US 2003/0225547 A1 · Wireless feeder verification system

Abstract

A system and a method for verifying the correct placement of feeders in automated placement machines. The system includes a general purpose computer having a visual display and a software application which processes identification information scanned by the handheld wireless identification reader and compares the identification information to a feeder list. The software application then provides instructions on the visual display to the operator. If the previously scanned feeder is determined by the verification program to be in the correct slot the program instructs the operator to proceed to and scan the next feeder. If the previously scanned feeder is determined by the verification program not to be in a correct slot then the verification program alerts the operator to the error and prevents the operator from proceeding to the next feeder until the determination of the previous feeder is corrected.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for verifying the correct placement of feeders in automated placement machines comprising:

an automated placement machine for the automated placement of components, said placement machine having a plurality of slots, at least one slot containing a feeder, said feeder containing components to be placed by said placement machine, and said feeder having an identification symbol;
a handheld wireless identification reader to remotely scan said identification symbol on said at least one feeder;
a general purpose computer, said general purpose computer having a visual display;
a scanner base receiver in communication with said computer;
and
a verification program which receives identification information scanned by said handheld wireless identification reader and compares the identification information to a feeder list, said verification program then providing instructions on said visual display to proceed to the next feeder if the identification information agrees with the feeder list, or stop and take corrective action if the identification information does not agree with the feeder list.

3 more elements

A method for verifying the correct placement of feeders in automated placement machines comprising the steps of:

providing a placement machine having a plurality of slots containing feeders, said feeders containing components to be placed by said placement machine;
providing a general purpose computer, said computer having a visual display;
accessing a software verification program on said computer;
selecting a placement machine identification in said verification program;
selecting a feeder list in said verification program;
providing a handheld wireless identification symbol reader;
providing a scanner base receiver in communication with said computer;
scanning a first feeder on said placement machine with said handheld wireless identification symbol reader, said first feeder having an identification symbol;
comparing the identification information of the first feeder with said feeder list;
and
viewing said visual display where said software verification program will display instructions to either i) scan the next feeder on said placement machine if said first feeder is located in a correct slot on said placement machine, or, ii) stop and correct the incorrect placement of said first feeder.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wireless feeder verification system

Life of this patent

Wireless feeder verification system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20