Cover plate for a poka-yoke bulk bin system
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsEng How Cheah, Kean Pin Ng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One example includes a bulk bin system. The system includes a bin receptable comprising a first poka-yoke mating feature and a bulk bin configured to accommodate storage of bulk components. The bulk bin can be configured to rest on the bin receptacle and includes a second poka-yoke mating feature extending from an inner surface of the bulk bin. The second poka-yoke mating feature can be configured to engage with the first poka-yoke mating feature when the bulk bin is provided in the bin receptacle. The system further comprises a cover plate that is secured to the bulk bin via a securing feature. The cover plate includes a cover portion that extends along and is approximately aligned with the inner surface of the bulk bin to cover the second poka-yoke mating feature.
Claims20
A bulk bin system comprising:
- a bin receptable comprising a first poka-yoke mating feature;
- a bulk bin configured to accommodate storage of bulk components, the bulk bin being configured to rest on the bin receptacle and comprising a second poka-yoke mating feature extending from an inner surface of the bulk bin, the second poka-yoke mating feature being configured to engage with the first poka-yoke mating feature when the bulk bin is provided in the bin receptacle;
- and
- a cover plate that is secured to the bulk bin via a securing feature, the cover plate comprising a cover portion that extends along and is approximately aligned with an inner surface of the bulk bin to cover the second poka-yoke mating feature.
A method for implementing a bulk bin system, the method comprising:
- fabricating a cover plate, the cover plate comprising a cover portion and a securing feature;
- inserting the cover plate into a bulk bin that is configured to accommodate storage of bulk components, the bulk bin comprising a first poka-yoke mating feature;
- securing the cover plate to the bulk bin via the securing feature to provide that the cover portion extends along and is approximately aligned with an inner surface of the bulk bin to cover the first poka-yoke mating feature;
- and
- engaging the bulk bin with a bin receptacle, such that the first poka-yoke mating feature associated with the bulk bin engages with a second poka-yoke mating feature associated with the bin receptacle.
A method for producing bulk components, the method comprising:
- providing a bulk bin system comprising a first bulk bin and a second bulk bin, the first bulk bin comprising a poka-yoke mating feature extending from an inner surface of the first bulk bin;
- securing a cover plate to the first bulk bin, the cover plate comprising a cover portion and a securing feature, the cover portion being approximately aligned with the inner surface of the first bulk bin to cover the poka-yoke feature;
- fabricating the bulk components via fabrication equipment;
- performing a test on the fabricated bulk components via testing equipment;
- determining first condition bulk components in response to a first portion of the fabricated bulk components exhibiting a first response to the test;
- determining second condition bulk components in response to a second portion of the fabricated bulk components exhibiting a second response to the test;
- providing the first condition bulk components to the first bulk bin of the bulk bin system;
- and
- providing the second condition bulk components to the second bulk bin of the bulk bin system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.