JP7742881B2 - Process control device - Google Patents

Description

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a process management device for managing the planning of mounting-related processes performed by a mounting device to mount components on a substrate.

Patent Document 1 discloses a time chart showing a process plan for mounting components onto boards by a mounting device on a multi-item variable-volume production line. The time chart includes a chart showing production preparation and a chart showing production.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-6557

The nature of the production process in which components are mounted on a board to produce a circuit board can vary widely depending on various factors, such as the type of components to be mounted on the board, the specifications of the mounting equipment, the environment of the production factory, and the number of workers. This specification provides technology for creating plans that correspond to various aspects of the production process.

The process management device disclosed in this specification comprises a display and a display control unit that causes the display to display a planning screen showing plans for a plurality of mounting-related processes, each of which includes a production process in which components are mounted on a board to produce a circuit board, and a preparation process in which a mounting device that mounts the components on the board prepares for the production process, and the plurality of mounting-related processes include a first mounting-related process and a second mounting-related process that is executed after the first mounting-related process, and the planning screen is represented by one of a plurality of types, and the display control unit causes the display to display the planning screen represented by a specific type selected from the plurality of types depending on the state of the production process.

According to the above configuration, the planning screen is represented by a specific type selected from multiple types depending on the nature of the production process. For example, the process management device can present to the user a plan represented by the specific type selected by the user. Also, for example, the process management device can select a specific type set in advance from multiple types and present to the user a plan corresponding to that specific type. Plans can be created that correspond to various aspects of the production process.

1 shows a component mounting system according to an embodiment. A conceptual diagram of a component mounting module is shown. 10 shows a selection screen of an embodiment. 10 shows a planning screen in a staged production mode. 10 shows a planning screen in a seamless production mode. 10 shows a planning screen for production mode A in advance preparation. 10 shows a planning screen for advance preparation production mode B.

The main features of the embodiments described below are listed below. Note that the technical elements described below are independent technical elements that demonstrate technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing.

(Feature 1) The multiple types may include at least two of a first type, a second type, and a third type, wherein the first type represents a phased manner in which the production process of the second mounting-related process can be executed after the preparation process of the second mounting-related process is completed; the second type represents a seamless manner in which the production process of the second mounting-related process can be executed in the middle of the preparation process of the second mounting-related process; and the third type may represent a pre-preparation manner in which the preparation process of the second mounting-related process can be executed in the middle of the production process of the first mounting-related process.

(Feature 2) In the first type, the start time of the preparation process within the second mounting-related process may be after the end time of the production process within the first mounting-related process, and the start time of the production process within the second mounting-related process may be after the end time of the preparation process within the second mounting-related process; in the second type, the start time of the preparation process within the second mounting-related process may be after the end time of the production process within the first mounting-related process, and the start time of the production process within the second mounting-related process may be before the end time of the preparation process within the second mounting-related process; and in the third type, the start time of the preparation process within the second mounting-related process may be before the end time of the production process within the first mounting-related process, and the start time of the production process within the second mounting-related process may be after the end time of the preparation process within the second mounting-related process.

(Feature 3) The third type indicates one type of the advance preparation mode, and the multiple types further include a fourth type indicating another type of the advance preparation mode, and in the third type, the end time of the preparation process in the second mounting-related process may be after the end time of the production process in the first mounting-related process, and in the fourth type, both the start and end times of the preparation process in the second mounting-related process may be before the end time of the production process in the first mounting-related process, and the start time of the production process in the second mounting-related process may be after the end time of the preparation process in the second mounting-related process.

(Component mounting system 2; Figure 1)
As shown in FIG. 1 , the component mounting system 2 includes a management terminal 10 and a mounting apparatus 100. Each of the apparatuses 10 and 100 is connected to a local area network 4 (hereinafter referred to as “LAN 4”). The apparatuses 10 and 100 can communicate with each other via the LAN 4. The management terminal 10 is a terminal device such as a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or a handheld terminal. The mounting apparatus 100 is a device that mounts electronic components on a substrate. The mounting apparatus 100 includes multiple mounting modules 102, a carry-in device 104 that carries a substrate into the first mounting module 102 of the multiple mounting modules 102, and an unloading device 106 that unloads the circuit board produced by the multiple mounting modules 102. Note that in FIG. 1 , only one of the multiple mounting modules 102 is designated by a reference numeral, and the reference numerals for the remaining mounting modules 102 are omitted. Note that the reference numeral 110 denotes a cassette, which will be described later.

The management terminal 10 is a terminal device that creates plans for the mounting-related processes in which the mounting device 100 mounts electronic components on a board, and also manages the progress of the mounting-related processes. The management terminal 10 is equipped with a communication interface 12, a display 14, an operation unit 16, and a control unit 30. Note that, hereinafter, "interface" will be abbreviated to "I/F."

The communication I/F 12 is an I/F for performing communication via the LAN 4 and is connected to the LAN 4. The display 14 displays various information. The operation unit 16 includes multiple keys (e.g., a keyboard) for accepting user instructions. The display 14 may also function as a touch screen (i.e., the operation unit 16) for accepting user instructions.

The control unit 30 includes a CPU 32 and a memory 34. The CPU 32 executes various processes in accordance with a program 40 stored in the memory 34. The memory 34 is composed of volatile memory, non-volatile memory, etc. The program 40 is an application program for creating a plan for the mounting-related process and managing its progress. The program 40 is provided, for example, by the vendor of the mounting device 100 and installed on the management terminal 10 by the user of the management terminal 10.

The user operates the operation unit 16 of the management terminal 10 to launch the program 40. The user creates planning data using the graphical user interface displayed in accordance with the program 40 and the operation unit 16. The planning data is data that indicates a plan for the implementation-related processes. The management terminal 10 stores the planning data.

The management terminal 10 transmits the stored plan data to the implementation device 100 via the LAN 4 and the communication I/F 12. As a result, the implementation device 100 displays the plan indicated by the plan data.

Furthermore, after the mounting-related process based on the plan indicated by the plan data has begun, the management terminal 10 receives progress data from the mounting device 100 via the LAN 4 and the communication I/F 12. The progress data indicates the progress of the mounting-related process based on the plan indicated by the plan data. The management terminal 10 displays a progress screen including the progress indicated by the progress data on the display 14. A user of the management terminal 10 can manage the progress of the mounting-related process against the plan by viewing the plan screen including the plan indicated by the stored plan data and the progress screen.

(Configuration of the mounting module 102; Figures 1 and 2)
2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the mounting module 102 as viewed from the direction in which the multiple mounting modules 102 are arranged side by side (the left-right direction on the paper surface of FIG. 1 ). The mounting module 102 includes multiple cassettes 110, a support base 112, a mounting unit 114, and a nozzle box 116. A component feeder 110a can be attached to each of the multiple cassettes 110. The component feeder 110a stores multiple electronic components. In the production of circuit boards, some or all of the multiple cassettes 110 may be used.

The support table 112 is a table for supporting a board carried in from the carry-in device 104 or the previous mounting module 102. The mounting unit 114 mounts electronic components supplied from the component feeder 110a onto a board on the support table 112. A nozzle 114a that picks up electronic components in the component feeder 110a is attached to the tip of the mounting unit 114. There are various types of nozzles 114a. A specific type of nozzle 114a is selected from the various nozzles 114a depending on the type of electronic component to be picked up. The nozzle box 116 is a box that houses multiple nozzles 114a used in the production of circuit boards. The nozzle box 116 is a detachable cartridge.

In this embodiment, the component mounting system 2 executes multiple mounting-related processes corresponding to multiple types of circuit boards. For example, the multiple mounting-related processes include a first mounting-related process for mass-producing a first type of circuit board, and a second mounting-related process for mass-producing a second type of circuit board different from the first type of circuit board. Each mounting-related process includes a picking process, an external setup process, an internal setup process, and a production process.

The picking process is the process of picking (collecting) components (i.e., boards and component feeders 110a) to be used by the mounting device 100 from a warehouse that manages the inventory of boards and components. The picking process may be performed by a worker or a robot.

The off-site setup process includes loading the components picked in the picking process onto a component feeder, transporting the component feeder to the periphery of the mounting device 100, and placing the components in a predetermined position around the mounting device 100. Furthermore, the off-site setup process includes selecting, from among the various nozzles 114a, multiple nozzles 114a to be used in a specific mounting-related process, and storing them in a removed nozzle box 116. The off-site setup process may be performed by a worker or a robot.

The internal setup process includes a process of attaching components placed in predetermined positions in the external setup process to the carry-in device 104 and the mounting module 102. Furthermore, the internal setup process also includes a process of attaching the nozzle box 116 prepared in the external setup process to the mounting module 102. The internal setup process may be performed by a worker or a robot. The components in the component feeder 110a attached to the mounting module 102 in the internal setup process are mounted onto the board on the support table 112 by the mounting unit 114 in the production process. Circuit boards are produced in the production process.

The nature of the production process (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "production mode") can vary depending on various factors, such as the type of components to be mounted on the board, the specifications of the mounted modules, the environment of the production factory, and the number of workers. In this embodiment, various formats corresponding to various production modes are pre-prepared in program 40 for creating planning data. The user can select a specific format from the various formats and create planning data appropriate for the production mode for the mounting-related process to be performed.

(Selection screen; Figure 3)
When the management terminal 10 receives a predetermined instruction from the user, it displays a selection screen S0 on the display 14 in accordance with the program 40. The selection screen S0 is a screen for selecting a specific mode from four types of production modes. The four types of production modes include a stepwise production mode, a seamless production mode, and preparatory production modes A and B. The stepwise production mode is a mode in which a production process can be executed after the completion of an internal setup process. The seamless production mode is a mode in which a production process can be executed in the middle of an internal setup process. Each of the preparatory production modes A and B is a mode in which the internal setup process of the next mounting-related process can be executed in the middle of a mounting-related process.

(Planning screen: Figures 4 to 7)
When the management terminal 10 receives a selection of a specific production mode from the four production modes on the selection screen S0, it displays one of the planning screens shown in Figures 4 to 7 on the display 14. The planning screen is a screen for creating planning data showing plans for multiple mounting-related processes. Of the planning data, the data showing the plan for each mounting-related process includes the start and end times for each of the four processes within that mounting-related process (i.e., the picking process, the external setup process, the internal setup process, and the production process).

(When step-by-step production is selected; Figure 4)
The planning screen S1 in FIG. 4 is a screen displayed when a staged production mode is selected in the selection screen S0. On the planning screen S1, process images representing picking processes, off-site setup processes, on-site setup processes, and production processes are arranged vertically on the screen (i.e., vertically on the page). The process images are rectangular, with the left edge of the rectangle indicating the start time of the corresponding process and the right edge of the rectangle indicating the end time of the corresponding process. The start time and end time are input by the user. Furthermore, for example, the end time of each process may be calculated by the program 40 using a predetermined formula.

For example, the predetermined formula for the internal setup process is as follows:
End time = Start time + Number of component feeders 110a x Installation time of component feeders 110a + Installation time of nozzle box 116 The number of component feeders 110a, installation time of component feeders 110a, and installation time of nozzle box 116 are input by the user.

For example, a first mounting-related process for a first type of circuit board includes a picking process "Pi01," an external setup process "Ou01," an internal setup process "In01," and a production process "Pr01." A second mounting-related process for a second type of circuit board includes a picking process "Pi02," an external setup process "Ou02," an internal setup process "In02," and a production process "Pr02." On the planning screen S1 in Figure 4, for the first mounting-related process, process images for the picking process "Pi01," the external setup process "Ou01," the internal setup process "In01," and the production process "Pr01" are arranged side by side along the time axis (i.e., the horizontal direction of the screen). Furthermore, in the planning screen S1 of Figure 4, for the second mounting-related process, process images of the picking process "Pi02", the external setup process "Ou02", the internal setup process "In02", and the production process "Pr02" are arranged side by side along the time axis.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the format of the staged production mode, the start time of the internal setup process "In02" within the second mounting-related process is after the end time of the production process "Pr01" within the first mounting-related process, and the start time of the production process "Pr02" within the second mounting-related process is after the end time of the internal setup process "In02" within the second mounting-related process. In other words, the staged production mode is a mode that requires a production process to be executed after the completion of an internal setup process. The job switching image within the planning screen S1 is an image that represents the time of the job switching process executed by the mounting device 100. The job switching process is a process that switches a job program for executing a production process for a first type of circuit board to a job program for executing a production process for a second type of circuit board. The job switching process can be executed simultaneously with the internal setup process.

The planning screen S1 in FIG. 4 includes eight process images representing two mounting-related processes. For example, the user can input a specified instruction to add four process images representing a third mounting-related process. Furthermore, for example, the user can input a specified instruction to delete four process images representing a second mounting-related process in the planning screen S1. Furthermore, for example, the user can input a specified instruction to delete the process image for the picking process and the process image for the off-site setup process from among the four process images.

(When seamless production is selected; Figure 5)
The planning screen S2 in FIG. 5 is a screen displayed when the seamless production mode is selected in the selection screen S0. The planning screen S2 is similar to the planning screen S1 in FIG. 4 except for the positional relationship between the process image of the internal setup process "In02" in the second mounting-related process and the process image of the production process "Pr02" in the second mounting-related process. Specifically, in the seamless production mode format, the start time of the internal setup process "In02" in the second mounting-related process is after the end time of the production process "Pr01" in the first mounting-related process, and the start time of the production process "Pr02" in the second mounting-related process is before the end time of the internal setup process "In02" in the second mounting-related process. In other words, the seamless production mode is a mode in which a production process can be executed in the middle of an internal setup process.

For example, a situation is envisioned in which the internal setup process is executed in order, starting with the first one or more mounting modules 102 among multiple mounting modules 102. It is also envisioned that the internal setup process of the first one or more mounting modules 102 is unnecessary, for example, when using the same components as in the previous mounting-related process. In such cases, it may be possible to start the production process midway through the internal setup process of the remaining mounting modules 102 after the internal setup process of the first one or more mounting modules 102 is completed. A seamless production format has been prepared in advance to accommodate such cases.

(When the pre-prepared production mode A is selected; Figure 6)
The planning screen S3 in FIG. 6 is a screen displayed when the advance preparation production mode A is selected in the selection screen S0. The planning screen S3 is similar to the planning screen S1 in FIG. 4 except for the positional relationship between the process image of the production process "Pr01" in the first mounting-related process and the process image of the internal setup process "In02" in the second mounting-related process. Specifically, in the format of the advance preparation production mode A, the start time of the internal setup process "In02" in the second mounting-related process is before the end time of the production process "Pr01" in the first mounting-related process, and the start time of the production process "Pr02" in the second mounting-related process is after the end time of the internal setup process "In02" in the second mounting-related process. Furthermore, in the format of the advance preparation production mode A, the end time of the internal setup process "In02" in the second mounting-related process is after the end time of the production process "Pr01" in the first mounting-related process. That is, the preparatory production mode A is a mode in which the internal setup process for the next mounting-related process can be executed midway through the production process of the mounting-related process.

For example, a situation may be envisioned in which a first mounting-related process uses N cassettes 110 from among the multiple cassettes 110 in the mounting module 102, and a second mounting-related process uses M cassettes 110 different from the N cassettes 110 from among the multiple cassettes 110. Here, (N + M) is an integer equal to or less than one. In such a case, it may be possible to execute the internal setup process "In02" of the second mounting-related process for the unused M cassettes 110 during the production process "Pr01" of the first mounting-related process. Furthermore, for example, it may be possible to attach an additional component feeder 110a to the cassette 110 in a situation in which the second mounting-related process is executed using the same cassette 110 as the cassette 110 used in the first mounting-related process. Even in this case, it may be possible to execute the internal setup process "In02" of the second mounting-related process during the production process "Pr01" of the first mounting-related process. As a format for dealing with such a case, a format for production mode A is prepared in advance.

(When the pre-prepared production mode B is selected; Figure 7)
The planning screen S4 in Fig. 7 is a screen displayed when the advance preparation production mode B is selected on the selection screen S0. The planning screen S4 is similar to the planning screen S3 in Fig. 6 except that the end time of the internal setup process "In02" of the second mounting-related process is before the end time of the production process "Pr01" of the first mounting-related process. In other words, the advance preparation production mode B is a mode in which the internal setup process of the next mounting-related process can be executed midway through the production process of a mounting-related process, and the internal setup process of the next mounting-related process is shorter than the advance preparation production mode A in Fig. 6. The format of the advance preparation production mode B can also handle situations similar to those of the advance preparation production mode A.

(Effects of this embodiment)
According to the configuration of this embodiment, the management terminal 10 displays a planning screen represented by a specific type selected from multiple types according to the production mode on the selection screen S0 (FIGS. 4 to 7). The management terminal 10 can present the user with a plan represented by the specific type (e.g., a staged mode) selected by the user. Furthermore, for example, after creating planning data in accordance with the staged mode format on the planning screen S1, the user may select another mode (e.g., advance preparation mode A) on the selection screen S0. In this case, the management terminal 10 may change the planning data in accordance with the staged mode format to planning data in accordance with the format of the other mode, thereby improving user convenience.

(Correspondence)
The management terminal 10, the display 14, and the control unit 30 are examples of a "process control device," a "display," and a "display control unit," respectively. The planning screens S1 to S4 in FIGS. 4 to 7 are examples of a "planning screen." The multiple formats corresponding to the planning screens S1 to S4 in FIGS. 4 to 7 are examples of a "multiple types." The internal setup process is an example of a "preparation process." The formats of the planning screens S1, S2, S3, and S4 are examples of a "first type," a "second type," a "third type," and a "fourth type," respectively. The mounting-related process including the picking process "Pi01" to the production process "Pr01" and the mounting-related process including the picking process "Pi02" to the production process "Pr02" are examples of a "first mounting-related process" and a "second mounting-related process," respectively.

Notes regarding the process control device described in the examples are as follows. The control terminal 10 only needs to display at least two of the planning screens S1 to S4. For example, the control terminal 10 may display planning screens S1 to S3 but not planning screen S4. Also, for example, the control terminal 10 may display planning screens S1 and S2 but not planning screens S3 and S4.

The management terminal 10 does not need to display the selection screen S0. In this case, the management terminal 10 may automatically select a specific format preset by the user from multiple formats and display a planning screen based on that specific format as the default. This allows the optimal plan based on the user's production mode to be automatically presented to the user.

The technical elements described in this specification or drawings may exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technologies illustrated in this specification or drawings simultaneously achieve multiple objectives, and achieving any one of those objectives is itself technically useful.

2: Component mounting system 4: LAN
10: Management terminal 12: Communication I/F
14: Display 16: Operation unit 30: Control unit 32: CPU
34: Memory 40: Program 100: Mounting device 102: Mounting module 104: Carry-in device 106: Carry-out device 110: Cassette 110a: Component feeder 112: Support table 114: Mounting unit 114a: Nozzle 116: Nozzle box S0: Selection screens S1 to S4: Planning screen

Claims (4)

The display and
a display control unit that displays a planning screen showing plans for a plurality of mounting-related processes on the display;
Equipped with
each of the plurality of mounting-related processes includes a production process of mounting components on a substrate to produce a circuit board, and a preparation process of preparing a mounting device that mounts the components on the substrate before the production process is performed;
The preparation process includes a picking process, an external setup process, and an internal setup process,
the plurality of mounting-related processes include a first mounting-related process and a second mounting-related process that is performed subsequent to the first mounting-related process;
The planning screen is represented by one of a plurality of types,
the display control unit causes the display to display the planning screen represented by a specific type selected from the plurality of types in accordance with a state of the production process,
the planning screen has a time axis extending along a horizontal direction of the planning screen,
On the planning screen, an image showing the picking process, an image showing the off-site setup process, an image showing the on-site setup process, and an image showing the production process are arranged along the time axis in the order in which each process is performed and are also arranged along the vertical direction of the planning screen.
Process control equipment. the plurality of types includes at least two of a first type, a second type, and a third type;
the first type represents a staged manner in which the production process of the second mounting-related process can be executed after the internal setup process of the second mounting-related process is completed, and
the second type represents a seamless mode in which the production process of the second mounting-related process can be executed in the middle of the internal setup process of the second mounting-related process,
2. The process management device according to claim 1, wherein the third type represents a mode of advance preparation that allows the internal setup process of the second mounting -related process to be executed during the production process of the first mounting-related process. In the first type, a start time of the internal setup process in the second mounting-related process is after an end time of the production process in the first mounting-related process, and a start time of the production process in the second mounting-related process is after an end time of the internal setup process in the second mounting-related process;
In the second type, the start time of the internal setup process in the second mounting-related process is after the end time of the production process in the first mounting-related process, and the start time of the production process in the second mounting-related process is before the end time of the internal setup process in the second mounting-related process;
3. The process control device according to claim 2, wherein, in the third type, a start time of the internal setup process in the second mounting-related process is before an end time of the production process in the first mounting-related process, and a start time of the production process in the second mounting-related process is after an end time of the internal setup process in the second mounting-related process. the third type indicates one type as a mode of the advance preparation,
the plurality of types further includes a fourth type indicating another type as the mode of the advance preparation,
In the third type, the end time of the internal setup process in the second mounting-related process is after the end time of the production process in the first mounting-related process;
4. The process control device according to claim 3, wherein, in the fourth type, both the start time and the end time of the internal setup process in the second mounting-related process are before the end time of the production process in the first mounting-related process, and the start time of the production process in the second mounting-related process is after the end time of the internal setup process in the second mounting-related process.