Patents Examined by Eugene G. Botz
  • Patent number: 4071744
    Abstract: An In-Loop Integration Control System which is capable of producing consistent and accurate descriptions and predictions of any dynamic process, on line and in real time. This operation is performed by, first, integrating the best estimate of the highest derivative to produce an estimate of the expected next measurement and then comparing this measurement to the actual measurement; and second incorporating into the prediction any systematic error corrections. By changing the highest derivative on which the integration is performed, the total state vector describing the process is improved and all components are correctly timed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Inventor: Eugene J. Pollock
  • Patent number: 4070561
    Abstract: An automatic inspection device is installed in a field of alignment holes, and the location of the device is shifted, by making use of the holes, by means of a control system in which addresses are assigned to the respective alignment holes, the location of the device is indicated on an objective counter in terms of the address, and a preset counter indicates the shifting direction of the device in terms of the address. In the method, instructions are given to the preset counter and they are compared with the contents of the objective counter, whereupon the device is shifted in the direction of reducing a difference resultant from the comparison. The device is provided with a detector for detection of an obstacle so as to shift the device while avoiding the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1978
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nishizawa Shunichi, Igarashi Taenzi, Fujishima Shigeru
  • Patent number: 4069488
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of machine tools in which the central processor communicates data transactions to and from a plurality of tool controllers, each of which is operatively associated with a machine tool. Each of the controllers comprises at least one machine tool control unit which is adapted to provide a digital output to the associated machine tool for controlling a particular tool function and/or for receiving from the machine tool a digital input indicative of a particular tool condition. The central processor has connected thereto a main multiple-channel data bus for conducting data transactions by transferring parallel bits of data to and from the processor. The system also includes a plurality of multiple-channel unit data buses, each of which is connected to one of the tool control units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1978
    Assignee: IBM Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Fiorenza, Alan J. Fleming, Ralph J. Gerlach, Larry W. Holmstrom, John C. Pace
  • Patent number: 4068156
    Abstract: A manipulator system having a master control console and a slave mainpulator arm controlled by signals from the master control console is disclosed. The master control console includes a translation controller and a rotation controller, and the slave manipulator arm includes pivoted arm segments moved by translational servos in response to signals generated by the translation controller and pivoted wrist units moved by rotational servos in response to signals generated by the rotation controller. The slave manipulator arm has six degrees freedom of movement defined as three translational degrees of freedom in range, azimuth and elevation and three rotational degrees of freedom in wrist pitch, yaw and roll. The signals generated by each of the translation controller and the rotation controller are rate command signals. The translational servos compare commanded range, azimuth, elevation or attitude rate with the actual range, azimuth, elevation or attitude rates of the slave manipulator arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Johnson, Robert A. Booker
  • Patent number: 4068155
    Abstract: A control system for operating a vacuum forming machine in a program mode and in an automatic mode. A plurality of switches movable to control and clear positions are employed to set up a sequence of steps for operating the machine in the program mode. The sequence of switch positions is stored in a memory system during the program mode and read out during the automatic mode to allow the machine to carry out and duplicate the sequence of steps in the same time relationship as occured during the program mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Inventors: Roscoe S. Robbins, Donald R. Zuccaro
  • Patent number: 4064394
    Abstract: An electronic process controller comprises a digital computer programmed to digitally simulate the functions of each of a plurality of conventional analog and discrete control blocks and a process operator's panel for selecting and arranging these simulated blocks into a simulated control circuit configuration. The operator's panel provides means for direct operator selection of: (1) the input signal to be processed by the computer; (2) the arrangement of simulated blocks for processing the input signal in order to derive an output process control signal; and (3) the output control device to which the output signal is directed. This controller permits assembly and modification of simulated analog process control configurations in a manner analogous to the assembly of conventional hard wire control circuits without the expense of wiring, breaking, and rewiring of hard wire interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1977
    Assignee: American Chain & Cable Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce S. Allen
  • Patent number: 4064395
    Abstract: A machine control system including a programmable machine function controller comprised of a logic processor and a data processor. The logic processor is responsive to first devices on a machine, e.g. limit switches and push buttons, for controlling second devices on the machine, e.g. motor starters and solenoids, in accordance with a program representing a desired machine operation. The data processor operates asynchronously with the logic processor but responds thereto for selecting programs of arithmetic instructions relating to the machine operation. The system includes a panel of push buttons, lights and read-outs located remotely from the controller. Signals are transmitted between the controller and the panel using asynchronously operating receiver/transmitters which multiplex and transfer the signals on a serial basis. The machine includes at least one movable member in mechanical communication with a driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1977
    Assignee: Cincinnati Milacron Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Erwin Schubeler, Danny L. Carnahan, Dennis Grover O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 4063075
    Abstract: A computerized welding control system which is capable of controlling a large number of welding heads from a single processor, the processor being the timing instrumentality for the various portions of the welding cycle. The system also includes standard welding circuitry to control the percent heat and the control of the first electrical cycle of the welding cycle. The system includes a data entry terminal for a set of welders within the group controlled by a single processor, the terminal being capable of addressing the computer to determine the time stored therein for various functions within the welding cycle for a particular machine within the group controlled by the terminal unit. The terminal unit also includes capability of changing the times associated with each portion of the welding cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: Weltronic Company
    Inventor: Donald J. Collom
  • Patent number: 4062648
    Abstract: A plotter system is provided having an adaptive velocity means for improving plotted line quality by selectively varying the velocity of the plot head to produce smooth, substantially continuous motions of the plot head between data points, in accordance with changes in the data input rate or changes in the distance between data points. This reduces the time that the plot head remains stationary during plotting, thereby reducing excess deposits such as ink pools that may be applied to a portion of a surface when the plot head becomes stationary waiting for data. The system includes a motor unit, a plot head with a pen, and an adaptive velocity means comprising a random access memory (RAM) unit for storing data values to be plotted, a processor unit, and a read only memory (ROM) unit having a stored routine. The plot head is driven by the motor unit under control of the processor operating in accordance with the stored routine and control and data values stored in the RAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Larry Wayne Hennessee
  • Patent number: 4063076
    Abstract: This invention relates generically to an automatic strip width control method in a hot rolling mill. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a strip width to a predetermined width in a rolling mill equipped with edging rolls which seeks the deviation of strip width by estimating the temperature of a roll material under the edging rolls and controls the roll gap of the edging mill by means of the deviation of strip width thus estimated in order to control the width of the strip to a predetermined level on the basis of the technical conception that there is a certain relation between the temperature of the roll material and the deviation of strip width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Morooka, Shinya Tanifuji
  • Patent number: 4061907
    Abstract: Input signals supplied for each block to an interpolator for a numerically controlled machine comprise displacement signals representative of conventional displacement data in terms of a conventional step size and a feed rate signal representative of a feed rate which, in turn, defines a conventional pulse distribution rate. The interpolator selects, in response to the feed rate signal, a working step size to be an integral multiple or an integral submultiple (exclusive of unity) of the conventional one, derives working displacement data and a working pulse distribution rate by dividing the conventional ones by the multiple or submultiple, and carries out pulse distribution in a conventional manner but by the use of the working displacement data and feed rate to produce those distribution signals at the working pulse distribution rate which make servos feed a machine tool relative to a workpiece with the working step size and at the feed rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Nippon Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Okamoto, Hitoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 4061953
    Abstract: A numerical control system comprises a machine tool having two axially movable sections, a tape reader for instructing a movement path of the movable section, a sampling pulse generator for generating a pulse for each predetermined time period, a position detector for detecting the amount of movement of the movable section for each sampling time, a controller for calculating an instruction position increment value corresponding to the movement for the predetermined time period of the movable section of the machine tool based on a data from the tape reader, the sampling pulse from the sampling pulse generator and a position data from the position detector, a digital-analog converter for converting a digital output of the controller to an analog value, a servo amplifier for amplifying the output of the digital-analog converter and a servo motor driven by the output of the servo amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 4059746
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing drive pulses to drive servomechanisms in a numerical control system is provided with a clock pulse generator, presettable counters respectively associated with the servomechanisms, and a digital computer. Each counter generates an output command each time it receives from the pulse generator clock pulses of the same number as its preset value. The digital computer is programmed to calculate from numerical control data pulse distribution cycles for the respective servomechanisms, and is further programmed to distribute one drive pulse to the corresponding servomechanism, as well as supplying the period of the distribution cycle for the same servomechanism as a preset value to the counter when the output command is supplied from the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Assignee: Toyoda-Koki Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventor: Kyosuke Haga
  • Patent number: 4059745
    Abstract: An override process control system for regulating a process with a single final control element, such as a valve, from two or more process variables that are interdependent and must not exceed acceptable minimum and maximum limits. The system includes a like number of electronic controllers each acting to compare a respective process variable with a set point to produce an output signal reflecting the deviation of the process variable from the set point. The primary controller responsive to the process variable directly influenced by the setting of the final control element has its output signal applied thereto to regulate this element, whereas the other controllers which are responsive to secondary process variables operate on a standby basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Assignee: Fischer & Porter Co.
    Inventor: Max H. Gaertner
  • Patent number: 4058849
    Abstract: By means of a suitable data entry device such as an electronic digitizing tablet or graph board, items of data respectively defining the original configuration of a roughly sketched object and the desired final proportions thereof are entered into a stored table called a "pointing sequence list" (PSL), which is capable of storing all of the information required to define both the original form and the desired final configuration of the object. Initially the PSL contains positional entries representing the coordinates of definitive points on the roughly sketched object and dimensional entries specifying the proportions which the object is to have in its final delineation, all arranged in an order corresponding to a predefined pointing sequence which is followed by the operator when he enters the necessary items of graphic information into the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Joseph Fitzgerald, Glenmore Lorraine Shelton, Jr., Robert Nolan Wolfe
  • Patent number: 4058711
    Abstract: A multiprocessor system is disclosed for controlling a cycle of operation of a machine. The cycle of operation of the machine is governed by a first set of devices and is monitored by a second set of devices. The multiprocessor system includes a logic processor unit containing a first program of logic instructions defining the cycle of operation of the machine. A bus and associated circuits are connected between the logic processor and the devices on the machine. The logic processor is responsive to the second set of devices and makes logic decisions in a continuous and cyclic manner to control the operation of the first devices thereby causing the cycle of operation of the machine to conform with the first program. The multiprocessor system further includes one or more independent data processors which are connected to the bus and operate asynchronously with the logic processor. The data processors respond to output signals from the logic processor which select preprogrammed sets of arithmetic instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Assignee: Cincinnati Milacron Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Ondercin, Paul Stephen Borzcik
  • Patent number: 4056714
    Abstract: A process for controlling the dry density of ceiling tile where a delayed measurement of thickness or caliper is compared with an off-line oven dry basis weight measurement of a previously taken sample to provide dry density which is then compared to a dry density target to yield an error signal which updates an on-line wet density indication to provide control of stock flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: Measurex Corporation
    Inventors: Al Al-Shaikh, Erik B. Dahlin
  • Patent number: 4056331
    Abstract: A turbine control system for changing over a throttle governing operation of a steam turbine to a nozzle governing operation thereof and vice versa by controlling control valves on the basis of a main control flow-rate request signal comprises function generators grouped according to the two governing operations and operating to produce function outputs in response to the opening degrees of the control valves. The function outputs are biased according to the two governing operaton and applied to respective high-value gates, the output signals of which are compared with the main control flow-rate request signal to control the opening degrees of the control valves in such a manner that the flow rate of steam introduced through the control valves into the steam turbine are maintained constant during the speed governing operation changing period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiko Sato
  • Patent number: 4054780
    Abstract: In a process control system, a control signal to the process is provided to a process model having a predictive element and a delay element adapted to reproduce as closely as possible the action of the measured process variable to the control signal. The variable input signal to the process controller, upon which generation of the process control signal is based, is generated by multiplying the signal from the predictive portion of the process model by a correction factor generated in response to the ratio of the actual process measurement signal to the delayed model output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1977
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Bartley, Richard F. Giles
  • Patent number: 4053819
    Abstract: A numerical control system for lathes includes a controller adapted to calculate a tool moving amount based on data from a tool moving mode-punched tape as read by a tape reader for each sampling time .DELTA.t when a pulse is generated from a sampling pulse generator and on spindle rotation position data detected by a spindle position detector, and executes a tool action instruction mode including a feed per minute instruction mode, feed per spindle revolution instruction mode and thread cutting instruction mode by operating a tool through a servo system in accordance with the tool action mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Matsumoto