Closed-loop reel setup verification and traceability
First Claim
1. A closed-loop receptacle detection system for use in monitoring a presence of receptacles at locations in a manufacturing process, the receptacles for carrying components used in the manufacturing process and for providing the components to the manufacturing process, the system comprising at least one detectable element on each receptacle and at least one reader adapted for detecting said detectable elements at each location, said reader automatically detecting the presence of receptacles at the locations, wherein each receptacle is allotted a receptacle identity associated with the components carried thereby, the system further comprising an identification means such that a given receptacle detected by a given reader at a given location is identified by said given reader, thereby associating said identity with said given position in the system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A closed-loop receptacle setup verification and traceability system for use in automatically detecting the presence or absence of a components receptacle at a location is presented, such receptacles comprising components reels, components bearing trays or racks, or other such receptacles for bearing and providing components for components processing and/or manipulation. The system is further for automatically identifying the detected receptacles and validating their use at respective detecting locations based on components parameters identifiably associated therewith. The system is still further for tracking and monitoring such receptacles from one detecting location to another optionally updating components parameters associated therewith as needed. To implement the system, each receptacle should comprise at least one detectable element and each detecting position should comprise at least one reader adapted to detect the detectable element and so determine whether receptacles are present at the detecting locations being monitored. Typically, the closed loop system uses RFID technology, e.g. the detector comprises at least one antenna and the detectable element comprises at least one RF tag. Detector antennae may be multiplexed or operated independently to communicate detection, identification and/or validation data between the detectable elements and the system.
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Citations
56 Claims
- 1. A closed-loop receptacle detection system for use in monitoring a presence of receptacles at locations in a manufacturing process, the receptacles for carrying components used in the manufacturing process and for providing the components to the manufacturing process, the system comprising at least one detectable element on each receptacle and at least one reader adapted for detecting said detectable elements at each location, said reader automatically detecting the presence of receptacles at the locations, wherein each receptacle is allotted a receptacle identity associated with the components carried thereby, the system further comprising an identification means such that a given receptacle detected by a given reader at a given location is identified by said given reader, thereby associating said identity with said given position in the system.
- 14. A closed-loop receptacle detection system for use in monitoring a presence of receptacles at locations in a manufacturing process, the receptacles for carrying components used in the manufacturing process and for providing the components to the manufacturing process, the system comprising at least one detectable element on each receptacle and at least one reader adapted for detecting said detectable elements at each location, said reader automatically detecting the presence of receptacles at the locations, wherein the locations comprise components feeders for extracting components for processing from respective receptacles mounted thereon, a feeder-specific antenna mounted on a given feeder automatically detecting the presence of a given receptacle mounted thereon.
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23. A closed-loop method for monitoring components at various locations in a manufacturing process, the components being carried by dedicated receptacles, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one readable tag per receptacle and at least one reader adapted to detect and read said tags from each of the various locations; b) allotting a receptacle identity to each said tag associating a given receptacle with identifying characteristics of the components carried thereby; c) detecting a presence of said receptacles at the various locations using said at least one reader; and d) identifying components at each of the various locations from said identities for the monitoring thereof. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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- 40. An apparatus for the closed-loop manipulation of components in a manufacturing process, the various components provided for the process by respective components receptacles, each receptacle comprising a respective tag, the apparatus comprising a processing station, at least two component input locations and a monitoring station, each said input location comprising at least one reader in communication with said monitoring station, each said reader being adapted to detect the tags and thereby automatically detecting a presence of a given components receptacle at a given location and communicating said presence to said monitoring station, wherein a receptacle identity is allotted to each tag associating a given receptacle with identifying characteristics of the components carried thereby, a given reader detecting said presence of said given receptacle automatically communicating both said presence and said identity of said given receptacle to said monitoring station.
Specification