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http://dx.doi.org/10.5302/J.ICROS.2015.14.8025

Development of a Vision-based Blank Alignment Unit for Press Automation Process  

Oh, Jong-Kyu (Engine and Machinery Research Institute of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.)
Kim, Daesik (Engine and Machinery Research Institute of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.)
Kim, Soo-Jong (Engine and Machinery Research Institute of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.)
Publication Information
Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems / v.21, no.1, 2015 , pp. 65-69 More about this Journal
Abstract
A vision-based blank alignment unit for a press automation line is introduced in this paper. A press is a machine tool that changes the shape of a blank by applying pressure and is widely used in industries requiring mass production. In traditional press automation lines, a mechanical centering unit, which consists of guides and ball bearings, is employed to align a blank before a robot inserts it into the press. However it can only align limited sized and shaped of blanks. Moreover it cannot be applied to a process where more than two blanks are simultaneously inserted. To overcome these problems, we developed a press centering unit by means of vision sensors for press automation lines. The specification of the vision system is determined by considering information of the blank and the required accuracy. A vision application S/W with pattern recognition, camera calibration and monitoring functions is designed to successfully detect multiple blanks. Through real experiments with an industrial robot, we validated that the proposed system was able to align various sizes and shapes of blanks, and successfully detect more than two blanks which were simultaneously inserted.
Keywords
press automation line; press centering unit; vision guided robotic system; blank alignment;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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