Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to accurately provide three-dimensional rotary tool point compensation by evaluating a CNC machining center's geometric condition with respect to a trunnioned spindle mechanism of the machining center as it applies to the degrees of freedom of motion that affect the rotary tool point positioning of a cutting tool mounted in a tool holder of the spindle mechanism. The present invention evaluates the geometric condition of the trunnioned spindle mechanism by positioning the tool point in contact with a reference point or datum and recording a first coordinate position, then rotating the spindle mechanism 90.degree. about a trunnion axis and positioning the tool point in contact with the same reference point a second time. A second coordinate location is recorded when the tool point contacts the reference point the second time.

Abstract: A control device for hydraulic equipment where an oil pressure sensor provides an oil pressure output. The sensed pressure output is used in a table to derive a controlled variable limit which is then compared with a controlled variable input. The smaller of the input and limit are used to control hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic oil line. However, also included is a correction device which adjusts the table depending upon whether the output is at a desired oil pressure value or not.

Abstract: An optimal control system for canceling the undesired responses of a linear istributed-parameter system in response to an input stimulus. The control system is optimally distributed and its design is based on the extension of the Pontryagin's maximum principle for a lumped-parameter system to a distributed-parameter system. The technique is to transform the stimulus-to-undesired-output transfer function of the distributed-parameter system into a multidimensional discrete state-space model, and to require a performance criterion to be defined. Theorems have been established to give conditions for asymptotic stability of the closed-loop distributed-parameter system, and to set up weighting factors for the performance criterion. An optimal distributed-control system can force the states of the distributed system to behave according to the prescribed performance criterion regardless of the boundary and initial conditions.

Abstract: A method of process control using linear programming models to implement the control of one or more controlled variables to maintain a desired target value over a given time horizon. The controlled variables are controlled by a process controller which adjusts manipulated variables in real time. The method uses two linear programming models with the second model computed from the solution of the first in which the absolute value of the deviation for each controlled variable from its target value over a specified time horizon is computed. This permits the controlled variables to be adjusted with the changes in the manipulated variables held to a minimum over the time horizon under control.

Abstract: A device for detecting a position of an edge of a cutting tool includes a reference plate positioned to form a slit between the edge of the cutting tool and the reference plate. The slit extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cutting tool. A laser light source is provided to irradiate a laser light to the slit. A detecting device detects a diffraction pattern created through diffraction of the laser light by the slit. A processing device is provided to determine the position of the edge of the cutting tool based on an output signal of the detecting device.

Abstract: When a non-contact tracing of a configuration of a three-dimensional model is carried out, the measurement axis of a tracer head is controlled to always be facing in an optimum direction with respect to a model surface by controlling the attitude of the tracer head, to thereby create tracing data of the configuration of the model. The tracer head is provided with two non-contact distance sensing units, and a normal vector of the model surface is determined based on a measurement value obtained by sampling tracing data supplied from the tracer head. At this time, the direction of a normal vector is determined from the outer product of surface vectors in a range in which the angle between an axial vector starting from a measurement point of the measurement axis of the tracer head and the normal vector at the measurement point does not exceed 90.degree.. The tracer head is controlled to be rotated in the direction toward a projection obtained by projecting the normal vector on a predetermined plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus records downtime and the probable cause of the downtime of a network of programmable logic controllers and other microprocessor based devices for controlling of a manufacturing process. The method and apparatus also records the total downtime by separate causes and a total downtime of all causes encountered. The apparatus further records the number of times each cause occurred and a total number of all causes encountered. A graphical display provides a visual presentation of the number of times each cause occurred and the total downtime for each cause that occurred in Pareto chart form. The method provides for prioritizing alarms associated with the cause of a downtime and the apparatus has means for deciding which alarm notification, based on the alarm priority and therefore, its corresponding cause, recorded the most number of times it caused a downtime.

Abstract: The control device comprises a computer program. The machining of a workpiece comprises the writing of a program, the essential element of which is a step table. Starting from a predetermined profile of the workpiece, the movements of the X- and Y-axes are plotted in successive steps, and the cumulated intervals of time for obtaining the required movements, as a function of the characteristics of the machine tool and of the workpiece, are stored in the form of a table containing the movements .DELTA.t.sub.xi and the movements .DELTA.t.sub.yi. The reading of the steps, carried out as a function of an appropriate clock signal generator, brings about the successive transmission of the pulses which cause the X- and Y-axes to take their successive steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for an automatic warehousing facility. Receipt into and disbursement from racks capable of storing goods in a plurality of lots are carried out by a goods handling device. A control panel disposed at the ground side controls the handling device to control incoming and outgoing handling of goods. Inventory control is carried out by manipulating a plurality of switches provided on the control panel.Maintenance and abnormality control of goods entry and delivery equipment are also carried out.

Abstract: A state of an operation of cutting a rubber sheet having a number of parallel cords embedded therein by moving a cutter in a cutting direction which is in parallel with a direction in which the cords extend is detected by monitoring a first displacement of the cutter in a direction of a thickness of the rubber sheet and a second displacement of the cutter in direction perpendicular to the cutting direction. When the first displacement of the cutter exceeds a predetermined threshold value, there is produced a comparison signal having a predetermined time period. In response to the comparison signal, the second displacement of the cutter is compared with a second threshold value within the time period of the comparison signal, and when the second displacement of the cutter exceeds the second threshold value, there is produced an alarm signal which represents that the cutting operation is not carried out correctly.

Abstract: A control target value x.sub.s, a present control signal x(n), and a present operating signal y(n) are input to a first control element which calculates r(n).y(n) where r(n) is the value of the ratio of the control target value to the control signal (=x.sub.s /x(n)). The control target value x.sub.s, the control signal x(n), and a differential parameter kd of the conventional PID control set by a parameter setting device are input to a second control element which calculates kd.r(n)(.DELTA.x.sub.s (n)-r(N)..DELTA.x(n)) where .DELTA.x.sub.s (n)=x.sub.s (n)-x.sub.s (n-1) and .DELTA.x(n)=x(n)-x(n-1). The outputs of both control elements are added to yield the next operating signal y(n+1). This design can provide an automatic control apparatus capable of achieving a good control performance even if an object element has a non-linear characteristic.

Abstract: A production instructing apparatus which is provided with a file for storing the state of every product being manufactured and every stock product and a file for storing the producing capacity of each producing apparatus calculates the feeding quantity for each process for the insufficient quantity of the products through comparison of the shipping quantity of the products with the state of the products being manufactured and stock products, calculates the feeding date of required articles for the insufficient quantity of the products to the producing apparatus on the basis of the calculated feeding quantity and producing capacity, determines the scheduled date for delivery from the calculating result, judges whether or not the products are in time for the appointed delivery date by comparing the scheduled date for delivery with the appointed delivery date, and instructs feeding of materials, half finished products and the like for the products which would miss the appointed delivery date to the producing app

Abstract: An automated setup verification system provides a means and method for rapidly and accurately verifying that the component feeder magazines on a surface mount technology placement machine are correctly installed for manufacturing a selected printing wiring assembly. The system prevents manufacture until machine setup is verified correct, thus preventing manufacture of a large number of defective assemblies when there has been erroneous placement of component feeder magazines. The system comprises a local area controller which contains design and machine information, a programmable logic controller, a bar code scanning and proximity detection system, a test station for testing a sample component from a component feeder magazine, and a structural bridging and spanning assembly for adapting the invention to an existing surface mount technology placement machine. An operator associates a component to a component reel and a component feeder magazine in the local area controller using a bar code system.

Abstract: A method for simulating machining reduces the memory capacity to store blank shape and tool shape by representing such a blank or tool shape only in terms of distances from a visual plane. This method enables a relatively low priced processing system to display detailed shapes graphically as even if the shape of a blank is changed by machining; the system only judges the relative magnitude of the distances in each segment. This method enables detailed machining simulation of cubic shapes by a relatively low priced processing system and with a smaller memory capacity.

Abstract: An improved micro-computer operated control device for an air conditioning system which is specially characterized in that the air volume produced by the air conditioning system can be automatically varied in correspondence to the temperature of a closed space is disclosed. A number of temperature sensing components are constantly monitored by a processing unit of the temperature data thereof which are compared with predefined temperatures provided by a function setting unit; the results of the comparisons are transformed into corresponding signals which are then transmitted to an output control unit; and a voltage regulator is actuated in accordance to the signals to adjust the voltage of the motor of a fan supplied by a power source so that the operation speed of the fan can be constantly varied in correspondence to the external temperatures, resulting in the air volume delivered by the fan varied accordingly.

Abstract: A synchronized operation system by which a plurality of independently controlled numerical control apparatuses (CNCs) are made to carry out a synchronized operation. An external signal generation circuit (1) supplies an external timing signal to respective CNCs (2,3), from the outside, and internal signal generation circuits (10, 20) generate internal timing signals for independently operating the CNCs (2, 3). Selection circuits (9, 19) select one of the external timing signals and the internal timing signal, and when the external timing signal is selected, the respective CNCs (2, 3) are operated by using the selected external timing signals as basic timing signals. Therefore, no time lag occurs between the basic timing signals of the respective CNCs (2, 3) an and thus the respective CNCs (2, 3) can carry out an extremely a closely synchronized operation, such as an interpolation, based on the basic timing signals.

Abstract: An auxiliary resolver position tracking (RPT) system for an industrial robot includes a resolver excitation and monitoring system which is powered by an uninterruptable power supply which includes a battery. The RPT system generates trapezoidal excitation pulses for the resolvers in the robot when no external excitation signal is applied, for example when the robot is shut down. Since there is relatively little motion to be detected in these instances, the RPT system switches between a slow position sampling rate, when no motion is detected, and a fast sampling rate when motion is detected. When operating on battery power, the RPT only switches to the fast sampling rate when motion is detected. To ensure that no motion data is lost when the system switches back to the slow sampling rate, the high sampling rate is maintained for a time sufficient to capture any residual motion of the robot.

Abstract: A yarn tension control system incorporated into a computerized control system of a textile machine for controlling the operation of a fast responding braking or friction device. The braking or friction device is positioned along a weft yarn path and includes a functional control unit operably coupled to the computerized control system, a tension sensing arrangement for sensing the tension of a strand of weft yarn passing therethrough, and a friction force applying arrangement for applying a friction force to the strand of weft yarn in dependence upon the tension sensed by the tension sensing arrangement.

Abstract: An automation and energy management system includes an automation panel box which may be positioned adjacent to a circuit breaker panel box. The automation panel box includes one or more circuit breaker control modules, one or more device control modules and a power module for providing power to the control modules. The circuit breaker control module provides signals to operate motorized circuit breakers, so as to turn on or off the power to a device being managed and the device control module provides signals to control individual appliances. Each of the two control modules is capable of controlling up to eight different circuit breakers or eight different individual devices and each includes a manual override button for each breaker or device controlled, which override button can be manually pressed by a person desiring to override the automation and energy management control.

Abstract: Convergent and extrapolated samples are provided for synthesizing sine waves. In a first embodiment, memory having the sine function, sin(x), mapped therein provides convergent samples. Memory size is reduced in a second embodiment by summing the outputs of two memories to produce convergent samples, one memory having an auxiliary function, f(x), mapped therein and a second having the sine function less the auxiliary function, sin(x)-f(x), mapped therein. A sine wave quadrant is conceptually divided into a plurality of uniform phase sectors demarked by boundaries phases. Additional memory provides extrapolation value sets uniquely associated with the sectors. In a given sector, extrapolation samples are produced by serially adding values of the associated extrapolation set to the convergent samples selected in the sector.