Patent · US Expired

Robotic system for optically inspecting workpieces

US7239970B2 · kind B2 · utility

70Cited by
11References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 22, 2005
Grant dateJul 3, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 29, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P90/02
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A manufacturing cell for inspecting workpieces such as magnetic disk substrates comprises an input conveyor for providing workpieces to be tested, one or more testers for inspecting the workpieces, and three or more output receptacles for receiving tested workpieces. One or more robotic arms move the workpieces from the input conveyor to the tester and from the tester to one of the output receptacles depending upon the results of the test performed by the tester. The output receptacles include a pass receptacle, a reject receptacle, and at least an additional receptacle for workpieces that are to be re-worked or studied further. If the additional receptacle is full, workpieces that would otherwise be provided to the additional bin are placed in the reject receptacle. The reject receptacle is very large, so that it is rarely filled to capacity.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.