Tool setting or analysis device with backup or repeated trigger signal for detecting a rotating tool
First Claim
1. A tool setting or tool analysis device comprising:
- a light source for producing a light beam;
a light receiver for receiving light of the light beam and producing therefrom signals indicative of the amount of light received;
a main analysis circuit configured to analyze the signals from the light receiver to determine if a pattern of the signals matches that of a rotating tool obstructing the light beam and to generate a trigger signal if the pattern of the signals matches that of a rotating tool obstructing the light beam; and
a secondary trigger signal generating circuit which also receives the signals from the receiver to determine if the signals indicate that the rotating tool is obstructing the light beam, and which generates a back up trigger signal if the main analysis circuit fails to generate said trigger signal when the tool obstructs the beam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tool setting or tool analysis device for a machine tool includes a light source for producing a light beam. A light receiver receives the light beam and produces a signal indicative of the amount of light received. This is analyzed by a main analysis circuit to generate a trigger signal to a machine controller when the beam is at least partially occluded. To provide fail-safe operation should the main circuit not recognize the tool, a back-up trigger signal is produced after a delay by a delay circuit. In one preferred form, the back-up trigger signal may oscillate, providing repeated edges which can ensure fail-safe operation even if the machine controller suffers from a blind window and therefore misses the initial trigger signal.
16 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A tool setting or tool analysis device comprising:
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a light source for producing a light beam; a light receiver for receiving light of the light beam and producing therefrom signals indicative of the amount of light received; a main analysis circuit configured to analyze the signals from the light receiver to determine if a pattern of the signals matches that of a rotating tool obstructing the light beam and to generate a trigger signal if the pattern of the signals matches that of a rotating tool obstructing the light beam; and a secondary trigger signal generating circuit which also receives the signals from the receiver to determine if the signals indicate that the rotating tool is obstructing the light beam, and which generates a back up trigger signal if the main analysis circuit fails to generate said trigger signal when the tool obstructs the beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A tool setting or tool analysis device comprising:
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a light source for producing a light beam; a light receiver for receiving light of the light beam and producing therefrom signals indicative of the amount of light received; a main analysis circuit arranged to analyse the signals from the light receiver to determine if a pattern of the signals matches that of a rotating tool obstructing the light beam and generate a trigger signal if the pattern of the signals matches that of a rotating tool obstructing the light beam; a secondary trigger signal generating circuit which also receives the signals from the receiver, and which generates a back up trigger signal if the main analysis circuit fails to generate said trigger signal when the tool obstructs the beam; and an oscillator or oscillation generator, connected to provide an oscillating trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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9. A tool setting or tool analysis device comprising:
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a light source for producing a light beam; a light receiver for receiving light of the light beam and producing therefrom a signal indicative of the amount of light received; a circuit which receives the signal from the light receiver and generates repeated trigger signals after an initial trigger signal when a tool obstructs the light beam, wherein if the initial trigger signal is generated within a blind window of a control machine, the repeated trigger signals will continue to be generated by the circuit after the blind window to ensure the control machine reacts. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of generating a trigger signal for a machine controller having a movable spindle on which may be mounted a tool, a light source for producing a light beam and a light receiver for receiving light of the light beam and producing therefrom a signal indicative of the amount of light received, the method comprising:
generating an initial trigger signal and repeated trigger signals after the initial trigger signal when the tool obstructs the light beam such that, if the initial trigger signal is generated within a blind window of a control machine, the repeated trigger signals will continue after the blind window to ensure the control machine reacts. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A tool setting or tool analysis device comprising:
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a light source for producing a light beam; a light receiver for receiving light of the light beam and producing therefrom signals indicative of the amount of light received; a circuit arranged to receive the signals from the light receiver, analyze the signals from the light receiver to determine if patterns of the signals match that of a rotating tool obstructing the light beam, and generate an initial trigger signal and repeated trigger signals after the initial trigger signal if patterns of the signals match that of a rotating tool obstructing the light beam, the initial trigger signal and the repeated trigger signals arranged to be sent to a skip input of a controller of a machine tool to cause the controller to react, wherein the repeated trigger signals can cause the controller to react if the initial trigger signal is generated within a blind window of the controller. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of generating a trigger signal for a machine controller having a movable spindle on which may be mounted a tool, a light source for producing a light beam and a light receiver for receiving light of the light beam and producing therefrom a signal indicative of the amount of light received, the method comprising:
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analyzing the signals from the light receiver to determine if patterns of the signals match that of a rotating tool obstructing the light beam, generating an initial trigger signal and repeating trigger signals after the initial trigger signal if patterns of the signals match that of a rotating tool obstructing the light beam, and sending the initial trigger signal and the repeating trigger signals to a skip input of a controller of a machine tool to cause the controller to react, wherein the repeating trigger signals can cause the controller to react if the initial trigger signal is generated within a blind window of the controller. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification