Nozzle management device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10721847-B2
Application number	US-201916363602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2019
Priority date	Apr 22, 2014
Publication date	Jul 21, 2020
Grant date	Jul 21, 2020

Abstract

A nozzle management device includes a plurality of pallets, each of the pallets configured to house a plurality of nozzles; a pallet storage device configured to store the pallets; and a pallet moving device configured to move the pallets.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A nozzle management device comprising:
a plurality of pallets, each of the pallets configured to house a plurality of nozzles;
a pallet housing configured to store the pallets;
a pallet moving mechanism configured to move the pallets;
a stage configured to accept a first pallet; and
a nozzle transfer device configured transfer a nozzle from the first pallet to a second pallet, wherein
the pallet moving mechanism is configured to move the second pallet to a processing position.

2. The nozzle management device according to claim 1 , wherein the pallet moving mechanism is configured to move the pallets at least in a direction normal to a top surface of the pallets.

3. The nozzle management device according to claim 2 , wherein
the pallet moving mechanism includes a first pallet moving mechanism and a second pallet moving mechanism,
the first pallet moving mechanism is configured to move the pallets in a first direction that is the direction normal to the top surface of the pallets, and
the second pallet moving mechanism is configured to move the pallets in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

4. The nozzle management device according to claim 3 , wherein the second pallet moving mechanism is configured to move the second pallet to and from a storage position in the second direction.

5. The nozzle management device according to claim 4 , wherein the second pallet moving mechanism is configured to move the second pallet to the storage position based upon an identification number.

6. The nozzle management device according to claim 2 , wherein
the pallet moving, mechanism includes a first pallet moving mechanism and a second pallet moving mechanism,
the first pallet moving mechanism is configured to move the pallets in a first direction that is the direction normal to the top surface of the pallets, and
the second pallet moving mechanism is configured to move the second pallet to and from the processing position in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

7. The nozzle management device according to claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle inspection device configured to inspect the nozzle.

8. The nozzle management device according to claim 7 , wherein the processing position is an inspection position.

9. The nozzle management device according to claim 8 , wherein the nozzle inspection device is configured to inspect the nozzle when the second pallet is at the inspection position.

10. The nozzle management device according to claim 7 , wherein the nozzle inspection device includes a camera.

11. The nozzle management device according to claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle cleaning device configured to clean the nozzle.

12. The nozzle management device according to claim 11 , wherein the processing position is a cleaning position.

13. The nozzle management device according to claim 12 , wherein the nozzle cleaning device is configured to clean the nozzle when the second pallet is at the cleaning position.

14. The nozzle management device according to claim 11 , wherein the nozzle cleaning device includes a spraying nozzle and a dryer.

15. The nozzle management device according to claim 1 , wherein the pallet housing is configured to store the pallets such that multiple pallets overlap in a direction normal to a top surface of the pallets.

16. A nozzle management device comprising:
a plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles;
means for storing the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles;
means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles;
means for accepting a first means for housing a plurality of nozzles; and
means for transferring a nozzle from the first means for housing a plurality of nozzles to a second means for housing a plurality of nozzles, wherein
the means for moving the plurality for housing a plurality of nozzles moves the second means for housing a plurality of nozzles to a processing position.

17. The nozzle management device according to claim 16 , wherein the means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles moves the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles at least in a direction normal to a top surface of the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles.

18. The nozzle management device according to claim 17 , wherein
the means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles includes a first means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles and a second means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles,
the first means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles moves the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles in a first direction that is the direction normal to the top surface of the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles, and
the second means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles moves the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

19. The nozzle management device according to claim 18 , wherein the second means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles moves the second means for housing a plurality of nozzles to and from a storage position in the second direction.

20. The nozzle management device according to claim 19 , wherein the second means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles moves the second means for housing a plurality of nozzles to the storage position based upon an identification number.

21. The nozzle management device according to claim 17 , wherein
the means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles includes a first means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles and a second means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles,
the first means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles moves the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles in a first direction that is the direction normal to the top surface of the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles, and
the means for moving the plurality of means for housing a plurality of nozzles moves the second means for housing a plurality of nozzles to and from the processing position in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

22. The nozzle management device according to claim 16 , further comprising means for inspecting the nozzle.

23. The nozzle management device according to claim 22 , wherein the processing position is an inspection position.

24. The nozzle management device according to claim 23 , wherein the means for inspecting the nozzle inspects the nozzle when the second means for housing a plurality of nozzles is at the inspection position.

25. The nozzle management device according to claim 16 , further comprising means for cleaning the nozzle.

26. The nozzle management device according to claim 25 , wherein the processing position is a cleaning position.

27. The nozzle management device according to claim 26 , wherein the means for cleaning the nozzle cleans the nozzle when the second means for housing a plurality of nozzles is at the cleaning position.

Assignees

• Fuji Corp

Inventors

• Hoshikawa Kazumi
• Shimosaka Kenji
• Ibe Tadakatsu

Classifications

• H05K13/0409 Primary

  Sucking devices · CPC title

• H05K13/0452

  Mounting machines or lines comprising a plurality of tools for guiding different components to the same mounting place (H05K13/0406, H05K13/041 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K13/0404 Primary

  Pick-and-place heads or apparatus, e.g. with jaws · CPC title

• H05K13/04

  Mounting of components {, e.g. of leadless components} · CPC title

• H05K13/082

  Integration of non-optical monitoring devices, i.e. using non-optical inspection means, e.g. electrical means, mechanical means or X-rays · CPC title