JP7536440B2 - Component placement machine - Google Patents

Description

This specification relates to a component mounting machine equipped with electrical control equipment.

The technology of mass-producing board products by performing substrate-to-board operations on boards on which circuit patterns are formed is becoming widespread. A typical example of a substrate-to-board operation machine that performs substrate-to-board operations is a component mounting machine that performs component mounting operations. In general, a component mounting machine includes a substrate transport device, a component supply device, a component transfer device, and a CPU device (control device). The CPU device controls the operation of the substrate transport device, component supply device, and component transfer device, etc. The CPU device is connected to lower-level control units of other devices by wiring, and various control signals are transmitted. Examples of technology related to this type of control CPU device are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

In the wire protection structure of Patent Document 1, multiple wires are wired together using an insulating sheet-like material, making it easy to replace the wire protection structure itself. In addition, the control device of Patent Document 2 has multiple modules connected to a backboard with connectors, and is characterized by being equipped with floating connector means that connects adjacent modules together while absorbing misalignment between them. This makes it possible to make electrical connections via routes other than the backboard, and is said to increase the number of signals required for high functionality.

JP 2010-130808 A JP 2007-335366 A

However, the lower level control units of the board transport device, component supply device, and component transfer device of the component mounting machine are distributed within the machine, and therefore the wiring routes connected to the CPU device are different. For this reason, the technique of wiring the electric wires together as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the technique of connecting using a backboard as disclosed in Patent Document 2 cannot be applied to the CPU device. Meanwhile, the CPU device has multiple electrical connectors, each of which is responsible for connecting to multiple lower level control units. And when replacing the CPU device during maintenance or when an abnormality occurs, it becomes necessary to connect and disconnect all the wiring connected to the multiple electrical connectors. For this reason, the work of connecting and disconnecting the wiring is time-consuming, and the operating efficiency of the component mounting machine decreases accordingly.

The component mounting machine is also equipped with a removable motor control device that controls the operation of multiple motors. The motor control device has multiple electrical connectors that are responsible for connecting to the multiple motors, respectively. For this reason, when replacing the motor control device, the same problem occurs as with the CPU device, in that the wiring requires time-consuming work to connect and disconnect. Hereinafter, the CPU device, motor control device, and similar control devices will be collectively referred to as electrical control equipment.

The problem to be solved in this specification is to provide a component mounting machine that reduces the labor required for connecting and disconnecting wiring when replacing electrical control components.

This specification discloses a component mounting machine that includes a main body having an attachment section and a main body side connector, an electrical control device having a plurality of electrical connectors, a storage box that stores the electrical control device and is attachable to the attachment section, an intermediate connector that is provided on the outer surface of the storage box and connected to the plurality of electrical connectors and is engageable with the main body side connector, and a guide section that guides the storage box toward the attachment section and guides the intermediate connector to engage with the main body side connector as the storage box moves.

According to the component mounting machine disclosed in this specification, multiple electrical connectors of the control electrical equipment are pre-connected to relay connectors provided on the outer surface of a storage box that stores the electrical equipment. The guide section guides the storage box toward the mounting section of the main body, and guides the relay connectors to fit into the main body connectors as the storage box moves. Therefore, when the storage box is mounted to the mounting section, the connectors are automatically connected to each other. In other words, there is essentially no need to connect the wiring. Furthermore, there is essentially no need to disconnect the wiring when the storage box is removed from the mounting section. This reduces the effort required for connecting and disconnecting the wiring.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration in which two component mounting machines according to the first embodiment are arranged on a common base. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a housing box housing a CPU device; 11 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of attaching the storage box to the attachment portion of the main body, with the storage box being seen through; FIG. FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining a second embodiment further including an automatic changing unit. FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the automatic exchange unit. FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the operation of the automatic exchange unit.

1. Overall Configuration of the Component Mounting Machine 1 of the First Embodiment The overall configuration of the component mounting machine 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in the figure, two component mounting machines 1 are arranged side by side on a common base 10. Each of the two component mounting machines 1 is slidably movable forward on the common base 10. As a result, the component mounting machine 1 moves back and forth from a rear operating position to a front maintenance position. The X-axis direction in the figure corresponds to the left-right direction in which the board K is carried in and out. The Y-axis direction corresponds to the front-rear direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction in the horizontal plane. The component mounting machine 1 is configured by assembling a board transport device 3, a component supply device 4, a component transfer device 5, and a CPU device 6 (see FIGS. 2 to 4) to a main body 2.

The board transport device 3 is disposed near the center of the component mounting machine 1 in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction). The board transport device 3 is a so-called double conveyor type device in which a first transport device 31 and a second transport device 32 are arranged side by side. The first transport device 31 is composed of a pair of guide rails arranged parallel to each other in the X-axis direction on the main body 2, and a pair of conveyor belts that carry the board and are guided by the guide rails to rotate. The first transport device 31 has a clamp device that pushes up from below the board that has been transported to the mounting position to position it. The second transport device 32 is configured in the same way as the first transport device 31.

The component supply device 4 is provided at the front of the component mounting machine 1. The component supply device 4 is configured with a plurality of feeder devices 41 arranged in a row on a pallet so as to be detachable. The feeder device 41 has a feeder body 42 and a supply reel 43 rotatably and detachably mounted at the front of the feeder body 42. A tape (not shown) holding a plurality of components in a row is wound around the supply reel 43. This tape is pulled out to supply the components.

The component transfer device 5 is a so-called XY robot type device that can move in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. The component transfer device 5 is arranged from the rear of the component mounting machine 1 to above the component supply device 4 at the front. The component transfer device 5 is composed of a head drive mechanism 51 and a mounting head 52. The head drive mechanism 51 drives the mounting head 52 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. One or more suction nozzles (not shown) are provided below the mounting head 52. The suction nozzles pick up components from the component supply device 4 and mount them at the mounting coordinate position on the board.

The component camera 55 is provided facing upward on the upper surface of the main body 2 between the board transport device 3 and the component supply device 4. The component camera 55 captures and detects the state of the component picked up by the lower end of the suction nozzle while the mounting head 52 moves from the component supply device 4 to above the board. The nozzle changer 56 is provided at a position adjacent to the component camera 55 on the main body 2. The nozzle changer 56 holds the suction nozzles in a plurality of nozzle holding holes (10 in FIG. 1) so that they can be replaced. The mounting head 52 can move above the nozzle changer 56 to replace the suction nozzles.

The CPU device 6 is a form of control electrical equipment, and controls the execution of the mounting work of mounting components on the board. The CPU device 6 is disposed inside the main body 2. The CPU device 6 is connected by wiring to the lower control units of the board transport device 3, the component supply device 4, the component transfer device 5, and the component camera 55. The CPU device 6 is further connected by wiring to the operation panel 22. The operation panel 22 is disposed in front of the cover 21 above the main body 2. The operation panel 22 is a terminal device that allows the operator to access the CPU device 6, and has operation switches and a display. Note that the cover 21, operation panel 22, and the side panel on the right side of the component mounting machine 1 on the front side of FIG. 1 are not shown.

The CPU device 6 controls the board transport device 3, the component supply device 4, the component transfer device 5, and the component camera 55 to proceed with the mounting work. The CPU device 6 performs control based on job data set for each type of board product to be produced. The job data specifies the type, quantity, mounting order, and mounting coordinate position of the components to be mounted on the board, as well as the suction nozzle to be used, etc.

2. Configuration around the CPU device 6 Next, the configuration around the CPU device 6 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 2 to 4. As shown in the figures, the CPU device 6 is generally rectangular parallelepiped in shape. The CPU device 6 has a number of electrical connectors 61 on its front surface 60. In the prior art, when removing the CPU device 6, it was necessary to disconnect all of the wiring connected to the electrical connectors 61. Also, when installing the CPU device 6, it was necessary to connect all of the wiring.

As shown by diagonal lines in FIG. 2 for convenience, the CPU device 6 actually has more than 20 electrical connectors 61. These electrical connectors 61 correspond to various wirings with different wiring routes or different forms of transmitted power or information. Because there are many electrical connectors 61, the work of connecting and disconnecting the wiring takes several tens of minutes, which reduces the operating efficiency of the component mounting machine 1. In addition, there is a risk of connecting the wrong wiring to multiple electrical connectors 61 of the same shape.

Here, the CPU device 6 is configured by installing specific software on commercially available general-purpose hardware. For this reason, consolidating the multiple electrical connectors 61 into a relatively small number of electrical connectors or changing the shape of the electrical connectors 61 is practically difficult, since it requires modifying the hardware. In this first embodiment, as a measure to reduce the effort required for attaching and detaching wiring, a storage box 62 and a relay connector 64 are provided around the CPU device 6, an attachment section 24 and a main body side connector 28 are provided on the main body 2, and a guide section 7 is also provided.

As shown in the perspective views of Figures 3 and 4, the storage box 62 is a box-shaped member that is slightly larger than the CPU device 6, and stores the CPU device 6. The storage box 62 may omit the top plate when dustproof performance is not required. The storage box 62 has a top plate when dustproof performance is required. If the presence of the top plate creates a risk of excessive temperature rise in the CPU device 6, a heat dissipation section that suppresses the temperature rise is provided in the storage box 62. Examples of heat dissipation sections include a ventilation fan for heat dissipation and ventilation holes 63 (only a portion of which is shown in Figure 3).

The relay connector 64 is provided on the lower part of the outer surface on the back side of the storage box 62. In the wiring work carried out in advance, the relay connector 64 is connected to the multiple electrical connectors 61 by wiring 65. In Figures 3 and 4, only one wiring 65 is shown, and the other wiring is omitted.

It is preferable that at least some of the multiple electrical connectors 61 are aggregated and connected to a relatively small number of relay connectors 64. In particular, in this first embodiment, all of the electrical connectors 61 are aggregated and connected to a single relay connector 64. Contacts that have a common purpose in the multiple electrical connectors 61 are aggregated and connected to a single contact of the relay connector 64. For example, each power contact and each ground contact of the multiple electrical connectors 61 are aggregated and connected to a single power contact and ground contact of the relay connector 64. This prevents the number of contacts in the relay connector 64 from increasing.

The mounting section 24 for mounting the storage box 62 is provided on the right side of the main body 2, approximately halfway in the front-to-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting section 24 is formed by partitioning a rectangular parallelepiped space that opens into the right side surface 25 of the main body 2. A main body side connector 28 is provided at the bottom at the back of the mounting section 24. The main body side connector 28 is disposed in a position that allows it to face the relay connector 64, and has a structure that allows it to be fitted into the relay connector 64. Each contact of the main body side connector 28 is connected to the lower control unit and operation panel 22 described above.

One of the relay connector 64 and the main body connector 28 is a floating connector that fits together while allowing for relative positional error between the two. A floating connector allows for positional changes of the contacts relative to the connector body, and various known structures can be applied. This allows the relay connector 64 and the main body connector 28 to fit together even if they are slightly misaligned from a directly opposed positional relationship.

The guide section 7 guides the storage box 62 toward the mounting section 24, and guides the relay connector 64 so that it fits into the main body connector 28 as the storage box 62 moves. The guide section 7 is a slide guide section that moves the storage box 62 in parallel toward the mounting section 24. The guide section 7 is composed of a combination of two rails 71 and four sliders 72.

The two rails 71 are provided parallel to each other and spaced apart on the bottom surface 27 of the main body 2 that defines the mounting section 24. The rails 71 are formed, for example, in a rod shape with a roller bearing on the upper surface, and extend from the entrance of the mounting section 24 toward the back. Meanwhile, the four sliders 72 are provided on the bottom surface of the storage box 62, two on each side. Each slider 72 has, for example, a recess on the lower side into which the rod-shaped rails 71 engage. Each slider 72 slides with low resistance while engaging with the rails 71.

The spacing pitch of the left and right sliders 72 matches the spacing pitch of the two rails 71. As a result, when the two front and rear sliders 72 on the right side slide along the right rail 71, the two front and rear sliders 72 on the left side simultaneously slide along the left rail 71. The sliders 72 slide without easily deviating from the rails 71, and provide a guiding effect that moves the storage box 62 in a straight line.

3. Replacement of CPU Unit 6 Next, the replacement of the container 62 housing the CPU unit 6 will be described. When mounting the container 62 to the mounting section 24, the operator first slides the component mounting machine 1 from the operating position to the maintenance position on the common base 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the right side surface 25 of the main body 2 of the component mounting machine 1 and the mounting section 24 are opened. Next, the operator moves the container 62 so that it faces the entrance of the mounting section 24. Next, the operator adjusts the position and attitude of the container 62 so that the left and right sliders 72 engage with the rails 71, respectively.

Finally, as shown by arrow M1 in Figure 4, the operator pushes the storage box 62 to enter the final mounting position at the back of the mounting section 24. At this time, the guiding action of the rail 71 and slider 72 allows the storage box 62 to move forward steadily. Furthermore, due to the low-resistance sliding action of the rail 71 and slider 72, the storage box 62 moves forward even when pushed with only a small force.

When the storage box 62 advances to the mounting position, the entire storage box 62 is stored inside the main body 2. As the storage box 62 advances, the relay connector 64 automatically engages with the main body connector 28. In other words, the wiring connection work is essentially eliminated. Furthermore, there is no risk of mistaking the wiring for multiple electrical connectors 61 of the same shape. The main body 2 has a locking mechanism (not shown) that restricts the movement of the storage box 62 at the mounting position. When the storage box 62 advances to the mounting position, the locking mechanism automatically performs its restricting function. The component mounting machine 1 is then returned to the operating position.

When removing the storage box 62 from the mounting portion 24, the operator simply releases the locking mechanism and pulls the storage box 62 towards himself. At this time, the low-resistance sliding and guiding action of the rail 71 and slider 72 allows the storage box 62 to be pulled out stably with only a slight force. The relay connector 64 also automatically disconnects from the main body connector 28. In other words, the task of disconnecting the wiring is essentially eliminated.

According to the component mounting machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the storage box 62 is attached to the mounting section 24, the relay connector 64 is automatically connected to the main body side connector 28. In other words, the work of connecting the wiring is essentially eliminated. Furthermore, when the storage box 62 is removed from the mounting section 24, the relay connector 64 is automatically disconnected from the main body side connector 28, and the work of disconnecting the wiring is essentially eliminated. Therefore, the effort of connecting and disconnecting the wiring is reduced. In addition, the reduced effort allows the component mounting machine 1 to start operating earlier, improving operating efficiency.

4. Configuration of the component mounting machine 1 of the second embodiment Next, the configuration of the component mounting machine 1 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5, focusing mainly on the differences from the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, four common bases 10 are arranged side by side, in other words, eight component mounting machines 1 are arranged side by side to form a component mounting line. The eight component mounting machines 1 are communicatively connected to a host computer 9 by a communication line 91, and send and receive information signals to and from the host computer 9.

In the second embodiment, the configuration around the CPU device 6 of each component mounting machine 1 is the same as in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a common automatic exchange unit 8 is additionally provided for the eight component mounting machines 1. The automatic exchange unit 8 is a mechanism that automatically performs the operation of attaching the storage box 62 that houses the CPU device 6 to the mounting unit 24 and the operation of removing it. The automatic exchange unit 8 is composed of an automatic slide device, a transport path 81, a transport car 82, and a storage shelf 83 (not shown). The automatic slide device automatically performs reciprocating sliding movement of the component mounting machine 1 from the operating position to the maintenance position.

The transport path 81 is laid on the floor, crossing the front of the eight component mounting machines 1. The transport vehicle 82 travels on the transport path 81 loaded with the storage box 62. The transport vehicle 82 further has an operation mechanism (not shown) for operating the storage box 62. The operation mechanism performs an installation operation in which the storage box 62 loaded on the transport vehicle 82 is pushed toward the mounting section 24, and a removal operation in which the storage box 62 is pulled out from the mounting section 24 and loaded onto the transport vehicle 82. The transport vehicle 82 travels according to an exchange command CD sent from the upper computer 9 using wireless communication 92 (see FIG. 6), and performs installation and removal operations according to the exchange command CD.

The storage shelf 83 is placed near the right end of the transport path 81. The storage shelf 83 has multiple storage positions 84 on which the storage boxes 62 are placed. In FIG. 5, a spare storage box 62 is placed in the storage position 84 on the right side of the storage shelf 83, and the storage position 84 on the left side is empty. The operation mechanism of the transport vehicle 82 performs a storage operation to place the storage box 62 loaded on the transport vehicle 82 in the storage position 84, and a loading operation to load the storage box 62 in the storage position 84 onto the transport vehicle 82. The transport vehicle 82 does not normally carry a storage box 62 and is stopped in a standby position (shown in FIG. 5) set near the storage shelf 83.

5. Replacement operation of CPU device 6 in the second embodiment Next, the replacement operation of CPU device 6 by automatic replacement unit 8 will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. CPU device 6 has a self-monitoring function, and may detect an abnormality that cannot be automatically restored and requires replacement. In this case, CPU device 6 turns on abnormality lamp 29 provided on cover 21 and transmits abnormality information AB to host computer 9. In Fig. 5, CPU device 6 of the third component mounting machine 1 from the right detects an abnormality. Note that a method and means other than abnormality lamp 29 may be used to notify an operator of an abnormality. For example, host computer 9 may transmit abnormality information AB to a mobile terminal held by an operator. Replacement of CPU device 6 may be performed other than when an abnormality occurs, for example, during maintenance such as regular inspection.

When the abnormality lamp 29 is lit, the automatic exchange unit 8 recognizes that the CPU device 6 needs to be replaced and performs the following replacement operation. First, the automatic slide device of the automatic exchange unit 8 slides the component mounting machine 1 to the maintenance position (see Figures 6 and 7). When the component mounting machine 1 has moved to the maintenance position, its mounting section 24 is located directly above the transport path 81. Next, the automatic slide device notifies the host computer 9 that the slide movement has ended. This notification causes the host computer 9 to recognize that preparations are complete to replace the CPU device 6.

Next, the host computer 9 uses wireless communication 92 to transmit a replacement command CD to the transport vehicle 82. The replacement command CD targets the third component mounting machine 1 from the right and means that the operation of removing the CPU device 6 in which the abnormality was detected together with the storage box 62 (the abnormal storage box 62) and the operation of installing a spare storage box 62 are to be performed in that order. The replacement command CD is a command that collectively performs a series of operations described below, or is made up of multiple commands that sequentially proceed with each operation.

The transport vehicle 82 that receives the replacement command CD travels a distance equivalent to the third component mounting machine 1 from the right, and faces the mounting section 24 of that component mounting machine 1, as shown in FIG. 6. Next, when the operation mechanism performs a removal operation, the abnormal storage box 62 is pulled out from the mounting section 24 and loaded onto the transport vehicle 82. Next, the transport vehicle 82 travels to the storage shelf 83. Next, the operation mechanism performs a storage operation for the abnormal storage box 62 and a loading operation for the spare storage box 62. As a result, the transport vehicle 82 is loaded with the spare storage box 62, as shown in FIG. 7.

Then, the transport vehicle 82 travels again as shown by arrow M2 in FIG. 7, facing the mounting section 24 of the component mounting machine 1. Next, when the operating mechanism performs the mounting operation, the loaded spare storage box 62 is pushed out and attached to the mounting section 24. Next, the transport vehicle 82 uses wireless communication 92 to send a report FR to the host computer 9 indicating that the replacement of the CPU device 6 (storage box 62) has been completed. The host computer 9 notifies the automatic slide device that the replacement has been completed. The transport vehicle 82 also returns to the standby position.

The automatic slide device that receives the notification returns the component mounting machine 1 from the maintenance position to the operating position. This returns the component mounting machine 1 to a state in which it can be operated again. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the labor involved in connecting and disconnecting the wiring connected to the CPU device 6 is reduced. In addition, the replacement operation of the CPU device 6 itself is automated, achieving significant labor savings. Note that an operator may be involved in part of the series of replacement operations. For example, instead of the automatic slide device, an operator who visually confirms that the abnormality lamp 29 is lit may slide the component mounting machine 1 to the maintenance position and notify the upper computer 9.

6. Applications and Modifications of the Embodiments The electrical equipment for control is not limited to the CPU device 6, and may be a motor control device having a plurality of electrical connectors to control the operation of a plurality of motors. That is, the housing box 62, the relay connector 64, the mounting portion 24, the main body side connector 28, and the guide portion 7 may be provided for the motor control device. Furthermore, the guide portion 7 may be configured, other than the combination of the rail 71 and the slider 72, by a combination of a rail and a running wheel, or a combination of a rack gear (straight gear) and a pinion gear (small diameter gear), for example.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the transport vehicle 82 may be a multi-purpose vehicle that performs not only the replacement operation of the CPU device 6 (storage box 62), but also other operations related to the component mounting machine 1, such as the replacement operation of the feeder device 41. The first and second embodiments can be applied and modified in various other ways.

1: Component placement machine 10: Common base 2: Main body 22: Operation panel 24: Mounting section 28: Main body connector 29: Error lamp 3: Board transport device 4: Component supply device 5: Component transfer device 6: CPU device 61: Electric connector 62: Storage box 63: Ventilation hole 64: Relay connector 7: Guide section 71: Rail 72: Slider 8: Automatic exchange section 81: Transport path 82: Transport vehicle 83: Storage shelf 84: Storage position 9: Host computer 91: Communication line 92: Wireless communication

Claims (9)

a main body having an attachment portion and a main body side connector;
an electrical control device having a plurality of electrical connectors;
a housing box that houses the electrical equipment and is attachable to the mounting portion;
a relay connector provided on an outer surface of the container box, connected to the electrical connectors, and engageable with the main body connector;
a guide portion that guides the container toward the attachment portion and guides the relay connector to fit into the main body connector as the container moves,
one of the relay connector and the main body side connector is a floating connector that fits together while allowing for a relative position error therebetween,
The main body has the mounting portion opening on its side, and when the main body slides from an operating position on the base to a maintenance position, the mounting portion is opened to enable replacement of the storage box.
Parts placement machine. The component mounting machine according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic slide device that automatically performs reciprocating sliding movement of the main body from the operating position to the maintenance position. The component mounting machine according to claim 1 or 2, in which the storage box is automatically attached to and detached from the mounting section by a transport vehicle. 4. The component mounting machine according to claim 1 , wherein the guide portion is a slide guide portion that moves the container box in a parallel manner toward the mounting portion. 5. The component mounting machine according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of electrical connectors are collectively connected to a relatively small number of the relay connectors. 6. The component mounting machine according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of electrical connectors are collectively connected to one relay connector. 7. The component mounting machine according to claim 1 , wherein the container has at least one of a ventilation fan and a ventilation hole for dissipating heat. 8. The component mounting machine according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical equipment is at least one of a CPU device that controls execution of a mounting operation for mounting components on a board, and a motor control device that controls operation of a plurality of motors. The component mounting machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an automatic exchange unit that automatically installs and removes the storage box.

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