JP7472407B2 - Setup equipment and component mounting system - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a technology for preparing components to be used in a component mounting machine that performs component mounting to mount components on a board.

Component mounters use nozzles to pick up components when mounting them on a board. Different nozzles are used depending on the size and shape of the component to be picked up. For this reason, when the type of board on which a component is to be mounted by the component mounter is changed, the nozzles must be prepared for the component mounter as appropriate. In response to this, Patent Document 1 shows a nozzle management device that prepares nozzles on a nozzle palette, and by using such a nozzle management device, the work required for preparation can be simplified.

Patent No. 6129201

However, it is required that the nozzles and other components used in component mounting be delivered accurately to the component mounting machine that uses the components to perform component mounting. In contrast, the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 merely prepares the nozzles (components) on a nozzle tray, which is not sufficient to meet this requirement.

This invention has been developed in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to enable the materials used in a component mounting machine to be accurately shipped to the component mounting machine.

The setup device of the present invention comprises a pallet transport unit that has a board conveyor for transporting boards and is arranged in series with the board conveyor of a component mounting machine that mounts components on a board supported by the board conveyor, and that transfers transport pallets between the board conveyor, and a material storage unit that stores materials used by the component mounting machine that are different from the components and boards, and the pallet transport unit transfers the transport pallet on which the materials used that have been taken out of the material storage unit are placed to the board conveyor.

The present invention (setup device) configured in this way is equipped with a pallet transport section that delivers the transport pallet on which the materials to be used are taken out of the materials storage to the board conveyor of the component mounter. This makes it possible to accurately deliver materials to be used by the component mounter to the component mounter.

The setup device may also be configured to further include a transfer head that places the used materials removed from the material storage on a transport pallet, and the pallet transport unit transfers the transport pallet on which the used materials are placed by the transfer head to the board conveyor. In such a configuration, the used materials removed from the component storage are placed on the transport pallet by the transfer head, and the transport pallet is transferred to the board conveyor of the component mounter by the pallet transport unit. In this way, it is possible to accurately deliver the used materials to the component mounter.

The setup device may also be configured to further include a component removal section that removes and supports used components from the component storage, and the transfer head places the used components supported by the component removal section on a transport pallet. In such a configuration, the used components removed from the component storage by the component removal section are supported by the component removal section. Then, the used components supported by the component removal section are placed on the transport pallet by the transfer head, and the transport pallet is handed over to the board conveyor of the component mounter by the pallet transport section. In this way, it is possible to accurately deliver used components to the component mounter.

The setup device may also be configured so that the material storage storehouse stores multiple storage pallets each having used materials placed thereon, the material removal section supports the storage pallets removed from the material storage storehouse and also supports the transport pallets received from the pallet transport section, and the transfer head moves the used materials from the storage pallet supported by the material removal section to the transport pallet. In this configuration, the storage pallet on which the used materials are placed is stored in the material storage storehouse, and the storage pallet removed from the material storage storehouse by the material removal section is supported by the material removal section. Then, the used materials placed on the storage pallet supported by the material removal section are placed on the transport pallet by the transfer head, and this transport pallet is handed over to the board conveyor of the component mounter by the pallet transport section. In this way, it is possible to accurately release the used materials to be used by the component mounter to the component mounter.

The setup device may also be configured so that the material removal section supports the storage pallets removed from the material storage facility, and has a support conveyor that supports the transport pallets received from the pallet transport section, and an elevator that moves the support conveyor vertically. In such a configuration, the transfer head only needs to move the materials to be used from the storage pallets supported by the support conveyors to the transport pallets, simplifying the operation of the transfer head. Furthermore, by having such a support conveyor and elevator, the following configuration can be achieved.

In other words, the setup device may be configured such that in the parts storage warehouse, multiple storage pallets are arranged vertically, and the parts removal unit removes one of the multiple storage pallets from the parts storage warehouse to the support conveyor while the height of the one storage pallet and the support conveyor are made equal by the elevator. In this configuration, a target one storage pallet can be accurately removed from the multiple storage pallets stored in the parts storage warehouse to the support conveyor.

The part removal section may be configured with a setup device so that the heights of the pallet transport section and the support conveyor are aligned by the elevator, and the transport pallet is received from the pallet transport section onto the support conveyor. In this configuration, the transport pallet can be accurately received from the pallet transport section onto the support conveyor.

The setup device may also be configured such that the pallet transport section has a transfer conveyor disposed adjacent to the material removal section, and an outgoing conveyor arranged in series with the board conveyor and disposed between the transfer conveyor and the board conveyor, the outgoing conveyor transports the transport pallet from the transfer conveyor to the board conveyor, and the transfer conveyor is displaced between a first position where the transport pallet is transferred to and from the outgoing conveyor and a second position where the transport pallet is transferred to and from the material removal section. In this configuration, the transfer conveyor transports the transport pallet on which the materials to be used are placed from the material removal section to the outgoing conveyor. Moreover, the transfer conveyor is displaced between the first position and the second position. Therefore, the transfer conveyor can be displaced to a position suitable for the transfer of the transport pallet to and from the material removal section and the outgoing conveyor, respectively, to accurately perform the transfer of the transport pallet.

The setup device may also be configured to further include a maintenance unit that performs maintenance on the used materials transported from the material removal unit by the transfer head. In this configuration, maintenance can be performed on the used materials in the setup device, and the used materials can be kept in an appropriate state.

The setup device may also be configured to further include a door for opening and closing the material storage facility. In this configuration, an operator can open the door to access the material storage facility and appropriately replenish the materials stored in the material storage facility.

The component mounting system according to the present invention comprises the above-mentioned setup device, and a component mounter that has a board conveyor for transporting boards and uses a mounting head to mount components on a board supported by the board conveyor, the pallet transport section of the setup device and the board conveyor of the component mounter are arranged in series to transfer the transport pallet, and the component mounter receives the components to be used by removing them from the transport pallet transported from the setup device. Therefore, it is possible to accurately ship the components to be used by the component mounter to the component mounter.

The transport pallet according to the present invention is used in a component mounter that has a board conveyor for transporting boards and mounts components on a board supported by the board conveyor, and includes a component holding section for holding components different from components and boards, and a base section having a mounting surface to be placed on the board conveyor. By using such a transport pallet, the transport pallet on which the components are placed in the setup device can be transported to the board conveyor of the component mounter, and the components can be shipped to the component mounter. Therefore, it is possible to accurately ship the components to be used by the component mounter to the component mounter.

According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately deliver materials to be used in a component mounting machine to the component mounting machine.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a component mounting system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the setup device. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the setup device; FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a shipping preparation executed by the setup device. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of nozzle unloading performed by the setup device. FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an example of a component mounter. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a pallet. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a pallet. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration and operation of a pallet operation unit of the component mounter. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration and operation of a pallet operation unit of the component mounter. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a pallet transport mode that can be performed on a board production line. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a pallet transport mode that can be performed on a board production line. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a pallet transport mode that can be performed on a board production line. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a pallet transport mode that can be performed on a board production line. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for creating a command for a setup device. 7 is a flowchart showing a first example of a process for determining a delivery mode executed in the flowchart of FIG. 6 . FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of retained nozzle information indicating retained nozzles of a component mounter. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of scheduled-use nozzle information indicating scheduled-use nozzles of a component mounter. 13 is a diagram showing a first example of delivery target nozzle information indicating nozzles that are targets for delivery to a component mounter. FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for creating commands for a setup device and a component mounter. 10 is a flowchart showing a second example of determining a shipping mode executed in the flowchart of FIG. 9 . 10 is a flowchart showing a first example of collection mode determination executed in the flowchart of FIG. 9 . FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second example of the delivery target nozzle information indicating the delivery target nozzles to the component mounter. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of collection target nozzle information indicating collection target nozzles from a component mounter. 10 is a flowchart showing a third example of determining a shipping mode executed in the flowchart of FIG. 9 . 10 is a flowchart showing a second example of collection mode determination executed in the flowchart of FIG. 9 . 13 is a flowchart showing a fourth example of determining a delivery mode. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a collection mode determination executed in response to the delivery mode determination of FIG. 15 . 4 is a flowchart showing a first example of line setup management for managing setup in each board production line of the component mounting system. 10 is a flowchart showing a first example of a command receiving process executed by the setup device. 11 is a flowchart showing a first example of a command receiving process executed by the component mounter. 10 is a flowchart showing a second example of a command receiving process executed by the component mounter. 11 is a flowchart showing a second example of line setup management for managing setup in each board production line of the component mounting system. 10 is a flowchart showing a second example of a command receiving process executed by the setup device. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of maintenance preparation executed by the setup device. 13 is a flowchart showing a fifth example of determining a delivery mode. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of detailed condition management of a delivery mode. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a schematic diagram of a modified example of the setup device. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a typical usage of a backup pin in a component mounting machine. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of control of removing a backup pin from the warehouse.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a component mounting system according to the present invention. The component mounting system 1 comprises a plurality of board production lines L arranged in parallel to each other. Each board production line L comprises one setup device 2 and a plurality of component mounters 3 arranged in series in the X direction parallel to the horizontal direction, and produces boards on which components are mounted by transporting boards in the X direction, loading the boards into the component mounters 3 in order, and mounting components on the boards in each component mounter 3. In this way, the X direction is the direction in which boards are transported in the board production line L. Also, Figure 1 shows a forward direction X1 in which boards are transported during board production, and a reverse direction X2 opposite to the forward direction X1.

Furthermore, the component mounting system 1 includes a server computer 100 that manages the board production line L. The server computer 100 includes a calculation unit 110, a UI (User Interface) 120, a communication unit 130, and a memory unit 140. The calculation unit 110 is a processor, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and executes calculations in the server computer 100. The UI 120 has input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard, and output devices such as a display, and an operator can input data to the server computer 100 using the input devices and check the data output from the server computer 100 using the output devices. The communication unit 130 communicates with the setup device 2 and the component mounter 3 of each board production line L. The memory unit 140 is a storage device such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores data and programs used in the server computer 100.

Figure 2A is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the setup device, and Figure 2B is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the setup device. Figures 2A and 2B show an X direction, a Y direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the X direction, and a Z direction parallel to the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 2B, the setup device 2 includes a controller 200 that controls the entire device. The controller 200 has an arithmetic unit such as a processor such as a CPU or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and a storage device such as an HDD or SSD, and communicates with the server computer 100 and the component mounter 3, and controls the operation of the setup device 2, which will be described later.

The setup device 2 includes a main housing 211 and a sub-housing 212 adjacent to the main housing 211 in the Y direction, and the controller 200 is disposed within the main housing 211. The main housing 211 and the sub-housing 212 are in communication with each other, and a pallet P (described later) can be moved between the main housing 211 and the sub-housing 212.

The setup device 2 also includes a pallet storage 22 arranged in the main housing 211. The pallet storage 22 has a plurality of storage slits 221 arranged in the Z direction, and stores a pallet P inserted into each storage slit 221. In other words, the pallet storage 22 can store a plurality of pallets P arranged in the Z direction. The pallet storage 22 has openings on both sides in the Y direction, and the pallet P can be inserted into the storage slit 221 through the openings, and the pallet P can be removed from the storage slit 221. The nozzles used in the component mounter 3 can be placed on the pallet P, as described later. On the other hand, the pallet storage 22 can store pallets P on which nozzles are placed and empty pallets P on which no nozzles are placed.

In addition, the main housing 211 is provided with a door 211A corresponding to the pallet storage cabinet 22, and the pallet storage cabinet 22 can be opened and closed by the door 211A. Therefore, by opening the door 211A, an operator can perform tasks such as inserting a pallet P into the pallet storage cabinet 22 or removing a pallet P from the pallet storage cabinet 22.

Furthermore, the setup device 2 includes a pallet removal section 23 disposed within the main housing 211. The pallet removal section 23 is disposed between the pallet storage 22 and the sub-housing 212 in the Y direction. The pallet removal section 23 has a storage conveyor 24s and a transport conveyor 24c arranged in the Y direction. Of these, the storage conveyor 24s is disposed adjacent to the pallet storage 22, and the transport conveyor 24c is disposed adjacent to the sub-housing 212. Each of the storage conveyor 24s and the transport conveyor 24c has a pair of belt conveyors 241 arranged in parallel in the Y direction. Each of the storage conveyor 24s and the transport conveyor 24c drives the pallet P in the Y direction by rotating the belt conveyor 241 while supporting the pallet P with the belt conveyor 241. The rotation of these belt conveyors 241 is controlled by the controller 200.

The pallet removal section 23 also has a pallet puller 243 arranged between a pair of belt conveyors 241 of the storage conveyor 24s. This pallet puller 243 has a hook that moves back and forth in the Y direction, and can pull out a pallet P from the pallet storage 22 by using this hook. The movement of the hook of this pallet puller 243 is controlled by the controller 200.

The pallet removal section 23 also has a support frame 231 that supports the storage conveyor 24s, the transport conveyor 24c, and the pallet puller 243, and an elevator 233 that drives the support frame 231 in the Z direction. As the elevator 233 raises and lowers the support frame 231, the storage conveyor 24s, the transport conveyor 24c, and the pallet puller 243 rise and lower. The raising and lowering by the elevator 233 is controlled by the controller 200. Note that in FIG. 2B, the storage conveyor 24s, the transport conveyor 24c, the pallet puller 243, and the support frame 2 are shown by solid and dashed lines, respectively, but this does not indicate that two sets of these are provided, but rather indicates multiple positions where these can be located.

The setup device 2 also has a transfer unit 25 arranged in the main housing 211. The transfer unit 25 has a transfer head 251 and a head drive mechanism 253 that drives the transfer head 251 in each of the X, Y, and Z directions. An air chuck 252 is attached to the lower end of the transfer head 251, and the transfer head 251 grips and releases the nozzle by opening and closing the air chuck 252. The transfer head 251 can take out and place the nozzle on the pallet P supported by the storage conveyor 24s or the transport conveyor 24c. The drive of the transfer head 251 by the head drive mechanism 253 and the gripping and releasing of the nozzle by the air chuck 252 of the transfer head 251 are controlled by the controller 200. In addition, an imaging camera 255 is attached to the transfer head 251, and the controller 200 can identify, for example, the nozzle to be removed by the transfer head 251 based on an image captured by the imaging camera 255.

The setup device 2 includes a pallet transport section 26 arranged in a sub-housing 212. The pallet transport section 26 has two output conveyors 27 arranged on both sides in the X direction, and a delivery conveyor 28 arranged between these output conveyors 27. The sub-housing 212 is provided with openings 212A facing the X direction corresponding to each output conveyor 27, and the ends of each output conveyor 27 protrude from the openings 212A to the outside of the sub-housing 212.

Each outgoing conveyor 27 has a pair of belt conveyors 271 arranged in parallel in the X direction. Each outgoing conveyor 27 drives the pallet P in the X direction by rotating the belt conveyor 271 while supporting the pallet P with the belt conveyor 271. Therefore, the outgoing conveyor 27 can transport the pallet P out of the opening 212A by the belt conveyor 271, and transport the pallet P in from the opening 212A. The rotation of the belt conveyor 271 is controlled by the controller 200.

The transfer conveyor 28 has a pair of belt conveyors 281 arranged in parallel, and drives the pallet P by rotating the belt conveyor 281 while supporting the pallet P with the belt conveyor 281. The transfer conveyor 28 can rotate between a rotation position R1 shown by a solid line in FIG. 2A and a rotation position R2 shown by a dashed line. Here, the rotation position R2 corresponds to a position obtained by rotating the rotation position R1 clockwise by 90 degrees in FIG. 2A. In other words, the pallet transport unit 26 has a rotation drive unit 261 that rotates the transfer conveyor 28, and the transfer conveyor 28 is selectively positioned at one of the rotation positions R1 and R2 by the rotation drive unit 261. The transfer conveyor 28 located at the rotation position R1 can drive the pallet P in the X direction, and can transfer the pallet P between the delivery conveyor 27 adjacent to the transfer conveyor 28 in the X direction. On the other hand, the delivery conveyor 28 located at the rotation position R2 can drive the pallet P in the Y direction, and can deliver the pallet P to and from the transport conveyor 24c (pallet removal unit 23) adjacent in the Y direction to the delivery conveyor 28. The rotation of the belt conveyor 281 and the drive of the belt conveyor 281 by the rotation drive unit 261 are controlled by the controller 200.

When the delivery conveyor 28 is located at the rotational position R1, the board B described below can be transported using the serially arranged outgoing conveyor 27, delivery conveyor 28, and outgoing conveyor 27. Therefore, the supply of the board B to the component mounter 3 can be performed via the outgoing conveyor 27, delivery conveyor 28, and outgoing conveyor 27 of the setup device 2.

The pallet removal section 23 also includes an inspection unit 291 and a cleaning unit 292 arranged in the main housing 211. The inspection unit 291 inspects the condition of the nozzle. Specifically, it can inspect the appearance of the nozzle by capturing an image with a camera, and inspect the nozzle for clogging based on the flow rate of air supplied to the nozzle. The cleaning unit 292 can clean the nozzle by, for example, ultrasonic cleaning. The transfer head 251 transports the nozzle to the inspection unit 291 and the cleaning unit 292. Specifically, the transfer head 251 transports the nozzle N between the pallet P supported by the storage conveyor 24s or the transport conveyor 24c and the inspection unit 291 or the cleaning unit 292.

Furthermore, the setup device 2 is equipped with a display 297 and a reader 298 attached to the outer wall of the main housing 211. The display 297 displays various information to the worker, such as the type and number of nozzles stored in the pallet storage 22, according to the control of the controller 200. The reader 298 is an optical scanner that reads a pallet ID attached to a pallet P for identifying the pallet P. For example, the worker opens the door 211A and causes the reader 298 to read the pallet ID of the pallet P to be stored in the pallet storage 22. The pallet ID read by the reader 298 in this manner is transmitted to the controller 200. This allows the controller 200 to confirm the pallet P stored in the pallet storage 22.

Figure 2C is a schematic diagram showing an example of the delivery preparation performed by the setup device. The operation of each step in Figure 2C is executed under the control of the controller 200. In step S11, the storage conveyor 24s is positioned at the same height as the pallet P to be removed from the pallet storage 22. This pallet P is an empty pallet P on which no nozzles are placed.

In step S12, the pallet puller 243 pulls the target empty pallet P onto the storage conveyor 24s, and the storage conveyor 24s and the transport conveyor 24c cooperate to transport the pallet P from the storage conveyor 24s to the transport conveyor 24c. In this way, the empty pallet P is supported on the transport conveyor 24c.

Then, steps S13, S14, and S15 are executed to sequentially place the nozzles to be shipped on an empty pallet P. That is, the storage conveyor 24s is positioned at the same height as the pallet P on which the nozzles to be shipped are placed (step S13). Then, the pallet puller 243 pulls out this pallet P onto the storage conveyor 24s. Thus, the pallet P on the transport conveyor 24c and the pallet P on the storage conveyor 24s are adjacent to each other in the Y direction. Then, the transfer head 251 moves the nozzles to be shipped from the pallet P on the storage conveyor 24s to the pallet P on the transport conveyor 24c. Next, the storage conveyor 24s returns the pallet P from which the nozzles have been removed to the pallet storage 22 (step S15). These steps S13, S14, and S15 are repeated until all the nozzles to be shipped are placed on the pallet P on the transport conveyor 24c. Then, when all the nozzles have been placed, steps S16 to S19 in FIG. 2D are executed.

Figure 2D is a diagram showing an example of nozzle unloading performed by the setup device. The operation of each step in Figure 2D is executed under the control of the controller 200. In step S16, the transfer conveyor 24c transfers the pallet P toward the transfer conveyor 28 while the transfer conveyor 28 is located at the rotation position R2, and in step S17, the transfer conveyor 28 receives the pallet P from the transfer conveyor 24c. In step S18, the transfer conveyor 28 rotates from the rotation position R2 to the rotation position R1, and while the transfer conveyor 28 is located at the rotation position R1, the transfer conveyor 28 transfers the pallet P toward the unloading conveyor 27. Then, the unloading conveyor 27 transports the pallet P received from the transfer conveyor 28 to the component mounter 3, thereby unloading the nozzle placed on the pallet P to the component mounter 3 (step S19).

By executing steps S16 to S19 in the reverse order, the pallet P transported from the component mounter 3 can be transported to the transport conveyor 24c. Furthermore, by positioning the transport conveyor 24c and the storage conveyor 24s at the same height as the empty storage slit 221 in the pallet storage 22, the pallet P can be transported toward the storage slit 221 by the transport conveyor 24c and the storage conveyor 24s, and the pallet P can be recovered in the storage slit 221.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing an example of a component mounter. This component mounter 3 mounts components on a board B that has been brought into a working position (the position of board B in Figure 3) from the upstream side in the X direction (board transport direction), and transports the board B on which the components have been mounted from the working position to the downstream side in the X direction. The component mounter 3 is equipped with a controller 300 that controls the entire device. The controller 300 has a processor such as a CPU or an arithmetic device such as an FPGA, and a storage device such as an HDD or SSD, and communicates with the server computer 100 and the component mounter 3, and controls the operation of the component mounter 3, which will be described later. This component mounter 3 is equipped with a board conveyor 31 that transports the board B in the X direction. This board conveyor 31 has a pair of belt conveyors 311 arranged in parallel in the X direction, and by rotating each belt conveyor 311, the board B placed on the upper surface of each belt conveyor 311 is transported in the X direction. This board conveyor 31 carries the board B into the work position and carries the board B out of the work position.

In the component mounter 3, a pair of Y-axis rails 321 extending in the Y direction, a Y-axis ball screw 322 extending in the Y direction, and a Y-axis motor 323 for rotating the Y-axis ball screw 322 are provided, and an X-axis rail 324 extending in the X direction is supported by the pair of Y-axis rails 321 so as to be movable in the Y direction and is fixed to the nut of the Y-axis ball screw 322. An X-axis ball screw 325 extending in the X direction and an X-axis motor 326 for rotating the X-axis ball screw 325 are attached to the X-axis rail 324, and the head unit 33 is fixed to the nut of the X-axis ball screw 325 while being supported by the X-axis rail 324 so as to be movable in the X direction. Therefore, the Y-axis motor 323 can rotate the Y-axis ball screw 322 to move the head unit 33 in the Y direction, or the X-axis motor 326 can rotate the X-axis ball screw 325 to move the head unit 33 in the X direction.

On each side of the board conveyor 31 in the Y direction, two component supply units 34 are lined up in the X direction, and a feeder mounting cart 35 is removably attached to each component supply unit 34. A plurality of tape feeders 36 lined up in the X direction are removably attached to this feeder mounting cart 35. Each tape feeder 36 is equipped with a component supply tape, which stores small pieces of components such as integrated circuits, transistors, and capacitors at predetermined intervals. A component supply position 361 is provided at the tip of each tape feeder 36, and each tape feeder 36 supplies the components in the component supply tape to the component supply position 361 by intermittently sending out the component supply tape toward the board conveyor 31 side.

The head unit 33 has multiple mounting heads 331 arranged in the X direction. Each mounting head 331 has an elongated shape extending in the Z direction (vertical direction), and can adsorb and hold components using a nozzle N attached to its lower end in a detachable manner. In other words, the mounting head 331 moves above the tape feeder 36 and adsorbs components supplied to the component supply position 361 using the nozzle N. The mounting head 331 then moves above the board B at the work position and releases the nozzle N from adsorption of the components, thereby mounting the components on the board B. In this way, the mounting head 331 performs component mounting by removing the components supplied to the component supply position 361 by the tape feeder 36 from the component supply tape and mounting them on the board B.

Furthermore, an imaging camera 333 that captures images below is attached to the head unit 33. This imaging camera 333 captures images of, for example, fiducial marks attached to the substrate B and pallet IDs attached to pallets P (described later), and transmits these images to the controller 200.

The component mounter 3 also includes a nozzle stocker 37 disposed between the board conveyor 31 and the component supply unit 34. The nozzle stocker 37 has a plurality of nozzle storage holes 371, and the nozzle N is stored in the nozzle storage hole 371 by inserting the lower end portion of the nozzle N into the nozzle storage hole 371. Furthermore, the nozzle stocker 37 has a shutter that opens and closes the plurality of nozzle storage holes 371 collectively. The nozzle stocker 37 closes the shutter for the nozzle storage hole 371 to prohibit the nozzle N from being removed from the nozzle storage hole 371 and the nozzle N from being inserted into the nozzle storage hole 371. On the other hand, the nozzle stocker 37 opens the shutter for the nozzle storage hole 371 to permit the nozzle N to be removed from the nozzle storage hole 371 and the nozzle N to be inserted into the nozzle storage hole 371.

The lower end of the mounting head 331, which does not engage with the nozzle N, is pushed into the nozzle N held in the nozzle storage hole 371 of the nozzle stocker 37, so that the nozzle N engages with the mounting head 331. This engagement between the mounting head 331 and the nozzle N is maintained by the elastic force of, for example, a leaf spring. Furthermore, with the shutter of the nozzle stocker 37 open, the mounting head 331 rises, so that the nozzle N engaged with the mounting head 331 is taken out from the nozzle storage hole 371 of the nozzle stocker 37 (nozzle installation). On the other hand, with the shutter of the nozzle stocker 37 open, the nozzle N engaged with the lower end of the mounting head 331 descends into the nozzle storage hole 371 of the nozzle stocker 37, so that the nozzle N is inserted into the nozzle storage hole 371. Next, the shutter of the nozzle stocker 37 is closed, and then the mounting head 331 is raised, so that the lower end of the mounting head 331 is released from the nozzle N held in the nozzle storage hole 371, and the nozzle N is removed from the mounting head 331 (nozzle removal). By performing such a combination of nozzle attachment and nozzle removal, the nozzle N attached to the mounting head 331 can be replaced.

In addition, a pallet P that has been removed from the setup device 2 and is destined for the component mounter 3 is carried into the component mounter 3. In response to this, the component mounter 3 is equipped with a pallet operation unit 38 that performs operations on the pallet P. Next, the pallet P and the pallet operation unit 38 will be specifically described with reference to Figures 4A to 4D.

4A and 4B are partial cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the pallet. The pallet P has a base plate 41 having a rectangular shape in a plan view from the Z direction. The base plate 41 has a storage plate portion 41A in which a plurality of nozzle storage holes 411 are provided, and a conveyor mounting portion 41B provided on both sides of the storage plate portion 41A in the Y direction. The nozzle storage hole 411 penetrates the base plate 41 in the Z direction and holds the nozzle N inserted from above. The storage plate portion 41A has a thickness greater than that of the conveyor mounting portion 41B and protrudes downward from the conveyor mounting portion 41B. In addition, the bottom surface of each conveyor mounting portion 41B is a horizontal mounting surface 41C, and the pallet P is transported by the belt conveyor 241, 271, 281 or 311 with the mounting surface 41C placed on the upper surface of the above-mentioned belt conveyor 241, 271, 281 or 311.

Furthermore, the pallet P has a shutter 43 attached to the upper surface of the base plate 41. The shutter 43 has a plurality of engagement portions 431 corresponding to the plurality of nozzle storage holes 411. The shutter 43 is movable in the X direction relative to the base plate 41, and is selectively positioned at one of an engagement position (the position of the shutter 43 in FIG. 4A) in which the engagement portion 431 engages from above with the nozzle N stored in the nozzle storage hole 411, and a separation position in which the engagement portion 431 is separated from the nozzle N stored in the nozzle storage hole 411. When the shutter 43 is located at the engagement position, the engagement portion 431 prohibits the nozzle N from being removed from the nozzle storage hole 411 (i.e., the shutter 43 is closed). On the other hand, when the shutter 43 is located at the separation position, the nozzle N is permitted to be removed from the nozzle storage hole 411 (i.e., the shutter 43 is opened).

4C and 4D are diagrams showing the configuration and operation of the pallet operation unit of the component mounter. The pallet operation unit 38 has a stopper 381, an opening/closing cylinder 382 attached to the stopper 381, and a lifting cylinder 383 that supports the stopper 381 and the opening/closing cylinder 382. The lifting cylinder 383 raises and lowers the stopper 381 and the opening/closing cylinder 382 together, moving them between a position where they overlap with the passage path of the pallet P (the position in Figs. 4C and 4D) and a position where they retreat downward from the passage path of the pallet P. The passage path of the pallet P is the path through which the pallet P passes as it is transported in the X direction by the board conveyor 31.

In this configuration, the stopper 381 and the opening/closing cylinder 382 are retracted from the passage of the pallet P, so that the pallet P can be transported in the X direction by the board conveyor 31. On the other hand, by positioning the stopper 381 in the passage of the pallet P, the stopper 381 can be brought into contact with the pallet P from the downstream side in the X direction, so that the pallet P can be stopped. The pallet operation unit 38 also has a single-axis robot 384 that drives the lifting cylinder 383 in the X direction. This single-axis robot 384 can be configured, for example, by a linear motor or a ball screw. When the single-axis robot 384 drives the lifting cylinder 383 in the X direction, the stopper 381 and the opening/closing cylinder 382 supported by the lifting cylinder 383 move in the X direction. Therefore, the position at which the pallet P is stopped by the stopper 381 can be changed by the single-axis robot 384.

When the stopper 381 is in contact with the pallet P, the shutter 43 can be operated by the opening/closing cylinder 382. That is, by driving the shutter 43 in the X direction by the opening/closing cylinder 382, the shutter 43 can be positioned at either the engaged position (the position of the shutter 43 in FIG. 4C) or the separated position (the position of the shutter 43 in FIG. 4D). Note that the opening/closing cylinder 382 can drive the shutter 43 while gripping it by, for example, magnetic force. With such a pallet P, the nozzle N can be attached to and detached from the mounting head 331, similar to the nozzle stocker 37 described above.

That is, the lower end of the mounting head 331 with which the nozzle N is not engaged is pushed into the nozzle N held in the nozzle storage hole 411 of the pallet P, so that the nozzle N engages with the mounting head 331. Furthermore, when the shutter 43 of the pallet P is open (i.e., when it is positioned at the separated position), the mounting head 331 rises, so that the nozzle N engaged with the mounting head 331 is taken out from the nozzle storage hole 411 of the pallet P (nozzle attachment). On the other hand, when the shutter 43 of the pallet P is open, the nozzle N engaged with the lower end of the mounting head 331 descends into the nozzle storage hole 411 of the pallet P, so that the nozzle N is inserted into the nozzle storage hole 411. Next, after closing the nozzle storage hole 411 of the pallet P (i.e., after being positioned at the engagement position), the mounting head 331 is raised, so that the lower end of the mounting head 331 is released from the nozzle N held in the nozzle storage hole 411, and the nozzle N is removed from the mounting head 331 (nozzle removal). In such a component mounter 3 , the movement of the nozzle N between the nozzle stocker 37 and the pallet P can be executed by cooperation between the mounting head 331 and the pallet operation unit 38 .

In this configuration, as shown in Figure 1, the outgoing conveyor 27 of the setup device 2 and the board conveyor 31 of each component mounter 3 belonging to the same board production line L are arranged in series to form a single transport line. Therefore, the pallet P carried out by the setup device 2 from the outgoing conveyor 27 can be carried into multiple component mounters 3 in sequence. Specifically, the transport modes shown in the following Figures 5A to 5D can be executed. Note that the transport modes shown below are a part of all the transport modes that can be executed on the board production line L, and the pallet P can be transported on the board production line L in other transport modes.

Figures 5A to 5D are schematic diagrams showing an example of a pallet transport mode that can be executed on a board production line. In Figures 5A to 5D, the adjacent outgoing conveyor 27 and board conveyor 31 are simply represented as a pair of belt conveyors, and two adjacent board conveyors 31 are simply represented as a pair of belt conveyors.

In the transport mode of FIG. 5A, one pallet P is transported to each of the multiple component mounters 3. That is, among the multiple component mounters 3 arranged in series in the X direction, the pallet P is transported in order from the downstream side in the X direction. Specifically, in steps S21 and S22, the pallet P is transported from the setup device 2 to the component mounter 3 that is the most downstream among the multiple component mounters 3. Next, in steps S23 and S24, the pallet P is transported from the setup device 2 to the component mounter 3 that is the most downstream in the X direction among the component mounters 3 to which the pallet P has not yet been introduced. By repeating the transport of the pallet P in the same manner, the pallet P is transported to each of the multiple component mounters 3, as shown in step S25.

In the transport mode of Figure 5B, the number of pallets P is fewer than the number of component mounters 3 to which the pallets P are transported, and one pallet P is transported to two component mounters 3. Specifically, in step S31, the pallet P is transported from the setup device 2 to the odd-numbered component mounter 3 counting from the upstream side in the X direction. In the next step S32, each pallet P is transported from the odd-numbered component mounter 3 downstream in the X direction, and is transported to the even-numbered component mounter 3.

5C, the number of pallets P is less than the number of component mounters 3 to which the pallets P are to be transported, and one pallet P is transported in sequence to multiple component mounters 3. Specifically, the pallet P that is transported downstream in the X direction from the setup device 2 is transported in sequence from the component mounter 3 upstream in the X direction among the multiple component mounters 3 (steps S41 to S45).

In the transport mode of Fig. 5D, the number of pallets P is less than the number of component mounters 3 to which the pallets P are to be transported, and one pallet P is transported to multiple component mounters 3 in sequence. Specifically, the pallet P is transported to the component mounter 3 that is furthest downstream in the X direction among the multiple component mounters 3 (steps S51, S52). Next, the pallet P is transported in sequence from the component mounter 3 downstream in the X direction (steps S52 to S55).

In the above, a case where the pallet P is transported from the setup device 2 to the component mounter 3 is described. However, by transporting the pallet P from each component mounter 3 to the setup device 2, the pallet P transported to the component mounter 3 can also be retrieved to the setup device 2.

In each board production line L of the component mounting system 1, the setup device 2 can place the nozzle N used for component mounting on the board B on the pallet P and send it to the component mounter 3. The component mounter 3 can receive the nozzle N sent from the setup device 2 by removing it from the pallet P with the mounting head 331 (receiving operation). In this receiving operation, the nozzle N placed on the pallet P can be moved to the nozzle stocker 37, or the nozzle N placed on the pallet P can be attached to the mounting head 331. Therefore, in this embodiment, the nozzle N used for component mounting is set up for the component mounter 3 by sending the nozzle N from the setup device 2 to the component mounter 3. In particular, this setup is managed by sending a command from the server computer 100 to the setup device 2.

Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for creating commands for a setup device, and Figure 7 is a flowchart showing a first example of determining the shipping mode executed in the flowchart of Figure 6. The flowcharts of Figures 6 and 7 are executed by the server computer 100 individually for each of the multiple board production lines L.

In step S61 of the command creation in Fig. 6, the delivery mode determination (Fig. 7) is executed. As described later, the delivery mode determination can be executed in a number of modes, but here, the basic mode in which nozzles N that are insufficient for executing component mounting are delivered to the component mounter 3 will be described.

In step S101 of FIG. 7, the calculation unit 110 of the server computer 100 assigns the pallet P used to ship the nozzle N to multiple component mounters 3. Here, an example is described in which the number of pallets P that can be used to ship the nozzle N is equal to or greater than the number of component mounters 3 to which the nozzle N is to be shipped, and one pallet P is assigned to one component mounter 3. Therefore, the transport of the pallet P to the component mounter 3 can be performed using the transport mode of FIG. 5A described above. However, if the number of pallets P is small, one pallet P can be assigned to two or more component mounters 3, and the pallet P can be transported using the transport modes of FIG. 5B to FIG. 5C, etc. described above.

In step S102 in FIG. 7, the calculation unit 110 checks the nozzles N held by the component mounter 3 and the nozzles N that the component mounter 3 plans to use in subsequent component mounting. Specifically, the held nozzle information shown in FIG. 8A and the planned-to-use nozzle information shown in FIG. 8B are created by the calculation unit 110 and stored in the memory unit 140.

Figure 8A is a diagram showing an example of retained nozzle information indicating the retained nozzles of a component mounter. In the figure, multiple component mounters 3 are distinguished by different reference numerals 3(1) to 3(4), and similar notations will be used appropriately below. Here, the retained nozzle indicates the nozzle N currently stored in the nozzle stocker 37 of the component mounter 3 and the nozzle N attached to the mounting head 331 of the component mounter 3. This retained nozzle information indicates the type Nk of nozzle N, the nozzle ID of nozzle N, the suction rate of nozzle N, and the number of shots of nozzle N for each nozzle N retained by the component mounter 3. The nozzle ID is an identifier attached to the nozzle N to identify the nozzle N. In other words, the calculation unit 110 recognizes the nozzle ID of the nozzle N retained by the component mounter 3 by managing the nozzle ID of the nozzle N that has been delivered to and collected from the component mounter 3. The suction rate is the success rate of component suction using the nozzle N, and the number of shots is the number of times that components have been mounted on the board B using the nozzle N. That is, the calculation unit 110 collects the pickup rate and the shot count from the component mounter 3 via the communication unit 130. The pickup rate and the shot count are measured in the component mounter 3 and are reset, for example, every time the nozzle N is cleaned.

Figure 8B is a diagram showing an example of planned-to-use nozzle information indicating the nozzles planned to be used by the component mounter. This planned-to-use nozzle information indicates the type Nk of each nozzle N held by the component mounter 3. Specifically, a production plan indicating the type and number of component-mounted boards (boards B with components mounted thereon) to be produced on the board production line L is stored in the memory unit 140, and the calculation unit 110 obtains the planned-to-use nozzle information by determining from the production plan the nozzle N to be used by each component mounter 3 in the next production of component-mounted boards (board production).

In step S103, the calculation unit 110 checks for each component mounter 3 which nozzle N is insufficient for the execution of board production by taking the difference between the nozzle N indicated by the nozzle information to be used and the nozzle N indicated by the retained nozzle information. In other words, the nozzle N indicated in the nozzle information to be used but not indicated in the retained nozzle information becomes the missing nozzle N.

In step S104, the calculation unit 110 determines the missing nozzles N confirmed for the component mounter 3 as the nozzles to be sent to the component mounter 3, and creates information on the nozzles to be sent (FIG. 8C). FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a first example of information on the nozzles to be sent to the component mounter. The information on the nozzles to be sent indicates, for each component mounter 3, the pallet ID of the pallet P to be transported to the component mounter 3, and the type Nk and nozzle ID of the nozzle N to be placed on the pallet P and sent to the component mounter 3. In this way, the sending mode of the nozzle N is determined.

In step S62 of FIG. 6, an out-of-stock preparation command for causing the setup device 2 to execute out-of-stock preparation for preparing the pallet P on which the nozzle N is placed, in accordance with the nozzle information to be out-stocked obtained in step 104, is created by the calculation unit 110 and stored in the memory unit 140.

Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for creating commands for a setup device and a component mounter, Figure 10 is a flowchart showing a second example of determining the shipping mode executed in the flowchart of Figure 9, and Figure 11 is a flowchart showing a first example of determining the collection mode executed in the flowchart of Figure 9. The flowcharts of Figures 9, 10 and 11 are executed individually for each of the multiple board production lines L by the server computer 100.

In step S71 of command creation in Figure 9, the shipping mode is determined (Figure 10). Here, we will explain the shipping mode determination in the selective replacement mode in which nozzles N that are insufficient for performing component mounting and nozzles N to be replaced for maintenance are shipped to the component mounter 3.

In Figure 10, steps S101 to S103 are executed for each mounter 3 as in the above example. That is, a pallet P is assigned to multiple mounters 3 (step S101). Then, based on the results of checking the retained nozzles and the nozzles to be used in step S102, the missing nozzles N are identified.

In the next step S105, the calculation unit 110 determines, based on the production plan, the time (operation time) that each mounter 3 can use for the receiving operation of the nozzle N removed from the setup device 2. Specifically, the operation time to be allocated to the receiving operation is determined within a range that allows the next board production to start at the scheduled time set in the production plan.

In step S106, the calculation unit 110 determines the number of nozzles N that the component mounter 3 can receive within the operating time determined in step S105 (acceptable number), and calculates the number obtained by subtracting the shortage confirmed in step S103 from the acceptable number (maintenance-available number). The calculation unit 110 then selects the maintainable number of nozzles N as the nozzles to be maintained from among the nozzles N held by the component mounter 3 based on the priority criterion (pickup rate or number of shots). If the pick-up rate is used as the priority criterion, the nozzles N with the lowest pick-up rate are given priority in selection as the nozzles to be maintained. Alternatively, if the number of shots is used as the priority criterion, the nozzles N with the highest number of shots are given priority in selection as the nozzles to be maintained.

In step S107, the calculation unit 110 determines the missing nozzle N confirmed for the component mounter 3 and the nozzle N selected as the maintenance target nozzle (in other words, the nozzle N of the same type as the maintenance nozzle to be replaced with the maintenance target nozzle) as the outgoing target nozzle to be sent to the component mounter 3, and creates the outgoing target nozzle information (FIG. 12A). FIG. 12A is a diagram showing a second example of the outgoing target nozzle information indicating the outgoing target nozzle to the component mounter. In the outgoing target nozzle information in FIG. 12A, a status is added compared to that in FIG. 8C. In this status, "addition" indicates the nozzle N to be sent from the setup device 2 to the component mounter 3 to make up for the missing nozzle N in the component mounter 3, and "replacement" indicates the nozzle N to be sent from the setup device 2 to the component mounter 3 to replace the nozzle N to be retrieved from the component mounter 3 to the setup device 2 as the maintenance target nozzle. However, this "status" does not necessarily need to be included in the outgoing target nozzle information. In this way, the outgoing mode of the nozzle N is determined.

9, the recovery mode determination (selection exchange mode) of FIG. 11 is executed. In step S201 of FIG. 11, the calculation unit 110 confirms the nozzle N selected as the maintenance target nozzle in step S106 for each component mounter 3. Then, in step S202, the calculation unit 110 determines the nozzle N selected as the maintenance target nozzle as the recovery target nozzle to be recovered from the component mounter 3 to the setup device 2, and creates recovery target nozzle information (FIG. 12B). FIG. 12B is a diagram showing an example of recovery target nozzle information indicating the recovery target nozzle from the component mounter. The recovery target nozzle information indicates, for each component mounter 3, the pallet ID of the pallet P used to recover the recovery target nozzle N, and the type Nk and nozzle ID of the nozzle N to be placed on the pallet P and recovered from the component mounter 3. Note that the pallet P used to recover the nozzle N is the pallet P transported to the component mounter 3 for the delivery of the nozzle N to the component mounter 3 that holds the recovery target nozzle N. In this way, the recovery mode of the nozzle N is determined.

9, in accordance with the nozzle information to be removed obtained in step S202, an outgoing preparation command for causing the setup device 2 to perform outgoing preparation for preparing the pallet P on which the nozzle N is placed is created by the calculation unit 110 and stored in the memory unit 140. Furthermore, in step S73, in accordance with the nozzle information to be removed obtained in step S202, a recovery command for recovering the nozzle N from the component mounter 3 to the setup device 2 is created by the calculation unit 110 and stored in the memory unit 140.

Figure 13 is a flowchart showing a third example of determining the shipping mode executed in the flowchart of Figure 9, and Figure 14 is a flowchart showing a second example of determining the collection mode executed in the flowchart of Figure 9. The flowcharts of Figures 13 and 14 are executed by the server computer 100 individually for each of the multiple board production lines L.

In step S71 of the command creation in Figure 9, the decision of the delivery mode (Figure 13) is executed. Here, we will explain the decision of the delivery mode in the full replacement mode in which nozzles N that are insufficient for performing component mounting and nozzles N that are to be replaced for maintenance of all nozzles N held by the component mounting machine 3 are shipped to the component mounting machine 3.

In Figure 13, steps S101 to S103 are executed for each mounter 3 as in the above example. That is, a pallet P is assigned to multiple mounters 3 (step S101). Then, based on the results of checking the owned nozzles and the nozzles to be used in step S102, the missing nozzles N are confirmed.

In the next step S108, the calculation unit 110 selects all nozzles N held by the component mounter 3 as nozzles to be maintained. Then, in step S109, the calculation unit 110 determines the missing nozzles N identified for the component mounter 3 and the nozzles N selected as the nozzles to be maintained (in other words, the nozzles N of the same type as the maintenance nozzle to be replaced with the maintenance nozzle) as nozzles to be sent to the component mounter 3, and creates information on the nozzles to be sent to the component mounter 3 in the same manner as described above.

In step S72 in Figure 9, the recovery mode determination (full replacement mode) in Figure 14 is executed. In step S201 in Figure 14, the calculation unit 110 checks the nozzle N selected as the maintenance target nozzle in step S108 for each component mounter 3. Then, in step S202, the calculation unit 110 determines the nozzle N selected as the maintenance target nozzle as the recovery target nozzle to be recovered from the component mounter 3 to the setup device 2, and creates recovery target nozzle information in the same manner as described above. In this way, the recovery mode of nozzle N is determined.

9, in accordance with the nozzle information to be removed obtained in step S202, an outgoing preparation command for causing the setup device 2 to perform outgoing preparation for preparing the pallet P on which the nozzle N is placed is created by the calculation unit 110 and stored in the memory unit 140. Furthermore, in step S73, in accordance with the nozzle information to be removed obtained in step S202, a recovery command for recovering the nozzle N from the component mounter 3 to the setup device 2 is created by the calculation unit 110 and stored in the memory unit 140.

As described above, the shipping mode can be executed in each of the basic mode, the selective exchange mode, and the full exchange mode. In this case, it may be configured to execute only one of these modes, or to execute a mode selected by the operator operating the UI 120. The latter can be configured, for example, as follows.

Figure 15A is a flow chart showing a fourth example of determining the delivery mode, and Figure 15B is a flow chart showing an example of determining the collection mode executed in response to the delivery mode determination of Figure 15. In the delivery mode determination (mixed mode) of Figure 15A, in step S121, it is determined whether the mode selected by the operator is the basic mode. Then, if the basic mode is selected (YES in step S121), the basic mode is executed (step S122), and if the basic mode is not selected (NO in step S121), the process proceeds to step S123.

In step S123, it is determined whether the mode selected by the operator is the selective exchange mode. If the selective exchange mode is selected (YES in step S123), the selective exchange mode is executed (step S124). If the selective exchange mode is not selected (NO in step S123), the process proceeds to step S125, where the full exchange mode is executed.

In the collection mode determination (mixed mode) of Fig. 15B, in step S221, it is determined whether the mode selected by the operator is the basic mode. If the basic mode is selected (YES in step S221), the flow chart of Fig. 15B is terminated, and if the basic mode is not selected (NO in step S221), the flow proceeds to step S223.

In step S223, it is determined whether the mode selected by the operator is the selective exchange mode. If the selective exchange mode is selected (YES in step S223), the selective exchange mode is executed (step S224). If the selective exchange mode is not selected (NO in step S223), the process proceeds to step S225, where the full exchange mode is executed.

In the manner described above, a delivery preparation command is created for the setup device 2, and a recovery command is created for the component mounter 3. Next, we will explain the flow of sending these commands to the setup device 2 or the component mounter 3 and executing the operation according to the command.

Figure 16 is a flowchart showing a first example of line setup management for managing setup on each board production line of a component mounting system. The flowchart in Figure 16 is executed under the control of the calculation unit 110 of the server computer 100. In step S301, the calculation unit 110 predicts the completion time of ongoing board production for each of the multiple board production lines L.

In step S302, the calculation unit 110 creates commands (shipment preparation command/recovery command) for the board production scheduled to be executed next after the ongoing board production for each of the multiple board production lines L. This command can be created in the basic mode, the selective exchange mode, or the full exchange mode described above. Therefore, when creating commands in the basic mode, a shipment preparation command is created, and when creating commands in the selective exchange mode or the full exchange mode, a shipment preparation command and a recovery command are created. Furthermore, in step S302, the time to send each command is determined based on the expected completion time of board production. For example, the calculation unit 110 calculates the preparation time required for shipment preparation in the setup device 2 from the contents of the shipment preparation, and sets the command transmission time to a time earlier than the expected completion time of board production by the time obtained by adding a margin time to this preparation time.

Then, when the current time becomes the command transmission time (step S303), the calculation unit 110 transmits the command (shipment preparation command/recovery command) created in step S302 to the target device (setup device 2/component mounter 3) (step S304). Then, steps S303 and S304 are repeated until transmission of all commands created in step S302 is completed ("YES" in step S305).

Figure 17 is a flow chart showing a first example of a command reception process executed by the setup device. When the controller 200 of the setup device 2 receives an outgoing preparation command from the server computer 100 ("YES" in step S401), it places the nozzle N indicated by the outgoing preparation command on the pallet P indicated by the outgoing preparation command (step S402). Then, when all the nozzles N indicated by the outgoing preparation command have been placed on the pallet P and outgoing preparation is completed ("YES" in step S403), the process proceeds to step S404. The specific operations executed by the setup device 2 for outgoing preparation are as shown in steps S11 to S15 in Figure 2C.

In step S404, the controller 200 determines whether the pallet P on which the nozzles N are placed in preparation for release can be transported from the setup device 2 to the component mounter 3 of the board production line L to which the setup device 2 belongs, based on the operating status received from the component mounter 3. Specifically, the controller 200 checks whether the component mounter 3 to which the pallet P is to be transported can receive the pallet P based on the operating status (component mounting in progress, component mounting completed, board removal completed, etc.). If the pallet P can be received, it is determined that the pallet P can be transported to the component mounter 3 ("YES" in step S404), and the pallet P is transported from the setup device 2 to the component mounter 3. Specifically, as described above, the pallet P on which the nozzles N are placed in preparation for release is transported from the outgoing conveyor 27 of the setup device 2 to the board conveyor 31 of the component mounter 3 and is transported into the component mounter 3. The specific operations that the setup device 2 executes to release the nozzle N are as shown in steps S16 to S19 in FIG. 2D.

Figure 18A is a flowchart showing a first example of a command reception process executed by the component mounter. When the pallet P is carried into the component mounter 3 (step S501: "YES"), the controller 300 of the component mounter 3 stops the pallet P at a predetermined pallet stop position (step S502). In step S503, the controller 300 determines whether a recovery command has been received from the server computer 100. If a recovery command has not been received (step S503: "NO"), the controller 300 executes reception of the nozzle N placed on the pallet P using the mounting head 331 (receiving operation). On the other hand, if a recovery command has been received (step S503: "YES"), the controller 300 executes a moving operation in which the mounting head 331 moves the nozzles to be recovered, which are indicated by the recovery command among the nozzles N held by the component mounter 3, from the nozzle stocker 37 to the pallet P, and a receiving operation. The moving operation is executed in parallel with the receiving operation. Specifically, when the mounting head 331 moves the nozzle N from the pallet P to the nozzle stocker 37 for the receiving operation, it takes out the nozzle to be collected from the nozzle stocker 37 and moves it to the pallet P. In other words, the receiving operation is performed on the outward path from the pallet P to the nozzle stocker 37, and the moving operation is performed on the return path from the nozzle stocker 37 to the pallet P.

Thus, when the receiving operation of step S504 or the receiving operation and moving operation of step S505 are completed, the pallet P is transported from the component mounter 3 (step S506). At this time, for example, if the transport mode of Figure 5A is being executed, the destination of the pallet P from the component mounter 3 is the setup device 2, and if the transport mode of Figures 5B to 5D is being executed, the destination of the pallet P from the component mounter 3 is the setup device 2 or another component mounter 3.

Figure 18B is a flow chart showing a second example of command reception processing executed by the component mounter. Here, the differences from the first example in Figure 18A are mainly explained, and the common parts are given the corresponding reference numerals and explanations are omitted as appropriate. As a premise of this second example, the server computer 100 transmits pallet information regarding the pallet P that is the target of the shipment preparation command to the component mounter 3 in advance at the same time as transmitting the shipment preparation command to the setup device 2. This pallet information indicates the pallet stop position at which the pallet P that is the target of the application preparation command is stopped in the component mounter 3, and the arrangement (in other words, the position) of the nozzle N on the pallet P, in correspondence with the pallet ID.

When the pallet P is carried into the component mounter 3 ("YES" in step S501), the controller 300 temporarily stops the pallet P (step S507) and reads the pallet ID based on the image of the pallet ID of the pallet P captured by the imaging camera 333. Then, the controller 300 adjusts the position of the stopper 381 by the single-axis robot 384 according to the pallet stop position indicated by the pallet ID, and then starts transporting the pallet P by the board conveyor 31. As a result, the pallet P abuts against the stopper 381 whose position has been adjusted, and stops at the pallet stop position indicated by the pallet ID (step S503). In addition, in the receiving operation of steps S504 and S505, the controller 300 receives the nozzle N while recognizing the type of nozzle N based on the arrangement of the nozzle N on the pallet P indicated by the pallet ID.

Figure 19 is a flowchart showing a second example of line setup management for managing setup on each board production line of a component mounting system. The flowchart in Figure 19 is executed under the control of the calculation unit 110 of the server computer 100. Here, the differences with the first example in Figure 16 will be mainly explained, and the common parts will be given the corresponding symbols and explanations will be omitted as appropriate.

In the second example of FIG. 19, when the calculation unit 110 creates a command for each board production line L, it checks whether an interrupt request from an operator has been input to the UI 120. This interrupt request requests that a specific nozzle N be shipped from the setup device 2 to the component mounter 3 for an emergency reason, such as damage to the nozzle N, regardless of the shipping preparation command created in step S302. If an interrupt request is made when the shipping preparation command created in step S302 has not yet been sent ("YES" in step S306), the calculation unit 110 sends a command to the setup device 2 to ship the nozzle N indicated by the interrupt request, and the setup device 2 ships the target nozzle N in accordance with the command (step S307).

Then, in step S308, the calculation unit 110 checks whether the nozzle N that was sent out in response to the interrupt request was the nozzle N that was scheduled to be sent out in response to the outgoing preparation command created in step S302. Specifically, the confirmation in step S308 can be performed based on whether the nozzle ID of the former nozzle N matches the nozzle ID of the latter nozzle N. Then, if the nozzle N that was sent out in response to the interrupt request was the nozzle N that was scheduled to be sent out in response to the outgoing preparation command (if "YES" in step S308), the calculation unit 110 determines that it is necessary to create the outgoing preparation command again and returns to step S302, whereas if not (if "NO" in step S308), the calculation unit 110 proceeds to step S303.

Figure 20 is a flow chart showing a second example of the command reception process executed by the setup device. Here, the differences from the first example in Figure 17 will be mainly explained, and the common parts will be given the corresponding symbols and will not be explained as appropriate. In the second example in Figure 20, when the controller 200 receives a delivery preparation command ("YES" in step S401), it checks whether there is a nozzle to be collected from the component mounter 3 that is the delivery destination of the nozzle N that is the target of delivery preparation according to the delivery preparation command (step S406). Specifically, the presence or absence of a nozzle to be collected can be confirmed based on whether there is a nozzle to be maintained among the nozzles N that are the target of delivery preparation.

If there are no nozzles to be collected (NO in step S406), proceed to step S402. On the other hand, if there are nozzles to be collected (YES in step S406), before starting preparations for shipment (steps S402-403), the setup device 2 transports an empty pallet P for collection to the component mounter 3 in which the nozzles to be collected are located (step S407). Then, the component mounter 3 to which the pallet P for collection has been transported places the nozzles to be collected on the pallet P and transports the pallet P to the setup device 2 prior to shipment of the nozzles N from the setup device 2.

Incidentally, as described above, when the calculation unit 110 transmits a collection command to the component mounter 3, the nozzle to be collected is collected from the component mounter 3 to the setup device 2. Therefore, the setup device 2 may be configured to execute the flowchart shown in FIG. 21. Here, FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of maintenance preparation executed by the setup device. In step S601, the controller 200 of the setup device 2 checks whether the pallet P on which the nozzle to be collected is placed has been collected from the component mounter 3 to the setup device 2. Then, when the collection is confirmed ("YES" in step S601), the controller 200 displays a screen on the display 297 instructing the operator to perform maintenance (step S602).

This allows the operator to input an instruction to perform maintenance to the UI 120. Furthermore, when an instruction to perform maintenance is input to the UI 120, the transfer head 251 of the setup device 2 moves the nozzle to be maintained from the pallet P collected from the component mounter 3 to the cleaning unit 292, and performs maintenance on that nozzle.

Figure 22 is a flowchart showing a fifth example of determining the delivery mode. Here, the differences from the above-mentioned determination of the delivery mode will be mainly explained, and the common parts will be given the corresponding reference numerals and explanations will be omitted as appropriate. In Figure 22, steps S101 to S103 are executed for each mounter 3 as in the above-mentioned example. That is, a pallet P is assigned to multiple mounters 3 (step S101). Then, based on the results of checking the owned nozzles and the nozzles to be used in step S102, the missing nozzles N are confirmed.

In the next step S111, the calculation unit 110 checks whether there are two component mounters 3 that can reuse the same nozzle N among the multiple component mounters 3 that belong to the same board production line L as the setup device 2 that is preparing for shipment. Specifically, it checks whether there is a nozzle N that satisfies the conversion condition that "a nozzle N that is a reserved nozzle but not a nozzle scheduled for use (a reusable nozzle) in one component mounter 3 among the multiple component mounters 3 is a nozzle scheduled for use N in another component mounter 3 but is not a reserved nozzle N."

If there is a nozzle N that satisfies the diversion conditions (YES in step S111), it is decided that the nozzle N to be used in the other component mounter 3 will be moved from one component mounter 3 to the other component mounter 3 rather than being shipped from the setup device 2 (step S112). The movement of the nozzle N from one component mounter 3 to the other component mounter 3 is performed using a pallet P. The pallet P used for shipping to the one component mounter 3 can be used as this pallet P. Then, in step S112, when deciding the nozzles to be shipped to the other component mounter 3, the nozzles N that are the missing nozzles N confirmed for the other component mounter 3, excluding the nozzles N that satisfy the diversion conditions, are decided as the nozzles to be shipped.

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned determination of the delivery mode, the detailed conditions of the delivery mode, such as the position of the nozzle N placed on the pallet P and the stopping position of the pallet P (pallet stopping position) at the component mounter 3 to which the nozzle is delivered, can be managed as follows: Figure 23 is a flowchart showing an example of managing the detailed conditions of the delivery mode. The flowchart in Figure 23 is executed by the calculation unit 110 of the server computer 100 for the nozzle N determined as the nozzle to be delivered in the above-mentioned determination of the delivery mode, and the detailed conditions of the delivery mode are changed to determine the details of the optimal delivery mode.

In step S701, the calculation unit 110 checks the nozzle to be shipped. In step S702, the stop position variable Vs, which is a variable indicating the position at which the pallet P used to ship the nozzle to be shipped will stop at the destination component mounter 3, is reset, and in step S703, the stop position variable Vs is incremented by 1. Here, different stop position variables Vs indicate different stop positions of the pallet P. Furthermore, the nozzle arrangement variable Va, which is a variable indicating the variation in the position at which each nozzle to be shipped is placed relative to the pallet P, is reset, and in step S705, the nozzle arrangement variable Va is incremented by 1. Here, different nozzle arrangement variables Va indicate different arrangements of the nozzle N relative to the pallet P, in other words, different combinations of the arrangement patterns of the nozzle N.

In step S706, the calculation unit 110 predicts the time (operation time) required for the component mounter 3 to receive the nozzle N from the pallet P when the pallet P, on which the nozzle N is placed in the arrangement indicated by the nozzle arrangement variable Va, is stopped at the position indicated by the stop position variable Vs at the destination component mounter 3. The calculations of steps S705 to S706 are repeated until the nozzle arrangement variable Va reaches a predetermined value Vax. Furthermore, the calculations of steps S703 to S707 are repeated until the stop position variable Vs reaches a predetermined value Vsx.

In this way, the operation time of the receiving operation is predicted for each of a plurality of combinations in which the arrangement of the nozzle N relative to the pallet P or the stopping position of the pallet P differs. Then, in step S709, the calculation unit 110 identifies the optimal combination of the arrangement of the nozzle N and the stopping position of the pallet P that minimizes the operation time from among these combinations, and decides to arrange the nozzle N in the arrangement indicated by this optimal combination and to stop the pallet P at the stopping position. The contents of this decision are transmitted from the server computer 100 to the setup device 2 and the component mounter 3, and the setup device 2 prepares for removal by arranging the nozzle N on the pallet P in the arrangement indicated by the optimal combination, and the component mounter 3 stops the pallet P at the position indicated by the optimal combination.

The setup device 2 of the embodiment described above includes a pallet transport unit 26 that transfers a pallet P (transport pallet) on which a nozzle N (used component) taken out from a pallet storage 22 (component storage) is placed to the board conveyor 31 of the component mounter 3. Therefore, it is possible to accurately deliver the nozzle N used by the component mounter 3 to the component mounter 3.

A transfer head 251 is also provided which places the nozzle N taken out of the pallet storage 22 on the pallet P, and the pallet transport unit 26 transfers the pallet P on which the nozzle N is placed by the transfer head 251 to the board conveyor 31. In other words, the nozzle N taken out of the pallet storage 22 is placed on the pallet P by the transfer head 251, and this pallet P is transferred to the board conveyor 31 by the pallet transport unit 26. In this way, it is possible to accurately ship the nozzle N to be used in the component mounter 3 to the component mounter 3.

In addition, a pallet removal section 23 (component removal section) is provided which removes and supports the nozzle N from the pallet storage 22, and the transfer head 251 places the nozzle N supported by the pallet removal section 23 on the pallet P. In this configuration, the nozzle N removed from the pallet storage 22 by the pallet removal section 23 is supported by the pallet removal section 23. Then, the nozzle N supported by the pallet removal section 23 is placed on the pallet P by the transfer head 251, and this pallet P is transferred to the board conveyor 31 of the component mounter 3 by the pallet transport section 26. In this way, the nozzle N used by the component mounter 3 can be accurately shipped to the component mounter 3.

The pallet storage 22 stores a plurality of pallets P (storage pallets) on each of which a nozzle N is placed. The pallet removal unit 23 supports the pallet P (storage pallet) removed from the pallet storage 22 and also supports the pallet P (transport pallet) received from the pallet transport unit 26, and the transfer head 251 moves the nozzle N from one pallet P (storage pallet) supported by the pallet removal unit 23 to the other pallet P (transport pallet). In other words, one pallet P (storage pallet) on which the nozzle N is placed is stored in the pallet storage 22, and the other pallet P (storage pallet) removed from the pallet storage 22 by the pallet removal unit 23 is supported by the pallet removal unit 23. The nozzle N placed on one pallet P (storage pallet) supported by the pallet removal unit 23 is placed on the other pallet P (transport pallet) by the transfer head 251, and this other pallet P (transport pallet) is transferred to the board conveyor 31 of the component mounter 3 by the pallet transport unit 26. In this way, the nozzle N used in the component mounter 3 can be accurately delivered to the component mounter 3.

The pallet removal section 23 also has a storage conveyor 24s that supports the pallet P (storage pallet) removed from the pallet storage 22, a transport conveyor 24c that supports the pallet P (transport pallet) received from the pallet transport section 26, and an elevator 233 that moves these conveyors 24s, 24c (support conveyors) in the Z direction. In this configuration, the transfer head 251 only needs to move the nozzle N from one pallet P supported by the conveyors 24s, 24c to the other pallet P, respectively, and the operation of the transfer head 251 can be simplified. Furthermore, by having such conveyors 24s, 24c and an elevator 233, the following configuration can be achieved.

In other words, in the pallet storage 22, multiple pallets P (storage pallets) are arranged in the Z direction. In response to this, the pallet removal unit 23 removes one pallet P from the pallet storage 22 to the storage conveyor 24s in a state in which the height of one of the multiple pallets P and the conveyors 24s, 24c are made equal by the elevator 233. In this configuration, one target pallet P can be accurately removed from the multiple pallets P stored in the pallet storage 22 to the storage conveyor 24s.

In addition, the pallet removal section 23 receives the pallet P from the pallet transport section 26 to the transport conveyor 24c while the height of the pallet transport section 26 and the conveyors 24s and 24c are aligned by the elevator 233. With this configuration, the pallet P can be accurately received from the pallet transport section 26 to the transport conveyor 24c.

The pallet transport section 26 also has a transfer conveyor 28 arranged adjacent to the pallet removal section 23, and an outgoing conveyor 27 arranged in series with the board conveyor 31 of the component mounter 3 and arranged between the transfer conveyor 28 and the board conveyor 31. The outgoing conveyor 27 transports the pallet P from the transfer conveyor 28 to the board conveyor 31. Meanwhile, the transfer conveyor 28 is displaced between a rotational position R1 (first position) where the outgoing conveyor 27 transfers the pallet P, and a rotational position R2 (second position) where the pallet P is transferred between the pallet removal section 23. In this configuration, the transfer conveyor 28 transports the pallet P on which the nozzle N is placed from the pallet removal section 23 to the outgoing conveyor 27. Moreover, the transfer conveyor 28 is displaced between the rotational position R1 and the rotational position R2. Therefore, the transfer conveyor 28 can be displaced to a position suitable for the transfer of the pallet P to the pallet removal section 23 and the transfer of the transported pallet to the outgoing conveyor 27, thereby enabling the transfer of the pallet P to be carried out accurately.

In addition, an inspection unit 291 and a cleaning unit 292 (maintenance section) are provided to perform maintenance on the nozzles N transported by the transfer head 251 from the pallet removal section 23. In this configuration, maintenance can be performed on the nozzles N in the setup device 2, and the nozzles N can be kept in an appropriate state.

A door 211A is also provided for opening and closing the pallet storage 22. In this configuration, an operator can open the door 211A to access the pallet storage 22 and appropriately perform operations such as replenishing the nozzles N stored in the pallet storage 22.

The pallet P (transport pallet) also includes a storage plate portion 41A (member holding portion) that holds the nozzle N, and a conveyor mounting portion 41B (base portion) having a mounting surface 41C that is placed on the board conveyor 31. By using such a pallet P, the pallet P on which the nozzle N is placed in the setup device 2 can be transported to the board conveyor 31 of the component mounter 3, and the nozzle N can be shipped to the component mounter 3. Therefore, it is possible to accurately ship the nozzle N used in the component mounter 3 to the component mounter 3.

In this manner, in the above embodiment, the component mounting system 1 corresponds to an example of the "component mounting system" of the present invention, the setup device 2 corresponds to an example of the "setup device" of the present invention, the door 211A corresponds to an example of the "door" of the present invention, the pallet storage 22 corresponds to an example of the "material storage" of the present invention, the pallet removal section 23 corresponds to an example of the "material removal section" of the present invention, the elevator 233 corresponds to an example of the "elevator" of the present invention, the storage conveyor 24s and the transport conveyor 24c correspond to an example of the "support conveyor" of the present invention, the transfer head 251 corresponds to an example of the "transfer head" of the present invention, the pallet transport section 26 corresponds to an example of the "pallet transport section" of the present invention, the outgoing conveyor 27 corresponds to an example of the "outgoing conveyor" of the present invention, and the delivery conveyor 252 corresponds to an example of the "transfer head" of the present invention. The bear 28 corresponds to an example of a "transfer conveyor" of the present invention, the inspection unit 291 and the cleaning unit 292 correspond to an example of a "maintenance section" of the present invention, the component mounter 3 corresponds to an example of a "component mounter" of the present invention, the board conveyor 31 corresponds to an example of a "board conveyor" of the present invention, the storage plate section 41A corresponds to an example of a "component holding section" of the present invention, the conveyor mounting section 41B corresponds to an example of a "base section" of the present invention, the mounting surface 41C corresponds to an example of a "mounting surface" of the present invention, the board B corresponds to an example of a "board" of the present invention, the pallet P corresponds to an example of a "transport pallet" or "storage pallet" of the present invention, the rotational position R1 corresponds to an example of a "first position" of the present invention, and the rotational position R2 corresponds to an example of a "second position" of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the above without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the configuration of the setup device 2 can be modified as appropriate. Specifically, the setup device may be modified as shown in FIG. 24.

Figure 24 is a plan view showing a schematic diagram of a modified example of the setup device. The difference between the setup device 2 in Figure 24 and that in Figure 2A is mainly the configuration related to the displacement of the transfer conveyor 28 of the pallet transport section 26. Therefore, this difference will be mainly described, and the common parts will be given the corresponding symbols and will not be described as appropriate. In the example of Figure 24A, the orientation of the main housing 211 and the configuration housed therein is different by 90 degrees compared to the example of Figure 2A. In addition, the displacement direction of the transfer conveyor 28 of the pallet transport section 26 is the Y direction, not the rotation direction. In other words, the transfer conveyor 28 is displaced between position R1, where it is aligned in series with the outgoing conveyor 27, and position R2, where it is aligned in series with the transport conveyor 24c. The transfer conveyor 28 transfers the pallet P between the outgoing conveyor 27 at position R1, and between the transport conveyor 24c at position R2.

The arrangement of the setup device 2 in the board production line L may also be changed as appropriate. In other words, the setup device 2 does not necessarily need to be located at the end of the board production line L. In other words, since the setup device 2 is equipped with an output conveyor 27 on both sides of the transfer conveyor 28 in the Y direction, the setup device 2 can transport the pallet P to both sides in the Y direction. Therefore, the setup device 2 can be arranged between two component mounters 3 arranged in the Y direction. Conversely, when the setup device 2 is arranged at the end of the board production line L, one of the two output conveyors 27 of the setup device 2 is not necessarily required.

In addition, materials other than the nozzle N, such as backup pins, can be delivered to the component mounter 3. Figure 25 is a schematic diagram showing how backup pins are used in a component mounter, and Figure 26 is a flowchart showing an example of backup pin delivery control. As shown in Figure 25, the component mounter 3 has a horizontally supported backup plate 39, and backup pins BP are arranged on the upper surface of the backup plate 39. The board B on the board conveyor 31 is supported from below by the backup pins BP.

On the other hand, in the backup pin delivery preparation of FIG. 26, the calculation unit 110 checks whether or not there is a shortage of backup pins BP for each mounter 3 (step S801). If there is a mounter 3 that is short of backup pins BP (if "YES" in step S802), the calculation unit 110 determines the mounter 3 as the backup pin BP delivery target and assigns a pallet P to it (step S803). Furthermore, the calculation unit 110 determines the number of backup pins BP to be delivered to the mounter 3 (step S804), and issues a pin delivery command to the setup device 2 to place this number of pallets P on the pallet P and deliver them to the target mounter 3 (step S805).

1: Component mounting system 2: Setup device 211A: Door 22: Pallet storage (material storage)
23: Pallet removal section (part removal section)
233...Elevator 24s...Storage conveyor (support conveyor)
24c...Transport conveyor (support conveyor)
251: Transfer head 26: Pallet transport section 27: Outgoing conveyor 28: Delivery conveyor 291: Inspection unit (maintenance section)
292...Cleaning unit (maintenance section)
3: Component mounter 31: Board conveyor 41A: Storage plate section (member holding section)
41B: Conveyor placement section (base section)
41C: Placing surface B: Substrate P: Pallet (transport pallet, storage pallet)
R1: Rotation position (first position)
R2: Rotation position (second position)

Claims (11)

a pallet transport unit that is arranged in series with the board conveyor of a component mounter that has a board conveyor that transports boards and that mounts components on a board supported by the board conveyor, and that transfers transport pallets between the board conveyor and the pallet transport unit;
a material storage facility for storing materials used by the component mounter that are different from the components and the boards;
The pallet transport unit is a setup device that transfers the transport pallet, on which the used materials taken out from the material storage facility are placed, to the board conveyor. a transfer head that places the used materials taken out from the material storage on the transport pallet,
The setup device according to claim 1 , wherein the pallet transport section transfers the transport pallet on which the used members are placed, to the board conveyor by the transfer head. a material removal unit that removes and supports the used material from the material storage,
3. The setup device according to claim 2, wherein the transfer head places the used member supported by the member removal section onto the transport pallet. The material storage facility stores a plurality of storage pallets on each of which the materials to be used are placed,
the material removal unit supports the storage pallet removed from the material storage facility and supports the transport pallet received from the pallet transport unit;
The setup device according to claim 3 , wherein the transfer head moves the used parts from the storage pallet supported by the part removal section to the transport pallet. The setup device according to claim 4, wherein the material removal section has a support conveyor that supports the storage pallet removed from the material storage and the transport pallet received from the pallet transport section, and an elevator that moves the support conveyor in the vertical direction. In the material storage facility, the plurality of storage pallets are arranged vertically,
The setup device according to claim 5, wherein the material removal section removes one of the plurality of storage pallets from the material storage facility to the support conveyor while matching the height of the one storage pallet with the height of the support conveyor using the elevator. The setup device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the part removal section receives the transport pallet from the pallet transport section to the support conveyor while the heights of the pallet transport section and the support conveyor are aligned by the elevator. the pallet transport section includes a delivery conveyor disposed adjacent to the member removal section, and a shipping conveyor arranged in series with the board conveyor and between the delivery conveyor and the board conveyor,
The outgoing conveyor conveys the transport pallet from the delivery conveyor to the board conveyor,
The setup device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the delivery conveyor is displaced between a first position where the delivery conveyor and the transport pallet are delivered, and a second position where the delivery conveyor and the material removal section are delivered. The setup device according to any one of claims 3 to 8, further comprising a maintenance unit that performs maintenance on the used materials transported by the transfer head from the material removal unit. The setup device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a door for opening and closing the material storage. A setup device according to any one of claims 1 to 10;
a component mounter having a board conveyor that transports boards and that mounts components on the board supported by the board conveyor using a mounting head,
the pallet transport unit of the setup device and the board conveyor of the component mounter are arranged in series to transfer the transport pallet;
The component mounting system receives the used components by removing the used components from the transport pallet transported from the setup device.

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