1. An apparatus for cleaning welds on rectangular plastic frames, such as window or sash frames, each formed from four frame sections comprising top and bottom frame sections and two parallel side frame sections, said apparatus comprising:
first and second pairs of horizontally extending support rails with the rails of each pair being spaced horizontally apart a preselected distance corresponding to a dimension of a respective one of said rectangular frames that is arranged substantially horizontally and moved along that pair of rails during operation of the apparatus, said first pair of support rails being spaced above said second pair of support rails;
left and right supporting frame arrangements on which said pairs of support rails are mounted, one rail from each pair being mounted on the left supporting frame arrangement and one rail from each pair being mounted on the right supporting frame arrangement;
left and right tool mounting mechanisms each capable of moving cleaning tools mounted thereon both horizontally and vertically, said left tool mounting mechanism being located adjacent said left supporting frame arrangement and the rails mounted thereon and said right tool mounting mechanism being located adjacent said right supporting frame arrangement and the rails mounted thereon; and
a pair of frame cleaning tools movably mounted on each of said tool mounting mechanisms with the frame cleaning tools of each pair being spaced apart and arranged one above the other a distance corresponding to a selected vertical distance between two plastic frames arranged respectively on said first and second pairs of support rails when said apparatus is carrying out a weld cleaning operation on said two plastic frames,
wherein each of said tool mounting mechanisms and its respective pair of cleaning tools is able to carry out a weld cleaning operation on both of said plastic frames simultaneously by each pair of cleaning tools being moved at the same time and in a similar manner by their respective tool mounting mechanism.
2. An apparatus for cleaning welds according to claim 1 including an additional pair of machining tools movably mounted on each of said tool mounting mechanisms, each additional pair of tools being spaced apart and arranged one above the other said distance corresponding to the selected distance between the two plastic frames.
3. An apparatus for cleaning welds according to claim 2 wherein said additional pair of machining tools is a pair of cutters each adapted to carry out a cutting operation on its respective plastic frame during use of said apparatus and said pair of frame cleaning tools is a pair of knife tools.
4. An apparatus for cleaning welds according to claim 2 including two rotatable circular saws and two motors for rotating said saws, each circular saw and its respective motor being movably mounted on a respective one of said tool mounting mechanisms and being adapted to carry out a cutting operation on at least one of said two plastic frames.
5. An apparatus for cleaning welds according to claim 1 wherein each of said tool mounting mechanisms is capable of moving horizontally both ways in the left to right direction of the apparatus and in a front to rear direction, each tool mounting mechanism including a first horizontal screw drive assembly, a main mounting plate operatively connected to said screw drive assembly for movement selectively in the left to right direction and in the opposite direction, a second screw drive assembly mounted on said main mounting plate, and a carriage mounting plate operatively connected to said second screw drive assembly for movement selectively in said front to rear direction and in a reverse horizontal direction.
6. An apparatus for cleaning welds according to claim 2 including left and right frame gripping assemblies and horizontally extending support tracks on which said gripping assemblies are respectively mounted for horizontal, two way movement in the front to rear direction of the apparatus, wherein said gripping assemblies are capable of moving said plastic frames horizontally along their respective pairs of support rails and gripping said plastic frames during a cleaning or machining operation of the apparatus.
7. An apparatus for cleaning welds according to claim 1 including at least one drilling unit assembly mounted on one of said tool mounting mechanisms and having two or more drill bit holders arranged on respective sides of the at least one drilling unit assembly.
8. An apparatus for cleaning welds according to claim 2 including a drilling unit assembly and a combined drill and circular saw assembly both movably mounted on one of said tool mounting mechanisms, at least said drilling unit assembly having two or more drill bit holders arranged on respective sides of the drilling unit assembly, wherein said drilling unit assembly and said combined drill and circular saw assembly are spaced apart and arranged one above the other so that a selected vertical distance between two drill bits mounted respectively in corresponding sides of said drilling unit assembly and the combined drill and circular saw assembly corresponds to said selected distance between the two plastic frames.
9. An apparatus for cleaning welds according to claim 2 wherein each tool mounting mechanism includes a vertical tool mounting plate which is vertically movable on at least one rail and both the respective pair of frame cleaning tools and the respective pair of machining tools are mounted for horizontal movement on said tool mounting plate.
10. An apparatus for cleaning welds according to claim. 9 wherein each tool mounting mechanism includes air cylinder mechanisms for moving said frame cleaning tools and said machining tools horizontally on said tool mounting plate, each air cylinder mechanism including an air cylinder fixedly mounted on a side of said vertical tool mounting plate, a movable actuator rod extending from one end of the air cylinder, and a connecting bracket joining said actuator rod to its respective cleaning tool or machining tool.
11. An apparatus for cleaning welds on and machining rectangular plastic frames, such as window sash frames, said apparatus comprising:
a supporting arrangement capable of rigidly supporting two of said plastic frames in a spaced-apart manner and holding one plastic frame above the other in a manner that permits cleaning or machining operations to be carried out on the plastic frames simultaneously;
at least one pair of spaced-apart cleaning tools;
at least one pair of spaced-apart machining tools;
at least one tool mounting mechanism, the or each tool mounting mechanism having one pair of said cleaning tools and at least one pair of said machining tools mounted thereon and capable of moving its respective cleaning tools and machining tools both horizontally and vertically, the at least one tool mounting mechanism being located adjacent said supporting arrangement, the cleaning tools of said one pair being mounted one above the other and the machining tools of the one of each pair being mounted one above the other,
wherein each of said one pair of cleaning tools and said at least one pair of machining tools is capable of carrying out a weld cleaning operation or a machining operation on both of said two plastic frames simultaneously by the appropriate pair of tools being moved at the same time and in a similar manner.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein there are two of said at least one tool mounting mechanism including a left tool mounting mechanism located adjacent a left side of said supporting arrangement and a right tool mounting mechanism located adjacent a right side of said supporting arrangement.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said at least one pair of machining tools includes one pair of rotatable cutters and two motors for respectively rotating said cutters, each cutter being operatively connected to its respective motor and adapted to carry out a cutting operation on a respective one of said two plastic frames during use of said apparatus.
14. An apparatus according to claim 12 including a rotatable circular saw and a motor for rotating said saw movably mounted on each of said tool mounting mechanisms, wherein each circular saw is adapted to carry out cutting operations on both of said two plastic frames.
15. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the or each tool mounting mechanism is capable of moving both ways in two horizontal directions including a transverse direction and a rear to front direction relative to the apparatus, the latter direction being perpendicular to said transverse direction, the or each tool mounting mechanism including a first horizontal screw drive assembly, a main mounting plate operatively connected to said screw drive assembly for movement selectively either way in said transverse direction, a second screw drive assembly mounted on said main mounting plate, and a carriage mounting plate operatively connected to said second screw drive assembly for movement selectively in said rear to front direction and in the reverse direction.
16. An apparatus according to claim 12 including left and right frame gripping assemblies and horizontally extending support tracks on which said gripping assemblies are respectively mounted for horizontal, two way movement in a direction parallel to a rear to front direction of the apparatus, wherein said gripping assemblies are adapted to move simultaneously said two plastic frames horizontally along said supporting arrangement which includes horizontally extending, elongate upper and lower frame edge supporting surfaces.
17. An apparatus according to claim 11 including at least one drilling unit assembly mounted on one of said at least one tool mounting mechanism and having two or more drill bit holders arranged on respective sides of said at least one drilling unit assembly.
18. An apparatus according to claim 12 including a drilling unit assembly and a combined drill and circular saw assembly both movably mounted on one of said tool mounting mechanisms, at least said drilling unit assembly having two or more drill bit holders arranged on respective sides of the drilling unit assembly, wherein said drilling unit assembly and said combined drill and circular saw assembly are spaced apart and arranged one above the other so that a selected vertical distance between two drill bits mounted respectively in corresponding sides of said drilling unit assembly and the combined drill and circular saw assembly corresponds to a selected vertical distance between said two plastic frames when they are held in said supporting arrangement for a machining operation.
19. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the or each tool mounting mechanism includes a vertical tool mounting plate which is vertically movable on at least one rail and both said one pair of cleaning tools and said at least one pair of machining tools are mounted for horizontal movement on said tool mounting plate.
20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the or each tool mounting mechanism includes pneumatic actuators for moving said one pair of frame cleaning tools and said at least one pair of machining tools horizontally on said tool mounting plate, each pneumatic actuator including an actuator body fixedly mounted on a side of said vertical tool mounting plate.
21. An apparatus for cleaning welds on and processing rectangular plastic frames, such as window sashes, said apparatus comprising:
a supporting arrangement capable of rigidly supporting two of said plastic frames in a spaced apart manner and holding one of said plastic frames above the other in a manner that permits weld cleaning or machining operations to be carried out on the two plastic frames simultaneously;
at least one pair of spaced-apart knife holders each adapted to rigidly support at least one weld cleaning knife or blade;
at least one pair of spaced-apart machining tools;
at least one tool mounting mechanism, the or each tool mounting mechanism having one pair of said knife holders and at least one pair of said machining tools mounted thereon and capable of moving its respective knife holders and machining tools both horizontally and vertically, said at least one tool mounting mechanism being adapted for mounting adjacent said supporting arrangement, the knife holders of said one pair being mounted one above the other and the machining tools of the one or each pair being mounted one above the other and at different heights than the knife holders,
wherein, when suitable knives or blades are mounted in said knife holders, said one pair of knife holders and their respective knives or blades and said at least one pair of machining tools are capable of carrying out a weld cleaning operation or a machining operation on both of said plastic frames simultaneously by the appropriate pair of tools being moved at the same time and in a similar manner.
22. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein there are two of said at least one tool mounting mechanism including a left tool mounting mechanism located adjacent a left side of said supporting arrangement and a right tool mounting mechanism located adjacent a right side of said supporting arrangement.
23. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said at least one pair of machining tools includes one pair of rotatable cutters and two motors for respectively rotating said cutters, each cutter being operatively connected to its respective motor and adapted to carry out a cutting operation on a respective one of said two plastic frames during use of said apparatus.
24. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein each tool mounting mechanism is capable of moving both ways in two horizontal directions including a transverse direction relative to the apparatus and a second direction perpendicular to said transverse direction, each tool mounting mechanism including a first horizontal screw drive assembly, a main mounting plate operatively connected to said screw drive assembly for movement selectively either way in said transverse direction, a second screw drive assembly mounted on said main mounting plate, and a carriage mounting plate operatively connected to said second screw drive assembly for movement selectively in said second direction.
25. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein one of said tool mounting mechanisms has first and second pairs of said spaced-apart machining tools movably mounted thereon, said first pair comprising a pair of rotatable cutters and two motors for respectively rotating said cutters about respective horizontal axes, each cutter being operatively connected to its respective motor, and said second pair comprising a pair of drilling unit assemblies each having two or more drill bit holders arranged on respective sides of the drilling unit assembly and a motor for rotating one or more of said drill bit holders with a respective drill bit mounted therein.
26. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein each tool mounting mechanism includes a vertical tool mounting plate support which is vertically movable on rails and both said one pair of knife holders and said at least one pair of machining tools are mounted for horizontal movement on said tool mounting plate support.
27. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said supporting arrangement includes first and second pairs of horizontally extending support rails with the rails of each pair being parallel and spaced horizontally apart a preselected adjustable distance corresponding to a dimension of a respective one of said two plastic frames, said plastic frames being arranged substantially horizontally on said support rails during use of said apparatus.
28. An apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said supporting arrangement further comprises movable clamps arranged along or next to each of said pairs of support rails and adapted to hold said plastic frames rigidly and temporarily in position for at least one of the weld cleaning and machining operations.
29. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein each tool mounting mechanism also has a rotatable circular saw and a motor for rotating said saw movably mounted thereon, said saw being rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation defined by an output shaft of said motor.
30. An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein one of said drilling unit assemblies includes a rotatable circular saw mounted for selective rotation by the motor of said one drilling unit assembly, said circular saw being rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation defined by an output shaft of said motor of said one drilling unit assembly.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method creating a continuum of three-dimensional image data, the method comprising:
a) receiving multiple two-dimensional image data sets of a subject, wherein each image data set is captured from a disparate point on a continuum and each image data set comprises a plurality of features;
b) generating a composite image of the subject from portions of two or more of the multiple two-dimensional image data sets, wherein the portions are aligned in a dimension consistent with the continuum;
c) receiving data descriptive of a location of the plurality of features;
d) tracking the position of at least one of the plurality of features in two or more of the two-dimensional images;
e) generating a point cloud array for the at least one of the plurality of features;
f) converting the point cloud array to a polygon based model; and
g) associating a location for the polygon based model relative to the portions of the image data sets and based upon the location of the plurality of features.
2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of spraying image data onto the polygon based model, wherein the image data sprayed onto the polygon based model is based upon two-dimensional image data sets and the location of the polygon based model.
3. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of associating the polygon based model with an icon.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the icon is symbolic of at least one of: a fire hydrant; a utility location; and traffic signal device.
5. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the steps of:
repeating steps a) through f) multiple times each from disparate points along the continuum; and
spraying image data onto the each polygon based model, wherein the image data sprayed onto the each polygon based model is based upon two-dimensional image data sets and the location of each respective polygon based model.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the point cloud array in a polygon format is generated by steps comprising:
casting a ray through each pixel comprising a feature comprising the multiple two-dimensional image data sets, wherein the ray originates in a position based upon the disparate point on a continuum;
determining an intersection of each ray associated with the first two-dimensional image data set and each ray associated with the second two-dimensional image data set; and
creating a voxel for a three-dimensional point cloud array at each intersection.
7. The method of claim 2 wherein the image data sprayed onto the polygon based model comprises:
a composite image of the subject generated from aligned portions of two or more two-dimensional image data sets captured from the disparate points along the continuum and aligned in a dimension consistent with the continuum.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the data descriptive of a location comprises a Cartesian coordinate.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the data descriptive of a location of the plurality of features comprises a latitude and longitude coordinate.
10. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of associating metadata with a polygon based model.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the composite image comprises a single vertical slice of each of the two or more images.
12. The method of claim 11, additionally comprising the steps of:
recording positional data descriptive of a respective location of each of the multiple two-dimensional image data sets of a subject: and
associating the composite image with a particular portion of the subject based upon the positional data.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the subject comprises a geographic area and the positional data comprises a geospatial designation.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the method additionally comprises the steps of generating the positional data based upon latitude and longitude coordinates of a camera capturing the two or more images and data descriptive of the camera orientation while the camera captured the two or more images.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the different points in a continuum comprise positions of a vehicle traveling on a roadway.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein the method additionally comprises the steps of overlaying metadata on the composite image descriptive of the composite image.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein the method additionally comprises the steps of overlaying links to additional data related to the composite image.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the additional data is related to the composite image based upon the positional data.
19. The method of claim 13 wherein each of the two or more images are captured with a camera at a position about orthogonal to the subject matter.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the camera is at an angle of between about 85\xb0 and about 95\xb0 relative to the subject matter.
21. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising an altimeter and wherein the method additionally comprises the steps of record data indicative of an altitude of the camera at the instance of image data set generation.
22. The method of claim 12 wherein the two or more images are captured with a camera oriented in a direction about orthogonal to a line between two points on the continuum.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the camera is at an angle of between about 75\xb0 and about 105\xb0 relative to the line.
24. The method of claim 1 wherein the images are captured by a camera mounted to a vehicle traveling in proximity to a subject matter comprising a geographic parcel and a width of each vertical slice is based upon a speed of image capture of the camera and the velocity of the vehicle travel.
25. The method of claim 3 wherein the method additionally comprises the steps of combining the composite image with an aerial view image of the geographic area.