Method and system for inspecting an assembly, and electrical inspection apparatus for a flash unit
First Claim
1. A method for inspecting an assembly constituted of a plurality of parts, comprising the steps of:
- holding said assembly by a pallet in a predetermined state;
circulating a plurality of said pallets around a plurality of inspection stations for sequentially inspecting said assemblies with respect to a plurality of inspection items;
providing each of said pallets with a data management device having a data memory and a data communication system for allowing to read and write said data memory through remote processing;
writing measurement data obtained in each inspection station in said data memory of said data management device;
judging said measurement data with reference to threshold values which are predetermined for each inspection item by calculating group values of said measurement data according to a predetermined grouping formula and comparing said group values with said threshold values of each inspection item;
classifying said assemblies according to said judgment data on all of said inspection items;
writing judgment data and classification data obtained in said judging step and said classification step in said data memory of a corresponding one of said pallets; and
discharging said assemblies from said pallets while being stored in a plurality of groups according to said classification data.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inspection system for assemblies, especially for flash units of used film packages as to if the flash units are reusable. The inspection system circulates pallets each holding a flash unit in a predetermined posture around a plurality of inspection stations for various inspection items. Inspection data detected in each inspection station is written in a memory of the pallet through a data communication system disposed in each pallet and each inspection station. A computer reads the memory for classifying the flash unit on the basis of the inspection data on all inspection items and writes classification data in the memory. A plurality of electrical inspection apparatuses are disposed in the inspection system for simultaneously inspecting electrical properties of a plurality of flash units. Each inspection apparatus has proving pins, an actuator and a photo-sensor which are moved into their operative positions when the pallet holding the flash unit is stopped at the inspection apparatus, wherein the inspection apparatus charges a main capacitor with a high D.C. voltage while measuring the voltage of the main capacitor.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for inspecting an assembly constituted of a plurality of parts, comprising the steps of:
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holding said assembly by a pallet in a predetermined state; circulating a plurality of said pallets around a plurality of inspection stations for sequentially inspecting said assemblies with respect to a plurality of inspection items; providing each of said pallets with a data management device having a data memory and a data communication system for allowing to read and write said data memory through remote processing; writing measurement data obtained in each inspection station in said data memory of said data management device; judging said measurement data with reference to threshold values which are predetermined for each inspection item by calculating group values of said measurement data according to a predetermined grouping formula and comparing said group values with said threshold values of each inspection item; classifying said assemblies according to said judgment data on all of said inspection items; writing judgment data and classification data obtained in said judging step and said classification step in said data memory of a corresponding one of said pallets; and discharging said assemblies from said pallets while being stored in a plurality of groups according to said classification data. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for inspecting an assembly constituted of a plurality of parts, comprising the steps of:
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holding said assembly by a pallet in a predetermined state; circulating a plurality of said pallets around a plurality of inspection stations for sequentially inspecting said assemblies with respect to a plurality of inspection items; providing each of said pallets with a data management device having a data memory and a data communication system for allowing to read and write said data memory through remote processing; writing measurement data obtained in each inspection station in said data memory of said data management device; judging said measurement data with reference to threshold values which are predetermined for each inspection item; classifying said assemblies according to said judgment data on all of said inspection items; writing judgment data and classification data obtained in said judging step and said classification step in said data memory of a corresponding one of said pallets; and discharging said assemblies from said pallets while being stored in a plurality of groups according to said classification data, wherein said assemblies are recovered from used articles for recycling, and are classified into reusable, reparable and not-reusable ones. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A system for inspecting an assembly constituted of a plurality of parts, comprising:
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pallets each holding said assembly in a predetermined state; a circulating device for circulating said pallets around a plurality of inspection stations for sequentially inspecting said assembly with respect to a plurality of inspection items; a data management device which is provided in each pallet and has a data memory which stores measurement data obtained in each of said plurality of inspection stations and a data communication system for allowing to read and write said data memory; a judging device which makes a judgment on each inspection item by comparing said measurement data with threshold values which are predetermined for each inspection item, and writes judgment data in said data memory of said data management device, wherein said judging device is being disposed in each of said inspection stations, and said judgment data is written in said data memory in each inspection station; a control device which collects said measurement data and said judgment data, classifies said assembly depending on said judgment data of all said inspection items, and writes classification data in said data memory of said data management device; and a discharging device which reads said classification data from said data memory and discharges said assembly from said pallet into one of a plurality of assembly storage sections which is designated by said classification data written in said data memory. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A system for inspecting an assembly constituted of a plurality of parts, comprising:
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pallets each holding said assembly in a predetermined state; a circulating device for circulating said pallets around a plurality of inspection stations for sequentially inspecting said assembly with respect to a plurality of inspection items; a data management device which is provided in each pallet and has a data memory which stores measurement data obtained in each of said plurality of inspection stations and a data communication system for allowing to read and write said data memory; a judging device which makes a judgment on each inspection item by comparing said measurement data with threshold values which are predetermined for each inspection item, and writes judgment data in said data memory of said data management device; a control device which collects said measurement data and said judgment data, classifies said assembly depending on said judgment data of all said inspection items, and writes classification data in said data memory of said data management device; and a discharging device which reads said classification data from said data memory and discharges said assembly from said pallet into one of a plurality of assembly storage sections which is designated by said classification data written in said data memory, wherein said assembly has electric parts, and there are a plurality of electrical inspection stations for simultaneously inspecting a plurality of said assemblies about electrical properties thereof, said plurality of electrical inspection stations being disposed in each of a plurality of parallel branches which diverge from and converge into a circular path of said pallets.
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9. An inspection apparatus for inspecting electrical properties of a flash unit which has a charge switch, a main capacitor, power supply terminals, a synchronizing switch and a flash tube, wherein said main capacitor is charged through said power supply terminals while said charge switch is turned on, and said flash tube emits light when said synchronizing switch is turned on to discharge said main capacitor after being fully charged, said inspection apparatus comprising:
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a base portion movable between a retracted position retracted from a path of said flash unit conveyed on a pallet conveyer in a predetermined posture, and an operative position near said flash unit fed to and stopped at said inspection apparatus; proving pins mounted in said movable base portion to be brought into contact with said charge switch, said main capacitor, said synchronizing switch and said power supply terminals when said base portion is in said operative position; an actuator mounted in the movable base portion, said actuator can actuate said synchronizing switch when said base portion is in said operative position; a photo-sensor mounted in the movable base portion, said photo-sensor can detect light from said flash tube when said base portion is in said operative position; a power supply device connectable to the power supply terminals through said proving pins; and a controller which controls charging of the main capacitor through said proving pins while measuring the voltage of said main capacitor, and drives said actuator to turn said synchronizing switch on to measure light amount from said flash tube through said photo-sensor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification