METHOD, SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING A BIN IN AN SMT SYSTEM

• US 20160234986A1
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mycronic AB
• Original Assignee: Mycronic AB
• Inventors: JACOBSSON, Nils, JONASSON, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 10,322,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1371 with data records
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34349 Proper allocation of control components to the required task
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45026 Circuit board, pcb
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/021 Loading or unloading of containers H05K13/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0404 Pick-and-place heads or apparatus, e.g. with jaws
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0417 Feeding with belts or tapes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0419 tape feeders
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0434 with containers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/08 Monitoring manufacture of assemblages
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/086 Supply management, e.g. supply of components or of substrates

Abstract

A method in an automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse configured to store bins at predetermined positions within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, the method comprising receiving a bin at a port of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse and scanning an identity tag attached to said bin to obtain a bin ID.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method in an automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse configured to store bins at predetermined positions within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, said automated SMD warehouse comprising an actuator, such as a robot or robotic arm, configured to automatically handling objects within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, the method comprising:

receiving a bin or trolley at a port of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, wherein said bin or trolley is comprising a plurality of slots or compartments each configured for carrying/holding a bin load unit, and wherein each of said plurality of bin load units comprises or constitutes a component tape reel;

scanning an identity tag attached to said bin to obtain a unique bin ID, or trolley ID, wherein identities of bin load unities comprised in said bin are associated with said unique bin ID in an SMT information database;

storing, by the use of said at least one actuator, said bin at a position within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse; and

storing data representing said position and said bin ID, via a communications network, as parameters in said SMT information database.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

storing said position and said bin ID in a memory of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

presenting, by the use of said at least one actuator, a retrieved bin or trolley at a port of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse is a first automated SMD warehouse part of an integrated automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse cluster, wherein storing said bin further comprise redistributing said bin or trolley, by the use of said at least one actuator, from said first automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse to a second automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse comprised in said integrated automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse cluster.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse is part of an integrated automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse cluster, wherein retrieving said bin further comprise redistributing said bin or trolley from a second automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse comprised in said integrated automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse cluster to said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein storing said position and said bin ID further comprises storing said position and said bin ID represented as parameters, such as a table, in a memory of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein scanning comprises scanning an optically scanned code such as a bar code, QR code or the like, wherein the optically scanned code is presented on a printed label or an alphanumerical display.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein said Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse and at least a second Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse are configured to form an integrated automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse cluster, wherein bin load units may be redistributed between a first and a second automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse via a first opening in the automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse and a second opening in the second automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, wherein a first actuator in the first automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse is configured to grip a bin load unit in the second opening and a second actuator in the second automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse is configured to grip a bin load unit in the first opening such that bin load units can be redistributed from said first Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse and said second Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse.

29. A method in an automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, to retrieve bins or trolleys at predetermined positions within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, said automated SMD warehouse comprising an actuator, such as a robot or robotic arm, configured to automatically handling objects within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, the method comprising:

retrieving, by the use of said actuator, said bin or trolley at a position within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, wherein said bin or trolley is comprising a plurality of slots or compartments each configured for carrying/holding a bin load unit, and wherein each of said plurality of bin load units comprises or constitutes a component tape reel;

scanning an identity tag attached to said bin to obtain a unique bin ID, or trolley ID, where identities of bin load unities comprised in said bin are associated with said unique bin ID in an SMT information database;

presenting, by the use of said actuator, said retrieved bin or trolley at a port of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse; and

storing data representing said position and said bin ID, via a communications network, in said SMT information database.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein storing said position and said bin ID, or trolley ID, further comprises storing said position and said bin ID, or trolley ID, represented as parameters in a memory of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein storing said position and said bin ID, or trolley ID, further comprises storing said position and said bin ID, or trolley ID, represented as parameters in an SMT information database via a network such as a communications network.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse and at least a second Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse are configured to form an integrated automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse cluster, wherein bin load units may be redistributed between a first and a second automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse via a first opening in the automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse and a second opening in the second automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, wherein a first actuator in the first automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse is configured to grip a bin load unit in the second opening and a second actuator in the second automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse is configured to grip a bin load unit in the first opening such that bin load units can be redistributed from said first Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse and said second Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse.

33. A bin for use in a SMT system, said bin being configured to be loaded with a plurality of bin load units, said bin is comprising a plurality of slots or compartments each configured for carrying/holding a bin load unit, and wherein each of said plurality of bin load units comprises or constitutes a component tape reel, said bin is further comprising:

an identity tag attached to said bin in a predetermined position, wherein said identity tag of said bin is a unique bin ID that is configured to be associated, in a SMT information database, to the plurality of identities of bin load units comprised in the slots or compartments of said bin, and wherein said plurality of identities of bin load units comprised in said bin can further be retrieved from said SMT information database by scanning or reading the bin identity tag.

34. The bin of claim 33, wherein said predetermined position is chosen to enable a bar code scanner comprised in a Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse to automatically scan said identity tag at the port of said Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse.

35. An automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse for storing or retrieving bins comprising:

an actuator, such as a robot or robotic arm, adapted to scan an identity tag attached to a bin to obtain a bin ID, retrieve or store bins at predetermined positions within the automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse based on control data received from a processor,

a memory

a processor, adapted to scanning an identity tag attached to said bin to obtain a bin ID, wherein said bin is comprising a plurality of slots or compartments each configured for carrying/holding a bin load unit, each of said plurality of bin load units comprises or constitutes a component tape reel; and

storing data representing said position and said bin ID, via a communications network, as parameters in said SMT information database.

36. The automated SMD warehouse of claim 35, wherein said processor in said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse is further adapted to control the steps.

receiving a bin at a port of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, wherein said bin is comprising a plurality of slots or compartments each configured for carrying/holding a bin load unit, and wherein each of said plurality of bin load units comprises or constitutes a component tape reel;

storing said bin at a position within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse;

or to control the steps

retrieving said bin at a position within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse;

presenting said retrieved bin at a port of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse;

storing said position and said bin ID in a memory of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse, wherein said bin is comprising a plurality of slots or compartments each configured for carrying/holding a bin load unit, each of said plurality of bin load units comprises or constitutes a component tape reel; and

storing data representing said position and said bin ID, via a communications network, as parameters in said SMT information database.

receiving a bin at a port of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse;

storing said bin at a position within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse;

or to control the steps

retrieving said bin at a position within said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse;

presenting said retrieved bin at a port of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse;

storing said position and said bin ID in a memory of said automated Surface Mount Device (SMD) warehouse.