Abstract: A punch assembly having infinite adjustment of the punch tool and quick release of the stripper plate. A punch assembly has a clutch mechanism that secures the central punch body after a depth adjustment has been made. The clutch includes two ball bearings with an expansion spring separating the two ball bearings. The spring forces the ball bearings outwardly thus engaging the central body of the punch and the inside wall of the outer casing. This arrangement effectively locks the punch from rotation in either direction. A set of locking cams, disposed directly opposite each other and including a surface with which one may apply an inward force and a set of fingers that have a sloped face that forces the ball bearings toward each other are operated to release the central body from its locked position. This results in infinite, rather than incremental, adjustment of the depth of the punch.

Abstract: To watch the condition of tools mounted on a turret punch press and an automatic tool changing unit, a control device performs a simulation of a punch processing on the basis of an NC program for the turret punch press. On the basis of the simulation, the control device calculate the number of times for which each tool mounted on the punch press performs punchings in the workpiece during the punch processing. From the number of times, the control device determine the abrasion loss of the tools mounted on the punch press and the automatic tool changing unit. The control device is also adapted to store a length by which a tool is shortened by a grinding processing to be made in a tool to sharpen the same.

Abstract: A clamp device for securing a bending press punch on its punch holder, the clamp device being capable of securing punches having a straight, or flat, contacting surface and those having a groove on the contacting surface. The clamp device comprises a plurality of spring members each secured about a bolt; an upper punch clamp plate member having a punch contacting surface; and a lower flanged punch clamp plate member having a punch contacting surface. The spring members provide the force necessary to return the upper punch clamp plate member to a position wherein a portion thereof is within the groove when the grooved punch is used. When the flat surface punch is utilized, the punch contacting surface portion of the lower punch clamp plate member and the punch contacting surface of the upper punch clamp plate member are positioned against the contacting surface of the punch thus providing solid surface contact when either punch design is utilized.

Abstract: A bending machine having an upper punch containing portion, or beam, and a lower die containing portion, or beam, is modified by incorporating a controlled expandable pressure device whereby the pressure applied to a work material is uniformly distributed throughout the surface of the material. In a first embodiment, the device is mounted in the upper and lower machine portions; in a second embodiment, the device is mounted only in the upper machine portion; in a third embodiment, the device is mounted only in the lower machine portion; and in a fourth embodiment, segmented devices are mounted in the upper machine portion and a single, elongated device is mounted in the lower machine portion.

Abstract: A retrofit auto-indexing system for a turret punch press is described in which a predetermined location is provided to which both the upper and lower turrets of a non-indexing turret punch press are rotated. Upper and lower punching tools are mounted respectively in the upper and lower turrets in such a manner so as to be rotated simultaneously, using a single servomotor, to a desired angle. The auto-indexing system is controlled using a microcomputer which is connected to receive the numerical control programmed data, determine whether the code it is receiving relates to the auto-indexing function and, when it does, institute the instructed auto-indexing function. Otherwise, the microcomputer passes the numerical control programmed data directly to a minicomputer which operates the turret punch press in a known manner.

Abstract: A die assembly for use with a tool for bending flat metal stock, and including a pair of elongated plate members in the lower die member each having a surface to support a piece of flat metal stock, the plate members being pivotably connected and maintained approximately 180 degrees apart when a bending force is not applied to the metal stock. A surface of an expandable pressure container is positioned in contact with a plate support member, the pressure within the container being controlled in a manner such that the vertical position of the plate support member is fixed such that the plate members assume a selected angular orientation to enable the tool to form the desired bend in the metal stock.

Abstract: In order to insert a punch into a punch mounting hole formed in a turret by a robot hand, the present method includes the following steps: (a) grasping the punch above the upper turret by a robot hand, and horizontally moving the punch to a position above a mounting hole formed in the upper turret; (b) moving the punch downwardly by the robot hand; (c) detecting whether the lower end of the punch is in contact with the wall of the mounting hole (d) detecting the height of the lower end of the punch when the lower end of the punch comes in contact with the wall of the mounting hole; (e) comparing the detected height of the lower end with a predetermined height; and (f) further moving the punch downwardly if the detected height is smaller than the predetermined height. In the preferred embodiment, if the insertion in accordance with the previous steps fails, the punch is moved upwardly and the center of the mounting hole is re-calculated on the basis of the data by a three-point search method.

Abstract: A tool changing apparatus for changing the punches and dies on a turret punch press is disclosed, wherein a carriage device provided with a upper rotatable disk on which a plurality of punches in removably supported, and a lower rotatable disk on which a die holders supporting a plurality of dies is removably supported, is positioned at the side of the turret punch press. A punch mounting/dismounting device is further provided for dismounting a punch from and mounting a punch on the upper rotatable disk and for dismounting a punch from and mounting a punch on an upper turret disk on the turret punch press. The punch mounting/dismounting device is adapted to transport the punch between the upper rotatable disk and the upper turret disk. A die mounting/dismounting device is yet further provided for moving the die holder back and forth between a lower turret disk on the turret punch press, and the lower rotatable disk.

Abstract: An air powered milling tool supported in the upper turret of a turret punch press is cycled simultaneously with a hydraulically- or mechanically-powered punch press ram in a multiple-stage cycle to perform a milling operation on a sheet material workpiece retained between the upper and lower turrets of the punch press. The air-powered tool, which includes a punch head in coaxial alignment with a guide sleeve, drives an end mill which is contained within and is coaxially extendible through the guide sleeve toward the workpiece to perform a machining operation thereon. Hold-down bearings disposed at the end of the guide sleeve engage with the workpiece at a local region thereof. A spring-biased lifter disposed in the upper turret is engagable with the guide sleeve. In operation, the punch press striker impacts the punch head of the milling tool, urging the milling tool and air motor in the direction of the sheet material.

Abstract: A tool changing apparatus for changing the punches and dies on a turret punch press is disclosed, wherein a carriage device provided with a upper rotatable disk on which a plurality of punches is removably supported, and a lower rotatable disk on which a die holders supporting a plurality of dies is removably supported, is positioned at the side of the turret punch press. A punch mounting/dismounting device is further provided for dismounting a punch from and mounting a punch on the upper rotatable disk and for dismounting a punch from and mounting a punch on an upper turret disk on the turret punch press. The punch mounting/dismounting device is adapted to transport the punch between the upper rotatable disk and the upper turret disk. A die mounting/dismounting device is yet further provided for moving the die holder back and forth between a lower turret disk on the turret punch press, and the lower rotatable disk.

Abstract: A punch for a punch press includes a punch holder which is installed on a punch installing portion of the punch press and a plurality of punch bodies so supported on the punch holder as to be independently movable in the vertical direction. Shearing blade portions are formed on the lower ends of the respective punch bodies. The shearing blade portions have elongated configurations, each extending in a different direction in the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A high-speed axial-flow gas laser generator has a plurality of anodes radially provided at the inlet section of the laser tube, and a ring-shaped cathode is provided on the gas discharge section side of the laser tube. On the upstream side from the anodes, viewed from the laser gas flow in the laser tube, a nozzle is provided which imparts a spiral rotary motion to the gas flow in the laser tube.

Abstract: A beam monitor for a high-output laser has a beam intensity detection means which detects localized beam intensity in the cross section of a high intensity laser beam, and a characteristic calculation means for calculating the beam characteristics of a laser beam based on the localized beam intensity detected by the beam intensity detection means.

Abstract: An imaging device has a sensor unit body which moves over the region to be scanned in a prescribed direction, a plurality of linear imaging sensors each having a plurality of picture elements and each being mounted on the sensor unit body in a fashion so as not to generate gaps between any of the loci of motion along which the plurality of picture elements move, and a control unit connected to the linear imaging sensors so as to output the detected image signals whereby the images that are in region to be scanned are picked up.

Abstract: A high-speed axial-flow gas laser generator has a plurality of anodes radially provided at the inlet section of the laser tube, and a ring-shaped cathode is provided on the gas discharge section side of the laser tube. On the upstream side from the anodes, viewed from the laser gas flow in the laser tube, a nozzle is provided which imparts a spiral rotary motion to the gas flow in the laser tube.

Abstract: This invention discloses a system which automatically determines not only a distance from an object surface, but also an orientation of the device with respect to the object surface. This invention also discloses an arrangement of three or more position sensors for determining the orientation of the device, as well as the distance of the device from the object surface. Furthermore, this invention discloses a method of using parameter computation equations for determining the orientation and the distance of the device with respect to the object surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for cutting a workpiece made from a high chromium material such as stainless steel. The device comprises a processing head to irradiate and focus a laser beam onto a workpiece, a nozzle connected to the processing head for spraying and assisting gas onto the workpiece, a storage tank for storing a carbonate, and an orifice device for drawing carbonate from the storage tank so that it may be fed into the nozzle and sprayed onto the workpiece with the assisting gas. The addition of carbonate to the assist gas prevents excess dross from adhering to the cut surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A gas laser oscillator having a gas flow smoothing device, preferably made of a cylindrical mesh, installed in the gas inlet of the electrical discharge region of the oscillator.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cooling a slab-geometry solid state laser medium wherein at least one of the front or rear surfaces of the laser medium is in contact with a glass cover, and a coolant is passed over the outside of the glass cover.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-faceted reflector for use in pumping slab geometry solid state lasers. The present invention provides a multi-faceted reflector having a plurality of reflector segments which allow the reflector designer to alter the intensity profile along the longitudinal direction of the flashlamp without having to generate a continuous curve.