JPH0321875A - Exchange system for work cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for individual empty cassettes and their conveyance by discharging a classification cassette when it becomes full, mounting another full supply cassette in the area, and specifying an emptied supply cassette itself as a classification cassette. CONSTITUTION:In the starting state S1 of a rotary table 6, supply cassettes 11m - 13m (m: fullness of uninspected work) are mounted in, for example, areas I - III and empty classification cassettes A0 - C0 (0: word after inspection) are in areas IV - VI. The supply cassettes are given order and works are taken out and inspected in order from the cassette 11. In a state S2, no work, (i) works, and (m) works remain in the cassettes 11 - 13, and (m) works, (j) works, and (k) works after inspection are stored in the cassettes A - C. Here, a cassette Am is discharged and a full supply cassette 1'm is mounted in the area IV for replacement. At the same time, an empty cassette 11m is specified as a new classification cassette A0 and a state S'2 is entered. Uninspected works are taken out of supply cassettes in order.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] This invention relates to a method for exchanging work cassettes, and more specifically, relates to a method for exchanging cassettes containing workpieces to be inspected in distribution inspection of magnetic disks, etc. be.

[Prior Art] For example, in a magnetic disk inspection device, the work to be inspected stored in a cassette is supplied to the inspection device and inspected, the quality is classified based on the inspection results, and the inspected work is placed in the cassette corresponding to the classification. Each is stored.

With reference to FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the procedures for supplying and sorting and storing works to the above-mentioned inspection apparatus, and replacing empty cassettes after inspection will be explained.

In figure (a), uninspected workpiece 4 is supplied from supply cassette 1.
are taken out one by one, supplied to the inspection device 5, and inspected. The inspected workpieces 4' are classified and stored in [A1 to [D]] of the classification cassette 2 according to the inspection results. However, in the case of the figure, four classifications are shown as an example. As the inspection progresses, the empty cassette 3 with no uninspected works 4 is ejected (arrow E), and to supplement it, a new supply cassette 1' full of works 4 is placed at position a (F). On the other hand, any classification cassette 2' that is full of inspected works 4' is ejected (G), and an empty cassette 3 is placed (H) to replenish it.
) to be done.

FIG. 3(b) shows an example of a conventional mechanism and operation for supplying workpieces to the inspection device, removing and replenishing each cassette, or replacing the cassettes. A rotary table 8 is used as a cassette mounting table and is divided into a plurality of areas in order to handle the cassette. In the case of the figure, it is divided into 8 sections, and supply force sets }It-14 are placed in four areas, and classification cassettes [A]-[D] are placed in the other four areas. The inspection is carried out under the control of a microprocessor, and the rotary table 6 is rotated, and at a predetermined angular position, the uninspected workpieces 4 are taken out from the ordered supply cassettes 1 by the chuck 7a on the side 7 of the handling machine and supplied to the inspection device 6. do.

According to the classification based on the test results, the classification cassettes [A] to [
D] stops rotating at a predetermined position, and the chuck 7
The inspected workpiece 4' is stored by a.

Next, the cassette is replaced. As the inspection progresses, for example, when the supply cassette l1 becomes empty, this empty cassette 3 is ejected by the chuck 9a on the side 9 of the handling machine.
E) and is conveyed by the discharge belt 8b on the side 8 of the conveyor. Then, the full supply cassette 1' conveyed by the supply belt 8a is placed (F) instead. On the other hand, for example, the classification cassette [A] which is full is cassette 2'
The empty cassette 3 is discharged (G) by the chuck 9a and conveyed by the discharge belt 8b, and the empty cassette 3 conveyed by the supply belt 8a is placed (H) at that position to replenish the cassette [A]. .

[Problem to be Solved] In the cassette exchange method described above, the areas for the supply cassettes 11 to 14 and the classification cassettes 2 ([A1 to [D]) in the rotary table 6 are fixed, and each is empty or empty. It is replaced when it is full. Therefore, an empty cassette 3 is required to replenish the sorting power cent that has become a cup, and the empty supply cassette is discharged as an empty cassette 3 (E).
be done. However, the rain sky cassettes are separate, supplied or discharged by each route. For this purpose, it is necessary to prepare and transport empty cassettes and supply them at each necessary time. Regarding L, by considering how to use empty cassettes, it should be possible to use an empty supply cassette as an empty cassette for a full classification cassette on the local table. This pick-up method eliminates the need to separately prepare and transport empty cassettes, and therefore simplifies transport control.

Based on the above concept, it is an object of the present invention to provide a work cassette exchange method that eliminates the need for separate empty cassettes and their transportation for work classification inspection.

[A Thousand Steps to Solve the Problem] This invention takes out uninspected workpieces from a supply cassette that stores uninspected works such as magnetic disks, inspects them, and checks the inspected workpieces based on the inspection results. This is a workpiece cassette exchange method for workpiece inspection in which the workpieces are classified and stored in a plurality of classification cassettes corresponding to the classification.
n > 1) regions, supply cassettes full of uninspected workpieces to the divided n regions, and supply cassettes full of uninspected workpieces to the
An empty classification cassette corresponding to the classification is placed on each area and the inspection is started. An order is given to the n supply cassettes, uninspected workpieces are sequentially taken out, inspected and classified according to this order, and the classified inspected works are stored in the corresponding classification cassettes. As the examination progresses,
When any one of the classification cassettes becomes full, the full classification cassette is ejected and a new full supply cassette is placed in the ejected area to replace the cassette. At the same time, the supply cassette itself, which has become empty due to the removal of uninspected workpieces, is designated as a classification cassette. - Repeat cassette exchange and classification cassette designation every time the condition described in E is satisfied.

Next, for some reason during inspection, workpieces are discharged outside the inspection process, reducing the total number of workpieces in the inspection process, and even when all the supply cassettes are empty, none of the classification cassettes If the cassette is not full, one of the classification cassettes that are not full at that time is regarded as full, and the cassette is replaced and the classification cassette is specified.

[Sakugawa] The procedure of the above work cassette exchange method and its effects are explained in the first part.
This will be explained using figures. In the figure, as an example, the above n is 3
The rotary table 6 is divided into six regions I to (2). S! ~S3 indicates the status of the cassette placed on the rotary table. In St, the full supply capacity Seb}il (m) for the regions I to m
．． 12 (m). 13 (m) is placed. Here, the number within 0 indicates the number of stored works, and m is assumed to be full.

Next, the areas ■～■ have empty classification power sets}A(0),B(
0), C(0) are placed. The inspection is started from Sl, and uninspected workpieces are sequentially taken out from the cassette 11 and inspected by assigning the order of supply cassettes.

Here, arrow T indicates inspection. When the test progresses and the status reaches 82, the cassette 11 is first in order.
becomes empty, and i pieces of work remain in the next cassette 12, and m pieces of work remain in the cassette 13. On the other hand, the inspected workpieces classified by the inspection are placed in the cassette A.
The cassettes B and C contain j and k sheets, respectively, and are full. However, t=
J+k. Here, the full cassette A is ejected by arrow G. The ejected cassette is indicated by 2' (m). Full supply cassette 1' for the ejected area ■
(m) is placed (arrow F) and replaced, and at the same time, the empty supply capacity set }lr(0) is designated as the new classification cassette A(0) and the status is set to 82'.

Note that the reason why the workpieces are taken out in order from the supply cassettes in the above is that when workpieces are taken out indiscriminately from any supply cassette, one of the classification cassettes becomes full before any of the supply cassettes become empty. This is because although the conditions for cassette exchange are met, a new classification cassette cannot be specified. Through the above exchange and specification, the type of cassette for each area is gradually changed. However, the total number of workpieces in the inspection process does not change and remains constant at 3 m. Thereafter, similarly, when any one of the classification cassettes becomes full, the above-mentioned replacement of the full cassette and designation of the classification cassette are sequentially performed.

In the above case, the number of supply cassettes and classification cassettes is the same n, the removal from the classification cassette is performed according to the order given to the cassettes, and the inspected workpieces are classified and dispersed, so even in the worst case Before all the cassettes are empty, one of the sorting cassettes will always be full, and - the above cassette exchange can be done without any confusion.

With the cassette exchange method described in 1- above, it is completely unnecessary to prepare and transport separate empty cassettes outside the inspection process.

Next, if workpieces are ejected from the inspection process for some reason during inspection and the total number of workpieces in the process decreases, in the worst case, even though all the supply trays and trays are empty, A π situation may occur in which neither classification cassette is full. In this case, a suitable one of the classification cassettes that are not full at that time is regarded as full, and the full cassette is replaced and the classification cassette is specified in the same manner as described above. However, if there is an excess or deficiency in the number of workpieces, it is necessary to promptly replenish them.

All of the above operations, such as determining the number of workpieces accessed in a cassette, replacing a full cassette, specifying a sorting cassette, and determining the number of workpieces discharged outside the inspection process, are performed by microprocessor processing and control. It is something.

In the above, the number of sections 2n of the rotary table was set to 6, but it is clear that the above method can be applied as long as n>1.

FIG. 2 shows the status of cassettes placed on a rotary table in an embodiment of the work cassette exchange method according to the present invention. In this case, the rotary table 6 is divided into eight areas I to ■, and in the status S1, the areas I to ■ have full supply cassettes 11 to 14, and the areas v to ■ have empty classification cassettes A to D. Each: a
He gets fucked.

As the test T progresses, the full A (m) is ejected (G) in S2, and a full supply cassette is placed (F) in its place. At the same time, the empty supply cassette 11
(0) is newly designated as classification cassette A (0), and the status becomes 82'. Similarly, in 83, the cassette is replaced with the classification cassette C, and the classification cassette is specified with respect to the cassette 12, and the status 83'
Test T is then continued. In the figure, the number m of full cassettes is 20, and the number of sheets stored in each cassette shown in 0 has been appropriately selected.

Figure 3(a). (b) is a status chart when processing for a decrease in the total number of works is performed in the above embodiment. Figure (a) shows area I in status St.
, II full supply cassette 1l. 12 is placed and the inspection is started, and even though both supply cassettes h and 12 are empty in S2, the areas v to ■
None of the classification cassettes is full, that is, the number of works in each classification cassette pt q+ re S
are all smaller than m=20. In such a case, at that point, the supply cassettes in areas ■ and ■ are each full}13.
14 may be added and the inspection may be continued as 82'. Figure (b) shows a case where a workpiece is discharged outside the inspection process for some reason, and the inspection is started after satisfying the necessary conditions at Sl, but the number of workpieces decreases while the inspection is in progress.
Even though all the supply cassettes are empty in a certain status Sx, the number of works L for each classification cassette
us V* W are all smaller than m. In response to this, an appropriate sorting cassette, for example D, is assumed to be full, and the cassette is replaced and the sorting cassette is specified in the same manner as described above, and the inspection is continued with the status SX'. However, if the total number of workpieces in the inspection process changes due to this replacement, it is necessary to promptly compensate for the excess or deficiency in the number of workpieces.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, in the work cassette exchange method according to the present invention, an order is given to one full supply cassette placed on a rotary table, and unfilled work cassettes are replaced according to this order. The inspection work is taken out and inspected, and if any one of the n classification cassettes becomes full, the full classification cassette is replaced, and the empty supply cassette is designated as a new classification cassette. This simplifies control due to simple conditions, and also eliminates the need for a separate empty cassette and its transport, which were required in the conventional method, resulting in efficient cassette exchange. In addition, consideration has been given to the processing method for reducing the total number of workpieces in the inspection process to avoid confusion, and this greatly contributes to the cassette exchange technique in magnetic disk inspection apparatuses and the like.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a status diagram of supply cassettes and sorting cassettes on a low-replacement table, explaining the work cassette exchange method according to this invention, and Fig. 2 shows the work cassette exchange method according to the present invention. 3(a) and 3(b) are status diagrams of the cassette in the embodiment of the exchange method of FIG.
1A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of a conventional system for classifying and storing workpieces and exchanging workpiece cassettes in a magnetic disk inspection apparatus, and the configuration and operation of a cassette exchanging mechanism. 1, 1'... Supply cassette, 2, 2'... Classification cassette, 4... Uninspected workpiece, 4'... Inspected workpiece, 5... Inspection device, 6... Rotary table , 7.9... Handling mechanism, 7a, 7b... Chuck, 8... Conveying mechanism, 8a
... Supply belt, 8b... Discharge belt, [A]
, [B], [C], [D]... Classification code of inspected cassette, E. G... Code indicating discharge; F. H... Code indicating placement, I~■... Area number, S... Status number, T... Code indicating inspection, m... Number of full works in the cassette.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Under the control of a microprocessor, uninspected workpieces such as magnetic disks are taken out from a supply cassette containing uninspected workpieces and inspected, and the inspected workpieces are classified according to the results of the inspection. In the inspection of workpieces stored in a plurality of corresponding classification cassettes, the rotary table is divided into a plurality of 2n (n>1) areas in the circumferential direction, and the uninspected workpieces are placed in the divided n areas. The above inspection is started by placing a full supply cassette and an empty classification cassette corresponding to the above classification in each of n areas other than the other n areas. The uninspected workpieces are sequentially taken out according to the order, classified by the inspection, and stored in the classification cassette, and as the inspection progresses, any one of the classification cassettes becomes the inspected workpiece. On the condition that the classification cassette is full, the full classification cassette is ejected, a new full supply cassette is placed in the ejected area, and the cassette is replaced, and the uninspected workpiece is The supply cassette itself, which has become empty due to removal, is designated as a classification cassette, and each time the above conditions are met, the cassette is replaced and the classification cassette is designated. For some reason during the execution of the above inspection, the workpiece is removed from the inspection process. If none of the classification cassettes are full even when the total number of workpieces in the inspection process is reduced by being discharged outside and all the supply cassettes are empty, then the classification cassettes are not full at that point. A work cassette exchange method characterized in that the cassette exchange and the classification cassette designation are performed by regarding a suitable one of the classification cassettes that are not filled as full.