WO2022185546A1

WO2022185546A1 - Feeder management system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2022185546A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/008787
Authority: WO
Inventors: 翔太郎日比野; 透高浜; 寿人澤浪
Original assignee: 株式会社Fuji
Priority date: 2021-03-05
Filing date: 2021-03-05
Publication date: 2022-09-09
Also published as: JPWO2022185546A1

Abstract

This feeder management system, for managing feeders that supply components to a mounting device, includes multiple feeder conveyance cars which each can support and move multiple feeders, a management device to which the feeder conveyance cars are connected so as to allow communication and which acquires and manages information from the feeder conveyance cars and the feeders, and notification units which are associated with each of the multiple feeder conveyance cars and which actuate in response to a command from the management device, wherein the management device determines the feeder conveyance car supporting at least one feeder to be used or replaced on the basis of the aforementioned information, and actuates the notification unit that corresponds to the specified feeder conveyance car.

Description

Feeder management system and method

The present disclosure relates to a feeder management system and method for managing multiple feeders that each supply components to a mounter.

Conventionally, a feeder set base that supports a plurality of feeders and a control device that determines whether any of the feeders set on the feeder set base needs to be replaced with a replacement feeder due to lack of parts or the like. Mounting machines including such are known (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). When the control device of this mounter determines that the feeder needs to be replaced, it lights up the one corresponding to the feeder that needs to be replaced among the plurality of feeder replacement position indicators provided on the feeder set stand. Further, the control device identifies the position of the replacement feeder on the feeder preparation carriage that supports the plurality of feeders or the feeder mounting shelf, and selects the replacement Light up the one corresponding to the feeder. Thereby, a feeder requiring replacement can be easily replaced with a feeder for replacement.

Also, conventionally, there is known a component mounting apparatus that is used together with a cart on which a feeder is set (see, for example, Patent Document 2). When mounting components by this component mounting apparatus, a plurality of feeders are set in advance on the cart in an arrangement state corresponding to the type of products to be produced in the external setup area. The cart on which the feeder is set is moved to the component mounting line and connected to the component mounting apparatus. In addition, in the external setup area, an external setup change operation is performed to place a feeder to be used in subsequent production on the carriage removed from the component mounting apparatus, and a work support device for supporting the external setup change operation. is used. The work support device acquires information about the placement state of the feeders on the truck connected to the component mounting apparatus and information about the placement state of the feeders on the truck removed from the component mounting apparatus. Further, the work support device changes the arrangement state of the feeders on the carriage that is the target of the external setup change work for responding to the changeover of the production type to the first production type from the arrangement state before the start of the external setup change work. Work instruction information is derived that defines the external setup change work required to change to the first arrangement state corresponding to the first product type. The derived work instruction information is displayed on the display screen of the work support device. Then, according to the work instruction information displayed on the display screen, the worker places the feeder removed from the carriage on the parts temporary placement shelf, or sets the feeder taken out from the parts placement shelf on the carriage.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-018968 JP 2016-146381 A

The technology described in Patent Document 1 facilitates exchange of feeders between a mounter and a feeder preparation cart or a feeder placement shelf. When the technique of (1) is applied to the feeder mounting rack, the cost of the feeder mounting rack is increased by arranging a large number of indicators on the feeder mounting rack. In addition, feeders that supply components to a mounting machine often have similar appearances even among feeders that accommodate different components. For this reason, even if the work instruction information that defines the external setup change work is displayed on the display screen as described in Patent Document 2, the efficiency of the external setup change work cannot be sufficiently improved.

Therefore, the main purpose of the present disclosure is to improve the efficiency of feeder management and replacement work while making effective use of equipment related to component mounting.

A feeder management system of the present disclosure is a feeder management system for managing feeders that supply components to a mounting machine, comprising: a plurality of feeder carriages capable of supporting and moving the plurality of feeders; a management device to which carriages are communicatively connected and which acquires and manages information from the feeder conveyance carriage and the plurality of feeders; and a plurality of notification units that operate in response, wherein the management device specifies the feeder transport vehicle supporting at least one of the feeders to be used or replaced based on the information, and transports the specified feeder It is for activating the notification unit corresponding to the carriage.

The feeder management system of the present disclosure communicably connects a plurality of feeder carriages each capable of supporting a plurality of feeders to a management device, and collects information on the feeder carriages and the plurality of feeders in the management device. Consists of This makes it possible to efficiently manage information related to a large number of feeders while effectively using the feeder carriage, which is equipment related to component mounting, as a rack. Furthermore, the feeder management system of the present disclosure includes a plurality of notification units associated with each of the plurality of feeder carriages. Based on the information, the management device identifies the feeder carriage that supports at least one feeder to be used or replaced, and activates the notification unit corresponding to the identified feeder carriage. As a result, it is possible to quickly identify the feeder carrier that supports the feeder to be used or to be replaced, so that it is possible to efficiently perform the work of replacing the feeder of the mounter, the work of changing the external setup, and the like. . As a result, according to the feeder management system of the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the efficiency of feeder management, replacement work, etc., while effectively using the feeder carriage as equipment related to component mounting.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a feeder management system and production line of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a feeder carrier and feeders used in the feeder management system and production line of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a feeder management system of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a feeder management system of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a feeder management system of the present disclosure; FIG. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another feeder management system of the present disclosure; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of yet another feeder management system of the present disclosure; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an annunciation unit applicable to the feeder management system of the present disclosure;

Next, a mode for carrying out the invention of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a feeder management system 20 of the present disclosure and a production line 1 used with the feeder management system 20. FIG. As shown in the figure, the feeder management system 20 is provided in an external setup area As different from the production area Ap in which the production line 1 is installed. The production line 1 is for producing a board S on which a component P is mounted, and includes a printer 2, a print inspection device 3, a plurality of (for example, four in this embodiment) component mounters 4, It includes a mounting inspection device 6, a reflow device 7, a reflow inspection device 8, and a production management device (control device) 10 for managing and controlling the entire line. The printing device 2, the print inspection device 3, the plurality of component mounters 4, the mounting inspection device 6, the reflow device 7, and the reflow inspection device 8 are arranged in this order along the predetermined conveying direction of the board S. .

The printing device 2 prints solder on the wiring pattern of the substrate S, and includes a substrate transporting device that transports the substrate S, a print head, a head moving device that moves the print head, and a screen mask. A fixed frame, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a control device that is a computer including a storage device, etc. (none of which is shown) are included. The print inspection device 3 inspects the state of the solder printed on the board S by the printing device 2, and includes an inspection mechanism, a control device (computer) that controls the inspection mechanism, and the like. The control devices of the printing device 2 and the print inspection device 3 each exchange information with the production control device 10 via wireless or wired communication.

A plurality of component mounters 4 are arranged along the transport direction of the board S on the downstream side of the print inspection device 3, as shown in FIG. Each component mounter 4 is a surface mounter capable of picking up a component P from a tape sent out by one of a plurality of feeders 50 supported by a feeder carrier 5 functioning as a component supply unit and mounting the component on the substrate S. be. Each component mounter 4 includes a housing to which the feeder carriage 5 is connected, a board transfer device, an XY moving device, a mounting head including at least one suction nozzle, a parts camera, a mark camera, a nozzle station, and a mounting control unit. etc. (not shown). A mounting control unit of each mounter 4 is a computer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, storage device, etc., and exchanges information with the production control apparatus 10 via wireless or wired communication. In addition, the mounting control unit acquires image data of the parts camera and the mark camera, detection values of various sensors (not shown) installed in the substrate conveying device, the XY moving device, the mounting head, and the like. Further, the mounting control unit executes a production program based on information from the production control device 10, imaging data of the parts camera and the mark camera, detection values of various sensors, etc. It controls the substrate transfer device, the XY movement device, the mounting head, and the like. The production program defines the mounting order of the components P on the board S in the plurality of component mounters 4 of the production line 1, the number of boards S to be produced, etc., and is stored in the ROM of the mounting control unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the feeder carriage 5 includes a carriage frame 5F that supports a plurality of wheels (rolling wheels) W, and a feeder set stand 5S that is integrated with the carriage frame 5F. It moves by The feeder set table 5S has a plurality of numbered slots SLT and a plurality of feeder connectors 5cf (the same number as the slots SLT) associated with each of the plurality of slots SLT. Further, the feeder carriage 5 has an external connector 5co that is connected to a plurality of feeder connectors 5cf and can be coupled with a connector 4c (see FIG. 1) provided on the housing of the mounter 4. FIG.

The feeder 50 is a cassette type tape feeder, and as shown in FIG. including. A tape housing a plurality of components P is wound around the tape reel 51 . In each tape reel 51 , a plurality of components P are protected by a film covering the surface of the tape, and the film is peeled off before the components P reach the component supply position in the component mounter 4 . The tape feeding mechanism 52 pulls out the tape from the tape reel 51 and feeds it to the component supply position. The feeder control device 55 includes a microcomputer having CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and controls the tape feeding mechanism 52 and the light emitting section 53 .

A plurality of feeders 50 are inserted into the corresponding slots SLT so that the connectors 54 are coupled with the corresponding feeder connectors 5cf of the feeder set table 5S, and are supported by the feeder set table 5S. Then, when the external connector 5co of the feeder carrier 5 is connected to the connector 4c of the component mounter 4, the feeder control device 55 of each feeder 50 controls the mounting of the component mounter 4 via the corresponding feeder connector 5cf and external connector 5co. Connected to the controller and power supply. Thereby, the feeder control device 55 of each feeder 50 and the mounting control device can communicate with each other, and the feeder information stored by the feeder control device 55 of each feeder 50 can be taken into the component mounter 4 side. The feeder information includes the ID of the feeder 50, the ID of the tape reel 51 included in the feeder 50, the component type and the remaining number of components (the state of the feeder 50), the position of the feeder connector 5cf to which the feeder 50 is attached (the feeder set stand). 5S position of the feeder 50). Further, the feeder control device 55 of each feeder 50 controls the tape feeding mechanism 52 so as to feed the tape in accordance with the command from the mounting control device, and when the feeder 50 needs to be replaced due to running out of parts or the like. , the light emitting portion 53 is caused to emit light. Note that the plurality of feeders 50 supported by one feeder transport carriage 5 (feeder set table 5S) may contain different parts, or may contain the same parts. . Further, the feeder information may be managed by the production control device 10, and the mounting control device may acquire the feeder information from the production control device 10.

The mounting inspection device 6 inspects the mounting state of the component P mounted by each component mounter 4, and includes an inspection mechanism, a control device (computer) that controls the inspection mechanism, and the like. The control device of the mounting inspection device 6 also exchanges information with the production control device 10 via wireless or wired communication. The reflow device 7 is arranged downstream of the mounting inspection device 6, and includes a substrate transporting device that transports the substrate S from the mounting inspection device 6, a heating unit that heats the substrate S transported by the substrate transporting device, It also includes a reflow control section that controls the substrate transfer device, the heating section, and the like. The reflow device 7 melts the solder on the substrate S by heating the substrate S to a predetermined reflow temperature (for example, 220° C.-260° C.) with a heating unit. As a result, the melted solder is cooled and solidified, so that each component is electrically connected and fixed to the wiring pattern of the substrate S. The reflow inspection device 8 inspects the state of the component P on the substrate S that has undergone the reflow process, and includes an inspection mechanism, a control device that controls the inspection mechanism, and the like. The control devices of the reflow device 7 and the reflow inspection device 8 are computers including CPU, ROM, RAM, storage devices, etc., and exchange information with the production control device 10 via wireless or wired communication.

In the present embodiment, the production control device 10 is a computer that includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, storage device, etc., and to which input devices such as a keyboard and mouse and a display are connected. Various kinds of production information related to the production of the board S are stored in the storage device of the production control device 10 . The production information includes the inventory status and supply status of the parts P to be mounted on the board S, the production plan for the board S (including the usage plan for the parts P), the production status of the board S, and a plurality of parts constituting the production line 1. It includes the operating status of the mounting machine 4 and the like. In addition, the production control device 10 sends various command signals and the like to the printing control section of the printing device 2, the mounting control section of each component mounter 4, the reflow control section of the reflow device 7, etc., in response to requests from the device side. give. Note that the production control apparatus 10 may be configured by a terminal connected to the server via a server and a network.

Next, the feeder management system 20 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5. FIG. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the feeder management system 20, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the feeder management system 20. As shown in FIG.

The feeder management system 20 of the present disclosure causes the feeder 50 to be used in the next production during the production of the board S on which the component P is mounted by the production line 1 to be supported in advance by the feeder carrier 5 as a component supply unit. A large number of feeders 50 are managed so that off-line setup work and the like can be performed more efficiently. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, the feeder management system 20 uses a plurality of the above-described feeder carriages 5 connected to the component mounting machine 4. In addition to the plurality of feeder carriages 5, , includes a carriage connection unit 21 and a feeder information management device 25 .

The carriage connecting part 21 is a partition wall-like member installed in the outer setup area As so as to be able to face the plurality of feeder carriages 5, and has a plurality of members each connectable to the external connector 5co of the feeder carriage 5. Includes connector 22 . The plurality of connectors 22 each have the same structure as the connector 4c of the mounter 4, and are connected to the carriage connecting portion 21 so that the height from the installation surface of the external setup area As is the same. Spaced apart. As a result, as can be seen from FIG. 4, by bringing the feeder carriage 5 closer to the carriage connecting portion 21, for example, the external connector 5co of the feeder carriage 5 and the corresponding connector of the carriage connecting portion 21 can be manually connected by an operator. 22 can be combined. Further, the carriage connecting portion 21 may include a stopper mechanism (not shown) for restricting the movement of the feeder carriage 5 to which the external connector 5co is connected to the connector 22. Each wheel W of the feeder carriage 5 has stoppers (not shown). ) may be provided.

Each connector 22 of the carriage connecting part 21 is connected to a feeder information management device 25 via a repeater 23 and a communication unit (input/output module) 24, as shown in FIG. The repeater 23 functions as a power source repeater that outputs power supplied from a power source (not shown) to the connector 22 side, and also serves as a signal repeater that relays signals between the connector 22 (feeder 50) side and the communication unit 24. It functions as Thus, when the external connector 5co of the feeder carrier 5 is coupled to the connector 22 of the carrier connecting portion 21, the feeder carrier 5, that is, the plurality of feeders 50 (feeder control device 55) supported by the feeder carrier 5 are connected. , is communicably connected to the feeder information management device 25 and is connected to the power source of the external setup area As. As a result, when the feeder carriage 5 is connected to the carriage connecting portion 21, information is exchanged between the feeder carriage 5 and the feeder information management device 25, and the feeder information management device 25 It is possible to cause the light-emitting portion 53 of the feeder 50 to emit light (or blink) in accordance with the command of .

1 and 3, in addition to a plurality of connectors 22 serving as connection portions connected to the feeder transport carriage 5, the carriage connecting portion 21 includes a plurality of connectors associated with each of the plurality of connectors 22 as shown in FIGS. includes a light emitter (notification unit) 27. In this embodiment, the light-emitting device 27 is an LED that emits light (blinks) when power is supplied from the corresponding repeater 23 according to a command from the feeder information management device 25 . A plurality of light emitters 27 are provided one by one for one connector 22, and are located near the feeder transport carriages 5 connected to the corresponding connectors 22, respectively, at locations where the worker can easily visually recognize the carriage connection portion 21. placed in

The feeder information management device 25 is a computer that includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, storage device, etc., and to which an input device 25a such as a keyboard and a display 25b are connected. The feeder information management device 25 acquires information such as production information from the production management device 10 via a network such as a LAN. The feeder information management device 25 is also connected to a bar code reader (not shown) for reading a bar code indicating the ID of the feeder carrier 5 attached to the feeder carrier 5 . The feeder information management device 25 stores information indicating the ID of the feeder carriage 5 acquired by the operator via the barcode reader in the storage device. However, the ID of the feeder carriage 5 may be stored in an IC chip or the like incorporated in the feeder carriage 5 and connected to the external connector 5co. In this case, when the external connector 5co of the feeder carriage 5 is connected to the connector 22 of the carriage connecting portion 21, the feeder information management device 25 acquires the ID of the feeder carriage 5 from the IC chip or the like.

Further, when the external connector 5co of the feeder carriage 5 is connected to the connector 22 of the carriage connecting portion 21, the feeder information management device 25 acquires the above feeder information from the plurality of feeders 50 via the feeder carriage 5. . Then, the feeder information management device 25 associates the feeder information of the feeder 50 supported by the feeder carriage 5 with the ID of the feeder carriage 5 and stores it in the storage device. Further, the feeder information management device 25 responds to a request from the production management device 10, a request from the worker via the input device 25a, or the like. Information about the feeder 50 (and the tape reel 51) supported by the truck 5 is displayed on the display 25b. Note that the feeder information management device 25 may be configured by a terminal connected to the server via a server and a network.

In the carriage connecting portion 21 of the feeder management system 20 configured as described above, a plurality of feeder carriages 5 each supporting a plurality of feeders 50 are provided when the substrate S including the parts P is produced by the production line 1. It is communicably connected to the feeder information management device 25 . That is, in the feeder management system 20, a plurality of feeders 50 not used for production (including both feeders 50 with tape reels 51 set and feeders 50 without tape reels 51 set) are located in the outside setup area As It is managed by the feeder information management device 25 in a state in which it is attached to a plurality of feeder carriages 50 without being housed in an equipment shelf (not shown). As a result, the feeder carriage 5, which is equipment related to the mounting of the parts P, is effectively used as a rack. Further, the feeder information management device 25 acquires the feeder information of the plurality of feeders 50 supported by each feeder carriage 5 as described above, associates it with the ID of the corresponding feeder carriage 5, and stores it in the storage device. store in As a result, the information of the plurality of feeder carriages 5 and the plurality of feeders 50 supported by each feeder carriage 5 is collected in the feeder information management device 25, and the information related to a large number of feeders 50 can be efficiently managed. It becomes possible.

Further, when it becomes necessary to replace the plurality of feeders 50, that is, the feeder carrier 5 as a component supply unit in any of the component mounters 4 during the production of the board S including the component P by the production line 1, the production control device 10 , the feeder information management device 25 is requested to replace the feeder carriage 5 . The feeder information management device 25 is connected to the carriage coupling unit 21 in response to a request from the production management device 10, based on the production information from the production management device 10, the feeder information stored in the storage device, and the like. A feeder carrier 5 that supports a feeder 50 to be newly used is specified from among a plurality of feeder carriers 5 . Further, the feeder information management device 25 causes the display 25b to display information such as the ID of the specified feeder carrier 5 and the ID of the component mounter 4 to be mounted, and supports the feeder 50 to be newly used. The light emitters 27 corresponding to the connectors 22 to which the feeder carriages 5 are connected are (individually) illuminated (actuated). As a result, the operator can quickly determine the feeder transport trolley 5 (its position) supporting the feeder 50 to be newly used from the state of the light emitter 27 of the trolley connecting portion 21, and transport the target feeder. The cart 5 can be quickly moved from the external setup area As to the component mounting machine 4 in the production area Ap. As a result, according to the feeder management system 20, it is possible to efficiently perform the replacement (setup) work of the feeder 50 of each mounter 4 in the production line 1. FIG.

Further, when the external connector 5co of the feeder carriage 5 is connected to the connector 22 of the carriage connecting portion 21, the feeder information management device 25 determines the ID of the connected feeder carriage 5 and the support by the feeder carriage 5. Then, the feeder information of the feeder 50 is acquired. Further, the feeder information management device 25 determines from the information acquired from the feeder carriage 5 or the like that the feeder carriage 5 is an empty feeder carriage 5 that does not support the feeder 50, or the feeder carriage 5 is removed from the component mounter 4 by the operator. It is determined whether or not the feeder carrier 5 supports the used feeder 50 that has been removed and moved from the production area Ap to the external setup area As.

When the feeder carriage 5 connected to the carriage connecting portion 21 is a feeder carriage 5 supporting an empty or used feeder 50, the feeder information management device 25 sets the feeder carriage 5 as a setup target, and performs production management. The feeder 50 (or the tape reel 51) to be newly set on the feeder set table 5S of the feeder carrier 5 and the feeder 50 (or the tape reel 51) are set based on the production information and the like acquired from the device 10. Determine the number of the slot SLT that should be used. In addition, the feeder information management device 25 determines whether or not the feeder carriage 5 which is not the target of setup and which supports the feeder 50 to be newly set is connected to the carriage connecting portion 21, and determines whether or not the corresponding feeder carriage 5 is connected. And the number of the slot SLT in which the feeder 50 to be newly set is attached is specified. Further, the feeder information management device 25 stores the determined identifier (ID, name, etc.) of the feeder 50 (or tape reel 51), the number of the slot SLT, and the position of the feeder carriage 5 that supports the feeder 50 to be newly set. Information, etc., is displayed as support information on the display 25b, and the light emitter 27 corresponding to the connector 22 connected to the feeder carriage 5 on which the feeder 50 is to be set is caused to emit light (see FIG. 5). Further, when the used feeder 50 is supported by the feeder carriage 5, the feeder information management device 25 causes the light emitting section 53 of the feeder 50 to be replaced to emit light (activate) (see FIG. 5). Furthermore, when the feeder carriage 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be newly set is connected to the carriage connecting portion 21, the feeder information management device 25 corresponds to the connector 22 to which the feeder carriage 5 is connected. The corresponding light emitter 27 is caused to emit light (activate), and the corresponding light emitting portion 53 of the feeder 50 is caused to emit light (activate).

As a result, the operator can determine the position of the feeder transport carriage 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be replaced and the feeder 50 to be replaced from the state of the light emitter 27 of the carriage connecting portion 21 and the light emitting portion 53 of the feeder 50. It can be determined quickly. Further, the operator, while referring to the information displayed on the display 25b and the light emission state of the light emitter 27, can insert the feeder 50 (or the tape reel 51) to be newly set into the feeder connected to the carriage connecting portion 21. It is possible to take it out from the carriage 5 (if it does not exist, the equipment shelf in the external setup area As) and set it on the feeder set stand 5S of the feeder carriage 5 to be set up. When a new feeder 50 is set on the feeder carriage 5, the feeder information management device 25 associates the feeder information of the feeder 50 acquired from the feeder carriage 5 with the ID of the feeder carriage 5, and Store in a storage device. As a result, according to the feeder management system 20, it is possible to efficiently perform the setup change work and the exchange work of the feeders 50 in the outside setup area As. In addition, for the feeder carriage 5 on which the feeder 50 has been set up based on the production plan or the like, a flag indicating the completion of the setup is set on the feeder carriage 5 side or the feeder information management device 25 (server) side, Of the plurality of feeder carriages 5 connected to the carriage connecting part 21, the light emitters 27 corresponding to the feeder carriages 5 for which setup has been completed may emit light to determine the completion of setup.

As described above, the feeder management system 20 of the present disclosure is a feeder 50 management system for managing the feeders 50 that supply components P to the component mounters 4, and includes a plurality of feeder carriages 5 and feeder information management systems. It includes a device 25 and a plurality of light emitters 27 as annunciator. A plurality of feeder carriages 5 are movable while supporting a plurality of feeders 50 respectively, and are communicably connected to the feeder information management device 25 . Further, the feeder information management device 25 acquires information from the feeder carriage 5 and the plurality of feeders 50 and manages the information. Furthermore, the plurality of light emitters 27 are associated with each of the plurality of feeder carriages 5 and emit light (activate) according to commands from the feeder information management device 25 .

That is, the feeder management system 20 communicably connects the plurality of feeder carriages 5 to the feeder information management device 25, and collects the information of the feeder carriage 5 and the plurality of feeders 50 in the feeder information management device 25. It is composed by As a result, it becomes possible to efficiently manage information related to a large number of feeders 50 while effectively using the feeder carriage 5, which is equipment related to the mounting of the parts P, as a rack. In particular, when the number of feeder carriages 5 owned by a user, more specifically, the product of the number of feeder carriages 5 and the number of slots SLT is sufficiently large compared to the number of feeders 50 owned by the user. , the feeder management system 20 is extremely useful because more feeders 50 can be managed.

Further, the feeder information management device 25 controls the feeder carriage that supports at least one feeder 50 to be used or replaced based on the production information, the ID of the feeder carriage 5, and the feeder information stored in the storage device. 5 is specified, and the light emitter 27 corresponding to the specified feeder carriage 5 is caused to emit light (activate). As a result, the operator can quickly identify the feeder carriage 5 that supports the feeder 50 to be used or replaced, so that the work of replacing the feeder 50 of the component mounter 4, the external setup change, etc. can be performed. It can be executed efficiently. As a result, according to the feeder management system 20, it is possible to effectively use the feeder carriage 5 as equipment related to the mounting of the parts P, and to improve the efficiency of the management of the feeders 50, replacement work, and the like. However, in the feeder management system 20, instead of the light emitter 27, a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel or a sound generator may be provided in the carriage connection unit 21 as a notification unit.

In addition, the feeder management system 20 includes a carriage connection section 21 having a plurality of connectors (connection sections) 22 communicably connected to the feeder information management device 25 and communicably connected to the feeder carriage 5, A plurality of light emitters 27 are arranged on the carriage connecting portion 21 so as to correspond to each of the plurality of connectors 22 . As a result, a plurality of feeder carriages 5 used as racks are aligned to further improve usability of the feeder management system 20, and at least one to be used or replaced by emitting light from the light emitter 27 of the carriage connecting portion 21 is provided. It is possible to notify the feeder carrier 5 that supports one feeder 50 . However, in the feeder management system 20 , the notification unit such as the light emitter 27 may be provided in each of the plurality of feeder carriages 5 .

Further, the feeder carriage 5 includes an external connector 5co used for connecting the plurality of feeders 50 to the mounter 4, and each connector 22 of the carriage connecting portion 21 is coupled with the external connector 5co of the feeder carriage 5. It is possible. As a result, the feeder carrier 5 can be communicatively connected to the feeder information management device 25 without any special modifications to the feeder carrier 5 .

The feeder 50 has a light emitting unit 53, and the feeder information management device 25 selects the feeder 50 to be used or replaced among the plurality of feeders 50 supported by the plurality of feeder carriages 5. Light-emitting part 53 is made to emit light. This makes it possible to individually notify the feeder 50 to be used or replaced. Further, the light emitting unit 53 of the feeder 50 may be used as a notification unit for notifying the feeder carriage 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be used or replaced. This makes it possible to omit the light emitter 27, which is a dedicated notification unit, from the feeder management system 20 (carry connection unit 21).

Although the feeder management system 20 includes a carriage connecting portion 21 to which a plurality of feeder carriages 5 are connected, it is not limited to this. That is, in the feeder management system 20B shown in FIG. 6, the carriage connecting portion 21 is omitted, and the feeder transport carriage 5 and the feeder information management device 25 are connected through a plurality of cables 28 so as to be communicable. Each cable 28 of the feeder management system 20B has a cable connector 22B that can be coupled with the external connector 5co of the feeder carriage 5 used for connecting the plurality of feeders 50 to the mounter 4. It is connected to the feeder information management device 25 via a communication unit (not shown). Furthermore, the cable connector 22B of each cable 28 is fixed with a light emitter 27 such as an LED that emits light when power is supplied through the cable 28 .

In the feeder management system 20B as well, it is possible to efficiently manage information related to a large number of feeders 50 while effectively using the feeder carriage 5, which is equipment related to the mounting of the parts P, as a rack. Further, by providing the light emitter 27 to the cable connector 22B of the cable 28, the feeder carrier 5 supporting the feeder 50 to be used or replaced can be easily identified without special modification of the feeder carrier 5. An enabling annunciator can be implemented. Furthermore, by making the cable connector 22B of the cable 28 have the same structure as the connector 4c of the component mounter 4, the feeder carrier 5 can be used for feeder information management without special modifications to the feeder carrier 5. It becomes possible to communicatively connect to the device 25 .

In the

feeder management systems

20 and 20B, the feeder carriage 5 and the feeder information management device 25 are communicably connected (wired connection) via the external connector 5co and the

connector

22 or 22B, but the present invention is limited to this. not a thing That is, in the feeder management system 20C shown in FIG. 7, each feeder carriage 5 and the feeder information management device 25 are connected via wireless communication. More specifically, each feeder carriage 5 constituting the feeder management system 20C has a wireless communication module 5cm connected to a plurality of feeder connectors 5cf coupled to the connectors 54 of the feeders 50 via input/output modules (not shown). include. A wireless communication module 29 capable of mutual communication with the wireless communication module 5cm of each feeder carriage 5 is connected to the feeder information management device 25 constituting the feeder management system 20C. The wireless communication modules 5 cm and 29 use optical communication, electromagnetic fields, radio waves, etc., and may or may not have directivity.

In the feeder management system 20C as well, it is possible to efficiently manage information related to a large number of feeders 50 while effectively using the feeder carriage 5, which is equipment related to the mounting of the parts P, as a rack. Furthermore, in the feeder management system 20C, it is possible to reduce the trouble of connecting each feeder carriage 5 and the feeder information management device 25. FIG. Further, each feeder carrier 5 constituting the feeder management system 20C may exchange information with the mounting control unit of the component mounter 4 via the wireless communication module 5cm. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the light emitter 27 may be fixed to the wireless communication module 5 cm installed on each feeder carriage 5 . In addition, in the

feeder management systems

20 and 20B as well, each feeder carriage 5 and the feeder information management device 25 may be connected via wireless communication, as in the feeder management system 20C. In this case, the external connector 5co of the feeder carriage 5 is replaced with a wireless communication module or the like, and the

connector

22 or 22B on the side of the feeder information management device 25 is replaced with a wireless communication module or the like that can mutually communicate with the wireless communication module of the feeder carriage 5. should be replaced with

Furthermore, in the feeder management system 20C, instead of the light emitter 27 fixed to the wireless communication module 5cm, a notification unit 500 as shown in FIG. 8 may be used as the notification section. The notification unit 500 includes the light emitter 27 and a connector 540 connectable to the feeder connector 5cf of the feeder set table 5S, and is supported by the feeder carriage 5 in the same manner as the feeder 50. That is, the notification unit 500 is inserted into the corresponding slot SLT so as to be coupled with the corresponding feeder connector 5cf of the feeder set table 5S. By supporting one such notification unit 500 on each of a plurality of feeder carriages 5, the light emitter 27 as a notification part can be easily added to the existing feeder carriage 5 without special modification. becomes possible. Needless to say, the notification unit 500 can be used in the

feeder management systems

20, 20B. In the

feeder management systems

20 and 20B, by supporting one notification unit 500 on each of the plurality of feeder carriages 5, the light emitters 27 can be omitted from the carriage connection portion 21 and the cable connector 22B.

Also, the feeder carriage 5 is detachably connected to the component mounter 4 and functions as a component supply section of the component mounter 4, but is not limited to this. In other words, the feeder carriage 5 may detachably support the feeder set table 5S that supports the plurality of feeders 50 . In this case, the feeder set stand 5S is connected to the feeder information management device 25 while being supported by the feeder carriage 5, removed from the feeder carriage 5, and connected to the mounter 4. FIG. Further, the feeder carriage 5 is not limited to one that is pushed by an operator and may be an unmanned carriage that supports a plurality of feeders 50 and is self-propelled.

The invention of the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is merely one specific form of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention column, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention column.

The invention of the present disclosure can be used in the manufacturing industry of boards on which components are mounted.

1 production line, 2 printing device, 3 printing inspection device, 4 parts mounter, 4c connector, 5 feeder carrier, 5F bogie frame, 5S feeder set table, 5cf feeder connector, 5cm wireless communication module, 5co external connector, 50 feeder , 51 tape reel, 52 tape feeding mechanism, 53 light emitting unit, 54, 540 connector, 55 feeder control device, 500 notification unit, 6 mounting inspection device, 7 reflow device, 8 reflow inspection device, 10 production control device, 20, 20B , 20C feeder management system, 21 truck connection part, 22 connector, 22B cable connector, 23 repeater, 24 communication unit, 25 feeder information management device, 25a input device, 25b display, 27 light emitter, 28 cable, 29 wireless communication module , Ap production area, As outside setup area, P part, S board, SLT slot, W drive wheel.

Claims

In a feeder management system for managing feeders that supply components to mounters,
a plurality of feeder carriages each capable of supporting and moving the plurality of feeders;
a management device to which the plurality of feeder carriages are communicably connected, and which acquires and manages information from the feeder carriage and the plurality of feeders;
a plurality of notification units associated with each of the plurality of feeder carriages and respectively operating in accordance with commands from the management device;
The management device identifies the feeder carriage supporting at least one feeder to be used or replaced based on the information, and controls the feeder to operate the notification unit corresponding to the identified feeder carriage. system.
In the feeder management system of claim 1,
further comprising a carriage connection section having a plurality of connection sections each communicatively connected to the management device and communicatively connected to the feeder carriage;
The feeder management system, wherein the plurality of notification units are arranged on the carriage connection unit so as to correspond to each of the plurality of connection units.
In the feeder management system according to claim 2,
The feeder carriage includes a connector used to connect the plurality of feeders to the mounting machine,
The feeder management system, wherein the connector is a connector that can be coupled with the connector of the feeder carriage.
In the feeder management system of claim 1,
The feeder carriage and the management device are communicably connected via a cable having a cable connector,
The feeder management system, wherein the notification unit is provided in the cable connector of the cable.
In the feeder management system according to claim 4,
A feeder management system, wherein the feeder carriage includes a connector couplable with the cable connector of the cable and used to connect a plurality of the feeders to the mounter.
In the feeder management system of claim 1,
The feeder management system, wherein each of the plurality of feeder carriages is communicably connected to the management device via wireless communication.
In the feeder management system according to claim 1 or 6,
The feeder carriage includes a plurality of feeder connectors each connectable with the feeder,
The feeder management system, wherein the notification unit is a notification unit that is supported by the feeder carrier in the same manner as the feeder and is connected to the management device through the feeder connector of the feeder carrier.
In the feeder management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The feeder has a light emitting part,
A feeder management system in which the management device causes the light emitting unit of the feeder to be used or replaced among the plurality of feeders supported by the plurality of feeder carriages to emit light.
In the feeder management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A feeder management system in which the feeder carriage is detachably connected to the mounting machine and functions as a component supply unit for the mounting machine.
In the feeder management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The feeder carriage detachably supports a feeder set table that supports the plurality of feeders,
A feeder management system in which the feeder set table is connected to the management device while being supported by the feeder carriage, and is detached from the feeder carriage and connected to the mounter.
In a feeder management method for managing a feeder that supplies components to a mounter,
communicatively connecting a plurality of feeder carriages each capable of supporting and moving a plurality of the feeders to a management device;
Aggregating the information of the feeder carriage and the plurality of feeders in the management device,
Each of the plurality of feeder carriages is associated with a plurality of notification units that operate in response to commands from the management device, respectively, and at least one of the feeders to be used or replaced is selected based on the information. Identifying the supported feeder carriage and activating the notification unit corresponding to the identified feeder carriage;
Feeder management method.