A component storage system (100) includes a storage stack (102) with vertical stack supports, an operator access station (104), and an automated elevator (114). The automated elevator stores trays (108) in the storage stack by lifting a tray (108) from the access station (104) and moving the lifted tray (108) into the designated tray storage location (120). The automated elevator (114) includes a tray carrier (144), two elevator motors (186,188), and two support sensors (185). Each support sensor (185) is responsive to vertically-spaced features of a respective one of the vertical stack supports (181). The two elevator motors (186, 188) are each independently operable to raise the tray carrier (144) to at least approximate alignment with the designated tray storage location (120) and, as a function of feedback from the support sensors (185), to adjust a tilt of the tray carrier (144) to level the lifted tray (108) with respect to the storage stack (102). The trays (108) have repositionable dividers (2702).
G07F 11/62 - Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
H01L 21/677 - Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereofApparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components for conveying, e.g. between different work stations
A component storage system includes a storage stack with vertical stack supports, an operator access station, and an automated elevator. The automated elevator stores trays in the storage stack by lifting a tray from the access station and moving the lifted tray into the designated tray storage location. The automated elevator includes a tray carrier, two elevator motors, and two support sensors. Each support sensor is responsive to vertically-spaced features of a respective one of the vertical stack supports. The two elevator motors are each independently operable to raise the tray carrier to at least approximate alignment with the designated tray storage location and, as a function of feedback from the support sensors, to adjust a tilt of the tray carrier to level the lifted tray with respect to the storage stack. The trays have repositionable dividers.
Implementations of the present disclosure include a component storage and retrieval system that includes a storage stack, an operator access station, and an automated elevator. The storage stack defines discrete tray storage locations. The operator access station includes a surface adapted to support a tray. The automated elevator moves a tray from the access station surface to a designated one of the discrete tray storage locations, and retrieves a selected tray from the storage stack and brings the selected tray to the access station. The access station includes a camera positioned such that a tray supported on the surface is within a field of view of the camera. The camera generates data representing an image of the tray, from which the system identifies a component on the tray, and determines where on the tray the component is located. The system communicates the identified location to an operator.
Implementations of the present disclosure include a component storage and retrieval system that includes a storage stack, an operator access station, and an automated elevator. The storage stack defines discrete tray storage locations. The operator access station includes a surface adapted to support a tray. The automated elevator moves a tray from the access station surface to a designated one of the discrete tray storage locations, and retrieves a selected tray from the storage stack and brings the selected tray to the access station. The access station includes a camera positioned such that a tray supported on the surface is within a field of view of the camera. The camera generates data representing an image of the tray, from which the system identifies a component on the tray, and determines where on the tray the component is located. The system communicates the identified location to an operator.
A system for labeling a reel of electrical components includes an automated robotic manipulator movable between a reel grasping position and a reel releasing position; a sensor positioned to scan a label on a reel as the reel is moved by manipulator from the reel grasping position to the reel releasing position, to gather initial reel information; a label generator configured to generate a new label with information based at least in part on the initial reel information; and a label actuator positioned to affix the new label to the reel as the reel remains held by the manipulator. The sensor may be a barcode scanner. The label generator may be a label printer. The label actuator may be a pneumatic actuator. The system may also have a stack of reels to be labeled. Also included is output receptacle to receive the reel after the new label is affixed.
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
B65C 1/02 - Affixing labels to one flat surface of articles, e.g. of packages, of flat bands
B65C 9/02 - Devices for moving articles, e.g. containers, past labelling station
A system for labeling a reel of electrical components includes an automated robotic manipulator movable between a reel grasping position and a reel releasing position; a sensor positioned to scan a label on a reel as the reel is moved by manipulator from the reel graspi ng position to the reel releasing position, to gather initial reel information; a label generator configured to generate a new label with information based at least in part on the initial reel information; and a label actuator positioned to affix the new label to the reel as the reel remains held by the manipulator. The sensor may be a barcode scanner. The label generator may be a label printer. The label actuator may be a pneumatic actuator. The system may also have a stack of reels to be labeled. Also included is output receptacle to receive the reel after the new label is affixed.
Ascentex Industry Corporation (Taiwan, Province of China)
Inventor
Kou, Yuen-Foo Michael
Chang, Min Chieh
Abstract
A method of picking a top component reel from a stack of component reels includes lowering a picking arm over a rod extending through the stack of component reels to above a top component reel of the stack, the arm comprising a plurality of alignment tabs and a gripper positioned such that, with the picking arm lowered the rod extends through the gripper and between the alignment tabs of the picking arm. The method includes actuating the alignment tabs to engage the rod and align the rod with respect to the picking arm, inserting a portion of the gripper into a hole of the top component reel, actuating the gripper to engage opposing inner surfaces of the top component reel at the hole of the top component reel, and with the gripper engaged, raising the picking arm to lift the top component reel from the stack of component reels.
ASCENTEX INDUSTRY CORPORATION (Taiwan, Province of China)
Inventor
Kou, Yuen-Foo Michael
Chang, Min Chieh
Abstract
A method of picking a top component reel from a stack of component reels includes lowering a picking arm over a rod extending through the stack of component reels to above a top component reel of the stack, the arm comprising a plurality of alignment tabs and a gripper positioned such that, with the picking arm lowered the rod extends through the gripper and between the alignment tabs of the picking arm. The method includes actuating the alignment tabs to engage the rod and align the rod with respect to the picking arm, inserting a portion of the gripper into a hole of the top component reel, actuating the gripper to engage opposing inner surfaces of the top component reel at the hole of the top component reel, and with the gripper engaged, raising the picking arm to lift the top component reel from the stack of component reels.
An electronic component sequencing and insertion machine includes a set of component tape carrier holders each configured to receive a respective carrier containing a length of tape holding leads of a series of electronic components in spaced relation along the tape, and a set of component dispensers for sequentially dispensing individual electronic components for insertion into a printed circuit board, each component dispenser arranged to receive a corresponding tape from a corresponding one of the tape carrier holders, each component dispenser having an exposed input slot for threading a free end of the tape into the component dispenser at machine setup. Each component dispenser includes a tape color sensor downstream of the input slot, for verifying by tape color a polarity of components held by the tape as threaded into the component dispenser.
In one aspect, detecting a splice connection (206) along a component carrier tape (130,131) extending from a component carrier tape feeder (110) in a feeder slot on a pick-and-place machine (300) having a pickup head is accomplished by scanning a section of a component carrier tape (130,131) with a sensor (150), the sensor attached to the pick-and-place machine (300) and positioned above or below a path of the component carrier tape (130,131), and detecting a splice connection (206) with the sensor (150), the sensor generating a signal in response to detecting the splice connection (206) such that the detection of the splice connection indicates the component carrier tape splice and such that the sensor (150) is mounted such that relative position of the sensor with respect to the component carrier tape path is not affected by removal of the component carrier tape feeder (110) from the feeder slot or movement of the pickup head.
A method of monitoring moisture inside a container includes placing a moisture sensitive product and an electronic moisture sensor (200) inside the container, using the electronic moisture sensor (200) to sense moisture conditions inside the container and, in response to a triggering event (108) initiated from outside the container, transmitting data (110) through the container. The transmitted data is relevant to an assessment of the moisture sensitive product's condition, based on the recorded data (106). Electronic moisture sensors (200) and systems are also provided employing similar methods.
