of the supply magazine 54. Note that the same operation is performed on the fixed magazine 55 when the cover 915 is opened and closed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of component supply management executed by the component supply device, and FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of operations executed in conjunction with the flowchart of FIG. 7. The flowchart in FIG. 7 is executed by the control unit 93. Further, in FIG. 8, a case is illustrated in which five pallets P are attached to each of the supply magazine 54 and the fixed magazine 55. Furthermore, the five pallets P installed in the pallet slots S of the first to fifth stages of the supply magazine 54 are sequentially numbered P21 to P25, and the five pallets P installed in the pallet slots S of the first to fifth stages of the fixed magazine 55 are sequentially numbered P21 to P25. The five pallets P to be mounted are sequentially numbered P31 to P35. Further, symbols Ea, Eb, Ec, and Ed correspond to mutually different types of parts E, and indicate the parts E accommodated in the pallets P to which they are attached. The numbers in parentheses indicate the number of parts accommodated on the pallet P.

In step S101, the pallet P is pulled out from the pallet holding device 5 to the component supply position Ls by the pallet transport device 61, and supply of components E to be mounted on the board B in component mounting is started. In the example of FIG. 8, in the initial state immediately before the supply of parts E starts, parts Ea, Eb, Ec of the same type as the parts Ea, Eb, Ec, Ed stored in each pallet P mounted on the fixed magazine 55, Each pallet P that accommodates Ed is installed in the supply magazine 54 in advance.

It should be noted that out of the supply magazine 54 and the fixed magazine 55, the pallet P is pulled out with priority given to the fixed magazine 55. In other words, if both the supply magazine 54 and the fixed magazine 55 are loaded with pallets P that accommodate the same type of components E, the pallet P that accommodates the same type of components E is first pulled out from the fixed magazine 55 and the components are mounted. used for. Then, when the number of components remaining on the pallet P in the fixed magazine 55 becomes zero, the pallet P containing the component E of the type is pulled out from the supply magazine 54 and used for component mounting. Further, in component mounting, the pallet P from which the necessary number of components E has been taken out is transported from the component supply position Ls to the fixed magazine 55. In this way, by changing the pallet P located at the component supply position Ls, component mounting is performed while changing the type of component E to be supplied.

In step S102, counting of the remaining number is started. In other words, by subtracting the number of parts E taken out from the pallet P due to component mounting from the number indicated by the identifier of the pallet P pulled out to the parts supply position Ls (initial number), the number of parts E that are currently stored on the pallet P is calculated. The calculation unit 931 calculates the number of parts remaining, which is the number of parts E to be removed. Note that the calculation unit 931 can confirm the number of components E taken out from the pallet P from the execution status of a mounting program indicating the procedure for mounting the components E on the board B in the component mounting machine 1.

In step S103, it is determined whether a part-out pallet P with zero remaining parts has occurred among the pallets P loaded in the fixed magazine 55. When an out-of-parts pallet P occurs (“YES” in step S103), a check is made to see if a pallet P that accommodates the same type of parts E as the parts E stored in the out-of-parts pallet P is installed in the supply magazine 54. A determination is made (step S104). If the corresponding pallet P is attached to the supply magazine 54 ("YES" in step S104), the out-of-parts pallet P is set as a replacement target (step S105).

Then, steps S103 to S105 are repeated until the pallet exchange condition is satisfied (step S106). In this example, the pallet exchange condition is that a pallet P with zero parts remaining is generated in the supply magazine 54. However, the specific example of the pallet exchange condition is not limited to this, and the pallet exchange condition may be a condition that a pallet P whose remaining number of parts is equal to or less than a threshold number has occurred in the supply magazine 54. Here, the threshold number is an integer of 1 or more.

Then, when the pallet exchange condition is satisfied ("YES" in step S106), pallet exchange is executed for the pallet P set as the exchange target (step S107). In the example of FIG. 8, when two hours have passed since the initial state immediately before the start of parts supply (step S101), the number of parts remaining on pallet P22 of supply magazine 54 has become zero, and the pallet replacement condition is satisfied. At the same time, the number of parts remaining on pallets P31, P32, P33, and P34 of fixed magazine 55 has become zero. Furthermore, pallets P21, P23, P24, and P25 that accommodate parts Ea, Eb, Ec, and Ed of the same type as the parts Ea, Eb, Ec, and Ed that pallets P31, P32, P33, and P34 accommodate exist in the supply magazine 54. However, pallets P31, P32, P33, and P34 are set to be replaced.

This pallet exchange (step S107) is executed for each of the pallets P31, P32, P33, and P34 set as exchange targets. Here, pallet exchange for pallet P31 will be specifically explained as an example. Among the two pallet transport devices 61, one pallet transport device 61 pulls out the pallet P31 corresponding to the component Ea mounted on the fixed magazine 55, and the other pallet transport device 61 pulls out the pallet P31 corresponding to the component Ea mounted on the supply magazine 54. A pallet P21 corresponding to the type of part Ea is pulled out. Then, one pallet transport device 61 inserts the pallet P pulled out from the fixed magazine 55 into the pallet slot S of the empty supply magazine 54 (pallet recovery), and the other pallet transport device 61 The pallet P pulled out is inserted into the empty pallet slot S of the fixed magazine 55 (pallet preparation). In this way, in the pallet exchange in step S107, pallet preparation is executed in response to pallet collection, and the pallet P corresponding to the part Ea targeted for pallet collection and the same type of component Ea targeted for pallet preparation are The corresponding pallet P is exchanged between the supply magazine 54 and the fixed magazine 55 (pallet exchange).

In the first example of parts supply management described above, a supply magazine 54 and a fixed magazine 55 (used magazines) each capable of accommodating a plurality of pallets P are provided. Then, the pallet P is transported from the pallet slot S (used slot) of the fixed magazine 55 to the component supply position Ls, and the pallet P used for mounting components on the board B is supplied to the component supply position Ls, and the parts The pallet P from which the necessary number of components E for mounting has been taken out is transported from the component supply position Ls to the fixed magazine 55 (step S101). In addition, pallet collection is carried out by transporting the pallet P whose number of parts has become zero from the fixed magazine 55 to the supply magazine 54, and at the same time, before the number of parts remaining on the pallet P targeted for pallet collection reaches zero. Pallet preparation for mounting a pallet P containing parts E of the same type as the stored parts E into the fixed magazine 55 is executed by transporting the pallet P from the supply magazine 54 to the fixed magazine 55 (step S107). . Therefore, the operator can take out the pallet P collected in the supply magazine 54 by pallet recovery while continuing to supply parts using the pallet P loaded in the fixed magazine 55 by pallet preparation. In this way, when a pallet P with zero remaining parts occurs in the fixed magazine 55, the operator can take out the pallet P with zero parts remaining from the supply magazine 54 while continuing to supply parts. It becomes.

In addition, since it is sufficient to perform a simple operation such as exchanging pallets P containing the same type of parts E between the supply magazine 54 and the fixed magazine 55, calculations such as selecting the pallet P to exchange based on the production program are sufficient. is no longer necessary, simplifying control. Furthermore, the pitch at which the parts E are accommodated on the pallet P does not change before and after the pallet P is replaced. Therefore, there is no need to check the pitch of the pallets P loaded in the fixed magazine 55 by replacing the pallets P.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a second example of parts supply management performed by the parts supply device, and FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams schematically showing an example of operations performed in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 9. . The flowchart of the second example in FIG. 9 is executed by the control unit 93 subsequent to the flowchart in the first example of FIG. . Further, the notation in FIGS. 10A and 10B is the same as that in FIG. 8. However, in FIGS. 10A and 10B, a pallet mounting section 51 having a single pallet slot S (see FIG. 3) is also shown.

In step S201, it is determined whether there is an emergency supply part among the parts E to be supplied to the pallet holding device 5. Specifically, near-empty pallets that are predicted to have zero remaining parts within a predetermined time based on the usage status of component E during component mounting performed after pallet exchange (step S107 in FIG. 7) are fixed. It is confirmed whether any of the pallets P loaded in the magazine 55 are present. Such a prediction can be made, for example, by determining whether the number of remaining parts on the pallet P divided by the frequency of taking out parts E from the pallet P during component mounting (the number of parts E taken out per unit time) is less than or equal to a predetermined time. It can be executed by In the example of FIG. 10A, the number of parts Ea accommodated in the pallet P mounted in the first stage pallet slot S of the fixed magazine 55 after the pallet is replaced is five, which is very small. Therefore, this pallet P is determined to be a near-empty pallet, and the parts Ea accommodated in this pallet P are determined to be emergency supply parts ("YES" in step S201).

In this way, when there are emergency supply parts, the content indicating that the pallet P containing the same type of parts Ea (emergency supply parts) as the near-empty pallet is to be mounted on the pallet mounting section 51 is displayed on the UI 94. (Step S202). In other words, in the example of FIG. 10A, the content that a pallet P containing 100 parts Ea is to be mounted on the pallet mounting section 51 is displayed.

Furthermore, in step S203, parts E (parts Ea, Eb, Eb, Ec, Ed ), content is displayed on the display of the UI 94 indicating that a pallet P containing parts E (parts Eb, Eb, Ec, Ed) other than the emergency supply part (part Ea) is to be mounted in the supply magazine 54. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S201 that the pallet P that accommodates emergency supply parts does not exist in the fixed magazine 55 (NO), step S204 is executed. In this step S204, parts E (parts Ea, Eb, Eb, Ec, Ed) corresponding to each pallet P (P21, P22, P23, P24, P25) collected into the supply magazine 54 by pallet exchange (step S107) The display of the UI 94 displays information indicating that the pallet P containing the pallet P is to be attached to the supply magazine 54.

In the second example of component replenishment management described above, information regarding the replenishment work for replenishing pallets P is stored in accordance with the usage status of components E in component mounting performed after pallet collection (step S107) is executed. A UI 94 is provided to notify the operator. In such a configuration, by checking the display contents of the UI 94, the worker appropriately performs the replenishment work of the pallet P according to the usage status of the components in the component mounting performed after the pallet collection is executed. be able to.

Furthermore, the pallet holding device 5 includes a pallet mounting section 51 (pallet supply section) having a single pallet slot S into which a pallet P can be mounted. Therefore, the pallet transport mechanism 6 transports the pallet P used for component mounting from the pallet mounting section 51 to the component supply position Ls by the pallet transport device 61, and the head unit 3 takes out the component E from this pallet P. It can be mounted on substrate B. In addition, the control unit 93 selects a pallet P loaded in the fixed magazine 55 in the near future where the number of remaining parts is predicted to be zero within a predetermined time based on the usage status of the parts E in the component mounting to be executed thereafter. - If an empty pallet exists, the UI 94 is notified to replenish the pallet mounting section 51 with a pallet P that accommodates the same type of component E as the component E that the near empty pallet accommodates (step S202 ). In such a configuration, an operator can easily install a pallet P containing parts E of the same type as the near empty pallet into a single pallet slot S of the pallet mounting section 51. It is possible to quickly respond to the presence of pallets. Therefore, it is possible to avoid interruptions in the supply of parts due to the near-empty pallet running out of parts.

In addition, if there is no near-empty pallet among the pallets P loaded in the fixed magazine 55, the control unit 93 controls the control unit 93 to control the part E that is the same type as the part E contained in the pallet P that is the target of pallet collection. The notification unit is made to notify that the pallet P containing the parts E of is to be supplied to the supply magazine. In other words, when parts supply is not urgently required, the user can appropriately supply pallets P to the supply magazine 54 (that is, within the time when parts are not out of stock), and can respond to the urgency of parts supply. Pallets P can be replenished in this manner. In particular, since each pallet P that needs to be replenished can be replenished into the supply magazine 54 at once, the work can be carried out efficiently.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a third example of component supply management executed by the component supply device, and FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of operations executed in conjunction with the flowchart of FIG. 11. The flowchart of the second example in FIG. 11 is executed by the control unit 93 subsequent to the flowchart in the first example of FIG. . Further, the notation in FIG. 12 is the same as that in FIG. 8.

In step S301, a plurality of replenishment patterns R(n) of pallets P to the replenishment magazine 54 are created (n=1, 2, 3, . . . ). Here, the replenishment pattern indicates a combination of the pallet slot S of the replenishment magazine 54 and the type of component E accommodated in the pallet P installed in the pallet slot S, and the plurality of replenishment patterns have mutually different combinations. . In addition, if the number of parts E accommodated differs between multiple pallets P that accommodate the same type of parts E, the types of parts E accommodated in the pallet P installed in the pallet slot S and the parts for each type It may also indicate a combination with a number.

In step S302, the maximum time Tmax is reset to zero. Further, in step S303, the number n for identifying the replenishment pattern R is reset to zero, and in step S304, the number n is incremented by one.

In step S305, when the replenishment magazine 54 is replenished with pallets P according to the replenishment pattern R(n) and component mounting is executed, the time that elapses until the next replenishment operation of the pallet P to the replenishment magazine 54 is executed; That is, the production continuation time Tc(n) during which board production can be continued without pallet replenishment is calculated. At this time, for example, the timing at which the above-mentioned pallet exchange condition is satisfied can be determined as the timing at which the next replenishment operation to the replenishment magazine 54 is executed.

In step S306, it is determined whether the production continuation time Tc(n) calculated in step S305 is longer than the maximum time Tmax. If the production continuation time Tc(n) is longer than the maximum time Tmax (“YES” in step S306), the maximum time Tmax is set by setting the production continuation time Tc(n) to the maximum time Tmax. It is updated (step S307), and the process advances to step S308. On the other hand, if the production continuation time Tc(n) is not longer than the maximum time Tmax ("NO" in step S306), the process proceeds to step S308 without executing step S307.

In step S308, it is determined whether steps S304 to 307 have been completed for all of the plurality of replenishment patterns R(n) created in step S301. If the process has not been completed ("NO" in step S308), the process returns to step S304 and the number n is incremented by 1. In this way, the possible production continuation time Tc(n) is calculated while changing the target replenishment pattern R(n) among the plurality of supply patterns R(n), and the possible production continuation time Tc(n) is longer than the maximum time Tmax. ) is discovered, the maximum time Tmax is updated to the relevant production continuation time Tc(n) (steps S304 to S308).

When steps S304 to 307 are completed for all of the plurality of replenishment patterns R(n) ("YES" in step S308), the replenishment magazine 54 is replenished with pallets P according to the replenishment pattern R corresponding to the maximum time Tmax. The content is displayed on the UI 94 display. The example in FIG. 12 corresponds to a case where component Ed is used less frequently while component Ec is used more frequently in component mounting. By giving instructions, the production continuation time Tc is secured.

Also in the third example of component replenishment management described above, information regarding the replenishment work for replenishing pallets P is sent to the operator according to the usage status of components E in component mounting performed after pallet collection (step S107). A UI 94 is provided to notify the user. With this configuration, the operator can appropriately perform the replenishment work of the pallet P depending on the usage status of components in component mounting performed after pallet collection.

Further, the control unit 93 controls the palletizing pattern R(n) for a plurality of replenishing patterns R(n) in which the combinations of types of parts E accommodated in the pallets P mounted in the pallet slots S of the replenishing magazine 54 are different. The time from replenishing pallets P to the replenishment work of pallets P that will be required for subsequent component mounting (production continuation time Tc(n)) is predicted (steps S301 to S308). Then, as a result of the prediction, the control unit 93 notifies the UI 94 to replenish the pallets P into the pallet slot S of the replenishment magazine 54 according to the replenishment pattern R(n) that provides the longest continuous production time Tc(n). let With this configuration, it is possible to suppress frequent occurrence of pallet P replenishment work and to suppress the work burden on the worker.

In the above embodiment, the pallet mounting section 51 corresponds to an example of the "pallet supply section" of the present invention, the supply magazine 54 corresponds to an example of the "supply magazine" of the present invention, and the pallet mounting section 51 of the supply magazine 54 corresponds to an example of the "supply magazine" of the present invention. The slot S corresponds to an example of the "replenishment slot" of the present invention, the fixed magazine 55 corresponds to an example of the "use magazine" of the present invention, and the pallet slot S of the fixed magazine 55 corresponds to an example of the "use slot" of the present invention. The control section 93 corresponds to an example of the "control section" of the present invention, the UI 94 corresponds to an example of the "notification section" of the present invention, and the pallet transport mechanism 6 corresponds to an example of the "pallet transport mechanism" of the present invention. Corresponding to one example, the board B corresponds to an example of the "board" of the present invention, the component E corresponds to an example of the "component" of the present invention, and the component supply position Ls is an example of the "component supply position" of the present invention. , the pallet P corresponds to an example of the "pallet" of the present invention, the supply pattern R(n) corresponds to an example of the "supply pattern" of the present invention, and the parts supply device 9 corresponds to the "parts supply pattern" of the present invention. This corresponds to an example of "device".

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the flowchart shown in FIG. 13 may be executed instead of the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a fourth example of component supply management executed by the component supply device. Further, as an example of the operation executed in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 13, reference is made to FIG. 8 described above. Note that the above-described second and third examples of parts supply management can be executed following the fourth example of parts supply management.

In step S401, the pallet P is pulled out from the pallet holding device 5 to the component supply position Ls by the pallet transport device 61, and supply of components E to be mounted on the board B in component mounting is started. Further, in step S402, counting of the remaining number is started.

Then, in step S403, it is confirmed whether the pallet exchange conditions are satisfied. Then, when the pallet exchange condition is satisfied ("YES" in step S403), it is determined whether or not there is an out-of-parts pallet P with zero parts remaining among the pallets P loaded in the fixed magazine 55. Ru. Furthermore, if an out-of-parts pallet P exists (“YES” in step S403), before the number of remaining parts becomes zero, remove the parts E of the same type as the parts E stored in this out-of-parts pallet P. It is determined whether the pallet P to be accommodated is attached to the supply magazine 54 (step S405).

If the corresponding pallet P is attached to the supply magazine 54 ("YES" in step S405), pallet exchange is executed (step S406). In the example of FIG. 8, two hours after the pallet replacement condition is satisfied, the number of remaining parts on pallets P31, P32, P33, and P34 mounted in fixed magazine 55 is zero. Then, a pallet P21 stores parts Ea, Eb, Ec, and Ed of the same type as the parts Ea, Eb, Ec, and Ed that were stored in the pallets P31, P32, P33, and P34 before the number of remaining parts became zero, P23, P24, and P25 are present in the supply magazine 54. Therefore, pallet exchange is performed on these in the same manner as above.

Also in the fourth example of parts supply management explained above, pallet collection is carried out by transporting the pallet P with zero remaining parts from the fixed magazine 55 to the supply magazine 54, and the pallet becomes the target of pallet collection. Pallet preparation for loading the fixed magazine 55 with a pallet P that accommodates the same type of component E as the component E that was accommodated before the number of remaining components on the pallet P became zero is when the pallet P is transferred from the supply magazine 54 to the fixed magazine 55. (Step S406). Therefore, the operator can take out the pallet P collected in the supply magazine 54 by pallet recovery while continuing to supply parts using the pallet P loaded in the fixed magazine 55 by pallet preparation. In this way, when a pallet P with zero remaining parts occurs in the fixed magazine 55, the operator can take out the pallet P with zero parts remaining from the supply magazine 54 while continuing to supply parts. It becomes.

Further, the pallet exchange conditions in step S106 and step S403 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the pallet exchange condition may be that the number of pallets P with zero parts remaining in the fixed magazine 55 has reached a predetermined number. This makes it possible to reduce the frequency of pallet replacement by workers.

Furthermore, the number of pallet transport devices 61 may be one. In this case, the pallet P can be replaced by preparing an empty pallet slot S in one of the supply magazine 54 and the fixed magazine 55. For example, when an empty pallet slot S is prepared in the supply magazine 54, a pallet P is pulled out from the fixed magazine 55 and attached to this empty pallet slot S, and the pallet P is pulled out from the fixed magazine 55. The pallet P can be replaced by loading the pallet P pulled out from the supply magazine 54 into the pallet slot S.

51...Pallet mounting section (pallet supply section)
54... Supply magazine 55... Fixed magazine (used magazine)
6...Pallet transport mechanism 9...Component supply device 93...Control unit 94...UI (notification unit)
B... Board E... Component Ls... Component supply position P... Pallet R(n)... Supply pattern S... Pallet slot (supply slot, usage slot)

Claims (4)

a supply magazine having a plurality of supply slots, each of the plurality of supply slots being capable of mounting a pallet capable of accommodating a plurality of parts;
a usage magazine having a plurality of usage slots and into which the pallet can be attached to each of the plurality of usage slots;
The pallet can be inserted into and pulled out from the supply slot and the usage slot, and the pallet used for mounting components on the board is transported from the usage slot to a component supply position, and the components are transported during the component mounting. a pallet transport mechanism that transports the removed pallet from the component supply position to the use slot;
causing the pallet transport mechanism to perform pallet recovery for transporting the pallet in which the number of remaining parts, which is the number of parts stored in the pallet, has become zero from the used magazine to the supply magazine, and the number of remaining parts is zero. a control unit that causes the pallet transport mechanism to execute pallet preparation for loading the pallet containing parts of the same type as the parts contained in the pallet to be recovered into the use magazine before the pallet is recovered; ,
a pallet supply unit having a single slot into which the pallet can be installed;
a notification unit that notifies a worker of information regarding replenishment work for replenishing the pallet according to the usage status of components in the component mounting performed after the pallet collection is executed;
Equipped with
The pallet transport mechanism transports the pallet used for the component mounting from the pallet supply section to a component supply position,
The control unit executes the pallet preparation by transporting the pallet containing parts of the same type as the pallet to be collected from the supply magazine to the use magazine, and exchanging the pallet and the pallet to be prepared for the pallet between the supply magazine and the use magazine;
The control unit is configured to select a near-remaining number of components that is predicted to become zero within a predetermined time based on the usage status of components in the component mounting that will be executed thereafter, among the pallets loaded in the usage magazine. If an empty pallet exists, a parts supply device that causes the notification unit to notify the pallet supply unit to replenish the pallet containing the same type of parts as the near-empty pallet. . If the near-empty pallet does not exist among the pallets loaded in the used magazine, the control unit may be configured to replace the near-empty pallet with parts of the same type as those contained in the pallet that is the target of the pallet collection. 2. The parts supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the notification section is configured to notify the replenishment magazine to be supplied with the pallet containing parts. With respect to a plurality of replenishment patterns in which the combinations of types of components accommodated in the pallets to be mounted in the replenishment slots are different, the control unit replenishes the pallets according to the replenishment patterns and then performs the control unit according to the subsequent execution of the component mounting. As a result of predicting the time until the replenishment work of the pallet that will be necessary for the pallet replenishment operation, the notification unit is configured to notify the replenishment slot to replenish the pallet according to the replenishment pattern that will take the longest time . parts supply device. a supply magazine having a plurality of supply slots, each of the plurality of supply slots being capable of mounting a pallet capable of accommodating a plurality of parts; Transporting the pallet from the use slot of a pallet holding device comprising a use magazine into which a pallet can be attached and a pallet replenishment unit having a single slot into which the pallet can be attached to a component supply position, and supplying the components to the board. supplying the pallet used for mounting to the component supply position;
a step of transporting the pallet from which components have been taken out during the component mounting from the component supply position to the use slot;
causing the pallet transport mechanism to perform pallet recovery for transporting the pallet in which the number of remaining parts, which is the number of parts stored in the pallet, has become zero from the used magazine to the supply magazine, and also causing the number of remaining parts to become zero causing the pallet transport mechanism to perform pallet preparation for mounting the pallet containing parts of the same type as the parts contained in the pallet to be recovered in the use magazine before the pallet is recovered ;
a step of transporting the pallet used for the component mounting from the pallet supply unit to the component supply position by the pallet transport mechanism;
a step of notifying a worker by a notification unit of information regarding replenishment work for replenishing the pallet according to the usage status of components in the component mounting performed after the pallet collection is executed;
Equipped with
The pallet preparation is carried out by transporting the pallet containing parts of the same type as the pallet to be recovered from the supply magazine to the usage magazine, and the pallet to be recovered and the pallet to be recovered are exchanging the pallet to be prepared between the supply magazine and the use magazine ;
Among the pallets loaded in the usage magazine, there is a near-empty pallet whose remaining number of components is predicted to be zero within a predetermined time based on the usage status of components in the component mounting that will be executed thereafter. In the case where the near-empty pallet accommodates the same type of parts, the notifying unit is configured to notify the pallet replenishing unit to replenish the pallet containing the same type of parts as the near-empty pallet.

Images