Vision assisted fixture construction

An apparatus for constructing a fixture for holding an object in a predetermined position comprising:

• a fixture base, including a support member on the fixture base;
• a locating member for the support member which is contacted by the object when the object is in the predetermined position;
• a positioning means for positioning the locating member in a first position on the support member;
• a sensing means for automatically sensing the first position of the locating member;
• a comparing means for automatically comparing the sensed first position of the locating member with a predetermined object-holding position of the locating member to produce a comparison;
• and
• a generating means for automatically generating instructions, utilizing the comparison, for repositioning the locating member with said positioning means from the first position to a second position pursuant to the instructions in order to position the locating member at the predetermined object-holding position and to form the fixture.

A method of constructing a fixture having a locating member for holding an object in a predetermined position in the fixture comprising the steps of:

• providing a support member of the fixture;
• positioning a locating member on the support member such that the locating member is positioned in an object-holding position to hold the object in the predetermined position, the locating member having at least one fixed target positioned thereon which is capable of being optically sensed, said step of positioning the locating member on the support member comprising the steps of
• (a) positioning the locating member in a first position on the support member,
• (b) automatically sensing the position of the at least one target of the locating member when the locating member is in the first position,
• (c) automatically comparing the sensed position of the at least one target of the locating member in the first position with a predetermined reference position of the at least one target to produce a comparison, the reference position being the position at which the at least one target will be when the locating member is in the predetermined object-holding position,
• (d) automatically generating instructions, utilizing the comparison, for repositioning the locating member from the first position to the predetermined object-holding position, and
• (e) moving the locating member to a second position pursuant to the instructions in order to position the locating member at the predetermined object-holding position;
• and
• securing the locating member to the support member in the object-holding position.

An apparatus for constructing a fixture for holding an object in a predetermined position comprising:

• a fixture base, including a support member on the fixture base;
• a locating member for the support member which is contacted by the object when the object is in the predetermined position;
• at least one fixed target positioned on the locating member which is capable of being optically sensed;
• a positioning means for positioning the locating member in a first position on the support member;
• a sensing means for automatically sensing the position the at least one target of the locating member when the locating member is in the first position;
• a comparing means for automatically comparing the sensed position of the at least one target of the locating member in the first position with a predetermined reference position of the at least one target to produce a comparison, the reference position being the position at which the at least one target will be when the locating member is in the predetermined object-holding position;
• a generating means for automatically generating instructions, utilizing the comparison, for repositioning the locating member with said positioning means from the first position to a second position pursuant to the instruction in order to position the locating member at the predetermined object-holding position;
• and
• a securing means for securing the locating member to the support member in the object-holding position to form the fixture.

A method of constructing a structure having a detail member in a predetermined position on a base member of the structure comprising the steps of:

• providing a base member of the structure;
• and
• positioning a detail member on the base member such that the detail member is positioned in the predetermined position, said step of positioning the detail member on the base member comprising the steps of
• (a) positioning the detail member in a first position on the base member,
• (b) automatically sensing the first position of the detail member,
• (c) automatically comparing the sensed first position of the detail member with the predetermined position of the detail member to produce a comparison,
• (d) automatically generating instructions, utilizing the comparison, for repositioning the detail member from the first position to the predetermined position, and
• (e) moving the detail member to a second position pursuant to the instructions in order to position the detail member at the predetermined position.

An apparatus for constructing a structure comprising:

• a base member of the structure;
• a detail member for the base member to be positioned in a predetermined position relative to the base member;
• a positioning means for positioning the detail member in a first position on the base member;
• a sensing means for automatically sensing the first position of the detail member;
• a comparing means for automatically comparing the sensed first position of the detail member with the predetermined position of the detail member to produce a comparison;
• and
• a generating means for automatically generating instructions, utilizing the comparison, for repositioning the detail member with said positioning means from the first position to a second position pursuant to the instructions in order to position the detail member at the predetermined position and to form the structure.