Machine monitoring system using motion detection for synchronization
First Claim
1. In an automated machine tool having at least one linear slide axis, said tool being adapted to remove metal from a workpiece in a part cycle having a plurality of operational stages, said operational stages having different stored data associated therewith which defines acceptable criteria for a given parameter during machining of the workpiece, the improvement wherein means are provided for sensing motion along at least one axis and generating an output signal for synchronizing the comparison of said parameter as sensed in real time with the appropriate previously stored data;
- and means for coupling the output signal to monitoring means for making said comparison and selectively altering machine operation as a function of the comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for use in monitoring the operation of an automated machine tool which has at least one linear slide axis. Motion along the various machine axes is detected and used to provide an output signal for synchronizing the comparison of real time monitored parameters with previously stored data which varies depending upon the operational stage of the part cycle in which the machine tool is operating. In one embodiment, a plurality of sections are stored in a memory. Each section contains limit values associated with normal characteristics of parameters such as power, vibration, acoustical emission and the like which occur during a given operational stage. A preselected detected change in motion along any of the slide axes initiates the generation of a new section of limit values to be used during the comparison. Provision is also made for inhibiting the comparison when the motion information indicates that the machine is not presently removing metal from the workpiece.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In an automated machine tool having at least one linear slide axis, said tool being adapted to remove metal from a workpiece in a part cycle having a plurality of operational stages, said operational stages having different stored data associated therewith which defines acceptable criteria for a given parameter during machining of the workpiece, the improvement wherein means are provided for sensing motion along at least one axis and generating an output signal for synchronizing the comparison of said parameter as sensed in real time with the appropriate previously stored data;
- and means for coupling the output signal to monitoring means for making said comparison and selectively altering machine operation as a function of the comparison.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 20)
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3. A method of monitoring an automated machine tool having at least two linear slide axes, said tool being adapted to remove metal from a workpiece in a part cycle having various operational stages, said method comprising:
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storing data in a memory associated with normal variations of a given parameter during various operational stages in the part cycle; sensing motion along the linear slide axes; using the sensed motion as decisional information to provide an output signal indicative of the operational stage that the machine is currently in; sensing said parameter in real time during the machine part cycle; using said output signal to synchronize the comparison of said sensed real time parameter with said previously stored data; and altering the machine operation if said comparison indicates that the real time parameter differs from the stored data by a given amount. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a system for monitoring an automated machine tool adapted to remove metal from a workpiece in a part cycle having various operational stages, said machine tool having a plurality of axes along which linear slide motion takes place, said system including protection means including a memory for storing a plurality of sections, each section containing at least one limit value for a given parameter, each section being associated with a given operational stage wherein the limit values in each section are preselected depending upon the characteristics of the given parameter that are normally encountered during each operational stage during the part cycle, said protection means including comparison means for comparing the limits in selected sections with real time values of the parameter that are actually sensed while the machine is in operation, said protection means being adapted to provide an output signal to alter the operation of the machine if the real time values exceed the selected limit values, wherein the improvement comprises:
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sensor means for detecting motion along at least one of the linear slide axes of the machine; and motion monitor means connected between the sensor means and the protection means, adapted to generate a first output signal for selecting a given section from the memory to be used in the comparison;
said output signal being generated as a function of the detected motion from the sensor means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification