Vision systems and methods for locating fiducials in manufacturing fabric articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11566368-B1
Application number	US-202217842582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 16, 2022
Priority date	Jun 16, 2022
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A fiducial for use in the manufacture of a fabric article includes a hole through a layer of fabric. Another layer of fabric of the fabric article overlays and obscures the fiducial. The fiducial is detected by transmitting electromagnetic radiation through the fabric article. The electromagnetic radiation may make a single pass directly through the fabric article to a sensor, or may pass through the fabric article, be reflected off a surface, and pass back through the fabric article to the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a fabric article comprising:
creating a fabric article by placing a second fabric portion on top of a first fabric portion, the first fabric portion including a fiducial at a first location; and
detecting the fiducial through the second fabric portion by:
positioning the fabric article between a source of electromagnetic radiation and a sensor;
measuring a first intensity of electromagnetic radiation arriving at the sensor when directing electromagnetic radiation from the source towards a first region of the fabric article that contains the fiducial;
measuring a second intensity of electromagnetic radiation arriving at the sensor when directing electromagnetic radiation from the source towards a second region of the fabric article that does not contain the fiducial; and
identifying a difference between the first intensity and the second intensity.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a position of a second location on the fabric article as a result of detecting the fiducial; and
performing an operation on the fabric article at the second location.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the operation includes one of applying a pretreatment, printing a design, cutting, stitching, applying adhesive, or joining a third fabric portion to the fabric article.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fiducial is one of a hole in the first fabric portion or a characteristic edge of the first fabric portion.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the electromagnetic radiation includes visible light; and
the sensor includes one of a camera or a photomultiplier.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the fabric article is located on a conveyor; and
the electromagnetic radiation is directed from the source through a portion of the conveyor.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fabric article is located on a first portion of a work surface while the fiducial is detected.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
identifying a position of a second location on the fabric article as a result of detecting the fiducial; and
performing an operation on the fabric article at the second location.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the operation includes one of applying a pretreatment, printing a design, cutting, stitching, applying adhesive, or joining a third fabric portion to the fabric article.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
after identifying the position of the second location on the fabric article, moving the fabric article to position the second location at a second portion of the work surface at which the operation is conducted.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the work surface includes the source.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the work surface includes the sensor.

13. A method of manufacturing a fabric article comprising:
creating a fabric article by placing a second fabric portion on top of a first fabric portion, the first fabric portion including a fiducial at a first location; and
detecting the fiducial through the second fabric portion by:
positioning the fabric article between a heat source and a sensor;
measuring a first intensity of infrared light arriving at the sensor when a first region of the fabric article that contains the fiducial is positioned near the heat source;
measuring a second intensity of infrared light arriving at the sensor when a second region of the fabric article that does not contain the fiducial is positioned near the heat source; and
identifying a difference between the first intensity and the second intensity.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
identifying a position of a second location on the fabric article as a result of detecting the fiducial; and
performing an operation on the fabric article at the second location.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the operation includes one of applying a pretreatment, printing a design, cutting, stitching, applying adhesive, or joining a third fabric portion to the fabric article.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fiducial is one of a hole in the first fabric portion or a characteristic edge of the first fabric portion.

Assignees

• CreateMe Technologies LLC

Inventors

• Tanguay Michael William
• Corliss Michael
• Chope Nicholas
• Bamberger Martin Frederick

Classifications

• G06T2207/30124

  Fabrics; Textile; Paper · CPC title

• G06T7/73

  using feature-based methods · CPC title

• G06T2207/30204

  Marker · CPC title

• G06T7/0004

  Industrial image inspection · CPC title

• D06H3/08 Primary

  by photo-electric or television means (D06H3/12, D06H3/14, D06H3/16 take precedence) · CPC title