Apparatus for inspecting elements on transport device

• US 6,341,726 B1
• Filed: 06/23/1999
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: X Corp. (f/k/a Twitter, Inc.) (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Puga, Omar Benjamin Garcia, Castanedo, Agustin Del Rio, Cardenas, Marco Antonio Martinez
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, DIANE I
• Application Number:
  US09/338,845
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.13, 235/462.14, 235/375, 235/376, 235/462.08, 235/462.09, 297/40, 297/39, 297/20, 298/32, 297/01, 297/09, 295/93, 700/213, 700/214, 700/215, 700/218, 422/63, 422/65, 422/67, 271/298
• US Class Current: 235/462.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/956 Inspecting patterns on the surface of objects contactless testing of electronic circuits G01R31/308; testing currency G07D; manufacturing processes per se of semiconductor devices implementing a measuring step H01L22/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00603 Reinspection of samples
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

A tray mapper uses an optical sensing array to detect if a head gimbal assembly suspension is located in each of the available positions in a shipping tray. Each tray to be inspected is placed on the mapper and located in a scanning position. A pair of electro-mechanical switches send a signal to a microprocessor indicating that the next tray is ready to be processed. A bar code reader mounted on the mapper reads a label on the tray to access information regarding the tray and its contents from a central database. After the tray label is read, an optical sensor located beneath each position on the tray detects the presence or absence of a part. The microprocessor reads the status of each of the sensors against the values associated with the tray label. This information is used by the operator'"'"'s data terminal software to decide if the tray should be accepted or rejected. The operator is informed of the proper action via a text message on his terminal. The operator then handles the tray accordingly.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a tray having a plurality of positions configured in a two-dimensional array, each of the positions being capable of supporting an element, and wherein at least one of the positions is adapted to support an element;

a label affixed to the tray;

a base having a receptacle for closely receiving the tray;

a reader fixedly mounted with respect to the base for scanning the label on the tray;

a plurality of sensors in a two-dimensional array mounted to the base adjacent to the receptacle, each of sensors being precisely located to align in at least two dimensions with one of the positions on the tray when the tray is in the receptacle, and each of the sensors being adapted to detect the presence or absence of an element in each of the positions; and

a microprocessor connectable to the reader and the sensors for processing information associated with the label regarding the elements and the information collected by the sensors and generating a response thereto.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the sensors comprises a single optic fiber with a photocell light detector for sending and receiving an optical signal from a single location.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the optic fibers utilize visible light.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises a planar upper surface on the base with a back wall and a pair of side walls.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reader comprises a bar code reader and the label comprises bar coded information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the sensors is mounted in a hole in the receptacle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electro-mechanical switch fixedly mounted with respect to the receptacle for detecting when the tray is in the receptacle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the microprocessor signals the reader to read the label in response to actuation of the switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the response generated by the microprocessor is processed to accept the tray when the information associated with the label matches the information collected by the sensors, and wherein the response generated by the microprocessor is processed to reject the tray when the information associated with the label is inconsistent with the information collected by the sensors.

10. A method for inspecting a transport device, comprising:

(a) providing a base with a receptacle and a plurality of sensors fixedly mounted with respect to the receptacle in a two-dimensional array, a microprocessor, and a transport device with a label and a plurality of positions wherein a plurality of the positions each contain an element to form a two-dimensional array of elements;

(b) placing the transport device in the receptacle such that each of the positions on the transport device aligns with one of the sensors in two-dimensional alignment;

(c) reading the label on the transport device;

(d) detecting the presence or absence of an element with the sensors in each of the positions on the transport device; and

then

(e) processing information associated with the label regarding the elements and the information collected by the sensors and generating a response thereto.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein step (d) comprises emitting visible light with each of the sensors and detecting any reflection thereof off of the elements from a single location.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein step (c) comprises scanning a bar code on the label with a bar code reader.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein step (e) comprises processing the response to accept or reject the transport device.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein step (b) further comprises detecting the presence of the transport device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein step (b) occurs before step (c), and step (c) occurs before step (d).

16. An inspection system for determining the presence of all intended elements for being transported as a unit, comprising:

a tray having a plurality of element positions for receiving intended elements to form a two-dimensional array of the intended elements, and a bar coded label for identifying information about whether each element position includes an intended element;

a base having a receptacle for the tray;

a bar code reader for scanning the label and developing a signal consistent with the label;

sensors mounted in the base adjacent to the receptacle in a two-dimensional array, there being a respective sensor correspondingly aligned with each element position on the tray, each sensor adapted to emit a signal in response to the presence or absence of an element in respective element positions while the intended elements are arrayed in two dimensions; and

a microprocessor connected to the sensors and to the reader for processing the reader signal and the information regarding actual element presence determined by the sensor signals and generating a response thereto, and wherein said response is adapted to be processed and displayed by computer means.

17. The inspection system of claim 16 wherein each of the sensors comprises a single optic fiber with a visible light photocell detector for sending and receiving an optical signal from a single location.

18. The inspection system of claim 16 wherein the receptacle comprises a planar upper surface on the base with alignment features along its side and rear edges.

19. The inspection system of claim 16 wherein the receptacle has a plurality of holes and one of the sensors is mounted in each of the holes.

20. The inspection system of claim 16, further comprising an electro-mechanical switch fixedly mounted with respect to the receptacle for detecting when the tray is in the receptacle.

21. The inspection system of claim 20, wherein the microprocessor signals the reader to read the label in response to actuation of the switch.