Condition Of Tool Or Workpiece (e.g., Tolerance, Tool Wear) Patents (Class 700/175)
  • Patent number: 11865659
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to calibrating position detection for a tool. The tool can use a sensor to detect a first value of a parameter. The tool can use a motor to extend the working member of the tool towards a working surface. The tool can include a base. The tool can detect, with the working member in contact with the working service, a second value of the parameter. The tool can determine a z-axis position of the working member relative to the working surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SHAPER TOOLS, INC.
    Inventors: Alec Rothmyer Rivers, Ilan Ellison Moyer, Matthew Wyatt Martin, Christian Reed
  • Patent number: 11853041
    Abstract: An information processing device according to the present invention includes: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor performing operations. The operations includes: constructing second data that is acquired, based on first data containing a plurality of observation values in a plurality of times, by stacking the first data with respect to the times, and extracting a constant pattern that is a combination of the observation values having temporal constancy in the first data, based on the second data; generating a difference between the first data and the constant pattern in the time; and extracting a random pattern that is a combination of the observation values without temporal constancy, based on the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsubasa Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11609546
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including: receiving, by an interpreter component having a processor with addressable memory, a first state of a tool of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine; determining, by the interpreter component, a reward and a value of the reward based on the received first state, where the reward is at least one of: positive and negative; transmitting, by the interpreter component, a set of information comprising the determined reward and the value of the reward to an agent component; performing, by the agent component, at least one action to generate a tool path and to proceed to a second state, where the second state is combined with the first state; and determining, by the agent component, the generated tool path based on the determined reward and value associated with the at least one action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventors: Frederic Vignat, Rafael Magalhaes, Luc Manzetti
  • Patent number: 11526156
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for the monitoring of a plurality of cable-processing machines for the processing of cables includes the following steps: transmission of production parameters from one cable-processing machine, or a plurality of cable-processing machines, to a control server with a central database, wherein the production parameters include settings for the cable-processing machine for the processing of the cables by the cable-processing machine in question; reception of the production parameters by the control server; and storage of the production parameters in the central database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: KOMAX HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Daniel Rogenmoser, Dierk Brunner, Daniel Emmenegger
  • Patent number: 11429082
    Abstract: A numerical controller according to the present invention stores comparative relationship between parameters related to setting of the numerical controller, extracts data having comparative relationship among parameters related to the setting of the numerical controller based on the stored comparative relationship, and causes a display to display the data having the comparative relationship in association with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 11328581
    Abstract: A system for performing sensor data analytics for equipment diagnostics featuring an alarm signature and diagnostic detector having a signal processor configured to receive signaling containing information about an alarm signature for sensed data that is time-stamped for captured alarm signature parameters in order to monitor rotary equipment, and also about diagnostic detector signatures for diagnostic detectors related to alarm conditions for the rotary equipment; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about an alarm diagnosis based upon a match between the alarm signature and one of the diagnostic detector signatures contained in the signaling received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventors: Bradley C. Decook, Daniel Kernan
  • Patent number: 11314237
    Abstract: A managing apparatus includes a data collecting unit that collects at least quality information on a workpiece having been machined by a first machine tool and operational information on other machine, an analyzing unit that performs an analysis for determining correlation between the quality information on a workpiece having been machined by the first machine tool and a change in the operational information on the other machine, an operation plan making unit that makes an operation plan, based on the correlation determined by the analyzing unit, for imposing a restriction on an operation of the other machine to reduce a change in environmental temperature of the first machine tool during high-precision machining performed by the first machine tool, and an operation instruction providing unit that provides an operation instruction to the other machine based on the operation plan made by the operation plan making unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hikaru Koshiishi, Yasuyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11281197
    Abstract: A managing apparatus includes a data collecting unit that collects at least quality information on a workpiece having been machined by a first machine tool and operational information on other machine, an analyzing unit that performs an analysis for determining correlation between the quality information on a workpiece having been machined by the first machine tool and a change in the operational information on the other machine, an operation plan making unit that makes an operation plan, based on the correlation determined by the analyzing unit, for imposing a restriction on an operation of the other machine to reduce a change in environmental temperature of the first machine tool during high-precision machining performed by the first machine tool, and an operation instruction providing unit that provides an operation instruction to the other machine based on the operation plan made by the operation plan making unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hikaru Koshiishi, Yasuyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11268809
    Abstract: A method adjusts a mechanical process on a material in order to improve bonding characteristics of the material. A system collects surface micro-roughness measurements of a material, and places discrete sampling regions on the material. The system analyzes the surface micro-roughness measurements for each of the discrete sampling regions on the material, and identifies a lowest micro-roughness measurement in a discrete sampling region from a plurality of discrete sampling regions on the material. The system compares the lowest micro-roughness measurement to a threshold micro-roughness measurement in order to determine that the lowest micro-roughness measurement is less than the threshold micro-roughness measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer Bennett, James D. Bielick, David J. Braun, Timothy P. Younger, Theron L. Lewis, Stephen M. Hugo, John R. Dangler, Timothy A. Bartsch
  • Patent number: 11247303
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a machining center, and more specifically to a horizontal multi-spindle machining center, in which 2-axis (Y- and Z-axis) or 3-axis (X-, Y- and Z-axis) transfer drive units are disposed in the machining center installed to machine workpieces, in which a ram equipped with spindles is moved in the up-down, front-back, and/or left-right directions of the workpieces, in which the spindles are configured to include a plurality of spindles, i.e., 2 to 8 spindles, so that a plurality of workpieces may be machined simultaneously, and in which tool change is simultaneously performed for tools fastened to the plurality of spindles and configured to machine workpieces by using an auto tool changer (ATC), so that tool change speed may be improved and thus manufacturing efficiency may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SUNGRIM ENGINEERING CO., LTD
    Inventor: Sung Il Jeong
  • Patent number: 11204600
    Abstract: A data interface device for data transmission between a numerically controlled machine tool and external data processing device, including: a control interface unit for data transmission with a control device of the machine tool and communications unit for data transmission with the external data processing device. Stored configuration data specifies a communication protocol used by the control device from a first group of communication protocols and a communication protocol used by the external data processing device from a second group. The control interface unit uses any protocol from the first group of communication protocols for data transmission and selects the communication protocol used by the control device for data transmission with the control device. The communications unit uses any protocol from a second group of communication protocols for data transmission and selects the communication protocol used by the external data processing device for data transmission with the data processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: DECKEL MAHO PFRONTEN GMBH
    Inventors: Rolf Kettemer, Alexander Holzner, Gerhard Rausch
  • Patent number: 11072133
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes monitoring a process of manufacturing a composite structure that includes introducing a matrix material to a reinforcement material, applying the reinforcement material into a mold cavity or onto a mold surface with a first machine tool, subjecting the matrix material to a melding event with a second machine tool, and inspecting the composite structure. Data including at least one of first measurement data, error data or second measurement data is determined, and an analysis of the data is performed to summarize the data and thereby produce feedback data including a summary of the data. At least one of the process, the first machine tool or the second machine tool is adjusted based on feedback including the summary, and for manufacture of a next composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Russell A. Strope, Gary E. Georgeson, Seeran Prajapati, Sadie L. Fieni, John W. Adams
  • Patent number: 10955817
    Abstract: A numerical controller controlling punching performs punching according to a machining program, detects a phenomenon that the punching is not normally completed, collects and stores information required for re-execution of a block in which the phenomenon is generated, and restores a machining state at the time of occurrence of the phenomenon and further re-executes the punching by using the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10928783
    Abstract: While a production apparatus is operating, a computation unit of an analysis device performs main predictive computation on an acceptability in real time by using one or more operating predictors selected from among a plurality of predictors. When the main predictive computation is not performed, the computation unit performs subsidiary predictive computation on the acceptability by using one or more subsidiary predictors that are not selected from among the plurality of predictors. The computation unit performs processing of interchanging the operating predictors and the subsidiary predictors based on prediction accuracies of the operating predictors and prediction accuracies of the subsidiary predictors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hayato Komatsu, Koichi Kato
  • Patent number: 10915088
    Abstract: An operating state display device displays an operating state of a feed axis in a machine tool including the feed axis. The feed axis linearly moves a moving body via a ball screw with a servomotor. The operating state display device includes a passage number count unit, a use frequency calculation unit, and a display unit. The passage number count unit preliminarily divides an operating range of an axis operation of the feed axis into a predetermined number of sections and counts passage numbers of the moving body in the respective sections. The use frequency calculation unit calculates frequencies of use in respective classified types of the axis operation in each of the sections based on the counted passage numbers. The display unit displays the calculated frequencies of use in the respective classified types on a monitor in a predetermined aspect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Takumi Hongo
  • Patent number: 10838403
    Abstract: A simulation method for milling by use of a dynamic position error includes the steps of: (a) generating a milling surface from a numerical control code, the milling surface having a plurality of grid points, the numerical control code having a position command; (b) calculating a normal vector for each of the plurality of grid points on the milling surface; (c) feeding back a position feedback of each of the plurality of grid points by the controller of the machine tool, and deriving a corresponding three-axis dynamic position error of the milling surface according to the position command and the position feedback; (d) calculating a component of the normal vector for the three-axis dynamic position error so as to obtain a normal-vector error value of the corresponding grid point; and, (e) displaying undercutting information of the normal-vector error value of the corresponding grid point on the milling surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Wang, Kuo-Hua Chou, Chien-Chih Liao, Jen-Ji Wang
  • Patent number: 10754330
    Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial machine system comprising a machine (1) comprising an actuator system (2) for performing an industrial operation, and a remote computing system (6) comprising a machine controller (9). The machine controller is remote connected to the machine, and is configured to remote control the actuator system of the machine. The invention further relates to a method of controlling an industrial machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Tomologic AB
    Inventor: Magnus Norberg Ohlsson
  • Patent number: 10754353
    Abstract: One or more sensors identify a characteristic of a towed implement using non-visual electromagnetic radiation, auditory detection or temperature detection. The characteristic of the implement is compared to a reference characteristic to determine whether the implement has a problem. If so, control signals are generated to control a controllable subsystem based upon the identified problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Adam D. Sporrer, Lucas B. Larsen, Ricky B. Theilen, Jeremy D. Krantz
  • Patent number: 10705504
    Abstract: A server for storing a machining result of a machine tool and one or a plurality of first terminals connected to the server via a network are included. The server includes an information disclosure part for disclosing the machining result, a request acceptance part for accepting from each of the first terminals a request for the machining result disclosed by the information disclosure part, and a machining condition provision part for providing each of the first terminals with a machining condition corresponding to the machining result in response to the request accepted by the request acceptance part. Each of the first terminals includes a request transmission part for transmitting the request for the machining result disclosed by the information disclosure part, and a machining condition acquisition part for acquiring the machining condition provided by the machining condition provision part in response to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadashi Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 10702958
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing or repairing a turbine blade or vane are described. The airfoil portions of these turbine components are typically manufactured by casting in a ceramic mold, and a surface made up of the cast airfoil and at the least the ceramic core serves as a build surface for a subsequent process of additively manufacturing the tip portions. The build surface is created by removing a top portion of the airfoil and the core, or by placing an ultra-thin shim on top of the airfoil and the core. The overhang projected by the shim is subsequently removed. These methods are not limited to turbine engine applications, but can be applied to any metallic object that can benefit from casting and additive manufacturing processes. The present disclosure also relates to finished and intermediate products prepared by these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Terrence Garay, Mark Kevin Meyer, Douglas Gerard Konitzer, William Thomas Carter
  • Patent number: 10687451
    Abstract: A maintenance management device which individually manages maintenance times at which to perform maintenance using a plurality of constituent elements, which are equipped in an exchangeable manner to a plurality of equipment positions of a component mounting machine to operate, as management targets, and the maintenance management device includes a remaining operation number calculating section which calculates respective remaining operation numbers of each of the plurality of constituent elements, an operation frequency ascertaining section which ascertains respective operation frequencies of the constituent elements at the plurality of equipment positions according to a type of the board, and a guide section which performs guidance of equipment positions of the constituent elements based on the remaining operation number and the operation frequency when a worker equips the constituent elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomonori Iwase, Makoto Nishi
  • Patent number: 10678222
    Abstract: To reliably collect measured data without requiring a large-capacity storage device. A data collection device which is connected with a plurality of machine tools via a network includes: a priority calculation means for calculating a degree of relative priority for each of the plurality of machines tools, based on information related to a state of each of the machine tools; and a measured data collection means for deciding, in a case of receiving a collection request of measured data for the machine tool, which machine tool among the machine tools corresponding to the collection request to set as a collection target of the measured data based on the degree of relative priority, and for collecting the measured data from the machine tool decided as the collection target via the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keitarou Inagaki, Junichi Tezuka, Tadashi Okita
  • Patent number: 10678191
    Abstract: A method for operating an automation arrangement, having a manipulator and an input/output module for automated production and also a computer apparatus uses the computer apparatus to execute a PLC computer program for providing a programmable logic controller for the input/output module, which PLC computer program is communitively connected to the input/output module via a module bus for the purpose of actuating said input/output module. The method is characterized in that the computer apparatus is used to execute a cell control computer program for actuating the PLC computer program via a PLC interface of the PLC computer program, in that the cell control computer program provides an NC controller for the manipulator and in that the cell-control computer program is communicatively connected to the manipulator via a network bus for the purpose of actuating said manipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Broetje-Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Stoyke
  • Patent number: 10666184
    Abstract: A machine tool controller capable of identifying the factors of a warning easily is provided. A controller of a machine tool includes a power supply monitoring unit, a power supply abnormality detecting unit, and an abnormality diagnosis unit. The power supply monitoring unit acquires measurements indicating an operating state of a machine tool and/or a peripheral device (for example, an AC power supply or a motor) of the machine tool. The power supply abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality in the operating state of the machine tool and/or the peripheral device and outputs a signal indicating the abnormality and the measurements obtained when the abnormality was detected. The abnormality diagnosis unit automatically selects a measurement related to the abnormality among the measurements and automatically diagnoses factors of the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunpei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10630225
    Abstract: A machine tool controller capable of identifying the factors of a warning easily is provided. A controller of a machine tool includes a power supply monitoring unit, a power supply abnormality detecting unit, and an abnormality diagnosis unit. The power supply monitoring unit acquires measurements indicating an operating state of a machine tool and/or a peripheral device (for example, an AC power supply or a motor) of the machine tool. The power supply abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality in the operating state of the machine tool and/or the peripheral device and outputs a signal indicating the abnormality and the measurements obtained when the abnormality was detected. The abnormality diagnosis unit automatically selects a measurement related to the abnormality among the measurements and automatically diagnoses factors of the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunpei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10621583
    Abstract: A system, method and one or more wireless earpieces for authenticating a transaction utilizing one or more wireless earpieces. An indication that the transaction is pending is received by the one or more wireless earpieces. Biometric readings are performed for a user utilizing sensors of the one or more wireless earpieces. The biometric readings are analyzed to determine whether the user is authorized to perform the transaction. The transaction is authenticated in response to determining the biometric readings authorize the user to perform the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: BRAGI GmbH
    Inventors: Veniamin Milevski, Peter Vincent Boesen
  • Patent number: 10562116
    Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring a power tool. One system includes a power tool communication system that includes an external device and a power tool. The external device includes a user interface configured to receive a first selection to enable a feature of a power tool, and receive a second selection of a threshold of a motor characteristic of the power tool. The power tool includes a motor within a housing. The power tool receives the selected feature and the selected threshold from the external device. The power tool includes a sensor configured to monitor the motor characteristic of the motor. The power tool further includes an electronic processor that controls the motor to operate according to the selected feature and adjusts an operating parameter of the motor when the motor characteristic is determined to cross the selected threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Stanley Dey, IV, Matthew J. Mergener
  • Patent number: 10296705
    Abstract: A method determines tolerance intervals for a set of dimensions of a part. The tolerance intervals are defined so that a part, the dimensions of which are included in the intervals, observes a set of constraints with a determined failure probability. The method includes generating a separation function for each constraint to be observed, each function being able to indicate whether a given dimensioning of a part meets or not the corresponding constraint. The method also includes iteratively building a set of increasingly larger tolerance intervals at each iteration, by the separation functions, whether the dimensionings included in the intervals observe the constraints with a failure probability of less than the failure probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Abdelkader Otsmane, Virgile Marguin, Nicolas Gayton
  • Patent number: 10230322
    Abstract: A system in package encloses a sensor and motor driver circuit. In an implementation, the sensor is an integrated circuit micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) sensor and the driver circuit is a motor driver circuit. Non-motor winding data information is sensed by the MEMS sensor and processed for the purpose of characterizing known fault patterns for motors; characterizing normal operation of the motor; and evaluating continued operation of the motor to detect abnormal motor behavior and instances of motor fault. The motor is driven using PWM control and the information output by the MEMS sensor is sampled at sampling times having a fixed timing relationship relative to the PWM control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Peng, Robert Krysiak
  • Patent number: 10195708
    Abstract: A system and method for cutting at least one of a plurality of features in a workpiece with at least one of a plurality of cutting tools controlled by at least one of a plurality of cutting tool machines is disclosed. The method receives process information describing cutting parameters from cutting tool machines, retrieves predicted cutting tool wear information relating a predicted cutting tool wear value to the cutting parameters, retrieves cutting tool information that include measured cutting tool wear information for the one of the plurality of cutting tools, computes a predicted cutting tool wear value for the one of the plurality of cutting tools from the measured cutting tool wear information, and cuts the at least one feature according to the computed predicted cutter wear value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Richard Agudelo
  • Patent number: 10070203
    Abstract: A device for telemetric transmission of measurement data in a work space that includes a base station arranged in a stationary manner and a measurement unit attached fixedly to a system that moves within the work space. A sensor for receiving measurement signals can be attached to or integrated in the measurement unit. The measurement unit also includes an electronic unit having a first processor, a first telemetric unit, and a first antenna for sending measurement data and for receiving configuration and control data. The base station includes a data processing unit, a second antenna and a second telemetric unit for receiving the measurement data and for sending configuration and control data. One of the antennas is linearly polarized, and the other antenna is circularly polarized. A method is provided for the measurement unit to receive measurement signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: KISTLER HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Bruno Busslinger
  • Patent number: 10061297
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of setting up a gear cutting machine, wherein the gear cutting machine is equipped with at least one machine part which can be set up and the parameters relating to the set-up machine part are input into the machine control for the subsequent gear cutting process, wherein a graphical model of the machine part is virtually composed on a display element of the gear cutting machine in a user-controlled manner from one or more graphical part components and the required parameters for the following gear cutting process are derived from the graphical modeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Karl, Marco Heider
  • Patent number: 10031509
    Abstract: A device, system, method, business method, and process of monitoring at least one machine tool including: determining a target signal of a component of the machine tool when performing a work step on the basis of at least one pre-definable or predefined reference number; detecting a current signal of the component of the machine tool when performing the work step; detecting a deviation of the target signal from the current signal; and generating a deviation signal. The deviation signal includes a piece of information about the component, the machine tool, and/or the deviation. The device, system, method, business method, and process of monitoring at least one machine tool further includes transferring the deviation signal as a new data set to an externally accessible storage unit that is separate or separable from the machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SCHWABISCHE WERKZEUGMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Zuckschwerdt, Peter Siegel, Andreas Tanneberger
  • Patent number: 10031147
    Abstract: Provided are an automatic analysis device and a maintenance support system which prevent a failure that occurs between regular inspection periods to thereby reduce the downtime of the automatic analysis device. A maintenance support system acquires, from each of a plurality of automatic analysis devices (100), pulse information transmitted from the automatic analysis device (100) provided with a mechanism which is driven by a pulse motor, and a transmission means which transmits pulse information including tow among a driving pulse value for driving the pulse motor, a consumed pulse amount that is a pulse amount consumed when the pulse motor has actually been driven, and a remaining pulse amount obtained by subtracting the consumed pulse amount from the driving pulse value, and stores at least the consumed pulse amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9934339
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining information associated with a forming operation involving a manufacturing machine having a tool that contacts material. The method also includes simulating deformation of the material based on the information. Simulating the deformation of the material includes using discontinuity layout optimization to evaluate combinations of shear planes within an initial structure of the material, predict a mode of deformation comprising one or more of the shear planes along which the initial structure of the material will likely deform, and calculate a deformed shape of the material after an increment of deformation along the predicted mode of deformation. Simulating the deformation of the material also includes repeating the discontinuity layout optimization with the deformed shape of the material as the initial structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Wichita State University
    Inventor: Viswanathan Madhavan
  • Patent number: 9790864
    Abstract: A real-time gas turbine management system includes a controller system coupled to a gas turbine engine. The controller system is configured to control demand on a first and second component of a gas turbine engine. The controller system is configured to identify a set point reference of the first component, identify a set point reference of the second component, and identify a data set indicative of a level of deterioration of the gas turbine engine. The controller system is also configured to change the set point reference of the first component to extend a lifespan of the gas turbine engine and/or change the set point reference of the second component to extend the lifespan of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Skertic, Joseph D. Myer
  • Patent number: 9741023
    Abstract: A method of operating a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) monitoring service is described. The method includes: providing a local device for installation in an HVAC system of a residential or commercial building; periodically receiving data from the local device across a wide area network, wherein the received data includes electrical sensor data including at least one of current or power; and storing the received data. The method further includes: analyzing the stored data to selectively identify problems and selectively predict faults of the HVAC system; receiving a subscription fee corresponding to the building, the subscription fee applying to a calendar period; and during the calendar period, providing information on the identified problems and the predicted faults to a customer corresponding to the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Arensmeier, Steven A. Cox, Jr., Paul Layton
  • Patent number: 9734266
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method of performing multi-user design negotiation on a computer-aided design (CAD) software is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, from a first user, a design change to the geometric shape design, and obtaining information of the design change implementable on a CAD model of the geometric shape design through the CAD software; storing the information of the design change as a design change suggestion (DCS) object; transmitting the DCS object, together with the CAD model, to a second user; and receiving, from the second user, an instruction to the DCS object, and performing an operation corresponding to the instruction to the DCS object. In response to a what-if instruction, the operation is a what-if operation to the geometric shape design with the design change according to the DCS object. In response to an accepting or rejection instruction, the operation includes accepting or rejecting the design change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: IRONCAD, LLC
    Inventors: Tao-Yang Han, Yawei Li, Cary O'Connor
  • Patent number: 9669562
    Abstract: A hydraulic arrangement and method in connection with a cutting device includes a hydraulic input line, a hydraulic motor, a return line from the hydraulic motor, a hydraulic cylinder for pressing the cutting device, a feed line for the hydraulic cylinder, connected in parallel with the hydraulic motor to the input line, and a directional control valve and a pressing line and a lifting line. The hydraulic arrangement further includes a throttle for throttling the flow exiting from the hydraulic motor in the return line, and a pressure valve located between the said pressing line and the pressure side of the throttle, for controlling the hydraulic cylinder on the basis of the speed of rotation of the hydraulic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventor: Lauri Ketonen
  • Patent number: 9651936
    Abstract: Using a machine tool, a workpiece is machined while periodically varying the rotational speed of a spindle thereof. Correlation data on correlation between a speed variation rate RVA of the spindle rotational speed, a speed variation period ratio RVF thereof, and vibration of a tool when machining the workpiece while periodically varying the spindle rotational speed is previously obtained. Based on the correlation data, the speed variation rate RVA and the speed variation period ratio RVF are set so that the vibration of the tool and machining accuracy are within their respective allowable ranges, and based on the set speed variation rate RVA and speed variation period ratio RVF, a variation amplitude and a variation period of the spindle rotational speed are determined. The spindle is rotated at the rotational speed varying at the determined amplitude and period with respect to a target rotational speed, thereby machining the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: DMG MORI SEIKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujimoto, Teruaki Ishibashi, Shinji Ishii, Koji Yamamoto, Yuki Terada
  • Patent number: 9483042
    Abstract: A load display device for a machine tool acquires machine coordinate values and load values for axes of the machine tool for each predetermined time from an axis drive control unit for drivingly controlling the machine tool. Three-dimensional coordinate values of a tool center point is calculated to obtain a tool trajectory, based on the machine coordinate values for the axes acquired for each predetermined time and information on a configuration of the machine tool. As the tool trajectory is displayed by a display device, vectors of the load values for the axes stored for each predetermined time are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Sato, Yamato Iwamura
  • Patent number: 9256946
    Abstract: A method for applying accuracy compensation to a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine can compensate control program that controls the CNC machine. The method recognizes an actual outline of the product using an image of product produced by the CNC machine controlled by the control program, and further obtains an ideal outline of the product. The method obtains compensation values by computing coordinate differences between points of the actual outline and points on the ideal outline, and compensates the control program using the compensation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Kuang Chang, Xin-Yuan Wu, Peng Xie
  • Patent number: 9227793
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for monitoring a condition of a conveyor belt arranged to rotate about at least a motor drive pulley and an idler pulley. A sensor unit can determine at least one sensor signal representing at least one operating variable of the electrical motor. A data processing unit can derive from the sensor signal at least one corresponding time dependent data signal, to detect irregularities in the data signal which indicate that a splice region of the conveyor belt passes the drive pulley and/or the idler pulley, to determine from a change in shape or in frequency of the irregularities, whether the condition of the conveyor belt has changed, and to send a signal which reflects a change in the condition of the conveyor belt to at least one of a display unit, a storage unit and/or a decision making unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Boris Rathmann, Ulf Richter
  • Patent number: 9186765
    Abstract: The monitoring apparatus includes vibration sensors that detect vibration accompanying machining, a rotation detector and a rotation detection section that detect rotation of a main spindle, and a stability limit and vibration distribution calculation section that creates, on the basis of vibration information obtained from the vibration sensors and a rotation speed of the main spindle detected by the rotation detector and rotation detection section, both a stability limit diagram illustrating a relationship between the rotation speed and a stability limit of the machining and a vibration distribution diagram illustrating a relationship between the rotation speed and the vibration, and displays the created diagrams on a monitor in a vertical arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoharu Ando, Hiroshi Ueno, Akihide Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9121799
    Abstract: Disclosed is an operating position changeable loading apparatus with multi-axis joint movement used on machining center. The apparatus consists of a load-receiving test piece and a load-exerting component. Moving the load-exerting component and the load-receiving test piece to a preset loading position according to a multi-axis joint movement, with the displacement value measured by displacement sensors and the amount of simulated load measured by a force sensor of the loaded-exerting component, a stiffness of the load-exertion position under a simulated load can be derived. Changing the load-exertion position, repeating in sequence the previous steps, a stiffness distribution under the simulated load can be derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: XI'AN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yumei Huang, Xingang Yang, Ye Hui, Rui Zhao
  • Patent number: 9069347
    Abstract: A numerically controlled machine tool for machining a workpiece is provided. The machine tool includes a work spindle, at least one feed axis, and a device for collision monitoring on said machine tool, wherein the device for collision monitoring includes a collision sensor mounted on a machine part of the machine tool, collision detection means for detecting a collision of machine parts of the machine tool when a measuring value detected by the collision sensor exceeds a collision limit value, and signal output means for outputting a stop signal for stopping the at least one work spindle and the at least one feed axis, of the machine tool when the collision detection means detects a collision. The machine tool includes a unit for determining the collision limit value on the machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: DECKEL MAHO PFRONTEN GMBH
    Inventor: Rolf Kettemer
  • Patent number: 9020629
    Abstract: Loads that act on all the bearings that support a main spindle are derived from a variation in the state of the main spindle and, in addition, raceway surface contact pressures of the respective bearings are analyzed, so it is possible to accurately keep track of the state of each bearing. Then, when the raceway surface contact pressure exceeds a corresponding threshold, a machining condition is changed to execute control such that the raceway surface contact pressure does not exceed the corresponding threshold, and, furthermore, when the raceway surface contact pressure exceeds the corresponding threshold even when the machining condition is changed, the main spindle is controlled to stop, so it is possible to prevent a seizure of each bearing. Thus, it is possible to improve machining accuracy by controlling the main spindle with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9008823
    Abstract: A cutter chatter monitoring method comprises the steps of capturing a cutting vibration acceleration signal; dividing the cutting vibration acceleration signal in each predetermined time period into a plurality of segments; determining whether the vibration acceleration signal of each segment is increased by a multiple greater than a threshold value; performing a Fast Fourier Transform of the cutting vibration acceleration signal in each predetermined time period; calculating a vibration frequency; determining whether the vibration frequency of the cutting vibration acceleration signal is a multiple of a cutter passing frequency; and increasing a main shaft rotating speed of a cutter to avoid cutter chatters if both aforementioned conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Chung Yuan Christian University
    Inventors: Shih-Ming Wang, Chien-Da Ho
  • Patent number: 9008822
    Abstract: An online real-time cutter breakage monitoring method uses a plurality of signals generated in three consecutive time periods by a vibration acceleration during a cutting process conducted by a CNC machine tool, and compares a difference between a maximum value of signals in each time period and an average value of the signals and a difference between the average value of signals thereafter and an idling critical value to output a first cutter breakage signal and a second cutter breakage signal simultaneously and determine the occurrence of a cutter breakage and shut down the CNC machine tool immediately to improve the determination speed and accuracy, so as to avoid unnecessary shutdowns or hindering the manufacturing flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Chung Yuan Christian University
    Inventors: Shih-Ming Wang, Chien-Da Ho
  • Patent number: 9002502
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and the like that are capable of calculating a correction value for a rotational axis and make it possible to correct an error in position or position and posture of a tool, which results from a geometric error, correct an error in posture of the tool, and also enhance the accuracy in machining by preventing a translational axis from operating in an infinitesimal manner due to a correction command. In a machine tool having two or more translational axes and one or more rotational axes, a correction value for each of the translational axes is calculated using a command position of each of the rotational axes, a coordinate value of a correction reference point as one point designated in advance in a command position space of each of the translational axes, and a geometric parameter representing the geometrical error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Matsushita