Apparatus for monitoring and controlling progressive punch press production of articles and associated method
First Claim
1. A punch press apparatus for progressively manufacturing articles comprisinga punch press,a cooperating punch section and die section for creating said articles from sheet stock moving therethrough,a plurality of microcontroller boards secured to said punch section or said die section or both,said microcontroller boards having a plurality of logic chips secured thereto,sensor means for monitoring operation of said apparatus and providing input information regarding a plurality of monitored conditions to said microcontroller boards,said microcontroller boards have means for processing said input information and emitting responsive control signals to other said microcontroller boards and control portions of said apparatus, andcommunication means for effecting communication (a) between said sensor means and said microcontroller boards, (b) among said microcontroller boards and (c) between said microcontroller boards and control portions of said apparatus, whereby said microcontroller boards will through receipt and processing of said input information for a plurality of monitored conditions and communicating with other said microcontroller boards effect control of a plurality of monitored press apparatus conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for progressively manufacturing fabricated or semi-fabricated articles, such as a rotor or stator assembly, includes a punch press and a progressive stamping die for creating the assemblies from sheet stock moving therebetween. A microcontroller board or network, including a plurality of microcontroller boards, is secured to the die for controlling operation of the apparatus responsive to information provided to them. Sensors are provided for monitoring operation of the apparatus and providing such information to the microcontroller boards. The communication system provides for communication between the sensors and the logic chips, among the logic chips and among the microcontroller boards and between the microcontroller boards and other portions of the apparatus which are to be subjected to responsive control. In a preferred embodiment, the microcontroller boards are positioned within a container which is secured in a recess in the progressive die and has an overlying material, such as an epoxy, covering all of the logic chips such that efforts to remove the material will at least partially destroy the chips. The die and microcontroller boards may be secured to and removed from the press as a unit. An associated method is disclosed.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A punch press apparatus for progressively manufacturing articles comprising
a punch press, a cooperating punch section and die section for creating said articles from sheet stock moving therethrough, a plurality of microcontroller boards secured to said punch section or said die section or both, said microcontroller boards having a plurality of logic chips secured thereto, sensor means for monitoring operation of said apparatus and providing input information regarding a plurality of monitored conditions to said microcontroller boards, said microcontroller boards have means for processing said input information and emitting responsive control signals to other said microcontroller boards and control portions of said apparatus, and communication means for effecting communication (a) between said sensor means and said microcontroller boards, (b) among said microcontroller boards and (c) between said microcontroller boards and control portions of said apparatus, whereby said microcontroller boards will through receipt and processing of said input information for a plurality of monitored conditions and communicating with other said microcontroller boards effect control of a plurality of monitored press apparatus conditions.
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28. A method of progressively manufacturing articles comprising
providing a punch press having a cooperating punch section and die section for creating said articles from sheet stock moving therethrough, providing a plurality of microcontroller boards each having a plurality of logic chips within said punch section, said die section or both, sensing certain conditions of said apparatus and said sheet stock and delivering input information regarding a plurality of monitored conditions from sensors to said microcontroller boards, and responsive to receipt of said input information from said sensors, said microcontroller boards processing said input information and emitting responsive control signals from said microcontroller boards to other said microcontroller boards and portions of said press apparatus to control operation of said apparatus, whereby said microcontroller boards will through receipt and processing of said input information for a plurality of monitored conditions and communicating with other said microcontroller boards effect control of a plurality of monitored press apparatus conditions.
Specification