Method and system for labeling components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11427367-B2
Application number	US-202016944220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2020
Priority date	Jul 31, 2020
Publication date	Aug 30, 2022
Grant date	Aug 30, 2022

Abstract

A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for labeling a component for component serialization. The component labeling is initiated, and a label is printed for the component. A collaborative robot or “cobot” retrieves the printed label and moves the label in place for attachment. Iterative views are performed until a tolerance value of the views is reached and the label is attached to the component. Information on the label and other labels are scanned and entered into an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implementable method for labeling a component for component serialization and part identification comprising:
initiate labeling of the component when a determination is made that the component is in position;
initiate printing a label specific to the component;
provide instructions to a single cobot to retrieve the label, wherein the single cobot moves the label into a determined location on the component for attaching;
perform iterative closed loop relative views of the cobot and the component, using at least three cameras based on three dimensions, while the single cobot moves with the label, until a tolerance value is reached at which stage the label is attached, wherein a first camera is attached to an arm of the single cobot, a second camera is placed proximate to a carrier of the component, and a third camera is placed in a location to scan the label; and
scan information from the label and any other attached labels for the component serialization in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cobot retrieves the label from underneath an elevated surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the component is placed in the carrier which is specific to the component.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising attaching one or more other labels.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more other labels are selected from printed label sheets.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising closing a latch by the cobot, wherein a chamfered wheel forces the latch into a correct position.

7. A system comprising:
a processor;
a data bus coupled to the processor; and
a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium embodying computer program code, the non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium being coupled to the data bus, the computer program code interacting with a plurality of computer operations and comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured for:
initiate labeling of the component when a determination is made that the component is in position;
initiate printing a label specific to the component;
provide instructions to a single cobot to retrieve the label, wherein the single cobot moves the label into a determined location on the component for attaching;
perform iterative closed loop relative views of the cobot and the component, using at least three cameras based on three dimensions, while the single cobot moves with the label, until a tolerance value is reached at which stage the label is attached, wherein a first camera is attached to an arm of the single cobot, a second camera is placed proximate to a carrier of the component, and a third camera is placed in a location to scan the label; and
scan information from the label and any other attached labels for the component serialization in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the component is drive unit for a computer system.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the component is placed in the carrier which is specific to the component.

10. The system of claim 7 , further comprising attaching one or more other labels.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more other labels are selected from printed label sheets.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising initiating batch job printing of labels.

13. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured to:
initiate labeling of the component when a determination is made that the component is in position;
initiate printing a label specific to the component;
provide instructions to a single cobot to retrieve the label, wherein the single cobot moves the label into a determined location on the component for attaching;
perform iterative closed loop relative views of the cobot and the component, using at least three cameras based on three dimensions, while the single cobot moves with the label, until a tolerance value is reached at which stage the label is attached, wherein a first camera is attached to an arm of the single cobot, a second camera is placed proximate to a carrier of the component, and a third camera is placed in a location to scan the label; and
scan information from the label and any other attached labels for the component serialization in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the component is drive unit for a computer system.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the component is placed in the carrier which is specific to the component.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 further comprising attaching one or more other labels.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the one or more other labels are selected from printed label sheets.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• O'Callaghan Marie
• Caufield John
• Bradfield Daniel
• Buckley Martin
• Conroy Craig

Classifications

• B65C9/46 Primary

  Applying date marks, code marks, or the like, to the label during labelling (manually-controlled or operable apparatus having printing equipment B65C11/02; ticket printing and issuing G07B1/00 {; apparatus for ticket validating or cancelling G07B11/00}) · CPC title

• B65C2009/404

  prior to labelling · CPC title

• B65C9/40 Primary

  Controls; Safety devices · CPC title

• B65C2009/408

  reading information before printing and applying a label · CPC title

• B65C9/26

  Devices for applying labels · CPC title