Gii Acquisition, Lcc

General Inspection, LLC

Gil Acquisition, LLC

Gii Acquisitions, LLC

Gregory Martin Nygaard

Michael G Nygaard

Christopher Michael Alexander

Nathan Andrew-Paul Kujacznski

James W St Onge

Laura L Poletti

John D Spalding

George M Nygaard

Robert Joseph Offenborn

Kenneth S Kolodge

John V McKowen

David A Strickland

A sorting system for inspected parts includes a storage assembly, a conveyance system, and a controller. The storage assembly has a plurality of bins configured to receive and store the inspected parts. The conveyance system is configured to deliver the inspected parts to the storage assembly. The controller programmed to, assign part types to each of the plurality of bins. The controller is further programmed to operate the conveyance system to deliver each of the inspected parts to one of the plurality of bins having a matching part type. The controller is further programmed to, in response to a full condition of the storage assembly, empty the inspected parts from a first the plurality of bins.

Method and system for sorting inspected parts

A computer-implemented method of automatically generating inspection templates of a plurality of known good fasteners to identify fasteners at an inspection station is provided. The method includes providing a data entry mechanism to provide content needed to identify a plurality of unidentified mixed fasteners. The method also includes storing the content in a database, extracting the content from the database and creating the inspection templates from the extracted content. Each of the templates including a fastener profile and a set of features. Each of the features includes a range of acceptable values. Each of the templates has a fastener identification code associated therewith.

Computer-implemented method of automatically generating inspection templates of a plurality of known good fasteners

A high-speed method and system for inspecting and sorting a stream of unidentified mixed parts are provided. The system includes a pair of inspection stations each of which includes a vision-based robotic subsystem including a robot configured to pick up a self-supporting part and place the part on a fixtureless rotary stage. A second subsystem optically measures a profile and features of the part during part rotation. A processor is operable to compare the profile and features of the part with the profile and corresponding features of stored templates to identify a matching template. A mechanism including a part sorter directs unidentified parts and parts having an unacceptable geometric dimension or defect to a reject part area and directs identified parts having acceptable geometrical dimensions and no significant defects to good part areas.

High-speed method and system for inspecting and sorting a stream of unidentified mixed parts

A method and system for inspecting unidentified mixed parts to identify the parts are provided. The system includes an inspection station which includes a vision-based robotic subsystem including a robot configured to pick up a self-supporting part and place the part on a fixtureless rotary stage so that a part axis of the part is substantially centered and aligned with a measurement axis of the inspection station during part rotation. A second subsystem optically measures a profile and features of the self-supporting part during part rotation. A processor is operable to compare the profile and the features of the part to be identified with the profile and corresponding features of stored templates to identify a template which matches the profile and features of the part to be identified and to generate and transmit an identification signal representing a part identification code for the part associated with a matched template.

Method and system for inspecting unidentified mixed parts at an inspection station having a measurement axis to identify the parts

A high-speed, 3-D method and system for optically inspecting parts are provided. The system includes a part transfer subsystem including a transfer mechanism adapted to support a part at a loading station and transfer the supported part from the loading station to an inspection station at which the part has a predetermined position and orientation for inspection. The system also includes an illumination assembly to simultaneously illuminate an end surface of the part and a peripheral surface of the part. The system further includes a lens and detector assembly to form an optical image of the illuminated end surface and an optical image of the illuminated peripheral surface of the part and to detect the optical images. The system still further includes a processor to process the detected optical images to obtain an end view of the part and a 3-D panoramic view of the peripheral surface of the part.

High-speed, 3-D method and system for optically inspecting parts

A method and system for optically inspecting parts are provided wherein the system includes a part transfer subsystem including a transfer mechanism adapted to receive and support a part at a loading station and to transfer the supported part by a split belt conveyor so that the part travels along a first path which extends from the loading station to an inspection station at which the part has a predetermined position and orientation for inspection. An illumination assembly simultaneously illuminates a plurality of exterior side surfaces of the part with a plurality of separate beams of radiation. A telecentric lens and detector assembly forms an optical image of at least a portion of each of the illuminated side surfaces of the part and detects the optical images. A processor processes the detected optical images to obtain a plurality of views of the part which are angularly spaced about the part. In an alternative embodiment the method and system for optically inspecting headed manufactured parts employ an inclined split track to cause the part to traverse an inspection station by gravity feed. The part is inspected for conformity to dimensional and visual standards and sorted under control of a processor based on images of the part obtained from occluded light and reflected light while the part is within the inspection station.

Method and system for optically inspecting headed manufactured parts

A method and system for centering and aligning manufactured parts of various sizes at an optical measurement station are provided. The system includes apparatus having a central axis substantially parallel to the measurement axis and including a plurality of members having open and closed positions. The members have holding faces which are substantially equidistant from the central axis during movement between the open and closed positions. At least one of the members applies a force on an exterior side surface of a part disposed between the holding faces during movement between the positions to reposition the part at the station. The repositioned part is centered and aligned with respect to the measurement axis at the station. The holding faces releasably hold the repositioned part in a holding position between the open and closed positions at the station. The system further includes a movable stage subsystem coupled to the apparatus for translating the apparatus relative to the repositioned part along the central axis in the open position of the members to allow the exterior side surface of the repositioned part to be measured.

Method and system for centering and aligning manufactured parts of various sizes at an optical measurement station

A method and system for automatically inspecting parts and for automatically generating calibration data for use in inspecting parts are provided. The system includes a support for supporting a part to be inspected and/or a calibration device along a measurement axis. The system further includes a head apparatus including a plurality of radiation plane generators for directing an array of planes of radiation at the part and/or device so that the part and/or device occludes each of the planes of radiation to create a corresponding array of unobstructed planar portions of the planes of radiation. Each of the unobstructed planar portions contains an amount of radiation which is representative of a respective geometric dimension of the part and/or device. The head apparatus further includes a plurality of radiation plane receivers or cameras such as line scan cameras. Each of the cameras measures the amount of radiation present in an adjacent pair of unobstructed planar portions created from the same plane of radiation to obtain at least one measurement signal. The system still further includes a stage subsystem including a stage movable along a stage axis substantially parallel to the measurement axis and coupled to the head apparatus to move therewith for translating the head apparatus relative to the part and/or device along the stage axis so that the planes of radiation scan the part and/or device supported by the support substantially perpendicular to the stage and measurement axes. The system may further include one or more mechanisms for reducing radiation cross talk between neighboring cameras.

Method and system for automatically inspecting parts and for automatically generating calibration data for use in inspecting parts

An apparatus for quickly retaining and releasing parts having a wide range of sizes and designs at an optical measurement station is provided. The apparatus includes a rod having proximal and distal ends. The apparatus further includes a part-engaging first tip attached to the distal end of the rod to move therewith. The apparatus still further includes a part-engaging second tip. The apparatus includes a support structure for supporting the second tip and the rod. The apparatus further includes a quick-release, clamping mechanism for adjustably and releasably clamping the rod to the support structure so that the rod can move the first tip between a part-release position in which a part held between the tips is released for removal from the station and a part-retaining position in which a part is firmly held between the tips. Held parts having a wide range of sizes and designs can be optically measured at the station.

Apparatus for quickly retaining and releasing parts to be optically measured

A method and system for optically inspecting parts are provided. The method includes the step of supporting a part along a measurement axis. The method includes scanning the part with an array of spaced planes of radiation so that the part occludes each of the planes of radiation at spaced locations along the axis to create a corresponding array of unobstructed planar portions of the planes of radiation. Each of the unobstructed planar portions contains an amount of radiation which is representative of a respective geometric dimension of the part. The method still further includes measuring the amount of radiation present in each of the unobstructed planar portions to obtain measurement signals. The method includes processing the measurement signals to obtain raw data. The method further includes providing calibration data and processing the calibration data and the raw data to obtain measurements of the part.

Method and system for optically inspecting parts

A method and system are provided for automatically identifying non-labeled, manufactured parts. The system includes an electronic storage device to store templates of a plurality of known good, manufactured parts. Each of the templates includes a part profile and a set of features. Each of the features includes a range of acceptable values. Each of the templates has a part identification code associated therewith. A first subsystem optically measures a profile and features of a part to be purchased. The system further includes a processor operable to compare the profile and the features of the part to be purchased with the profile and corresponding features of each of the stored templates to identify a template which most closely matches the profile and features of the part to be purchased and to generate and transmit an identification signal representing the part identification code for the part associated with the most closely matched template.

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Gregory Martin Nygaard