Process control method for a machine for manufacturing thermoplastic tubes
First Claim
1. A feedback control method for controlling an apparatus for manufacturing finished thermoplastic tubes from thermoplastic sleeves, said apparatus having an indexing device rotatable about a fixed shaft, a means mounted on said indexing device for supporting sleeves for advancement along a closed path in response to rotation of said indexing device in a predetermined direction, a plurality of manufacturing stations for performing a plurality of different operations on said thermoplastic sleeves to form said finished thermoplastic tubes from said thermoplastic sleeves, and a PLC device, said method comprising:
- sensing selected information about the quality of said thermoplastic sleeves and formed tubes at a plurality of locations around said closed path corresponding to said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations;
generating feedback control signals corresponding to said quality of said thermoplastic sleeves and formed tubes based on said sensed selected information;
inputting said feedback control signals to said PLC device; and
with use of said feedback control signals, controlling said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations with said PLC device to thereby control the quality of said finished thermoplastic tubes by identifying, monitoring and tracking defective formed tubes during said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A machine for manufacturing thermoplastic tubes from hollow thermoplastic sleeves by a variety of different manufacturing processes. The machine is a single apparatus having an indexing table with a plurality of mandrels for holding hollow thermoplastic sleeves for the purpose of transporting the same around a closed manufacturing path. The manufacturing path of the machine is a series of stations which are mechanical devices for carrying out the manufacturing steps necessary to produce tubes from thermoplastic blank sleeves. The stations of the manufacturing path are modular so that they may be removed, added or rearranged; may be optionally connected to a process logic controller and may optionally have sensors for information feedback to the PLC device.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A feedback control method for controlling an apparatus for manufacturing finished thermoplastic tubes from thermoplastic sleeves, said apparatus having an indexing device rotatable about a fixed shaft, a means mounted on said indexing device for supporting sleeves for advancement along a closed path in response to rotation of said indexing device in a predetermined direction, a plurality of manufacturing stations for performing a plurality of different operations on said thermoplastic sleeves to form said finished thermoplastic tubes from said thermoplastic sleeves, and a PLC device, said method comprising:
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sensing selected information about the quality of said thermoplastic sleeves and formed tubes at a plurality of locations around said closed path corresponding to said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations; generating feedback control signals corresponding to said quality of said thermoplastic sleeves and formed tubes based on said sensed selected information; inputting said feedback control signals to said PLC device; and with use of said feedback control signals, controlling said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations with said PLC device to thereby control the quality of said finished thermoplastic tubes by identifying, monitoring and tracking defective formed tubes during said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A feedback control method for controlling an apparatus for manufacturing finished thermoplastic tubes from thermoplastic sleeves, said apparatus having an indexing device rotatable about a fixed shaft, a means mounted on said indexing device for supporting sleeves for advancement along a closed path in response to rotation of said indexing device in a predetermined direction, a plurality of manufacturing stations for performing a plurality of different operations on said thermoplastic sleeves to form said finished thermoplastic tubes from said thermoplastic sleeves, and a PLC device, said method comprising:
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sensing selected information about said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations; sensing selected information about the quality of said thermoplastic sleeves and formed tubes at a plurality of locations around said closed path corresponding to said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations; generating feedback control signals corresponding to said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations based on said sensed selected information about said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations; generating feedback control signals corresponding to said quality of said thermoplastic sleeves and formed tubes based on said sensed selected information about said quality of said thermoplastic sleeves and formed tubes; inputting said feedback control signals to said PLC device; and with use of said feedback control signals, controlling said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations with said PLC device to thereby control the quality of said finished thermoplastic tubes by identifying, monitoring and tracking defective formed tubes during said plurality of different operations of said plurality of manufacturing stations. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification