Controlling a robotic arm based on profilometer scans to perform precision workstation operations upon a workpiece
US11839975B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 2023 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 20, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/49317
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A computer-controlled robotic arm performs operations upon a workpiece, such as a knife with a blade that requires sharpening, by a set of one or more workstations, such as a grinder and a polisher. A position target having a defined surface profile is attached to the robot arm and scanned by a profilometer to determine a relative position of the arm with respect to a target centerpoint feature. The arm is then used to manipulate the centerpoint feature to locate operating features, such as a grinder's grinding surface, of the various workstations in the robot arm's coordinate system. A workpiece grasped by the robot arm is then scanned along with the target or another target to locate and profile the workpiece relative to the target. Based on the determined profile and positional relationships, the robot arm manipulates the workpieces so as to be operated upon by the workstations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.