Article positioning apparatus and method for positioning an article
AssigneeArk, Inc.
InventorsJoel D. Clanton, Ray F. Beatty, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Article positioning apparatus having a positioning surface and sensors for sensing the location of an article on the positioning surface with reference to an X direction, with reference to a Y direction perpendicular thereto, and with reference to an angular orientation in the plane of the positioning surface about an axis generally perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction. Motors are provided for moving the article in the X direction, in the Y direction, and for rotating the article generally about the axis. A controller responsive to the sensors selectively activates the X motor, Y motor and rotating motor to position the article.
Claims15
Article positioning apparatus comprising:
- a positioning surface;
- means for sensing the location of an article on the positioning surface with reference to an X direction, with reference to a Y direction perpendicular thereto, and with reference to an angular orientation in the plane of the positioning surface about an axis generally perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction, said sensing means comprising at least one Y sensor and at least two X-theta sensors, the Y sensor including a pair of photoelectric eyes offset from one another in the Y direction, the X-theta sensors each including a pair of photoelectric eyes offset from one another in the X direction;
- means for moving the article in the X direction;
- means for moving the article in the Y direction;
- means for rotating the article generally about the axis;
- and
- control means responsive to said sensing means for selectively activating said X moving means, said Y moving means, and said rotating means, said control means operating said X moving means, said Y moving means and said rotating means until the work piece is positioned so that one electric eye of each sensor is blocked by the work piece and the other eye of each sensor is unblocked.
Article positioning apparatus comprising:
- a positioning surface;
- means for sensing the location of an article on the positioning surface with reference to an X direction, with reference to a Y direction perpendicular thereto, and with reference to an angular orientation in the plane of the positioning surface about an axis generally perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction, said sensing means comprising two Y sensors for sensing the location of the article on the positioning surface with reference to the Y direction, said Y sensors being spaced from each other in the Y direction, and wherein the apparatus further comprises means mounting the Y sensors for movement in the Y direction toward and away from each other;
- means for moving the article in the X direction;
- means for moving the article in the Y direction;
- means for rotating the article generally about the axis;
- and
- control means responsive to said sensing means for selectively activating said X moving means, said Y moving means, and said rotating means.
A method of positioning an article on a positioning surface comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one Y direction sensor including a pair of photoelectric eyes offset from one another in the Y direction;
- providing at least two X-theta direction sensors, each including a pair of photoelectric eyes offset from one another in the X direction;
- sensing the location of the article on the positioning surface in reference to the X direction;
- sensing the location of the article on the positioning surface in reference to the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction;
- sensing an angular position theta of the article on the positioning surface about an axis generally perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction;
- moving the article in the X direction in response to X direction sensing;
- moving the article in the Y direction in response to Y direction sensing;
- and
- rotating the article generally about the axis in response to angular position sensing;
- said steps of moving the article in the X direction, moving the article in the Y direction and rotating the article about the axis are carried out until the article is positioned so that one photoelectric eye of each sensor is blocked by the article and the other eye of each sensor is unblocked.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.