Calibration jig for an automated placement machine
AssigneeMCMS, Inc.
InventorsScott Campbell, Robert Huelsenbeck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A calibration jig for establishing a home position of a robotic mechanism which retrieves components from a parts tray. The calibration jig includes: an angled member having a first wall member and a second wall member which is substantially perpendicular to the first wall member, wherein the angled member is configured to be juxtapositioned at a corner of a drawer which holds the parts tray; and a tapered portion, coupled to at least one of the first and second wall members, and extending upwardly with respect to the first and second wall members, wherein the tapered portion engages a portion of the robotic mechanism so as to serve as a calibration point for establishing the home position of the robotic mechanism with respect to the parts tray.
Claims23
A calibration jig for establishing a home position of a robotic mechanism which includes a vacuum nozzle having a suction hole therein for retrieving components from a container, the calibration jig comprising:
- a first member, configured to be positioned at a predetermined location with respect to the container;
- and
- a tapered portion having a pinnacle portion, the tapered portion coupled to the first member, and extending upwardly therefrom, such that the pinnacle portion is configured to be inserted into the suction hole of the vacuum nozzle and define a calibration point for establishing the home position of the robotic mechanism.
A system for automatically retrieving components from a parts tray, comprising:
- an automatic placement machine having a robotic arm for retrieving components from the parts tray;
- a drawer for holding the parts tray therein;
- and
- a calibration jig for calibrating a home position of the robotic arm, the calibration jig comprising:
- a first member, configured to be positioned at a predetermined location with respect to the parts tray;
- a tapered portion, coupled to the first member, and extending upwardly therefrom, wherein the tapered portion engages a portion of the robotic arm so as to serve as a calibration point for establishing the home position of the robotic arm;
- and
- a magnet portion coupled to the first members, which magnetically holds the calibration jig against at least one surface of The drawer in a fixed position at the predetermined location with respect to the parts tray.
A calibration jig for establishing a home position of a robotic arm of an automated placement machine which automatically retrieves components from a parts tray, wherein the parts tray is contained within a drawer and the robotic arm includes a vacuum nozzle having a suction hole, the calibration jig comprising:
- a body having a first wall and a second wall, substantially perpendicular to the first wall, so as to configure the calibration jig to be juxtapositioned at a corner of the drawer which contains the parts tray;
- a tapered portion, coupled to the body, and extending upwardly therefrom;
- a pinnacle portion, coupled to the tapered portion, which is configured to be inserted into the suction hole of the vacuum nozzle, wherein when the pinnacle portion is inserted into the suction hole, the robotic arm is at its home position;
- and
- a magnet element, coupled to the first wall, which is configured to magnetically hold the calibration jig in a fixed position at the corner of the drawer.
A system for automatically retrieving components from a parts tray, comprising:
- an automatic placement machine having a robotic arm for retrieving components from the parts tray;
- a drawer for holding the parts tray therein;
- and
- a calibration jig for calibrating a home position of the robotic arm, the calibration jig comprising:
- a body;
- an engagement portion, connected to the body and extending upwardly therefrom such that the engagement portion is configured to make contact with a portion of the robotic arm, and to thereby position the robotic arm at its home position;
- and
- a securing member including a magnet which magnetically holds the calibration jig against a surface of the drawer at a fixed position with respect to the drawer, said magnet attached to the body.
A calibration jig for establishing an origin point for an automatic placement machine having a robotic arm for retrieving parts from a container which is a parts tray which is positioned within a drawer, the calibration jig comprising:
- means for positioning the calibration jig at a predetermined location with respect to the container, said means for positioning including angled means for configuring the calibration jig to be juxtapositioned at a corner of the drawer;
- and
- means for engaging a portion of the robotic arm with a portion of the calibration jig so as to establish the origin point for the robotic arm, wherein the origin point serves as a reference point from which subsequent movements of the robotic arm are measured.
A system for establishing an origin point for an automatic placement machine having a robotic arm for retrieving parts from a container, comprising:
- an automatic placement machine having a robotic arm and a container;
- means for positioning a calibration jig so that it is located at a predetermined location with respect to the container;
- means for positioning the robotic arm of the placement machine such that a portion of the robotic arm engages a portion of the calibration jig;
- means for determining a first set of spatial coordinates of the robotic arm when it is engaged with the calibration jig;
- means for setting an origin point of the placement machine such that the first set of spatial coordinates serves as the origin point from which subsequent movements of the robotic arm may be measured;
- and
- pinnacle means, coupled to the means for positioning the calibration jig, for engaging a portion of the robotic arm,
- wherein
- said robotic arm includes a vacuum nozzle having a suction hole therein for lifting a part from the container;
- and
- said means for positioning the robotic arm comprises means for positioning the vacuum nozzle above the calibration jig such that the pinnacle means is inserted into the suction hole of the vacuum nozzle.
A system for calibrating a home position for a robotic arm of an automated placement machine which retrieves components from a parts tray contained within a drawer and having cavities for containing components therein, the system comprising:
- means for positioning a calibration jig at a specified distance from a first component within a cavity of the parts tray;
- means for positioning a robotic arm of an automated placement machine such that a portion of the robotic arm engages a portion of the calibration jig and including angled means, coupled to the calibration jig,, for configuring the calibration jig to be juxtapositioned at a corner of the drawer;
- means for determining a first set of spatial coordinates of the robotic arm when it is engaged with the calibration jig;
- and
- means for setting the home position of the robotic arm such that the first set of spatial coordinates serves as the home position from which subsequent movements of the robotic arm may be measured.
A system for automatically retrieving components from a parts tray with a robotic arm of an automated placement machine, comprising:
- an automated placement machine having a robotic arm and having a memory;
- means for determining a first set of x-y spatial coordinates corresponding to a location of a first component contained within a first cavity of a parts tray, wherein the first set of x-y spatial coordinates is determined with respect to a reference point;
- means for entering the first set of x-y spatial coordinates into the memory;
- means for positioning a calibration jig at the reference point such that a portion of the calibration jig is substantially vertically aligned with the reference point;
- means for positioning the robotic arm of the automated placement machine such that a portion of the robotic arm engages the portion of the calibration jig;
- means for setting a home position of the robotic arm as the position of the robotic arm when it is engaged with the calibration jig;
- and
- means for moving the robotic arm from its home position to a location corresponding to the first set of x-y spatial coordinates so as to retrieve the first component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.