Method and apparatus for tracking a workpiece through a multi-station machine

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: using the part processing record to inhibit an operation.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: changing the part position index in accordance with a part transfer order which reflects the movement of the parts.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: providing data indicative of a location for which no part is present.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: providing data indicative of a part reject condition.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: providing data indicative of process that is not required for said part.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: initializing the status data for a part in the machine to a partially completed status of the part to reflect any previously completed processes.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 or 3 further comprising the step of: replicating the complete part processing record throughout the distributed memory means.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: a) the replicating step includes copying the current status data of each part to an orchestrator which then distributes the complete status data to each local station memory means, and b) updating the part position indices of each local station memory means.

Claim 12

A machine which concurrently operates on a plurality of parts at a plurality of stations, each part being sequenced for operation by at least two stations of the machine comprising: a distributed memory means storing in combination a part processing record comprising a) data indicative of every part in the machine and their respective location, and b) status data for each part in the machine indicative of the process already completed and the processes requiring completion, c) at least one of the memory means of a local station storing at least its own part status data and the status data of parts at any other station which could subsequently arrive at the local station, and means or maintaining concurrency of parts status data at all local memory means where status data is stored.

Claim 13

A machine which concurrently operates on a plurality of parts at a plurality of stations, each part being sequenced for operation by at least two stations of the machine comprising: a distributed memory means storing in combination a part processing record comprising a) data indicative of every part in the machine and their respective location, and b) status data for each part in the machine indicative of the process already completed and the processes requiring completion, c) at least one of the memory means of a local station storing at least its own part status data and the status data of parts at any other station which could subsequently arrive at the local station, and means or maintaining concurrency of parts status data at all local memory means where status data is stored.

Claim 14

The machine of claim 11 wherein the memory means further comprises: means for using the part processing record to inhibit an operation.

Claim 15

The machine of claim 1 wherein: a) the data indicative of the location of each part is a part position index, and b) means for changing the part position index in correspondence with the movement of parts between stations.

Claim 16

The machine of claim 11 wherein the memory means further comprises: data indicative of a location for which no part is present.

Claim 17

The machine of claim 11 wherein the status data further comprises: an indication of a part reject condition.

Claim 18

The machine of claim 11 wherein the status data further comprises: an indication of a process that is not required for said part.

Claim 19

The machine of claim 11 further comprising: the status data for a part in the machine being initialized to a partially completed status of the part to reflect any previously completed processes.

Claim 20

The machine of claim 11 further comprising: that status data for a part in the machine being initialized to reflect any processes not required for the part.

Claim 21

The machine of claim 13 further comprising: the part position index being changed in accordance with a part transfer order which reflects the movement of the parts.

Claim 22

The machine of claim 11 or 19 further comprising: means for replicating the complete part processing record through the distributed memory means.

Claim 23

The machine of claim 20 further comprising: a) the replicating means including means for copying the current status data of each part to an orchestrator which then distributes the complete status data to each local station memory means, and b) means for updating the part position indices of each local station memory means.

Claim 24

In a machine which concurrently operates on a plurality of parts at a plurality of stations, each part being transferred for an operation by at least two stations of the machine, an improved system for tracking the operations performed on each part in the machine comprising: a distributed memory storing in aggregate a complete part process record of every part in the machine having at each station a memory comprising a plurality of data blocks in which is stored a processing record of the part at the station and of any part at any other station which could arrive at the station, and a part position index in which is stored the identification of the station at which each part in the machine is located, the memory correlating for each part its respective data block and station identification, a processor for updating in each memory where the processing record is stored the respective data blocks as operations are performed on each part, and a processor for updating the part position index in each memory where the part position index is stored as parts are transferred through the machine, whereby each part and the operations performed thereon are tracked through the machine.

Claim 25

In a machine which concurrently operates on a plurality of parts at a plurality of stations, each part being transferred for an operation by at least two stations of the machine, an improved system for tracking the operations performed on each part in the machine comprising: a distributed memory storing in aggregate a complete part process record of every part in the machine having at each station a memory comprising a plurality of data blocks in which is stored a processing record of the part at the station and of any part at any other station which could arrive at the station, and a part position index in which is stored the identification of the station at which each part in the machine is located, the memory correlating for each part its respective data block and station identification, a processor for updating in each memory where the processing record is stored the respective data blocks as operations are performed on each part, and a processor for updating the part position index in each memory where the part position index is stored as parts are transferred through the machine, whereby each part and the operations performed thereon are tracked through the machine.