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Automated setup verification system

  • US 5,325,305 A
  • Filed: 07/24/1992
  • Issued: 06/28/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An automated setup verification system for use in verifying manual operator setup of a placement machine having a plurality of component feeder magazines, each containing a plurality of preselected electronic components, and arranged in fixed positions for use in the automated placement of said electronic components on assemblies during the assembly manufacturing process, comprising:

  • a support structure positioned adjacent said placement machine and defining a path which passes by each of said fixed positions;

    a plurality of coded means, each of said coded means being attached to a different one of said component feeder magazines for identifying and distinguishing each of said component feeder magazines from all other component feeder magazines in said placement machine;

    an electronic component testing meter, for manually testing the electrical values of one or more of said plurality of preselected electronic components contained within each component feeder magazine bearing one of said coded means, to determine the identity of said plurality of electronic components;

    an electronic component testing terminal including code reading means, for associating an identified plurality of electronic components contained within a component feeder magazine with that particular component feeder magazine;

    movement producing means movably retained to said support structure for producing selective motion relative to said support structure along said path in response to control commands;

    code sensing means attached to said movement producing means for addressing and sensing coded means in each fixed position;

    decoding means communicating with said code sensing means for discerning the coded identity addressed by said code sensing means of any component feeder magazine found in any fixed position;

    a programmable logic controller communicating with said decoding means and said movement producing means, and programmable for sending control commands to said movement producing means, and for receiving information from said decoding means; and

    a local area controller communicating with said programmable logic controller, said electronic component testing meter and said electronic component testing terminal, and having stored information defining at least one preselected assembly data set which includes a required component feeder magazine setup for manufacturing as assembly, said local area controller being programmed to compare actual component feeder magazine setup information provided by said programmable logic controller, said electronic component testing meter, and said electronic component testing terminal with said required component feeder magazine setup information, and provide a visual indication to an operator to verify whether said actual component feeder magazine setup conforms to said required component feeder magazine setup.

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