US 11,986,917 B2
Indexing apparatus and method of indexing
Jordan S. Erickson, Federal Way, WA (US); and Michael K. Louie, Renton, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Nov. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/523,032.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/115,090, filed on Nov. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0152769 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. B23Q 16/02 (2006.01); B23P 21/00 (2006.01); B23Q 7/14 (2006.01); B29C 70/38 (2006.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01); G05B 19/418 (2006.01)
CPC B23Q 16/02 (2013.01) [B64F 5/10 (2017.01); B23P 21/004 (2013.01); B23P 2700/01 (2013.01); B23Q 7/1442 (2013.01); B29C 70/382 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0283 (2013.01); G05B 19/4183 (2013.01); G05B 19/41895 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An indexing apparatus, comprising:
a fixture, movable relative to an operation cell, wherein the fixture comprises a surface that supports a workpiece and that comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
an indexing feature that comprises an interfacing-structure that is disposed on the surface of the fixture and that extends continuously from proximate the first end to proximate the second end, such that the at least one interfacing-structure is not obscured by the workpiece positioned on the surface of the fixture;
a sensor, configured to visually detect the indexing feature; and
a controller, in communication with the sensor,
wherein:
the interfacing-structure comprises at least one of a groove, formed in the surface of the fixture, and a protrusion, projecting from the surface of the fixture, and has a geometry that is visually detectable by the sensor and that is computationally discernable from the surface of the fixture by the controller; and
the controller is configured to locate the fixture relative to the operation cell from an indexing-feature location of the indexing feature, identified by the sensor.