Patent ID: 6148245
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: G05B,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for processing products of first and second types, each different than the other, in a manufacturing facility comprising a first assembly line for normally processing the first type of product and for storing first processing information relevant to the processing of the first type of product, the manufacturing facility further comprising a second assembly line for normally processing the second type of product and for storing second processing information relevant to the processing of the second type of product, wherein the first and second assembly lines are controlled, respectively, by first and second line controllers, the method comprising the steps of:the first line controller receiving a first product and reading product identification information therefrom;the first line controller determining whether the product identification information associated with the first product is indicative of the first type of product or of the second type of product without referencing any information other than that stored by the first line controller;the first line controller utilizing the first processing information stored therein for independently processing, without reference to any information other than that stored by the first line controller, the first product in response to determining that the first product is of the first type;the first line controller automatically retrieving, in response to determining that the first product is of the second type, the second processing information from the second line controller in which the second processing information is stored; andthe first line controller utilizing the second processing information for processing the first product in response to determining that the first product is of the second type and subsequent to retrieving the second processing information.