Automated consolidation station

• US 6,314,337 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Marcum, Lorne
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/141,241
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 700/213, 700/225, 700/226, 700/227, 700/215, 700/216, 700/222, 198/418.1, 198/418.2, 198/418.3, 198/486.2, 198/358
• US Class Current: 700/216
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/00 Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with programme control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31078 Several machines and several buffers, storages, conveyors, robots
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31432 Keep track of conveyed workpiece, batch, tool, conditions of stations, cells
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32121 Read identification of pallet, conveyor and enter data for manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36371 Barcode reader
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

An automated consolidation station for the assembly of computer systems includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor. A first code reader reads a label on a chassis on the first conveyor. A second code reader reads a label on a tote carrying computer components on the second conveyor. A first signal generated by the first reader is compared with a second signal generated from the second reader to determine if the signals are matched. A device receives an output when the signals are matched and another device senses the position of the tote and the chassis. The output energizes a system to position the chassis and the tote adjacent each other on a single one of the conveyors.

Claims

1. An automated consolidation station comprising:

a first conveyor for conveying a chassis including a first label;

a second conveyor for conveying a tote including a second label matched to the first label;

a pair of bar code readers, one of the readers for reading the chassis label and the other of the readers for reading the tote label;

a decoder connected to receive a signal from each reader and to compare each signal; and

a gripper, energized by an output produced by a match indicated by each signal being compared, for positioning the chassis and the tote on a single one of the conveyors.

2. The consolidation station as defined in claim 1 wherein the chassis and the tote stop in a first position when the decoder is comparing the signal from each reader.

3. The consolidation station as defined in claim 2 wherein the chassis and the tote are released from the first position after the decoder compares each signal.

4. The consolidation station as defined in claim 3 wherein the chassis and the tote stop in a second position so that the gripper can position the chassis and tote on the single one of the conveyors.

5. The consolidation station as defined in claim 2 wherein the chassis and tote are not released from the first position in the event that no match is indicated, whereby the chassis is removed from the first conveyor.

6. The consolidation station as defined in claim 5 wherein the chassis is manually removed from the first conveyor.

7. The consolidation station as defined in claim 4 wherein the gripper positions the chassis on the second conveyor adjacent the tote.

8. The consolidation station as defined in claim 4 wherein the chassis and tote move on the single one of the conveyors to an assembly station.

9. The consolidation station as defined in claim 7 wherein the chassis and tote move on the second conveyor to an assembly station.

10. The consolidation station as defined in claim 1 wherein the gripper is movably mounted above the first conveyor.

11. The consolidation station as defined in claim 1 wherein the gripper is suspended above the first conveyor and is movable toward the first conveyor for gripping engagement with the chassis, and is movable for lifting the chassis from the first conveyor and for laterally moving the chassis to be released onto the second conveyor adjacent the tote.

12. The consolidation station as defined in claim 1 wherein the gripper is suspended above the first conveyor and is movable laterally between the first conveyor and the second conveyor.

13. The consolidation station as defined in claim 1 wherein the gripper is suspended above the first conveyor and is movable for gripping the chassis, for lifting the chassis from the first conveyor, for laterally moving the chassis from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and for depositioning and releasing the chassis onto the second conveyor.

14. An automated consolidation station comprising:

a first code reader for reading a label on a chassis on a first conveyor;

a second code reader for reading a label on a tote on a second conveyor;

means for comparing a first signal generated from the first code reader and a second signal generated from the second code reader to determine if the first and second signals are matched;

means for receiving an output from the means for comparing in response to the first and second signals being matched;

means for sensing the position of the chassis and the tote; and

means for positioning the chassis and the tote on a single one of the conveyors.

15. A method of matching and consolidating a chassis and a tote on a computer assembly line comprising the steps of:

conveying a computer chassis on a first conveyor;

conveying a tote containing computer components on a second conveyor adjacent the first conveyor;

reading a label on the chassis with a first reader;

reading a matching label on the tote with a second reader;

comparing a first signal from the first reader and a second signal from the second reader;

verifying that the first and second signals are matched;

sensing the relative positions of the chassis and the tote; and

positioning the chassis and the tote on a single one of the conveyors.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein the step of positioning includes the steps of lifting the chassis from the first conveyor and depositing the chassis on the tote.

17. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein the step of positioning includes the step of moving the chassis and the tote together to an assembly station.

18. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein the step of positioning includes the step of gripping the chassis and laterally moving the chassis from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.

19. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein the step of comparing includes the step of stopping the chassis and the tote in a first position.

20. The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the step of sensing the relative positions of the chassis and the tote includes the step of stopping the chassis and the tote in a second position.