Patents by Inventor Franck Besson

Franck Besson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8369980
    Abstract: A method of operating a machine tool, e.g., an electrical discharge machine, and a machine tool system with a machine, e.g. an electrical discharge machine, for machining a workpiece may include numerous configurable modules (DRIVE; GEN; CONTROL) to perform at least one of controlling, monitoring and carrying out of the machining of a workpiece. The modules (DRIVE; GEN; CONTROL) are arranged on the machine and are linked by a data network to a node for at least one of sending data to the node and receiving data from the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: AGIE SA, Charmilles Technologies SA
    Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak, Rosario Lombardo, Marco Boccadoro
  • Patent number: 8093527
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for electrical discharge machining of a work piece by means of a working electrode. A sequence of working pulses is applied on the work gap between the working electrode and the work piece. The working pulses comprise eroding pulses for eroding material off the work piece and measuring pulses during which an ignition voltage is applied on the work gap in order to initiate a discharge within the work gap and to measure the corresponding, ignition delay time. The ignition voltage and/or the gap width are adjusted such that the ignition delay time is smaller than an oscillation time of the working electrode oscillating within the work gap due to the electrostatic attraction force and the mechanical restoring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Charmilles Technologies SA
    Inventors: Nicola Giandomenico, Franck Besson, Thierry Poncet, Fabrice Jaques, Friedhelm Altpeter
  • Patent number: 7947918
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a generator for generating a time sequence of discharge pulses separated from each other by pulse pauses for electrical discharge machining. At least two pulse capacitors are discharged each in the form of a partial pulse into the spark gap for forming together a discharge pulse. A discharge pulse having a predetermined waveform is selected from a plurality of discharge pulses having differing predetermined waveforms. The discharge of the at least two pulse capacitors is controlled such that the selected discharge pulse is generated with the predetermined waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignees: Agie Charmilles SA, Charmilles Technologies SA
    Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
  • Patent number: 7816620
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and generator for generating a time sequence of EDM pulses having a predefined ignition voltage for electrical discharge machining. An AC voltage is generated from a DC voltage, furnished by a bipolar current source. The AC voltage is applied to an isolating transformer disposed between the bipolar current source and the spark gap. A first pulse capacitor is charged by the bipolar current source to a voltage corresponding to the ignition voltage. The ignition voltage provided by the isolating transformer is switched with a selected polarity to the spark gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignees: Agie Charmilles SA, Charmilles Technologies SA
    Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
  • Patent number: 7812277
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a generator for generating a time sequence of discharge pulses for EDM machining wherein a pulse capacitor (22) for generating the discharge pulse is charged with a charging voltage (U_chrg) and then discharged into the spark gap. The pulse capacitor (22) after being discharged is recharged with a charging voltage (U_chrg) having the same polarity as that of the residual voltage (U_end) remaining at the pulse capacitor (22) after its discharge. Thereafter, the pulse capacitor (22) is discharged with a discharge pulse into the spark gap, wherein the polarity of the discharge pulse is independent of the polarity of the charging voltage (U_chrg) at the pulse capacitor (22) after its recharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignees: Agie Charmilles SA, Charmilles Technologies SA
    Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
  • Publication number: 20080047937
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for electrical discharge machining of a work piece by means of a working electrode. A sequence of working pulses is applied on the work gap between the working electrode and the work piece. The working pulses comprise eroding pulses for eroding material off the work piece and measuring pulses during which an ignition voltage is applied on the work gap in order to initiate a discharge within the work gap and to measure the corresponding ignition delay time. The ignition voltage and/or the gap width are adjusted such that the ignition delay time is smaller than an oscillation time of the working electrode oscillating within the work gap due to the electrostatic attraction force and the mechanical restoring force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Charmilles Technologies SA
    Inventors: Nicola Giandomenico, Franck Besson, Thierry Poncet, Fabrice Jaques, Friedhelm Altpeter
  • Publication number: 20070039929
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and generator for generating a time sequence of EDM pulses having a predefined ignition voltage for electrical discharge machining. An AC voltage is generated from a DC voltage, furnished by a bipolar current source. The AC voltage is applied to an isolating transformer disposed between the bipolar current source and the spark gap. A first pulse capacitor is charged by the bipolar current source to a voltage corresponding to the ignition voltage. The ignition voltage provided by the isolating transformer is switched with a selected polarity to the spark gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
  • Publication number: 20070027570
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of operating a machine tool, e.g., an electrical discharge machine (4), and a machine tool system comprising a machine (4) for machining a workpiece wherein at least one of controlling, monitoring and carrying out of the machining of the workpiece is performed by a plurality of configurable modules (DRIVE; GEN; CONTROL), said modules (DRIVE; GEN; CONTROL) are arranged on the machine (4), and said modules (DRIVE; GEN; CONTROL) are so linked by a data network (6) to a node (5) for at least one of sending data to said node (5) and receiving data from said node (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicants: AGIE SA, CHARMILLES TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak, Rosario Lombardo, Marco Boccadoro
  • Publication number: 20070023400
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a generator for generating a time sequence of discharge pulses separated from each other by pulse pauses for electrical discharge machining. At least two pulse capacitors are discharged each in the form of a partial pulse into the spark gap for forming together a discharge pulse. A discharge pulse having a predetermined waveform is selected from a plurality of discharge pulses having differing predetermined waveforms. The discharge of the at least two pulse capacitors is controlled such that the selected discharge pulse is generated with the predetermined waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
  • Publication number: 20070023399
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a generator for generating a time sequence of discharge pulses for EDM machining wherein a pulse capacitor (22) for generating the discharge pulse is charged with a charging voltage (U_chrg) and then discharged into the spark gap. The pulse capacitor (22) after being discharged is recharged with a charging voltage (U_chrg) having the same polarity as that of the residual voltage (U_end) remaining at the pulse capacitor (22) after its discharge. Thereafter, the pulse capacitor (22) is discharged with a discharge pulse into the spark gap, wherein the polarity of the discharge pulse is independent of the polarity of the charging voltage (U_chrg) at the pulse capacitor (22) after its recharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak