INTEGRATED MATERIAL MANAGEMENT MODULE

摘要

A module for use in a system for processing articles, in which the system includes a plurality of machine tools for processing articles, a pod for carrying the articles to be processed by the machine tools from one machine tool to another, a host processing controller associated with the machine tools for controlling the operation thereof, a robot connected to each machine tool for receiving a pod, opening the pod and for transporting the articles from within the pod into position on the machine tool for processing. An identification means is carried by the pod for identifying a particular pod and the articles carried in the pod. The module includes a single wire connection between the identification means, the host controller and the robot. The module has microprocessor means to identify the source of a signal and means for routing the signal between the identification means and the host controller and between the host controller and the robot depending on its source.