Methods and systems for controlling processing sequences

• US 10,442,010 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Holleman, Wesley Edward, Fuller, Mark Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wall, Vincent
• Application Number:
  US15/018,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20170228567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2215/04 Aircraft components
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2270/32 Use of electronics
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 49/00 Measuring or gauging equipment on boring machines for positioning or guiding the drill; Devices for indicating failure of drills during boring; Centering devices for holes to be bored marking-out equipment B25H7/00; measuring devices, gauges G01B

Abstract

Provided are methods for verifying sequences of different operations and controlling processing order in accordance with these sequences. Also provided are apparatuses for executing these methods. A method may involve determining a current configuration of an indicator positioned on a part. This operation may be performed using a tester coupled to a processing portion. If the current configuration of the indicator corresponds to this particular processing portion, then the part is processed using this processing portion. The indicator is then changed to a new configuration corresponding to another processing portion for performing the next operation in the sequence. The processing is only performed if the indicator has the current configuration corresponding to the processing portion. Otherwise, the operation is not performed, and the current configuration of the indicator not changed retained. The indicator may be a mechanical device or an electronic device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

attaching an aligning portion to a part;

coupling a first processing portion to the aligning portion, wherein an indicator of the aligning portion is in a first angular orientation relative to a center axis of the aligning portion;

determining that a current configuration of the indicator is in a first configuration corresponding to the first angular orientation of the indicator relative to the center axis, wherein the first configuration corresponds to the first processing portion;

processing the part using the first processing portion after determining that the current configuration of the indicator is in the first configuration;

after the part has been processed using the first processing portion, changing the current configuration of the indicator from the first configuration to a second configuration corresponding to a second angular orientation of the indicator relative to the center axis of the aligning portion by rotating the indicator about the center axis of the aligning portion, the second configuration corresponding to a second processing portion;

decoupling the first processing portion from the aligning portion; and

coupling a second processing portion to the aligning portion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the current configuration of the indicator is in the second configuration; and

processing the part using the second processing portion after determining that the current configuration of the indicator is in the second configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising separating the aligning portion from the part.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the current configuration of the indicator is performed while the first processing portion is coupled to the aligning portion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the current configuration of the indicator is performed using a first tester of the first processing portion and comprises determining a structural position of a first test feature of the first tester after coupling the first processing portion to the aligning portion.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, if the current configuration is the first configuration, the first test feature of the first tester is in an extended position after coupling the first processing portion to the aligning portion.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein, if the current configuration is the first configuration, the first test feature of the first tester protrudes into an indicator feature of the indicator after coupling the first processing portion to the aligning portion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the current configuration of the indicator from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises rotating the indicator around the center axis of the indicator by a set angle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein rotating the indicator around the center axis of the indicator by the set angle is performed while a first test feature of the first processing portion engages an indicator feature of the indicator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein rotating the indicator around the center axis of the indicator by the set angle comprises rotating the first test feature engaging the indicator feature about the center axis.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein rotating the first test feature about the center axis comprises rotating a first tester supporting the first test feature around the center axis.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein rotating the first tester is performed using a drive supported on the first processing portion.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the part using the first processing portion comprises receiving an output from a first tester of the first processing portion if the first tester determines the current configuration is the first configuration.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the part using the second processing portion is a sequential operation performed after processing the part using the first processing portion.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises multiple indicator features disposed about the center axis, wherein each of the multiple indicator features independently identifies the current configuration of the indicator.