Patent ID: 7032304

Claim:
A method for conveying printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a system having a first assembly module and at least a second assembly module, wherein the first assembly module includes at least a first assembly module internal conveyor and first assembly module bypass conveyor and the second assembly module includes at least a second assembly module internal conveyor and a second assembly module bypass conveyor, the method comprising: delivering a first PCB to the first assembly module internal conveyor where the first PCB is processed by the first assembly module; delivering a second PCB to the first assembly module bypass conveyor and conveying the second PCB on the first assembly module bypass conveyor so as to bypass the first assembly module; delivering the second PCB to the second assembly module internal conveyor where the second PCB is processed by the second assembly module; and delivering the first PCB to the second assembly module bypass conveyor and conveying the first PCB on the second assembly module bypass conveyor so as to bypass the second assembly module; wherein the second assembly module is arranged in series with the first assembly module.