Abstract: A bevel head apparatus includes tilt, rotation, and vertical positioning with a cutting torch of a numerically controlled plate cutting machine. The apparatus has a back panel that attaches to the cutting machine and provides vertical movement of the cutting torch, a drive box coupled with the back panel houses electronics and mechanical components, an arm coupled to the drive box provides rotational movement of the cutting torch, and a pantograph coupled with the arm provides tilt movement to the cutting torch attached to the pantograph. Tilt, rotation, and vertical positioning of the cutting torch is controlled by the electronics and mechanical components. The bevel head apparatus also include a laser for measuring distance to determine and control a height of the cutting torch above the flat plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mechanically controlling the flame cutting and/or connection welding of workpieces. The difficulty encountered during the mechanized burning of holes in vessels, containers or tanks and the welding of connecting members into these holes is that the cutting and welding apparatus need to be guided in such a way that not only do they not contact the surface of the vessel, container or tank, but they are also kept a fixed distance from this surface. Therefore, control of the cutting and/or welding process is effected in conformity with the actual dimensions of the workpiece that is being worked on. In particular, this control is undertaken in conformity with the circumferential line of the hole for a given connecting member, and also in conformity with the curved surface of the vessel, container or tank. The peripheral line of the connecting member is first sensed and is graphically or electromagnetically recorded.

Abstract: A process for the thermal cutting of profiles with a cutting torch which is guided by a control unit in accordance with the workpiece contour includes storing the contour in the control unit. The absolute values of the profile are determined by means of measuring devices in the vicinity of the profile. These values are transmitted to the control unit for determining the actual workpiece contour and the control signals for the torch.

Abstract: A dispenser unit for use with a cutting machine for cutting metal parts from metal workpieces. The cutting machine has a main beam movable in a first direction which carries at least one cutting torch which is movable along the beam in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A cutting table with a planar cutting surface is located below the main beam. The dispenser unit carries a plurality of individual point support members for supporting workpieces to be cut on the cutting table. The dispenser unit includes an elongated tube with an open lower end which is mounted on the main beam for movement along the beam in the second direction.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a copying apparatus which includes a tracer for tracing automatically a contour of a pattern to be copied and a working machine arranged in conjunction with the tracer in a given relationship is disclosed. At first, the tracer is moved manually with respect to the pattern to be traced to detect point data such as a working start point, a copy start point and a copy end point, and then automatically moved along the contour of the pattern to detect pattern data, while the working operation is performed. Next, the thus detected point and pattern data are stored in a cassette tape. Therefore, in case of performing the repetitive working operation for the same pattern, since the working operation can be performed in accordance with the data read out of the cassette tape, the required working operation can be effected in a simple and rapid manner.

Abstract: A method of controlling an operation of a copycutting apparatus including a tracer for tracing automatically a pattern and a cutting gas torch interconnected to the tracer in a given relationship. Prior to the actual working, the tracer is manually moved with respect to the pattern along a given path and stores coordinates of operational points such as a piercing point, a copy start point, a copy end point, an intermediate point, a slow down point, etc. During the actual working the stored coordinates are readout to control the movement of the tracer in such a manner that until the tracer does not reach a copy start point the copying apparatus is set in a position setting mode in which the tracer is moved under the control of the readout coordinates. After the tracer has reached the copy start point the copying apparatus is switched into a copying mode in which the movement of tracer along the pattern is controlled by detecting the pattern.

Abstract: A method of controlling an operation of a copy-cutting apparatus including a tracer for tracing automatically a pattern and a cutting gas torch interconnected to the tracer in a given relationship. Prior to the actual working, the tracer is manually moved with respect to the pattern along a given path and stores coordinates of operational points such as a piercing point, a copy start point, a copy end point, an intermediate point, a slow down point, etc. During the actual working the stored coordinates are read out to control the movement of the tracer in such a manner that until the tracer has reached a copy start point the copying apparatus is set in a position setting mode in which the tracer is moved under the control of the read out coordinates. After the tracer has reached the copy start point the copying apparatus is switched into a copying mode in which the movement of tracer along the pattern is controlled by detecting the pattern.

Abstract: A flame cutting machine control system has a housing to hold the control units with a front plate for the housing; the control units are attached to the front plate with the front plate being designed as a housing cover and the control units being insertable into the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting and beveling pipe comprising a horizontally positioned and movable member, roller means to support and axially rotate a horizontal pipe parallel to the member, a photocell scanner mounted on the member and positioned to follow a profile template circumscribing a pipe on the roller means, drive means, responsive to a signal from the photocell scanner, adapted to move the member horizontally in either axial direction as the photocell scanner follows the profile template, a cutting torch pivotally supported by a mounting on the member and positioned to cut through a pipe, rotating axially on the roller means, in a cutting path having the same profile as the template, a support on the member movable axially of a pipe on the roller means, a second photocell scanner mounted on the movable support and positioned to follow a bevel contour template circumscribing a pipe on the roller means, an arm extending from the support and pivotally connected with the cutting torch, and drive means, responsi

Abstract: An automatic control means is provided with a pipe cutting and welding apparatus. The control means has a computer which controls the operation of the motors operating the main carriage, the tool heads, and the bracket arms for cutting or welding pipes, plates or the like.

Abstract: Shape cutting apparatus includes a transverse beam rigidly mounted on a pair of spaced carriages which are provided with wheels for translation along a pair of parallel, longitudinal rails. A tracer and holder assembly therefor are mounted for translation along the transverse beam. Each carriage is provided with a servomotor, which motors are connected electrically in parallel across a source of potential such as the output of a servoamplifier. Upon energization of the motors, the beam is driven along the rails at speeds up to 120 i.p.m. and greater while the tracer cornering capability is equivalent to the capability previously only attainable at lower speeds, e.g. 50-60 i.p.m. Thus, higher cutting speeds are obtained without degradation of cutting accuracy and without resort to expensive structural stiffening, additional electronic control circuitry, or precision rack and pinion carriage drive mechanisms.

Abstract: Sheet plate is cut with a carriage having an elongated support rod journalled therein for linear movement along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The carriage is propelled in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod. One end of the rod is provided with working means while the other end of the rod cooperates with an elongated guy so that the rod is carried by said carriage in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rod while the work means maintains a fixed position parallel to the guy.

Abstract: A flame cutting machine includes a unit which photoelectrically scans a line curve or edge with at least one scanning beam receiver and with the output signals conducted to a leveling motor connected to a component analyzer for controlling two coordinate motors and with the scanning beam receiver and the leveling motor and the component analyzer mechanically in direct connection with one another.

Abstract: Torch cutting machines of the type embodying a plurality of torches adjustably mounted with respect to a moving conveyor, such that the torches may cut the flange and central web portions of I-beams, structural members and the like. The machine is characterized by the capability of vertically and longitudinally moving the torches upon a pivoted cantilever cutting arm which extends over a cutting area. The cutting torches embody independent vertical and lateral drive means and the cutting arm while in pre-set pivoted mode may be longitudinally and independently advanced with respect to the cutting area, such that complex straight mitre cuts, compound mitre cuts, copes notches and the like may be cut without special handling.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting welding or otherwise working pipes, plates and the like, in which a tool is mounted for rotatable movement at an angle to the surface of the workpiece. The tool is carried by a carriage which slidably supports a bracket having a first arm and a second arm. Both arms have optical scanners at one end. One scanner senses the angle the carriage is to be rotated around the pipe and the other the amount of rotation of the tool that determines the angle of attack of the tool relative to the work piece. The scanners sense profile curves, drawn to the desired shape of the surface to be cut, determining the linear movement of the tool and the angle of rotation of the tool.

Abstract: A contour tracing apparatus in which the coordinate drive motors are cantilever supported on simple plates and needle thrust bearings to permit the motor pinions to be spring biased into engagement with the respective racks for moving the scanning head and associated tool. Kerf offset is provided by rotation of the scanning head optical assembly about a pivot member, which can be translated along a zero kerf adjustment line to provide forward offset. The pivot member is also eccentrically rotatable in response to rotation of the optical assembly about another axis to properly align the photocells of the optical assembly with a zero kerf mark. The optical assembly includes a plurality of lamps spaced about the photocells and one integral lens structure having annular prism surfaces encircling a convex lens surface to direct light from the lamps to the contour and from the contour to the cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for cutting or shaping material, as by heat-shaping, wherein the outline of a predetermined pattern is copied on the material which is to be worked on by following the pattern with a follower member whose movement is used to control a cutting or heat-shaping tool.A vertically-arranged copying panel to receive the pattern is provided with two horizontal rails and a support which is movable along said rails. The follower member and the tool are mounted on the support and movable in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, with respect to the support, and the support is movable across the copying panel and material worked on.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic cutting torch assembly for making cuts of any predetermined shape in a metallic pipe. Rollers are provided for the pipe to be processed which permit back and forth movement of the pipe. A photoelectric tracer unit and a cutting torch are mounted on a longitudinally extending bar which is also movable back and forth. The tracer unit and cutting torch are aligned with the axis of the pipe and are adjustable so as to be brought in close proximity to the pipe regardless of the size of the pipe. A pattern line is placed on the pipe and the tracking of the line by the tracer unit results in providing the correct cutting locus for the torch. A resolver unit senses the instantaneous angular position of the tracer unit and translates the sensed signal into two signals which correspond to the circumferential and angular components of the sensed angular position.

Abstract: A machine for repetitive cutting of small identical parts from a relatively large metal plate. A scanning head is positioned on a carriage above a template which is mounted to a tracing table, and one or more metal cutting heads are also mounted on the carriage. The scanning head is operable to drive the carriage and cutting head to cut a first series of one or more identically shaped parts from the plate. A further carriage on the machine is movable between a stop and an adjustable limit switch, with the adjusted distance between the stop and switch corresponding to the pre-determined distance it is desired to shift the tracing table to position the template for controlling the cutting of a second series of one or more identical parts from the same plate. The further carriage is selectively connected to a table moving mechanism, and such connection also actuates the latter to move the table until the carriage engages the limit switch.