Including Use Of Sensor Responsive To Information Carried By Removable Auxiliary Record (e.g., Recording Disk, Tape, Or Card) Patents (Class 72/14.8)
  • Patent number: 10994316
    Abstract: A straightening system is provided to perform straightening in conformity with a shape pattern of a the material. The straightening system includes a cooling device configured to spray a cooling fluid in a predetermined pattern with respect to a plurality of regions of the material, divided in a width direction, to cool the material that is heated in a heating furnace and then passes through a rolling mill. The straightening system also includes a straightening device configured to straighten the material passed through the cooling device. The straightening system further includes a flatness measuring system configured to measure flatness of the material passed through the cooling device and a controller configured to receive data of the flatness of the material from the flatness measuring system and to control the cooling device in response to the data to enhance the flatness of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: POSCO
    Inventors: Gwan-Sik Min, Pil-Jong Lee, Seong-Hyun Ko, Hui-Seop Kwon, Seung-Woo Park, Jong-Hoon Kang, Jae-Hyung Seo
  • Patent number: 10766062
    Abstract: A servomotor control device in a processing machine that processes an object to be processed on a press supporting unit driven by a servomotor includes: a pressure detection unit configured to detect an actual pressure applied on the object to be processed; a pressure command generation unit configured to generate a pressure command that commands a pressure that the object to be processed preferably receives; a pressure control unit configured to generate a speed command for the servomotor on the basis of the pressure command generated by the pressure command generation unit and the actual pressure detected by the pressure detection unit; and a speed command limiting unit configured to limit the speed command generated by the pressure control unit using a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Shougo Shinoda, Tsutomu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10558192
    Abstract: A movable gantry system is described. In an example, the movable gantry system is configured to interface with jigs of different types or sizes and/or with different positions of a same jig and/or to perform operations on different parts mounted in such jigs. To do so, the movable gantry system includes an end effector, a gantry, and a computing system. The end effector is mounted within the gantry and provides at least rotational movement to perform operations on a part. The gantry is movable and interfaces with a jig holding the part. Further, the gantry provides translational movement to the end effector. The computing system identifies the gantry and the part and controls the gantry and the end effector, thereby facilitating the operations on the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventor: William Wilder
  • Patent number: 10077942
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling and/or regulating an annealing or heat treatment furnace (2) of a production line (1) processing metal material, which comprises the annealing or heat treatment furnace (2) and at least one measuring instrument (7, 8, 17), which detects at least one material property of a strip material (6) located in the production line (1), wherein the annealing or heat treatment furnace (2) and the at least one measuring instrument (7, 8) interact in a regulating and/or control circuit of an automated process control, which regulates and/or controls the annealing or heat treatment furnace (2) in connection with a furnace control, wherein according to the invention, a solution is created wherein an improvement of the process control over the previously known prior art can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: SMS Group GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Hartung, Ulrich Sommers, Matthias Baerwald, Alexandre Lhoest
  • Patent number: 9821434
    Abstract: In a trial peening step, a shot peening process is applied to a back face 40B of a mold 40 in which an opening of a closed-end water cooling hole 42 is formed. Next, in an evaluation step, compressive residual stress and surface roughness of a region shot-peened in the trial peening step are measured and an extent of shot peening treatment in the trial peening step is evaluated based on measurement results. Next, in a peening step, a surface of the water cooling hole 42 in the mold 40 is shot-peened under peening conditions set based on peening conditions for the trial peening step and on evaluation results produced in the evaluation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Kobayashi, Akinori Matsui
  • Patent number: 9486894
    Abstract: In a trial peening step, a shot peening process is applied to a back face 40B of a mold 40 in which an opening of a closed-end water cooling hole 42 is formed. Next, in an evaluation step, compressive residual stress and surface roughness of a region shot-peened in the trial peening step are measured and an extent of shot peening treatment in the trial peening step is evaluated based on measurement results. Next, in a peening step, a surface of the water cooling hole 42 in the mold 40 is shot-peened under peening conditions set based on peening conditions for the trial peening step and on evaluation results produced in the evaluation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Kobayashi, Akinori Matsui
  • Patent number: 9061339
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing molded plates with multi-composite curved surface is provided to manufacture a forming plate having various cubic multi-composite curved surfaces. The operation program of an upper mold, a lower mold, a stretching forming unit, a marking robot, and a cutting robot is inputted (S1). The upper surface of the lower mold and the lower surface of the upper mold are formed into the shape of multi-composite curved surface (S2). After a metal plate is positioned on the upper surface of the lower mold, both ends thereof are clamped by multiple stretching forming units (S3). The metal plate is molded into the shape of the multi-composite curved surface (S4). The metal plate is marked by the marking robot (S5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignees: STEEL LIFE CO., LTD., STEEL FLOWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwan-Chun Park, Byeong-Kwon Kim
  • Patent number: 8676371
    Abstract: A rolling train for rolling a strip has a number of rolling stands and a coiler. The rolling stands have work and backing rolls. Data of the strip are fed to a control device of the rolling train which determines individual pass reductions for the rolling stands based on the data. It controls the main rolling stands and the coiler such that the strip is rolled in the main rolling stands according to the individual pass reductions and then coiled up. It determines the individual pass reductions such that they are zero and controls the rolling stand arranged directly upstream of the coiler such that—with respect to this main rolling stand—the tension in the strip on the outlet side is less than on the inlet side, but the strip runs through this rolling stand without undergoing any forming, at least on one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Berthold Botta
  • Patent number: 8601848
    Abstract: A bending device that bends a workpiece is provided with a bending mechanism that bends the workpiece, a fixing table on which a chuck mechanism that grips the workpiece is mounted, an articulated robot to which the bending mechanism is attached, and a control unit that controls operations of the bending mechanism, the chuck mechanism, and the articulated robot. The control unit includes a first control unit that twists the bending mechanism around a longitudinal axis of the workpiece, and a second control unit that controls the articulated robot to twist the bending mechanism holding the workpiece around the longitudinal axis of the workpiece within a twisting angle range and then causes the first control unit to perform the twisting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Opton
    Inventor: Teruaki Yogo
  • Patent number: 8342000
    Abstract: A servo-press machine determining whether or not a drive power supply voltage between a positive power supply path and a negative power supply path that connect a power supply device and a motor rotation control section is lower than an induced voltage of a servomotor, and correcting speed-related data based on slide motion information when the servo-press machine has determined that the drive power supply voltage is lower than the induced voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Aida Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kuboe
  • Patent number: 8322173
    Abstract: A method for utilizing a bending machine die layout includes designating a die layout of a bending machine, the designated die layout being defined by arrangements of replaceable punches and replaceable dies installed on the bending machine. The method also includes extracting, in the designated die layout, segments in each of which a punch and a die face overlapping to each other to be actually used for one of bending processes, as virtual die stages based on punch attachment positions and punch lengths of the punches, and die attachment positions and die lengths of the dies. The method further includes assigning, by using a sheet metal shape model of a bent product planned to be made by the bending machine, bend lines on the sheet metal shape model corresponding to actual bend lines of the bent product, to the virtual die stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Akira Senba
  • Publication number: 20120227452
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a defective part and the type of defect formed during stamping operations. The system and method will not only detect the defect but also the nature of the defect and the time at which the defect occurred during stamping operations. Such information is useful not only in quality control but also in isolating a problem which may exist in stamping operations and thus eliminating time for isolating such problems and correcting them. The system and method uses a profile of a properly stamped part to detect a defect, and the root cause of the defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua A.H. Walter, Michael J. Gravis, Charles David Apps
  • Patent number: 8201604
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying labels to products includes a label application station at which the labels are applied to a product and an application head movably mounted relative to a base for movement between a first operative loading position spaced from the label application station and a second operative application position at which the application head applies at least one label to a product positioned at the label application station. An electrically actuated solenoid is operatively connected to the application head to move the application head between the first and second operative positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Green, Joseph M. Fisher, William B. Elliott, Joseph J. Alfieri, Eric K. Spina
  • Patent number: 7891223
    Abstract: A transfer press machine which can accurately and promptly check interference and can be easily handled is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Aida Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sotoyuki Kaneko, Hiroshi Hosoya, Kazuhiro Kuboe
  • Patent number: 7770427
    Abstract: A method for producing a metal forged product having a plurality of branches includes a preliminary forging step of forming a preform by closed forging from a cylindrical material (301) having a surface layer (302) on a circumferential surface thereof such that the surface layer is contained in a surface region of the preform; an intermediate forging step of subjecting the preform to forging to thereby extrude the surface layer in the form of flash outside a periphery of a forged product corresponding to a target product; a final forging step of forging the forged product into a product assuming a target product shape; and a flash removal step of removing the flash containing the surface layer from the product assuming a target product shape to thereby produce a target forged product. The forged product is enhanced in mechanical characteristics and has no flash removal mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Takafumi Nakahara, Mitsuharu Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7757526
    Abstract: A method for changing a force control gain expressed as a ratio of force error to velocity command value in a control circuit performing a force control of a servo motor driving a die cushion disposed opposite to a slide in a press machine. The method includes: obtaining a difference between a displacement of the slide and a displacement of the die cushion in a state in which the slide and the die cushion collide with and are exerting force on each other; detecting the force when the difference of the displacements is obtained; calculating a spring constant of a structural portion based on a proportionality between the difference of the displacements and the force, when regarding the structural portion including the slide and the die cushion as an elastic structure; and changing the force control gain based on the spring constant using a fixed proportionality that exists between the force control gain and a reciprocal of the spring constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Tadashi Okita, Hiroyuki Kawamura, Satoshi Ikai
  • Publication number: 20100139351
    Abstract: A method for determining the quality of a crimped connection between a conductor and a contact includes operating a crimping device to exert a crimping force on the conductor and the contact. From the crimping force curve that occurs during the crimping, a normalized force-distance crimping force curve is derived and a compression area is determined which lies under a reference crimping force curve. The crimping force curve and the reference crimping force curve are subdivided into several zones, the subdivision taking place under consideration of the size of the compression area. A further area that lies under the crimping force curve is determined and used to infer the quality of the crimped connection. A device for performing the method is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Leo Bruhin
  • Patent number: 7617709
    Abstract: The invention matches the material quality of a product to target data, even when a materials quality model is insufficient in prediction accuracy. Heating a metallic material, rolling, forging, or leveling the metallic material, and cooling the metallic material are each conducted at least once. Prior to manufacture of a metallic product of a desired size and shape, qualitative data of the metallic material are measured at a position by materials, quality sensor in a manufacturing line, and modifications based on measured data are made to heating, processing, or cooling conditions in at least one of the steps, upstream of the materials measured data sensor so that the quality of the metallic material at the measuring position agrees with target data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Sano, Kazuhiro Ohara, Masashi Tsugeno
  • Publication number: 20090113969
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a thematic design article is disclosed. One of the embodiments of the method comprises the step of formulating from a three-dimensional computer model of an article, design parameters for panel elements of the article. The method further comprises the step of controlling a wire bending device responsive to the design parameters to form the panel elements, wherein the panel elements are comprised of horizontal and vertical sub-elements comprising continuous sub-panels, linear cut to form sub-panels, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Scenario Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Buckley, Anthony L. Caruso, Sanford D. Damasco, Paolo Hilario, Paul Nylander, Gerry Rey, Tom Stapleton, Ryan Trinidad
  • Publication number: 20090025444
    Abstract: Provided is a die cushion controller (40) that controls an ascending/descending speed of a die cushion pad (15) based on a preset pressure pattern (56) and positional pattern (54), in which a position/pressure control switching unit (51) constantly monitors and compares a for-pressure speed command signal ?pc corresponding to a pressure deviation signal ep and a for-position speed command signal ?hc corresponding to a position deviation signal eh, and selects smaller one of those speed command signals to be sent to a speed control unit (53). Since the for-pressure speed command signal ?pc and the for-position speed command signal ?hc are constantly monitored and either one of them is selected, change in pressure and change in position can be accurately recognized to allow switching between a pressure control and a position control quickly, stably, and reliably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicants: KOMATSU LTD., KOMATSU INDUSTRIES CORP.
    Inventor: Yuichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7434505
    Abstract: High production processing and high accuracy processing are selectively performed with a single press. To this end, there are provided a system and method for controlling a servo press 1 in which an eccentric rotation mechanism 20 is driven by a servo motor 21 and the rotating power of the eccentric rotation mechanism 20 is transmitted to a slide 3 through a toggle linkage 15, thereby vertically moving the slide 3. In the control system and method, the rotation of the servo motor 21 is controlled in response to a motor speed command rm calculated based on the deviation ? p of the position of the slide 3 and a positional gain G(?) preset according to a speed ratio of the slide 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Komatsu Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Suzuki, Yukio Hata
  • Publication number: 20080228454
    Abstract: The method for simulating bending of a tube by means of at least one bending machine comprises a step of calculating at least one cycle of bending commands (30, 35) related to at least one tube-manufacturing parameter as a function of a set of tube data (10) and of a set of technological data (20). There is obtained at least one three-dimensional geometric model (40) of at least one bending machine and associated mechanical tools as a function of at least one parameter (50) derived from the cycle of bending commands calculated in this way (30, 35). In accordance with the cycle of bending commands calculated in this way (35), obtaining a three-dimensional and kinematic simulation of the process in which the tube represented in this way by the set of tube data (10) is bent by means of at least one bending machine and associated mechanical tools represented in this way by the corresponding three-dimensional geometric model (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Airbus France
    Inventors: Yann-Henri Laudrain, Jean-Louis Lamotte
  • Publication number: 20080163659
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a roll profile for work rolls for both shape control and free ruled rolling. Each of the work rolls has a tapered end. Providing starting point of the tapered end of the rolls being origin of coordinates, the curve of respective tapered end is a quartic curve represented by a formula y(x)=a0+a1x+a2x2+a3x3+a4x4, x?[0,Le], y(x)?[0,He]. Because the transition between the tapered end and the roll body is smooth, asymmetric deformation due to the difference between abrasion of the upper and lower rolls is eliminated, which reducing wedged shape of strip and reducing unstable rolling due to asymmetrical strip stresses caused by the axial shifting of the roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: ANGANG STEEL COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Haodong Huang, Xianlin Chen, Anrui He, Lin Zhao, Xiaochun Sha, Xu Yang, Xin Chen, Yanqiang Xu, Pusheng Ma, Xiaobo Guo, Haoran Dong, Shengtian Wu
  • Patent number: 7360391
    Abstract: A control device, for a servo die cushion, for precisely performing force control without using a force detector. The control device includes a slide position detecting part for detecting the position of the slide, a storing part for storing information representing a relation between the position of the slide and the speed of the die cushion, the information being predetermined such that the force between the slide and the die cushion is set to a desired force and a die cushion speed commanding part for generating a speed command of the die cushion based on the information and the position of the slide detected by the slide position detecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Tadashi Okita, Hiroyuki Kawamura, Satoshi Ikai
  • Patent number: 7086261
    Abstract: A crimp state estimation apparatus includes: an information input section for inputting information on an crimp contact terminal, an electric wire, an anvil, and the crimper and an input compression ratio of a core wire of the electric wire; and an estimation unit for calculating a total length of the bottom wall and the pair of crimp pieces after crimp in a cross section orthogonal to the core wire based on the information and the input compression ratio and estimating a cross-sectional shape of the bottom wall and the pair of crimp pieces after crimp based on the total length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Megumi Saito, Naoki Ito
  • Patent number: 7036226
    Abstract: A crimp state estimation apparatus includes: an information input section for inputting information on an crimp contact terminal, an electric wire, an anvil, and the crimper and an input compression ratio of a core wire of the electric wire; and an estimation unit for calculating a total length of the bottom wall and the pair of crimp pieces after crimp in a cross section orthogonal to the core wire based on the information and the input compression ratio and estimating a cross-sectional shape of the bottom wall and the pair of crimp pieces after crimp based on the total length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Megumi Saito, Naoki Ito
  • Patent number: 6823708
    Abstract: A computer readable recording medium which stores control data to control the action of a sheet metal bending system which is provided with a press brake and a sheet metal support device, where the press brake is provided with a punch and die which bends the sheet metal along the bending line by approaching to and parting from each other, and a back gauge to determine the position of the sheet metal against the punch and die, the sheet metal support apparatus is provided with a support arm which supports the sheet metal and may be rotated freely centered on the rotation axis which is parallel to the bending axis, the control data is a control data to control the bending process which includes a plurality of bending processes to produce sheet metal parts (parts) with a plurality of bending lines by the press brake and sheet metal support device by controlling the approach and parting motion of the punch and die and at least the rotational motion of the support arm, and the control data is related to the sheet
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Amada Company Limited
    Inventor: Takanori Okubo
  • Patent number: 6810352
    Abstract: In order to realize improving dimensional accuracy of a plastic workpiece and realize reducing a production cost and shortening time duration of manufacture, a computer comprises an initial die assembly shape calculating function to calculate a die assembly shape for the plastic workpiece according to a predetermined designed shape of said plastic workpiece; a workpiece shape calculating function to calculate the shape of the plastic workpiece to be manufactured with the initial die assembly shape considering a manufacturing condition of the plastic workpiece; a shape comparing function to compare the calculated shape of the plastic workpiece and the designed shape of the plastic workpiece; a workpiece-redesigning function to calculate a new designed shape of the plastic workpiece according to a result of the comparison; and a die assembly reshaping function to calculate a new die assembly shape according to the new designed shape of the plastic workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takatoshi Sasahara
  • Patent number: 6658910
    Abstract: A rolling apparatus is proposed with four rolls arranged in the shape of a star whereby one drive unit each is assigned to the rolls and whereby an adjusting unit each precedes the rolls through which the rolls are arranged adjustably in a radial and an axial direction. The separate and comprehensive triggering of the individual rolls (3) always allows a symmetrical introduction of the rolling stock to and through the rolling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Karl Fuhr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Volker Gerth, Josef Horstmann
  • Patent number: 6644082
    Abstract: A support medium is capable of being read by a numerical control system of a bending machine. The support medium stores program instructions for searching, in a memory region storing at least one group of data, each containing bending conditions, a bend angle and at least one penetration depth, whether input data including a desired bend angle and bending conditions are stored in the memory region, in a same group of data. The support medium sends a signal to the bending machine so that the bending machine executes a bending according to the penetration depth included in the same group of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Amada Europe
    Inventor: Brahim Chebbi
  • Patent number: 6640595
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus (1,31) for forming a three-dimensional object and in particular to a method and apparatus (1,31) for forming a three-dimensional beam, it is desirable to form three-dimensional beams (5) having complex forms by using an efficient forming process for the beams which may be incorporated into existing high volume production techniques. The apparatus (1,31) for forming three-dimensional beams (5) comprises a support device and an actuation device. Support members (2, 32, 41, 51, 61) spaced about the longitudinal axis of the support device locally define an opening (4, 35, 43, 53, 63) for supporting a section of the beam (5). The position of adjacent openings (4, 35, 43, 53, 63) relative to one another defines the overall form of the beam (5) and the actuation device defines the position of each opening (4, 35, 43, 53, 63).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Accra Teknik AB
    Inventors: Anders Sundgren, Mats Lindberg, Göran Berglund
  • Patent number: 6612143
    Abstract: A robotic bending apparatus for bending archwires and other types of elongate, bendable medical devices into a desired configuration includes a first gripping tool and a moveable gripping tool. The first gripping tool can be either fixed with respect to a base or table for the robot or positioned at the end of robot arm. The moveable gripping tool is mounted to the end of a moveable robot arm having a proximal portion also mounted to the base. The robot preferably comprises a six axis bending robot, in which the distal end of the moveable arm can move relative to the fixed gripping tool about three translational axes and three rotational axes. The gripping tools preferably incorporate force sensors which are used to determine overbends needed to get the desired final shape of the archwire. The robot may also include a resistive heating system in which current flows through the wire while the wire is held in a bent condition to heat the wire and thereby retain the bent shape of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: OraMetrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Werner Butscher, Friedrich Riemeier, Rüdger Rubbert, Thomas Weise
  • Patent number: 6456898
    Abstract: A press monitoring and control system includes a press machine, a press configuration module and a press controller. The press machine has a lower die coupled to an upper die, wherein the lower die includes a top surface supporting a strip of material to be formed into a part after a stripper plate coupled to the upper die contacts the strip of material. The press configuration module includes an input module that processes a set of input data corresponding to a particular job and generates a data signal corresponding to the set of input data. The press controller is coupled to the press machine and the press configuration module. The controller processes the data signal, compares the data signal to a set of parameters corresponding to the particular job, and generates at least one servo signal to adjust at least one servo in response to the data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Modesto, Robert Wojczak, Scott Krupp, Yvonne Luzney, Lyle J. Riffel, Thomas P. Zbikowski, Robert B. Mech
  • Patent number: 6418768
    Abstract: A crimping including a stand at which a motor and a transmission are arranged. Moreover, first guides, at which a crimping bar is guided, are arranged at the stand. A shaft driven by the transmission has an eccentric pin at one end, and a resolver for detection of rotational angle is coupled to the other end. The crimping bar includes of a slide member guided in the first guides and of a tool holder with a retaining fork. The slide member stands in loose connection with the eccentric pin, wherein the rotational movement of the eccentric pin is converted into a linear movement of the slide member. The tool holder actuates a tool, which together with an anvil produces the crimp connection. An operator terminal is provided as an interface between the operator and the crimping press. The operator terminal includes a rotary knob and a keypad for input of operating data and commands into a control. A display is provided for visualization of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Komax Holding AG
    Inventors: Claudio Meisser, Tony Egli, Hilmar Ehlert
  • Patent number: 6418769
    Abstract: The method for quality assurance of crimping connections made by a crimping device having an exchangeable tool with two tool parts uses a tool that is provided with an electronic data storage device. The electronic data storage device stores tool-specific nominal data derived from a nominal force-stroke characteristic line of a nominal crimping action of the tool. A crimp connector is fastened to the end of an electrical cable by placing the end of the electrical cable and the crimp connector between the two tool parts and moving the two tool parts relative to one another for carrying out the crimping action. The force-stroke characteristic line of the two tool parts is measured during the crimping action. The measured force-stroke characteristic line is compared to the stored nominal data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: SLE Electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Schreiner
  • Publication number: 20010049953
    Abstract: An apparatus prepares data for manufacturing a product or a part with a predetermined shape by using a bending press provided with detachable tools. The apparatus includes a computer memory that stores bending order information for manufacturing the product or the part. The bending order information is obtained after successfully completing bending operations and is associated with the product or the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Applicant: AMADA COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Tadahiko Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 6298700
    Abstract: An apparatus prepares data for manufacturing a product or a part with a predetermined shape by using a bending press provided with detachable tools. The apparatus includes a computer memory storing bending operation support information obtained after successfully completing bending operations. The bending operation support information supports an operator later performing bending operations on a workpiece while manufacturing the product or part. The bending operation support information is one of dependent on and associated with the completed bending operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Tadahiko Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20010004840
    Abstract: Object of the present invention is to provide a method or a system by which an operator without skills in bending operation can easily and quickly perform precise bending operations on a sheet workpiece by following skilled operator's experience, hints or data. To achieve this object, the method of this present invention comprises the steps of storing data for a shape of said part; storing data for a bending order for manufacturing said part from said workpiece; selecting tools for performing each of bending operations; storing data for the selected dies; storing bending press control data for controlling the operation of said press to performs the bending operations in said bending order; and storing bending operation support information for supporting an operator for performing the bending operation by using said bending press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Applicant: AMADA COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tadahiko Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 6237380
    Abstract: There is disclosed a bending device, in which working data of feeding pitch between bending points, bending direction angle and bending angel is prepared from design data of a work, and a dividing point is determined to share the bending process by first and second joint type robots at one place of a straight line of the work able to be held by a chuck mechanism. After trial working, the working data is corrected. During the working, the first and second joint type robots having joints rotatable around axes parallel with the axial direction of the work are moved to the bending position. The work is held by a bending die and a clamping die rotatable around the bending die of a bending mechanism attached to the tip end of each joint type robot, and bent/worked by rotating the clamping die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Opton
    Inventor: Takuya Kanamori
  • Patent number: 6227022
    Abstract: A method and system are provided that enable an operator without skills in performing bending operations to easily and quickly perform precise bending operations on a sheet workpiece by following a skilled operator's experience, hints or data. The method may include: storing data for a shape of a part; storing data related to a bending order for manufacturing the part from a workpiece; selecting tools for performing each bending operation; storing data for the selected tools or dies; storing bending press control data for controlling the operation of the bending press to perform the bending operations in accordance with the bending order; and storing bending operation support information for supporting an operator for performing the bending operations by using the bending press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Tadahiko Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 6189353
    Abstract: There is disclosed a bending device, in which working data of feeding pitch between bending points, bending direction angle and bending angle is prepared from design data of a work, and a dividing point is determined to share the bending process by first and second joint type robots at one place of a straight line of the work able to be held by a chuck mechanism. After trial working, the working data is corrected. During the working, the first and second joint type robots having joints rotatable around axes parallel with the axial direction of the work are moved to the bending position. The work is held by a bending die and a clamping die rotatable around the bending die of a bending mechanism attached to the tip end of each joint type robot, and bent/worked by rotating the clamping die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Opton
    Inventor: Takuya Kanamori
  • Patent number: 6185968
    Abstract: There is disclosed a bending device, in which working data of feeding pitch between bending points, bending direction angle and bending angle is prepared from design data of a work, and a dividing point is determined to share the bending process by first and second joint type robots at one place of a straight line of the work able to be held by a chuck mechanism. After trial working, the working data is corrected. During the working, the first and second joint robots having joints rotatable around axes parallel with the axial direction of the work are moved to the bending position The work is held by a bending die and a clamping die rotatable around the bending die of a bending mechanism attached to the tip end of each joint type robot, and bent/worked by rotating the clamping die. When moving to the next moving position, each joint is rotated to change the attitude of the bending mechanism, and the bending mechanism is moved along the work while the work remains between the bending die and the clamping die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Opton
    Inventor: Takuya Kanamori