Automated construction scribing devices and methods of use

• US 10,268,202 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DPR Construction Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DPR Construction Incorporated
• Inventors: Casale, Daniel Lawrence, Bartle, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Whittington, Jess
• Application Number:
  US14/673,665
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 7/04 Devices, e.g. scribers, for marking centre punches B25D5/00 ; cord line chalkers B44D3/38
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0231 using optical position detecting means position-fixing by using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. optical position detecting means G01S5/16
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/43 Spray painting or coating

Abstract

Construction design layout devices and systems are provided herein. An example device includes a chassis configured to translate along a floor, an optical prism mounted to the chassis that reflects signals from a base station, a marking assembly mounted to the chassis, the marking assembly having at least a marking device that physically marks the floor, and a controller configured to receive construction instructions comprising floor markings defined by floor coordinates, translate the chassis along the floor in alignment with the floor coordinates, and transfer the floor markings to the floor during translation using the marking assembly.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a chassis configured to translate along a floor;

an optical prism mounted to the chassis that reflects signals from a base station;

a marking assembly mounted to the chassis, the marking assembly comprising;

a print rail mounted to the chassis;

a print rail carriage mounted to the print rail, the print rail carriage configured to translate linearly along the print rail; and

a print head mounted to the print rail carriage, the print head configured to apply a floor marking to the floor;

a controller configured to;

receive construction instructions comprising floor coordinates that define where floor markings should be applied to the floor;

automatically translate the chassis along the floor in alignment with the floor coordinates, using current location information received from the base station;

automatically translate the print rail carriage along the print rail, independent of the translation of the chassis, in alignment with the floor coordinates, using the current location information received from the base station; and

automatically transfer the floor markings to the floor during translation of the chassis using the marking assembly in combination with movement of the chassis; and

a motion sensor configured to determine movement of the chassis and provide the determined movement of the chassis to the controller as motion input to fine tune a current location and/or direction of translation of the chassis along the floor.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the chassis comprises omni-directional wheels for translating the device along the floor in an omni-directional manner.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a wired or wireless module for receiving the construction instructions from a computing device.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical prism reflects signals from the base station, the controller receiving distance measurement signals from the base station that indicate a current location of the device.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a rail platform disposed on the chassis, the rail platform configured to translate the optical prism along a rail axis between a retracted position and an extended position, the optical prism mounted to the rail platform and translating with movement of the rail platform.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to translate the rail platform between the retracted position and the extended position when the device reaches a transition point on the construction instructions.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

obtain a first distance measurement signal from the base station when the rail platform is in the retracted position and a second distance measurement signal from the base station when the rail platform is in the extended position; and

calculate a current location of the device using the first and second distance measurement signals.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

compare the current location to the floor coordinates; and

adjust a direction of translation of the device if the comparison indicates a change in the direction of translation is required.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the print rail is mounted to the chassis on a print rail plane that is perpendicular to a chassis plane, the chassis plane being parallel with the floor.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the print rail carriage is configured to translate laterally along the print rail plane from a first end to a second end of the print rail.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein in response to the construction instructions comprising a curved marking, the controller is further configured to:

translate the print rail carriage laterally along the print rail plane during linear translation of the chassis to transfer the curved marking to the floor.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the marking assembly comprises one or more printer cartridges.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the construction instructions comprise at least one CAD model.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the construction instructions further comprise at least one transition point along a marking path.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is further configured determine movement of the print rail carriage and provide input to the controller, to control movement of the print rail carriage independent of movement of the chassis.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the print head is aligned with a marking path prior to transferring the floor markings to the floor, independent of a centerline of the chassis.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the print head produces etch marks on the floor.

18. The device of claim 9, wherein the print rail carriage is further configured to translate laterally along the print rail plane between a leftmost position and a rightmost position.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the floor coordinates are defined by Cartesian coordinates.