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US 11,347,368 B2Granted
Automated inspection process for batch production
AssigneeHexagon Metrology, Inc.
InventorsJonathan J. O'Hare, Jonathan Dove, Joseph VanPelt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments enable batch inspection of a plurality of workpieces by and inspection instrument such as a coordinate measuring machine. Some embodiments present user interfaces, including graphical user interfaces, to enable an operator to configure a batch inspection system and a batch inspection job, and to monitor and control execution of a batch inspection job.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method of operating a batch inspection system, the method comprising:
- providing a set of workpieces to be inspected by the inspection system, the set of workpieces comprising:
- a first workpiece requiring a first set of inspection operations by an inspection instrument of the inspection system;
- and
- a second workpiece requiring a second set of inspection operations by the inspection instrument the inspection system, the second workpiece not identical to the first workpiece, and the second set of operations not identical to the first set of operations;
- for the first workpiece, instantiating an instance of a first set of inspection operations (the first instance);
- automatically providing the first workpiece to the inspection system and executing the first set of inspection operations on the first workpiece according to the first instance, and subsequently;
- for the second workpiece, instantiating an instance a second set of inspection operations (the second instance);
- and
- contemporaneously and automatically providing the second workpiece to the inspection system, without providing an intervening workpiece to the inspection system after the first workpiece, and executing the second set of inspection operations on the second workpiece according to the second instance.
6 more elements
A method of configuring a batch inspection system having an inspection apparatus, a buffering apparatus, and a controller, the controller having a display device, the method comprising:
- displaying, on the display device, a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising a layout manager having:
- a graphical container, the graphical container representing a corresponding physical container and having a grid pattern of precise grid locations to precisely represent corresponding locations within the corresponding physical container;
- and
- a layout area displaying a set of icons, each icon in the set of icons graphically representing one of (a) a workpiece to be inspected by the batch inspection system, or (b) a pallet holding a set of workpieces to be inspected by the batch inspection system;
- defining a batch job data object, defining the batch job object comprising:
- receiving, via the graphical user interface from an operator, placement input to select each icon of the set of icons from the layout area and place each such icon into a respective precise grid location of the graphical container, said respective precise grid location representing a physical location of its corresponding workpiece or fixture in the buffering apparatus;
- providing the batch job data object to the inspection system for execution by the inspection system;
- and
- causing the inspection system to execute a batch job to inspect each workpiece of a plurality of workpieces according to the batch job data object.
6 more elements
A batch inspection system for executing a batch job to inspect a batch having a plurality of workpieces, the system comprising:
- a coordinate measuring machine having a measuring space;
- a storage apparatus for storing a batch of workpieces to be inspected by the coordinate measuring machine;
- a robot configured to sequentially retrieve, from the storage apparatus, each workpiece of the batch of workpieces, and configured to deliver each such workpiece to the measuring space of the coordinate measuring machine;
- and
- a control computer having a display, the control computer in control communication with the coordinate measuring machine and the robot, the control computer configured the execute instructions which, when executed, cause display on the display device of a user interface, the user interface including a graphical user interface comprising:
- a graphical container, the graphical container representing a corresponding physical container and having graphical locations to precisely represent corresponding physical locations within the corresponding physical container;
- and
- a layout area displaying a set of icons, each icon in the set of icons graphically representing one of (a) a workpiece to be inspected by the batch inspection system, or (b) a pallet holding a set of workpieces to be inspected by the batch inspection system;
- wherein the control computer is further configured to receive, via the graphical user interface, and store in a batch job data object, operator input defining the batch job data object to configure the coordinate measuring machine and the robot to inspect each of the plurality of workpieces in the batch.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.