Automated drill bit re-sharpening and verification system
AssigneeKycera Tycom Corporation
InventorsPaul D Mortell, Chi Hoang, David M. McElrone, Gary P Erpenbeck, Walter James Frandsen, Jr., Charles Shafee Slemon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated drill bit sharpening and verification system employing one or more electronic optical assemblies for gathering orientation data of a drill bit to be sharpened. The drill bit is rotated and aligned to a grinding assembly based on the orientation data. The orientation data of the drill bit may be gathered by illuminating a cutting tip of the drill bit with an illumination ring. Additionally, the orientation data of the drill bit may be gathered by capturing two views (e.g., orthogonal views or front and side views) of the cutting tip of the drill bit.
Claims19
An automated method of re-sharpening a drill bit having a shank portion and a fluted portion which defines a pair of margins and a cutting tip using an automated re-sharpening apparatus which includes at least one grinding assembly and first and second electronic optical assemblies, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning the first electronic optical assembly forward of the cutting tip of the drill bit;
- positioning the second electronic optical assembly on a side of the drill bit;
- conducting an initial evaluation of the drill bit with the first and second electronic optical assemblies wherein data gathered by the first and second electronic optical assemblies is used to determine an angular position of the drill bit;
- aligning the cutting tip of the drill bit to the grinding assembly based on the data gathered by the first and second electronic optical assemblies;
- and
- grinding the cutting tip via the grinding assembly.
An automated method of re-sharpening a drill bit having a fluted portion which defines a cutting tip using an automated re-sharpening apparatus which includes at least one electronic optical assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- conducting an initial evaluation of the drill bit comprising the steps of;
- illuminating an outer periphery of the cutting tip;
- capturing at least two views of the drill bit;
- and
- processing the at least two views of the drill bit via a computer to determine an angular orientation of the cutting tip of the drill bit;
- aligning the cutting tip of the drill bit to a grinding assembly;
- and
- grinding the cutting tip via the grinding assembly based on the captured at least two views of the drill bit.
An automated method of re-sharpening a drill bit having a fluted portion which defines a cutting tip using an automated re-sharpening apparatus which includes at least one electronic optical assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- conducting an initial evaluation of the drill bit comprising the steps of;
- emitting light onto the outer periphery of the cutting tip of the drill bit with an illumination ring;
- capturing an image of the drill bit;
- and
- processing the image of the drill bit via a computer to determine an angular orientation of the cutting tip of the drill bit;
- aligning the cutting tip of the drill bit to a grinding assembly;
- and
- grinding the cutting tip via the grinding assembly based on data gathered by the electronic optical assembly.
An automated method of re-sharpening a drill bit having a shank portion and a fluted portion which defines a pair of margins and a cutting tip using an automated re-sharpening apparatus which includes at least one grinding assembly and at least one electronic optical assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a side electronic optical assembly on a side of the drill bit;
- identifying a target line of a margin of the drill bit with the side electronic optical assembly, the target line generally extending along the margin and over the distal end of the margin;
- aligning the cutting tip of the drill bit to the grinding assembly based on the identified target line of the drill bit margin;
- and
- grinding the cutting tip via the grinding assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.