U.S. patent application number 15/477439 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-04 for universal part gripper using 3-d printed mounting plate.
The applicant listed for this patent is XEROX CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Jeffrey J. Bradway, Paul M. FROMM, Linn C. Hoover, Erwin RUIZ.
Application Number | 20180281306 15/477439 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63671991 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180281306 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hoover; Linn C. ; et
al. |
October 4, 2018 |
UNIVERSAL PART GRIPPER USING 3-D PRINTED MOUNTING PLATE
Abstract
A generic holder includes a generic holder plate and a 3-D
insert plate. The 3-D insert plate contains locating features
mirrored to the backside of the part to be printed and vacuum
grippers to secure the part in the insert plate. The insert plate
is secured in the generic holder plate that includes vacuum
couplings. The part is located on the insert plate and vacuum is
applied to the generic holder plate and insert plate to hold the
part for printing.
Inventors: |
Hoover; Linn C.; (Webster,
NY) ; Bradway; Jeffrey J.; (Rochester, NY) ;
RUIZ; Erwin; (Rochester, NY) ; FROMM; Paul M.;
(Rochester, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
XEROX CORPORATION |
Norwalk |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
63671991 |
Appl. No.: |
15/477439 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B 11/005 20130101;
B33Y 10/00 20141201; B33Y 30/00 20141201; B29C 64/20 20170801; B29C
64/00 20170801 |
International
Class: |
B29C 67/00 20060101
B29C067/00; B33Y 10/00 20060101 B33Y010/00; B33Y 30/00 20060101
B33Y030/00 |
Claims
1. A method for creating a generic part holder used in holding a
variety of part sizes and shapes while they receive printing from a
3-D printer, comprising: providing a part to receive printing
thereon from said 3-D printer; provding a frame member; providing a
generic holder plate adapted to fit into said frame; providing a
blank insert; 3-D scanning said part; using computer aided design
software to create a negative of said part on said blank insert so
that a front face of said part that is to receive print is
positioned in a predetermined orientation and distance from print
heads of said 3-D printer; using said computer aided design
software to subtract features located on a backside of said part
from the front face of said blank insert; using said computer aided
design software to add vacuum channels to said insert; using said
computer aided design software to add openings in said blank
insert; and fabricating an insert.
2. The method of claim 1, including printing said insert using a
3-D printer.
3. The method of claim 2, including inserting vacuum grippers into
said insert and connecting said vacuum grippers to said vacuum
channels.
4. The method of claim 3, including providing said generic holder
plate with at least one vacuum port.
5. The method of claim 4, including connecting said vacuum channels
in said insert to said at least one vacuum port in said generic
holder plate.
6. The method of claim 5, including placing said insert into said
generic holder plate.
7. A method for creating a universal object holder, comprising:
providing a part to be held in said universal object holder;
providing a holder plate, said holder plate including at least one
vacuum port; providing a blank insert; providing an object to have
printing placed thereon; scanning said part with a 3-D scanner to
create a solid model of said object; processing the geometry from
said scanning of said part with computer aided design software to
overlay the part geometry on a front face of said blank insert;
using said computer aided design software to subtract features
located on a backside of said object from said front face of said
blank insert; providing openings is said insert; providing vacuum
channels in said backside of said blank insert; and printing said
blank insert on a 3-D printer.
8. The method of claim 7, including cleaning said insert.
9. The method of claim 8, including inserting grippers into said
openings in said insert.
10. The method of claim 9, including mounting said insert into said
holder plate.
11. The method of claim 10, including connecting said vacuum
channels in said insert to said at least one vacuum port in said
holder plate.
12. The method of claim 7, including providing said holder plate
with multiple vacuum ports.
13. The method of claim 12, including connecting said vacuum
channels in said insert to said multiple vacuum ports in said
holder plate.
14. A method for creating generic inserts for a holder plate that
hold a wide variety of part sizes and shapes to receive printing,
comprising: providing a part to receive printing thereon; providing
a blank insert; 3-D scanning said part to create a solid model of
said part; using computer aided design software to create a
negative of said part on said blank insert so that a front face of
said part that is to receive print is positioned in a predetermined
orientation and distance from print heads of a 3-D printer; using
said computer aided design software to subtract features located on
a backside of said part from said front face of said insert; using
said computer aided design software to add vacuum channels to said
backside of said insert; using said computer aided design software
to add openings in said insert; using said computer aided design
software to add vacuum channels said backside of said insert; and
using a 3-D printer to print out an insert.
15. The method of claim 14, including adding grippers into said
opening in said insert.
16. The method of claim 15, providing a holder plate and inserting
said insert into said holder plate.
17. The method of claim 16, including providing at least one vacuum
port in said holder plate.
18. The method of claim 17, including connecting said vacuum
channels in said backside of said insert to said at least one
vacuum port in said holder plate to connect said grippers to said
at least one vacuum port.
19. The method of claim 18, including placing said part into a
cavity portion of said insert.
20. The method of claim 19, including applying vacuum to said
holder plate to hold said part securely in said insert during
printing.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Cross-referenced is commonly assigned U.S. application Ser.
No. ______, filed ______, and entitled VACUUM TUBE OBJECT CLAMPING
ARRAY WITH CONFORMABLE PADS by Timothy P. Foley et al (Attorney No.
20161136US01); U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, and
entitled APPARATUS FOR HOLDING DURING THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D)
OBJECTS DURING PRINTING THEREON by Jeffrey J. Bradway et al
(Attorney No. 20161211US01); U.S. application Ser. No. ______,
filed ______, and entitled UNIVERSAL PART GRIPPER WITH CONFORMABLE
TUBE GRIPPERS by Linn C. Hoover et al (Attorney No. 20161210US01);
U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, and entitled SPRING
LOADED SUCTION CUP ARRAY GRIPPER by Paul M. Fromm et al (Attorney
No. 20161213US01); U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed ______,
and entitled UNIVERSAL OBJECT HOLDER FOR 3-D PRINTING USING A
CONFORMABLE GRIPPER BALL by Erwin Ruiz et al (Attorney No.
20161214US01); U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, and
entitled APPARATUS FOR GENERAL OBJECT HOLDING DURING PRINTING USING
MULTIPLE CONFORMABLE BALLS by Jeffrey J. Bradway et al (Attorney
No. 20161227US01); U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed ______,
and entitled AIR PRESSURE LOADED MEMBRANE AND PIN ARRAY GRIPPER by
Paul M. Fromm et al (Attorney No. 20161266US01); U.S. application
Ser. No. ______, filed ______, and entitled APPARATUS FOR
REPEATABLE STAGING AND HOLDING OBJECTS IN A DIRECT TO OBJECT
PRINTER USING AN ARRAY OF PINS by Jeffrey J. Bradway et al
(Attorney No. 20170042US01); and U.S. application Ser. No. ______,
filed ______, and entitled SPRING LOADED IRIS MECHANISM STACK
GRIPPER by Paul M. Fromm et al (Attorney No. 20161222US01); all of
which are included in their entirety herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to a system for printing
on three-dimensional (3-D) objects, and more particularly, to an
apparatus adapted for general object holding in a non-production
environment.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Commercial article printing typically occurs during the
production of the article. For example, ball skins are printed with
patterns or logos prior to the ball being completed and inflated.
Consequently, a non-production establishment, such as a
distribution site, which customizes products, for example, in
region in which potential product customers support multiple
professional or collegiate teams, needs to keep an inventory of
products bearing the logos of the various teams. Ordering the
correct number of products for each different logo to maintain the
inventory can be problematic.
[0004] One way to address these issues in non-production outlets
would be to keep unprinted versions of the products, and print the
patterns or logos on them at the distribution site. Adapting known
printing techniques, such as two-dimensional (2-D) media printing
technology, to apply image content onto 3-D objects would be
difficult. Since the surfaces to be printed must be presented to
the print heads as relatively flat, two-dimensional surfaces, the
objects have to be maneuvered carefully to present portions of the
articles as parallel planes to the print heads.
[0005] One printing system that accomplishes this is disclosed in
copending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/163,880, filed on May 25, 2016, and entitled SYSTEM FOR PRINTING
ON THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) OBJECTS by Wayne A. Buchar et al
(Attorney No. 20150747US01). This printing system includes a
plurality of print heads arranged in a two-dimensional array, each
printhead being configured to eject marking material, a support
member positioned to be parallel to a plane formed by the 2-D array
of print heads, a member movably mounted to the support member, an
actuator operatively connected to the movably mounted member to
enable the actuator to move the moveably mounted member along the
support member, an object holder configured to mount to the movably
mounted member to enable the object holder to pass the array of
print heads as the moveably mounted member moves along the support
member, and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of
print heads and the actuator, the controller being configured to
operate the actuator to move the object holder past the array of
print heads and to operate the plurality of print heads to eject
marking material onto objects held by the object holder as the
object holder passes the array of print heads. This application is
included herein by reference for the practice of the present
disclosure in its entirety.
[0006] A problem with this approach is that it requires a unique
part holder for each part that is to be printed. The part holders
are currently machined metal brackets with dedicated locating and
fastening features machined into each holder. Productivity is
impacted due to the time required to design and make a unique
mounting plate and cost is a factor because the plate is not
reusable. The customer experience is unsatisfactory because of the
wait for a part to be made.
SUMMARY
[0007] In answer to this shortcoming, disclosed is a generic holder
that includes a generic holder plate and a 3-D insert plate. The
3-D insert plate contains locating features mirrored to the
backside of the part to be printed and vacuum grippers to secure
the part in the insert plate. The insert plate is secured in the
generic holder plate which includes vacuum couplings. The part is
located on the insert plate and vacuum is applied to the generic
holder plate and insert plate to hold the part for printing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The foregoing aspects and other features of a printing
system that prints images on 3-D objects are explained in the
following description, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary printing system 100
configured to print on a 3-D object;
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts a cabinet within which the exemplary printing
system 100 shown in FIG. 1 can be installed;
[0011] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a generic holder plate and insert
that can be mounted into the printing system in FIG. 1 in
accordance with the present disclosure;
[0012] FIGS. 4A-4C depict the steps included in creating an insert
plate of a part; and
[0013] FIG. 5 shows the part in position within the insert and
generic holder plate to receive printing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] For a general understanding of the present embodiments,
reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference
numerals have been used throughout to designate like elements.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary printing system 100
configured to print on a 3-D object. The printing system 100
includes an array of print heads 104, a support member 108, a
member 112 movably mounted to the support member 108, an actuator
116 operatively connected to the movably mounted member 112, a
universal holder plate 200 configured to mount to the movably
mounted member 112, and a controller 124 operatively connected to
the plurality of print heads and the actuator. As shown in FIG. 1,
the array of print heads 104 is arranged in a 2-D array, which in
the figure is a 10.times.1 array, although other array
configurations can be used. Each print head is fluidly connected to
a supply of marking material (not shown) and is configured to eject
marking material received from the supply. Some of the print heads
can be connected to the same supply or each printhead can be
connected to its own supply so each printhead can eject a different
marking material.
[0016] The support member 108 is positioned to be parallel to a
plane formed by the array of print heads and, as shown in the
figure, is oriented so one end of the support member 108 is at a
higher gravitational potential than the other end of the support
member. This orientation enables the printing system 100 to have a
smaller footprint than an alternative embodiment that horizontally
orients the array of print heads and configures the support member,
movably mounted member, and object holder to enable the object
holder to pass objects past the horizontally arranged print heads
so the print heads can eject marking material downwardly on the
objects.
[0017] The member 112 is movably mounted to the support member 108
to enable the member to slide along the support member. In some
embodiments, the member 112 can move bi-directionally along the
support member. In other embodiments, the support member 108 is
configured to provide a return path to the lower end of the support
member to form a track for the movably mounted member. The actuator
116 is operatively connected to the movably mounted member 112 so
the actuator 116 can move the moveably mounted member 112 along the
support member 108 and enable holder 200 connected to the moveably
mounted member 112 to pass the array of print heads 104 in one
dimension of the two-dimensional array of print heads.
[0018] The controller 124 is configured with programmed
instructions stored in a memory 128 operatively connected to the
controller so the controller can execute the programmed
instructions to operate components in the printing system 100.
Thus, the controller 124 is configured to operate the actuator 116
to move the holder plate 200 past the array of print heads 104 and
to operate the array of print heads 104 to eject marking material
onto objects held by the generic holder 200 as the generic holder
passes the array of print heads 104.
[0019] The system configuration shown in FIG. 1 is especially
advantageous in a number of aspects. For one, as noted above, the
vertical configuration of the array of print heads 104 and the
support member 108 enables the system 100 to have a smaller
footprint than a system configured with a horizontal orientation of
the array and support member. This smaller footprint of the system
enables the system 100 to be housed in a single cabinet 190, as
depicted in FIG. 2, and installed in non-production outlets. Once
installed, a generic part holder, as described further below, can
be used with the system to print a variety of goods that are
generic in appearance until printed.
[0020] Turning now to the present disclosure, a generic holder 200
is shown in FIG. 3A that includes a frame member 202 and a generic
holder plate 210. Generic holder plate 210 has a centralized vacuum
port connection 204 surrounded by mounting points 212, 214, 216,
and 218 that facilitate mounting different sized inserts. Mounting
points 212, 214, 216, and 218 could be vacuum ports, if desired.
This allows the insert size to be customized for the size and
number of parts to be printed.
[0021] The process of converting blank insert 230 in FIG. 3B into
the insert fully formed insert 230 in FIG. 4C and into which part
205 will be mounted include providing a part 205 in FIG. 4A and
scanning part 205 using a 3-D scanner to create a solid model of
the part. The geometry from the scanner is processed by
conventional computer aided design (CAD) software, for example,
ScanTo3D by SOLIDWORKS, which in FIG. 4B overlays the part geometry
232 on the blank face of insert 230. The CAD software overlays part
205 with insert 230 geometry so that the front face of part 205
(print surface) is positioned in the correct orientation and
distance from print heads 104 in FIG. 1. The CAD software then
subtracts features located on the aback side (non-print side) of
part 205 from the front face of insert 230. The CAD software also
allows the operator to add additional locating features as need, as
well as, opening for one or more vacuum grippers relative to the
part size and features. Vacuum channel are added to the back of the
insert to connect vacuum port(s) 204 in holder plate 210 to the
vacuum grippers in the insert.
[0022] Insert 230 is then printed on a 3-D printer. After the
insert is cleaned, vacuum grippers 234 and 236 are placed into the
insert as shown in FIG. 4C. The insert is mounted into holder plate
210 as shown in FIG. 5. The operator then places part 205 into the
3-D insert cavity in Insert 230 and applies vacuum to holder plate
210 to hold the part securely in insert 230 during the printing and
ink curing processes. It should be understood that insert 230 can
be produced either on site or off site using any conventional 3-D
part fabrication technology.
[0023] In recapitulation, a universal part gripper for a
direct-to-object printer includes a generic holder plate that is
used to hold a variety of different size inserts that can be 3-D
printed with location features to allow accurate positioning of the
part with respect to the print heads. The 3-D printed insert is
created by 3-D scanning the part to be printed on, then using CAD
software to create a negative of the part into the insert, such
that the printed area of the part is facing the correct direction
and is the desired distance from the print heads. Also included in
the insert are through-holes into which vacuum grippers are
inserted to hold the part in place, and vacuum ports on the back
mate up with the vacuum source on the generic holder.
[0024] It will be appreciated that variations of the
above-disclosed apparatus and other features, and functions, or
alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other
different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or
unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or
improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in
the art, which are also intended to be encompassed by the following
claims.
* * * * *