John V Mckowen

US Patent:

7633635, Dec 15, 2009

Filed:

Aug 7, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/500084

Inventors:

Gregory M. Nygaard - Clarkston MI, US
John V. McKowen - Grand Blanc MI, US

Assignee:

GII Acquisitions, LLC - Davisburg MI

International Classification:

G01B 11/04

US Classification:

356638, 356613, 356 72, 324228, 186 2

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for automatically identifying non-labeled, manufactured parts. The system includes an electronic storage device to store templates of a plurality of known good, manufactured parts. Each of the templates includes a part profile and a set of features. Each of the features includes a range of acceptable values. Each of the templates has a part identification code associated therewith. A first subsystem optically measures a profile and features of a part to be purchased. The system further includes a processor operable to compare the profile and the features of the part to be purchased with the profile and corresponding features of each of the stored templates to identify a template which most closely matches the profile and features of the part to be purchased and to generate and transmit an identification signal representing the part identification code for the part associated with the most closely matched template.

US Patent:

7403872, Jul 22, 2008

Filed:

Apr 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/786973

Inventors:

James W. St. Onge - Bloomfield MI, US
Joseph W. Priskorn - Macomb MI, US
John D. Spalding - Ann Arbor MI, US
John V. McKowen - Grand Blanc MI, US
Kenneth S. Kolodge - Attica MI, US
Brett J. Lee - Fenton MI, US

Assignee:

GII Acquisition, LLC - Davisburg MI

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

702185, 324237, 385154, 3562411, 356398

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for inspecting manufactured parts such as cartridges and cartridge cases and sorting the inspected parts. The system includes an illumination assembly for evenly illuminating a plurality of annular, exterior side surfaces of a part when the part is located in a circumference vision station with rings of strobed radiation to generate corresponding reflected radiation signals. A plurality of imaging detectors in the form of CCD cameras are located at the vision station to generate a plurality of side images. The system further includes at least one side image processor for processing the side images of each part to identify parts having an unacceptable defect. The system further includes a mechanism for directing parts identified as having an unacceptable defect to a defective part area and directing parts not identified as having an unacceptable defect to an acceptable part area.