IP Library Granted Patent US 9,914,192
Granted Patent B2
US 9,914,192 · App. 15/657,932 · Granted Mar 13, 2018

Tooling system with visual identification of attached component

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,914,192
App. No.
15/657,932
Granted
Mar 13, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tooling system that includes a drive unit configured to provide rotational force to a tool member. The tool member is attached at a mount on the drive unit. A camera associated with the drive unit is aligned to capture a target on the tool member. The data is sent to a controller that identifies the tool member based on the target. The controller determines whether the tool member is correct for performing an operation on a work piece. If the tool member is correct, the controller may set one or more operating parameters on the drive unit. If the controller determines that the tool member is not correct, the drive unit is disabled. Further, a signal may be sent to inform an operator of the issue.

Claims (42)

1. A tooling system for performing an operation on a work piece, the tooling system comprising:

a drive unit;

a tool member removably attached to the drive unit and configured to engage with the work piece;

first and second targets that are visibly positioned on the tool member, the first and second targets being visibly distinct;

a vision system associated with the drive unit and configured to capture an image of each of the first and second targets when the tool member is attached to the drive unit; and

a controller configured to control a first aspect of the drive unit based on the image of the first target captured by the vision system and to control a second aspect of the drive unit based on the image of the second target captured by the vision system;

the drive unit configured to rotate the tool member such that each of the first and second targets are visible to the vision system.

2. The tooling system of claim 1 , wherein the first aspect of the drive unit controls rotation of a mount of the drive unit that attaches to the tool member.

3. The tooling system of claim 1 , wherein the second aspect of the drive unit is a rotational speed of a mount of the drive unit that attaches to the tool member.

4. The tooling system of claim 1 , wherein the vision system includes a single camera with a viewing zone that extends over a limited section of the tool member, with the drive unit configured to rotate the tool member such that each of the first and second targets move through the viewing zone.

5. The tooling system of claim 1 , wherein tine first and second targets are positioned at different locations on the tool member that are located at different distances from the drive unit, the vision system including separate first and second cameras each with different focal lengths with the first camera including a first focal length to capture the image of the first target and the second camera including a second focal length to capture the image of the second target.

6. The tooling system of claim 1 , wherein the vision system and the drive unit are positioned within a single housing.

7. The tooling system of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies the first and second targets based on the images of the first and second targets captured by the vision system when the tool member is stationary.

8. The tooling system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second targets are separate elements that are attached to the tool member.

9. The tooling system of claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is configured to be stationary prior to the controller identifying the first and second targets.

10. The tooling system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to rotate the tool member after the images of the first and second targets are captured by the vision system and the first and second targets are identified.

11. The tooling system of claim 1 , wherein the drive unit comprises a motor.

12. A tooling system for performing an operation on a work piece, the tooling system comprising:

a motor;

a tool member removably attached to the motor and configured to engage with the work piece;

targets that are visibly positioned on the tool member with each of the targets being visibly distinct;

a camera configured to capture an image of each of the targets when the tool member is attached to the motor; and

a control circuit that controls the motor based on the images of the targets captured by the camera;

wherein the camera includes a viewing zone that extends over a limited section of the tool member, with the motor configured to rotate the tool member such that each of the targets move through the viewing zone.

13. The tooling system of claim 12 , wherein the camera and the motor are positioned within a common housing.

14. The tooling system of claim 12 , wherein each of the targets are separate elements that are attached to the tool member.

15. The tooling system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuit is configured to rotate the tool member after the image of a first one of the targets is captured by the camera and the first one of the targets is identified.

16. A tooling system for performing an operation on a work piece, the tooling system comprising:

a motor;

a tool member;

targets that are visibly positioned on the tool member;

a vision system configured to capture images of the targets; and

a control circuit configured to:

receive a first image from the vision system of a first one of the targets when the tool member is rotated by the motor to a first rotational position;

identify the first target;

determine whether the tool member is proper for the operation on the work piece;

receive a second image from the vision system of second one of the targets when the toot member is rotated by the motor to a second rotational position;

identify the second target; and

determine one or more operating parameters for the motor based on the identified second target.

17. The tooling system of claim 16 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to prevent operation of the motor after determining based on the identified first target that the tool member is not proper for the operation on the work piece.

18. The tooling system of claim 16 , wherein the vision system comprises a single camera that captures the images of the targets.

19. The tooling system of claim 16 , wherein the vision system comprises a first camera that captures the first image and a second camera that captures the second image.

Assignments (16)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 075613/0150 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 075612/0935 →
NEW SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073377/0567 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF PATENT NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 442. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECOND LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073077/0584 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NO. 11203070 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 58991 FRAME 556. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0327 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NOS. 7444851 AND 11203070 WHICH WERE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0477 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 442. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068753/0687 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 556. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068769/0309 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068791/0141 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT. NO. 11191173 WAS INCORRCTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66631 FRAME: 791. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 067884/0469 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 3, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067310/0054 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 066631/0791 →
FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058991/0556 →
SECOND LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058991/0442 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE OMISSION OF SECOND ASSIGNOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 043081 FRAME: 0608. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded Aug 8, 2017
From: ROLA, MARTIN DOUGLAS; HETZEL, ADRIAN HILARY
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 043480/0986 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2017
From: ROLA, MARTIN DOUGLAS
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 043081/0608 →