US 11,714,097 B2
Aligning data of continuous material flow in digital manufacturing transformation
Douglas C. Lawson, Silverado, CA (US); and Niels Andersen, Dana Point, CA (US)
Assigned to THINKIQ, INC., Aliso Viejo, CA (US)
Filed by ThinkIQ, Inc., Aliso Viejo, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/709,137.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/173,159, filed on Apr. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0326272 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. G01P 3/00 (2006.01); B65G 15/28 (2006.01)
CPC G01P 3/00 (2013.01) [B65G 15/28 (2013.01); B65G 2203/025 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for aligning process data to a flow of material in a manufacturing process, the method comprising:
continually detecting, using one or more sensors at a first position, one or more first attributes associated with the material;
continually detecting, using one or more sensors at a second position, one or more second attributes associated with the material, wherein the material is transported using a transportation mechanism from the first position to the second position;
periodically storing in a first record the one or more first attributes with a corresponding first time of detection and in a second record the one or more second attributes with a corresponding second time of detection;
determining, using one or more speed sensors, a speed of the material as it is transported using the transportation mechanism, wherein the speed of the material changes while the material is transported from the first position to the second position;
periodically storing the speed of the material with a corresponding time of detection;
based on stored speeds and a distance between the first position and the second position, calculating, for each first record, an offset time when a portion of the material corresponding to the first attributes in the first record passes the second position; and
based on a corresponding offset time, aligning each first record with a corresponding second record.