Table bender controller

• US 5,315,522 A
• Filed: 11/06/1992
• Issued: 05/24/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kenneth A. Kauffman
• Original Assignee: Kenneth A. Kauffman
• Inventors: Davis, Stephen C., Wise, Frederick W., Kauffman, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US07/972,942
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 364/146, 364/188, 364/189, 364/468, 364/474.07, 364/474.22, 364/474.24, 364/474.26, 364/476, 72/7, 72/217, 72/307, 72/379.2, 72/388
• US Class Current: 700/165
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 7/162 Heating equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/40932 Shape input
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A table bender controller employing a computerized display screen with the computer therefor being programmed to take keyed-in entry of customer provided bar shape specifications, whether entered by the machine operator at the machine location or from corresponding specification input data downloaded from a remote location input terminal, which specifications are in terms of a finished dimension of the bent bar profile along with the diameter of the bar to be bent and the bend degrees and directions of bend to produce the required shape, all of which either after key-in or downloading is called up in graphical display on the screen in a visual profile corresponding to that to be bent with appropriate machine and bar set instructions for producing such shape, including bending sequence, dimensions, gage marks, pin sizes and ram location for each of the component bends in the sequence.

Claims

1. A table bender controller operationally interfaced through a cable conduit means in electronically connected combination with a manually cycled table bending machine for bending a bar stool piece into a specified workpiece shape, said controller further comprising in combination an enclosure cabinet adapted to support a computer and a screen in electronically integrated connection through a control console having a data input means, a first computer program within said computer adapted to receive an input of workpiece bend profile specification data and be accessed by means of said data input means, a second computer program means adapted to calibrate an integration of bend execution commands from said controller to bend execution functions of said machine and the machining characteristics of a sample of said bar stock piece to be bent, a third computer program means adapted to process said input of bend profile specification data and project a sequential digitally annotated bend profile graphical image for each of a successively separate bend sequence instruction projection upon said screen whereby a table bending machine operator is visually instructed sequentially at the workstation location through the bending of said workpiece shape in a graphically screen projected digitally annotated visual image step-by-step process, and a fourth computer program means adapted to download bend profile specification data entered as an alternate access from a remote interfaced bend profile specification data input terminal location.

2. A table bender controller according to claim 1 wherein said data input means is a plurality of function keys.

3. A workstation computer generated and screen projected graphical instruction method for enhancing operator control of a manually cycled table bending machine while sequentially carrying out the bending of a bar stock piece into a specified workpiece shape, said method comprising the steps of calibrating an integration of the bend execution commands of a bending machine interfaced controller computer to the bend execution functions of said table bending machine and the machining characteristics of a sample of said bar stock piece to be bent, entering workpiece bend data specification information into said bending machine interfaced controller computer, initiating a controller computer generated screen projected graphical profile display with digitally annotated bend execution instruction data for the workpiece shape at the workstation location, operator cycling said controller computer to successively project individual sequential workpiece bend profile graphics and digitally annotated bend execution instructions upon the workstation screen, and manually cycled step-by-step bendable formation of said workpiece shape sequentially in accordance with said succession of controller computer generated screen projected graphical profile displays with digitally annotated bend execution instruction data.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the entering of workpiece bend data specification information into the bending machine interfaced controller computer is accomplished by the operator at the workstation location.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the entering of workpiece bend data specification information into the bending machine interfaced controller computer is accomplished at a remote interfaced bend profile specification data input terminal location and downloaded therefrom to the controller computer.