Abstract:
The present invention features a method and apparatus for feeder setup validation on a component placement machine. Provided are a host computer in communication with a feeder setup station operable with a feeder identifier for identifying a feeder and a component identifier for identifying a component in the feeder working in conjunction with a location to determine if a component stored in a feeder mounted in a location on the component placement machine is correct for a program corresponding to operation of a system for assembling component products.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to component placement machines and, more particularly, to the use of a host server to aid in operator feeder setup on the component placement machine. 
   2. Related Art 
   A component placement machine produces a printed circuit board (PCB) typically by picking components stored in various reels mounted on feeders mounted to various slots on the machine and then placing those components on the PCB. Many procedures exist to ensure the operator sets up a component placement machine correctly for production. Two known ways to accomplish this task include the following. 
   When a feeder does not contain any internal intelligence, the operator scans a label on the feeder or the reel upon which the components are stored. The label contains the identification (ID) of the particular component on that feeder/reel. After the operator scans the label, the machine stores the scanned component ID. The operator then mounts the feeder in the slot that they believe is the correct slot for the product the machine is or will be running. The machine then compares the ID of the scanned component with the ID of the component expected for that slot. If the component IDs are the same the operator has mounted the correct feeder/reel in the correct slot. This method is time consuming, in that the operator must scan each feeder in order to confirm that machine is setup correctly. 
   Another system employs the use of smart feeders. Smart feeders have the ability to store information about the components stored on the reels mounted on the feeder such as the component ID. Typically a memory chip is used and is programmed at an offline setup station. Again the operator mounts the feeder in the particular slot on the machine which they believe is the correct slot for receiving the particular component. The machine then reads the memory chip to determine the component ID and compares that ID with ID expected for that slot. If the IDs are correct, the operator mounted the feeder correctly. This method is expensive due to the fact that each feeder must contain means to store the component ID and the machine must be capable of reading those means. 
   A need exists for a method that overcomes at least one of the aforementioned, and other, deficiencies in the art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a method to improve the time that is required for an operator to setup feeders on a component placement machine by providing an interface between a host computer, a feeder setup station and the component placement machine. 
   In a first general aspect, the present invention provides a system for assembling multiple component products, comprising:
         a host computer;   a feeder setup station, in communication with said host computer;   a component identifier, operable with said feeder setup station, for identifying a component stored in at least one feeder;   a first feeder identifier, operable with said feeder setup station, for identifying said at least one feeder when said at least one feeder is mounted at said feeder setup station after said component has been identified;   a component placement machine, in communication with said host computer, further including a program containing one or more specified components with corresponding specified locations;   a second feeder identifier, operable with said component placement machine, for identifying said at least one feeder when said at least one feeder is mounted at said component placement machine; and   a location identifier, operable with said component placement machine, for identifying a location on said component placement machine in which said at least one feeder corresponding to said second feeder identifier is mounted.       

   In a second general aspect of the present invention provides a method for assembling multiple component products, comprising:
         providing a host computer;   providing a feeder setup station, in communication with said host computer, wherein said feeder setup station includes a first feeder identifier for identifying at least one feeder and a component identifier for identify a component in said at least one feeder;   providing a component placement machine, in communication with said host computer, wherein said component placement machine includes a program containing one or more specified components with corresponding specified locations, and a second feeder identifier for identifying said at least one feeder, and a location identifier for identifying a location;   enabling said component placement machine when said component as identified by said component identifier matches said specified component of said program as indicated by said location identified by said location identifier to determine if said component stored in said at least one feeder mounted in said location on said component placement machine is correct for said program.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which: 
     The FIGURE depicts a schematic view of a host feeder setup validation, in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Although certain embodiment of the present invention will be shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc. and are disclosed simply as an example of an embodiment. The features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. 
   A component placement machine typically uses a program within the machine for picking components stored in feeders mounted in slots within the machine and then placing them on a printed circuit board (PCB) that is transferred in and out of the machine. The program contains the identification (ID) of the various components, which slots contain the feeders storing those IDs, and the locations upon which to place those IDs onto the PCB. It is desirable to have a low cost solution for a feeder setup validation system, that confirms that the operator mounted the correct feeder with the correct component ID in the correct slot both before the machine begins picking and placing components, as well as, during the running of the program. The present invention accomplishes this by providing a feeder which stores within itself a minimal amount of information that the machine can easily read; a feeder setup station; and, a host computer that interfaces with the machine and the feeder setup station. 
     FIG. 1  depicts a schematic view of the present invention. The system  100  comprises a host computer  10 , a feeder setup station  20 , and a component placement machine  30 . The host computer  10  is able to communicate with feeder setup station  20  and with component placement machine  30 . Host computer  10  comprises product data  12  and a database  14 . Feeder setup station  20  comprises a feeder identifier  22  and a component identifier  24 . Component placement machine  30  comprises a feeder identifier  32  and location identifier  34 . 
   During the setup of a feeder (not shown) at feeder setup station  20 , the operator scans the label on the reel of components mounted on the feeder. The component identifier  24  of feeder setup station  20  receives the scanned label and determines scanned component ID  26 . The operator then mounts the feeder into a slot on the feeder setup station  20 . The feeder identifier  22  of feeder setup station  20  determines the feeder ID  28  of the just mounted feeder. The feeder setup station  20  passes to the host computer  10  the feeder ID  28  and the scanned component ID  26  of the just mounted feeder. Host computer  10  associates the feeder ID  28  with the scanned component ID  26  and stores this association information into a database  14 . 
   At any time later an operator mounts this same feeder into a slot on a component placement machine  30 . The feeder identifier  32  of component placement machine  30  determines the feeder ID  36  and the location identifier  34  determines the location ID  38  of the slot of the just mounted feeder. The machine passes the feeder ID  36 , the location ID  38 , and the product ID  40  of the current program to the host computer  10 . The host computer  10  uses the product ID  40  and the location ID  38  to determine in product data  12  the identification of the expected component for location ID  38 . The host computer  10  uses the feeder ID  36  to lookup in the database  14  the scanned component ID  26  associated with feeder ID  36  and compares it with the expected component for location ID  38 . If the identification of the components is the same, the operator mounted the feeder in the correct slot on the component placement machine  30  and host computer  10  informs component placement machine  30  that location ID  38  contains a valid component. Amongst other advantages, setting up the feeder at feeder setup station  20  minimizes the time the operator must spend setting up the component placement machine  30  and by using a host computer  10  the amount of information that the feeder itself must store is minimized. 
   The time savings in presetting up the feeders is even more evident when a plurality of feeders are mounted on a feeder cart that can move between feeder setup station  20  and component placement machine  30 . In this case, while component placement machine  30  is running a first program using a first feeder cart, an operator can be mounting feeders for a second program at feeder setup station  20  on to a second feeder cart. When it comes time to run the second program, the operator removes the first feeder cart from component placement machine  30  and mounts the second feeder cart. The component placement machine  30  then passes for each feeder mounted on the second feeder cart the feeder ID  36  and location ID  38  to the host computer  10 . In this case, the host computer confirms that the operator mounted the correct feeder containing the correct component in the correct slot on the second feeder cart at feeder setup station  20  host computer  10  informs component placement machine  30  that location ID  38  contains a valid component. This eliminates the scanning of each individual feeder after the operator mounts the second feeder cart on to component placement machine  30 . Thereby greatly reducing the amount of time and effort, the operator takes to setup component placement machine  30  to run the second program. 
   The component placement machine  30  is then capable of running the program either by enabling the entire machine after validation of all the feeders or by enabling each feeder individually upon validation. In the later case, the component placement machine  30  may run the program, but is prohibited from picking from feeders that are not yet enabled. 
   Since other modification and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modification which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.