Gathering data relating to electrical components picked from stacked trays
AssigneeAccu-Assembly Incorporated
InventorYuen-Foo Kou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of identifying electrical components picked from trays stacked in a tray tower of an electrical component placement machine includes placing identification tags on each tray. The tags contain data correlated to component part and lot number. As the stack of trays is moved into position for component picking, the tag of the upper tray is read by a tag reader. Gathered data is employed for component tracking, inventory control and setup verification.
Claims36
A method of identifying electrical components picked from trays stacked in an electrical component placement machine, the method comprising
- providing each of multiple electrical component trays with an associated identification tag, the tags placed in a common orientation on the trays;
- stacking a plurality of the trays to form a stack of trays, each tray carrying at least one discrete electrical component, on a selected one of multiple tray support surfaces of an electrical component placement machine, with one of the stacked trays positioned at a distal end of the stack;
- picking an electrical component from the tray at the distal end of the stack, for installation in an electrical assembly;
- and,
- with the placement machine continuing to operate to pick and place electrical components, gathering data from the identification tag of the tray at the distal end of the stack, the gathered data related to the picked electrical component.
An electrical component identification system comprising
- a set of tray identification tags secured to associated, stackable trays of electrical components configured to be stacked on one of multiple tray support surfaces of an electrical component placement machine, with one of the stacked trays positioned at a distal end of the stack;
- a tag reader configured to be secured to an electrical component placement machine in a position for reading the identification tag secured to the tray positioned at the distal end of the stack, to gather data therefrom while the placement machine is operated to pick and place electrical components onto a circuit board;
- and
- a controller configured to be connected to the tag reader for receiving the gathered data from the tag reader related to electrical components on its associated tray.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.