Joseph Thomas Kane

US Patent:

60125683, Jan 11, 2000

Filed:

Mar 12, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/820356

Inventors:

Joseph R. Kane - Lake Zurich IL

International Classification:

B65G 2120

US Classification:

198817

Abstract:

An adjustable conveyor for use in the manufacture of printed circuit boards to interconnect workstations separated by varying distances, which has a pair of longitudinally extensible belts for edge supporting such circuit boards, with a tensioning adjustment on each belt, and which has a lateral adjustment to accommodate circuit boards of different widths as well as to perform other operations.

US Patent:

55533760, Sep 10, 1996

Filed:

Feb 15, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/388775

Inventors:

Ranvir S. Solanki - Cary IL
Eric J. Gasmann - Round Lake Beach IL
Joseph R. Kane - Lake Zurich IL
Edward P. Griffin - Lacey's Spring AL
Andrew M. Gantt - Huntsville AL

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

B23P 1904
H05K 330

US Classification:

29833

Abstract:

An assembly machine (10) has a plurality of slots (22) each of which hold a feeder (24) containing a component reel (30). The assembly machine (10) automatically assembles a printed circuit board from these components. When a changeover occurs the assembly machine (10) determines which components need to be added (104), which need to be removed and which can be moved (106). The assembly machine (10) then instructs an operator to first perform all the remove operations, then to perform all the move operations and last to perform all the add operations. A combination of scanning a component ID (32) and a feeder ID (32) verifies the correct component is placed on the appropriate reel (30). The location of reel (30) among the slots (22) is verified by a proximity sensor (28).