AUTO EXCHANGING METHOD AND DEVICE OF AN WIND REEL FOR SEMICONDUCTOR CARRIER TAPE Technical Field The present invention relates to an automatic exchanging method of a winding reel for a semiconductor carrier tape, in detail an automatic exchanging method and a device of a winding reel for a semiconductor carrier tape capable of automatically exchanging an empty reel on which a semiconductor carrier tape will be wound and a reel on which a carrier tape is wound and storing plural empty reels and wound reels.

Backsround Art Generally, a semiconductor is shipped in a state that it is packed in a carrier specially fabricated to store semiconductors.

Here, the carrier is formed in a shape of band and plural concave receiving parts are formed at regular intervals. The semiconductor is stored in the receiving parts and a cover film formed of a transparent vinyl material etc. is designed to cover an upper side of the receiving parts for thereby finishing packing.

In addition, because the carrier is formed in a band shape in which the

semiconductors are arranged in a row, the carrier tape is used being wound onto a reel which a pair of circular plates facing each other is attached to and a center shaft is formed at its center for achieving an easier loading and easier transport of carrier tape.

Therefore, it is general that a semiconductor is inserted into a concave receiving part of the carrier and in a state that the semiconductor is inserted in the concave receiving part, a cover film is covered on the upper side of it for thereby finishing packing and the packed carrier tape is wound onto a reel and taped, so that the reel itself is loaded and transported.

Here, it is general that the exchanging between an empty reel on which a carrier tape will be wound and a reel on which the carrier tape is wound is performed in such a manner that a worker inserts a center hole formed at a center of an empty reel on which a carrier tape will be wound onto a winding rod engaged vertically with respect to a direction that a carrier tape is fabricated and moved in one side of a semiconductor packing machine inserting semiconductor into a concave receiving part of the carrier and attaching a cover film and winds the carrier tape by rotating winding rod In a state that an empty reel is inserted onto the winding rod and when the winding of the carrier tape is completed, the worker pulls out the wound reel from the winding rod, so that the exchange of the carrier tape reel is finished.

At this time, it is impossible to wind the carrier tape fabricated by a semiconductor packing machine while a worker inserts an empty reel onto the winding rod. In this case, the carrier tape waits being placed on the floor of a working site or in

an additionally prepared container until the insertion of the empty reel is finished or the operation of the semiconductor packing machine is stopped, so that the winding work of the carrier tape is delayed, and the semiconductor packing work is delayed.

In addition, according to the conventional art, the wound reel is pulled from the winding rod that does not rotate anymore in a state that the worker stops the rotation of the winding rod, and a new empty reel is inserted onto the winding rod from which the reel on which the carrier tape is wound is removed, then a winding work to the empty reels is performed, so that the number of work processes by the worker is increased and the productivity of the winding reel is became dependent on worker's ability. Therefore, it is impossible to obtain information concerning an exact productivity of the winding reels and to set up a certain fabrication plan based on the above information.

In addition, according to the conventional art, as a carrier tape fabricated by the semiconductor packing machine is wound onto a single empty reel, the winding to another empty reel is impossible during the exchanging time of the empty reel.

Therefore, the productivity is decreased due to the stop of work during the exchange of reels and the efficiency of work is also decreased due to a work of frequent exchange of a single reel.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic reel exchanging method and device for a carrier tape capable of overcoming the problems of the conventional art wherein a reel on which a carrier tape will be wound is automatically supplied and discharged.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic reel exchanging method and device for a carrier tape capable of exchanging other reels while a carrier tape is wound onto a reel.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide an automatic reel exchanging method and device for a carrier tape in which plural reels on which a carrier tape is wound and will be wound can be stored, and than can be exchanged.

Disclosure of Invention In the present invention, there is provided an automatic exchanging method of a reel for a carrier tape, comprising processes of opening the reel casing and inserting plural empty reels onto supply rod installed in a lower part of the reel casing and the transfer unit inserting an empty reel which is inserted onto the supply rod onto a winding rod and à winding unit in which the empty reel is inserted ascending to the operation position and the reel that the winding process is finished moving from the operation position to a discharge rod by pressurization of the winding unit and opening of a reel casing and discharging the reel which is moved to the discharge rod.

In the present invention, there is also provided an automatic exchanging method of a reel for a carrier tape, comprising the steps of a reel casing opening step in which a reel casing hinged to one end of a body is rotated about the hinge and is opened; an empty reel insertion step in which an empty reel is inserted onto a supply

rod installed in a lower side of the opened reel casing; a reel casing engagement step in which the reel casing which the empty reel is inserted into is rotated about the hinge to contact with the front surface of the body; an empty reel confirmation step in which a control unit having recognized an engagement of the reel casing operates an empty reel sensor and checks a presence of the empty reel; a transfer unit support position movement step in which the control unit having confirmed that the empty reel was inserted onto the supply rod moves the transfer unit operated at lower part of the reel casing under the empty reel inserted onto the most outer side of the supply rod; an empty reel support step in which a support rod is projected upward from both ends of the transfer unit that is moved under the empty reel for thereby supporting the empty reel; a transfer unit standby position movement step in which the transfer unit is moved in a direction of a work plate in a state that the empty reel is supported by the support rod of both sides of the transfer unit; a transfer unit standby step in which the transfer unit stands by at standby position until a insertion signal of the control unit is received; winding unit confirmation step in which the work progress and position of the winding unit are recognized by the control unit; an empty reel insertion step in which the transfer unit is moved under the winding rod of the winding unit in accordance with an insertion signal of the control unit; a winding unit ascending step in which the winding unit is moved up to a work position wherein the empty reel is inserted onto the winding rod; a winding step in which a carrier tape is wound on the empty reel and the winding operation is finished; a discharge rod confirmation step in which the control unit that

confirmed a finish of the winding operation with respect to the reel operates a reel sensor and confirms a reel insertion space of the discharge rod; a reel pressurization step in which the control unit that finished the confirmation of the discharge rod transmits a discharge signal to the winding unit, so that the pressurizing plate of the winding unit is projected outward; a reel discharge step in which the control unit that recognized that the reel on which the carrier tape wound is charged in the discharge rod opens the reel casing and discharges the wound reel; and a reel casing engagement step in which the reel casing having discharged the wound reel is engaged with the body, and the process is performed again.

In the present invention, there is also provided an automatic exchanging device of a reel for a carrier tape, comprising a reel casing; a discharge rod and a supply rod installed in a upper and lower part of inner surface of the reel casing; a transfer stand moving from a work plate of the body to an end of the reel casing along a screw rod; a support rod projected upward at both lateral surfaces of the transfer stand; an ascending and descending rod installed vertically to the plate in back surface of the work plate; an ascending and descending plate being moved along the ascending and descending rod; a rotation plate engaged with a shaft of a motor installed in back surface of the ascending and descending plate; winding rod projected from center of front surface of the rotation plate; a pressurizing plate formed as a ring shape at certain range distant position from a outer portion of the rotation plate and projected frontward by operation of link installed in back surface of the ascending and descending plate; a reel sensor detecting the reel

inserted onto the discharge rod; an empty reel sensor detecting the empty reel inserted onto the supply rod; an operation sensor detecting work progress and position of the winding unit moved in the work plate.

The present invention further includes an opening and shutting unit composed of a cylinder and a piston shaft and being contact with the upper part of the body and inner surface of the reel casing diagonally.

Brief Description of Drawings The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the construction of an automatic reel exchanging method for a carrier tape according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating a winding device for a carrier tape according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a front view of a reel exchanging device according to the present invention; Figures 4 through 8 are lateral cross section views illustrating a reel exchanging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a flow chart of an insertion process of a reel exchanging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 10 is a flow chart of a discharge process of a reel exchanging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Preferred Embodiment The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the construction of an automatic reel exchanging method for a carrier tape according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating a winding device for a carrier tape according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a front view of a reel exchanging device according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a view illustrating a state that a reel casing of a reel exchanging device is engaged with a body according to the present invention, Figure 5 is a view illustrating an operation that a transfer unit of a reel exchanging device is moved to a support position and supports an empty reel according to the present invention, Figure 6 is a view illustrating an operation that a transfer unit inserts an empty reel onto a winding unit according to the present invention, Figure 7 is a view illustrating an operation that a semiconductor carrier tape is wound onto an empty reel in a winding unit according to the present invention, Figure 8 is a view illustrating an operation that a winding unit pressurizes a reel on which a carrier tape is wound toward a discharge rod according to the present invention, Figure 9 is a flow chart of an insertion process of a reel

exchanging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 10 is a flow chart of a discharge process of a reel exchanging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present invention, there are provided a reel casing opening step (S10), an empty reel insertion step (Sll), a reel casing engagement step (S12), an empty reel confirmation step (su3), a transfer unit support position movement step (S14), an empty reel support step (S15), a transfer stand standby position movement step (S16), a transfer stand standby step (S17), a winding unit confirmation step (S18), an empty reel insertion step (S19), a winding unit ascending step (S20), a winding step (S21), a discharge rod confirmation step (S22), a reel pressurization step (S23), a reel casing opening step (S24), a reel discharge step (S25), and a reel casing shutting step (S26).

In the reel casing opening step (S10), a reel casing (20) engaged with a front surface of one side of the winding device (l) is opened for a empty reel (9) on which a semiconductor carrier is wound to be inserted into a reel exchanging device (l0) of the winding device (l), wherein for winding a carrier tape (8) transferred from a semiconductor packing machine onto a reel (9), the winding device (l) includes a body (2), a floor plate (3) projected forward from the lower part of the front surface of the body (2) as a plate shape, a control unit (4) engaged with an upper part of the body (2) for controlling an operation that an electric signal is transmitted between each elements and an information recording, a finishing unit (5) for performing a cutting and taping work when a winding of a carrier tape is finished, and an insertion unit (6) for guiding

and inserting a carrier tape on the reel.

Here, the reel casing (20) is opened in such a manner that a worker pressurizes and rotates the reel casing (20) to the outer direction of the body (2) about a hinge connected at one end of the body (2) and one end of the reel casing (20), respectively, or in such a manner that an opening and shutting unit 50 being in contact with an upper part of the body (2) and an upper surface of the reel casing (20) pressurize the upper part of the reel casing (20) being in contact with one end of an opening and shutting unit (50) as the control unit (4) engaged with the upper part of the body (2) transmits an electric signal, so that an inner side of the reel casing (20) is rotated at 90° or 180° with respect to the front surface of the body (2).

In the empty reel insertion step (Sll), the worker inserts the center hole of an empty reel (9) formed a circular shape of which center portion is holed in an axial direction of the center shaft onto a support rod (22) projected vertically with respect to an inner surface of the reel casing (20) in the inner lower part of the reel casing (20) opened to be vertical or horizontal with respect to the front surface of the body (2).

At this time, the number of empty reels (9) inserted onto the support rod (22) is set based on the thickness of the empty reel (9). Generally, it is preferable that the length of the support rod (22) and the inner depth of the reel casing (20) are determined so that three or four empty reels (9) can be inserted onto the supply rod (22).

In the reel casing engagement step (S 12), plural empty reels (9) are inserted onto the supply rod (22) of the reel casing (20), and the opening and shutting unit (50) is

operated based on a selective operation of the worker and a control of the control unit (4), and the reel casing (20) contacts with the front surface of the body (2) for thereby achieving an engagement.

In the empty reel confirmation step (S 13), the control unit (4) having recognized the engagement of the reel casing (20) operates an empty reel sensor (64) installed in an inner side surface of the reel casing (20) of the position in which the supply rod (22) is projected, for thereby confirming the empty reel (9) inserted onto the supply rod (22).

Here, the empty reel sensor (64) judges the presence and number of empty reels (9) of the supply rod (22) based on a method of irradiating the light to the outer portion of the supply rod (22) an computing an interval of time for light to be reflected, then a corresponding signal is transmitted to the control unit (4).

In the transfer stand support position movement step (S14), the control unit (4) that confirmed the insertion of the empty reel (9) by the empty reel sensor (64) transmits a signal to the transfer unit (30), and a transfer stand (31) of the transfer unit (30) is moved to a lower side of the empty reel (9) inserted onto the most outer position among the empty reels (9) inserted onto the supply rod (22).

At this time, the transfer stand (31) is supported and fixed by a screw rod (33) extended from the front surface of the body (2) to an inner surface of the reel casing (20) and is moved based on a rotation of the screw rod (33).

In the empty reel support step (S15), the support rod (32) installed at both sides of the transfer stand (31) moved to a lower side of the outer most empty reel inserted

onto the supply rod (22) is projected upward in accordance with a control of the control unit (4), and the projected support rod (32) is inserted into a space formed between both circular plates of the empty reel for thereby supporting the empty reel (9).

In the transfer stand standby position movement step (S16), in a state that the empty reel (9) is supported by the support rod (32) projected from both sides of the transfer stand (31), the transfer stand (31) is moved in the forward direction of the body (2) in accordance with a control of the control unit (4). At this time, the transfer stand (31) is moved to the movement position set by the control unit (4), namely, is moved to the standby position.

Here, the standby position is set at a position distanced from the front side of the work plate by a certain distance in such a manner that the winding unit (40) can be sufficiently moved to the upper and lower parts of a work plate (7) attached to a front surface of the body (2), and there is not interference between the winding rod (41) projected from a front surface of the winding unit (40).

In the transfer stand standby step (S17), the transfer stand (31) moved to the standby position stands by at a corresponding position until the next work signal is transmitted from the control unit (4).

In the winding unit confirmation step (S18), the control unit (4) that confirmed the movement to the standby position of the transfer stand (31) transmits a recognition signal of the work plate (7) to a pair of the operation sensors (62) installed diagonally on the left and right sides of the upper part and the left and right sides of the lower part of a

front surface of the work plate (7) and performed an transmission and reception of signals. Then the operation sensors (62) transmit position information of the winding unit (40) of the work plate (7) and operation progress information of the winding unit (40).

In the empty reel insertion step (S19), in a state that the'control unit (41) confirmed the position and operation progress of the winding unit (40), an electrical signal is transmitted to the transfer stand (31), and the empty reel (9) supported by the transfer stand (31) is inserted onto the winding rod (41) of the winding unit (40).

At this time, the winding unit (40) having descended to a lower part of the work plate (7), the control unit (4) recognizes a state that the rotation operation is stopped, then, insertion signal of the empty reel (9) is transmitted to the transfer stand (31).

In addition, the transfer stand (31) is moved along a screw rod (33) in the direction of the work plate (7) from the standby position in accordance with the insertion signal of the empty reel (9). As the transfer stand (31) is moved, the empty reel (9) supported on the upper part of the transfer stand (31) is moved in the direction of the work stand, then, the center hole of the empty reel (9) is inserted and fixed onto the winding rod (41) of the winding unit (40) placed at the lower part of the work plate (7).

In the winding unit ascending step (S20), the winding unit (40) in which the empty reel (9) is inserted onto the winding rod (41) is moved to the upper work position of the work plate (7) in accordance with a control of the control unit (4).

Here, ascending of the winding unit (40) is accomplished, as an ascending and descending plate (44) of the winding unit (40) engaged with a back surface of the work

plate (7) is moved to an upper part of the work plate (7) along an ascending and descending rod (46) that forms a screw thread on an outer part in accordance with an electrical signal of the control unit (4).

In the winding step (S21), the winding unit (40) being inserted the empty reel (9) is moved up to the work position, and as the rotation plate (42) and the winding rod (41) of the winding unit (40) moved up to the work position are rotated, the empty reel (9) is rotated. As the empty reel (9) is rotated, the carrier tape (8) moved from the semiconductor packing machine is wound on the center shaft of the empty reel (9).

Here, when the empty reel (9) is inserted into the winding unit (40) by the transfer stand (31), the guide projection projected from the winding rod (41) is inserted into slits opened as a radial shape in a center hole of the empty reel (9), so that the empty reel (9) is inserted in appropriate place. After the winding unit (40) is ascended to the work position, a zero point sensor (61) installed on the upper right part of the work plate (7), namely, the work position of the winding unit (40) irradiates light through an opened observing window in the circular plate of both sides of the empty reel (9) by a control of the control unit (4) for thereby confirming the just position of the empty reel (9).

In the discharge rod confirmation step (S22), the control unit (4) that recognized that the winding of the carrier tape (8) to the empty reel (9) was finished operates the reel sensor (63), and it is checked whether there is a space in the discharge rod (23) installed in the upper part of the inner surface of the reel casing (20) that the reel (9), on which the

carrier tape (8) is wound, can be released from the winding unit (40). The spare space confirmation information is received at the control unit (4).

At this time, the reel sensor (63) is installed in the inner surface of the reel casing (20) in which the discharge rod (23) is installed and irradiates light in an axial direction of the discharge rod (23) and the irradiation distance of the light etc. is detected, so that the number of the reels (9) inserted onto the discharge rod (23) and the spare space are checked.

In the reel pressurization step (S23), as the pressurizing plate (43) of the winding unit (40) is projected in the forward direction of the work plate (7), the reel (9) the carrier tape (8) being wound thereon is pressurized in the direction of the discharge rod (23), so that the reel (9) the carrier tape (8) being wound is inserted onto the discharge rod (23).

In the reel casing opening step (S24), the reel sensor (63) recognizes that the reel (9) carrier tape (8) being wound is inserted onto the discharge rod (23) and transmits a corresponding signal to the control unit (4). The control unit (4) controls an opening and shutting unit (50) and rotates the reel casing (20) about the axis of the hinge for thereby opening the reel casing, or the opening of the reel casing (20) or the charging of the discharge rod (23) is informed in such a manner that the control unit (4) warns the worker.

In the reel discharge step (S25), the worker pulls out plural reels (9) inserted onto the discharge rod (23) of the opened reel casing (20).

In the reel casing engagement step (S26), the reel (9) is pulled out from the

discharge rod (23) of the opened reel casing (20) and at the same time a new empty reel (9) is inserted onto the supply rod (22), and the reel casing (20) is engaged with the body (2) in such a manner that the control unit (4) controls, or the worker pressurizes.

Next, the automatic exchanging device of a reel for a semiconductor carrier tape according to the present invention will be described.

As shown in Figures 2 through 8, the reel exchanging devices (l0) of the present invention includes a reel casing (20), a transfer unit (30), a winding unit (40), an opening and shutting unit (50), and a detection unit (60).

The reel casing (20) is formed as a box shape wherein a lower side, one side, and a back side are opened. One end of the other surface opposite to the opened one side is engaged with one side end of the body (2) using a hinge.

A partition plate (21) is installed horizontally to the upper surface of the reel casing (200 in the inner center part of the reel casing (20) for thereby dividing the area of the reel casing (20) into two same areas.

A rod shaped discharge rod (23) is projected from the center of the upper part of the inner surface of the reel casing (20) in the opened back side direction of the reel casing (20) so that the center hole of the reel (9) can be inserted onto the discharge rod (23).

A rod shaped supply rod (22) is projected from the lower center of the inner surface of the reel casing (20) in the opened back side direction of the reel casing (20) so that the center part of the reel (9) can be inserted onto the supply reel (22).

Here, the discharge rod (23) and the supply rod (22) are formed with a length corresponding to the thickness that plural reels (9) are added so that three or four reels (9) are inserted, and it is desirable that the discharge rod (23) and the supply rod (22) have the same length.

The transfer unit (30) is installed in a plate shaped floor plate (3) projected forward from the lower part of the front surface of the body 2 and includes a transfer stand (31), a support rod (32), and a screw rod (33).

The transfer stand (31) is formed in a rectangular box shape having a certain width similar with the width of the empty reel (9) so that the transfer stand (31) is movable under the lower part of the empty reel (9) inserted onto the supply rod (22) and the empty reel (9) can be mounted on.

The support rod (32) is installed at both sides of the transfer stand (31) and includes a cylinder and a piston. The piston inserted into the cylinder is moved upward and downward in the direction of the transfer stand (31) in accordance with an electric signal of the control unit (4).

The screw rod (33) extends from the work plate (7) attached to the front surface of the body (2) to the inner center part of the bottom of the reel casing (20) engaged with the body (2), and passes through the center part of the transfer stand (31) and is threaded with a piercing part of the transfer stand (31). Then, as the screw rod (33) is rotated, the transfer stand (31) is moved along the screw threads of the screw rod (33).

The winding unit (40) includes a winding rod (41), a rotation plate (42), a

pressurizing plate (43), an ascending and descending plate (44), an ascending and descending hole (45), and an ascending and descending rod (46).

The winding rod (41) is formed in a rod shape so that it can be inserted into a center hole of the reel (9) and a slit opened in a radial shape in the center hole and a guide projection is projected in an axial direction in an outer part of the rod shape and the winding rod(41) is engaged with a center part of the rotation plate(42).

The rotation plate(42) is engaged with a shaft of the motor engaged with a back surface of the ascending and descending plate (44) and is formed in a circular plate shape so that it is rotated based on the rotation of the motor shaft.

The pressurization plate (43) is distanced from an outer part of the rotation plate (42) by a certain distance, and is formed in a ring shape, and is projected forward based on an operation of the link projected from a back surface of the ascending and descending plate (44). The pressurizing plate (43) performs a pressurizing operation to the outer part of the reel (9) of the winding rod (41) by projecting itself.

The ascending and descending plate (44) is engaged with the rotation plate (42) and the pressurizing plate (43). In addition, the ascending and descending plate (44) is engaged with the motor connected with the rotation plate (42) and the ascending and descending stand screw-engaged with the screw threads of the ascending and descending rod (46) and is installed closer to the back surface of the work plate (7) and is shaped of rectangular plate.

The ascending and descending hole (45) is formed from the upper part of the

work plate (7) to the lower part of the same and is opened vertically with respect to the work plate (7). The ascending and descending hole (45) is opened with a length in such a manner that the center of the rotation plate (42) engaged with the ascending and descending plate (44) is matched with the center shafts of the discharge rod (23) and the supply rod (22).

The ascending and descending rod (46) has the same shape as the screw rod (33) and is installed vertically with respect to the work plate (7) in one side of the ascending and descending hole (45) of the work plate (7).

The opening and shutting unit (50) includes a cylinder (51) and a piston shaft(52). The cylinder(51) is formed in such a manner that an external hydraulic pressure is adjusted in accordance with an electric signal of the control unit(4). The cylinder (51) is installed diagonally in the inner side of the body (2) being above upper part of the work plate (7).

The piston shaft (52) is connected with the piston inserted into the cylinder (51) and is formed in a rod shape so that it may appear and disappear in the interior of the cylinder (51) in accordance with the movement of the piston and is installed diagonally the same as the cylinder (51) in the inner side of the upper surface of the reel casing (20).

The detection unit (60) includes a zero point sensor (61), an operation sensor (62), a reel sensor (63), an empty reel sensor (64), and a cylinder sensor.

The zero point sensor (61) is installed on the work position of the winding unit 40, namely, on the position of the work plate (7) adjacent to the winding rod (41) in a

state that the winding unit (40) is moved to the upper part of the work plate (7) and irradiates light through an observation window of the empty reel (9) inserted onto the winding rod (41).

The operation sensor (62) is installed diagonally by one pair with respect to the work plate (7), namely, on the left side of the upper part and the right side of the lower part of the work plate (7) or on the right side of the upper part and the left side of the lower part of the work plate (7). The other side operation sensor (62) receives the light from the one side operation sensor (62).

The reel sensor (63) is installed on the inner surface of the upper part of the reel casing (20) and is adapted to irradiate light in an axial direction of the discharge rod (23).

The empty reel sensor (64) is installed on the inner surface of the lower part of the reel casing (20) and is adapted to irradiate light in an axial direction of the supply rod (22).

The cylinder sensor detects an operation of the cylinder (51) and the piston shaft (52) of the opening and shutting unit (50) and transmits the signal to the control unit (4), and the control unit (4) confirms the opening and engaging state of the reel casing (20) based on a detection information of the cylinder sensor.

Here, each sensor is installed to communicate information with the control unit (4) and to be operated in accordance with a control of the control unit (4).

As shown in Figures 3 through 10, by the operating the control unit (4) by a worker or by the control unit (4) confirmed that the empty reel (9) is not charged to the

supply rod (22) by the empty reel sensor (64) electric signal is transmitted to the opening and shutting unit (50), then hydraulic pressure in the cylinder (51) is increased, so that the piston shaft (52) inserted in the cylinder (51) is projected. As the piston shaft (52) is projected, the reel casing 20 engaged with a front surface of the body (2) is rotated by hinge engaged with one end of the reel casing (20) and one end of the body (2) and is opened.

The worker inserts plural empty reels (9) onto the supply rod (22) installed in a lower part of the reel casing (20), and operates the control unit (4), and engages the reel casing (20) with the body (2) by a hydraulic pressure of the opening and shutting unit (50).

At the time when the reel casing (20) is engaged, the control unit (4) operates the empty reel sensor (64), and it is judged whether there is the empty reel (9) in the supply rod (22). In the case that it is recognized that there is the empty reel (9) in the supply rod (22), the control unit (4) transmits an electric signal to the transfer stand (31), and the transfer stand (31) is moved under the empty reel (9) inserted onto the outer most part of the supply rod (22).

The transfer stand (31) moved under the empty reel (9) moves the support rod (32) installed at both sides of the transfer stand (31) into the interior of the empty reel (9) and supports the same in accordance with a control of the control unit (4).

In a state that the empty reel (9) is supported by the support rod (32), the transfer stand (31) is moved in the direction of the work plate (7) attached to the front surface of the body (2), so that the empty reel (9) inserted onto the supply rod (22) is separated from

the supply rod (22) or is moved to be placed on the end of the supply rod (22) and is mounted on the upper side of the transfer stand (31).

The transfer stand (31) supporting the empty reel (9) is moved in the direction of the work plate (7) and stops at the standby position set by the control unit (4) and stands by to receive an insertion signal of the control unit (4).

In a state that the transfer stand (31) is at the standby position, the control unit (4) operates the operation sensor (62) installed in a pair in the upper and lower parts of the work plate (7) and judges whether the winding unit (40) is moved to a lower part of the work plate 7 and stops rotating action and then transmits an insertion signal to the transfer stand (31).

The transfer stand (31) received an insertion signal from the control unit (4) is further moved in the direction of the work plate (7) in a state that it supports the empty reel (9), and inserts the center hole of the empty reel (9) onto the winding rod (41) of the winding unit (40) moved down to the lower part of the work plate (7), so that the empty reel (9) is inserted into the winding unit (40).

The winding unit (40) in which the empty reel 9 is inserted is moved up in the direction of the upper part of the work plate (7) in accordance with a control of the control unit (4) along the ascending and descending rod (46) installed in the back surface of the winding unit (40), so that the winding unit (40) is moved to the work position.

The control unit (4) recognized that the winding unit (40) was moved to the work position operates the zero point sensor (61) installed in the work position and

judges whether the observation window of the empty reel (9) inserted onto the winding rod (41) of the winding unit (40) is appropriate position and winds the carrier tape (8) moved from the semiconductor packing machine onto the center shaft of the empty reel (9) by rotating the rotation plate (42) of the winding unit (40).

The control unit (4) recognized the finish of the winding operation of the carrier tape (8) operates the reel sensor (63) for thereby checking whether there is a certain space that the reel (9) can be inserted onto the discharge rod (23) and transmits the discharge signal of the reel (9) to the winding unit (40).

The winding unit (40) received a reel discharge signal of the control unit 4 projects the pressurizing plate (43) formed distanced from the outer part of the rotation plate (42) outward, so that the reel (9) inserted onto the winding rod (41) is pressurized in the direction of the discharge rod (23).

After the reel (9) is moved and inserted onto the discharge rod (23) by a pressurizing operation of the pressurizing plate (43), the winding unit (40) is moved to a lower part of the work plate (7) to insert the empty reel (9) supported at the standby position by transfer stand (31).

At this time, as the reel (9) first inserted onto the discharge rod (23) is pressurized by another reel (9) pressurized by the pressurization plate (43), the reel (9) inserted onto the discharge rod (23) is gradually moved in the direction of the inner surface of the reel casing (20). Then, the reel sensor (63) judges that the discharge rod (23) is charged or not by the reel (9). In the case that the discharge rod (23) is charged

by the reel (9), the control unit (4) issues a certain warning to the worker irrespective of the operation of the winding unit (40), or operates the opening and shutting unit (50) of the reel casing (20). Then the reel casing (20) is opened, so that the empty reel (9) and the reel (9) are exchanged.

Industrial Applicability As described above, according to the present invention, as the empty reel and the reel being automatically exchanged the carrier tape is wound, it is possible to decrease the number of works and working time, so that the productivity is enhanced.

In addition, in the present invention, as plural stored empty reels are sequentially inserted into the winding unit, and wind the carrier tape moved from the semiconductor packing machine and plural reels to be wound the carrier tapes thereon are stored in the discharge rod of the reel casing, so that a frequent reel exchanging work is not needed. Therefore, the productivity is enhanced.

In addition, even when the reel casing is opened for the exchange of the empty reel and the reel, the winding work can be performed by the winding unit. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a continuous work of the fabrication line and to decrease the working time also, so that the productivity is enhanced.

In addition, in the present invention, it is possible to achieve an accurate work using various sensors and the presence of the empty reel and the reel is easily

recognized based on the opening and engagement of the reel casing.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.