Abstract: An apparatus for setting a work coordinate system of a machine tool is disclosed. A work coordinate system is set on the basis of a position from the surface to be machined of a work by automatic input of a tool mounting dimension. The apparatus is composed of a means for inputting/outputting machining data, an instrumentation means for measuring the positon of a blade tip of a tool, a tool reference point setting data memory for storing tool reference point setting data, an NC machining program data memory for storing an NC machining program for machining a work, a first processor for operating the tool reference point setting data and the machine coordinate value data to obtain the mounting dimesion data for each tool, and a second processor for obtaining work coordinate system data and the tool mounting dimension data.

Abstract: A method of determining PID parameters for PID control by a PID controller having proportional, integral and derivative operating portions including the steps of monitoring a limit cycle generated in a controlled process to obtain characteristics of the process, continuing process control in a tuning mode where a nonlinear element is inserted preceding a proportional operation portion and at the same time an integral operation portion is connected in parallel to the series connection of the nonlinear element and the proportional operation portion and the derivative operation portion is removed from operation and determining optimum PID parameters to be used for succeeding process control on the basis of the results of the limit cycle monitoring.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rule based process control system which automatically learns how to control a process by inducing control rules from the process as it changes. During process operation data samples from the process are collected which include the controllable variables in the process along with the dependent variable (goal or goals) of the process. If a sample is not predicted by the current rules that control the process, new rules are induced from the new sample and previously collected samples by creating a decision tree. The controllable variable having the greatest effect on the goal occupies the highest tree node. New rules are produced from the decision tree which predict process behavior based on the new and old samples. From these new rules, control rules which satisfy system constraints and improve on the goal(s) are selected. The control rules are then used to control the process until another sample is not predicted by the new rules.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a slide (1) with a sley hook (5) reciprocally movable transversely to the slide path which after each step of the slide is automatically advanced into a reed space of the harness (4) disposed parallel to the slide path and is withdrawn after hooking in the warp thread. The step length of the slide (1) is exactly identical to the individual reed spacing which is optically sensed by a television camera (12) and is measured respectively calculated by an electronic equpment (16, 17, 18, 19). This continuous touchfree measurement of the reed spacing enables a faultless reading even on finest reeds, without the disadvantages of a mechanical sensing of the harness.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for producing a control signal by digital computation for controlling an element affecting a process. The process is described by a sequence of activities, and the onset of each activity is marked by a predetermined change of a process parameter. An event detector is provided for detecting the occurrence of predetermined changes of process parameters in response to data included within event detector data blocks. The event detector data blocks include data defining the desired response to the detection of a predetermined change of a process parameter. The control signal is produced in accordance with a selected predetermined algorithm using data included in algorithm data blocks. A first event detector data block and a first algorithm data block are selected defining a first predetermined change of a process parameter and a first algorithm.

Abstract: A front display panel for an industrial process control instrument which acts to maintain a process variable, such as flow rate, at a desired value. The instrument compares a signal representing the variable with an adjustable set point to produce an output signal that reflects the deviation of the variable from the set point, the output signal being applied to a final control element such as a valve which governs the process variable. The front panel of the instrument includes a bar graph indicator for the process variable, a bar graph indicator for the set point and a bar graph indicator for the output signal, all three indicators being of the gas discharge type and being integrated into a single panel defining a sealed envelope filled with an ionizable gas and provided with electrodes. Also integrated into the panel are touch-sensitive switches and other control and indicating elements.

Abstract: Provision is made for identifying tools used in an automated machine tool system. A module or transponder is mounted to the tool and interrogated by a transceiver which, in the preferred embodiments, has read/write capabilities. The transponder uses energy from the transmitted signal to power itself and send information stored in its memory back to the transceiver. In one embodiment, electromagnetic energy is transmitted from the transceiver to the transponder while the transponder to transceiver communication link is provided by way of capacitive coupling.

Abstract: A computer control system utilizing mathematical formula processing and more broadly knowledge engineering is characterized by a man-machine processing unit for defining a mathematical formula model, a program generation unit for converting the defined mathematical formula model to an intermediate code program, a storage device for storing usage conditions (rules) of the defined mathematical formula models and a unit for selecting a mathematical formula model which meets the stored usage condition based on data from a control unit of a plant under control, selecting a program corresponding to the selected mathematical formula model from the programs generated by the program generation unit, and supplying an operation result by the selected program to the control unit.

Abstract: A technique for generating isotherms representing the cross-sectional temperature profiles of molten glass flowing in a forehearth channel. A plurality of temperature sensors are placed at predetermined locations within the plane of the channel cross-section, advantageously in a rectangular grid, to provide a matrix of temperature readings. Digitalized temperature readings from these sensors are routed to a processor, which interpolates these temperature readings to approximate the temperatures intermediate the various sensing points, and optionally beyond the array of sensing points. The isotherms are obtained by fitting a Lagrangian interpolating polynomial through the various recorded temperatures. The interpolated values thus generated may be used to provide real time displays of isotherms in the forehearth cross-section under examination, or may be included in a control loop.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a driven member, such as a stage, in response to inclination of an operating member, such as a joy stick, produces signals that are transformed between different coordinate systems, such as rectangular and polar coordinate systems, one of the signal transformations being nonlinear. By virtue of the invention, the velocity of the driven member, which is dependent upon the inclination of the operating member, does not depend on the direction of inclination of the operating member, and the direction of movement of the driven member corresponds accurately to the direction of inclination of the operating member.

Abstract: A standard-length positioning apparatus wherein acceleration and deceleration of a driving mechanism for actuating a mechanism for feeding a material is controlled by a digital positioning mechanism according to a position feedback. Marks marked on the material are read by a sensor during the deceleration of the driving mechanism, and the digital positioning mechanism outputs a signal for stopping the driving mechanism when it receives the read-in output of the sensor while the driving mechanism is being decelerated. When a signal from the sensor is not received by the digital positioning means while the drive is being decelerated, the digital positioning mechanism utilizes feedback pulses of a positioning detector to stop the drive.

Abstract: A numerical control apparatus which controls a grinding machine that includes a work table for supporting a workpiece, a grinding wheel and a truing device for truing the grinding wheel. The workpiece has taper and non-taper portions to be ground. The numerical control apparatus includes first and second storage means for storing first and second truing programs which respectively define first and second relative movements between the truing device and the grinding wheel to form a taper grinding surface and a non-taper grinding surface on the grinding wheel. The numerical control apparatus executes the first truing program prior to grinding the taper portion of the workpiece and also executes the second truing program after grinding the taper portion.

Abstract: There are disclosed a method and apparatus for improved operation of one or more deposition systems. A minimum expenditure malfunction recovery system provides for a variable recovery related to the current hardware and actual states of the system. A simplified input and output (I/O) device is provided to control the data flow in the system without addressing and decoding complexity. A flexible operation system is also provided for a plurality of deposition systems whose operation easily can be varied without reprogramming of the operating sequence.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a constraint dependent control method and system for a large scale refinery, chemical process or the like, is provided that allows on-line optimization of one and preferably two plant inputs without need for optimal set points, through iterative generation of a constraint dependent control code normalized to present time t for "driving" the optimized plant inputs rapidly toward optimization but without destabilizing the plant. The generation of such control code includes evaluation of certain key components associated with elements of an optimizing and stabilizing control vector (OSC) from which the code is derived.

Abstract: A system converts from the boundary representation of an object to the constructive solid geometry representation thereof. The system converts the boundary representation of the object into elemental atomic geometrical units or I-bodies which are in the shape of stock primitives or regularized intersections of stock primitives. These elemental atomic geometrical units are then represented in symbolic form. The symbolic representations of the elemental atomic geometrical units are then assembled heuristically to form a constructive solid geometry representation of the object usable for manufacturing thereof. Artificial intelligence is used to determine the best constructive solid geometry representation from the boundary representation of the object. Heuristic criteria are adapted to the manufacturing environment for which the device is to be utilized.

Abstract: A drug dispensing apparatus which is arranged to form divided separate packets during intermittent transport of a packaging sheet in its longitudinal direction and to print messages for predetermined items on the separate packets. The print format may be edited as desired by an operator. Portions of the packaging sheet which are not part of the separate pockets may be printed with the cumulative status of the drug dosage which is accommodated in the printed pockets.

Abstract: A Machine Tool Monitor detects significant cutting tool breakage and the first contact of an advancing tool to a workpiece, and does this by monitoring vibration signals produced by the machining of parts and interpreting patterns in these signals. Information from the part program improves the performance of the detector and optimizes it for the cutting conditions called for by the machine tool control. The analog channel gain of the monitor is adjusted and parameters controlling the digital pattern recognition logic are selected using part program information on machining parameters. The tool touch or tool break detection mode is selected by the part program.

Abstract: A machining process determination method in automatic programming for automatically creating NC data for a lathe. The method includes storing machining processes in a memory in a machining sequence, reading the previously stored machining processes out of the memory in order after entry of a blank profile (BP) and part profile (PF); automatically discriminating based on the blank profile and final part profile whether the read machining process is needed to obtain a final part; when it is not required, performing identical discrimination processing upon reading the next machining process out of the memory, and when it is required, determining a cutting domain (A1, A2, A3) and cutting direction of the machining process; and thereafter creating NC data upon reading subsequent machining processes out of the memory and performing identical processing.

Abstract: A tool interference checking method for checking whether a tool (TL) will interfere with a workpiece (WK) when the tool is transported relative to the workpiece to cut the workpiece on the basis of NC data comprising a number of blocks (B.sub.1 -B.sub.5), characterized by having steps of obtaining tool travelling directions (+X, -Y, +X, +Y, +X) indicated by the NC data in respective blocks, obtaining a tool offset path (TCP) using the tool diameter and NC data, obtaining tool travelling directions (+X, -Y, -X, +Y, +X) in respective blocks of the tool offset path, comparing, for each and every block, the tool travelling direction indicated by the NC data and the tool travelling direction indicated by the tool offset path, and rendering a decision to the effect that tool interference will occur if the tool travelling directions are in non-agreement in at least one block.

Abstract: A process control apparatus comprises a main controller having a first integrator for integrating a difference signal between a set point and an output of a process and a PD (proportional-derivative) arithmetic operating unit for executing the PD arithmetic operation for the output of the process. The main controller obtains a control signal on the basis of an I-PD (integral-poroportional-derivative) control method and supplying this control signal to the process. A robust controller, connected to the output of the process, comprises a high-order differentiator for high-order differentiating the output of the process, a second integrator for integrating the difference signal between the set point and the output of the process, a subtractor for subtracting an output of the second integrator from an output of the high-order differentiator, and an amplifier for amplifying an output of the subtractor and feeding back this amplified output to the control signal.