Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-11
2001-01-09
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S226000, C700S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173213
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a system and method for automated orientation and measurement of a workpiece, and more particularly concerns a system and method for automated identification, measurement, and radial orientation of rotary members such as motor vehicle wheels for automated processing or manufacturing operations.
2. Description of Related Art
Motor vehicle wheels typically have a central hub for mounting to an axle of the motor vehicle, a rim portion for mounting of a tire, and a spoke section connecting the rim portion to the hub. Lug holes are typically displaced radially outwardly from a central bore of the hub for receiving threaded lugs for mounting of the wheel to the axle of the vehicle, sockets are formed on the hub for nuts to be placed on the threaded lugs, and each wheel typically has a hole through the rim portion for a valve stem of a tire to be mounted on the rim of the wheel.
Production of motor vehicle wheels and processing of after-market customized wheels for motor vehicles is ideally automated for maximum mass production efficiency. Apparatus exists for drilling lug holes and valve stem holes for motor vehicles, including mechanisms for gripping and stabilizing motor vehicle wheel workpieces for accurate and consistent drilling, but drill hole locations can vary widely for various wheel styles and dimensions. However, the multiplicity of diverse styles, configurations and dimensions of such motor vehicle wheels that are available typically requires that an automated assembly line be set up to handle and batch process one specific type of wheel at a time, in turn requiring adjustments and possible retooling of assembly lines to accommodate processing or manufacture of a variety of wheels, resulting in considerable down time for such manufacturing and processing adjustments to be made. Manual identification, measurement and orientation of motor vehicle wheel workpieces for processing or manufacturing operations can be time consuming, subjective, and therefore subject to human error. It is therefore desirable to provide a system and method for automated orientation, measurement and identification of motor vehicle wheel workpieces for further processing and manufacturing operations to be performed on the motor vehicle wheel workpieces. The present invention meets these and other needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides for an improved system and method for automated orientation, measurement and identification of motor vehicle wheel workpieces for processing and manufacturing operations to be performed on the motor vehicle wheel workpieces.
The invention accordingly provides for a wheel style recognition system for identifying and orienting wheel workpieces. The system includes a wheel style recognition station, means for delivering a wheel workpiece to the wheel style recognition station, and means for sensing the radial orientation of the wheel workpiece on the wheel style recognition station, and for generating a radial orientation signal. Means are provided for scanning the wheel workpiece and for generating a wheel style mapping signal pattern, and in one presently preferred embodiment, means are also provided for rotating the wheel workpiece in a scanning position at the wheel style recognition station at a steady rate of rotation. Means are also provided for comparing the wheel style mapping signal pattern with at least one reference wheel style mapping signal pattern.
In one currently preferred embodiment, the wheel style recognition station includes a wheel style recognition platform, and a conveyor delivers the wheel workpiece to the wheel style recognition platform. The conveyor can also include a gate for controlling the delivery of the wheel workpieces to the wheel style recognition station by the conveyor. The wheel recognition station can also include a gripper assembly for gripping each wheel workpiece sequentially and positioning each wheel workpiece over the wheel recognition platform. In one presently preferred embodiment, means are provided for moving the wheel style recognition platform between a first position for receiving the wheel workpiece and a second position for scanning of the wheel workpiece, and can comprise a hydraulic or pneumatic lift for raising the platform from a lowered first position for receiving the wheel workpiece to a raised second position for scanning of the wheel workpiece, and for lowering the wheel style recognition platform to the lowered first position for receiving another wheel workpiece.
The means for sensing the radial orientation of the wheel workpiece comprises a sensor unit for detecting a marker on the wheel workpiece, such as a raised tab or indentation on the rim of the wheel workpiece. In one presently preferred embodiment, the wheel orientation sensor unit comprises a displacement sensing laser sensor that directs a focused laser beam that is reflected from the marker to a detector in the sensor unit. When the marker is oriented directly opposite the wheel orientation sensor, the wheel orientation sensor generates a wheel orientation signal indicating the wheel workpiece has reached a starting position for scanning of the wheel workpiece. In one presently preferred embodiment, the control unit compares a parameter of the wheel orientation signal with a threshold reference value, such that when the parameter of the wheel orientation signal reaches or exceeds the threshold reference value, the control unit determines that the wheel has reached the desired orientation for commencement of the mapping sequence.
The means for scanning the wheel workpiece and for generating a wheel style mapping signal pattern comprises a wheel mapping sensor unit that in one currently preferred embodiment comprises a displacement sensing laser sensor that directs a focused laser beam that is reflected from a target to a detector in the sensor unit. The wheel mapping sensor unit preferably comprises a pair of sensors, and in a currently preferred embodiment comprises inner and outer focused laser displacement sensors, with the outer focused laser displacement sensor being radially offset from the inner sensor with respect to the wheel workpiece. The wheel mapping sensor unit is preferably mounted to a movable arm that can be moved forward to a position over the wheel workpiece to scan the wheel workpiece, and can be retracted away from the wheel workpiece when the wheel workpiece is moved into or out of the scanning position.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the comparison of the wheel style mapping signal pattern with a reference wheel style mapping signal pattern is carried out by a control unit that receives a wheel style mapping signal pattern for one rotation of the wheel workpiece for identification of the wheel style. The control unit receives the wheel style mapping signal pattern and comprises a memory for storing one or more of the wheel style mapping signal patterns as reference wheel style mapping signal patterns, which allows the control unit to compare an individual test wheel style mapping signal pattern with a plurality of reference wheel style mapping signal patterns.
In one presently preferred embodiment, the control unit comprises means for integrating the reference signal over a 360 degree rotation of the wheel workpiece, and to determine a comparison with a previously stored value, and the control unit is preferably a microprocessor based controller. The control unit preferably further comprises means for transferring the wheel workpiece for further processing in accordance with the specific wheel style of the wheel workpiece if the wheel style mapping signal pattern is determined to be of a recognized wheel style pattern. The control unit preferably controls the gate to the wheel recognition station, the positioning of the sensor for sensing orientation of a wheel workpiece for scanning, the gripper at the wheel recognition station, the positioning of the platform for scann
Amiguet Eugene W.
Kuhns Dennis C.
Perez Jonathan A.
Crawford Gene O.
Ellis Christopher P.
Ellison Machinery Company
Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht LLP
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