Automatic machine tool including a monitoring system
First Claim
1. A machine tool system for performing a repetitive operation upon a workpiece, said system comprising a machine tool and a monitoring system, said monitoring system comprising:
- a transducer mounted in association with said machine tool for producing a signal in response to mechanical impulses developed by operation of said machine tool;
means for generating a test function which is a function of said transducer signal;
means for automatically generating a reference function representative of said test function evaluated during normal operation of said machine tool; and
means for comparing said test function with said reference function and for generating a control signal for controlling operation of said machine tool when said test function and said reference function differ by more than a predetermined amount.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic punch press and monitoring system. The monitoring system includes a piezoelectric accelerometer mounted within the stationary die shoe of the punch press, and electronic circuitry including a variable gain amplifier, a detector, an integrator, and a comparator. The monitoring system is manually placed in a "LEARN" mode whereupon the signal produced by the accelerometer during normal operation of the punch press is amplified, detected, and integrated over the time period of one stroke to produce a test function. The gain of the amplifier is automatically adjusted during successive normal strokes of the punch press until the test function is equal to an arbitrary set point, thereby establishing a reference function. The monitoring system is then automatically placed in an "AUTO CONTROL" mode whereupon on each succeeding stroke, with the gain of the amplifier fixed, the test function produced is compared with the reference function. If the test function is above a first high limit level corresponding to a percentage of the reference function and below a second high limit level corresponding to a second percentage of the reference function a check alarm is activated. If the test function is above the second high limit level or below a low limit level corresponding to a third percentage of the reference function the punch press is shut down.
44 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A machine tool system for performing a repetitive operation upon a workpiece, said system comprising a machine tool and a monitoring system, said monitoring system comprising:
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a transducer mounted in association with said machine tool for producing a signal in response to mechanical impulses developed by operation of said machine tool; means for generating a test function which is a function of said transducer signal; means for automatically generating a reference function representative of said test function evaluated during normal operation of said machine tool; and means for comparing said test function with said reference function and for generating a control signal for controlling operation of said machine tool when said test function and said reference function differ by more than a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A machine tool system for performing a repetitive operation upon a workpiece, said system comprising a machine tool and a monitoring system, said monitoring system comprising:
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a transducer mounted in association with said machine tool for producing a signal in response to mechanical impulses developed by operation of said machine tool; means for generating a test function which is a function of said transducer signal, said test function also being a function of time, means for generating a reference function representative of said test function evaluated during normal operation of said machine tool; and means for comparing said test function with said reference function and for generating a control signal for controlling operation of said machine tool when said test function and said reference function differ by more than a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for controlling a machine tool performing repetitive operation, said system comprising:
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a transducer adapted to be mounted in association with a machine tool, said transducer constructed to produce, a signal in response to mechanical impulses developed by operation of an associated machine tool; means for generating a test function which is a function of the amplitude of said transducer signals; means for automatically generating a reference function representative of said test function evaluated during normal operation of said machine tool; and means comparing said test function with said reference function and generating a control signal for controlling operation of said machine tool when said test function and said reference function differ by more than a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A system for controlling a machine tool, said system comprising:
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a transducer adapted to be mounted in association with a machine tool, said transducer constructed to produce a signal in response to mechanical impulses developed by operation of an associated machine tool; means for generating a test function which is a function of the amplitude of said transducer signals, said test function also being a function of time; means for generating a reference function representative of said test function evaluated during normal operation of said machine tool; and means comparing said test function with said reference function and generating a control signal for controlling operation of said machine tool when said test function and said reference function differ by more than a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification