US 11,861,446 B2
Method and apparatus for using encoded information for material preparation and analysis equipment
Sarah Marie Beranek, Glenview, IL (US); Matthew R. Callahan, Deerfield, IL (US); Jill M. Dreschler, Round Lake, IL (US); Jeffrey E. Joray, Lake Villa, IL (US); and Christopher J. Sensmeier, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 19, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/516,646.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/702,381, filed on Jul. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0034584 A1, Jan. 30, 2020
Int. Cl. G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G06K 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC G06K 7/10237 (2013.01) [G06K 7/0004 (2013.01); G06K 7/0095 (2013.01); G06K 7/1097 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for handling data by a materials preparation and analysis equipment, comprising:
receiving, via one or more tag readers, first indicia from a first tag that is associated with a consumable used by the materials preparation and analysis equipment and second indicia from a second tag that is associated with a workpiece or a test sample of the materials preparation and analysis equipment;
identifying via processing circuitry operably coupled to the one or more tag readers, one or more consumable parameters of the consumable based on the first indicia, wherein the one or more consumable parameters includes at least one of a size, a shape, or a material type of the consumable;
identifying, via the processing circuitry operably, one or more parameters of the workpiece or the test sample based on the second indicia, wherein the one or more parameters includes at least one of a size, a shape, or a material type of the workpiece or the test sample;
automatically controlling the materials preparation and analysis equipment based on one or both of the one or more consumable parameters and the one or more parameters;
monitoring a monitored parameter of the consumable during operation of the materials preparation and analysis equipment, wherein the monitored parameter includes an amount of time that the consumable has been used; and
determining, via the processing circuitry, whether the consumable has reached its end of life based at least in part on both the monitored parameter of the consumable and at least one of the first indicia or the second indicia.