Of Actuating Means Patents (Class 100/48)
  • Patent number: 11952078
    Abstract: A driving device and a driving method for an electric assisted bicycle are provided. The driving device includes a motor, a rotation speed sensor, a torque sensor and a controller. The rotation speed sensor senses a rotation speed value of a crank or a chainring of the electric assisted bicycle. The torque sensor obtains an average torque value applied by the crank to the chainring of the electric assisted bicycle. The controller controls an output of the motor in response to the rotation speed value and the average torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventor: Hao-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11564766
    Abstract: A scrubs returns cabinet for a hospital allows workers to return surgical garment tops and bottoms. A cabinet housing has a loading door leading to a return port through which the customer places the soiled scrub suit after entering customer identification information. The scrubs fall into a collection area and are dispersed by a diverter into the collection area. Additionally, a compacting paddle compacts the accumulating scrubs to utilize more of the collection area and accommodate more dirty scrubs before the collection area needs to be emptied. The scrubs are compressed by the compactor after being dispersed by the diverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Cintas Corporate Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John Savage, Brett Baylor, Aaron Gallegos, Dale Helgren, Scott Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11542007
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a dual configuration aircraft lavatory includes a plurality of walls enclosing and defining a lavatory interior space, wherein one of the walls is coextensive with a portion of the cabin. Within the lavatory interior space are a toilet, a washing station and a waste receptacle movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the waste receptacle is attached to a wall of the lavatory between the washing station and a door wall. In the second position, the waste receptacle occupies a second predetermined volume of space in the aircraft cabin separated from a first predetermined volume of space occupied by the waste receptacle in the first position. Moving the waste receptacle from the first position to the second position reveals additional space within the lavatory sufficient so that two adult humans simultaneously fit within the lavatory interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: René Waldheuer, Andreas Heidtmann
  • Patent number: 11506177
    Abstract: The disclosed technology provides a system and methods for transforming kinetic energy from wind and solar energy from sunlight into three phase electrical energy for local use and available to supply to electrical grids. The system includes a solar panel system and a wind system, which through a gearbox translates kinetic energy from the wind into hydraulic energy in a hydraulic circuit. One or more generators are coupled with the hydraulic circuit to translate the hydraulic energy into three phase electrical energy. In embodiments, a pump motor runs off of a rechargeable battery to supply hydraulic energy to one of the generators when the wind is insufficient to provide sufficient hydraulic energy to the generator. The rechargeable battery may be recharged by diverting energy from, for example, the solar panel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Daniel K Hicks
  • Patent number: 11318664
    Abstract: The adhering device of the present application includes a chamber; a carrying platform having a groove formed thereon; a pressing block assembly for supporting the flexible display panel, and fitting the flexible display panel toward the curved cover plate at a preset rising speed; a clamp assembly for holding the flexible display panel, and when the flexible display panel is adhered to the curved cover plate at a preset ascending speed, the clamp assembly starts to rotate until the flexible display panel and the curved cover plate completely adhere together with the display panel separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shimin Chen
  • Patent number: 10786847
    Abstract: A hydraulic forging press machine and a control method, whereby surging of the forging load or dead zones where the forging speed goes to zero is suppressed, and forging is performed with high precision throughout a wider range than the prior art, from low to high load. Pressure cylinders have a main pressure cylinder configured so working fluid is supplied during forging, and secondary pressure cylinders are configured so supplying and stopping of the supply of working fluid thereto are switched in response to the forging load, head-side hydraulic chambers of the secondary pressure cylinders being connected to a head-side hydraulic chamber of the main pressure cylinder via electromagnetic switching valves. Only the main pressure cylinder is used until the forging load exceeds a set load, and the number of secondary pressure cylinders used is sequentially increased as the forging load increases after the forging load exceeds the set load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: JAPAN AEROFORGE, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kuwano, Shinya Ishigai
  • Patent number: 10641605
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for measuring a clearance. The apparatus comprises: a first measurement component configured to be mounted on a first object in a mounted state thereof, so that a first measurement surface of the first measurement component is aligned with a first surface to be measured of the first object; and a second measurement component configured to be mounted on a second object in a mounted state thereof, so that a second measurement surface of the second measurement component is aligned with a second surface to be measured of the second object, wherein the first measurement component comprises a measurement instrument configured to measure a first distance between the measurement instrument and the first measurement surface and a second distance between the measurement instrument and the second measurement surface, wherein the clearance is calculated based on the first distance and the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xianglong Li, Xiaoran Duan, Changkai Zhao, Quanyue Li, Feng He
  • Patent number: 10466662
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes system and methods for inferring energy usage at multiple levels of granularity. One embodiment describes an industrial automation system including a first industrial automation component, a first sensor coupled to the first industrial automation component, in which the first sensor measures a first amount of power supplied to the first industrial automation component, a second industrial automation component that couples to the first industrial automation component, and an industrial control system that infers energy usage by the first industrial automation component and the second industrial automation component based at least in part on the first amount of power supplied to the first industrial automation component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip John Kaufman
  • Patent number: 9259890
    Abstract: A large number of green veneers for plywood respectively having high water contents and formed in a rectangular shape are vertically laminated to obtain a veneer laminate having a quadrangular prismatic shape. The veneer laminate is located between upper and lower platen members so that two opposite side faces of the veneer laminate vertically form cut face gathering planes. The upper and lower platen members are moved toward each other to apply a pressing force to the veneer laminate. The pressing force applied to the veneer laminate is released or weakened while the water drawn through the cut face gathering planes by the pressing force is dripping downward along the cut face gathering planes of the veneer laminate vertically formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TAIHEI MACHINERY WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsumasa Narita, Yasuyuki Ohdaira
  • Patent number: 9192974
    Abstract: A work-punching device and work-punching method capable of appropriately changing a counter load is provided. Also, a method for manufacturing an element for continuously variable transmission with simple process is provided. A counter load may be controlled by increasing and decreasing a pressure of a fluid, when punching an element 10 from a metal band plate 20 while applying a counter load by a counter punch 113.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naruhiko Okubo, Masaaki Fujita, Shintaro Nakamura, Shinsuke Onishi
  • Publication number: 20150083002
    Abstract: A hydraulic press and a method for operating the press in cycles. The aim is to lower energy consumption in a hydraulic press for shaping workpieces and a method thereof. Each cycle has at least one phase in which the storage pressure pS in the accumulator presses hydraulic fluid into a chamber of a hydraulic cylinder in order to move a ram relative to the cylinder, the ram being coupled to the cylinder. In at least one portion of each cycle, a hydraulic pump driven by a motor delivers hydraulic fluid to the accumulator at a charging volume flow rate. The storage pressure pS is adjusted to a reference value PSOLL by setting the speed of the motor to a nominal motor speed nN and to at least one intermediate value nZ, where 0<nZ<nN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Dieffenbacher GmbH Maschinen- und Anlagenbau
    Inventors: Matthias Graf, Bernd Bodenstein, Manfred Maier
  • Patent number: 8959978
    Abstract: A forging press includes a slide configured to have a die attached thereto; a drive shaft configured to cause the slide to rise and lower by rotating; a flywheel connected to the drive shaft via a clutch; a servomotor connected to the drive shaft; and a control part configured to control respective operations of the clutch and the servomotor, wherein the control part is configured to perform such control as to cause the drive shaft to rotate with the driving of the flywheel in at least one of a rising process, in which the slide is caused to rise, to cause the slide to rise and a lowering process, in which the slide is caused to lower, to cause the slide to lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Tado
  • Publication number: 20150000540
    Abstract: A compacting apparatus including: a compression plate, a piston having a surface facing the compression plate, and a drive mechanism configured to alternately move the piston towards and away from the compression plate such that an object may be compacted between the compression plate and said surface of the piston, wherein the drive mechanism can be positioned inside or partly outside the piston. Also, a reverse vending machine comprising such a compacting apparatus, use of such a compacting apparatus, and a method of compacting objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Terje Dehli, Lars Alfred Bech, Thomas Östby
  • Patent number: 8915181
    Abstract: In a mechanical press, the pressure (cylinder force) of a hydraulic pressure chamber of a cylinder-piston mechanism provided in a slide of the mechanical press can be variably controlled with a high responsiveness by a hydraulic pump/motor driven by an electric servomotor, in response to a cylinder force command corresponding to the press load command. Accordingly, even if a die height value is set to a value small enough to cause an overload, the press load can be restricted before the occurrence of the overload, and this can save the trouble of strictly adjusting the die height value. Further, pressure-application time in the vicinity of a bottom dead center can be lengthened, and a breakthrough phenomenon can be suppressed from occurring at the end of pressure application. Still further, because the overload does not occur, pressure oil is not relieved, so that the interruption of a press operation is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Aida Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kohno, Tadahiro Kondo, Junji Makabe, Akira Yamanouchi
  • Patent number: 8912702
    Abstract: A process and a blanking mold are described for the production of a ferromagnetic core for electric motors formed by a plurality of segments. The laminations are blanked from a sheet of ferromagnetic material and stacked in an accumulation chamber of the blanking mold, along which they advance until a segment constituted by a stack having a preset number of laminations is formed, which is mechanically connected to an adjacent segment, thereby forming a rectilinear sequence of segments. The segments are hinged to each other with the possibility of mutual rotation to allow the sequence of segments to be brought from the rectilinear condition to a closed circular configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ernesto Malvestiti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Confalonieri
  • Patent number: 8869689
    Abstract: A production system has at least one mechanical press driven at least in part by a flywheel powered by a first motor. The system further includes a second motor which is a servo motor. The power of the first motor powering the flywheel is arranged controlled by a control unit dependent on a function of the power of at least one second motor, the servo motor. In this way, the peak power of at least the first and the second motor may be limited. A method for operating the system and a computer program are also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Sjoerd Bosga
  • Publication number: 20140245907
    Abstract: A drive apparatus includes a movable member, at least one linear electrical actuator for generating a first force, and at least one linear hydraulic actuator for generating a second force. The at least one linear electrical actuator and the at least one linear hydraulic actuator are arranged such that the first force and the second force act in parallel on the movable member in order to result in a combined force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: VAMCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Vaughn H. Martin, Bryan P. Gentile
  • Patent number: 8746137
    Abstract: System information and parameters relating to a baler and equipment connected thereto are used to calibrate the speed of a tailgate of the baler. Calibration involves setting the time it takes to raise and lower the tailgate. The calibration timing is used to control the speed of the tailgate for faster and safer bale ejections to ensure the ejection configuration values are tuned to the dynamics of the baler tailgate and hydraulic power of the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: James W. Henry, Riccardo Morselli, Kevin M. Smith, Mark Wileniec
  • Patent number: 8733242
    Abstract: A hauling or towing vehicle has a power take-off shaft that can be activated and deactivated selectively by way of a coupling. The apparatus has drivable elements that can be connected to the power take-off shaft. An electronic control unit of the apparatus is connected via a bus to an electronic control unit of the hauling or towing vehicle. The electronic control unit of the apparatus is connected to a sensor for detecting a living creature present in a danger zone of the machine. In the case that a living creature is detected in the danger zone, the electronic control unit of the apparatus causes the electronic control unit of the hauling or towing vehicle to order an actuator to disconnect the coupling of the power take-off shaft and/or to prevent the actuator from closing the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 8726802
    Abstract: A controller for an electric servo press includes: a press load sensor for detecting a pressure force of the slide; a pressure-force determination device for determining whether the pressure force of the slide reaches one or a plurality of different pressure-force setting values based on the one or the plurality of different pressure-force setting values and an output signal of the press load sensor, and for generating a pressure-force achievement signal each time the pressure force of the slide reaches each of the one or the plurality of different pressure-force setting values; a servo motor drive controller for controlling driving of the servo motor; and a motion command device. In response to the pressure-force achievement signal, switching of a drive control mode by the servo motor drive controller is switched, and/or a motion to be commanded by the motion command device is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Aida Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Senda, Hiroaki Yoshida, Akira Harada, Koichi Hishinuma, Hirokazu Kawabuchi, Hideyuki Matsuda, Yasuhiro Harada, Kazuki Honjo
  • Patent number: 8720330
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to a system for monitoring the temperature and adjusting a densifier having a compression screw. The system may include at least one temperature sensor adapted to monitor the temperature of or adjacent to the compression screw and a control system in electrical communication with a motor and the at least one temperature sensor and adapted to vary a speed or stop the compression screw based on input from the at least one temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Larry E. Koenig
  • Publication number: 20140083313
    Abstract: A method for operating a machine tool includes determining and providing/storing energy for machining a work piece as available energy by considering a first value of the energy to be applied of at least one element of the machine tool to store energy. Available energy provided in a section or in a partial section of a motion sequence of a stroke element determined for machining the work piece is gathered. Part of the available energy of the energy to be applied for machining the work piece from an energy potential provided/stored in the machine tool is used. A second value for an effective required energy is formed via at least one energy-storing element. A control/regulation of different energy transfers or contents of individual drive components is influenced in an accelerating or decelerating manner during a sequence of the stroke element or during a path of a stroke to compensate for asymmetric loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SCHULER PRESSEN GMBH
    Inventors: DIETMAR SCHOELLHAMMER, Thomas Spiesshofer, Anton Lendler
  • Publication number: 20140060346
    Abstract: A crank press includes an encoder measuring an angle value of a servo motor, a strain detector module generating a converted load value associated with deformation of a machine body, a memory storing at least one relation between an angle value and each of an upper torsion limit and an upper load limit, and a controller calculating a torque command value based on a position command, reading the upper torsion limit corresponding to the measured angle value, determining whether the torque command value exceeds the upper torsion limit, outputting the torque command value when negative, and outputting the upper torsion limit when affirmative. The controller further stops the servo motor when the converted load value exceeds the upper load limit corresponding to the measured angle value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Ya-Huei Guo, Tin-Chun Kuo, Jin-Hung Hsu, Ming-Yang Lin, Kuei-Chang Hsu, Yi-Wen Wang, Ju-Ru Tsai, Wei-Lun Hsu
  • Patent number: 8627766
    Abstract: The square baler comprises a pick-up a pre-compression chamber, a baling chamber, a loading mechanism for transferring each slice of crop from the pre-compression chamber into the baling chamber and a plunger. The baler further can include at least one non-contact sensor that is provided in at least one of the walls of the pre-compression chamber and/or of the input zone of the baling chamber to produce an output signal indicative of the density of the crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Didier Verhaeghe O. M., Kevin M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130276647
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for processing waste paper media and other waste fibrous products to reduce their volume. The methods include disintegration and compression, in some embodiments transforming the waste into a highly dense, combustible solid, for example a cylinder which may be burnt as a log or readily stored or transported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Brule
  • Patent number: 8561533
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for compressing a loose solid feedstock. The apparatus includes a two stage compressor. The first compression stage is a screw compressor. The second compressor stage is a reciprocating compressor. The reciprocating compressor operates co-axially with, and receives its feed from, the screw compressor. A choke cone maintains pressure in the outfeed from the compressor stages. The reciprocating compressor includes a piston that is driven by a pair of hydraulic rams. The position and operation of the hydraulic rams, the screw conveyor, and the choke cone is monitored by sensors. The reciprocating compressor, the screw conveyor, and the choke cone are all adjustable in real time to control the compression of the feedstock according to a pre-programmed schedule that need not have equal compression and retraction strokes. The operation of the screw conveyor may be advanced or eased off depending on the motion of the reciprocating compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Mascoma Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Murray J. Burke
  • Patent number: 8555777
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for cooking food on a grill having opposed upper and lower platens wherein a gap spacing between the platens is adjusted in an initial stage and in subsequent stages of the cooking time for the meat. The method includes causing the food to be located between two opposed platens, the opposed platens each having opposed cooking surfaces and the opposed cooking surfaces defining a gap spacing that is adjustable, and adjusting the gap spacing between the platens so that during an initial stage of the cooking the gap spacing is equal to or less than the nominal initial uncooked thickness of the food, and during one or more subsequent stages of the cooking, after the initial stage, the gap spacing between the platens is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Calzada, Paul G. Simmons, Jerry Sus
  • Patent number: 8539878
    Abstract: A square baler comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the baler in dependence on the first, second and third signals representing the mass of a bale, the force of the piston of the baler, the energization of the actuator respectively and an input target value for the mass of the bale wherein the first signal is fed back in a first control loop and compared with the target weight to generate a target force, the second signal is fed in a second control loop and compared with the target force to generate a target energization, the third signal is fed in a third control loop and compared with the target energization to control the energization of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Didier Verhaeghe, Bart M. A. Missotten, Jan Van Groenigen, Niklaas G. C. Monteyne, Olivier A. Vanhercke, Pieten W. Viaene, Tom Coen, Robrecht M. K. Dumarey
  • Patent number: 8479648
    Abstract: A solar-powered waste compactor comprises a waste container for housing waste, a compactor ram actuated by a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly for compacting the waste in the waste container, and a hydraulic power unit operably associated with the hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly for powering the compactor ram. The hydraulic power unit comprises a motor/pump assembly including a pump unit, a single-phase electric motor driving the pump unit and a flow control valve operating the motor/pump assembly at first or second flow rate depending on an operating pressure. The hydraulic power unit further comprises a battery unit, a solar panel to charge the battery unit, a DC-to-AC inverter, a single-phase AC power inlet connectable to a source of a single-phase electrical power grid, and a reversing contactor providing the electric current only from the inverter or the power inlet at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Marathon Equipment Company
    Inventors: Bradley L. Lyle, James K. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20130112791
    Abstract: A selective collection system for recyclable containers comprising of a housing part, a material identification device, a control device, a collection part and a shredding device and/or a compressing device. The material identification device identifies the input material and transmits a signal to the control device, which categorizes the input material into a plastic bottle, a can, or other material based on the signal. The shredding device receives and shreds the input material if the input material is identified as a plastic bottle by the material identification device. The compressing device receives and compresses the input material if the input material is identified as a can. Other materials are collected by the collection part without any processing. The control device controls the overall operation of the selective collection system and comprises a display to display advertisements, messages and/or announcements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: ECO CREATION INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: ECO CREATION INTERNATIONAL, INC.
  • Patent number: 8393264
    Abstract: A press machine includes a cushion shaft, a press shaft, a motor, and a motor control device. The cushion shaft is connected to a lower die. The press shaft is connected to an upper die and configured to press a workpiece between the upper die and the lower die in cooperation with the cushion shaft. The motor is configured to drive the upper die. The motor control device is configured to control the motor and includes a disturbance observer and an intrusion detector. The disturbance observer is configured to calculate an estimated disturbance value with respect to the motor based on a torque command and a motor velocity of the motor. The intrusion detector is configured to detect, based on the estimated disturbance value, a state of a foreign object between the press shaft and the cushion shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Takeki Inoue, Yuji Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 8381644
    Abstract: A motor drive control device includes a power-running operation start voltage setting section that sets a power-running operation start voltage of the power supply converter, a power-running operation start control section that causes the power supply converter to start a power-running operation when the direct-current voltage of the power supply converter has reached the power-running operation start voltage set by the power-running operation start voltage setting section, a power-running operation stop voltage setting section that sets a power-running operation stop voltage of the power supply converter, and a power-running operation stop control section that causes the power supply converter to stop the power-running operation when the direct-current voltage of the power supply converter has reached the power-running operation stop voltage set by the power-running operation stop voltage setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignees: Aida Engineering, Ltd., Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Tanaka, Kenji Suzuki, Hiroshi Nagase, Toshihiko Yamamoto, Shunsuke Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20130042770
    Abstract: A square baler comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the baler in dependence on the first, second and third signals representing the mass of a bale, the force of the piston of the baler, the energization of the actuator respectively and an input target value for the mass of the bale wherein the first signal is fed back in a first control loop and compared with the target weight to generate a target force, the second signal is fed in a second control loop and compared with the target force to generate a target energization, the third signal is fed in a third control loop and compared with the target energization to control the energization of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Didier Verhaeghe, Bart M.A. Missotten, Jan Van Groenigen, Niklaas G.C. Monteyne, Olivier A. Vanhercke, Pieten W. Viaene, Tom Coen, Robrecht M.K. Dumarey
  • Patent number: 8371214
    Abstract: A compactor/baler for compacting materials includes a frame defining a compacting chamber, a platen movably mounted to the frame, a loading gate movably mounted to the frame and a control panel including a biometric reader having a biometric scanner. The platen is movable within the compacting chamber and the loading gate is movable from a closed position blocking access to the compacting chamber and an open position exposing the compacting chamber. The control panel is actuable between a locked configuration and an operational configuration. The biometric reader is designed to accept a biometric attribute of a user and to actuate the controller between the locked and operational configurations. The biometric reader actuates the controller to the operational configuration if the biometric attribute matches a stored biometric attribute. The control panel prevents the loading gate from moving to the open position when the controller is in the locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: PTR Baler and Compacter Company
    Inventor: Edward Howard Correale, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8220384
    Abstract: A press drive motor upgrade kit for adapting a mechanical press of the flywheel-driven type to a servo press including a drive motor and a drive train, and a mechanical press so modified. The kit includes at least one servo motor adapted for driving the mechanical press and a drive transmission apparatus or gear transmission or the like, connected to the servo motor and adapted for engagement with at least one gear or shaft of the drive train of said mechanical press. The kit may also include a baseplate or mounting structure on which the servo motor and transmission are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Sjoerd Bosga
  • Publication number: 20120090482
    Abstract: In a mechanical press, the pressure (cylinder force) of a hydraulic pressure chamber of a cylinder-piston mechanism provided in a slide of the mechanical press can be variably controlled with a high responsiveness by a hydraulic pump/motor driven by an electric servomotor, in response to a cylinder force command corresponding to the press load command. Accordingly, even if a die height value is set to a value small enough to cause an overload, the press load can be restricted before the occurrence of the overload, and this can save the trouble of strictly adjusting the die height value. Further, pressure-application time in the vicinity of a bottom dead center can be lengthened, and a breakthrough phenomenon can be suppressed from occurring at the end of pressure application. Still further, because the overload does not occur, pressure oil is not relieved, so that the interruption of a press operation is avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: AIDA ENGINEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kohno, Tadahiro Kondo, Junji Makabe, Akira Yamanouchi
  • Publication number: 20120073456
    Abstract: A solar-powered waste compactor comprises a waste container for housing waste, a compactor ram actuated by a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly for compacting the waste in the waste container, and a hydraulic power unit operably associated with the hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly for powering the compactor ram. The hydraulic power unit comprises a motor/pump assembly including a pump unit, a single-phase electric motor driving the pump unit and a flow control valve operating the motor/pump assembly at first or second flow rate depending on an operating pressure. The hydraulic power unit further comprises a battery unit, a solar panel to charge the battery unit, a DC-to-AC inverter, a single-phase AC power inlet connectable to a source of a single-phase electrical power grid, and a reversing contactor providing the electric current only from the inverter or the power inlet at any given time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Bradley L. Lyle, James K. Robbins
  • Patent number: 8113112
    Abstract: A foot sensor rubbish bin is controlled to open and close by extending the user's foot into a recess of a base to actuate a sensor without using the user's hands, which provides the user with much convenience. Moreover, since the sensor is disposed at the recess of the base, the unnecessary interference can be avoided, thus reducing the energy waste and complying with the requirements of environmental protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Li-Fang Tong
  • Patent number: 8096233
    Abstract: A servo press line operation control device includes a normal press operation control section, a normal transfer operation control section, an upward movement step delay determination section, a downstream-side transfer step delay correction control section, an upstream-side transfer step delay determination section, a slide downward movement step delay correction control section, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Aida Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sotoyuki Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20120000377
    Abstract: The square baler comprises a pick-up a pre-compression chamber, a baling chamber, a loading mechanism for transferring each slice of crop from the pre-compression chamber into the baling chamber and a plunger. The baler further can include at least one non-contact sensor that is provided in at least one of the walls of the pre-compression chamber and/or of the input zone of the baling chamber to produce an output signal indicative of the density of the crop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Didier Verhaeghe O.M., Kevin M. Smith
  • Patent number: 8047131
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a press machine in which a motor performance torque is fluctuated in accordance with a rotational angle of the rotating body in the case of rotating the motor at a fixed instruction speed. The control apparatus includes an angle detecting apparatus detecting a rotational angle of the rotating body, a torque determining apparatus determining a necessary motor torque in correspondence to a characteristic of the press machine on the basis of a value of the rotational angle input from the angle detecting apparatus, and a speed adjusting apparatus increasing the rotational instruction speed of the motor to a value more than the fixed instruction speed, at the rotational angle of the rotating body in which the necessary motor torque becomes smaller than a predetermined motor torque reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Onishi, Kazumichi Okajima
  • Patent number: 8042461
    Abstract: A pneumatic compressor for the compression of waste comprising a cylinder (1) with a piston (2), which via a piston rod (4) activates a compression plate (3), which is slidably mounted in a compression chamber (5) which has a top door (6) through which waste paper is thrown into the compressor, and a bottom door (7) through which a finished bale can be taken out, which compression takes place in a series of compression cycles, which each time is charged with a new portion of waste, until the waste offers a counter pressure corresponding to the pressure which the piston (2) can exert at a pressure of 8 bars. In 80-90% of the compression cycles necessary for the compression of a bale, the piston (2) reaches its bottom position in the cylinder, and each time the pressure reaches a pressure of 8 bars in the cylinder (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mil-Tek Balers A/S
    Inventor: Kristian Skannerup
  • Publication number: 20110232513
    Abstract: A production system has at least one mechanical press driven at least in part by a flywheel powered by a first motor. The system further includes a second motor which is a servo motor. The power of the first motor powering the flywheel is arranged controlled by a control unit dependent on a function of the power of at least one second motor, the servo motor. In this way, the peak power of at least the first and the second motor may be limited. A method for operating the system and a computer program are also contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Sjoerd Bosga
  • Patent number: 7997190
    Abstract: Precise motion of the ram of a fastener press is controlled by high torque and low torque motors for high speed/low force and high force pressing of the ram by the ram, respectively. The high torque motor means drive passes through a bidirectional overrunning clutch. The clutch is controlled by the relative motion of the two separate motor drive speeds of which are regulated by a controller. The clutching motion is therefore controlled only by the relative speed of its drive versus driven components. This provides an extremely smooth and responsive transition between high speed/low force and low speed/high force operation of the ram so that the pressing cycle can be as fast and efficient as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: PEM Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger B. Patton
  • Publication number: 20110132207
    Abstract: A method of operating a servo press and apparatus therefore, including a press plunger and a servo drive and such a press, the press plunger is operated in accordance with a predetermined guide angle/position-curve based on a guide angle ? and the movement of the plunger is controlled in accordance with this curve with a tolerance which depends on the guide angle ?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: Martin Schmeink
  • Patent number: 7913617
    Abstract: A container with a door forms an operating chamber. A crushing zone within the chamber is defined below by a support and above by a vertically reciprocable ram. A driving assembly raises and lowers the ram to compact a plastic bottle in the crushing zone. A heating element softens the plastic bottle. A programmer is operatively coupled to a plurality of controls for receiving operating instructions and to the heating element and the driving assembly to thereby cause an appropriate cycle of operation for crushing and compacting the plastic bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: John R. Espey
  • Publication number: 20110036250
    Abstract: A hydraulic power device usable to power a compactor ram of a waste compactor is provided. The hydraulic power device includes a pump assembly having first and second pumps for providing pressurized hydraulic fluid to at least one hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly associated with the compactor ram. A battery is provided for storing energy and for providing energy to the pump assembly. A solar panel converts solar energy and charges the battery. A pump control unit simultaneously operates the pumps when an operating pressure of the pump assembly is less than a predetermined threshold and operates only the first pump when the operating pressure of the pump assembly is greater than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: James P. Cunningham, James K. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20100307349
    Abstract: A drive apparatus includes a movable member, at least one linear electrical actuator for generating a first force, and at least one linear hydraulic actuator for generating a second force. The at least one linear electrical actuator and the at least one linear hydraulic actuator are arranged such that the first force and the second force act in parallel on the movable member in order to result in a combined force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Vaughn H. Martin, Bryan P. Gentile
  • Patent number: 7832331
    Abstract: A slide position sensor includes: a link supporting member projecting from the slide toward the upright, a dual axis link member whose first end is rotatably supported and hung by the link supporting member, a plate rotatably supported and hung by a second end of the dual axis link member, a rack that is provided to the plate and extends in the hanging direction, a pinion that meshes with the rack and an encoder system that senses the rotation of the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuhiro Hirotani, Kiyokazu Baba, Eiji Douba
  • Patent number: 7815808
    Abstract: A pressure-filter is disclosed along with its peripheral equipment that permit the automatic controlled operation of the filter for extracting liquids from a fluid liquid/solid slurry and for the formation of a substantially dry filter cake. The efficiency of the filter apparatus is increased by the use of hot gas as a material for treating the cake within the filter for extracting the liquids as filtrate. The hot gas may be hot air, hot inert gas, steam, or combinations thereof in controlled sequences. The filter is adapted to be able to operate under vacuum or elevated pressure and at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: FLSmidth A/S
    Inventors: Steve C. Benesi, Patrick J. Costelloe