Method, system, and apparatus for automated dispensing of labels in a production environment
A system and method are disclosed for automatically dispensing labels for information handling systems being assembled, in an assembly line that is configured to produce many different types of information handling systems with differing internal components. In some embodiments, a service tag identifier and parts listing are associated with each information handling system-under-assembly. The service tag identifier is written to an RFID tag that can be read at various stages of assembly. In some embodiments, when an assembly bin arrives at a label station of the assembly line, the RFID tag is read and a database is searched for the matching service tag and the associated parts listing. One or more appropriate labels are then automatically dispensed in response to the components in the listing. In this manner, correct association of labels with the components is maintained, and the search and dispensing process is performed in an efficient manner.
1. A system for dispensing a label for a system-under-assembly, the system comprising:
a network;
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) writer, coupled to the network, at a first stage of an assembly line, and configured to write a service tag (ST) identifier to an RFID tag associated with a bin on the assembly line;
an RFID reader, coupled to the network, at a second stage of the assembly line, and configured to read the ST identifier from the RFID tag;
one or more label dispensers, coupled to the network, and each label dispenser configured to dispense a label from a roll of labels in response to a command to dispense the label; and
a labeling information handling system, coupled to the network, and configured to receive the ST identifier from the RFID reader,
search a database for the ST identifier, wherein the database comprises one or more entries, each entry associating an ST identifier with a set of parts,
identify one or more parts having associated labels in a matching entry for the ST identifier, and
transmit one or more commands to dispense the associated labels to one or more label dispenser of the one or more label dispensers.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a product configuration information handling system, coupled to the network, and configured to
generate the ST identifier for the system-under-assembly, and
associate the set of parts with the ST identifier.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein
the product configuration information handling system is further configured to transmit the ST identifier and set of parts to the labeling information handling system, and
the labeling information handling system is further configured to store the ST identifier and set of parts as an entry in the database.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a programmable logic controller, coupled to the network, and configured to control one or more of the RFID reader and the one or more label dispensers.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the programmable logic controller is further configured to
receive the commands from the labeling information handling system, and
control the one or more label dispensers in response to the label information.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a second RFID reader, at the first stage of the assembly line, and configured to
read the RFID tag for an RFID tag value, wherein said reading occurs subsequent to the RFID writer writing the ST identifier to the RFID tag, and
validating the RFID tag value by comparing the RFID tag value with the ST identifier.
7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
one or more visual identifiers, each visual identifier associated with a corresponding one of the one or more label dispensers, wherein
the labeling information handling system provides information to control the visual identifier associated with the one or more label dispensers commanded to dispense a label.