Method and system for estimating normal vector to die and normal vector to attachment

A system for estimating a normal vector to an attachment mounted to an approach frame of an apparatus for taking out a molded product and a normal vector to a die mounted to a molding machine, the system comprising

• a processor, wherein:
• a vector that is perpendicular to respective mating surfaces of a fixed die and a movable die of the die mounted to the molding machine is defined as the normal vector to the die, and a vector that is perpendicular to an imaginary plane that extends in directions in which the approach frame extends and that is parallel to the mating surfaces when the attachment is inserted between the fixed die and the movable die is defined as the normal vector to the attachment;
• and
• the processor is configured to:
• obtain depth data or coordinate data on three or more extending portions specified from an image captured using a first imaging device capable of capturing an image including depth data or coordinate data on an object to be captured, the image including a surrounding component located around the mating surface of the fixed die or the mating surface of the movable die, and the extending portions being each a part of the fixed die or the movable die or a part of the surrounding component and extending in a direction that coincides with an open/close direction for the fixed die and the movable die, and estimate the normal vector to the die on the basis of the depth data or the coordinate data, and
• obtain depth data or coordinate data on three mounting members or three contact members specified from an image captured using a second imaging device capable of capturing an image including depth data or coordinate data on an object to be captured, the image including three or more mounting members or three or more contact members, the mounting members extending in a direction that is orthogonal to the approach frame to mount the attachment to the approach frame, and the contact members contacting the molded product, and estimate the normal vector to the attachment on the basis of the depth data or the coordinate data.