Method and apparatus for data collection of testing and inspection of products made on a production assembly line
First Claim
1. For use with an assembly line where multiple components are assembled into a subassembly and the subassembly is assembled into an assembly by appropriate component installation at locations of the assembly and wherein the assembly line involved multiple assembly functions therealong and further wherein the assembly line manufactures the assembly repetitively, an apparatus for inspecting the components, subassemblies or assemblies as repetitively manufactured, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) at least one inspection station having data input terminal means for use by an inspector to input data relating to manufacturing or component defects as observed after component installation along the assembly line wherein the defects are coded with defect specific codes, and the defects are converted by said terminal means into defect codes;
(b) output means for forming an indication in real time from data input upon entry of a defect at said terminal means during inspection, said output means forming an output indicative of the defect; and
(c) a CPU connected between said terminal and said output means, said CPU correlating the output of said output means with the coded defect input from said terminal means and forming a coded indication that the defect has occurred in real time and further forming an indication regarding the significance of the defect.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus to enable real time recording and analysis of defects in manufactured products and expedite real time identification and correction of errors in production and assembly operations is provided. It is intended for use where a multitude of different parts are used to make multiple units of a device typically formed by stuffing components into a printed circuit board, therebeing one or more printed circuit boards in the finished assembly typically having a chassis and wiring harness. Support for fully integrated multiple inspection stations is disclosed. The inspection stations include terminals utilizing light pens and screens to input codes classifying defects, and also includes facilities and functions to capture defect data from automatic testing equipment. Real time output of defect indications and trends including classification thereof is provided both at the station, and through reporting stations distant from the manufacturing floor.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. For use with an assembly line where multiple components are assembled into a subassembly and the subassembly is assembled into an assembly by appropriate component installation at locations of the assembly and wherein the assembly line involved multiple assembly functions therealong and further wherein the assembly line manufactures the assembly repetitively, an apparatus for inspecting the components, subassemblies or assemblies as repetitively manufactured, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) at least one inspection station having data input terminal means for use by an inspector to input data relating to manufacturing or component defects as observed after component installation along the assembly line wherein the defects are coded with defect specific codes, and the defects are converted by said terminal means into defect codes; (b) output means for forming an indication in real time from data input upon entry of a defect at said terminal means during inspection, said output means forming an output indicative of the defect; and (c) a CPU connected between said terminal and said output means, said CPU correlating the output of said output means with the coded defect input from said terminal means and forming a coded indication that the defect has occurred in real time and further forming an indication regarding the significance of the defect. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of inspecting the components placed on a printed circuit board comprising the steps of:
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(a) after manufacture by assembly of components onto a printed circuit board, inspecting the components for defects in assembly including assembly errors in component type, value and placement of the board; (b) after completion of an assembly involving the printed circuit board with additional assembly steps installing additional components, inspecting at a second time for additional defects of the type arising in the additional assembly; (c) wherein each of the steps of inspecting and inspecting a second time occurs at an input terminal for receiving as observed in real time coded data entries of defects; (d) classifying the defect coded entries into categories of defects in acccordance with a predetermined standard for defects; and (e) providing periodic reports of classified defects grouped by said predetermined standards wherein said reports represent at assembly errors in component type, value, and placement on the board. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification