Patent ID: 6223428
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
A parts distribution method for distributing parts to mounting units in a mounting system having a plurality of simultaneously movable mounting units, said method comprising:specifying a) a first category of parts comprising a largest number of parts to be mounted with any of said mounting units; b) a second category of parts that require mounting with a specific mounting unit; and c) a third category of parts that are mountable by at least one mounting unit but not by all of the mounting units, said third category of parts comprising parts other than the parts from said first and second categories;distributing said second category of parts to said specific mounting unit and calculating a cumulative mounting time for said specific mounting unit to which said second category of parts from any of said first, second and third categories of parts has been distributed;determining a distribution time for said third category of parts based on a respective mounting time to thereby distribute said third category parts so that each part of said third category of parts having a longer mounting time than remaining parts of said third category of parts is distributed sequentially to mounting units having a shortest cumulative mounting time among said mounting units for mounting all of said third category of parts and updating a cumulative mounting time for each mounting unit receiving a part from said third category of parts; anddetermining a distribution time for said first category of parts to thereby distribute said first category of parts one by one to a mounting unit having a shortest cumulative mounting time as determined after each respective distribution of a part from said first category of parts.