Bearing element inspection system and method

A system for inspecting bearing elements, the system comprising:

• one or more cameras;
• one or more motors;
• at least one vacuum pump;
• a first stage structure coupled to and movable along one or more tracks by the one or more motors;
• a second stage structure coupled to and movable along the one or more tracks by the one or more motors;
• a first manipulator structure disposed on the first stage structure, the first manipulator structure including a first nest structure, the first nest structure configured to secure a bearing element;
• a second manipulator structure disposed on the second stage structure, the second manipulator structure including a second nest structure, the second nest structure configured to secure the bearing element;
• a controller coupled to the one or more cameras and the one or more motors, the controller configured to:
• control operation of the at least one vacuum pump communicating with a first opening in the first nest structure and a second opening in the second nest structure so as to initially secure the bearing element in the first nest structure;
• actuate the one or more motors to responsively move the first stage structure and the second stage structure into an alignment such that the first nest structure is aligned with and adjacent to the second nest structure and the bearing element is at least partially contained in the first nest structure and second nest structure;
• when the alignment of the first nest structure and second nest structure is obtained, control operation of the at least one vacuum pump such that the bearing element is released from the first nest structure and secured in the second nest structure, wherein movement or securement of the bearing element from the first nest structure to the second nest structure occurs without slippage resulting in preservation of a common frame of reference used when the bearing element is in the first nest structure and the second nest structure;
• actuate the one or more cameras to obtain images of the bearing element;
• and
• analyze the images of the bearing element to determine defects of the bearing element.

A method for inspecting a bearing element, the method comprising:

• providing a first stage structure that is coupled to and movable along one or more tracks by one or more motors and a second stage structure that is coupled to and movable along the one or more tracks by the one or more motors;
• wherein a first manipulator structure is disposed on the first stage structure and includes a first nest structure, the first nest structure configured to secure a bearing element, and wherein a second manipulator structure disposed on the second stage structure and includes a second nest structure, the second nest structure configured to secure the bearing element;
• controlling operation of at least one vacuum pump so as to initially secure the bearing element in the first nest structure;
• actuating the one or more motors to responsively move the first stage structure and the second stage structure into an alignment such that the first nest structure is aligned with and adjacent to the second nest structure and the bearing element is at least partially contained in the first nest structure and second nest structure;
• when the alignment of the first nest structure and second nest structure is obtained, controlling operation of the at least one vacuum pump such that the bearing element is released from the first nest structure and secured in the second nest structure, wherein movement or securement of the bearing element from the first nest structure to the second nest structure occurs without slippage resulting in preservation of a common frame of reference used when the bearing element is in the first nest structure and the second nest structure;
• actuating one or more cameras to obtain images of the bearing element;
• and
• analyzing the images of the bearing element to determine defects of the bearing element.