Systems and methods of identifying and manipulating objects

• US 20060233435A1
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JELD-WEN Incorporated (JELD-WEN Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JELD-WEN Incorporated (JELD-WEN Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pickens, Gregory A., Reifel, Robert J., Cullen, Bruce B., Lawson, Frank J., Oberholtzer, Larry W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/151
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/401 characterised by control arrangements for measuring, e.g. calibration and initialisation, measuring workpiece for machining purposes G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36509 Select as function of shape, dimension of workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37555 Camera detects orientation, position workpiece, points of workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37571 Camera detecting reflected light from laser
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49299 Identify workpiece and align, center workpiece at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Systems and methods of identifying and manipulating objects are disclosed. One system disclosed comprises a light source adapted to emit a collimated light beam onto a contoured surface, a sensor adapted to view a profile of the contoured surface illuminated by the collimated light beam, a processor in communication with the sensor, and a controller in communication with the processor. The controller may be adapted to generate a signal based on an attribute of a predefined profile.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a light source adapted to emit a collimated light beam onto a contoured surface of an object, the collimated light beam adapted to illuminate a profile of the contoured surface;

a first sensor adapted to detect the illuminated profile of the contoured surface and to generate a first signal based at least in part on the illuminated profile;

a processor in operative communication with the first sensor, the processor adapted to receive the first signal and to compare the first signal with a second signal associated with a predefined profile, wherein the processor is adapted to generate a third signal based on a comparison of the first and second signals; and

a controller in operative communication with the processor, the controller adapted to receive the third signal and to generate a motion control signal in response to the third signal, the motion control signal based on an attribute of the predefined profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor generates the third signal when a value of the first signal is substantially equal to a value of the second signal.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a conveyor adapted to move the object through a plurality of stations; and

a means for cutting the object, the cutting means in operative communication with the controller.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a means for aligning the object with respect to the conveyor, the aligning means disposed in operative communication with the controller and controlled at least in part by the motion control signal.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a means for aligning the object with respect to the cutting means, the aligning means disposed in operative communication with the controller and controlled at least in part by the motion control signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the attribute comprises a predetermined dimension of the predefined profile.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor in operative communication with the processor, the second sensor adapted to detect a position of the object with respect to the first sensor.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the cutting means is adapted to be displaced relative to the object, the cutting means controlled at least in part by the motion control signal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second signal comprises a plurality of second signals associated with a plurality of predefined profiles.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of predefined profiles is stored in a database in operative communication with the processor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a door skin.

12. A method comprising:

illuminating a profile of a contoured surface of an object;

comparing the illuminated profile of the contoured surface with a predefined profile; and

manipulating the object based at least in part on a predetermined attribute associated with the predefined profile.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting the illuminated profile of the contoured surface; and

transmitting a digital representation of the illuminated profile of the contoured surface to a processor, wherein the predefined profile is stored in a database in operative communication with the processor.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein manipulating the object comprises cutting the object.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the attribute comprises a predetermined dimension.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein illuminating the profile of the contoured surface of the object comprises emitting a collimated light beam onto the contoured surface.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the predefined profile comprises a plurality of predefined profiles.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting one of the plurality of predefined profiles, the selected profile correlating substantially with the illuminated profile.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the object comprises a door skin.

20. A method comprising:

providing a light source adapted to emit a collimated light beam onto a contoured surface of an object, the collimated light beam adapted to illuminate a profile of the contoured surface;

providing a first sensor adapted to detect the profile of the contoured surface illuminated by the collimated light beam and adapted to generate a first signal based at least in part on the illuminated profile;

disposing a processor in operative communication with the first sensor, the processor adapted to receive the first signal and to compare the first signal with a second signal associated with a predefined profile, wherein the processor is adapted to generate a third signal based on a comparison of the first and second signals; and

disposing a controller in operative communication with the processor, the controller adapted to receive the third signal and to generate a motion control signal in response to the third signal, the motion control signal based on an attribute of the predefined profile.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the processor generates the third signal when a value of the first signal is substantially equal to a value of the second signal.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

providing a conveyor adapted to move the object through a plurality of stations; and

providing a means for cutting the object, the cutting means in operative communication with the controller.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a means for aligning the object with respect to the conveyor, the aligning means disposed in operative communication with the controller and controlled at least in part by the motion control signal.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a means for aligning the object with respect to the cutting means, the aligning means disposed in operative communication with the controller and controlled at least in part by the motion control signal.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the attribute comprises a predetermined dimension of the predefined profile.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the second signal comprises a plurality of second signals associated with a plurality of predefined profiles.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising disposing a second sensor in operative communication with the processor, the second sensor adapted to detect a position of the object with respect to the first sensor.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the object comprises a door skin.

29. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, the program code comprising:

program code for illuminating a profile of a contoured surface of an object;

program code for comparing the illuminated profile of the contoured surface with a predefined profile; and

program code for manipulating the object based at least in part on a predetermined attribute associated with the predefined profile.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 further comprising:

program code for detecting the illuminated profile of the contoured surface; and

program code for transmitting a digital representation of the illuminated profile of the contoured surface to a processor, wherein the predefined profile is stored in a database in operative communication with the processor.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the program code for manipulating the object comprises program code for cutting the object.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the attribute comprises a predetermined dimension of the predefined profile.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the program code for illuminating the profile of the contoured surface of the object comprises program code for emitting a collimated light beam onto the contoured surface.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the object comprises a door skin.