Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor arrangement for selecting among plural sources or... – Condition responsive control means including sensing...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-20
2001-07-10
Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor arrangement for selecting among plural sources or...
Condition responsive control means including sensing...
C414S416060, C029S740000, C029S741000, C029S832000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257391
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a component feed apparatus for feeding components to a working machine such as a component mounting apparatus which sucks electronic components thereby mounting the components to a circuit board, and a method for feeding components with the apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional component feed apparatus of a type referred to above is generally constituted as is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-221326.
FIG. 4
shows the structure of a conventional component feed apparatus. In the apparatus, a first feed table
2
and a second feed table
3
, capable of holding a plurality of component feed cassettes
1
thereon, are movably arranged on a rail
4
. Each table is guided and supported by a driving means provided thereat to reciprocate in a direction of an arrangement of the component feed cassettes
1
. Reference numeral
5
denotes a mounting head which sucks and carries the components in the component feed cassettes
1
for mounting on a board
7
that is positioned by an XY table
6
.
In the thus-constituted apparatus, when component feed cassettes which contain the same kind of electronic components are respectively set to the feed tables
2
,
3
, one table can be switched to the other table on the occurrence of a shortage of components at the one table. In the meantime, components are replenished to the one table at which the component shortage has occurred. For instance, when components are being fed to the mounting head
5
from the first feed table
2
as indicated in the drawing, and if the first feed table
2
happens to be short of components, the first feed table
2
and the second feed table
3
are moved leftward in
FIG. 4
, then components are fed from the second feed table
3
to the mounting head
5
while components are replenished to the first feed table
2
.
In the case where there are a variety of types of components to be used, different types of components are stored in feed cassettes
1
set to the feed tables
2
,
3
, so that the components are fed to the mounting head
5
through switching of the tables
2
,
3
.
As enhanced productivity is currently demanded without expanding a factory scale, the electronic component mounting apparatus alike is required to be improved in productivity per area and operation rate.
According to the above prior art apparatus, however, not only a component feed space F, but standby spaces G, H at both sides of the feed space F should be secured because of the linear side-by-side arrangement of the feed tables
2
,
3
in the same direction as a board transfer direction x. This is an obstacle to shortening of a production line, i.e., enhancement in productivity per area.
Additionally, in the case where one feed table becomes short of components during the component supply, both feed tables are moved to position the other feed table at a component feed position, resulting in deterioration of component feed efficiency.
The present invention has for its object to provide an apparatus and a method for feeding components in a compact arrangement with high productivity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to accomplish this and other objects, the present invention is constructed as follows.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component feed apparatus which comprises:
a first feed table loading a plurality of component feed cassettes thereon and for moving so that the table can be positioned in a right-left direction which is an arrangement direction of the cassettes;
a second feed table located at a back of the first feed table and loading and arranging a plurality of component feed cassettes thereon in the right-left direction; and
a component transfer unit set at a lateral side of the first feed table and for moving so that the unit can be positioned in the right-left direction, thereby receiving the component from the component feed cassette on the second feed table and sending the component forward,
wherein when a leading end part of each component feed cassette on the first feed table or a leading end part of the component transfer unit is positioned at a component feed point, the component at the position is supplied to a working machine located forward of the apparatus.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the component feed apparatus of the first aspect wherein the first feed table and the component transfer unit are guided and supported by a common rail in a manner to move independently of each other in the right-left direction.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the component feed apparatus of the first or second aspect wherein the second feed table is adapted to move so that the second feed table can be positioned in the right-left direction in.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the component feed apparatus of the first or second aspect, is constructed so that the second feed table is fixed.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the component feed apparatus of the first, third, or fourth aspect, wherein the first feed table and the component transfer unit are coupled integrally in one body.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the component feed apparatus of the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspect, wherein the transfer unit is adapted to receive a plurality of components from the component feed cassettes on the second feed table and keep the components before supplying to the working machine.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the component feed apparatus according to any one of the first through sixth aspects, wherein component feed cassettes storing components of the same kind as those of the component feed cassettes on the first feed table are loaded on the second feed table in order to cope with component shortage consequent to component consumption, and the apparatus further comprises a control part for controlling so that in case of component shortage at the component feed cassette on the first feed table, the component from the corresponding component feed cassette on the second feed table is supplied to the working machine via the component transfer unit.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the component feed apparatus of the seventh aspect wherein the control part controls the component transfer unit and the second feed table to move relative to each other when the component feed cassette on the first feed table is present at the component feed point, so that the component transfer unit is always at a position where the component transfer unit can receive the component from the component feed cassette on the second feed table storing components of the same kind as the component feed cassette on the first feed table.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the component feed apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein component feed cassettes storing components of the same kind as those of the component feed cassettes on the first feed table are loaded on the second feed table symmetrically in the right-left direction to the component feed cassettes on the first feed table in order to cope with component shortage consequent to component consumption. The apparatus further comprises a control part which positions the component transfer unit always at a position where the component transfer unit can receive the component from the component feed cassette on the second feed table corresponding to the component feed cassette on the first feed table when the component feed cassette on the first feed table is located at the component feed point, and controls so that in case of the component shortage at the component feed cassette on the first feed table, the component from the corresponding component feed cassette on the second feed table is supplied to the working machine via
Nishimori Yuzo
Seno Makito
Tanino Masato
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Valenza Joseph E.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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