Abstract: A simplified operation control panel for industrial sewing machines powered by an electric motor controlled through a programmable microprocessor is configured as a structurally independent unit and comprises a display, and at least a pair of control keys, each adapted for activating in quick succession the displaying of graphic symbols related to sewing program steps.

Abstract: A CAD/CAM unit data generating process which allows machining control data to be generated efficiently, and independently of the sequence of shape definition. Machining sequence information is derived from shape defining information and machining information generated in correspondence with machining conditions. The machining sequence information is rearranged in accordance with selected conditions for rearranging the machining sequence information, such as machining type, height priority, tool sequence, and other operator inputs. The results are stored for future access.

Abstract: A machine is operated by a programmable controller that executes a ladder logic control program. A custom ladder logic processor is provided for high speed execution of the more common ladder logic instructions and a microprocessor interprets the remaining ladder logic instructions. A first section of memory contains a ladder logic control program in which some of the instructions are macro instructions executable by the ladder logic processor. Each macro instruction specifies an operation code, a first memory file containing data to be processed by the macro instruction, a second memory file containing control data governing the processing, and a storage location for results produced by execution of the macro instruction. Another memory section stores a library file containing a ladder logic software routine for each macro instruction, and stores a directory which identifies a starting location of the macro instruction routine for each operation code.

Abstract: A data acquisition system having setup duplication capability so that the setup or portions of the setup of one appliance can be duplicated onto other appliances by electronic means without affecting the identity of each appliance. More particularly, a method and apparatus are provided for effecting a setup record change throughout a plurality of appliances. A first appliance communicates with an external probe that has a memory including at least a first and a second buffer. The setup record of the first appliance is stored in the first buffer. A second appliance is then communicated with through use of the probe and its setup parameter of the setup record buffer, then at lest one setup parameter of the setup record stored in the second buffer is replaced by a setup parameter of the setup record stored in the first buffer to create a new setup record and the contents of the second buffer are transmitted to the second appliance.

Abstract: A curve extracting apparatus for extracting curves such as closed loops, open loops and hole groups from drawing data prepared with a CAD system, and an NC programming system for forming NC programs by directly utilizing curves which are extracted by the curve extracting apparatus. With such apparatus and system, it is unnecessary to perform complicated operations such as a drawing data reading operation, a coordinate calculating operation and a numerical data inputting operation and the occurrence of errors can be eliminated, and the drawing data prepared with a CAD system can be directly utilized to form an NC program.

Abstract: A programmable controller (PC) controlling the operation of a machine is described that executes a program written in a sequential function chart (SFC) language. The PC can generate a reverse operation sequence chart from an ordinary operation SFC program sequence chart. This allows the PC to control the machine in the reverse direction. Thus, if a machine experiences a failure, the reverse operation sequence chart is used and reverse operations are performed to allow the cause of the failure to be removed. The ordinary operation can resume without having to restart the sequence from the beginning.

Abstract: Disclosed is an NC machine tool apparatus including an NC machine having at least one spindle to which a tool or a sensing device is attached, and a drive mechanism for driving the spindle, and a control unit for driving the spindle through the drive mechanism. The control unit is provided with an NC work program producing means for measuring a machining locus of a workpiece held in the NC machine by the sensing device attached to the spindle in accordance with a source work program which defines a measurement of the machining locus of the workpiece and a method of producing an NC work program, and producing the NC work program on the basis of the measured data and the source work program.

Abstract: A method to determine the tool path of a material removal tool which is part of a system to shape the surface of a substrate is disclosed. The method conditions initial metrology data of the substrate into a dwell time versus position on the surface for the removal tool. The dwell time array is subsequently converted into a velocity versus position array so that a position controller means may be utilized to guide the movement of the substrate with respect to the removal tool to perform precise material removal on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: In a method for generating data defining the machining depth along a tool path, grid points are generated according to split points indicating a form of a model, and rough machining data for contour milling is generated according to the grid points, so that rough machining data which presents overcutting can be prepared. Contour points are generated and drilling points are set according to a comparison with cut planes so that the drilling points can be set easily and automatically. The contour points are retrieved successively so as to easily generate a tool path for contour milling.

Abstract: An electronic multi-shaft absolute position detecting device comprising an absolute position recording circuit, an interface circuit, a spare power circuit, and a cooperating application software circuit is used to detect the increment position signal produced by the measuring system of the numerical control machine tone and convert the signal into absolute position signal and record the machine position value. In case power is cut off, the spare power circuit can provide the absolute position recording circuit and interface circuit with power so that the absolute position recording circuit can continuously detect the position signals produced by the measuring system and record the machine position value thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method and a control apparatus of a washer wherein washing processes involving washing, rinsing and de-watering are performed fully automatically by the introduction of functions of a commonly-used remote controller, thus providing the user conveniences and usefulness, and more particularly to a control method and a control apparatus of a washer wherein, by utilizing a remote controller and a radio transmitting and receiving part internally installed on the main body of the washer, necessary data are mutually transmitted and received and when there is any discrepancy, the user is caused to perceive it through an alarm part and a display part of a remote controller, which makes swift action possible and prevents abnormal operations of a washer resulting from mutual interference by way of proceeding washing process only when intrinsic secret codes of a washer are matched with secret codes memorized in a EEPROM.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of automatically tuning control parameters of a servo or spindle drive system controlled by a numerical control unit is disclosed. The numerical control unit employs an automatic tuning device that automatically selects a tuning program and test run program associated with a selected control parameter. The tuning device test runs the servo or spindle according to the test run program selected and changes and controls the status value data measured in accordance with the control parameter selected. The invention also relates to a method of changing a criterion for the feature values of a control parameter, a method of comprehensively determining the feature values where there are a plurality of tuning conditions, and a method of sampling the status value data of the servo or spindle.

Abstract: A control system for a countercurrent pulp washing process in which the pulp is formed as a pulp mat on at least one moving filter surface and the mat is supplied with rinse water to replace water in the pulp mat thereby reducing the soda loss in the mat before it is removed from the filter surface. The process is characterized by at least one predictable process variable including dissolved solids retained in the pulp mat. The system comprises a trainable neural network having a plurality of input neurons having input values applied thereto and output neurons for providing output values and means for training the neural network to provide predicted values for the predictable process variables.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for production control which employs control, transport and processing means and which sets optimal priorities according to production conditions that may vary from moment to moment. The present invention also relates in this regard to a method of production control.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for operating directly with the program code of a process for determining the gradients of process variables of interest with respect to process parameters. Each process will contain one or more process variable declarations wherein each process variable declaration defines a process variable. There will also be one or more process function assignments associated with each process variable, wherein each process function assignment assigns a value to the associated process variable. One or more gradient variables will be introduced into the process for each process variable of interest, wherein each gradient variable corresponds to and represents the partial derivative, or gradient, of the process variable of interest with respect to a parameter whose value affects the value of the process variable of interest.

Abstract: A centralized control system comprising interface circuits which are provided in respective terminal devices requiring field service such as copying machines or automatic vending machines and collect functional information concerning functions of the terminal devices and abnormality information showing their abnormality; communication units which are provided at every one or plural interfaces circuits and transmit collected information as the need arises; and remote control device which receives transmitted information and selectively displays it on a display unit to execute a plurality of control processing at every terminal device. Abnormality information is announced whenever it occurs or at a predetermined time according to a degree of abnormality, and information concerning the abnormality information announced is displayed on a part or full of the whole display picture screen concerning all the control processing.

Abstract: A plurality of parameter-sets, the components of which are parameter items for determining a machining method, are provided, stored in advance. The Most suitable machining method is determined for a subject workpiece by allowing an operator to select the most suitable parameter-set from among the plurality of the parameter-sets used in to determining the machining method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a diagnosis system of a numerical control system (CNC) for monitoring an internal state of the CNC, wherein a processor (11) of the CNC acts as a host processor, and a diagnostic processor (1) monitors the processor (11) for the CNC or other processors (18a, 24) in a usual CNC operation mode, and the diagnostic processor (1) executes software for diagnosing the processor (11) for the CNC and the other processors (18a, 24), as the host processor, to detect a cause of malfunction of the CNC, whereby the time required for a normal operation is shortened, when a malfunction occurs, and the operational reliability is thus improved.

Abstract: A noncontact tracing control system for tracing machining a workpiece through a tracing of the contour of a model without contact. Coordinate values of a plurality of points on the model surface are acquired from measured values obtained by a plurality of times of sampling from two noncontact distance detectors (5a, 5b) provided at a tracer head of a tracing machine (3). A noncontact tracing control system (1) selects three points forming a triangle closest to an equilateral triangle, from among these points. A normal vector is acquired using the coordinate values of the vertices of these three points and outputs a command (SC) for rotating the tracer head (4) in the direction of a projection of this normal vector onto the X-Y plane. This command (SC) passes a D/A converter (17c), is amplified at an amplifier (18c), drives a motor (32c) and rotates the tracer head (4).

Abstract: The CAD/CAM device includes a layer table 9 tabulating the layers each including the attributes 18 for the layer and the other-layers referencing information 19 for other layers. By establishing correspondence from the figure elements, the three-dimensional curves, and the three-dimensional forms to respective layer data, the figure elements, the three-dimensional curves and the three-dimensional forms are maintained hierarchically via the layer table 9. Further, the respective layer data are given hierarchical name 17. By designating a work layer at the root of a hierarchical tree data structure, all the information necessary for the generation of the NC data can be retrieved.