KR100287822B1 - How to set automatic path generation options for component inserters - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer system equipped with a program for preparing a preliminary work plan for preparing a work of inserting a plurality of circuit parts on a printed circuit board. Selecting an automatic route generation mode from a menu displayed on the display device, setting an equipment selection window on the display device in response to the selection of the automatic route generation mode, for setting a route generation option for the display; Selecting a device for path generation in a selection window; setting a loading direction of the printed circuit board, an array printed circuit board, and a component cartridge option after selecting the device; and setting a path generation option after setting the option And selecting a path generation level after setting the path generation option. All.

Description

How to set automatic path generation options for component inserters

The present invention relates to a method of setting an automatic path generation option for a component inserter, and in particular, to generate a component insertion path of a component inserter for automatically inserting a component to a printed circuit board (PCB: PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD; The present invention relates to a method for setting various options for automatic path generation in a pre-work preparation system using a computer.

In general, assembly of an electronic circuit device first automatically inserts a plurality of circuit components, such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors, and integrated circuits, into a PCB having a wiring pattern formed thereon using a component inserter. The component inserter takes the components from the component cartridge or reel and inserts them into the PCB sequentially according to the given component insertion order. The part insertion order or insertion path is provided to the part inserter as numerical control data.

Therefore, the operator must prepare a preliminary work, that is, the numerical control data, etc. in order to insert the component on the PCB. Typically, a plurality of component inserters are installed on a PCB insertion line, so that an operator prepares a work command suitable for each component inserter.

Such work orders must be optimally prepared in consideration of the worker's experience and working environment.

The parts assembled on the PCB are not only diverse but also the same kind of electrical and physical characteristics, and the number of parts to tens or even hundreds of parts, so the distribution of parts by equipment and the mounting of parts by equipment It takes a lot of time and careful effort to optimally plan the order.

However, these parts mounting equipment, such as the size of the head and the movement method of the head varies by equipment manufacturer and model, such a variety of equipment characteristics must be reflected in the work plan.

As a work plan must be established in consideration of these various variables, manual work requires a lot of time and effort as well as the need for skilled work managers. Recently, personal computers have been introduced and used in the work plan, but they are still at the level of document writing. In addition, in recent years, according to the trend of small quantities of various kinds of electronic products, it is required to quickly and adaptively cope with various and frequent model changes, but there is a limit to the conventional method of preparing a component insertion work.

Therefore, the present applicant has researched and developed a program for designing a work plan of a PCB assembly line in a computer environment more quickly and optimally.

The object of the present invention is to systematically set various options for automatically generating the component insertion path of the component inserter in order to solve the problems of the prior art, thereby increasing the efficiency and convenience of the operator's prior work. To provide a way to set automatic path generation options.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for setting an automatic path generation option that enables an operator to efficiently set an optimal path generation option suitable for the characteristics of each component inserter.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a PCB component insertion preparation system according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view showing the configuration of a PCB component insertion work preparation program according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart for explaining a program for setting automatic path generation options according to the present invention;

4 to 15 are views showing display screens for explaining a preferred embodiment of a method for setting an automatic route generation option in the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart for explaining a path generation program according to the present invention.

17 illustrates a data structure for path generation.

18 is a diagram showing a structure of a generated path file.

19 is a display screen state diagram showing an example of a route generated by the present invention.

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

10: computer body 12: monitor

14: keyboard 16: mouse pointer

18: printer 20: scanner

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, the method of the present invention is to provide a computer system having a display device and having a program for preparing a pre-work plan to prepare for inserting a plurality of circuit components on a printed circuit board. Displaying a path generation option setting window on the display device to set a path generation option for automatically inserting parts distributed to each set auto-insertion device, and selecting a path flow setting mode in the path generation option setting window. And displaying a path flow setting window in response to the selection of the path flow setting mode, and selecting one of a plurality of path flows in the path flow setting window.

In addition, the method of the present invention includes selecting an automatic route generation mode from a menu displayed on a display device of a computer system, displaying an equipment selection window on the display device in response to the selection of the automatic route generation mode, and selecting equipment. Selecting a device for path generation in a window; setting a loading direction of the printed circuit board, an array printed circuit board, and a component cartridge option after the device selection; and setting a path generation option after setting the option. And after setting the route generation option, selecting a route generation level.

The setting of the loading direction may include displaying a loading direction setting window of a printed circuit board on the display device after selecting the equipment, and selecting a loading direction of the printed circuit board in the loading direction setting window. The loading direction is determined depending on whether the guide hole of the printed circuit board in the loading state is the operator side or the equipment side.

The setting of the array printed circuit board may include displaying a path generation setting window of the array printed circuit board on the display device after selecting a loading direction, and selecting individual path generation or full path generation in the path generation setting window of the array printed circuit board. Steps.

The setting of the component cartridge option may include displaying a component cartridge option setting window on the display device after selecting path generation of the array printed circuit board, selecting a previous model reference or relocation in the component cartridge option setting window, and selecting Selecting a previous model reference includes displaying a model selection window on the display device, and inputting a model name in the model selection window. It is preferable that the parts cartridge priority in reference to the previous model is in the order of the previous model parts cartridge arrangement status-fixed parts cartridge data-parts cartridge placement range, and the priority of the parts cartridges during relocation is fixed parts cartridge data-parts cartridge placement It is preferable to be in the range order.

The path generation options include path flow setting, start / end block setting, and start / end component setting. The path flow setting may include displaying a path generation option setting window on the display device, selecting a path flow setting mode in the path generation option setting window, displaying a path flow setting window in response to the selection of the path flow setting mode; And selecting one of the plurality of path flows in the path flow setting window. Here, the plurality of path flows are C-shaped first path flows starting from the upper right end of the printed circuit board and proceeding counterclockwise and ending at the lower right end, and inverted C-shaped second starting from the upper left end and proceeding clockwise and ending at the lower left end. Path flow, C-shaped third path flow starting at the bottom right and proceeding clockwise and ending at the top right, inverted C-way path flow starting at the bottom left and proceeding counterclockwise and ending at the top left, starting at the top left S S-shaped first route flows in the direction of the child and ends at the bottom right, reverse S-shaped second route flows starting from the upper right and goes in the reverse S-shape and ends in the lower left, proceeds in the reverse S direction Inverted S-shaped third path flow ending at the upper right end, starting at the lower right end and proceeding in the S-shaped direction and ending at the upper left end It is desirable to include.

The start / end block setting includes selecting a start / end block setting mode in the path generation option setting window after setting the path flow, displaying a start / end block setting window in response to the start / end block selection, and starting And selecting a start block and an end block among the plurality of blocks in the / end block setting window. Here, the plurality of blocks are composed of nine blocks each divided into three equal parts in width and length of the printed circuit board. The start / end part setting includes selecting a start / end part setting in the automatic path generation option setting window after setting the path flow, and displaying a start / end part input window in response to the start / end part selection. And inputting part numbers of the start part and the end part in the start / end part input window. If there is no path flow setting, start / end block setting, and start / end part setting in the path generation option, an arbitrary part is set as a start / end part.

The setting of the path generation level may include displaying a path generation level selection window on the display device after setting the path generation option, and selecting one of simple path generation, primary path improvement, and secondary path improvement in the path generation level selection window. Selecting.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described in detail the present invention through an embodiment of the present invention.

1 shows a block configuration of a computer system equipped with a program for preparing a component insertion work plan according to the present invention.

The computer system includes a main body 10 including a CPU, RAM, ROM, HDD, FDD, GUI, etc., a monitor 12, a keyboard 14, a mouse 16, a printer 18, a scanner, respectively connected to the main body. And 20. If the CPU is Pentium 100MHz or higher and the RAM is 16M or higher, you are satisfied.

The component insertion work preparation program (aka PATH OPTIMIZER) of the present invention resides in the HDD. The program of the present invention is run on Windows 95, and as an auxiliary program, Microsoft's MS-Excel and MS-Access programs are preferably operated together.

Part insertion work preparation program (aka PATH OPTIMIZER) is model registration 102, model opening 104, part distribution 106, insertable inspection 108, equipment selection 110, path opening 112, path generation (114), EC application (116), route correction (118), route determination (120) and numerical control program loading (122). The automatic route generation option setting of the present invention is included in the route generation 114 function.

2 shows a program directory structure of the system according to the present invention. The basic directory includes a Windows program 130, an auxiliary program 132, and a component insertion work preparation program component 134. The insertion task preparation program (aka PATH OPTIMIZER) is composed of a parts list file 136, a CAD file 138, a configuration file 140, a plurality of model files 142, a parts library database file 144, and the like. . Each model file 142 has a plurality of PCB files 146 subdirectories corresponding to that model. Each PCB file 146 has a numerical control program file 148, a work schedule table file 150, a route data file 152, and the like.

3 is a flowchart of a method for setting an automatic route generation option according to the present invention. Automatic path generation options include device selection (156), PCB loading direction setting (158), array PCB option (160), reel option (162), model selection (164), path generation option (166), path flow setting (168). ), Start / end part input 170, start / end block setting 172, and path generation level setting 174. The PCB loading direction setting 158 proceeds to the reel option 162 or the path generation option 166 without going through the array PCB option 160. The array PCB option 160 also proceeds to the path generation option 166 without going through the reel option 162. The reel option 162 proceeds to model selection 1640 in the existing model reference mode and path generation option 166 in the relocation mode.

In the path generation option 166, the path flow setting 168, the start / end part input 170, and the start / end block setting 172 must be performed, and then the path generation option must be passed in order to enter another mode. Dotted notation of FIG. 3). The path generation level setting 174 may be entered directly from the path flow setting 168, the start / end part input 170, the start / end block setting 172, or the path generation option 166.

The various setting of the path generation option such as this enables the operator to maximize the work environment of the existing insertion line during the preliminary preparation work, thereby reducing the time spent for work planning or preparation and creating the optimal path. To help.

Referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 4, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the <path> menu 176 is clicked with a mouse pointer from the main screen displayed on the display device of the computer system, a pull-down menu appears. Use the mouse pointer to select the <Automatic route generation> menu from the pull-down menu.

If the <Automatic path generation> menu is selected, the equipment selection window 180 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the monitor. In the device selection window 180, the device name may be input in the text box 182 or the registered device name may be selected in the list box 184 with a mouse pointer.

If a path to a previously selected device has been selected, clicking the checkbox 186 of <Use previous option> with a mouse pointer causes the icons 188, 190, 192, 194 and 196, the previous option is displayed. Icon 188 represents the PCB loading direction setting. The display of the PCB guide hole at the bottom of the icon 188 indicates that the PCB loading direction is the worker direction. Icon 190 represents the array PCB configuration. Since the path is displayed over two areas of the icon 190, the entire PCB, not the array PCB, is selected. Icon 192 indicates the path flow setting in the X-axis direction. Two icons 198 and 200 disposed at the bottom of the icon 192 indicate a start block and an end block. However, in Fig. 6, since there is no setting of the start / end block, the icon display is not activated. Icon 194 indicates a path flow setting in the Y-axis direction. Equipment such as UIC-JV, AXL, SV, DynaPERT AXL, Panasert JV, etc. are devices that need to be divided into X and Y directions.

Here, the equipment whose operation is divided so as to first insert the components arranged on the PCB so that the leads are directed in the X-axis direction and then the components arranged on the PCB so that the leads are in the Y-axis direction is in the X and Y-axis directions. Path generation is required for each. In other words, the equipment separated in the X, Y-axis direction is configured so that the head of the equipment is transported in only one direction and can not rotate 90 degrees. On the contrary, in the case where the head can be rotated by 90 degrees, for example, TDK, UIC-RDL, etc., the path flow needs to be selected only once without the X and Y axis directions. The icon 196 indicates the path generation level setting, and the number inside indicates the level grade.

The <next> button of the wizard box 202 of FIG. 5 is represented by the <done> button 204 of FIG. If you want to create a path using the previous option, you can click the <Done> button after selecting the device to immediately create the path. On the other hand, if you want to create a route by setting the route generation option again, leave the check box 186 of <Use previous option> unchecked and click the <Next> button 187 of the wizard box of FIG. You can set creation options.

When the <Next> button 187 is selected in the equipment selection window 180, the PCB loading direction setting window 206 of FIG. 7 is displayed on the monitor. The PCB loading direction setting window 206 includes front and rear boxes 208 and 210 of the PCB loading direction as follows. The front box 208 is a state in which the PCB is loaded so that the guide hole of the PCB is toward the worker, the rear box 210 represents the state in which the PCB is loaded so that the guide hole of the PCB goes to the equipment.

Selecting the front box 208 with the mouse pointer changes the guide hole in the box to a different color, indicating that the loading direction is set to the front.

After setting the loading direction in the PCB loading direction setting window 206 and pressing the <Next> button 212, the array PCB setting window 214 of FIG. 8 is displayed on the monitor. The array PCB setup window 214 includes a box 216 indicating array PCB individual path generation and a box 218 indicating PCB full path generation. In the case of an array PCB, whether to create a path for the entire PCB or to use the copied path for the remaining array PCB after the path of the individual array PCB is created.

When the <next> button 220 is selected with the mouse pointer in the array PCB setting window 214, the reel placement option setting window 222 of FIG. 9 is displayed on the monitor. The reel placement option setting window 222 includes a previous model reel placement reference field 224 and a relocation field 226. Each field contains a select button. For equipment that requires reel placement, set whether to use the reel placement of the path that was previously created or to create a new one. When the selection button of the previous model reel placement reference field 224 is clicked with a mouse pointer in the setting window 222, the model selection window 228 of FIG. 10 is displayed on the monitor. Accordingly, the operator may input the model name to be referred to in the text box 229 for inputting the model name. In computer systems, reels are placed upon path generation according to the set reel placement options. Priority of reel placement in reference to previous models is in the order of reel placement-fixed reel data-reel placement range. Reel placement priorities are processed in the order of fixed reel data-reel placement range.

When the <Next> button is selected in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, the path generation option setting window 230 of FIG. 11 is displayed on the monitor. The path generation option setting window 230 includes a path flow setting check box 232, a start / end block setting check box 234, and a start / end part number input check box 236. Therefore, the following six options can be set by combining the three checkboxes 232, 234, and 236.

(One). Path flow setting: It is an option to induce a certain flow to the path, and can set up the middle process of the path together with the setting for the start / end position.

(2). Start / end block setting: Specify only the position for the start / end part.

(3). Enter start / end part: Enter part number of start / end part. The path starts and ends with the part with the specified part number.

(4). Set Path Flow + Enter Start / End Part

(5). Set start / end block + enter start / end part

(6). If no option is checked and the <Next> button is clicked, an arbitrary part is selected as the start / end part and a path is created.

When the path flow setting checkbox 232 is selected with the mouse pointer in the path generation option setting window 230, the path flow setting window 238 of FIG. 12 is displayed on the monitor. The path flow setting window 238 includes eight prepared path flow icons 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, and 254.

(One). Icon 240-C-shaped first path flow starting at the top right of the PCB and proceeding counterclockwise and ending at the bottom right,

(2). Icon 242-Inverted C-shaped second path flow starting from the upper left of the PCB and proceeding clockwise and ending at the lower left

(3). Icon (244)-C-shaped third path flow starting at the bottom right of the PCB and proceeding clockwise and ending at the top right

(4). Icon 246-Inverted C-shaped fourth path flow starting from the bottom left of the PCB and proceeding counterclockwise and ending at the top left

(5). Icon 248-S-shaped first path flow starting from the upper left of the PCB and proceeding in the S-shaped direction and ending at the lower right

(6). Icon 250-reverse S-shaped second path flow starting from the upper right of the PCB and proceeding in the reverse S-shaped direction and ending at the lower left

(7). Icon 252-Inverse S-shaped third path flow starting from the bottom left of the PCB and proceeding in the reverse S-shaped direction and ending at the top right

(8). Icon 254-S-shaped fourth path flow starting at the bottom right of the PCB and proceeding in the S direction and ending at the top left

The operator uses the mouse pointer to select a path flow that matches the characteristics of the equipment among the eight prepared path flows. In the front job, where the guide hole of the PCB is directed toward the operator, The coordinate axis of appears. In other words, you must select the desired path flow with the PCB plot aligned. In the back operation, The coordinate axis of appears.

When the <Next> button 256 is pressed in the path flow setting window 238, the path flow setting window 238 disappears on the monitor and the path generation option setting window 230 appears.

When the start / end block setting checkbox 234 is selected with the mouse pointer in the path generation option setting window 230, the start / end block setting window 258 of FIG. 12 is displayed on the monitor. In the start / end block setting window 258, the upper left block 260, the upper middle block 262, the upper right block 264, the middle left block 266, the middle block 268, the middle middle block 270, The lower left block 272, the load block 274, and the lower right block 276 are included. The operator selects the desired start / end block among the nine blocks. The selected start block is marked with 'START' and the end block is marked with 'END'. In the front work where the guide hole of the PCB is directed toward the operator, The coordinate axis of appears. In other words, the desired start / end block should be set with the PCB figure aligned. In the rear task, we can The coordinate axis of appears.

When the <next> button 278 is pressed in the start / end block setting window 258, the start / end block setting window 258 disappears on the monitor and the path generation option setting window 230 appears.

When the start / end part input setting checkbox 236 is selected with the mouse pointer in the path generation option setting window 230, the start / end part input window 280 of FIG. 14 is displayed on the monitor. The start / end part input window 280 includes a text box 282 for inputting a start article number and a text box 284 for inputting an end article number. If you know in advance the part number of the part you want to define as a start / end part, you can select this option to enter the part number as the path creation option.

If any one of the six path generation options described above is set, the path generation level selection window 286 of FIG. 15 is displayed on the monitor. The path generation level selection window 286 includes a simple path generation field 288, a primary path improvement field 290, and a secondary path improvement field 292. Each field has an option button. The three levels are as follows:

(One). Simple path generation: Path generation with simple algorithms, such as Nearest Neighborhood Algorithm (NNA), reduces efficiency, but can generate paths quickly.

(2). Primary Path Improvement: The path improvement time is longer because the simple path generated by the NNA is improved by a primary path improvement algorithm, such as a 2-Optimal algorithm.

(3). Secondary Path Improvement: The path improvement takes longer, but the efficiency is better, since the first improved path is improved by a second path improvement algorithm such as a 3-Optimal algorithm.

After selecting a level in the path generation level selection window 286 and clicking the <Done> button 294 with a mouse pointer, setting of the path generation option is completed and the computer system executes the path generation program shown in FIG. 16 according to the set option. This will automatically create a component insertion path for the selected equipment.

Referring to FIG. 16, the computer system first obtains an address of a global variable of a device to generate a path (300). In operation 302, it is checked whether the array PCB is a path generation mode for only one array by referring to the set path generation option data. In step 302, a temporary memory area for only parts belonging to one array is allocated and the part information is filled (304). As shown in FIG. 17, the data structure for path generation has fields such as part number, part code, CX, CY, pitch, angle, key name, L, W, H, reel number, and the like.

In step 302, if it is not the array PCB, it is checked whether the selection mode of the start / end components is manual (306). In the manual mode, the start / end part indexes are assigned to the start node and the end node, respectively, in the part information memory area (308). It checks whether the start node and the end node are normal (310), and if normal, configures a cost matrix such as an Adjacent Distance Matrix (ADM) (312).

If it is not the manual mode in step 306 or normal in step 310, the start / end parts are automatically selected by considering the characteristics of each equipment, and the start / end part indexes in the part information memory area are assigned to the start node and the end node, respectively. (314) Perform step 312.

A basic route is generated by the NNA method (316). That is, any node is set as the starting point of the path, and the path is set to the node having the minimum value by obtaining an ADM for any node from the immediately preceding node. Similarly, the above process is executed for all nodes until the path is connected from the start node to the end node.

After the simple path is generated, the path is improved by applying 2-Optimal and 3-Optimal algorithms in consideration of the number of parts in response to the set level (318).

Fill the generated path with global variables. Accordingly, in the memory area designated as the global variable, the index of the component information memory is arranged and stored in the generated path order (328).

It is checked whether the array PCB individual path generation option is set (322). If the array PCB individual path generation mode is selected, the path sequence of the other array PCBs is copied and regenerated in the global variable according to the array path connection method (324).

A path file of FIG. 18 is generated based on the index array information designated as the global variable. The path file consists of fields such as equipment code, part number, part code, reel number, path color classification code, part angle, X coordinate, Y coordinate, lead pitch, product name and specification.

When the path is generated in this manner, the insertion path of the components distributed to the selected equipment is displayed on the CAD image of the PCB on the monitor as shown in FIG. 19.

As described above, in the present invention, by systematically setting various options for the operator to automatically generate the insertion path, the efficiency and convenience of the operator's preliminary work can be increased. In addition, the operator can efficiently set the optimal path generation option for each component inserter, thereby reducing the work preparation time.

Although the above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will be variously modified and changed within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below. I can understand that you can.

Claims (8)

In a computer system having a display device and a program for preparing a preliminary work plan for preparing a plurality of circuit components to be inserted into a printed circuit board, the components distributed to each set automatic component insertion equipment are automatically To set path generation options for insertion, Selecting an automatic route generation mode from a menu displayed on the display device; Displaying an equipment selection window on the display device in response to the selection of the automatic path generation mode; Selecting a device for path generation in the device selection window; After selecting the equipment, setting the loading direction of the printed circuit board, the array printed circuit board and the component cartridge options; Setting a path generation option after setting the option; And after setting the route generation option, selecting a route generation level. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting of the loading direction is performed. After selecting the device, displaying a loading direction setting window of a printed circuit board on the display device; And And selecting a loading direction of the printed circuit board in the loading direction setting window. The method of claim 2, wherein the setting of the array printed circuit board is After selecting the loading direction, displaying a path generation setting window of an array printed circuit board on the display device; And And selecting individual path generation or full path generation in the path generation setting window of the array printed circuit board. The method of claim 3, wherein the setting of the parts cartridge option is After the path generation selection of the array printed circuit board, displaying a component cartridge option setting window on the display device; Selecting a previous model reference or relocation in the parts cartridge option setting window; Displaying a model selection window on the display device when selecting a previous model reference in the selection step; And And inputting a model name in the model selection window. The method of claim 4, wherein the path generation option includes a path flow setting, a start / end block setting, a start / end component setting, and the path flow setting selects one of a plurality of path flows in a path flow setting window. The plurality of path flows are C-shaped first path flows starting from the upper right end of the printed circuit board and proceeding counterclockwise and ending at the lower right end, and inverse C-shaped second paths starting from the upper left end and proceeding clockwise and ending at the lower left end. C-shaped third path flow starting from the bottom right and ending clockwise and ending at the top right, inverted C-shaped fourth path flow starting from the bottom left and counterclockwise and ending at the top left, and starting at the top left S-shaped first path flow proceeding in the direction and ending at the lower right end, inverted S-shaped starting at the upper right end and proceeding in the reverse S-shaped direction and ending at the lower left end 2 Path flow, inverted S-shaped third path flow starting from the lower left end and proceeding to the reverse S-shaped direction and ending at the upper right end, including S-shaped fourth path flow starting from the lower right end and proceeding to the S-shaped direction and ending at the upper left Method for setting an automatic route generation option, characterized in that. The method of claim 5, wherein the start / end block setting is Selecting a start / end block setting mode in the path generation option setting window after setting a path flow; Displaying a start / end block setting window in response to the start / end block selection; And And selecting a start block and an end block among a plurality of blocks in the start / end block setting window. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of blocks comprises nine blocks divided into three equal parts each of the width and length of the printed circuit board. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the start / end component setting is Selecting the start / end part setting in the automatic path generation option setting window after setting the path flow; Displaying a start / end part input window in response to the start / end part selection; And And inputting part numbers of a start part and an end part in the start / end part input window.