Automated marking systems and methods for replaceable automated machine component tracking
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsJohn D. Arthur, Terry A. Lee, James D. Womack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated marking system for replaceable component tracking includes a robotic arm and a marking tool that is configured to place a distinguishing mark on a replaceable component of the robotic arm. A control system includes logic saved in memory that causes the robotic arm to move the replaceable component to the marking tool to place the distinguishing mark on the replaceable component.
Claims11
An automated marking system for replaceable component tracking, comprising:
- a robotic arm;
- a spring-loaded punch configured to place a distinguishing mark on a first replaceable component and a second replaceable component of the robotic arm;
- and
- a control system comprising logic saved in memory that causes the robotic arm to move the replaceable component to the spring-loaded punch to place the distinguishing mark on the first replaceable component and the second replaceable component;
- wherein the control system is configured to cause the robotic arm to contact the first replaceable component against the spring-loaded punch a different number of times than the second replaceable component based on the locations of the first and second replaceable components to provide the second replaceable component with a different distinguishing mark than the distinguishing mark of the first replaceable component.
A method of automatically marking a removable component of a robotic arm for tracking the removable component back to the robotic arm, the method comprising:
- the robotic arm moving a first removable component to a spring-loaded punch and contacting the first removable component against the spring-loaded punch a first number of times providing a first distinguishing mark;
- the robotic arm using an extraction tool to remove the first removable component after providing the distinguishing mark;
- and
- the robotic arm moving a second removable component to the spring-loaded punch and contacting the second removable component against the spring-loaded punch a second number of times that is different than the first number of times providing a second distinguishing mark that is different from the first distinguishing mark based on the locations of the first and second replaceable components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.