Electronic components mounting device and the mounting method

• US 6,539,622 B2
• Filed: 12/06/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Yusuke, Hidese, Wataru
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boswell, Alan M.
• Application Number:
  US09/455,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 839/291, 839/292, 198/358, 298/32, 298/34, 298/36, 297/40, 297/41, 298/33, 297/43
• US Class Current: 29/832
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0417 Feeding with belts or tapes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0419 tape feeders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49133 with component orienting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49137 Different components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53178 Chip component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53191 Means to apply vacuum directly to position or hold work part

Abstract

An electronic components mounting device has a plurality of feeder bases attached with tape feeders thereon, and a guide rail and a cylinder for drawing each of the feeder bases independently to a position for replenishing electronic components. When an electronic component runs out of the storage, only the feeder base that is carrying the relevant tape feeder gone out of the stock is drawn to a place for parts replenishment; in the mean time, the mounting actions keep on going by making use of tape feeders attached on other feeder base. Machine stop times can be decreased with the mounting device.

Claims

1. A method of mounting electronic components on a substrate with a transfer head, said method comprising:

attaching a plurality of first tape feeders on a first feeder base and a plurality of second tape feeders on a second feeder base, wherein;

the first and second feeder bases are disposed in a series along a carrying path for carrying the substrate;

each of the first and second feeder bases is kept stationary in a direction parallel to the carrying path; and

each of the tape feeders is capable of storing some of the electronic components on a tape;

transferring the electronic components from at least one of the first tape feeders on the first base to the substrate with the transfer head;

guiding an empty portion of the tape, from which the electronic components have been picked up by the transfer head, of each of the plurality of first tape feeders into a discharge duct with a discharge guide section; and

replenishing the electronic components of a first tape feeder that has run out of electronic components by drawing the first feeder base away from the carrying path to a position of replenishment of the electronic components while;

(1) keeping tape front cut ends in the discharge duct;

(2) maintaining in position the second tape feeders and the second feeder base;

(3) moving the transfer head horizontally; and

(4) continuing transferring of electronic components with the transfer head from at least one of the second tape feeders to the substrate.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least one reclaim box;

cutting off a portion of the empty portion of the tape, from which the electronic components have been picked up by the transfer head, of at least one of the plurality of first and second tape feeders; and

collecting the portion of the tape that has been cut off in the reclaim box.

3. A method of mounting electronic components on a substrate with a transfer head, said method comprising:

placing a plurality of first tape feeders on a first feeder base and a plurality of second parts feeders on a second feeder base, wherein;

the first and second feeder bases are disposed at a pickup location of the transfer head in a series along a carrying path for carrying the substrate;

each of the first and second feeder bases is kept stationary in a direction parallel to the carrying path; and

each of the tape feeders is capable of storing some of the electronic components on a tape;

transferring the electronic components from at least one of the first tape feeders to the substrate with the transfer head by picking up the electronic components at the pick up location;

guiding an empty portion of the tape, from which the electronic components have been picked up by the transfer head, of each of the plurality of first tape feeders into a discharge duct with a discharge guide section; and

replenishing the electronic components of a first tape feeder that has run out of electronic components by drawing the first feeder base away from the carrying path to an area that is out of the pick up location while;

(1) keeping tape front cut ends in the discharge duct;

(2) maintaining in position the second tape feeders and the second feeder base;

(3) moving the transfer head horizontally; and

(4) continuing transferring of electronic components with the transfer head from at least one of the second tape feeders to the substrate.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

providing at least one reclaim box;

cutting off a portion of the empty portion of the tape, from which the electronic components have been picked up by the transfer head, of at least one of the plurality of first and second tape feeders, and

collecting the portion of the tape that has been cut off in the reclaim box.

5. A method of mounting electronic components on a substrate with a transfer head, said method comprising:

attaching a plurality of first tape feeders on a first feeder base and a plurality of second tape feeders on a second feeder base, wherein;

the first and second feeder bases are disposed in a series along a carrying path for carrying the substrate;

each of the first and second feeder bases is kept stationary in a direction parallel to the carrying path; and

each of the tape feeders is capable of storing some of the electronic components on a tape;

transferring the electronic components from at least one of the first tape feeders and at least one of the second tape feeders to the substrate with the transfer head;

guiding an empty portion of the tape, from which the electronic components have been picked up by the transfer head, of each of the plurality of first and second tape feeders into a discharge duct with a discharge guide section; and

replenishing the electronic components of a first tape feeder that has run out of electronic components by drawing the first feeder base away from the carrying path to a position of replenishment of the electronic components while;

(1) keeping tape front cut ends in the discharge duct;

(2) maintaining in position the second tape feeders and the second feeder base;

(3) moving the transfer head horizontally; and

(4) continuing transferring of electronic components with the transfer head from at least one of the second tape feeders to the substrate.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

providing at least one reclaim box;

cutting off a portion of the empty portion of the tape, from which the electronic components have been picked up by the transfer head, of at least one of the plurality of first and second tape feeders; and

collecting the portion of the tape that has been cut off in the reclaim box.