Abstract: A system for performing operations on the edge of an irregularly shaped workpiece, such as seaming the edge of a piece of glass (G) is accomplished by moving the glass (G) along a conveyor (11, 12). The edge of the glass (G) is detected by a camera (13) which makes images of the glass (G). Electronic circuitry (20) receives the image information from camera (13) and determines the location of the edge of glass (G) at a plurality of locations and stores information which is indicative of the entire profile of the glass (G). Additional circuitry (32) receives signals proportional to the location of the seaming heads (16, 18) and compares these signals with the data stored in circuitry (20). When the glass (G) has moved downstream to the position to be seamed, the seaming heads (16, 18) are then moved to the position of the detected profile of glass (G) to perform the seaming operation.

Abstract: A system for performing operations on the edge of an irregularly shaped workpiece, such as seaming the edge of a piece of glass (G) is accomplished by moving the glass (G) along a conveyor (11, 12). The edge of the glass (G) is detected by a camera (13) which makes images of the glass (G). Electronic circuitry (20) receives the image information from camera (13) and determines the location of the edge of glass (G) at a plurality of locations and stores information which is indicative of the entire profile of the glass (G). Additional circuitry (32) receives signals proportional to the location of the seaming heads (16, 18) and compares these signals with the data stored in circuitry (20). When the glass (G) has moved downstream to the position to be seamed, the seaming heads (16, 18) are then moved to the position of the detected profile of glass (G) to perform the seaming operation.