Back to results
US 5,940,960 AGranted
Automatic valve stemming method and apparatus
AssigneeFori Automation, Inc.
InventorsPaul G. Doan, Dean A. Colwell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically inserting valve stems of varying sizes into wheels of various sizes in which the appropriate valve stem size is selected by analyzing images of the wheel detected by a camera. The camera is used to determine the diameter, width, and color or contrast of the wheel as well as to determine when a valve stem opening in the wheel is in a proper position for insertion of a valve stem.
Claims21
A method for inserting a valve stem into a valve stem opening in a wheel including:
- detecting an image containing at least a portion of the wheel;
- monitoring an area within the image while disregarding portions of the image that are outside of the area;
- rotating the wheel to place the valve stem opening in a predetermined position within the area;
- and
- maintaining the valve stem opening at the predetermined position while inserting the valve stem within the valve stem opening.
2 more elements
A method for processing a wheel including:
- orienting the wheel relative to an optical sensor such that the optical sensor receives an image that includes a curved portion of the wheel;
- determining the location within the image of a high point of the curved portion of the wheel;
- and
- determining a size characteristic of the wheel in accordance with the location within the image of the high point of the curved portion of the wheel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.