METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING PROCESSING SEQUENCES

• US 20170228567A1
• Filed: 02/08/2016
• Published: 08/10/2017
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,442,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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,

determining a current configuration of an indicator on the aligning portion;

if the current configuration is a first configuration corresponding to the first processing portion, processing the part using the first processing portion;

if the current configuration is the first configuration and if 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 processing portion; and

decoupling the first processing portion from the aligning portion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

coupling a second processing portion to the aligning portion,

determining the current configuration of the indicator of the aligning portion;

if the current configuration is the second configuration corresponding to the second processing portion, processing the part using the second processing portion;

if the current configuration is the second configuration and if the part has been processed using the second processing portion, changing the current configuration of the indicator from the second configuration; and

decoupling the second processing portion from the aligning portion.

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 tester of the first processing portion and comprises determining position of a test feature of the 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 corresponding to the first processing portion, the test feature of the tester moves into a new 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 corresponding to the first processing portion, the test feature of the 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 determining the current configuration of the indicator comprises determining an angular position of the indicator relative to the aligning portion.

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

10. The method of claim 9, wherein rotating the indicator around the center axis of the indicator by the set angle is performed while a tester feature engages an indicator feature.

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

12. The method of claim 11, wherein rotating the tester feature about the center axis of the tester comprises rotating a tester body of the tester supporting the tester feature around the center axis.

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

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the current configuration of the indicator comprises scanning a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag disposed on the aligning portion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein scanning the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is performed using a tester of the first processing portion.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein changing the current configuration of the indicator from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises writing a new code to the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

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

19. The method of claim 1, wherein processing using the second processing portion is a sequential operation performed after processing using the first processing portion.

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

18. (canceled)

21-22. -22. (canceled)

23. An apparatus comprising:

a processing portion comprising a processing tool;

the processing portion being operable to couple to an aligning portion;

a tester coupled to the processing portion

the tester being operable to determine a current configuration of an indicator disposed on the aligning portion,

the tester controlling operation the processing tool based on the current configuration of the indicator.

24-40. -40. (canceled)