Parts installation method and parts mounting method and mounter

• US 6,466,837 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1999
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kabeshita, Akira, Mimura, Yoshihiro, Yoshida, Noriaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Von Buhr, Maria N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANK, ELLIOT L
• Application Number:
  US09/308,889
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 700/121, 700/179, 700/220, 700/259, 414/752.1, 414/749.1, 414/749.3, 297/40, 297/43
• US Class Current: 700/121
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0409 Sucking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0452 Mounting machines or lines comprising a plurality of tools for guiding different components to the same mounting place H05K13/0406, H05K13/041 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0478 Simultaneously mounting of different components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0812 the monitoring devices being integrated in the mounting machine, e.g. for monitoring components, leads, component placement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53178 Chip component

Abstract

A parts mounter including a unit for supplying a part, circuit board supporting means for fastening a circuit board when mounting a part, parts mounting means including a mechanism loaded with a suction nozzle and for vertically moving the suction nozzle when sucking and holding a part, and for positioning the suction nozzle at any position, and nozzle exchanging means including a mechanism for removing and installing a requested suction nozzle from and to the parts mounting means. The parts mounting means further includes a nozzle existence checking sensor for performing detection of conditions of a suction nozzle loaded to the parts mounting means.

Claims

1. A parts installation method for installing a part to a body, the part being held by a holding member for attaching to and detaching from a parts mounter according to the part to be held, comprising:

shifting a holding member;

determining, during said shifting, whether to exchange the holding member with a replacement holding member; and

exchanging, according to said determination, the holding member with a replacement holding member stored in a tool change section, the replacement holding member corresponding to a part to be held.

2. A parts installation method for installing a part to a body, the part being held by a suction nozzle for attaching to and detaching from a parts mounter according to the part to be held, comprising:

shifting a holding member;

determining, during said shifting, whether to exchange the suction nozzle with a replacement suction nozzle; and

exchanging, according to said determination, the suction nozzle with a replacement suction nozzle stored in a tool change section, the replacement suction nozzle corresponding to a part to be held by suction.

3. A parts mounting method, comprising:

shifting a parts mounting means equipped with a nozzle existence checking sensor located on each of two sides of a suction nozzle, the suction nozzle for attaching to and detaching from a parts mounter, and for moving vertically;

detecting, during shifting, with said nozzle existence checking sensor, existence of a suction nozzle moving vertically at least one suction near a nozzle loaded to said parts mounting means.

4. A parts mounting method for mounting a part to a body, the part being held by a suction nozzle while a parts mounting means equipped with a nozzle existence checking sensor is shifted, comprising:

positioning a plurality of suction nozzles loaded to said parts mounting means at a sensing position of said nozzle existence checking sensor, while shifting the parts mounting means equipped with the nozzle existence checking sensor;

raising and lowering said suction nozzles and detecting with said existence checking sensor existence of a suction nozzle positioned at the sensing position; and

performing said positioning a plurality of suction nozzles and raising and lowering said suction nozzles for a plurality of loaded specified suction nozzles in turn.

5. The parts mounting method according to claim 4, wherein the nozzle existence checking sensor is a photo sensor, and said raising and lowering shields an optical path of said photo sensor for checking existence of the nozzle.

6. The parts mounting method according to claim 4, wherein detecting existence of a suction nozzle is performed by the nozzle existence checking sensor while the parts mounting means is shifting to a parts disposal position.

7. The electronic parts mounting method according to claim 4, wherein detecting existence of a suction nozzle is performed by the nozzle existence checking sensor, while the parts mounting means is shifting to a nozzle exchanging means.

8. A parts installation device comprising:

an installation head including a holding member for moving vertically and for freely attaching and detaching said holding member from said installation head according to a part to be held; and

a tool change section comprising a replacement holding member for attachment to said installation head and in which said holding member is exchanged with said replacement holding member by said installation head, wherein

said installation head includes a member detector for detecting existence of vertical-direction movement of said replacement holding member in said tool change section.

9. A parts mounter comprising:

parts supply means including a unit for supplying a part;

circuit board supporting means for fastening a circuit board when mounting a part;

parts mounting means including a mechanism loaded with a suction nozzle and adapted for vertically moving said suction nozzle when holding a part by suction, and for positioning said suction nozzle at any position; and

nozzle exchanging means including a mechanism for removing and installing a requested suction nozzle from and to said parts mounting means, wherein

said parts mounting means further comprises a nozzle existence checking sensor for performing detection of conditions of a suction nozzle loaded to said parts mounting means.

10. The parts mounter according to claim 9, wherein a vacuum sensor is attached for sensing pressure of suction means of the suction nozzle.