Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to provide a vehicular reflective optical sensor that has improved control reliability. Said vehicular reflective optical sensor is provided with a control unit (6) that: emits detection light (3) at prescribed intervals from a light-emitting unit (2) on an exterior panel of a vehicle towards a detection region (1) set outside said vehicle; tests for a threshold-exceeded state in which the amount of light in a light reflection (4) received from the detection region (1) by a light-receiving unit (5) exceeds a prescribed detection threshold; and, if it is detected that a detection target has entered the detection region (1), outputs a detection-confirmation signal. The control unit (6) uses, as the aforementioned detection threshold, the sum of a predetermined fixed value and an adjustment value comprising a summary statistic for the amounts of light in an appropriate number of light reflections (4) preceding the light reflection (4) on which the comparison is being performed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensor unit with a structure which is simple and also does not cause decrease in detection accuracy. Provided is a photosensor unit including a light emitting element 1 and a light receiving element 2 housed in a unit case 3, and configured such that reflected light of detection light emitted from the light emitting element 1 to the outside of the unit case 3 is received with the light receiving element 2, the reflected light being reflected from the outside of the unit case 3. A plurality of the light emitting elements 1 are disposed around the light receiving element 2, and a passage space for the reflected light inside the unit case 3 is separated from a passage space for the detection light inside the unit case 3 by an appropriate partition 4.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensor lens which, in the case of using a plurality of light emitting elements to form a reflective photosensor, can maximize the efficiency of light irradiation of the light emitting elements with a simple structure. Provided is a photosensor lens configured to condense irradiation light from a plurality of light emitting elements 2 housed in a unit case 1 in a detection region 3 outside the unit case 1, and to condense reflected light from the detection region 3 at a light receiving element 4 in the unit case 1. A single convex lens surface 5 is formed on one side of the photosensor lens, and a light-receiving convex lens surface 6 sharing an optical axis with the single convex lens surface 5, and a plurality of light-emitting convex lens surfaces 7 each having an optical axis in parallel with the optical axis of the light-receiving convex lens surface 6 are integrally formed on the opposite side of the photosensor lens.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to provide a vehicular reflective optical sensor that has improved control reliability. Said vehicular reflective optical sensor is provided with a control unit (6) that: emits detection light (3) at prescribed intervals from a light-emitting unit (2) on an exterior panel of a vehicle towards a detection region (1) set outside said vehicle; tests for a threshold-exceeded state in which the amount of light in a light reflection (4) received from the detection region (1) by a light-receiving unit (5) exceeds a prescribed detection threshold; and, if it is detected that a detection target has entered the detection region (1), outputs a detection-confirmation signal. The control unit (6) uses, as the aforementioned detection threshold, the sum of a predetermined fixed value and an adjustment value comprising a summary statistic for the amounts of light in an appropriate number of light reflections (4) preceding the light reflection (4) on which the comparison is being performed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensor lens which, in the case of using a plurality of light emitting elements to form a reflective photosensor, can maximize the efficiency of light irradiation of the light emitting elements with a simple structure. Provided is a photosensor lens configured to condense irradiation light from a plurality of light emitting elements 2 housed in a unit case 1 in a detection region 3 outside the unit case 1, and to condense reflected light from the detection region 3 at a light receiving element 4 in the unit case 1. A single convex lens surface 5 is formed on one side of the photosensor lens, and a light-receiving convex lens surface 6 sharing an optical axis with the single convex lens surface 5, and a plurality of light-emitting convex lens surfaces 7 each having an optical axis in parallel with the optical axis of the light-receiving convex lens surface 6 are integrally formed on the opposite side of the photosensor lens.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensor unit with a structure which is simple and also does not cause decrease in detection accuracy. Provided is a photosensor unit including a light emitting element 1 and a light receiving element 2 housed in a unit case 3, and configured such that reflected light of detection light emitted from the light emitting element 1 to the outside of the unit case 3 is received with the light receiving element 2, the reflected light being reflected from the outside of the unit case 3. A plurality of the light emitting elements 1 are disposed around the light receiving element 2, and a passage space for the reflected light inside the unit case 3 is separated from a passage space for the detection light inside the unit case 3 by an appropriate partition 4.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a control structure of a vehicle capable of reliably responding to an operation intention of a user outside the vehicle. The structure includes: a reflective optical sensor 5 configured to detect an entry of a detection target 4 into a recessed hollow section 1 formed in a vehicle outer wall according to a change in an amount of reflected beams of detection light 3 emitted from a light emitting opening 2 provided in one wall surface of the recessed hollow section 1 toward another wall surface of the recessed hollow section 1; and a controller 6 configured to operate a certain control target 7 when the reflective optical sensor 5 detects the entry of the detection target 4 into the recessed hollow section 1.

Abstract: A viscous material application apparatus includes a main body having a pressurized chamber which connects through to a discharge port and stores a viscous material, a viscous material supply device for transferring the viscous material to the pressurized chamber, and a discharge pressure regulating device for regulating the discharge pressure of the viscous material when the viscous material inside the pressurized chamber is pressurized and discharged by increasing or decreasing the capacity of the pressurized chamber, the discharge pressure regulating device being provided either inside the pressurized chamber or facing the pressurized chamber.

Abstract: According to the present invention, mounting conditions are determined to become closer to a setting value of a parameter regarding electricity consumption. The present invention provides a method of determining mounting conditions under which a piece of equipment mounts a component onto a substrate. The method includes: obtaining a setting value of a parameter regarding electricity consumption required to mount the component; obtaining an actual value of the parameter based on current mounting conditions; and determining new mounting conditions based on a result of comparing the setting value with the actual value.

Abstract: A component mounting apparatus and a component mounting method which improve accuracy and a rate of placement of components onto a circuit-formed member. A component sucked by a suction nozzle is recognized at a component recognizing position, a deviation of the component from a normal suction status is determined on the basis of component recognition information obtained from this recognition of the component, and a velocity of conveyance of the component for a period of time following the recognition of the component and preceding placement of the component is controlled on basis of a magnitude of the deviation. By this control, the accuracy and rate of placement of components onto the circuit-formed member can be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a component carrier in the form of a tape is provided. The component carrier has a number of cavities formed on one surface thereof for containing components. A pair of spaced first and second guide plates that function to guide one surface of the component carrier. A movable guide plate is disposed between the first and second guide plates so that it can move back and forth between a first position adjacent to the first guide plate for defining a component pickup station and a second position adjacent to the second guide plate. The movable guide plate has an extension which extends along at least one longitudinal edge of the component carrier and opposes the one surface of the component carrier for preventing movement thereof when the movable guide plate takes the first position.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for mounting components having a feature of detecting with high accuracy component pick up failure by the nozzle at component pick up stage, and/or component carrying back by the nozzle at component mounting stage. Achieved vacuum pressure is initialized to zero after completion of component pick up by the nozzle 25, and vacuum pressure decrease of the nozzle 25 is detected from the initialized zero point. If the detected value is bigger than the predetermined threshold, it may be judged that at least one of the nozzles failed to pick up a component. The failed nozzle may be identified by using a component recognition device 37. Blowing air blow volume flowing through the nozzle 25 is measured upon completion of component mounting. If the blowing air flow is smaller that the predetermined threshold, it is judged that the nozzle 25 carries back a component 30.

Abstract: An apparatus 101 for supplying a component carrier in the form of a tape is provided. The component carrier 102 has a number of cavities 116 formed on one surface thereof for containing components 115. A pair of spaced first and second guide plates 106 and 107 guide one surface of the component carrier. A movable guide plate 109 is disposed between the first and second guide plates so that it can move back and forth between a first position adjacent to the first guide plate for defining a component pickup station 111 and a second position adjacent to said second guide plate. The movable guide plate has an extension 112 which extends along at least one longitudinal edge of the component carrier and opposes to said one surface of said component carrier for preventing movement thereof when the movable guide plate takes the first position.

Abstract: An apparatus 101 for supplying a component carrier in the form of a tape is provided. The component carrier 102 has a number of cavities 116 formed on one surface thereof for containing components 115. A pair of spaced first and second guide plates 106 and 107 guide one surface of the component carrier. A movable guide plate 109 is disposed between the first and second guide plates so that it can move back and forth between a first position adjacent to the first guide plate for defining a component pickup station 111 and a second position adjacent to said second guide plate. The movable guide plate has an extension 112 which extends along at least one longitudinal edge of the component carrier and opposes to said one surface of said component carrier for preventing movement thereof when the movable guide plate takes the first position.

Abstract: A component mounting apparatus and a component mounting method which improve an accuracy and a rate of placement of components on a circuit-formed member. A component sucked by a suction nozzle is recognized at a component recognizing position, a deviation ?L of the component from a normal suction status is determined on the basis of component recognition information obtained from the recognition of the component, and a velocity of conveyance of the component for a period of time following the recognition of the component and preceding the placement of the component is controlled on basis of a magnitude of the deviation. By the control, the accuracy and rate of placement of the components on the circuit-formed member can be improved.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus for mounting electronic components, with which the electronic components can be reversed, up and down, and mounted onto a circuit board in a short mounting process time by performing picking up, delivering and receiving of components between heads, and mounting of the components onto the circuit board in parallel. A plurality of reverse-supply heads are mounted on a component supply holder for performing indexing rotation, while a plurality of mounting heads are mounted on a component mounting holder for performing indexing rotation in synchronization with the indexing rotation of the component supply holder. By (i) picking up an electronic component, (ii) delivering the electronic component from the reverse-supply head to the mounting head, and (iii) mounting the electronic component onto the circuit board at prescribed positions, operations from (i) to (iii) can be carried out in parallel.

Abstract: A viscous material application apparatus includes a main body having a pressurized chamber which connects through to a discharge port and stores a viscous material, a viscous material supply device for transferring the viscous material to the pressurized chamber, and a discharge pressure regulating device for regulating the discharge pressure of the viscous material when the viscous material inside the pressurized chamber is pressurized and discharged by increasing or decreasing the capacity of the pressurized chamber, the discharge pressure regulating device being provided either inside the pressurized chamber or facing the pressurized chamber.

Abstract: A viscous material application apparatus includes a main body having a pressurized chamber which connects through to a discharge port and stores a viscous material, a viscous material supply device for transferring the viscous material to the pressurized chamber, and a discharge pressure regulating device for regulating the discharge pressure of the viscous material when the viscous material inside the pressurized chamber is pressurized and discharged by increasing or decreasing the capacity of the pressurized chamber, the discharge pressure regulating device being provided either inside the pressurized chamber or facing the pressurized chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus 101 for supplying a component carrier in the form of a tape is provided. The component carrier 102 has a number of cavities 116 formed on one surface thereof for containing components 115. A pair of spaced first and second guide plates 106 and 107 guide one surface of the component carrier. A movable guide plate 109 is disposed between the first and second guide plates so that it can move back and forth between a first position adjacent to the first guide plate for defining a component pickup station 111 and a second position adjacent to said second guide plate. The movable guide plate has an extension 112 which extends along at least one longitudinal edge of the component carrier and opposes to said one surface of said component carrier for preventing movement thereof when the movable guide plate takes the first position.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an electronic component mounting method and apparatus which are capable of achieving high-speed operation by varying a driving amount for an intermittent feed of an electronic component according to the electronic component's type. In order to achieve this purpose, the present invention provides an electronic component mounting method for picking up an electronic component by a pickup nozzle from a component feed unit that intermittently feeds electronic components, and mounting the picked-up electronic component onto a board. A driving amount for the component feed unit for intermittently feeding the electronic components is varied depending on the type of the electronic component.