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Class 29/407.04 - Using optical instrument (excludes mere human eyeballing)


Subclass of Class 29 - Metal working
Definition: Process wherein the testing or indicating employs an optic
No. of patents: 197
Last issue date: 04/19/2011


1          
NumberTitleIssue Date
7926159System and process for assembling camera modules
Exemplary system and process for assembling a camera module are provided. The system includes a worktable, a light intensity sensor, a lens module holding device and a controlling unit. The worktable provide placement of the image sensor module thereon, thus a cente...
04/19/2011
7765668Automated pallet inspection and repair
An automatic pallet inspection cell (10) comprises one or two multi axis robot arms (14, 15) which terminate in either internal or exterior pallet grippers. The robots are used to transport a gripped pallet (12) through an automated inspection s...
08/03/2010
7653977System and method for machining body parts, wherein robots are synchronised with a conveyor belt
A method and a system are provided for machining, especially for joining work pieces (2) in the shell of a body structure. The work pieces are transported in a continuous manner along a transfer line (3) by a conveyor (5) and are machined by sev...
02/02/2010
7409756Method of locating and removing a fastener from a workpiece
A system for locating and determining the orientation of fasteners in hard disk drive spindle assemblies utilizes a sensor system that facilitates an automated rework process for the spindle assemblies. The screw locating system identifies the locations of the screw...
08/12/2008
7340814Method of installing spiral threaded inserts and installation tool
In a method of installing spiral threaded inserts (38), in which method a first threaded insert (38) is inserted into an installation tool (20) and is screwed into a tapped hole by the installation tool (20), safe use is achieved even at ...
03/11/2008
7340815Method for inserting a valve stem in a valve stem aperture defined by a wheel
A valve stem installation system includes a robotic arm for moving a valve stem insertion device around the lip of wheel. The system also includes a pair of valve stem aperture sensors positioned on the robotic arm adjacent the valve stem insertion device and moveab...
03/11/2008
7336814Method and apparatus for machine-vision
A system and method facilitate machine-vision, for example three-dimensional pose estimation for target objects, using one or more images sensors to acquire images of the target object at one or more positions, and to identify features of the target object in the re...
02/26/2008
7331250Sensor device for non-intrusive diagnosis of a semiconductor processing system
A battery powered sensing device for diagnosing a processing system and method for using the same are provided. The support platform generally has physical characteristics, such as size, profile height, mass, flexibility and/or strength, substantially similar to tho...
02/19/2008
7331439Manufacturing plant for parts, particularly vehicle body parts
A manufacturing plant (1) is provided for vehicle body parts (2, 3). The manufacturing plant includes a number of processing stations (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10), which are situated one behind the other along a transfer line (22), and of a num...
02/19/2008
7322089Method of inserting a valve stem into a valve stem aperture defined by a wheel movable along an assembly line
The present invention provides an enhanced method and apparatus for locating a valve stem aperture in a wheel. The invention includes a locating station having an overhead camera to scan the wheel. The scanned image of the wheel is received by a controller and is di...
01/29/2008
7281307Tap process for hard workpieces
A process and apparatus for producing screw threads in hard material workpieces with a series of taps. The present invention employs a threaded bore formed in a bracket assembly to align and position multiple taps on a rotary machine. The taps are used in sequence t...
10/16/2007
7278198Mandrel segment loader
A mandrel segment loader provides a reliable means of assembling the segments of a large multi-piece mandrel designed for the lay-up of composite materials in the manufacture of large structures such as one-piece fuselage barrels for wide-body aircraft and can also ...
10/09/2007
7267736Method of joining dissimilar materials
The present invention provides a method of joining dissimilar materials, particularly a non-ferrous component to a ferrous component to form an assembly. In an overlapping configuration, the parts are held together under a clamping force while a self-piercing rivet ...
09/11/2007
7216805Methods and apparatus for counting and positioning using resonant tags
Methods and apparatus for counting or measuring the relative positions of a number of resonant tag elements in proximity to each other. By measuring the resonant frequency of a given set of tags using a reader antenna and comparing the measured frequency to a refere...
05/15/2007
7200910System and method of disposing a substrate in a housing
A method of making a gas treatment device, the method includes projecting a laser line onto a side of substrate from a laser line generator angled away from a viewing source; projecting a laser dot onto the substrate from a laser dot generator located above the view...
04/10/2007
7203573Workpiece taking-out apparatus
A workpiece taking-out apparatus performs snap with a camera of a three-dimensional visual sensor in a robot position for snap and captures an image in a personal computer. The workpiece taking-out apparatus detects workpieces to find a line of sight of the camera f...
04/10/2007
7201032Transillumination unit
A metal sheet-receiving system for receiving parts and feeding a metal sheet-folding machine, particularly a folding press comprising at least one manipulator for seizing and moving metal sheet parts with a gripper head fitted with gripping means; an electronic cont...
04/10/2007
7202979Optical rotational position information detecting apparatus
An apparatus for optically detecting rotational position information of a rotating object, includes a light source, a detector which is located at a position to receive scattered light from the rotating object when the rotating object is irradiated with a light beam...
04/10/2007
7200260Teaching model generating device
A workpiece W serving as an object for detection is fixed in place. A camera 20 is mounted to the end of a robot RB. The camera is turned about an axis, which passes through the center position of the workpiece W and is perpendicular to the optical axis of th...
04/03/2007
7185410Robotic apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem on a wheel rim
An apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of an vehicle wheel includes engaging a valve stem with a robotic manipulator, moving the valve stem relative to the rim along a programmable path of travel, coaxially aligning the valve stem with the aper...
03/06/2007
7181832Valve stem installation device
A valve stem installation system includes a robotic arm for moving a valve stem insertion device around the lip of wheel. The system also includes a pair of valve stem aperture sensors positioned on the robotic arm adjacent the valve stem insertion device and moveab...
02/27/2007
7178226Wire installation tool
An electrician's tool generally comprises a plate having a hole formed therein, the hole defined by an inner edge. The edge includes means for safely sliding wire through the hole and past the edge. In one embodiment the means for safely sliding the wire includes at...
02/20/2007
7165630Methods for manufacturing operations using non-contact position sensing
Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations using non-contact position sensing are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a track assembly adapted to be attached to a workpiece, a carriage assembly moveably coupled to the track assembly and movea...
01/23/2007
7162799Method for manufacturing an item
A method for notifying installers 14–22 of the existence, type, and location of a portion 26 of an item within an assembly line 10. The notification allows the installers 14–22 to respectively ensure that the components 40 whic...
01/16/2007
7164108Detection system for optical beam pointing and shaping
Apparatus for circularizing an optical beam and directing the beam into an optical system has mutually perpendicular X, Y, and Z axes. The Z-axis is the propagation axis of the beam. A detector arrangement receives a sample of the optical beam. The detector arrangem...
01/16/2007
7158241Method for calibration and certifying laser projection beam accuracy
A system for certifying laser projection beam accuracy includes a certification fixture having a test pattern and a color background. The certification fixture is configured so that any portion of the laser projection beam reflected from the color background is refl...
01/02/2007
7155049System for creating microscopic digital montage images
An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes a motorized stage, a camera focussed relative to the stage, and a processor coupled to the camera. The processor contains instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cap...
12/26/2006
7152307Swage collar inspection tool
To evaluate a fastener, a cam that is contoured to correspond to a relationship between a first dimension of the fastener and a second dimension of the fastener is utilized. The cam is movable between a first position and a second position and the fastener is evalua...
12/26/2006
7143493Apparatus and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device
A processing line for liquid crystal display fabrication. The process line reduces unnecessary processing steps by removing known defective (NG) individual liquid crystal panels before subsequent processing, with the knowledge about defects depending on stored infor...
12/05/2006
7143890Vertical transfer device for tire assembly line
A transfer device is provided for transferring tires from a tire conveyor line to a wheel conveyor line. The transfer device includes first and second surfaces rotatable with respect to one another. The first surface can receive tires from the tire conveyor line. A ...
12/05/2006
7143494Method and apparatus for assembling exterior automotive vehicle body components onto an automotive vehicle body
The present invention generally relates to a method and programmable apparatus for the assembly of body components to an automotive body that has undergone a progressive series of framing and welding steps so as to produce a structurally rigid body frame, termed a b...
12/05/2006
7124928Optical component installation and train alignment process utilizing metrology and plastic deformation
A micro-optical train manufacturing process includes a step of characterizing the position of optical components on an optical bench, typically using a metrology system. These optical components are then aligned with respect to each other in a passive alignment step...
10/24/2006
7123992Article pickup device
The presence range for workpieces (the internal edge of a container's opening) is defined with a visual sensor attached to a robot and the range is divided into a specified number of sectional regions. A robot position suitable for sensing each of the sectional regi...
10/17/2006
7114359Method for producing bent spring rails from an endless spring band
The invention relates to a method for producing bent spring rails from an endless spring band. The method is characterized by the following steps: continuous bending of a section of spring band; cutting the bent section of spring band into a spring rail; discontinuo...
10/03/2006
7103448Robot system
A robot system capable of performing automatic updating of data inherent to a robot mechanism section or a mechanical unit thereof when changing the robot mechanism section or the mechanical unit. After changing the robot mechanism section or the mechanical unit, da...
09/05/2006
7100955General purpose hand for multiaxis manipulator
A general purpose hand for a multiaxis manipulator which includes a suction holder. The suction holder includes: a suction pad to be sucked onto the handled object; an axially movable rod member supporting the suction pad as rotatable; a resilient member for pressin...
09/05/2006
7096572Device for fitting substrates with electric components
The inventive device comprises a positioning device (4) for a fitting head (14). The positioning device is anchored on a support (3), which is detachably fastened to a supporting body (2) of the inventive device. A control device (17
08/29/2006
7093362Method of connecting components of a modular fuel injector
A method of fabricating a modular fuel injector permits the fabrication of the electrical group subassembly outside a clean room while a fuel group subassembly is fabricated inside a clean room. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group ...
08/22/2006
7089655System for operating and resetting PCB holding device
A system for performing an operation to a printed wiring board (PWB) having an apparatus for automatically resetting a PWB supporting device including a supporting table, supporting members which are set on a surface of the supporting table to support the PWB, a sup...
08/15/2006
7092860Hardware simulation systems and methods for vision inspection systems
The systems and methods of this invention provide simulated images to vision inspection systems. The simulated images emulate the vision of a vision inspection system. Graphical models of objects in a virtual world and lens effects models are used to provide the sim...
08/15/2006
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