Programmable parts feeder
US4608646A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 1984 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30164
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A micro-controller system for recognizing and identifying same or dissimilar parts being transferred along the track of a parts feeder, such as a bowl feeder, as well as checking the part orientation, and sorting the oriented parts in a predetermined repetitive sequence. Part recognition and sequencing is programmable upon user demand. Part recognition includes a part silhouette recognizer comprised of a set of light sensors coupled to an apertured grid located in a part feeding track. The silhouette image of each part to be sorted is first digitized and stored in the memory of the micro-controller in a position associated with an identifying part number. Also, the sequence of the various parts is stored in the memory of the micro-controller. Thereafter, as the parts are being fed over the grid, each part is compared against a corresponding stored image in the proper position of the sequence with the wrong or improperly oriented parts being rejected by being blown off the track by an air jet directed across the feeder track while proper part recognition will result in a turn off of the air jet permitting the part to pass and be delivered to a feeder output station.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.