Core wheel processing system and method

摘要

A system for processing core wheels and associated method are disclosed. A sorting station is configured to allow sorting of a source of wheels according to a first set of criteria. A first conveyor is configured to receive a plurality of wheels conforming to the first criteria and to a first inspection station, disposed along the first conveyor. The first inspection station is configured to allow examination of the wheels to determine whether the wheels conform to a second criteria. A diverter mechanism, downstream of the first inspection station, is configured to divert wheels conforming to the second criteria from the first conveyor. A second conveyor is configured to receive the diverted wheels and to direct the diverted wheels to a second inspection station, whereby the diverted wheels may be inspected at the second inspection station to confirm that the diverted wheels conform to the second criteria.

主权项

1. A system for processing core wheels comprising:
a computer station configured to allow receiving and loading of wheel images and other wheel information received from a third party to populate a wheel feature database for known wheels; a sorting station configured to allow sorting of a source of wheels according to a first set of criteria; a loading station configured to allow loading of the wheels onto a first conveyor; a first conveyor configured to receive a plurality of incoming wheels, allow examination of the wheels for sorting according to a second set of criteria, and discharge the wheels onto a second conveyor; a first inspection station disposed along the first conveyor, the first inspection station configured to examine the plurality of incoming wheels, to process images of the wheels to identify the closest potential matches of incoming wheels to known wheels in a wheel feature database, to compare said potential matches to a second set of criteria, and to discharge the wheels evenly spaced onto a second conveyor after processing and matching the images of the wheels; a second conveyor configured to receive a plurality of evenly spaced wheels discharged by the first conveyor, to maintain the spacing of the received wheels, and to direct the received wheels to a discharge end of the second conveyor unless pushed off to a third conveyor by a diverter mechanism being disposed along the second conveyor; a diverter mechanism disposed along the second conveyor, the diverter mechanism being configured to divert wheels conforming to the second set of criteria onto the third conveyor; a third conveyor configured to receive the diverted wheels and direct the diverted wheels to a second inspection station; a second inspection station disposed along the third conveyor, said second inspection station being configured to allow examination of the diverted wheels to confirm whether said wheels conform to the second set of criteria; a fourth conveyor configured to receive a plurality of wheels not conforming to the second set of criteria and to direct the received wheels through a cleaning station and on to the discharge end of the fourth conveyor; a cleaning station disposed along the fourth conveyor, said cleaning station configured to clean the wheels prior to the fourth conveyor discharging the wheels onto a fifth conveyor; a fifth conveyor configured to receive the clean wheels discharged from the fourth conveyor and to direct them into a bin area; and a bin area positioned proximate the discharge end of the fifth conveyor, said bin area configured to receive wheels conforming to the first set of criteria but failing the second set of criteria.