This application claims priority based on a Taiwanese patent application No. 094102955 filed on Jan. 31, 2005.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an automatically labeling and inspecting apparatus. Particularly, the present invention relates to an automatically labeling and inspecting apparatus for labeling and inspecting a printed circuit board.
2. Description of the Relative Art
Quality control is an important issue for the printed circuit board manufacture process. During the manufacture, each connection between the element and the printed circuit board has to be checked one by one. In order to trace the printed circuit board during the manufacture process and afterward, a bar code is printed or attached on the printed circuit board. Once any piece of printed circuit board has problem, the whole manufacture process information may be traced through the bar code.
Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 536104 dated on Jul. 15, 2002 discloses a laser bar code printer 6 and a bar code reader 4 having a charge coupled device (CCD). As
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for generating an information label, reading and distinguishing the information label on a printed circuit board, and confirming the information labels are distinguishable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for retrieving the printed circuit boards having undistinguishable information labels.
The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing an automatically labeling and inspecting apparatus, which programmingly controls a conveyance of a printed circuit board. The apparatus includes a table, an information label generator, an image reading and distinguishing device, and a marking device. The table includes at least one area. The information label generator is disposed corresponding to one of the areas for generating an information label on the printed circuit board. The image reading and distinguishing device is disposed corresponding to one of the areas for reading and distinguishing the information label on the printed circuit board. The marking device is disposed by a side of the table for marking a printed circuit board having an undistinguishable information label.
The other embodiment of the present invention provides an automatically labeling and inspecting apparatus, which programmingly controls a conveyance of a printed circuit board. The apparatus includes a table, an information label generator, an image reading and distinguishing device, and a marking device. The table includes a first area and a second area. The information label generator is disposed corresponding to the first area for generating an information label on the printed circuit board. The image reading and distinguishing device is disposed corresponding to the second area for reading and distinguishing the information label on the printed circuit board. The marking device is disposed by a side of the second area for marking a printed circuit board having an undistinguishable information label.
The present invention also provides a method for automatically marking, reading and distinguishing a printed circuit board. The method includes: conveying a printed circuit board to a table; positioning the printed circuit board in a first area of the table and generating an information label on the printed circuit board; positioning the printed circuit board in a second area of the table and reading/distinguishing the information label on the printed circuit board; flipping the printed circuit board in the first area; and flipping the printed circuit board in the second area.
Generally the apparatus and method provided by the present invention are put at the beginning end of all manufacture process. The information label, such as a bar code, may be traced anytime through the all manufacture process. The apparatus and method of the present invention, however, may be used in any segment in the manufacture process to serve different functions.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated hereinafter accompanying with attached drawings.
Please refer to
The image reading and distinguishing device 50 is disposed corresponding to the second area 24 for reading and distinguishing the information label 32 on the printed circuit board 14 in the second area 24. Preferably, the image reading and distinguishing device 50 includes a charge coupled device (CCD). The image reading and distinguishing device 50 is preferably disposed on the cantilever 16 or beneath the table 20. The marking device 60 is adapted to mark a printed circuit board 14 having an unreadable or undistinguishable information label. Referring to
Particularly, the information label generator 30 may include a laser bar code labeling device or a jet printing bar code labeling device. In
Referring to
The present invention also provides a method for automatically labeling and inspecting the printed circuit board 14. This method uses a computer 12 to proammingly control a conveyance of a printed circuit board 14. Referring to
In step 504, position the printed circuit board 14 in the first area 22 of the table 20 and generate an information label 32 on the printed circuit board 14.
In step 514, cleaning wheels clean the information label 32 and the printed circuit board 14.
In step 520, position the printed circuit board 14 in the second area 24 of the table 20 and read/distinguish the information label 32 on the printed circuit board 14. Then in step 522, decide whether to mark an undistinguishable mark on the printed circuit board 14. If no, which means the information label 32 is distinguishable, go to step 532, pass and deliver the printed circuit board 14. If yes, go to step 530, retrieves the printed circuit board without flipping.
Sensors located in predetermined position, including the first and second areas, detect whether the printed circuit board 14 enters into a corresponding area and return detection results to the computer 12. The computer 12 controls the process based on the detection results.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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094102955 | Jan 2005 | JP | national |