The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 14, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 24, 2001
David B. Williams, Butler, PA (US);
Robert J. Gephardt, New Kinsington, PA (US);
Samuel A. Rummel, Butler, PA (US);
Oberg Industries, Freeport, PA (US);
Abstract
A method of inspecting an automotive wheel includes providing an inspection station having a light source for illuminating the wheel, and a camera having a zoom lens. The automotive wheel is positioned in the inspection station and the wheel is illuminated to generate a first image including the reference feature. After the first image information has been delivered to the processor, the model of the automotive wheel is determined on the basis of data stored in the processor and the parameters to be used during the inspection of the particular model are employed in the subsequent inspection. The processor determines the position of the reference feature and determines whether the automotive wheel is in the desired position. If not, the wheel is rotated to move the reference feature toward the desired position. The light source, camera and zoom lens are then moved to a second position closer to the reference feature and a zoomed second image of the automotive wheel is obtained with the image second information being compared in the processor with the desired reference position location. If the reference feature is not in the desired position, the processor initiates further rotation to move the reference feature to the desired position. The zoomed second image has a smaller field of view than the first image. Related apparatus is also disclosed.