Laser targeting system
AssigneeOdetics, Inc.
InventorPhillip G. McFadin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for targeting a robotics materials handling and sequencing system having a plurality of storage bins. A targeting cassette is inserted into one or more of the stationary storage bins and a laser scanner is utilized to read an identification code on the targeting cassette. Based upon the reading of the laser scanner, the position of the targeting cassette is calculated. Additional storage locations can be calculated either by targeting the location or using an interpolation method to calculate the location of the remaining storage bins.
Claims21
A laser targeting system for use with a robotics materials handling system for storing and handling cassettes, comprising:
- library means for storing cassettes, said library means having a plurality of stationary storage bins, each bin for holding one of said cassettes;
- a targeting cassette having an identification code thereon;
- manipulator means for handling said targeting cassette and selectively moving said targeting cassette between said storage bins;
- scanning means for reading said identification code;
- and
- control means for calculating the precise location of said targeting cassette within a storage bin and using said calculated precise location to position said manipulator means for subsequent retrieval of said cassettes.
A laser targeting system for use with a robotics materials handling system for storing and handling cassettes, comprising:
- library means for storing cassettes, said library means having a plurality of stationary storage bins, each bin for holding one of said cassettes;
- targeting cassette insertable within said storage bins and having an identification code comprising two vertically stacked readable bar codes;
- manipulator means including a gripping mechanism for handling said targeting cassette and selectively moving said targeting cassette between said storage bins;
- scanning means including a laser scanner for reading said vertically stacked bar codes;
- and
- control means for calculating the precise location of said targeting cassette within a storage bin.
A method for determining storage bin position of a robotics material system having a plurality of storage bins comprising the steps of:
- providing a targeting cassette having an identification code at a predetermined location thereon and inserting said targeting cassette within one of said storage bins;
- scanning said identification code to determine the precise location thereof within the storage bin;
- and
- calculating the position of said storage bin based upon said scanning.
A laser targeting system for use with a robotics materials handling system for storing and handling cassettes, comprising:
- a plurality of storage bins for storing said cassettes, each of said storage bins having a predetermined default location indicative of its nominal position;
- scanning means for detecting identification codes located on cassettes;
- and
- control means for determining the precise position of said storage bins based upon said predetermined default location and the operation of the scanning means.
A laser targeting system for use with a robotics materials handling system for storing and handling articles, comprising:
- library means for storing articles, said library means having a plurality of stationary storage areas, each storage area for holding one of said articles;
- a targeting article having an identification code thereon;
- manipulator means for handling said targeting article and selectively moving said targeting article between said storage areas;
- scanning means for reading said identification code;
- and
- control means for calculating the precise location of said targeting article within a storage area based upon said scanning and using said calculated precise location to position said manipulator means for subsequent retrieval of said articles.
A method for determining storage area location in a robotics material system having a plurality of storage areas, comprising the steps of:
- inserting a targeting article having an identification code into one of said storage areas;
- reading said identification code to identify a particular point thereon and determining position coordinates of said point;
- and
- calculating the position of said storage area based upon said reading.
A method for determining storage area location in a robotics material system having a plurality of storage areas, comprising the steps of:
- inserting a targeting article having a reference mark into one of said storage areas;
- scanning said targeting article to determine the location of said reference mark;
- and
- determining at least one position coordinate of the storage area based on said scanning.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.