Vertical component storage system

A component storage and retrieval system, comprising

• a storage stack defining discrete tray storage locations at different levels;
• an operator access station comprising a surface adapted to support a movable tray;
• an automated elevator configured to move a tray from the access station surface to a designated one of the storage locations of the storage stack, and to retrieve a selected tray from the storage stack and bring it to the access station;
• and
• a set of trays, each tray adapted to be accommodated in at least one of the tray storage locations of the storage stack, and on the operator access station surface, and to be carried by the automated elevator;
• wherein each tray defines multiple discrete reel positioning areas, each area bearing a mark that is visible from above the tray when the area is void of reels;
• wherein the access station comprises a fixed camera positioned such that a tray of the set of trays is within a field of view of the camera when supported on the surface, the field of view spanning the multiple discrete reel positioning areas of the tray, and
• wherein the camera is configured to generate data representing an image of the tray, from which the system is configured to (a) identify whether a reel is disposed in each of the reel positioning areas of the tray;
• (b) identify a reel positioned on the tray, and (c) associate the identified reel with one of the reel positioning areas based on where the identified reel is located;
• and
• wherein the system is configured to communicate the identified reel location to an operator at the operator access station;
• wherein each discrete component storage location of the tray comprise an identifier comprising at least one of a marker or a machine readable code, the identifier exposed when no component is in the discrete component storage location, and covered when a component is in the discrete component storage location, and wherein the system is configured to determine, based on a presence or absence of the identifier in the image, which one of the discrete component storage locations is empty and which one of the discrete component storage locations contains a component.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a processing device and from a camera of a component storage and retrieval system, data representing an image of at least a portion of a tray, the component storage and retrieval system comprising i) a storage stack defining discrete tray storage locations at different levels, ii) an operator access station comprising a tray support surface, and iii) an automated elevator configured to move a tray between the tray support surface and a designated one of the storage locations of the storage stack, wherein the image comprises multiple discrete component storage locations of the tray;
• identifying, by the processing device and based on the data received from the camera, a component on the tray;
• identifying, by the processing device and based on the data received from the camera, a discrete component storage location of the tray on which the identified component is located;
• and
• communicating the identified discrete component storage location to an operator at the operator access station;
• wherein each discrete component storage location of the tray comprises a machine readable code that is exposed when no component is in the discrete component storage location, and covered when a component is in the discrete component storage location, and wherein the system is configured to determine, based on each machine readable code, a location of a free or occupied discrete component storage location of the tray associated with each machine readable code.

A component storage and retrieval system, comprising:

• a storage stack defining discrete tray storage locations at different levels;
• an operator access station comprising a surface adapted to support a movable tray;
• and
• an automated elevator configured to move a tray from the access station surface to a designated one of the discrete tray storage locations of the storage stack, and to retrieve a selected tray from the storage stack and bring the selected tray to the access station,
• wherein the access station comprises a fixed camera positioned such that a tray supported on the surface is within a field of view of the camera, the field of view spanning multiple discrete component storage locations of the tray, and
• wherein the camera is configured to generate data representing an image of the tray, from which the system is configured to (a) identify a component on the tray, and (b) identify a discrete component storage location of the tray on which the identified component is located;
• and
• wherein the system is configured to communicate the identified discrete component storage location of the tray to an operator at the operator access station;
• wherein the automated elevator comprises i) an elevator drive coupled to a frame of the storage stack, ii) an elevator chain engaged with and configured to be driven by the elevator drive, iii) and an extractor attached to the elevator chain, the elevator drive comprising a rotatable gear engaged with the elevator chain such that rotation of the gear moves the extractor vertically to position the extractor adjacent a selected of the discrete tray storage locations to store or retrieve a respective tray;
• and
• wherein the extractor comprises i) an extractor drive comprising an extractor gear, ii) an extractor chain engaged with and configured to be driven by the extractor drive, and iii) one or more tabs secured to and movable by the extractor chain along a horizontal plane of the extractor, the one or more tabs arranged to engage, upon rotation of the extractor gear, a respective tray to move the respective tray to and from a support surface of the extractor to store or retrieve the respective tray.