Work positioning device

• US 7,412,863 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amada Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Amada Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Jun, Ishibashi, Koichi, Kato, Tetsuaki, Akami, Ichio, Kubota, Teruyuki, Takahashi, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; David B
• Application Number:
  US10/480,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20040206145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,254 Days
• Field of Search: 72/173, 72/311.2, 723/891, 723/893, 724/19, 724/20, 724/22, 724/28, 724/61, 72/311, 72/311.1, 901/6, 901/15, 901/46, 901/47, 700/229, 700/259, 198/468.2, 198/468.4, 414/225.01, 414/627, 414/781, 414/783, 414/784, 414/749.1, 414/751.1, 414/752.1
• US Class Current: 72/31.11
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 43/003 Positioning devices B21D28/04 and B21D28/265 take precedence; stops B21D43/26; centering moving strips B21D43/023
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 5/02 on press brakes without making use of clamping means

Abstract

Regarding predetermined positioning criteria (M₁, M₂), ((G₁, G₂), (N₁, or N₂), (K₁, K₂)), there is provided image processing means (40B) for obtaining by image processing, measured values (C_D1, C_D2) ((G_D1, G_D2), (N_D1, or N_D2), (K_D1, K_D2)) and reference values (C_R1, C_R2) ((G_R1, G_R2), (N_R1, or N_R2), (K_R1, K_R2)), and for moving a work (W) in a manner that the measured values (C_D1, C_D2) ((G_D1, G_D2), (N_D1, or N_D2), (K_D1, K_D2)) and the reference values (C_R1, C_R2) ((G_R1, G_R2), (N_R1, or N_R2), (K_R1, K_R2)) coincide with each other, thereby positioning the work (W) at a predetermined position.

Claims

1. A work positioning device, comprising:

an image processor that processes images from which measured values are obtained, so that a work is positioned at a predetermined position such that a measured value coincides with a reference value relating to the predetermined position; and

a mobile camera that is guidable in a predetermined direction and that captures the images from which the measured values are obtained.

2. The work positioning device according to claim 1,

wherein said mobile camera is guidable in a plurality of predetermined directions.

3. The work positioning device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light source that is guidable in the predetermined direction,

wherein movement of said mobile camera and said light source is synchronized.

4. The work positioning device according to claim 1,

wherein the image processor is configured to obtain the reference value from a processed image by utilizing the hole formed in the reference work and a work positioning mark provided on the work.

5. The work positioning device according to claim 1,

wherein the image processor processes images from which measured values are obtained by using

a work positioning mark corresponding to the work, and

a reference positioning mark corresponding to a reference work corresponding to reference image.

6. The work positioning device according to claim 5,

wherein the work positioning mark comprises a hole formed in the work at a predetermined position.

7. The work positioning device according to claim 1,

wherein the reference value is generated using side stoppers, the side stoppers being provided on the work positioning device and configured to abut a reference work so as to mark an outline of the reference work corresponding to a reference image, and

wherein image data of the outline of the work is generated using at least one check area which is predetermined based on the reference image.

8. A work positioning device, comprising:

an image processor that processes images from which measured values are obtained, so that a work is positioned at a predetermined position such that a measured value coincides with a reference value corresponding to the predetermined position,

wherein image data of an outline of the work is generated using at least one checker which provides a check area configured to detect image data, the check area being based on a reference image from which the reference value is obtained.

9. The work positioning device according to claim 8, wherein the image processor processes images from which measured values are obtained, the working positioning device further comprising a calculator which compares a work outline corresponding to the work to a reference outline corresponding to the reference image so that a compared result is obtained, the compared result being used to calculate an amount of difference between the corresponding work outline and the corresponding reference outline.

10. The work positioning device according to claim 8,

wherein the reference value is generated using side stoppers, the side stoppers being provided on the work positioning device and configured to abut a reference work so as to mark an outline of the reference work corresponding to the reference image.