Parts mounting method and apparatus

A component mounting apparatus comprising:

• a transfer device for transferring an object, having an image detection mark formed thereon, in a transfer direction along a transfer path having a first side and a second side, said transfer device being capable of additionally moving the object in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction;
• a first component feed device disposed at a first side of the transfer path, said first component feed device arranged so as to supply a first set of components to be mounted to the object in a first direction orthogonal to the transfer direction;
• a second component feed device disposed at a second side of the transfer path, said second component feed device arranged so as to supply a second set of components to be mounted to the object in a second direction orthogonal to the transfer direction;
• a component holding device movable in the transfer direction, in the first direction orthogonal to the transfer direction, and the second direction orthogonal to the transfer direction, said component holding device being capable of taking a first component of said first set of components from said first component feed device, moving the first component in the transfer direction and the first direction orthogonal to the transfer direction, and mounting the first component to the object, said component holding device being capable of taking a second component of said second set of components from said second component feed device, moving the second component in the transfer direction and the second direction orthogonal to the transfer direction, and mounting the second component to the object;
• an image pickup device in said component holding device, said image pickup device being capable of detecting an image of the position detection mark;
• an object moving device disposed along the transfer path, the object moving device being capable of holding the object and moving the object in the transfer direction, in the first direction orthogonal to the transfer direction, and in the second direction orthogonal to the transfer direction;
• a control device for controlling said transfer device so as to position the object next to said first component feed device, controlling a recognition operation for an arrangement position of the object in order to correct a movement amount of the component holding device with respect to a first component mounting position on the object after the object is moved next to said first component feed device but before the first component is mounted to the object, said control device controlling said transfer device so as to position the object next to said second component feed device, controlling a recognition operation for an arrangement position of the object in order to correct a movement amount of the component holding device with respect to a second component mounting position on the object after the first component is mounted to the object and after the object is moved next to said second component feed device, but before the second component is mounted to the object;
• and
• a first recognition device arranged at the first side of the transfer path, said first recognition device for recognizing the first component held by said first component holding device,
• a second recognition device arranged at the second side of the transfer path, said second recognition device for recognizing the second component held by said second component holding device,
• wherein after said control device controls said transfer device so as to position the object next to said first component feed device, but before the first component is mounted, said control device further controls said transfer device so as to arrange the object at a position that minimizes a distance between said first recognition device and the first component mounting position on the object,
• wherein after said control device controls said transfer device so as to position the object next to said second component feed device, but before the second component is mounted, said control device further controls said transfer device so as to arrange the object at a position that minimizes a distance between said second recognition device and the second component mounting position on the object,
• wherein the control device controls a first recognition operation for a first arrangement position of the object in order to correct a first movement amount of the component holding device with respect to the first component mounting position on the object before the first component is mounted after said control device further controls said transfer device go as to arrange the object at a position that minimizes a distance between said first recognition device and the first component mounting position on the object,
• wherein the control device controls a second recognition operation for a second arrangement position of the object in order to correct a second movement amount of the component holding device with respect to the second component mounting position on the object before the second component is mounted after said control device further controls said transfer device so as to arrange the object at a position that minimizes a distance between said second recognition device and the second component mounting position on the object,
• wherein the control device is operable to perform the first recognition operation for the first arrangement position and the second recognition operation for the second arrangement position with the image of the position detection mark by means of said image pickup device,
• wherein the control device is operable to perform the second recognition operation for the second arrangement position of the object by picking up the image of the position detection mark formed on the object by means of said image pickup device installed in said component holding device, and
• wherein a shift amount of the position detection mark is to be a correction amount in movement of the component holding device.