US 2019/0388939 A1Published application

Vision enabled apparatus for sorting parts and systems and methods therefor

AssigneeD & D Automation Inc.

InventorsGlen Albert Bell, Joshua Bailey, Angelos KOTZAMBASIS, John Crocker, Matthew BORDMAN, Mark De Groot

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Abstract

A parts feeder which incorporates a position-controlled conveyor, a unique flex crowder system and destacker for promoting the singulation of parts on the conveyor, and a vision enabled reject mechanism to select and reject non-compliant parts. In this regard, parts to be sorted are lifted onto a conveyor and run past a series of adjustable crowder sections, including a flex crowder section, past a destacker element and into a singulation zone whereupon multiple camera images of both edges and features in conjunction with conveyor speed, conveyor position and laser triggering synchronize the parts to be rejected. The parts feeder incorporates adjustable settings thereby obviating the need to switch out components for the purpose of accommodating parts of various shapes and sizes.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A parts feeder for singulating parts, comprising:

a hopper for receiving parts;
a conveyor for transporting parts;
a lift operatively connected to an end of the hopper for driving received parts to the conveyor;
a crowder landing member positioned substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the conveyor, the crowder landing member disposed in the vicinity of the path of exit of the lift, the crowder landing member adapted for movement within a horizontal plane forward and away from the conveyor;
a singulator crowder member positioned substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the conveyor, the singulator crowder member disposed downstream from the crowder landing member, the singulator crowder member adapted for movement within a horizontal plane forward and away from the conveyor;
and
a flex crowder member disposed between and connected to each of the crowder landing member and the singulator crowder member, the flex crowder member comprised of a flexible material for facilitating the movement of parts along the conveyor, including where the crowder landing member and singulator crowder member are not aligned in relation to the conveyor.

4 more elements

A parts feeder for sorting parts, comprising:

a hopper for receiving parts;
a conveyor for transporting parts;
a lift operatively connected to an end of the hopper for driving received parts to the conveyor;
a crowder landing member positioned substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the conveyor, the crowder landing member disposed in the vicinity of the path of exit of the lift, the crowder landing member adapted for movement within a horizontal plane forward and away from the conveyor;
a singulator crowder member positioned substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the conveyor, the singulator crowder member disposed downstream from the crowder landing member, the singulator crowder member adapted for movement within a horizontal plane forward and away from the conveyor;
a flex crowder member disposed between and connected to each of the crowder landing member and the singulator crowder member, the flex crowder member comprised of a flexible material for facilitating the movement of parts along the conveyor, including where the crowder landing member and singulator crowder member are not aligned in relation to the conveyor;
a camera positioned in the vicinity of the singulator crowder member, the camera for recording images of singulated parts on the conveyor to produce an image data set;
a processor linked to the camera for analyzing the image data set and identifying parts to be removed from the conveyor;
and
an at least one part removal apparatus in operative communication with the processor, the at least one part removal apparatus disposed downstream from the camera, the at least one part removal apparatus operable to effect the removal a part from the conveyor.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.