Soft back-up pin state checking device

1. A soft back-up pin state checking device which checks a state of a soft back-up pin made of a soft elastic material which supports, from below, a circuit board onto which components are mounted in a component mounting station of a component mounting machine, the soft back-up pin state checking device comprising:

a camera which images a region including the soft back-up pin from above;

image processing means for processing a captured image by the camera; and

a background portion to which the soft back-up pin is exchangeably provided and surrounding an outer circumference of the soft back-up pin, the background portion distinguished from the soft back-up pin and recognized using the image processing means;

wherein the image processing means recognizes the soft back-up pin touching an inner circumferential edge of the background portion by processing the captured image, and determines a difference between XY coordinates of a center position of the soft back-up pin and XY coordinates of a specified pin position is within an allowable error range; and

the image processing means determines the soft back-up pin is in need of a replacement if the difference is not within the allowable error range.

2. The soft back-up pin state checking device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image processing means determines whether or not adhered matter is present on the soft back-up pin based on the inner circumferential edge of the background portion.

3. The soft back-up pin state checking device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image processing means determines that the soft back-up pin is deformed when a deformed portion is present in a shape of the inner circumferential edge of the recognized background portion.

4. The soft back-up pin state checking device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the background portion is formed in a ring shape, and

wherein the image processing means recognizes the outer circumferential edge of the background portion to check the position of the soft back-up pin when it is determined that the soft back-up pin is deformed.

5. The soft back-up pin state checking device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

warning means for warning a worker, when adhered matter on the soft back-up pin or deformation of the soft back-up pin is recognized by the image processing means, of the fact using a display and/or audio.

6. The soft back-up pin state checking device according to claim 2 ,

wherein a function of automatically exchanging the soft back-up pin is installed in the component mounting machine, and

wherein the component mounting machine automatically exchanges the soft back-up pin when adhered matter on the soft back-up pin or deformation of the soft back-up pin is recognized by the image processing means.

7. The soft back-up pin state checking device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the soft back-up pin is formed of a bottom-side holder portion, and a top-side soft pin portion which is held by the holder portion in an exchangeable manner, and

wherein a background portion is provided on a portion outside the outer circumference of the soft pin portion in the holder portion.

8. The soft back-up pin state checking device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a plurality of the soft back-up pins are formed on a block board,

wherein a cover plate is provided to overlap the block board,

wherein the cover plate is formed to be distinguished from the soft back-up pin and be recognized by the image processing means, and

wherein the cover plate is used as the background portion by inserting the soft back-up pin through an insertion hole which is formed in the cover plate, overlapping the block board with the cover plate, and covering a top face of the block board with the cover plate.

9. The soft back-up pin state checking device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a plurality of the soft back-up pins are formed on a block board, and

wherein a top face of the block board is colored to be distinguished from the soft back-up pin and be recognized by the image processing means and is used as the background portion.

10. The soft back-up pin state checking device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the holder portion is insertable into the background portion.

11. A soft back-up pin state checking device which checks a state of a soft back-up pin made of a soft elastic material which supports, from below, a circuit board onto which components are mounted in a component mounting station of a component mounting machine, the soft back-up pin state checking device comprising:

a camera which images a region including the soft back-up pin from above;

a processor to process a captured image by the camera; and

a background portion to which the soft back-up pin is exchangeably provided and surrounding an outer circumference of the soft back-up pin, the background portion distinguished from the soft back-up pin and recognized using the processor,

wherein the processor recognizes the soft back-up touching an inner circumferential edge of the background portion by processing the captured image, and determines a difference between XY coordinates of a center portion of the soft back-up pin and XY coordinates of a specified pin position is within an allowable error range;

the processor determines the soft back-up pin is in need of a replacement if the difference is not within the allowable error range; and

the component mounting machine exchanges the soft back-up pin when adhered matter on the soft back-up pin or deformation of the soft back-up pin is recognized by the processor.