Monitoring electronic component holders
AssigneeAccu-Assembly Incorporated
InventorYuen-Foo Michael Kou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic component pick and place machine has a series of key readers adjacent its component holder receptacles. The component holders (e.g., feeders) each have a machine-readable holder identification key attached on a flexible cable. When the holders are installed, their keys are inserted into the appropriate readers to be read by a controller to identify and locate the component holders. The controller initiates a holder placement verification check each time a new circuit board enters the machine to be populated, and updates a system component inventory database after each board build. The system database tracks the number and part number of the components loaded on each holder, as well as holder maintenance data.
Claims18
In a machine for placing electronic components on a printed circuit board, the machine comprising a series of electronic component holder receptacles for storing electronic components, and a movable pick head for picking selected components in a programmed sequence from component holders placed in the holder receptacles and placing the picked components in designated locations on a circuit board;
- the improvement wherein
- the component holder receptacles each have an associated, adjacent key receptacle for receiving a machine-readable holder identification key attached to a component holder to be loaded into the key receptacle after the component holder is loaded into the holder receptacle;
- and wherein
- the machine further comprises a controller constructed to identify, from identification keys inserted into the key receptacles, the loaded component holders to which the keys are attached.
A component holder for holding a quantity of electronic components on an electronic component placement machine, the holder having a machine-readable holder identification key, attached to the holder by a flexible cable and containing holder identification information, for insertion into an associated machine data key receptacle when the holder is loaded onto the placement machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.