Function inspecting system

• US 4,999,578 A
• Filed: 01/13/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Home Electronics, Ltd. (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Home Electronics, Ltd. (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Jun, Ohashi, Mitsuo, Takahashi, Kuniyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burns, William J.
• Application Number:
  US07/296,779
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 324/73 AT, 324/158 P, 324/158 F, 209/555, 209/571, 209/573, 198/346.2, 198/463.2, 198/457, 437/8
• US Class Current: 324/757.02
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/50 according to destination signals stored in separate systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2808 Holding, conveying or contacting devices, e.g. test adapters, edge connectors, extender boards probe, multiprobe, probe manipulator or probe fixture G01R1/067
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0815 Controlling of component placement on the substrate during or after manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/084 Product tracking, e.g. of substrates during the manufacturing process; Component traceability

Abstract

A function inspection system having a plurality of inspection units for inspecting the operation of an electronic appliance. The system includes a system of traversers which convey the electronic appliance to different inspection units. The inspection units inspect different functions of the electronic appliance. The traversers are controlled by a controller. The electronic appliance is a printed circuit board in the preferred embodiments.

Claims

1. A function inspecting system comprising:

a plurality of inspection means for inspecting respective functions of an appliance each having an electronic circuit conveyed thereto;

a distributive conveyance means for conveying an appliance to and from any of said inspection means, the distributive conveyance means comprising a plurality of belt conveyors cooperating with a plurality of sliding traversers interspersed therewith, each belt conveyor having a generally planar upper surface upon which each applicant is conveyed, each sliding traverser traversing in a plane generally parallel to the planar upper surface of each belt conveyor, each sliding traverser being operable to allow the appliance to be conveyed from one belt conveyor to the next belt conveyor, each sliding traverser also being operable to convey an appliance from one belt conveyor to the inspection means and from the inspection means to the next belt conveyor, such that an appliance is conveyed onto the each inspection means as is necessary to inspect the functions of the appliance and bypasses inspection means where no inspection is necessary; and

an automatic control means for controlling the operation of said distributive conveyance means.

2. A function inspecting system according to claim 1, wherein the appliances are printed circuit boards.

3. A function inspecting system according to claim 1, wherein the appliances are electronic appliances which include printed circuit boards constituting the electronic circuits and perform prescribed functions.

4. A function inspecting system of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a reader to read a code on said appliance indicative of the type of electronic circuit function to be inspected.

5. A function inspecting system as in claim 4 wherein said reader is a bar code reader.

6. A function inspecting system as in claim 5 wherein said control means further includes a programmable controller to control the operation of said conveyance means.

7. A function inspecting system as in claim 6 wherein said inspecting system further includes a sorting means in connection with said conveyance means to convey out of the system the appliances determined to be functioning properly separately from said appliances determined to be functioning improperly.

8. A function inspecting system as in claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of sliding traversers comprises:

a rest for placement of said appliance; and

a piston and cylinder combination for moving said rest vertically with respect to said inspecting system in response to fluid in said cylinder.

9. A function inspecting system as in claim 8 wherein said function inspecting system comprises upper and lower belt conveyors for conveying the appliance between adjacent sliding traversers.

10. A function inspecting system as in claim 9 wherein said sliding traversers further comprise a piston/cylinder control means for controlling the fluid to said cylinder.

11. A function inspecting system as in claim 10 wherein said sliding traversers each include a sensor for sensing the position of

12. A function inspecting system as in claim 11 wherein said sensor includes a control means to stop the movement of said appliance once said appliance has reached a predetermined position on said rest.

13. A function inspecting system as in claim 3 wherein said system further comprises:

an incoming sliding traverser for moving said appliance between inspecting units;

a first traversing unit for receiving said appliance into said system and moving said appliance onto said incoming sliding traverser;

a second traversing unit for moving said appliance out of the system;

an outgoing sliding traverser for moving said appliance from said inspecting units to said second traversing unit.