Including Plural Sensors Or Sensor Responsive To Plural Conditions Patents (Class 72/21.1)
  • Patent number: 11813293
    Abstract: A device configured to mechanically remove a fat phase from at least one adipose tissue includes a first pressing element and a second pressing element. Furthermore, a method for preparing a preparation including a fat-depleted adipose tissue, comprises mechanically removing a fat phase from at least one adipose tissue. In addition, there is provided a preparation including a fat-depleted adipose tissue, wherein the fat-depleted adipose tissue is prepared by mechanically removing a fat phase from at least one adipose tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: Samer Srouji, Zohar Gendler
    Inventors: Samer Srouji, Zohar Gendler
  • Patent number: 11446721
    Abstract: The invention relates to an extrusion machine (1) comprising a main frame (5), a friction wheel (4), a tool holding device (6), a locking device (11) and a tool unit (12) supported on the tool holding device (6). Furthermore, a shielding unit (28) with at least one first nozzle (32) and at least one second nozzle (33) is provided, wherein the nozzles (32, 33) are formed to emit a gas which is free of gaseous oxygen. The first nozzle (32) is directed at a peripheral portion (29) of the friction wheel (4). The second nozzle (33) is arranged below a stripping area (30) of the tool unit (12). The invention further relates to an extrusion machine (1) with a sensor unit (25) between the tool holding device (6) and the tool unit (12) as well as a method for distance control between two tool components of the extrusion machine (1). Furthermore, the invention also relates to different extrusion machines (1) as well as methods for changing friction wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: ASMAG-HOLDING GMBH
    Inventor: Mikola Huba
  • Patent number: 11370014
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for passive pin positioning of a reconfigurable forming die is disclosed. The apparatus may include a plurality of pins disposed within a frame, and a bolt that when tightened can secure or lock the pins into position. When the bolt is loosened, the position of the pins can be adjusted. A preliminary model of a contoured surface that is to be imparted to an article by the reconfigurable forming die can be used to help define a forming surface of the reconfigurable die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SHARIF UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Behnam Gomari, Farzam Farahmand, Hassan Farkhondeh
  • Patent number: 11235369
    Abstract: A draw press die assembly includes an upper die, a lower die positioned beneath the upper die, a blankholder for supporting an associated workpiece, and a blankholder drive mechanism connected with at least one of the upper die and the blankholder. The blankholder drive mechanism is configured to provide a pulsating movement of the blankholder with respect to the upper die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dennis O'Connor, Julio Malpica, Hideo Yazaki
  • Patent number: 10464114
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lower tool (1) having a longitudinal-offset measuring device (2), which lower tool (1) is part of a bending tool arrangement for use in a bending press. The lower tool (1) has a tool body (3) having a longitudinal extension (4), in which longitudinal extension (4) a bending recess (5) is provided. The bending recess (5) extends from an upper flat side (6) of the tool body (3) into the latter and is formed at least by two contact surfaces (7). The transition from the upper flat side (6) into the bending recess (5) forms a contact edge (8), which contact edge (8) forms a contact line (9) in the longitudinal extension (4). A sensor (10) for determining a longitudinal offset (18) is arranged in the region of the contact line (9), wherein a sensing portion (11) of the sensor (10) is oriented in the direction of a metal sheet (16) to be bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TRUMPF Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Gerhard Angerer, Klemens Freudenthaler, Josef Gaggl, Florian Hausmann, Matthias Hoerl, Nenad Kovjenic, Helmut Theis, Manfred Waldherr
  • Patent number: 10441988
    Abstract: An apparatus for checking an inclination of a cushion pad includes: a plurality of height position detectors that detect a plurality of respective height positions in a vertical direction at a plurality of positions different in a horizontal direction of the cushion pad; an inclination measurement unit that measures information on an inclination of the cushion pad in accordance with the plurality of height positions detected by the plurality of respective height position detectors; and an input/output unit that outputs the information on an inclination of the cushion pad measured by the inclination measurement unit to a display or a printer in a visible manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Aida Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Kondo, Junji Makabe
  • Patent number: 10376941
    Abstract: A press forming method includes a first process of obtaining a pressing force applied to each portion of a tool by an workpiece material during press forming while independently driving the respective each portion of the tool divided into multiple portions and press forming the workpiece material, and a second process of adjusting at least one of an applied driving force, an applied driving speed, and an applied driving timing for each portion of the tool to cause a processing portion of the workpiece material in which the state approaching an overload state is detected based on the pressing force to flow to other processing portions of the workpiece material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Wada, Shuji Yamamoto, Mitsuharu Yamagata
  • Patent number: 10369607
    Abstract: A projector emits laser light, and an optical receiver includes a photodetector. When an upper table is lowered, a safety controller controls lowering of the upper table to stop, when it is determined that the optical receiver is in a light obstructing state in a period in which a condition is satisfied that a first distance between a tip of a punch and an upper end of a material is equal to or greater than a second distance between the tip of the punch and the photodetector, and controls the lowering to continue without stopping the lowering of the upper table even when it is determined that the optical receiver is in the light obstructing state in a period in which a condition is satisfied that the first distance is less than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: AMADA HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Aoki, Kento Matsuura, Ryota Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10205294
    Abstract: A hand-actuated crimping tool for manipulating electrical cables includes a pair of crimping grips which are pivotally connected for movement between open and closed positions and a crimping head for gripping a cable. An electronic counter including an electronic circuit and a signaling device is connected with one of the grips and is operable to count each time the crimping tool is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thilo Bröker, Christoph Dierks
  • Patent number: 9346091
    Abstract: A safety device for a machine, in which machine a first machine part having a leading edge performs a working movement towards a second machine part, comprises a plurality of optical safety barriers and an evaluation unit. The optical safety barriers move in the working movement simultaneously with the first machine part in such a manner that the safety barriers move in advance of the leading edge at various spaced dispositions. The optical safety barriers span a protective field that has a two-dimensional cross section. The evaluation unit is designed for generating a stop signal to stop the first machine part in dependence upon the optical safety barriers. Towards the end of the working movement, the optical safety barriers are held substantially stationary in the region of the second machine part. The optical safety barriers are deactivated one following the other before they are interrupted by the first machine part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Mark Hufnagel, Roland Leibfarth
  • Publication number: 20140208816
    Abstract: For aging deformation of a reaction vessel used for production of titanium sponge by the Kroll method, the deformation of the reaction vessel can be corrected to a desired deformation. The apparatus for correcting the deformation corrects by being inserted inside of the cylindrical deformation of the reaction vessel, the apparatus has multiple cylinder arms radially extendable to a circumference, a deformation-correcting head arranged on a top part of the cylinder arm, a hydraulic power unit connected to the cylinder arm and driving the deformation-correcting head, a detecting means for the stroke of the deformation-correcting head, and a measuring means for the pressing force against the reaction vessel. Furthermore, the method for correcting the deformation of the reaction vessel using the apparatus has a step of pressing the reaction vessel while adjusting stroke of the deformation-correcting head depending on an amount of deformation of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: TOHO TITANIUM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru NAKASHIMA, Tarou TOMITA, Atsushi SAKAGAMI
  • Patent number: 8584496
    Abstract: A press-forming device includes a punch and a die, as a mold to be measured, and a strain measurement means arranged within the mold and measuring a strain amount generated by press-forming. The strain measurement means is positioned at the press-direction side relative to a radius end of a die shoulder on the material flow-out side when the mold is positioned at a lower dead point of press-forming. The strain measurement means is preferably positioned within a region defined by a surface which is away from the center of curvature of a curved surface of the mold by the distance ten times R, where R is a curvature radius of the curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Kuwayama, Noriyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8424351
    Abstract: A system for monitoring clinched joints performed by an apparatus that moves a punch relative to a die. The system determines acceptability of a clinched joint by correlating the amount of punch advancement toward the die in the formation of the joint and the diameter of a button formed by the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Srecko Zdravkovic, Sivakumar Ramasamy
  • Patent number: 8424359
    Abstract: The invention describes a manufacturing device (1) and a method for bending blanks (4) or workpieces (5), having a bending press (2) and having a manipulator (3), which can be displaced in a raceway parallel to a longitudinal extent of a table and bending beam (10, 14), for workpiece transfer between a feeding or removal apparatus for the blanks (4) or the workpieces (5) and a forming region between bending tools (21). The manipulator (3) has an articulated-arm arrangement (33) having preferably three arms (34, 35, 36) which can be pivoted via pivoting bearing arrangements (37) about pivot axes (39) which are oriented parallel to the raceway, and said manipulator has a rotary unit (41), having a rotational axis (42) which extends perpendicularly with respect to the pivot axes (39), at one distal end of the articulated-arm arrangement (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: TRUMPF Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Theis, Otto Walter, Hagen Strasser
  • Patent number: 8166874
    Abstract: A system monitors vibration activity in a press machine environment and generates a signal indicative of vibration level severity. An accelerometer can provide measured peak acceleration data that serves as an indication of vibration level. The vibration measurement, is compared to a reference vibration level that corresponds to a run condition of desired operating parameters. A controller controls the press machine shutheight in accordance with the differential expressed in the comparison result. The consequent shutheight adjustment effects a change in the vibration activity that acts as a correction to the deviation in vibration behavior expressed by the differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: The Minster Machine Company
    Inventor: Daniel A. Schoch
  • Patent number: 8109123
    Abstract: A riveting unit is assembled with an electric rivet gun, including a transmission unit, a clamping jaw having a locating portion driven by the transmission unit to be moveable between a first position and a second position, a first sensor detecting whether the locating portion of the clamping jaw is located at the first position, and a second sensor detecting whether the locating portion of the clamping jaw is located at the second position. When the locating portion of the clamping jaw is located at the first position, a blind rivet can be installed in the clamping jaw, and when the locating portion of the clamping jaw is located at the second position, the blind rivet can be ejected, and meanwhile the second sensor can allow the transmission unit to stop the movement of the clamping jaw, thereby preventing the clamping jaw from moving backwards excessively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Tranmax Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 8091395
    Abstract: A system, method and software arrangement are provided for generating press-formed parts having a more consistent quality based on improved determination of processing conditions. For example, an apparatus can be configured to compare actual performance values of material properties provided by a material property database with standard values, and to adjust forming conditions such as a forming speed and a blank-holder pressure in accordance with the compared result. A control arrangement can be provided to control a press-forming device using the adjusted forming conditions. Accordingly, it may be possible to reduce occurrences of defects such as cracks and wrinkles when press-forming materials, and to obtain products having consistent quality and substantially identical shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Arcelor France
    Inventors: Noriyuki Suzuki, Akihiro Uenishi, Yukihisa Kuriyama, Toshiyuki Niwa, Takuya Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 8079242
    Abstract: A crimping tool including a punch carrier, a plurality of punches movable in translation in radial housings of the punch carrier, a thrust member having an inside face co-operating with the outer ends of the punches, the thrust member being pivotally mounted relative to the punch carrier, such that pivoting of the thrust member causes a contact to be crimped, a tool body having two pivotal handles for causing the thrust member and the punch carrier to pivot mutually, and a member for adjusting the stroke of the punches, a sensor sensitive to the position of the member for adjusting the stroke of the punches, a sensor sensitive to an identity signal from a contact positioning tool, and a memory associated with the position sensor and with the identity sensor and arranged to record the data delivered by the sensors and/or to deliver the data to a data processor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Alain Pacaud, Philippe Tontic
  • Patent number: 7886564
    Abstract: A system, method and software arrangement are provided for generating press-formed parts having a more consistent quality based on improved determination of processing conditions. For example, an apparatus can be configured to compare actual performance values of material properties provided by a material property database with standard values, and to adjust forming conditions such as a forming speed and a blank -holder pressure in accordance with the compared result. A control arrangement can be provided to control a press-forming device using the adjusted forming conditions. Accordingly, it may be possible to reduce occurrences of defects such as cracks and wrinkles when press-forming materials, and to obtain products having consistent quality and substantially identical shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Arcelor France
    Inventors: Noriyuki Suzuki, Akihiro Uenishi, Yukihisa Kuriyama, Toshiyuki Niwa, Takuya Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 7878041
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for verification of the quality of placing of blind rivets. The verification method involves successively carrying out, during the application of traction force to a stem, initial measurements in an initial state of the application of the traction force to obtain an initial traction force and an initial displacement of the rivet stem relative to the rivet body, intermediate measurements in an intermediate stage of the application of the traction force to obtain an intermediate traction force and an intermediate displacement, and terminal measurements in a terminal stage of the application of the traction force to obtain a terminal traction force and a terminal displacement. The obtained values are compared to acceptable values in an assignment table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Operations, S.L.
    Inventor: Desiderio Sánchez-Brunete Álvarez
  • Patent number: 7845205
    Abstract: A die cushion controller, for driving a die cushion, disposed in opposition to a slide of a press machine, by controlling a servo motor, including: a pressure command portion which prepares a pressure command value for exerting a predetermined pressure to a press material disposed between the slide and the die cushion; a pressure detecting portion which detects an actual pressure exerted on the press material; a speed correction value preparing portion which prepares a speed correction value by multiplying a differential value of the pressure command value prepared by the pressure command portion by a coefficient; and a first speed command portion which prepares a speed command value to be instructed to the servo motor based on the pressure command value prepared by the pressure command portion, the actual pressure detected by the pressure detecting portion, and the speed correction value prepared by the speed correction value preparing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Tadashi Okita, Hiroyuki Kawamura, Satoshi Ikai
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100269555
    Abstract: The invention describes a manufacturing device (1) and a method for bending blanks (4) or workpieces (5), having a bending press (2) and having a manipulator (3), which can be displaced in a raceway parallel to a longitudinal extent of a table and bending beam (10, 14), for workpiece transfer between a feeding or removal apparatus for the blanks (4) or the workpieces (5) and a forming region between bending tools (21). The manipulator (3) has an articulated-arm arrangement (33) having preferably three arms (34, 35, 36) which can be pivoted via pivoting bearing arrangements (37) about pivot axes (39) which are oriented parallel to the raceway, and said manipulator has a rotary unit (41), having a rotational axis (42) which extends perpendicularly with respect to the pivot axes (39), at one distal end of the articulated-arm arrangement (33).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Helmut Theis, Otto Walter, Hagen Strasser
  • Publication number: 20100257909
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a platform, a stylus, and a heating system. The platform is capable of holding a sheet of material. The stylus is capable of impinging the sheet of the material to incrementally form a shape for a part. The heating system is capable of heating at least a portion of the sheet of material in a location on the sheet of material prior to the stylus impinging the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher S. Huskamp, Keith A. Young, James B. Castle
  • Patent number: 7788780
    Abstract: A fastener placing tool (11) for placing fasteners of the breakstem blind rivet type incorporates a force/stroke monitoring device (22) which comprises an assembly body (24) detachably mounted on the tool between the latter and the anvil (18), a load-cell sensor (33) carried by the assembly body (24) for sensing the force applied by the hydraulic piston (16) to the jaw assembly 17 with respect to the anvil (18), and a non-contact stroke-sensor (35) carried by the assembly body (24) for sensing the position of the jaw assembly (17) relative to the anvil (18). The stroke-sensor (35) operates without physical contact with the jaw assembly (17) or any part of the tool moving therewith. To this end the jaw assembly (17) is connected to the hydraulic piston (16) by means of an adaptor tube (23) which has a conical tapering outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Avdel UK Limited
    Inventor: Richard Paul King
  • Patent number: 7784317
    Abstract: The invention describes a safety system (22) for a production unit (1) for bending a sheet metal part (3), in particular for a bending press (2), with a stationary bench beam (13) and a bending tool (4, 5) for a displaceable press beam (13), and with a light beam transmitter and receiver system (23) monitoring an operating region to prevent trapping of a foreign body. The bending tool (5) disposed in the press beam (13) is provided in the form of a slat pack (34) comprising at least one reference slat (35) and at least one tool slat (33) which can be displaced relative to it, which are provided with recesses (60) traversing them in the direction of a thickness (32). When oriented in alignment, these form a beam passage (65) for a light beam (9), in particular a laser light beam, extending parallel with an end face (8) of the press beam (13). An embodiment of the bending tool is possible in the form of a skeleton tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Trumpf Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. Kg.
    Inventors: Thomas Denkmeier, Gerhard Sperrer
  • Publication number: 20090241625
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a turned blank at a workstation in a progressive forging machine comprising simultaneously monitoring both the force on a tool in the workstation and the crank angle of the machine, determining a reference crank angle when the tool is subjected to a force at the workstation about to deliver a blow and a blank in the workstation is properly angularly aligned, operating the machine to forge blanks in a normal manner when a force on the tool at the workstation occurs substantially at the reference crank angle, and interrupting said normal manner when the force on the tool at the workstation occurs before said reference crankshaft angle to enable the blank being formed at the workstation to be separated from remaining blanks being forged in the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: NATIONAL MACHINERY LLC
    Inventors: Donald E. Krintzline, Laurence W. Kelbley, Thomas E. Hay
  • Patent number: 7574891
    Abstract: A pressing apparatus using a motor, in which a driving device for fast feed, which lowers a upper die to a position immediately before pressing, and a motor for pressing, which performs a pressing operation, are used to cause the driving device for fast feed and the motor for pressing to operate cooperatively, and only one position detector, which detects a present position of a slider, is provided for a set of the driving device for fast feed and the motor for pressing. A lock device is provided so as to lock the slider and the screw shaft while the motor for pressing is operating for pressing a work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Hoden Seimitsu Kako Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Futamura, Hiromitsu Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7559133
    Abstract: A riveting system is operable to join two or more workplaces with a rivet. In another aspect of the present invention, a self-piercing rivet is employed. Still another aspect of the present invention employs an electronic control unit and one or more sensors to determine a riveting characteristic and/or an actuator characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Eymard J Chitty, Brian M Taylor, Peter C Thomas, Daniel P Vigliotti
  • Patent number: 7503196
    Abstract: A rivet monitoring system is provided which has a micro-strain or micro fluid pressure sensor that measures strains or pressures within a tool component. These measured signals are compared to a number of tolerance bands formed about median strain or pressure versus time curve. Various techniques are provided to analyze the measured data with respect to the tolerance bands to determine if a particular rivet set is acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Eymard J. Chitty, Brian M. Taylor, Peter C. Thomas, Daniel P. Vigliotti, Geoffrey Weeks
  • Publication number: 20080276678
    Abstract: A crimping tool including a punch carrier, a plurality of punches movable in translation in radial housings of the punch carrier, a thrust member having an inside face co-operating with the outer ends of the punches, the thrust member being pivotally mounted relative to the punch carrier, such that pivoting of the thrust member causes a contact to be crimped, a tool body having two pivotal handles for causing the thrust member and the punch carrier to pivot mutually, and a member for adjusting the stroke of the punches, a sensor sensitive to the position of the member for adjusting the stroke of the punches, a sensor sensitive to an identity signal from a contact positioning tool, and a memory associated with the position sensor and with the identity sensor and arranged to record the data delivered by the sensors and/or to deliver the data to a data processor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventors: Alain PACAUD, Philippe Tontic
  • Patent number: 7448242
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for securing a machine tool comprising a first tool part that carries out work movements in the direction of a second tool part in order thereby to carry out a machining process on a workpiece, wherein an optoelectronic sensor monitors a three-dimensional protected field between the tool parts in that light is transmitted along an open gap formed between the tool parts by means of a transmitter device and is detected by means of a receiver device which includes a matrix of light-sensitive elements, wherein the first tool part is stopped if individual light-sensitive elements or specific groups of the light-sensitive elements do not receive any light. In the method in accordance with the invention, relative positions between individual workpiece areas or measured values related to individual workpiece areas are determined from the signals delivered by the light-sensitive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Dieterle, Ingolf Braune
  • Publication number: 20080168816
    Abstract: A rivet monitoring system is provided which has a micro-strain or micro fluid pressure sensor that measures strains or pressures within a tool component. These measured signals are compared to a number of tolerance bands formed about median strain or pressure versus time curve. Various techniques are provided to analyze the measured data with respect to the tolerance bands to determine if a particular rivet set is acceptable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Eymard J. Chitty, Brian M. Taylor, Peter C. Thomas, Daniel P. Vigliotti, Geoffrey Weeks
  • Patent number: 7346971
    Abstract: A rivet set quality monitoring system is disclosed. A supply pressure sensor monitors the supply pressure to the tool. The tool has a second sensor which monitors strains or loads associated with a rivet set event. A processor evaluates outputs from the pressure sensor to apply a scaling factor to the output of the second sensor which is a function of the output of the pressure sensor. This modified data is analyzed to determine if the rivet set is acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Eymard J Chitty
  • Patent number: 7331205
    Abstract: A rivet monitoring system is provided which has a micro-strain or micro fluid pressure sensor that measures strains or pressures within a tool component. These measured signals are compared to a number of tolerance bands formed about median strain or pressure versus time curve. Various techniques are provided to analyze the measured data with respect to the tolerance bands to determine if a particular rivet set is acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Eymard J Chitty, Brian M Taylor, Peter C Thomas, Daniel P Vigliotti, Geoffrey Weeks
  • Patent number: 7313851
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for monitoring the installation of a blind rivet to attach together top and bottom members. The blind rivet installation tool includes a housing having an anvil seated on the rivet head. A collet is reciprocable within the tool housing and carries jaws for gripping the mandrel of the blind rivet. Retraction of the jaws by the collet displaces the jaws and the mandrel axially and causes the mandrel head to axially collapse and radially expand the hollow shank of the blind rivet into engagement with the bottom member so that the rivet attaches the top member and the bottom member. A first transducer measures the axial load imposed on the mandrel. A second transducer measures the axial displacement of the collet and the jaws and the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, James W. Wells
  • Patent number: 7313852
    Abstract: A riveting yoke assembly (11) comprises a yoke (30), a force applying mechanism (22) and a rivet forming device (34, 36). The yoke has a first end (38), a second end (40), and a middle section (42) coupled between the first and second ends (38, 40). An opening (44) is formed through the yoke between the first and second ends. The force applying mechanism (22) is coupled to the first end (38) of the yoke (30). The lower rivet forming device (36) is removably coupled to the second end (40) of the yoke. The lower rivet forming device (36) has a base end (46) attached to the second end (40) of the yoke (30) and a forming end (48) with a recess (50) to form rivets (17). The recess (50) has a concave, interior surface (52) having an annular step (54) positioned between a top edge (56) of the interior surface (52) and a bottom-most point (58) of the interior surface (52) in order to properly align the rivet (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Magna Structural Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Peckham, Peter Greengrass, Renee Gregory Scheele
  • Patent number: 7176444
    Abstract: A light barrier having a light emitter (9) spaced apart from a light receiver (10), the emitter including a light source (12) and transmission optics (13) emitting a substantially parallel light beam 11. The light receiver (10) and the light emitter (9) are aligned with each other for focusing the light beam (11) from the light emitter (9) by means of reception optics (15) on a reception element (17) for generating an electrical signal as a function of the light received. A partially reflecting optical boundary surface between the reception optics (15) and the reception element (17), and an alignment plate (18) which includes a light entry opening (19) and a target disk (20), are positioned in front of the reception optics (15) and are used for aligning the light receiver (10) and the light emitter (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventor: Roland Bergbach
  • Patent number: 7036226
    Abstract: A crimp state estimation apparatus includes: an information input section for inputting information on an crimp contact terminal, an electric wire, an anvil, and the crimper and an input compression ratio of a core wire of the electric wire; and an estimation unit for calculating a total length of the bottom wall and the pair of crimp pieces after crimp in a cross section orthogonal to the core wire based on the information and the input compression ratio and estimating a cross-sectional shape of the bottom wall and the pair of crimp pieces after crimp based on the total length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Megumi Saito, Naoki Ito
  • Patent number: 6941783
    Abstract: A double action oil hydraulic press is provided having a main cylinder for actuating a slide and a lower part forming cylinder for actuating a lower part forming unit, wherein the operations of the cylinders are controlled through the combined control of the rotation of an oil hydraulic pump of a power unit and servo valves whereby the amount of operation oil that must be used is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Kubota Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamanaka, Takeshi Kazama
  • Patent number: 6938447
    Abstract: An apparatus for correcting deformation of a gas turbine blade includes a stationary die fixed to a backside of a tip shroud of a gas turbine blade to hold a back surface thereof and a pressing die pressing a front surface of the tip shroud so as to press the tip shroud of the blade between the pressing die and the stationary. A hydraulic drive mechanism including pressure generator is arranged for pressing the pressing die against the tip shroud held by the stationary die and a control device is operatively connected to the hydraulic drive mechanism so as to set and indicate a driving condition on a basis of deformation correction data preliminarily stored in the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fuse, Daizo Saito, Yomei Yoshioka, Masahiro Hiragishi, Junji Ishii
  • Patent number: 6919554
    Abstract: A method and a sensor for the securing of a hazardous zone of a moving tool having a point of attack is disclosed. A monitored zone with a boundary surface is monitored whose cross-section extends along an arc of a circle or beyond it, wherein the center of the arc of a circle is arranged spaced apart from the point of attack of the tool in the direction of movement of the tool, and wherein the arc of a circle has a radius which is at least so large that the boundary surface of the monitored region extends—at least on the operator side—up to the point of attack of the tool or radially beyond the boundary surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Braune, Georg Plasberg
  • Patent number: 6903327
    Abstract: A safety system for an industrial press having a moveable section (30), the safety means including: a laser emitting means (1) for emitting a continuous planar laser beam (9) having a generally constant lateral width; a light receiving means (22) for receiving the laser beam and for detecting when an object intersects the laser beam; and a control means for stopping or preventing movement of the moveable section of the press when the receiving means detects that the laser beam has intersected an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Lazer Safe Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Meredith Appleyard
  • Patent number: 6871521
    Abstract: A method of operating a bending press, in particular an edging press, and a bending press for carrying out this method. For each drive of a drive arrangement, the actual pressing force is detected for the displaceable press beam during a bending process for the workpiece and a relative position of the pressing tool or tools by reference to the longitudinal extension of the press beams is determined on the basis of a force ratio. Different displacement paths of the drives and the displaceable press beam at the respective force-application point of the drive are then determined in an evaluation and/or computer unit, which is provided with a data memory for production and machine data, and corresponding control signals for the drive system are generated in the control unit and actuator elements of the drives are displaced by the displacement paths determined for each drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Trumpf Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerhard Sperrer
  • Patent number: 6810352
    Abstract: In order to realize improving dimensional accuracy of a plastic workpiece and realize reducing a production cost and shortening time duration of manufacture, a computer comprises an initial die assembly shape calculating function to calculate a die assembly shape for the plastic workpiece according to a predetermined designed shape of said plastic workpiece; a workpiece shape calculating function to calculate the shape of the plastic workpiece to be manufactured with the initial die assembly shape considering a manufacturing condition of the plastic workpiece; a shape comparing function to compare the calculated shape of the plastic workpiece and the designed shape of the plastic workpiece; a workpiece-redesigning function to calculate a new designed shape of the plastic workpiece according to a result of the comparison; and a die assembly reshaping function to calculate a new die assembly shape according to the new designed shape of the plastic workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takatoshi Sasahara
  • Patent number: 6772682
    Abstract: A shutheight adjustment system incorporating tie rods and accompanying hydraulic tie rod nut assemblies in connecting a bed to a bolster of a mechanical press for dynamically altering the tensioning of the tie rods. Each hydraulic tie rod nut assembly includes a cylinder with an inner sliding piston threadably engaging the tie rod. A pressurizing mechanism injects pressurized fluid within a chamber formed by the piston and cylinder. By increasing pressure within the chamber of the hydraulic tie rod nut assembly, compression between the press bed and press bolster may be increased, thereby increasing the press shutheight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: The Minster Machine Company
    Inventors: Edward A. Daniel, W. Craig Brewer
  • Patent number: 6487885
    Abstract: A crimping press provides increased accuracy and precision. Both a rotative measuring system, such as an encoder arranged at a motor shaft, and a linear measuring system such as, for example, a measuring head and a glass scale, are provided. The linear measuring system may be coupled between a tool holder and the fixed press stand. The measurement values generated by the rotative measuring system and the measuring values of the linear measuring system are fed to a regulating circuit for regulation of crimping height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Komax Holding AG
    Inventors: Claudio Meisser, Hilmar Ehlert
  • Patent number: 6474227
    Abstract: With a method of controlling synchronous drive of a plurality of pressing machines, each of the pressing machines has a motor, a drive shaft to which a torque of a flywheel driven by the motor is transmitted through a clutch and a slide driven by the drive shaft so that a rotational position of the drive shaft of each of the pressing machines is synchronous each other. The method has a step of detecting actual velocity information of the motor and a step of detecting actual rotational-position information of the drive shaft. The detected actual rotational-position information is compared with the reference rotational-position information from a reference rotational position information generating section. Based on the result of the comparison, the reference velocity information from a reference velocity information generating section is compensated into characteristic reference velocity information of each of the pressing machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Aida Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Narita
  • Patent number: 6456898
    Abstract: A press monitoring and control system includes a press machine, a press configuration module and a press controller. The press machine has a lower die coupled to an upper die, wherein the lower die includes a top surface supporting a strip of material to be formed into a part after a stripper plate coupled to the upper die contacts the strip of material. The press configuration module includes an input module that processes a set of input data corresponding to a particular job and generates a data signal corresponding to the set of input data. The press controller is coupled to the press machine and the press configuration module. The controller processes the data signal, compares the data signal to a set of parameters corresponding to the particular job, and generates at least one servo signal to adjust at least one servo in response to the data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Modesto, Robert Wojczak, Scott Krupp, Yvonne Luzney, Lyle J. Riffel, Thomas P. Zbikowski, Robert B. Mech
  • Patent number: 6292262
    Abstract: Device and method to measure the gap between substantially static elements with a variable reciprocal position, used to adjust the reciprocal position of said elements to obtain a desired transit gap, comprising visual recording means connected to a processor equipped with at least display means, said processor being suitable to receive the images filmed by said visual recording means and to automatically compare said images with at least a pre-selected sample mask substantially reproducing the desired gap to be obtained, said processor being suitable to display, in numerical form on appropriate interface windows, the dimensional discrepancies between the image relating to the actual transit gap defined by said elements as filmed by said means, and said pre-selected sample mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Centro Automation SpA
    Inventors: Lorenzo Ciani, Ferruccio Della Vedova