JP7655718B2 - Tape cutting device, automatic tape loading device, and splicing device - Google Patents

Description

This specification relates to a tape cutting and processing device, an automatic tape loading device, and a splicing device.

Generally, automatic tape loading devices that automatically load carrier tapes that contain components into tape feeders and splicing devices that join a pair of carrier tapes using a splicing tape are equipped with a tape cutting processing device that cuts off the leading end of the carrier tape (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The carrier tape is wound on a tape reel. After being pulled out from the tape reel, the carrier tape is inserted into the tape inlet of the transport device and transported in the transport direction while being guided by a guide.

The above-mentioned tape cutting processing device is equipped with a cutting device. This cutting device cuts a predetermined portion of the carrier tape that is inserted into the tape inlet of the conveying device and conveyed in the conveying direction. This predetermined portion is, for example, a portion that positions the component located at the beginning of the carrier tape at a predetermined distance from the tip of the carrier tape. After being cut at the predetermined portion, the carrier tape is sent in the conveying direction along a guide and loaded into the tape feeder.

International Publication No. 2016/203628

However, in the above-mentioned tape cutting processing device, after the cutting process of the carrier tape is performed by the cutting device, there is no confirmation as to whether the cutting of the carrier tape was successful or not. Therefore, if the cutting of the carrier tape fails and the normal transport is carried out thereafter assuming that the cutting was successful, the carrier tape may be unexpectedly deformed or damaged as it is transported. If such a situation occurs, the parts housed in the carrier tape may fall and become unusable, and furthermore, the carrier tape may have to be repaired, causing the device to stop operating.

The present specification aims to provide a tape cutting processing device, an automatic tape loading device, and a splicing device that can properly transport the carrier tape after cutting by checking whether the carrier tape has been cut successfully.

This specification discloses a tape cutting processing device that cuts a carrier tape wound around a tape reel and containing components, the tape cutting processing device comprising: a transport device that transports the carrier tape along a tape transport path; a cutting device that cuts a predetermined portion of the carrier tape transported in the transport direction by the transport device; a cutting success/failure determination unit that determines whether the cutting of the carrier tape by the cutting device was performed normally; and a control unit that performs a predetermined process on the carrier tape when the cutting success/failure determination unit determines that the cutting was not performed normally.

According to the present disclosure, after the cutting process of the carrier tape is performed by the cutting device, if the cutting is not performed normally, a predetermined procedure is performed on the carrier tape, so that the carrier tape can be transported properly after cutting.

1 is a schematic top view of an automatic tape loading device including a tape cutting processing device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a top view of the carrier tape according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the tape feeder of the first embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram of a tape cutting processing device according to a first embodiment; 11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining a method for determining whether cutting of a carrier tape has been performed normally in the tape cutting processing device of the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart of an example of a control routine executed in the tape cutting processing device of the first embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining a method for determining whether cutting of the carrier tape has been performed normally in the tape cutting processing device according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control routine executed in the tape cutting processing device of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a splicing device including a tape cutting processing device according to one modified embodiment.

Below, we will explain embodiments of the tape cutting and processing device, automatic tape loading device, and splicing device related to the present disclosure.

[First embodiment]
1-1. Overview The automatic tape loading device 1 according to the first embodiment is a device that automatically loads a carrier tape into a tape feeder. Specifically, the automatic tape loading device 1 is a device that automatically sets the carrier tape in the tape feeding mechanism of the tape feeder and sets the cover tape of the carrier tape in the cover tape feeding mechanism of the tape feeder. Hereinafter, the transport direction in which the carrier tape is transported in the automatic tape loading device 1 will be referred to as the transport direction X+, and the direction opposite to the transport direction X+ will be referred to as the counter transport direction X-. Furthermore, the transport direction X+ and the counter transport direction X- will be collectively referred to as the transport direction X, as appropriate.

1-2. Carrier Tape Structure The carrier tape 80 is a tape member that houses a plurality of components in a row in the tape longitudinal direction. As shown in Fig. 2, the carrier tape 80 has a base tape 81 and a cover tape 82. The carrier tape 80 is formed by bonding the cover tape 82 to the upper surface of the base tape 81 with an adhesive.

The base tape 81 is made of a flexible material such as paper or resin. The base tape 81 has a storage hole 81a capable of storing a component, and a feed hole 81b with which a protrusion of a sprocket, described later, engages. The carrier tape 80 may be one in which the storage hole 81a of the base tape 81 penetrates and the bottom surface of the storage hole 81a is closed by a bottom tape, or it may be an embossed type in which the bottom surface of the storage hole 81a of the base tape 81 is closed by a wall.

The accommodation holes 81a are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the tape. The components accommodated in the accommodation holes 81a are, for example, microelectronic components of 0201 size (0.2 mm x 0.1 mm) that are mounted on an electronic board. The feed holes 81b are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the tape that are the same as or different from the intervals of the accommodation holes 81a. The feed holes 81b are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction of the tape on one side of the tape width direction.

The cover tape 82 closes the top surface of the accommodation hole 81a of the base tape 81, and functions to prevent the component accommodated in the accommodation hole 81a from popping out. The cover tape 82 is made of a transparent polymer film or the like. The cover tape 82 is bonded to the base tape 81 on both sides of the width of the accommodation hole 81a, avoiding the accommodation hole 81a in the carrier tape 80.

1-3. Configuration of the Tape Feeder The tape feeder 90 is a device that feeds components to be mounted on a board to a component removal position L by transporting the carrier tape 80. The tape feeder 90 is removably mounted in a slot of a component mounting machine provided on a board production line that produces boards. The components supplied from the tape feeder 90 to the component removal position L are removed from the carrier tape 80 using a suction nozzle or the like attached to the mounting head of the component mounting machine, and are then mounted on the board.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tape feeder 90 has a feeder body 91, a reel housing 92, a tape feed mechanism 93, a tape feed guide 94, a tape holding section 95, a cover tape feed mechanism 97, and a cover tape holding section 98.

The feeder body 91 is a section where the carrier tape 80 inserted at the rear end side is transported toward the front end. The feeder body 91 is formed in a flat box shape. The reel storage section 92 is a section where the disk-shaped tape reel 89 around which the carrier tape 80 is wound is stored. The reel storage section 92 is located on the rear end side of the feeder body 91.

The tape feed mechanism 93 is a part that pitch-feeds the carrier tape 80 pulled out from the tape reel 89 housed in the reel housing 92. The tape feed mechanism 93 is arranged on the front end side of the feeder body 91. The tape feed mechanism 93 has a sprocket 93a rotatably supported on the feeder body 91 and a motor 93b that rotates the sprocket 93a. The sprocket 93a has an engagement protrusion that engages with the feed hole 81b of the carrier tape 80. The motor 93b intermittently rotates the sprocket 93a so that the carrier tape 80 is transported at a predetermined pitch. The tape feed mechanism 93 may be arranged not only on the front end side of the feeder body 91 but also on the rear end side.

The tape feed guide 94 is a part that guides the carrier tape 80 pulled out from the tape reel 89 from the rear end side to the front end side. The tape feed guide 94 is provided on the upper part of the feeder main body 91. The tape feed guide 94 forms a tape path that guides the carrier tape 80 between the reel storage section 92 and the tape feed mechanism section 93.

The tape holding section 95 is a section that holds the carrier tape 80, which is pitch-fed by the tape feed mechanism section 93, so that the sprocket 93a does not disengage from the feed hole 81b. The tape holding section 95 covers the upper surface of the carrier tape 80 from above. The upper surface of the tape holding section 95 is provided with a cover tape peeling section (not shown) and an opening hole (not shown). This cover tape peeling section is a section that peels off the cover tape 82 from the base tape 81 of the carrier tape 80. This opening hole is provided at the component removal position L and is a section for removing the components stored in the storage holes 81a of the carrier tape 80 from which the cover tape 82 has been peeled off.

The cover tape feed mechanism 97 is a mechanism that feeds the cover tape 82 peeled off from the base tape 81 in the counter-feed direction X-, which is opposite to the feed direction X+ in which the carrier tape 80 is fed. The cover tape feed mechanism 97 is located at the lower center of the feeder body 91. The cover tape feed mechanism 97 has a gear 97a rotatably supported on the feeder body 91, and a motor 97b that drives the gear 97a to rotate. The cover tape holding section 98 is a section that holds the cover tape 82 peeled off from the base tape 81 so that the cover tape 82 does not come off the feeder body 91.

The carrier tape 80 pulled out from the tape reel 89 is processed so that the cover tape 82 is peeled off from the base tape 81, the components in the storage holes 81a of the base tape 81 are set at the component removal position L, and the peeled cover tape 82 is guided outside the feeder body 91.

1-4. Configuration of the automatic tape loading device The automatic tape loading device 1 is installed on a base 2, as shown in Fig. 1. The automatic tape loading device 1 includes a feeder holding table 10, a tape cutting and processing device 20, a transfer device 30, a tape transport device 40, a first opening device 50, a second opening device 60, and a cover tape loading device 70.

The feeder holding table 10 is a base that holds the tape feeder 90. The tape cutting processing device 20 is a device that cuts a predetermined portion of the carrier tape 80, as described in detail later. The transfer device 30 is a device that transfers the carrier tape 80 cut by the tape cutting processing device 20 to the tape transfer device 40. The tape transfer device 40 is a device that transfers the carrier tape 80 to the tape feeder 90 held on the feeder holding table 10.

The first opening device 50 is a device that releases the carrier tape 80 held by the tape holding portion 95 of the tape feeder 90, and releases the carrier tape 80. The second opening device 60 is a device that releases the cover tape 82 held by the cover tape holding portion 98 of the tape feeder 90, and releases the cover tape 82. The cover tape loading device 70 is a device that loads the released cover tape 82 in the tape feeder 90.

The transfer device 30 has a guide 31, a gear motor 32, an air cylinder 33, a base 34, and a moving device 35. The guide 31 is a member that guides the carrier tape 80 cut by the tape cutting processing device 20 along the transport direction X. The gear motor 32 is a motor that rotates a drive roller (not shown) arranged in the guide 31. The air cylinder 33 is a member that raises and lowers the support plate 36 on which the guide 31 and the gear motor 32 are arranged. The base 34 is a seat on which the air cylinder 33 is arranged and fixed. The moving device 35 is a device that moves the base 34 in the horizontal direction Y perpendicular to the transport direction X. The moving device 35 is composed of a pair of rails 35a and an air cylinder 35b.

The tape transport device 40 has a guide 41, two drive rollers 42, a gear motor 43, a base 44, and a moving device 45. The guide 41 is a member that guides the carrier tape 80 along the transport direction X. The two drive rollers 42 are arranged apart from each other in the transport direction X. The gear motor 43 is a motor that drives each drive roller 42 to rotate. The base 44 is a seat on which a support plate (not shown) on which the guide 41, drive roller 42, and gear motor 43 are arranged is fixed. The moving device 45 is a device that moves the base 44 in the horizontal direction Y. The moving device 45 is composed of a pair of rails 45a and an air cylinder 45b.

The transfer device 30 and the tape transport device 40 are arranged to sandwich the tape feeder 90 held on the feeder holding table 10 in the horizontal direction Y, and are configured to be able to approach and retract from the tape feeder 90. When the tape feeder 90 is held on the feeder holding table 10 and the transfer device 30 and the tape transport device 40 are each close to the tape feeder 90, the carrier tape 80 is guided by the guide 31 of the transfer device 30, and is further guided through the gap between the guide 41 of the tape transport device 40 and the tape feed guide 94 of the tape feeder 90.

The first opening device 50 and the second opening device 60 can each move forward and backward in the horizontal direction Y toward the tape feeder 90 held on the feeder holding table 10.

The first opening device 50 has a lift lever 51, a support base 52, and an air cylinder 53. The lift lever 51 is a member that raises and lowers a lever (not shown) of the tape holding portion 95 in the vertical direction Z. The support base 52 supports the lift lever 51 so that the tip of the lift lever 51 protrudes toward the tape feeder 90. The air cylinder 53 is fixed to the base 44 of the tape transfer device 40. The air cylinder 53 can move the support base 52 in the vertical direction Z by air from an air supply source, thereby raising and lowering the lift lever 51.

The second opening device 60 has a lift lever 61, a support base 62, an air cylinder 63, a base 64, a rail 65, and an air cylinder 66. The lift lever 61 is a member that moves a lever (not shown) of the cover tape holding portion 98 in the transport direction X. The support base 62 supports the lift lever 61 so that the tip of the lift lever 61 protrudes toward the tape feeder 90. The air cylinder 63 is fixed on the base 64. The air cylinder 63 can move the support base 62 in the transport direction X by using air from an air supply source to move the lift lever 61 in the transport direction X.

The base 64 is attached so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction Y via a pair of rails 65. Each of the pair of rails 65 extends in the horizontal direction Y and is disposed at a predetermined distance from each other in the conveying direction X. The air cylinder 66 is capable of moving the base 64 in the horizontal direction Y using air from an external air supply source (not shown).

The cover tape loading device 70 has a path forming device 71 and a connecting device 72. The path forming device 71 is a device that shapes and arranges a temporary tape (not shown) into a shape that follows the disposal path of the cover tape 82. The connecting device 72 is a device that connects the tip of the cover tape 82 to the tip of the temporary tape formed by the path forming device 71. The path forming device 71 and the connecting device 72 are mounted and fixed on a pedestal 74 that can slide in the horizontal direction Y.

The tape cutting processing device 20 cuts the carrier tape 80 before the carrier tape 80 is loaded into the tape feeder 90. Specifically, the carrier tape 80 is cut so that the distance from the tip of the tape to the leading component is a predetermined distance.

The carrier tape 80 may be cut so that the base tape 81 is cut so that the distance from the tip of the tape to the leading component is a predetermined distance, and the cover tape 82 may be cut so that it protrudes a predetermined length further toward the conveying direction X+ than the base tape 81. The carrier tape 80 may be cut so that the base tape 81 and the cover tape 82 are cut simultaneously.

The tape cutting device 20 is disposed between the tape inlet of the automatic tape loading device 1 and the tape feeder 90 held by the feeder holder 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the tape cutting device 20 includes a conveying device 21, a cutting device 22, a sensor 23, and a control device 24.

The conveying device 21 is a device that conveys the carrier tape 80 along the tape conveying path. The conveying device 21 has a tape conveying path 21a, a conveying block 21b, a sprocket 21c, a motor 21d, a sprocket tooth detection device 21e, and a peeling member 21f.

The tape transport path 21a is a path along which the carrier tape 80 inserted into the tape inlet of the automatic tape loader 1 is transported. The transport block 21b is a block-shaped member that forms the tape transport path 21a. The tape transport path 21a is formed by a guide groove that extends in a straight line from the insertion opening Le of the transport block 21b to the exit. The carrier tape 80 is transported along the tape transport path 21a while being guided by the guide groove.

A lifting block (not shown) that can rise and fall is disposed above and faces the transport block 21b. A pressing member (not shown) is held on this lifting block so that it can move in the vertical direction Z. This pressing member is biased downward by a biasing member, and presses the carrier tape 80 that is transported along the tape transport path 21a against the transport surface of the guide groove of the transport block 21b.

The sprocket 21c is a rotating member that engages with the feed hole 81b of the carrier tape 80 and transports the carrier tape 80 by rotating. The sprocket 21c can rotate in both a forward rotation direction that transports the carrier tape 80 in the transport direction X+ and a reverse rotation direction that transports the carrier tape 80 in the reverse transport direction X-. The sprocket 21c is disposed below the tape transport path 21a. The sprocket 21c has teeth that engage with the feed hole 81b of the carrier tape 80. The sprocket 21c has multiple teeth arranged in the circumferential direction. The teeth of the sprocket 21c engage with the feed hole 81b of the carrier tape 80 when the teeth are at the top during the rotation of the sprocket 21c.

The motor 21d is a drive source that rotates the sprocket 21c. With the feed holes 81b of the carrier tape 80 engaged with the teeth of the sprocket 21c, the motor 21d can rotate the sprocket 21c so that a predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80 is positioned at the cutting position Lc as shown in FIG. 5(A). The motor 21d is, for example, a stepping motor.

The sprocket tooth detection device 21e is a device that detects when one of the teeth of the sprocket 21c reaches a predetermined position. The sprocket tooth detection device 21e is disposed near the sprocket 21c. The sprocket tooth detection device 21e is, for example, a photosensor, and performs the above detection by reading marks or the like attached to the side of the sprocket 21c.

The peeling member 21f is a member that peels off the cover tape 82 from the base tape 81 of the carrier tape 80 being transported along the tape transport path 21a. The peeling member 21f is provided on the pressing member of the lifting block. The peeling member 21f is disposed downstream in the transport direction from the position where the sensor 23 is disposed. The peeling member 21f is also capable of folding back the cover tape 82 that has been peeled off from the base tape 81 in the counter transport direction X- and further in the transport direction X+.

The cutting device 22 is a device that cuts a predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80 that is transported in the transport direction X+ along the tape transport path by the transport device 21. The cutting device 22 is disposed downstream in the transport direction of the transport device 21. The cutting device 22 has a cutter 22a, an air cylinder 22b, and a cutter receiving stand 22c.

The cutter 22a is a tool that cuts the carrier tape 80 with its cutting edge. The cutting edge of the cutter 22a has a width greater than the width of the carrier tape 80. The cutter 22a cuts the carrier tape 80 at the cutting position Lc. The cutting edge of the cutter 22a faces upward. The cutter 22a is detachably and replaceably attached to the fixed part. The air cylinder 22b is a member that raises and lowers the cutter 22a with air from an air supply source. The raising and lowering of the cutter 22a may be driven by a motor.

The cutter receiving base 22c is a member against which the cutting edge of the cutter 22a is pressed. The cutter receiving base 22c is disposed above the cutter 22a across the tape transport path 21a. The cutter receiving base 22c is made of a resin material so that the cutting edge of the cutter 22a is less likely to wear when it is raised and lowered. The cutter receiving base 22c is fixed to a support plate (not shown) integrated into the lifting block via an elastic body or the like.

When a predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80 is positioned at the cutting position Lc, the cutting device 22 uses the air cylinder 22b to raise the cutter 22a until it is pressed against the cutter receiving base 22c, thereby cutting the predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80.

The sensor 23 is a detection device that detects the state of the carrier tape 80 transported by the transport device 21 along the tape transport path 21a. Specifically, the sensor 23 can detect the leading end of the carrier tape 80, the storage hole 81a of the carrier tape 80, the parts stored in the storage hole 81a, the tape type of the parts, the pitch between the two storage holes 81a, and the like. The sensor 23 is disposed downstream in the transport direction from the engagement position where the sprocket 21c of the transport device 21 engages with the feed hole 81b of the carrier tape 80, and is disposed upstream in the transport direction from the cutting position Lc. The detection position Ld by the sensor 23 is a position that is a predetermined distance D (see Figures 4 and 5) upstream in the transport direction from the cutting position Lc.

The sensor 23 has a pair of photosensors 23a, 23b. The pair of photosensors 23a, 23b are arranged facing each other above and below across the tape transport path 21a at the detection position Ld. The sensor 23 detects the presence or absence of the carrier tape 80, the distinction between the storage holes 81a of the carrier tape 80 and the tape portion between the storage holes 81a, and the presence or absence of a component in the storage hole 81a by changes in the amount of light. Note that the sensor 23 may be a camera instead of a photosensor.

The control device 24 is a device that performs various controls such as conveying by the conveying device 21 and cutting by the cutting device 22. A detection signal output by the sensor 23 is input to the control device 24. The control device 24 performs various controls based on the detection signal from the sensor 23. The motor 21d of the conveying device 21, the air cylinder 22b of the cutting device 22, and the notification device 25 are connected to the control device 24.

The control device 24 has a transport control unit 24a and a cutting control unit 24b. The transport control unit 24a is a unit that controls the motor 21d so that a predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80 is positioned at the cutting position Lc. The cutting control unit 24b is a unit that controls the air cylinder 22b so that the cutter 22a cuts the predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80 with the predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80 positioned at the cutting position Lc.

The control device 24 also has a cutting success/failure determination unit 24c and a treatment control unit 24d. The cutting success/failure determination unit 24c is a unit that determines whether the cutting of the carrier tape 80 by the cutting device 22 was performed normally, that is, whether the leading end side of the carrier tape 80 beyond a predetermined point Q was completely cut off by being separated from the trailing end side. The treatment control unit 24d is a unit that performs a predetermined treatment on the carrier tape 80 when the cutting success/failure determination unit 24c determines that the cutting of the carrier tape 80 by the cutting device 22 was not performed normally.

The notification device 25 is a device that notifies the operator. The notification device 25 is, for example, a display device or an audio output device. The notification device 25 may be mounted on the automatic tape loader 1. The above-mentioned processing control unit 24d can operate the notification device 25 to perform a notification processing to notify the operator of the cutting failure when the cutting success/failure determination unit 24c determines that the cutting of the carrier tape 80 by the cutting device 22 was not performed normally.

1-6. Operation of the Tape Cutting Device The operator (worker) first pulls out the carrier tape 80 from the tape reel 89, and with the lifting block raised, inserts the carrier tape 80 into the tape inlet, i.e., the insertion port Le, of the automatic tape loader 1 to a predetermined position, and then lowers the lifting block so that the feed holes 81b of the carrier tape 80 do not come off the teeth of the sprocket 21c.

When the carrier tape 80 is inserted to a predetermined position, the tape insertion is detected by a predetermined tape detection sensor (not shown), and the detection signal is supplied to the control device 24. When the detection signal is input to the control device 24, the transport control unit 24a starts the motor 21d of the transport device 21 to rotate the sprocket 21c. When the sprocket 21c is rotated with the carrier tape 80 inserted to a predetermined position, or when the operator inserts the carrier tape 80 further until it is engaged with the sprocket 21c with the sprocket 21c rotated, the transport device 21 transports the carrier tape 80 in the transport direction X+ along the tape transport path 21a with the sprocket 21c engaged with the feed hole 81b.

As described above, while the carrier tape 80 is being transported in the transport direction X+ along the tape transport path 21a by the transport device 21, the sensor 23 provided at the detection position Ld detects the leading end of the carrier tape 80 and the most distal storage hole 81a (i.e., the leading component) among the storage holes 81a of the carrier tape 80 in which a component is stored.

When the leading component is detected, the transport control unit 24a sets a location on the carrier tape 80 that is a predetermined distance toward the tip of the tape from the leading component as a specified location Q. The transport control unit 24a then controls the motor 21d to rotate the sprocket 21c in the forward direction so that the specified location Q set on the carrier tape 80 is positioned at the cutting position Lc by the cutting device 22. In this case, the transport device 21 transports the carrier tape 80 in the transport direction X+ until the specified location Q of the carrier tape 80 is positioned at the cutting position Lc.

When the predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80 is positioned at the cutting position Lc (positive judgment in step S100 shown in FIG. 6), the cutting control unit 24b executes a cutting process in which the air cylinder 22b of the cutting device 22 is actuated to raise the cutter 22a (step S110). In this case, the cutting device 22 raises the cutter 22a until the predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80 is cut. When the cutter 22a is raised with the predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80 positioned at the cutting position Lc, the carrier tape 80 is cut at the predetermined portion Q.

After the cutting process of the carrier tape 80 is performed by the cutting device 22, the transport control unit 24a controls the motor 21d to rotate the sprocket 21c in the reverse direction so that the carrier tape 80 is transported back in the counter-transport direction X- (step S120). The return transport distance of the carrier tape 80 is set to be greater than the predetermined distance D between the cutting position Lc and the detection position Ld by the sensor 23, and is equal to or less than the distance (D+E) obtained by adding the distance E between the predetermined point Q of the carrier tape 80 and the tape tip (see FIG. 5A) to the predetermined distance D. In this case, the transport device 21 transports the carrier tape 80 back in the counter-transport direction X- by the return transport distance that exceeds the predetermined distance D.

When the above-mentioned return transport of the carrier tape 80 is performed, the cutting success/failure determination unit 24c determines whether the cutting of the carrier tape 80 by the cutting device 22 was performed normally after the return transport. Specifically, the cutting success/failure determination unit 24c determines whether any part of the carrier tape 80 remains on the tip side of the predetermined location Q on the carrier tape 80 based on the detection signal output by the sensor 23 at the timing when the return transport of the carrier tape 80 is completed (step S130).

When the cutting of the carrier tape 80 is successful (see FIG. 5 (B-1)), no part of the carrier tape 80 remains on the tip side of the specified point Q, so when the above-mentioned return transport of the carrier tape 80 is performed, the carrier tape 80 is not present in the detection range of the sensor 23, as shown in FIG. 5 (C-1). Therefore, after the return transport of the carrier tape 80 is performed, when the cutting success/failure determination unit 24c determines that the carrier tape 80 is not present based on the detection signal of the sensor 23 (positive determination in step S130), it determines that the cutting of the carrier tape 80 by the cutting device 22 was performed normally (step S140).

When this determination is made, the conveying control unit 24a controls the motor 21d to rotate the sprocket 21c in the forward direction so that the carrier tape 80 is conveyed in the conveying direction X+ (step S150). In this case, the conveying device 21 conveys the carrier tape 80 in the conveying direction X+. When this process is performed, the carrier tape 80 is transferred to the next process (specifically, the guide 31 of the transfer device 30) (see FIG. 5 (D-1)) and loaded into the tape feeder 90.

On the other hand, when cutting of the carrier tape 80 has failed (see FIG. 5 (B-2)), the tip side of the carrier tape 80 remains on the carrier tape 80 beyond the predetermined point Q, so when the above-mentioned return transport of the carrier tape 80 is performed, the carrier tape 80 is present in the detection range of the sensor 23, as shown in FIG. 5 (C-2). Therefore, after the return transport of the carrier tape 80 is performed, when the cutting success/failure determination unit 24c determines that the carrier tape 80 is present based on the detection signal of the sensor 23 (when a negative determination is made in step S130), it determines that the cutting of the carrier tape 80 by the cutting device 22 was not performed normally (step S160).

When such a determination is made, the process control unit 24d prohibits the motor control by the transport control unit 24a, i.e., the forward rotation of the sprocket 21c, and stops transport of the carrier tape 80 in the transport direction X+ (step S170; see FIG. 5 (D-2)). In this case, the transport device 21 does not transport the carrier tape 80 in the transport direction X+, and the transport of the carrier tape 80 is stopped without being moved to the next process. In addition, the process control unit 24d activates the notification device 25 to perform a notification process to notify the operator that cutting of the carrier tape 80 has failed. In this case, the notification device 25 notifies the operator that cutting of the carrier tape 80 has failed.

1-7. Effects of the tape cutting processing device In this way, in the tape cutting processing device 20, after the cutting process of the carrier tape 80 is performed by the cutting device 22, it is possible to use the sensor 23 to check whether or not the cutting of the carrier tape 80 has been performed normally. If it is determined that the cutting of the carrier tape 80 has been performed normally, the carrier tape 80 can be transported in the transport direction X+ as usual and the loading process into the tape feeder 90 can be continued. On the other hand, if it is determined that the cutting of the carrier tape 80 has not been performed normally, the transport of the carrier tape 80 in the transport direction X+ can be stopped.

Therefore, if the cutting device 22 fails to cut the carrier tape 80, the carrier tape 80 will not be transported in the normal transport direction X+ with the tip of the carrier tape 80 remaining beyond the specified point Q, so it is possible to prevent unexpected deformation or damage to the carrier tape 80 that would occur during transport in the transport direction X+. This allows the carrier tape 80 to be transported appropriately after cutting.

This makes it possible to avoid the parts stored in the storage holes 81a becoming unusable due to falling or the like caused by deformation or damage to the carrier tape 80, and prevents an increase in the number of discarded parts, thereby suppressing a decrease in yield. In addition, since there is no need to carry out restoration work for the deformed or damaged carrier tape 80 (for example, removing tape or removing scattered parts, or restoring a structure that has become misaligned due to a part being caught), it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of downtime of the automatic tape loading device 1.

In addition, in the tape cutting processing device 20, if cutting of the carrier tape 80 fails, the notification device 25 notifies the operator of the failure. Therefore, when the cutting process is performed on the carrier tape 80 by the cutting device 22 but the carrier tape 80 is not actually cut, the operator can know the situation via the notification device 25 and can take corrective measures for the carrier tape 80 promptly.

In addition, in the tape cutting processing device 20 of this embodiment, the sensor 23 required to check whether the carrier tape 80 has been cut is also used as a sensor to position the carrier tape 80 at the cutting position Lc. In other words, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated sensor to check whether the carrier tape 80 has been cut. Therefore, the existing sensor 23 can be used to check whether the carrier tape 80 has been cut without increasing costs.

In the first embodiment described above, the treatment control unit 24d corresponds to the "control unit" described in the claims.

[Second embodiment]
2-1. Overview The automatic tape loader 1 according to the second embodiment is realized by the tape cutting device 20 further including a sensor 100 (see FIG. 7).

2-2. Configuration of the tape cutting device The sensor 100 is a sensor for detecting whether the cutting device 22 has cut the carrier tape 80 normally. The sensor 100 is provided separately from the sensor 23 of the first embodiment. The sensor 100 is disposed downstream in the conveying direction from the cutting position Lc by the cutter 22a of the cutting device 22. The detection position by the sensor 100 is a position that is a predetermined distance D2 (see FIG. 7) downstream in the conveying direction from the above-mentioned cutting position Lc. Note that this predetermined distance D2 may be set to be equal to or less than the distance between the leading end of the carrier tape 80 before the cutting process and the predetermined position Q to be cut in the conveying direction X. The sensor 100 may be configured by a pair of photosensors, similar to the sensor 23.

The cutting success/failure determination unit 24c determines whether the cutting device 22 has cut the carrier tape 80 normally based on the detection signal output by the sensor 100. The cutting success/failure determination unit 24c uses the sensor 100 to determine whether the carrier tape 80 is not present at the timing when the cutting process is performed by the cutting device 22.

2-3. Operation of the Tape Cutting Device When the carrier tape 80 is inserted from the insertion opening Le to a predetermined position and is transported in the transport direction X along the tape transport path 21a, and the leading component is detected by the sensor 23, the predetermined portion Q of the carrier tape 80 is positioned at the cutting position Lc by the cutting device 22. With the carrier tape 80 positioned in this state, the cutting control unit 24b executes the cutting process of the carrier tape 80 (step S110 shown in FIG. 8).

After the cutting device 22 has performed the cutting process on the carrier tape 80, the cutting success/failure determination unit 24c determines whether any part of the carrier tape 80 remains on the tip side of the predetermined location Q based on the detection signal output by the sensor 100 (step S130), as shown in FIG. 8.

When the cutting of the carrier tape 80 is successful (see FIG. 7(B-1)), no part of the carrier tape 80 remains on the tip side of the specified point Q, and therefore the carrier tape 80 is not present within the detection range of the sensor 100, as shown in FIG. 7(C-1). Therefore, after the cutting process of the carrier tape 80 is performed, when the cutting success/failure determination unit 24c determines that the carrier tape 80 is not present based on the detection signal of the sensor 100 (positive determination in step S130), it determines that the cutting of the carrier tape 80 by the cutting device 22 was performed normally (step S140).

When this determination is made, the conveying control unit 24a controls the motor 21d to rotate the sprocket 21c in the forward direction so that the carrier tape 80 is conveyed in the conveying direction X+ (step S150). In this case, the conveying device 21 conveys the carrier tape 80 in the conveying direction X+. When this process is performed, the carrier tape 80 is moved to the next process (see FIG. 7 (D-1)) and loaded into the tape feeder 90.

On the other hand, when cutting of the carrier tape 80 has failed (see FIG. 7 (B-2)), the tip side of the carrier tape 80 remains on the carrier tape 80 beyond the predetermined point Q, and as shown in FIG. 7 (C-2), the carrier tape 80 is present within the detection range of the sensor 23. Therefore, after the cutting process of the carrier tape 80 is performed, when the cutting success/failure determination unit 24c determines that the carrier tape 80 is present based on the detection signal of the sensor 100 (when a negative determination is made in step S130), it determines that the cutting of the carrier tape 80 by the cutting device 22 was not performed normally (step S160).

When such a determination is made, the process control unit 24d prohibits the motor control by the transport control unit 24a, i.e., the forward rotation of the sprocket 21c, and stops transport of the carrier tape 80 in the transport direction X+ (step S170; see FIG. 7 (D-2)). In this case, the transport device 21 does not transport the carrier tape 80 in the transport direction X+, and the transport of the carrier tape 80 is stopped without being moved to the next process. In addition, the process control unit 24d activates the notification device 25 to perform a notification process to notify the operator that cutting of the carrier tape 80 has failed. In this case, the notification device 25 notifies the operator that cutting of the carrier tape 80 has failed.

2-4. Effects of the tape cutting processing device In this way, in the tape cutting processing device 20, after the cutting process of the carrier tape 80 is performed by the cutting device 22, it is possible to use the sensor 100 to check whether or not the cutting of the carrier tape 80 has been performed normally. If it is determined that the cutting of the carrier tape 80 has been performed normally, the carrier tape 80 can be transported in the transport direction X+ as usual and the loading process into the tape feeder 90 can be continued. On the other hand, if it is determined that the cutting of the carrier tape 80 has not been performed normally, the transport of the carrier tape 80 in the transport direction X+ can be stopped.

Therefore, if the cutting device 22 fails to cut the carrier tape 80, the carrier tape 80 will not be transported in the normal transport direction X+ with the tip of the carrier tape 80 remaining beyond the predetermined point Q, preventing unexpected deformation or damage to the carrier tape 80 that would occur during transport in the transport direction X+. This allows the carrier tape 80 to be transported appropriately after cutting, and thus prevents a decrease in yield and an increase in operation downtime, as in the first embodiment.

In addition, in the tape cutting processing device 20 of this embodiment, a dedicated sensor 100 is used to check whether the carrier tape 80 has been cut. This sensor 100 is located downstream in the transport direction from the cutting position Lc where the carrier tape 80 is cut. In this configuration, unlike the first embodiment described above, when checking whether the cutting process of the carrier tape 80 has been performed by the cutting device 22, it is not necessary to transport the carrier tape 80 back in the counter-transport direction X-.

This makes it possible to prevent the cycle time required from inserting the carrier tape 80 into the insertion port Le in the tape cutting processing device 20 until moving to the next process from increasing due to return transport, and allows the carrier tape 80 to be loaded into the tape feeder 90 in the automatic tape loading device 1 in a short period of time.

In the first and second embodiments described above, if the cutting device 22 does not properly cut the carrier tape 80, the predetermined treatment performed on the carrier tape 80 is to stop the transport of the carrier tape 80 in the transport direction X+. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and if the cutting device 22 does not properly cut the carrier tape 80, the predetermined treatment performed on the carrier tape 80 may be to perform the cutting process on the carrier tape 80 again by the cutting device 22.

Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, the tape cutting processing device 20 is applied to an automatic tape loading device 1 that automatically loads the carrier tape 80 into the tape feeder 90. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and may be applied to a splicing device 200 in which a pair of tape cutting processing devices 20 are provided and a pair of carrier tapes 80 are joined together using a splicing tape (not shown) as shown in FIG. 9. That is, the splicing device 200 includes a pair of tape cutting processing devices 20, and joins the carrier tapes cut by each tape cutting processing device 20 together using the splicing tape.

Note that this disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and variations, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

1: automatic tape loading device, 2: base, 10: feeder holding table, 20: tape cutting processing device, 21: transport device, 21a: tape transport path, 22: cutting device, 22a: cutter, 23, 100: sensor, 24: control device, 24a: transport control unit, 24b: cutting control unit, 24c: cutting success/failure determination unit, 24d: treatment control unit, 25: notification device, 80: carrier tape, 81: base tape, 81a: storage hole, 81b: feed hole, 82: cover tape, 89: tape reel, 90: tape feeder, 200: splicing device.

Claims (9)

A tape cutting processing device that cuts a carrier tape wound around a tape reel and accommodating components,
a transport device that transports the carrier tape along a tape transport path;
a cutting device that cuts a predetermined portion of the carrier tape transported in a transport direction by the transport device;
a sensor that outputs a signal indicative of whether or not a tip end portion of the carrier tape remains beyond the predetermined portion after the cutting process is performed by the cutting device;
a cut success/failure determination unit that determines whether the cutting of the carrier tape by the cutting device has been performed normally based on the signal output by the sensor ;
a control unit that performs a predetermined process on the carrier tape when the cutting success/failure determination unit determines that the cutting was not performed normally;
A tape cutting processing device comprising: the sensor is disposed a predetermined distance upstream in a conveying direction from a cutting position by the cutting device,
the conveying device conveys the carrier tape back in the reverse conveying direction beyond the predetermined distance after the cutting process is performed by the cutting device,
2. The tape cutting processing device according to claim 1, wherein the cut success/failure determination unit determines whether the cut has been performed normally or not based on the signal output by the sensor after the transport device has performed return transport in the reverse transport direction. 3. The tape cutting processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the sensor is also used as a leading end detection sensor for detecting the leading end of the carrier tape or a component detection sensor for detecting the leading component contained in the carrier tape. the conveying device conveys the carrier tape by using the sensor after the leading end of the carrier tape or the leading component of the carrier tape is detected, until the predetermined portion located on the leading end side of the tape by a predetermined distance from the leading component reaches the cutting position;
4. The tape cutting processing device according to claim 3 , wherein the cutting device cuts the carrier tape when the predetermined portion reaches the cutting position. the sensor is disposed downstream in a conveying direction from a cutting position by the cutting device,
2. The tape cutting processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the cut success/failure determining section determines whether the cut has been performed normally or not based on the signal output by the sensor after the cut process has been performed by the cutter. 6. The tape cutting processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit performs a process of stopping conveyance in the conveying direction by the conveying device as the predetermined process. 7. The tape cutting processing device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit, when it is determined by the cutting success/failure determination unit that the cutting has not been performed normally, further performs a notification process to notify an operator that the cutting has not been performed normally . A tape cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
an automatic tape loading device that loads the carrier tape cut by the tape cutting processing device into a tape feeder; A tape cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A splicing device that joins the carrier tapes cut by the pair of tape cutting processing devices together using a splicing tape.

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