Robot specimen photography mount

A robot specimen photography mount includes a base, a cradle support assembly extending upwardly from the base, and a cradle rotatably supported by the cradle support assembly. A rotation motor is mounted on the cradle. A specimen mount is rotatably mounted on the rotation motor. The specimen mount has a vacuum opening formed therein. A vacuum conduit is in fluid communication with the vacuum opening. A method of operating the photography mount is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Small, fragile natural history specimens, such as insects, small mollusk shells, and others are typically photographed from multiple angles to record the specimen. The specimens have been traditionally mounted on a specimen mount using adhesives or clay, which can leave residue on the specimen and possibly damage the surface of the specimen. The vacuum mounts have been developed to overcome the drawbacks of the adhesives or clay. These vacuum mounts, however, are static, requiring the specimen to be manually repositioned in order to take pictures from different angles, thereby risking losing or damaging the specimen.

It would be beneficial to provide a vacuum mount that can be moved in order to be able to photograph specimen from different angles without having to move the camera.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention is a robot specimen photography mount that includes a base, a cradle support assembly extending upwardly from the base, and a cradle rotatably supported by the cradle support assembly. A rotation motor is mounted on the cradle. A specimen mount is rotatably mounted on the rotation motor. The specimen mount has a vacuum opening formed therein. A vacuum conduit is in fluid communication with the vacuum opening.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of retaining and manipulating a specimen comprising steps of providing the robot specimen photography mount described above; drawing a vacuum through the vacuum conduit; placing the specimen on the specimen mount over the vacuum opening; rotating the cradle relative to the cradle support; and rotating the specimen mount relative to the cradle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principle of the invention and its application and practical use and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

Referring to the Figures, a specimen mount100according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. While mount100is used to mount fragile museum specimens for photographing, those skilled in the art will recognize that mount100can be used to secure other fragile and/or small specimens as well.

Mount100uses no adhesives or other clinging substances that can damage specimens or leave residues on them. Mount100only requires each specimen to be positioned once, reducing handling. Mount100can be operated from the same computer screen that is showing the video image from the camera, allowing accurate hands-off positioning.

Referring toFIG. 1, mount100is used in connection with a camera50that is used to take photographs/videos of a specimen60that is supported by mount100. As shown inFIG. 1, lights52,54can be mounted and positions to shine light on specimen60to assist in photographing specimen60. Mount100is sized such that lights52,54can be positioned close enough to specimen60, yet not interfere with operation of mount100or camera50. In an exemplary embodiment, the elements and pieces that constitute mount100can be black in color in order to absorb light and minimize reflection to provide enhanced photographic results.

Referring now toFIGS. 2-2B and 3, mount100includes a base102on which a cradle motor110and a cradle support assembly120are mounted. Cradle motor110can be an electrically operated motor electrically connected to a controller112by electrical wires114. Base102can be adjusted in an x-y plane of base102by adjustment screws106,108.

Cradle support assembly120includes a first vertical support122and a second vertical support124. First and second vertical supports122,124, respectively, extend generally vertically upward from base102. First vertical support122is located proximate to cradle motor110, while second vertical support124is located distal from cradle motor110.

A cradle support assembly120is used to pivotally support a cradle130on which specimen60is mounted. Cradle130includes a first arm132that is pivotally connected to first vertical support122via a first pivot pin133and a second arm134that is pivotally connected to second vertical support124via a second pivot pin135. First arm132extends in a plane generally parallel to second arm134. Additionally, first pivot pin133and second pivot pin135extend coaxially along a pivot axis A1.

Optionally, as shownFIG. 3, a first counterweight136can be attached. A first arm132above first pivot pin133and a second counterweight138can be attached to second arm134above second pivot pin135. Counterweights136,138offset the weight of cradle130during rotation of cradle130about first and second pivot pins133,135in order to reduce the load applied to cradle motor110, particularly when cradle130is in the position shown inFIG. 2B.

Cradle motor110is operatively connected to first arm132via a gear assembly140. Gear assembly140includes a drive gear142that is operatively attached to an output shaft116of cradle motor110. A larger rotation gear144is engaged with drive gear142, such that rotation of drive gear142rotates rotation gear144at a significantly reduced speed. The reduced speed provides for increased controllability of the rotation of cradle130. In an exemplary embodiment, the gear ratio between rotation gear144and drive gear142is about 3.8:1, although those skilled in the art will recognize that other gear ratios can be used. In an exemplary embodiment, cradle motor110can rotate cradle130360 degrees around axis A1, although it may be desired to include stop limits to avoid hitting camera50. A relatively high gear ratio can provide for finer control of the pivoting of cradle130.

A cradle platform140extends between first arm132and second arm134, distal from counterweights136,138. Cradle platform140supports a specimen mount150onto which specimen60can be removably placed. Specimen mount150is rotatably mounted on a rotation motor148that is fixed to cradle platform140such that, as cradle130rotates about axis A1, rotation motor148rotates with cradle130.

Rotation motor148can be an electrically operated motor electrically connected to controller112by electrical wires118. Rotation motor148rotates specimen mount150up to 360 degrees along a rotation axis A2that extends generally orthogonally to axis A1and intersects axis A1at an intersection “I”.

Specimen mount150extends upwardly from cradle platform140a sufficient distance such that, when specimen60is attached to specimen mount150, both axes A1and A2extend through specimen60such that, regardless of rotation of cradle130and/or specimen mount150, specimen60is always located and maintained at intersection I.

Additionally, as cradle support assembly120pivots about axis A1, specimen60remains in the same general location, such that both axes A1and A2always extend through specimen60. This feature is beneficial when photographing specimen60, eliminating the need for camera50to have to be refocused and/or repositioned every time that specimen60is moved via rotation of cradle platform140and/or rotation of specimen mount150. An added benefit of this feature is the ability to fixedly locate camera50with respect to mount100.

Specimen mount150includes a support154that extends generally outwardly from rotation motor148. A generally circular base152is mounted at the bottom of support154. Optionally, base152can be constructed from a soft material, such as, for example, open cell foam such that, if specimen60happens to fall from specimen mount150, if specimen60falls on to base152, the likelihood of specimen60cracking or breaking is greatly reduced.

Support154is hollow and has a vacuum opening156at a distal tip158thereof. Specimen60is placed on distal tip158over opening156. Specimen60is maintained on distal tip158by a suction, or vacuum, that is generated by a vacuum pump160, shown inFIG. 2. Vacuum pump160includes a first vacuum line162that is connected to controller112. Controller112is used to adjust the amount of vacuum applied to support154via a second vacuum line164. A connected end166of second vacuum line164is connected to support154. As shown inFIG. 3, second vacuum line164is loosely wrapped several rotations around motor148in a cochlear fashion. This wrapping allows the rotation of support154for several revolutions in a particular direction without second vacuum line164binding around motor148.

Referring now toFIG. 4, distal tip158of support154is shown in detail. An opening156is formed in distal tip158. Opening156is in fluid communication with second vacuum line164. Opening156is shaped such that, when specimen60is mounted on support154, opening156is not fully occluded, such that outside air is bled in through the portion of opening156that is not occluded. Such a bypass air bleed reduces the amount of vacuum applied directly to specimen60, reducing the likelihood that the vacuum applied to specimen60may be too strong for specimen60, resulting in cracking or breaking of specimen60as a result of the applied vacuum.

In an alternative embodiment of a support254shown inFIG. 5, distal tip258includes a vacuum opening256onto which specimen60(not shown in FIG.5) can be mounted. Distal tip258further includes a bleed hole259that draws a portion of the vacuum therethrough, thereby reducing the vacuum draw through vacuum opening256and subsequently reducing the potential for damaging specimen60.

In still another alternative embodiment of a support354shown inFIG. 6, distal tip358includes a plurality of fingers359that can be manipulated to support specimen60(not shown inFIG. 6). Although three fingers359are shown, those skilled in the art will recognize that more or less than three fingers359can be used. An opening356in the top of distal tip358draws vacuum into support354. Spaces between fingers359reduce the vacuum draw through vacuum opening356and reduce the potential for damaging specimen60.

Referring back toFIG. 2, controller112includes a first controller knob170that is used to rotate cradle motor110and a second controller knob172that is used to control rotation motor148. Controller knobs170,172can be rotated clockwise to operate their respective motors110,148in one direction and counter-clockwise to operate their respective motors110,148in a second, opposite direction.

While controller112is shown, those skilled in the art will recognize that other types of controller, such as, for example, a touch screen (not shown) or other type of Graphical User Interface (“GUI”) can be used. Also, such controller can be pre-programmed with one or more predetermined sequences to operate motors110,148such that specimen60is moved to predetermined camera views, such as, for example, front, left side, rear, right side, top, and bottom perspective views. Additionally, controller112or GUI can be used to adjust base102by providing remote operation of adjustment screws106,108.

To use mount100, mount100can be set up with camera50and lights52,54, as shown inFIG. 1. In this configuration, cradle130is rotated about axis A1such that axis A2extends generally vertically.

A vacuum is applied by turning on vacuum pump160and applying a vacuum to support154. A vacuum interrupter button168on controller112can be pressed can disrupt suction to allow the specimen to be manipulated without turning vacuum pump160on or off. With vacuum being applied, specimen60is placed on distal tip158of support154. Controller knobs170,172on controller112are used to operate cradle motor110and rotation motor148to rotate specimen60in desired directions about axis A1and axis A2, maintaining specimen60at the point of intersection I between axis A1and axis A2, such that camera50does not have to be refocused in order to photograph specimen60. As specimen60is rotated, cradle motor110and rotation motor140can be stopped to photograph specimen60in desired locations.

As an alternative to controller knobs170,172, cradle motor110and rotation motor140can be electronically connected to a processor (not shown) such that a pre-arranged set of views to be graphically selected by an end-user. The processor would allow for automated positioning between views for more efficient photography of a large collection of specimens, reducing man-hours and increasing efficiency of use of mount100.

FIG. 7shows cradle130rotated about 90 degrees from vertical. A user places specimen60onto specimen mount150. Vacuum pump160has already been turned on so that a vacuum is being drawn through distal tip158so that specimen60is retained on distal tip158for rotation by motors110,148.

After specimen60has been photographed, cradle motor110can be operated to rotate cradle130such that axis A2extends generally vertically and specimen60is on top of support154. An operator can grasp specimen60, and, without removing specimen60from support154, secure vacuum pump160or otherwise cease the application of vacuum to support154via vacuum switch174. When the vacuum is removed from support154, the operator can remove specimen60from support154. The process can be repeated for additional specimens.