AUTOMATED LEATHER SURFACE REPAIRING DEVICE

Abstract

An automated leather surface repairing device, comprises a housing 1 positioned over a ground surface, motorized omnidirectional wheels 2 translate the housing 1, a touch interactive display panel 3 accessed by the user, an imaging unit 4 captures images of the leather surface, a proximity sensor monitors distance of leather surface, an inverted L-shaped telescopic rod 5 extends to position a hot air blower 6, hot air blower 6 blows hot air, an L-shaped telescopic bar 7 extends to position griding disc 8, a chamber 9 stores vinyl paint, a primary robotic link positions nozzle 10, a robotic arm 11 spreads dispensed paint, a flap 12 spreads the paint.

Specification

Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an automated leather surface repairing device that is capable of repairing the leather surface as specified by the user in an effective manner by self-detecting the damaged area and further fixing the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Generally, people use various objects that are of leather material like leather seats that are arranged in the vehicle. Moreover, the seats that are accommodated in the vehicle are usually of leather material and provides comfort to the user while the user sit on them while driving. These seats need maintenance after a certain period of time. Therefore, people use some handheld tools for repairing leather of a vehicle seat. They use leather stitching awl as the tool used for repairing or reinforcing seams and stitching on leather seats. However, the tool only fixes small damage as well as a skilled worker is required for operating this tool. So, people use an equipment that repair leather-surface of an object efficiently without any requirement of skilled worker.

[0003] Conventionally, some ways were used by people for repairing leather surfaces. They usually use leather repair kit as the kit contains materials like fillers, adhesives, and colorants for fixing damages of the leather of a vehicle seat efficiently. However, the kit has limited effectiveness for large or deep damages and might not provide a permanent solution. They also use leather hole punch tool as this is a handy tool for creating or adjusting holes in leather and are often needed for stitching repairs on the leather of a vehicle seat. But the tool doesn't work effectively also a lot of time gets consumed in repairing leather via such tools.

[0004] CN116949226A discloses about an invention that includes a leather repairing tool which comprises a base, a feeding wheel, an edge cutting supporting wheel, a pressing and pasting wheel and a roller cutter, the feeding wheel is rotatably connected to the base through an assembling rotating shaft, one end of the assembling rotating shaft is connected with the edge cutting supporting wheel through a universal joint, and a lifting module is arranged on the base; the top of the lifting module is movably connected with a shaft support, and the trimming supporting wheel is positioned on the shaft support; a mounting stand column is arranged on the base, a pushing and pressing component is rotatably connected to the mounting stand column, a connecting base is arranged on the lower portion of the pushing and pressing component, a pressing and pasting wheel is rotatably mounted on the connecting base, the pressing and pasting wheel can press the to-be-trimmed edge of the leather fabric to abut against the trimming supporting wheel, and a linkage component is arranged between the connecting base and the shaft bearing. By means of the trimming tool, the leather trimming inclination can be adjusted under the condition that the feeding wheel does not need to be replaced, and the trimming and trimming efficiency is improved.

[0005] CN213266558U discloses about an invention that includes a leather repairing device which comprises a rack, a leather conveying assembly, a scraping roller, a first driving assembly and a cleaning assembly. The leather conveying assembly and the cleaning assembly are installed on the rack, and the cleaning assembly is located on one side of the leather conveying assembly and used for cleaning the leather conveying assembly; the two ends of the scraping roller are rotationally connected to the rack and are driven by a first driving assembly to rotate; a plurality of scraping teeth are arranged on the surface of the scraping roller, the scraping roller is located above the leather conveying assembly, and a repair gap is formed between the scraping roller and the leather conveying assembly; leather penetrates through the repair gap and is driven by the leather conveying assembly to be conveyed, slurry is added to the surface of the scraping roller or the surface of the leather, the first driving assembly drives the scraping roller to rotate, and when scraping teeth on the surface of the scraping roller are close to or make contact with the surface of the leather, the slurry is evenly smeared to the surface of the leather. Therefore, scratches and pits on the surface of the leather are repaired, the coating and repairing effect is good, the product quality is good, and meanwhile the working efficiency is high.

[0006] Conventionally, many devices have been developed that are capable of repairing a leather surface. However, these devices are incapable of detecting as well as repairing the damaged area of the leather surface. Additionally, these existing devices also lack in repairing the damaged area as per the color of the area of the surface and fails in filling the surface with the same color as that of the surface.

[0007] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there exists a need in the art to develop a device that is capable of providing a means for detecting and repairing the damaged area of the leather surface. In addition, the developed device should also repair the damaged area as per the color of the area of the surface and thus filling the surface with the same color as that of the surface.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of detecting and repairing the damaged area of the leather surface.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of repairing the damaged area as per the color of the area of the surface and thus filling the surface with the same color as that of the surface.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of eliminating the time and efforts of the user that are involved in the repairing the damaged leather surface.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to an automated leather surface repairing device that is capable of detecting and repairing the damaged area of the leather surface in a self-sufficient manner, thus saves time as well as manual efforts of the user in the overall process. Additionally, the proposed device also provides reliability and works in a precise manner.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an automated leather surface repairing device comprises of, a housing positioned over a ground surface and positioned in proximity to a leather surface that is to be repaired, plurality of motorized omnidirectional wheels installed beneath the housing to provide translation to the housing over the ground surface, a touch interactive display panel installed over the housing to enable a user to provide input regrading repairing of the leather surface, an artificial intelligence based imaging unit installed over the housing to determine dimensions of damaged portion of the leather surface, a proximity sensor installed over the housing to monitor distance of the leather surface from the housing, an inverted L-shaped telescopic rod installed over the housing to extend, a hot air blower configured with the rod over the damaged portion to blow hot air over the damaged portion for a pre-set time duration for softening the damaged portion, an inverted L-shaped telescopic bar installed over the housing to extend, and a motorized grinding disc configured with the rod over the softened damaged portion, to rotate on axis in view of smoothening and flattening the damaged portion.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the proposed device further comprises of, a chamber arranged over the housing to store vinyl paint, an electronic nozzle configured with the chamber by means of a primary robotic link to position the nozzle over the damaged portion, to dispense a regulated amount of the paint over the flattened damaged portion in accordance with the detected dimensions of the damaged portion, a robotic arm installed over the housing to spread the dispensed paint by means of a flap configured with the arm, in order to fill cracks of the damaged portion, a multi-sectioned container arranged over the housing to store paint of various colors, an optical sensor is installed over the housing to determine color of the leather surface based on which the microcontroller identifies a specific section stored with the determined color, an electronic sprayer is configured with the container by means of a secondary robotic link and linked with each of the sections by means of a conduit, to position the sprayer over the repaired portion to spray a regulated amount of the determined paint over the repaired portion to conceal marks of repair, and a battery is associated with the device for powering up electrical and electronically operated components associated with the device.

[0016] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations might be possible that would fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of an automated leather surface repairing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises," and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having" and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.

[0020] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.

[0021] The present invention relates to an automated leather surface repairing device that is capable of providing a means for detecting and repairing the damaged area of the leather surface. In addition, the proposed device also repairs the damaged area as per the color of the area of the surface and thus filling the surface with the same color as that of the surface.

[0022] Referring to Figure 1, an isometric view of an automated leather surface repairing device is illustrated, comprising a housing 1 positioned over a ground surface, plurality of motorized omnidirectional wheels 2 installed beneath the housing 1, a touch interactive display panel 3 installed over the housing 1, an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 4 installed over the housing 1, an inverted L-shaped telescopic rod 5 installed over the housing 1, a hot air blower 6 configured with the rod 5, an inverted L-shaped telescopic bar 7 installed over the housing 1, a motorized grinding disc 8 configured with the rod 5, a chamber 9 arranged over the housing 1, an electronic nozzle 10 configured with the chamber 9, a robotic arm 11 installed over the housing 1, a flap 12 configured with the arm 11, a multi-sectioned container 13 arranged over the housing 1, an electronic sprayer 14 is configured with the container 13.

[0023] The proposed device includes a housing 1 positioned over a ground surface and in proximity to a leather surface that is to be repaired, wherein plurality of motorized omnidirectional wheels 2 installed beneath the housing 1 provides translation to the housing 1 over the ground surface on the actuation by the microcontroller.

[0024] The omnidirectional wheels 2 are the kind of wheels 2 with small discs ideally known as roller configured with a motor that is interlinked with a microcontroller. Upon actuation, the microcontroller regulates the movement of the motor in order to rotate the roller around the circumference by forming perpendicular to the direction of rotation in order to provide movement to the housing 1 on the surface to maneuver in any direction in order to repair the surface.

[0025] Further the user accesses a touch interactive display panel 3 installed over the housing 1 to provide input regrading repairing of the leather surface. The display panel 3 as mentioned herein is typically an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen that presents output in a visible form. The screen is equipped with touch-sensitive technology, allowing the user to interact directly with the display using their fingers. A touch controller IC (Integrated Circuit) is responsible for processing the analog signals generated when the user inputs details regarding repairing of the surface.

[0026] The user given inputs are then processed by a microcontroller wirelessly linked with the device and based on the user given inputs the microcntroller activates an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 4 installed over the housing 1 for capturing images of the leather surface.

[0027] The imaging unit 4 comprises of an image capturing arrangement including a set of lenses that captures multiple images of the leather surface, and the captured images are stored within memory of the imaging unit 4 in form of an optical data. The imaging unit 4 also comprises of a processor that is integrated with artificial intelligence protocols, such that the processor processes the optical data and extracts the required data from the captured images.

[0028] The extracted data is further converted into digital pulses and bits and are further transmitted to the microcontroller. The microcontroller processes the received data and determines the dimensions of damaged portion of the leather surface. Thereafter a proximity sensor installed over the housing 1 works in sync with the imaging unit 4 and monitors the distance of the leather surface from the housing 1.

[0029] The proximity sensor used herein is preferably an ultrasonic proximity sensor that uses ultrasonic waves to detect the distance of the leather surface from the housing 1. The ultrasonic proximity sensor typically emits ultrasonic waves towards the surface, the ultrasonic waves hit the surface and bounce back to the sensor's receiver. The receiver of the ultrasonic proximity sensor is sensitive to the emitted ultrasonic waves and listens for the reflected waves.

[0030] When the emitted ultrasonic waves are received by the receiver the proximity sensor sends the data to the microcontroller which processes and analyzes the acquired data for detecting the distance of the surface from the housing 1. On the basis of the distance the microcntroller actuates an inverted L-shaped telescopic rod 5 installed over the housing 1 to extend and position a hot air blower 6 configured with the rod 5 over the damaged portion.

[0031] The inverted L-shaped telescopic rod 5 is powered by a pneumatic unit including an air compressor, air cylinders, air valves and piston which works in collaboration to aid in extension and retraction of the rod 5. The pneumatic unit is operated by the microcontroller, such that the microcontroller actuates valve to allow passage of compressed air from the compressor within the cylinder, the compressed air further develops pressure against the piston and results in pushing and extending the piston.

[0032] The piston is connected with the rod 5 and due to applied pressure the rod 5 extends and similarly, the microcontroller retracts the telescopically operated rod 5 by closing the valve resulting in retraction of the piston. Thus, the microcontroller regulates the extension/retraction of the rod 5 in order to position the hot air blower 6 over the damaged portion for softening the portion.

[0033] The hot air blower 6 comprises of a vortex, heater, impeller and an outlet duct. The blower 6 increases the pressure of the air drawn for the surrounding by a series of vortex motions formed by the centrifugal movement of the impeller. Upon actuation of the blower 6 by the microcontroller, the impeller is rotating wherein the channels in the impeller push the drawn air from the surrounding forward through a heating unit, that increase the temperature of the absorbed air by creating the centrifugal movement that generates a helical movement of the air.

[0034] During this centrifugal movement, the absorbed air is continuously compressed along the channel and the pressure increases linearly. The pressurized air is transferred from the outlet duct of the blower 6 to the surface of the leather over the damaged portion in order too soften the damaged portion. Post softening of the damaged area, the microcontroller actuates an inverted L-shaped telescopic bar 7 installed over the housing 1 to extend and position a motorized grinding disc 8 configured with the rod 5 over the softened damaged portion.

[0035] The L-shaped bar 7 is powered by a pneumatic unit that extends and retracts the grinding disc 8 over the damaged area, wherein simultaneously the microcntroller actuates the grinding disc 8 to rotate on axis in view of smoothening and flattening the damaged portion. After the grinding of the damaged area, the microcntroller actuates a primary robotic link to position an electronic nozzle 10 configured with a chamber 9 arranged over the housing 1 and stored with vinyl paint to position the nozzle 10 near the damaged area.

[0036] The primary robotic link is made of several segments that are attached together by joints also referred to as axes. Each joint of the segments contains a step motor that rotates and allows the robotic link to complete a specific motion of the link. Upon actuation of the robotic arm 11 by the microcontroller, the motor drives the movement of the link to position the nozzle 10 over the fattened damaged area.

[0037] The nozzle 10 works by utilizing electrical energy to automize the flow of vinyl solution in a controlled flow pattern by converting the pressure energy of a fluid into kinetic energy, which increases the fluid's velocity. Upon actuation of nozzle 10 by the microcontroller, the electric motor or the pump pressurizes the incoming vinyl solution, increasing its pressure significantly. High pressure enables the solution to dispense a regulated amount of the paint over the flattened damaged portion in accordance with the detected dimensions of the damaged portion.

[0038] Post dispensing of the paint solution over the damaged area, the microcntroller actuates a robotic arm 11 installed over the housing 1 to spread the dispensed paint by means of a flap 12 configured with the arm 11, in order to fill cracks of the damaged portion. The robotic arm 11 comprises of a robotic link and a clamp attached to the link. The robotic link is made of several segments that are attached together by joints also referred to as axes.

[0039] Each joint of the segments contains a step motor that rotates and allows the robotic link to complete a specific motion of the arm 11. Upon actuation of the robotic arm 11 by the microcontroller, the motor drives the movement of the clamp to position the flap 12 over the damaged area in order to spread the paint evenly over the damaged area from a multi-sectioned container 13 arranged over the housing 1 and stored with paint of various colors.

[0040] In addition, an optical sensor installed over the housing 1 and synced with the imaging unit 4 determines the color of the leather surface based on which the microcontroller identifies a specific section stored with the determined color to dispense the color.

[0041] The optical sensor is used to detect the color of the leather surface. The optical sensor works by using light to detect the presence of the color. The optical sensor contains a light emitter and a light detector. On actuation the microcontroller causes the intensity of the light to decrease. The light detector then detects the change in light intensity and sends a signal to the microcontroller that identifies the specific section of the chamber 9 stored with the determined color.

[0042] After the successful spreading of the paint the microcntroller re-actuates the hot air blower 6 to blow hot air over the dispensed paint in order to dry the paint, thereby repairing the damaged portion. Further the microcntroller actuates a secondary robotic link linked with each of the sections by means of a conduit to position an electronic sprayer 14 configured with the container 13 over the repaired portion in order to spray a regulated amount of the determined paint over the repaired portion to conceal marks of repair.

[0043] A battery is associated with the device to supply power to electrically powered components which are employed herein. The battery is comprised of a pair of electrodes named as a cathode and an anode. The battery uses a chemical reaction of oxidation/reduction to do work on charge and produce a voltage between their anode and cathode and thus produces electrical energy that is used to do work in the device.

[0044] The proposed device works the best in the following manner, where the housing 1 is positioned over the ground surface in proximity to the leather surface that is to be repaired where the motorized omnidirectional wheels 2 provides translation to the housing 1 over the ground surface. Further the user accesses the touch interactive display panel 3 to provide input regrading repairing of the leather surface and based on the user given commands the artificial intelligence based imaging unit 4 captures images of the leather surface. on the basis of the captured images the microcontroller determines the dimensions of damaged portion of the leather surface. Now the proximity sensor monitors the distance of the leather surface from the housing 1 and accordingly the inverted L-shaped telescopic rod 5 extends and positions the hot air blower 6 over the damaged portion after which the hot air blower 6 blows the hot air over the damaged portion for the pre-set time duration for softening the damaged portion. Further the inverted L-shaped telescopic bar 7 extends and positions the motorized grinding disc 8 over the softened damaged portion and after positioning the motorized grinding disc 8 rotate on axis in view of smoothening and flattening the damaged portion. Now the primary robotic link positions the nozzle 10 over the damaged portion, and after which the nozzle 10 dispenses the regulated amount of the paint over the flattened damaged portion in accordance with the detected dimensions of the damaged portion. Thereafter the robotic arm 11 spreads the dispensed paint by means of the flap 12 configured with the arm 11, in order to fill cracks of the damaged portion and upon spreading the paint the hot air blower 6 again blows hot air over the dispensed paint in order to dry the paint, thereby repairing the damaged portion. Now the optical sensor determines the color of the leather surface and accordingly the microcntroller identifies the specific section stored with the determined color. Further the electronic sprayer 14 sprays the regulated amount of the determined paint over the repaired portion to conceal marks of repair.

[0045] Although the field of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. , Claims:1) An automated leather surface repairing device, comprising:

i) a housing 1 positioned over a ground surface and positioned in proximity to a leather surface that is to be repaired, wherein plurality of motorized omnidirectional wheels 2 installed beneath said housing 1 that actuates to provide translation to said housing 1 over said ground surface;

ii) a touch interactive display panel 3 installed over said housing 1 to enable a user to provide input regrading repairing of said leather surface, wherein based on said user-input, a microcontroller linked with said display panel 3 actuates an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 4 installed over said housing 1 and integrated with a processor for capturing and processing images of said leather surface, based on which said microcontroller linked with said processor, determines dimensions of damaged portion of said leather surface;

iii) a proximity sensor installed over said housing 1 and synced with said imaging unit 4 to monitor distance of said leather surface from said housing 1, wherein based on said monitored distance, said microcontroller actuates an inverted L-shaped telescopic rod 5 installed over said housing 1 to extend and position a hot air blower 6 configured with said rod 5 over said damaged portion followed by actuation of said hot air blower 6 to blow hot air over said damaged portion for a pre-set time duration for softening said damaged portion;

iv) an inverted L-shaped telescopic bar 7 installed over said housing 1 and actuated by said microcontroller to extend and position a motorized grinding disc 8 configured with said rod 5 over said softened damaged portion, wherein upon positioning of said disc 8, said microcontroller actuates said motorized grinding disc 8 to rotate on axis in view of smoothening and flattening said damaged portion;

v) a chamber 9 arranged over said housing 1 and stored with vinyl paint, wherein an electronic nozzle 10 configured with said chamber 9 by means of a primary robotic link that is actuated by said microcontroller to position said nozzle 10 over said damaged portion, wherein upon positioning of said nozzle 10, said microcontroller actuates said nozzle 10 to dispense a regulated amount of said paint over said flattened damaged portion in accordance with said detected dimensions of said damaged portion; and

vi) a robotic arm 11 installed over said housing 1 and actuated by said microcontroller to spread said dispensed paint by means of a flap 12 configured with said arm 11, in order to fill cracks of said damaged portion, wherein upon spreading said paint, said microcontroller re-actuates said hot air blower 6 to blow hot air over said dispensed paint in order to dry said paint, thereby repairing said damaged portion.

2) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a multi-sectioned container 13 arranged over said housing 1 and stored with paint of various colors.

3) The device as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein an optical sensor is installed over said housing 1 and synced with said imaging unit 4 to determine color of said leather surface based on which said microcontroller identifies a specific section stored with said determined color.

4) The device as claimed in claim 1 and 3, wherein an electronic sprayer 14 is configured with said container 13 by means of a secondary robotic link and linked with each of said sections by means of a conduit, that is actuated by said microcontroller to position said sprayer 14 over said repaired portion followed by actuation of said sprayer 14 to spray a regulated amount of said determined paint over said repaired portion to conceal marks of repair.

5) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a battery is associated with said device for powering up electrical and electronically operated components associated with said device.

Documents