US 12,313,565 B2
Finishing line automatic inspection system and method
Richard Glassell, Dalton, GA (US); Chad Christman, Dalton, GA (US); and Alex Epstein, Dalton, GA (US)
Assigned to Columbia Insurance Company, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed by Columbia Insurance Company, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/391,931.
Application 18/391,931 is a continuation of application No. 17/645,519, filed on Dec. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,892,417.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/130,498, filed on Dec. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0125710 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 21/89 (2006.01); B07C 5/342 (2006.01); B07C 5/36 (2006.01); G01N 21/95 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/8901 (2013.01) [B07C 5/342 (2013.01); B07C 5/36 (2013.01); G01N 21/95 (2013.01); G01N 35/0099 (2013.01); G01N 2201/06113 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for automatic inspection of piece parts in a production facility, the system comprising:
a production path for serially transporting individual units of the piece parts along a direction of travel;
an alternate conveyance path proximate the production path;
a first image capture system for detecting characteristics of the individual units as each progresses on the production path;
a database of standards for each of a plurality of characteristics of the piece parts;
a processor in communication with the first image capture system and the database of standards for analyzing the detected characteristics of each of the individual units using the standards for one or more of the plurality of characteristics from the database; and
a piece part diverter assembly intermediate the production path and the alternate conveyance path for selectively diverting ones of the individual units from the production path onto the alternate conveyance path in response to input from the processor having determined that at least one of the standards associated with a respective characteristic has not been met,
wherein the alternate conveyance path is in at least one of a different plane than the production path,
wherein the piece part diverter assembly comprises an elevator system comprising a pusher for selectively contacting an individual unit and diverting the ones of the individual units from the production path to the alternate conveyance path,
wherein the pusher comprises a marking system, and
wherein the alternate conveyance path comprises at least one diversion conveyor for returning the selectively diverted ones of the individual units back to the production path.