In SMT factories, offline changeover still depends heavily on manual labor, making it prone to variations in work quality and delays. In particular, feeder preparation, transportation, and collection place a significant burden on operators and are among the most labor-intensive changeover tasks. Any delays in these tasks can lead to line stoppages and production startup delays. Smart Storage serves as a core system that addresses these challenges and supports the automation of changeovers.

Smart Storage automatically manages cassette-type feeders during the offline changeover process for NXTR A model lines. The front of the unit is equipped with a Smart Loader that automatically delivers feeders, taking over feeder sorting, delivery, and temporary storage tasks that were previously performed manually by operators.

Traditionally, whenever a production lot changed, operators had to locate the required feeders, collect them, and transport them to the production line. By introducing Smart Storage, feeders required for upcoming production can be prepared in advance and stored and managed until they are needed. When used with Fuji's scheduler function, feeders for future production can also be prepared collectively in advance. As a result, operators no longer need to determine which feeders should be prepared next. The feeders are automatically stored and managed until they are needed.

Within Smart Storage, the Smart Loader automatically sorts feeders according to whether they are scheduled for use or not. Feeders that are not scheduled for use are seperated for collection and storage. This allows operators to focus on other offline changeover work without being occupied by frequent feeder exchanges and verification tasks.

Smart Storage consists of the following units:

1. Unloading and loading area:
An entrance and exit area for unloading and loading feeder magazines

2. Preparation station:
A storage area where feeders scheduled for use are kept until they are passed to the next process

3. Smart Loader:
An insertion and removal unit that automatically delivers and sorts feeders

4. Work station:
An area where feeders not scheduled to be used are returned and where prepared feeders are set

This configuration enables seamless management of feeder flow, from receiving and sorting to storage and transport, while significantly reducing operator-dependent decisions and material movement.

Feeders prepared in Smart Storage are transported to NXTR A Model lines by Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Because the system knows which production line uses each feeder, AMRs automatically deliver and collect feeders from the designated lines according to system instructions.

At the production line, the Smart Loader automatically loads cassette-type feeders from the feeder magazine delivered from the offline changeover area into the positions specified by the program. In addition, feeders required for the next production run can be preloaded into available slots while the current production is still in progress. This minimizes changeover work and enables smooth transitions between production runs.

Smart Storage creates an environment in which the required feeders can be supplied to the production line precisely when they are needed, streamlining the entire process from offline changeover preparation to line supply. By enabling preparation for the next production run while current production is still underway, Smart Storage helps make production preparation more efficient and realizes uninterrupted production lines.