System and method for controlling a conveyor system configuration to accommodate different size substrates

• US 6,688,458 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KPS Special Situations Fund II, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Speedline Technologies Incorporated (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Prentice, Thomas C., Prescott, Brian P., Bouvier, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARMA, RASHMI K
• Application Number:
  US09/973,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 198/502.2, 198/502.1, 198/861.1, 198/817
• US Class Current: 198/502.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/10 movable, or having interchangeable or relatively movable parts; Devices for moving framework or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/041 Camera

Abstract

A rail position control system is provided that controls a conveyor system configuration to accommodate a plurality of differently sized substrates in an apparatus. The rail position control system includes at least one camera, which is mounted on a mounting surface located in close proximity to the conveyor system. The rail position control system further includes a computer system that is operatively coupled to the camera and to a motor. The motor is further coupled to at least one rail of the conveyor system. The camera is operative to view and provide a plurality of images of a conveyor lane width value to the computer system. The conveyor lane width value represents a space located between at least one pair of rails of the conveyor system. The computer system responds by processing the plurality of images of the conveyor lane width value to generate a rail position adjustment value, which is communicated, via control signals, to the motor to actuate the motor to move the at least one rail a distance representing the rail position adjustment value.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing a task on a work piece, the apparatus comprising:

an object that performs the task on the work piece;

a work surface;

a conveyor system mounted on the work surface and having at least a first rail and at least a second rail separated by a first space equal to a first conveyor lane width value, wherein the conveyor system is constructed and arranged to transport work pieces in the apparatus;

a support structure coupled to the work surface, the support structure being coupled to the object to support the object over the conveyor system and including at least one gantry system having a slidably mounted platform adapted to securely hold the object and to move the object over work pieces on the conveyor system;

at least one camera mounted on the support structure; and

a processor coupled to the at least one camera,

wherein the at least one camera is constructed and arranged to capture a first image of a first registration mark associated with the first rail and to capture a second image of a second registration mark associated with the second rail and to provide the first and second images to the processor, and

wherein the processor is programmed to receive the first and second images and determine the first conveyor lane width value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first registration mark is located at a first predetermined position on the first rail and the second registration mark is located at a second predetermined position on the second rail.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a motor coupled to the processor and to the first rail, the motor being adapted to receive and respond to control signals provided by the processor to move the first rail a distance based on a first conveyor lane adjustment value generated by the processor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the platform is further adapted to securely hold the at least one camera and to move the at least one camera over the conveyor system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the object includes a material dispensing head.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the conveyor system further includes:

at least a third rail and at least a fourth rail separated by a second space equal to a second conveyor lane width value,

wherein the at least one camera is constructed and arranged to capture a third image of a third registration mark associated with the third rail and to capture a fourth image of a fourth registration mark associated with the fourth rail and to provide the third and fourth images to the processor, and

wherein the processor is programmed to receive the third and fourth images and determine the second conveyor lane width value.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third registration mark is located at a third predetermined position on the third rail and the fourth registration mark is located at a fourth predetermined position on the fourth rail.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the motor is further coupled to the fourth rail, the motor being adapted to receive and respond to control signals provided by the processor to move the fourth rail a distance based on a second conveyor lane adjustment value.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera is movably mounted to the support structure to allow the camera to be moved under the control of the processor over the first registration mark and the second registration mark.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object includes a material dispensing head.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyor system further includes:

at least a third rail and at least a fourth rail separated by a second space equal to a second conveyor lane width value,

wherein the at least one camera is constructed and arranged to capture a third image of a third registration mark associated with the third rail and to capture a fourth image of a fourth registration mark associated with the fourth rail and to provide the third and fourth images to the processor, and

wherein the processor is programmed to receive the third and fourth images and determine the second conveyor lane width value.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third registration mark is located at a third predetermined position on the third rail and the fourth registration mark is located at a fourth predetermined position on the fourth rail.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is programmed to identify the second rail based on the second predetermined position.

14. An apparatus that positions an object to perform a task on a work piece, the apparatus comprising:

the object

a work surface;

a support structure positioned over the work surface and constructed and arranged to support the object over the work surface;

a conveyor system mounted on the work surface and having at least a first rail and at least a second rail separated by a first space equal to a conveyor lane width;

means for viewing the conveyor system and for determining the conveyor lane width,

wherein the means for viewing the conveyor system and for determining the conveyor lane width includes a camera and includes means for moving the camera to a first position over the first rail and to a second position over the second rail.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further including means for moving at least one of the first rail and the second rail to adjust the conveyor lane width.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for viewing the conveyor system and for determining the conveyor lane width includes means for determining a distance between the first position and the second position.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second rail has a registration mark at a position on the second rail, and wherein the system further comprises means for identifying the second rail based on the position of the registration mark.