ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT FOR DETERMINING AND TOTALIZING THE REPETITIVE OPERATION OF A MATERIAL FABRICATING MACHINE

• US 3,670,147 A
• Filed: 10/03/1969
• Issued: 06/13/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard B. Wright
• Original Assignee: Richard B. Wright
• Inventors: Wright, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gnuse, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US04/863,493
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 235/92PD,92FP,92J
• US Class Current: 377/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/12 in graphical form

Abstract

An electronic instrument for determining and totalizing the operation and production output of a material fabricating machine such as a machine tool lathe, punch press, drill press and the like, and which instrument includes an element that is responsive to a workpiece fabricating member of the machine to actuate a counter or recorder capable of sensing the workpiece fabricating performance of the said member and totalizing the number of fabricating cycles of said machine. The instrument also includes switch means actuatable by the operator to indicate that the machine is temporarily out of production for a selective predetermined interval such as, for example, the interval required for setting up the machine preparatory to production, repair and/or adjustment of tools thereof. A timing device actuatable by the switch means which device is identifiable with the particular purpose(s) for which said machine is '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'out of production'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' or in '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'down time'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' is operable with the counter or recorder to record the reason(s) or purpose(s) for said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'down time'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' whereby it may be visually noted, analyzed and utilized for corrective and record purposes. The instrument includes timing means for recording on said recorder the total production time and total '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'down time'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' for the machine for any preselected time period.

Claims

1. An analyzer unit for use with a work performing tool which has a member that is repetitively operable to fabricate a workpiece on each repetition comprising switch means actuatable from a first position to a second position by the repetitively operable member of the work performing tool and to provide a signal representing each repetition thereof, a pair of relays, circuit means connecting said switch means to one of said relays, said switch means being actuatable by said operable member of said work performing tool to said second position effective to produce said signal to operate said one relay to a first condition, counter means, contact means for said one relay in circuit with said counter means and actuatable in response to said one relay being actuated to said first condition effective to cause said counter means to receive and accumulate said signals to totalize the number of repetitions of said tool member, the second relay of said relay pair being normally in a first condition and including contact means connected into said circuit means in series circuit control relation between said switch means and said one relay, said counter means having contact means connected in series circuit controlling relation with said second relay, said second relay being normally actuatable to a second condition in response to each operation of said counter means effective to cause the operation of its contact means and cause the first relay to be actuated to a second condition effective to prevent a subsequent actuation of said one relay to its first condition until the second relay is returned to its first condition, said second relay being returned to said first condition in response to and subsequent to said switch means returning to its first position.

2. An analyzer unit as defined in claim 1 and which includes recorder means connected in circuit with said one relay being operable to provide a visual record of the operation of the work performing tool.

3. An analyzer unit as defined in claim 2 and wherein timer means are in circuit with the recorder means to provide a characteristic signal that is recorded on said recorder means to indicate a corresponding function by said work performing tool.

4. An analyzer unit as is defined in claim 3 and wherein switch means are connected in circuit with the timer means and recorder means and selectively operable to conductively connect said timer means to said recorder means.