Patents Examined by Eugene G. Botz
  • Patent number: 4052601
    Abstract: A control system for machinery and plants generally, particularly for the applications to machine tools or welding machines for large mass production comprising a centralized unit pre-disposed for the general control of a unit of mechanical groups or machining stations; the connections between said central unit and the single mechanic groups or machining stations being embodied through local control units comprising control units for power services and a personalized logic standard unit with a programming device pre-disposed for a pre-selected sequence of stages on said single mechanical group or machining station; said logic unit comprising a step-by-step programmer operatively associated with said single machine or machining station in order to embody a sequence of operations as prefixed by means of said programming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Assignee: Comau Industriale S.p.A.
    Inventor: Vittorio Corni
  • Patent number: 4048886
    Abstract: A monitoring system is disclosed for measuring and classifying the decelerating capabilities of a machine, such as a punch press. The monitoring system includes a timing circuit for measuring the elapsed time from the initiation of brake application to the stopping of the press. Means are provided to distinguish between a regular top-stop in a single stroke press cycle from an emergency stop and to shut down the press if the stopping time is excessive for the type of stop being executed. The monitoring means is provided with a self-checking system which performs dynamic self-checking at the initiation of braking, at the stopping of the press, and at the initiation of clutching. In each self-checking cycle a fault simulating signal is propagated through two independent paths or through a path which has been previously checked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1977
    Assignee: Xenex Corporation
    Inventor: John Francis Zettler
  • Patent number: 4048622
    Abstract: In a programmable sequence controller, a logic operation circuit has first and second AND gates, first and second OR gates and first to fourth flip flops. An input is applied to the two AND gates and the two OR gates. The first and second AND gates receive outputs of the first and second flip flops wich receive outputs of the first and second AND gates and are triggered in response to first and second control commands, respectively. The first and second OR gates receive outputs of the third and fourth flip flops which receive outputs of the first and second OR gates and are triggered in response to third and fourth control commands, respectively. A sequence control is performed in response to the outputs of the first to fourth flip flops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1977
    Assignee: Toyoda-Koki Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiko Yomogida
  • Patent number: 4045660
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically realigning a machine element to a predetermined position after an interruption of power to a drive mechanism coupled to the machine element. After the termination of power, the apparatus measures a displacement of the machine element during a predetermined period of time; and this displacement is stored in a nonvolatile memory. When power is restored to the drive mechanism, the apparatus is operative to automatically move the machine element back through a distance equal to the stored displacement. Consequently, the machine element realigns to the position it had before the power interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1977
    Assignee: Cincinnati Milacron Inc.
    Inventors: William Robert Weisgerber, Ralph Charles Taylor
  • Patent number: 4042809
    Abstract: Improvements in a control system which maintains both the speed and the extraction pressure of an extraction type steam turbine at respective set point values by adjusting both the high pressure admission valve and the low pressure stage admission valve. Such systems are characterized by the fact that opening of the high pressure valve tends to increase both speed (for a given load) and extraction pressure (for a given extraction load); whereas opening of the low pressure valve tends to increase speed but decrease extraction pressure. The high pressure valve is positioned according to an additive function of speed and pressure errors; and the low pressure valve is positioned according to a subtractive function f(E.sub.s - E.sub.p) of such errors. The improvement resides in bounding one error signal component which influences one of the valves to a value which, for any magnitude of the other error signal, corresponds to the saturation point or physical limit of the other valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventor: Terry A. Shetler
  • Patent number: 4041294
    Abstract: An automatic assembly control apparatus employs a holding mechanism for holding a collar with a hole, to which a shaft of a motor is inserted. The holding mechanism is coupled to a positioning mechanism through an elastic mechanism so that the positioning mechanism may be controlled in response to signals representative of the displacement or deflection of the elastic mechanism. The collar is first placed in rough upon the center axis of the shaft which has a step portion at the end portion thereof and then inserted onto the shaft while its position is corrected by the positioning mechanism. The insertion of the collar is stopped when it is caught at the step portion of the shaft and then the position of the collar is changed in such a manner that the collar is inserted onto the shaft over the step portion thereof. Then, the collar is gradually inserted onto the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Inoyama, Tatsuo Goto, Kiyoo Takeyasu, Hiroshi Ishimura, Junichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4041287
    Abstract: An improved final servo control for numerical control systems of the type which perform linear and/or circular interpolation by iterative updating of commanded position signals. The improvements are embodied in means to sense when the servo loop has had an offset error introduced by drift or aging of the final amplifier or similar components, together with means for progressively and automatically removing such error; and by means to avoid attempts at extreme acceleration or deceleration beyond the ability of the servo power element (motor) to accomplish, --by creating from an iteratively updated primary position command signal, whose rate of change may suddenly alter by a wide margin, a secondary position command signal which varies ultimately by the same amount but at a lesser rate of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: Giddings & Lewis, Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert C. Kolell, John P. Conners
  • Patent number: 4038531
    Abstract: An improved particleboard manufacturing system wherein the weight of each mat for forming a particleboard is continuously monitored and controlled by a process controller as the mats are formed on a moving conveyor. The actual weight of each mat is determined and utilized by the process controller to selectively control the speed of the conveyor and the rate at which wood particles are deposited by a series of formers that are located along the conveyor system to thereby control the weight of mats currently being produced. The process controller includes a control system for continuously controlling mat weight by supplying former speed control signals that are related to a predicted weight error signal, developed within the control system, and a measured weight error signal equal to the difference between a desired or target weight and the actual weight of each mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Alton L. Loe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4038533
    Abstract: An industrial control processor is employed in a numerical control system to operate the servo mechanisms on a machine tool in response to a part program stored on a tape. The industrial control processor includes unique hardware and software features which also allow it to operate as a programmable controller to control the discrete digital devices associated with the machine tool. The industrial control processor is programmed with a conventional computer type instruction set to perform numerical control functions and is programmed with a programmable controller type instruction set to perform the machine dependent logic functions. The resulting system maintains the state-of-the-art capabilities of a computer numerical control (CNC) and adds to it the flexibility and programming ease of a programmable controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company
    Inventors: Ernst Dummermuth, William A. Donze, Timothy Bielawski
  • Patent number: 4037087
    Abstract: Rolling mill computer control system includes an operator update program which accepts requests from a mill operator to modify computer setups for speed and screwdown presets. When under computer control and abnormal mill conditions arise, the computer programs will accept operator updates from the same presetting devices which are used in manual operation. The operator update program calculates speed and draft coefficients which are used to update the basic computer schedule calculations so as to accommodate the abnormal mill conditions. Additional presetting devices, such as load distribution switches, are eliminated so as to minimize operator confusion and simplify operator panel layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation
    Inventor: John G. Foulds
  • Patent number: 4034212
    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: February 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: Weltronic Company
    Inventor: Charles F. Paxton
  • Patent number: 4034192
    Abstract: A numerical control comprising an input means for reading a program, a forward-interpolating-information producing circuit, a reverse-interpolating-information producing circuit, an interpolation circuit and a control circuit for controlling the above means is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajimu Kishi, Fumio Onoda
  • Patent number: 4031718
    Abstract: A plurality of machines, such as circular hosiery machines, are controlled at preselected times during a knitting cycle by a central control unit. Each machine includes, in addition to the needle cylinder, a revolutions counter and angular position detector cooperatively connected to the cylinder, as well as actuators which change or vary the operations performed on the article by the cylinder. If desired a size-change unit may be provided for each machine to vary the sizes of the body, leg, and foot of articles produced. A cyclical switching generator successively and individually feeds information from the angular detector and revolutions counter into a central control unit from each machine as well as feeding information from the central control unit to the actuators of each machine, so that, for any position and after a prescribed number of revolutions of each machine, prescribed knitting functions may be directed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1977
    Assignee: Macchine Tessili Circolari MATEC S.p.A. of Roma
    Inventor: Claus-Peter Luth
  • Patent number: 4031368
    Abstract: For adaptive control of cutting machining operations, measured quantities characterizing optimized productivity are utilized. These quantities are connected with the wear of the tool and with the wearing rate. To measure the wear, the face wear (also called crater wear) of the tool, its flank wear and its minor-flank wear are used. Other parameters used are: the dimensions of the workpiece, its vibrations, its deflection, its surface roughness, cutting force, and cutting power. In a calculating unit, the shortest time is calculated until a given wearing criterium is reached. This time, and cost constants for the machining process, are fed into a control unit for calculating the optimized (maximum) productivity, and for performing the machining operation with cutting parameters kept within predetermined values. Machining is interrupted for tool changing when one of said wearing criteria is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1977
    Assignee: Verkstadsteknik AB
    Inventors: Bertil Colding, Arne Novak, Unto Sandstrom, Goran Jakobsson
  • Patent number: 4029947
    Abstract: A digital character generator method and system encode characters based on a normalized quad in accordance with coordinates of initial starting points of outlines of the character and variational parameters defining changes in those outlines such as slope and curvature. All characters of all formats are encoded for a maximum point size display. Vertical scaling factors permit character generation at any desired point size display. Horizontal scaling factors are employed both for transforming computations based on the encoded parameters for the normalized quad to a desired point size of display and also to adapt cyclic computations to the stroking density of a display CRT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1973
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory W. Evans, Robert L. Caswell
  • Patent number: 4029950
    Abstract: A numerical control system utilizes a programmable sequence controller as a data transmitter for transmitting numerical control data from a digital computer to machine controllers associated with numerically controlled machine tools. The digital computer converts each of the least units of the numerical control data to a predetermined number of output commands and, upon request, transfers the output commands along with address codes to the sequence controller which has an input-output circuit connected at its output terminals with data input terminals of the machine controllers, so that by selectively setting and resetting the output terminals designated by the address codes, the sequency controller can supply the numerical control data to any one of the machine controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Assignee: Toyoda-Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kyosuke Haga
  • Patent number: 4028533
    Abstract: Robots in a group, each usually moving randomly in irregular directions but making a specific movement, upon detection by one of them, of any other robot of the group present within a certain distance, either to run away from or run after the detected other robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1977
    Assignee: Techno-Venture Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sueo Matsubara
  • Patent number: 4027245
    Abstract: In a numerically controlled machine tool, for example a grinder, a workpiece to be machined is rotated and is displaced parallel to its axis of rotation and coders provide signals corresponding to the workpiece rotation and the workpiece displacement. The workpiece is supported on a cradle mounted for pivotal motion to move the workpiece towards and away from the tool, the movement being controlled by a servo connected to a computer which receives the signals from the coders and stores data defining the required workpiece shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1977
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventors: Pierre Bourrat, Paul Xavier Gosset, Pierre Riss, Jean-Pierre Vignaud
  • Patent number: 4025762
    Abstract: In a prime mover control system, control over the prime mover is dependent, in part, upon the validity of a reference signal to the control system. Circuitry is provided between a reference signal generator and the control system whereby under normal conditions the reference signal to the control system is the same as the output of the reference signal generator. However, if the reference signal generator output becomes invalid, then a stored reference signal may be substituted for the reference signal generator output by switching from a first signal channel to an alternate second signal channel, each channel selectably interconnecting the reference signal generator and the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony J. Rossi, Donald F. Behringer
  • Patent number: 4025764
    Abstract: In a machine tool control system of the type wherein repeated machining passes are effected with progressively reducing increments of in-feed, each increment is stored, e.g. digitally, and is iteratively combined with a modifying constant to form the new, reduced feed increment for the next machining pass, preferably by multiplying the increment by a modifying constant less than unity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Inventor: Alfred Tack