GB1578558A

GB1578558A - Apparatus for manufacturing and testing discrete artifacts

Info

Publication number: GB1578558A
Application number: GB2110677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Standard Telephone and Cables PLC
Current assignee: STC PLC
Priority date: 1977-05-19
Filing date: 1977-05-19
Publication date: 1980-11-05

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING AND TESTING DISCRETE ARTIFACTS (71) We, STANDARD TELE PHONES AND CABLES LIMITED, a British Company, of 190 Strand, London, W.C.2., England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing and testing discrete artifacts.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for manufacturing and testing discrete artifacts comprising a machine which manufactures the artifacts in a stepwise or indexing manner, there being n manufacturing stations, and is adjustable to change parameters of the artifacts; a test station for testing the artifacts; a computer which stores and analyzes the test results from the test station; and a visual display device whereon the test results are displayed in such a manner that an operator can, by watching the display and making appropriate adjustments to the machine, keep the parameters of the artifacts produced within defined limits, and wherein the display shows, in an associated one of n lines, the results of the tests on the last p artifacts from each of the n stations.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of controlling the manufacture of discrete artifacts produced in a stepwise or indexing manner by an assembly machine which has n manufacturing stations and is adjustable to change parameters of the artifacts, comprising the steps of: testing the artifacts at a test station; storing and analyzing the results in a computer; and displaying the results to an operator on a visual display which shows, in an associated one of n lines, the results of the tests on the last p artifacts from each of the n stations, whereby the operator is made aware of one or more parameters tending to go outside defined limits and can adjust the machine, as a result of watching said displayed results, to keep the parameters within the defined limits.

An embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying diagrams, of which: Figure 1 is a block schematic diagram of a manufacturing and testing arrangement; Figures 2, 3 and 4 are examples of displays which can be produced on the visual display unit in the arrangement of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is an example of a display which can be produced on the input output printer in the arrangement of Figure 1.

The invention is described in relation to the production of sealed magnetic reed contact units, for which it was in the first place developed. However it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not limited to this production, and with suitable and obvious modifications can be applied to the production of other artifacts.

Sealed magnetic reed contact units, hereinafter called reed units, are manufactured by being assembled and sealed on a rotating-turret indexing machine, 1. The details of this manufacture are not relevant here, but after sealing the reed units pass to a cooling and post-processing conveyor, 2.

The conveyor delivers the reed units to a testing station 3, where the magnetic and electrical characteristics of the completed unit are tested. The test station is connected through an interface 4 with a computer 5, typically a minicomputer. The computer, under suitable program control, stores the test data from the testing station, analyzes it, and presents the results of the analysis on a visual display unit 6. It can also present results on an input-output printer 7, and respond to instructions keyed in on the printer's keyboard.

The reed units are processed in assembly boxes on the machine, there being 24 of these boxes. On the visual display unit there is a normally continuous display which shows how the last ten units tested from each assembly box have fared in the test.

The display is (as shown here in Figure 2) in 24 lines, one for each assembly box. At the start of each line is the assembly box number. Along each line are a set of markers showing the outer lower test limit (at 30 ampere-turns), the inner lower test limit (38 AT), the inner upper test limit (50 AT), and the outer upper test limit (58 AT).

Between the outer lower limit and the assembly box number a number may be present to indicate how many, if any, of the last ten reed units tested, fell below the outer lower limit. In line 1, as shown, this number is 3, showing that out of the last ten reed units tested belonging to assembly box 1, 3 were below the outer lower limit.

Between the outer lower limit and the outer upper limit may appear up to ten asterisks indicating the measurements of reed units falling between the outer limits. In line 7 there are 10 asterisks, but in other lines such as line 5, there are fewer asterisks. This is because the measurements of two or more reed units may be within a half-ampere-turn from each other, which is below the resolution of the display, and their asterisks therefore coincide.

Immediately beyond the outer upper limit marker there may be a further number which indicates how many, if any, reed units fall above the outer upper test limit. In line 4, for example, of the last 10 reed units tested belonging to assembly box 4, 1 was below the outer lower limit, 8 were between the outer limits (some being coincident as there are only 6 asterisks), and 1 was above the outer upper limit.

Finally there may be a further number at the end of a line which indicates how many, if any reed units are missing, not tested because for some reason they fail to reach the test station. Thus in line 20, of the last 10 reed units which should have been tested, belonging to assembly box 20, 8 were within not only the outer limits but the inner limits also and 2 never reached the test station.

The display may refer either to operate characteristics or release characteristics, and is selectable by a switch.

A more detailed display, for a given assembly box, can be called up on the visual display unit by keying in a specific code instruction on the keyboard of the inputoutput printer.

In this display the assembly box number appears at the left side of the display, and half-way down. In Figure 3 it is shown as box 12. On the 25 lines of the display (one more than the display in Figure 2) the last 25 measurements are displayed, the earliest at the bottom, the latest at the top. One asterisk in each line shows the value of the measurement, and may be between limits, below the outer lower limit, above the outer upper limit, or missing. Thus in the display shown, out of the last 25 measurements on reed units belonging to box 12, the 4th and 8th (reading from the bottom of the display) were below the outer lower limit, the 16th was missing, the 17th was above the outer upper limit, and the remainder were between outer limits and had the values indicated.

This display also may be for operate characteristics or release characteristics, and is selectable by a switch.

Using these displays an operator in charge of the rotating-turret indexing machine can complete a feed-back loop, indicated in Figure 1 by the line 9. On noticing a drift towards either outer limit he can reset parameters on the machine and thereby halt the drift and bring the measurements back towards the inner limits.

A further display can be called up on the visual display unit which gives a visual check on the output of a machine during a given shift. This is shown in Figure 4 and is self-explanatory.

After the test the reed units are collected in magazines such as 8, each holding a batch of 2000 reed units. For each batch collected a batch "ticket" is printed on the inputoutput printer as shown in Figure 5.

At a later stage the batches may be completely tested in a 100% test machine 10, the test results again being stored in a computer 11, analyzed, and the results of the analysis displayed on an input-output printer 12.

It is preferable that the 100% tester 10 be remote from the assembly machine, to avoid electrical interference from the latter.

The computer 11 may be an independent computer or may be the computer 5 in a time-sharing mode. The input-output printer 12 may be independent or the same as printer 7.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for manufacturing and testing discrete artifacts comprising a machine which manufactures the artifacts in a stepwise or indexing manner, there being n manufacturing stations, and is adjustable to change parameters of the artifacts; a test station for testing the artifacts; a computer which stores and analyzes the test results from the test station; and a visual display device whereon the test results are displayed in such a manner that an operator can, by watching the display and making appropriate adjustments to the machine, keep the parameters of the artifacts produced within defined limits, and wherein the display shows, in an associated one of n lines, the result of the tests on the last p artifacts from

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. these boxes. On the visual display unit there is a normally continuous display which shows how the last ten units tested from each assembly box have fared in the test. The display is (as shown here in Figure 2) in 24 lines, one for each assembly box. At the start of each line is the assembly box number. Along each line are a set of markers showing the outer lower test limit (at 30 ampere-turns), the inner lower test limit (38 AT), the inner upper test limit (50 AT), and the outer upper test limit (58 AT). Between the outer lower limit and the assembly box number a number may be present to indicate how many, if any, of the last ten reed units tested, fell below the outer lower limit. In line 1, as shown, this number is 3, showing that out of the last ten reed units tested belonging to assembly box 1, 3 were below the outer lower limit. Between the outer lower limit and the outer upper limit may appear up to ten asterisks indicating the measurements of reed units falling between the outer limits. In line 7 there are 10 asterisks, but in other lines such as line 5, there are fewer asterisks. This is because the measurements of two or more reed units may be within a half-ampere-turn from each other, which is below the resolution of the display, and their asterisks therefore coincide. Immediately beyond the outer upper limit marker there may be a further number which indicates how many, if any, reed units fall above the outer upper test limit. In line 4, for example, of the last 10 reed units tested belonging to assembly box 4, 1 was below the outer lower limit, 8 were between the outer limits (some being coincident as there are only 6 asterisks), and 1 was above the outer upper limit. Finally there may be a further number at the end of a line which indicates how many, if any reed units are missing, not tested because for some reason they fail to reach the test station. Thus in line 20, of the last 10 reed units which should have been tested, belonging to assembly box 20, 8 were within not only the outer limits but the inner limits also and 2 never reached the test station. The display may refer either to operate characteristics or release characteristics, and is selectable by a switch. A more detailed display, for a given assembly box, can be called up on the visual display unit by keying in a specific code instruction on the keyboard of the inputoutput printer. In this display the assembly box number appears at the left side of the display, and half-way down. In Figure 3 it is shown as box 12. On the 25 lines of the display (one more than the display in Figure 2) the last 25 measurements are displayed, the earliest at the bottom, the latest at the top. One asterisk in each line shows the value of the measurement, and may be between limits, below the outer lower limit, above the outer upper limit, or missing. Thus in the display shown, out of the last 25 measurements on reed units belonging to box 12, the 4th and 8th (reading from the bottom of the display) were below the outer lower limit, the 16th was missing, the 17th was above the outer upper limit, and the remainder were between outer limits and had the values indicated. This display also may be for operate characteristics or release characteristics, and is selectable by a switch. Using these displays an operator in charge of the rotating-turret indexing machine can complete a feed-back loop, indicated in Figure 1 by the line 9. On noticing a drift towards either outer limit he can reset parameters on the machine and thereby halt the drift and bring the measurements back towards the inner limits. A further display can be called up on the visual display unit which gives a visual check on the output of a machine during a given shift. This is shown in Figure 4 and is self-explanatory. After the test the reed units are collected in magazines such as 8, each holding a batch of 2000 reed units. For each batch collected a batch "ticket" is printed on the inputoutput printer as shown in Figure 5. At a later stage the batches may be completely tested in a 100% test machine 10, the test results again being stored in a computer 11, analyzed, and the results of the analysis displayed on an input-output printer 12. It is preferable that the 100% tester 10 be remote from the assembly machine, to avoid electrical interference from the latter. The computer 11 may be an independent computer or may be the computer 5 in a time-sharing mode. The input-output printer 12 may be independent or the same as printer 7. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for manufacturing and testing discrete artifacts comprising a machine which manufactures the artifacts in a stepwise or indexing manner, there being n manufacturing stations, and is adjustable to change parameters of the artifacts; a test station for testing the artifacts; a computer which stores and analyzes the test results from the test station; and a visual display device whereon the test results are displayed in such a manner that an operator can, by watching the display and making appropriate adjustments to the machine, keep the parameters of the artifacts produced within defined limits, and wherein the display shows, in an associated one of n lines, the result of the tests on the last p artifacts from

each of the n stations.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there can also be displayed on an individual one of m lines of the display the test results on the last m artifacts from any one of the n stations.

3. Apparatus for manufacturing and testing discrete artifacts comprising a machine which manufactures the artifacts and is adjustable to change parameters of the artifacts, and substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. A method of controlling the manufacture of discrete artifacts produced in a stepwise or indexing manner by an assembly machine which has n manufacturing stations and is adjustable to change parameters of the artifacts, comprising the steps of: testing the artifacts at a test station; storing and analyzing the results in a computer; and displaying the results to an operator on a visual display which shows, in an associated one of n lines, the results of the tests on the last p artifacts from each of the n stations, whereby the operator is made aware of one or more parameters tending to go outside defined limits and can adjust the machine, as a result of watching said displayed results, to keep the parameters within the defined limits.