Workpiece Carrier Reference Recording for Unloaded-State Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods struggle to reliably identify when a workpiece carrier is completely unloaded due to changes caused by contamination and wear, leading to false positives in detection.

Innovation Solution

A method involving camera recording, algorithm evaluation, and storing a reference recording of the unloaded state of the workpiece carrier, using techniques like ultraviolet and infrared light, MSER algorithms, and potentially neural networks, to distinguish between workpieces and interfering objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If contamination detection methods are used to identify unloaded workpiece carriers, then detection capability is improved, but false positives increase due to wear and tear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidfalse positive rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by capturing an image of the workpiece carrier when it is known to be unloaded (after workpiece removal) and storing it as a reference recording. This reference recording captures the carrier's state including any contamination or wear at that specific time, allowing subsequent comparisons to distinguish between actual workpieces and pre-existing carrier characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the workpiece carrier, comparing current images against the stored reference recording, and updating the reference when the carrier state changes. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to wear and contamination over time, maintaining accurate detection capability while reducing false positives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the workpiece carrier is compared to a new original pallet, then identification accuracy is improved, but the method cannot account for wear and tear and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidadaptability to wear and contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by capturing an image of the workpiece carrier when it is known to be unloaded (after workpiece removal) and storing it as a reference recording. This reference recording captures the carrier's state including any contamination or wear at that specific time, allowing subsequent comparisons to distinguish between actual workpieces and pre-existing carrier characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static comparison method (using a fixed original pallet image) to a dynamic method where the reference recording is updated whenever the carrier state changes. This dynamic approach allows the reference to adapt to wear, contamination, and other state changes, maintaining identification accuracy throughout the carrier's lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12462376B2Reference recording creation for empty workpiece carriers

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 TRUMPF WERKZEUGMASCHINEN GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A method creates a reference recording of the unloaded state of a workpiece carrier. The method includes: A) creating a recording of the workpiece carrier with a camera; B) determining a loading state of the workpiece carrier by evaluating the recording by an algorithm; and C) storing the recording as a reference recording in a case where the workpiece carrier is determined as being unloaded by the algorithm.