DIE COMPATIBILITY ADAPTOR FOR MACHINE PRESS COMMUNICATION

• US 20170028662A1
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Lewis, Dale A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,245,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 43/025 Fault detection, e.g. misfeed detection
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 55/00 Safety devices protecting the machine or the operator, specially adapted for apparatus or machines dealt with in this subclass for presses in general B30B; safety devices in general F16P
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/0094 Press load monitoring means B30B15/281 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/02 Dies; Inserts therefor; Mounting thereof; Moulds extrusion dies B30B11/22
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/026 Mounting of dies, platens or press rams

Abstract

A die compatibility adaptor including a housing and a die cable extending outward from the housing and terminating at a die cable end engageable with a manufacturing die that includes a first proximity sensor configured to output a first proximity signal and a second proximity sensor configured to output a second proximity signal. The die compatibility adaptor further includes a direct cable receptacle communicatively coupled to the die cable, a duplicate cable receptacle, and one or more isolation relays positioned between and communicatively coupled to the duplicate cable receptacle and the die cable, the one or more isolation relays having a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the duplicate cable receptacle is communicatively coupled to the die cable.

Claims

1. A die compatibility adaptor comprising:

a housing;

a die cable extending outward from the housing and terminating at a die cable end engageable with a manufacturing die comprising a first proximity sensor configured to output a first proximity signal and a second proximity sensor configured to output a second proximity signal;

a direct cable receptacle communicatively coupled to the die cable;

a duplicate cable receptacle; and

one or more isolation relays positioned between and communicatively coupled to the duplicate cable receptacle and the die cable, the one or more isolation relays comprising a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the duplicate cable receptacle is communicatively coupled to the die cable.

2. The die compatibility adaptor of claim 1, wherein the direct cable receptacle is configured to receive a first bolster cable coupled to a machine press and the duplicate cable receptacle is configured to receive a second bolster cable coupled to the machine press, wherein the first bolster cable and the second bolster cable are communicatively coupled to a press line programmable logic controller.

3. The die compatibility adaptor of claim 2, wherein the one or more isolation relays are actuated into the closed position when the second bolster cable is engaged with the duplicate cable receptacle.

4. The die compatibility adaptor of claim 1 further comprising an electronics terminal positioned within the housing.

5. The die compatibility adaptor of claim 4 further comprising a first and a second die proximity signal pathway each extending between the die cable end and the electronics terminal, wherein the first die proximity signal pathway is configured to carry a first proximity signal output by the first proximity sensor and the second die proximity signal pathway is configured to carry a second proximity signal output by the second proximity sensor.

6. The die compatibility adaptor of claim 5 further comprising a first and a second direct proximity signal pathway each extending between the direct cable receptacle and the electronics terminal, wherein the first and the second direct proximity signal pathways are communicatively coupled to the first and the second die proximity signal pathways, respectively, at the electronics terminal, such that a first portion of the first and the second proximity signals are receivable by a first bolster cable at the direct cable receptacle.

7. The die compatibility adaptor of claim 6 further comprising a first and a second duplicate proximity signal pathway each extending between the duplicate cable receptacle and the electronics terminal, wherein the first and the second duplicate proximity signal pathways are communicatively coupled to the first and the second die proximity signal pathways, respectively, at the electronics terminal, such that a second portion of the first and the second proximity signals are receivable by a second bolster cable at the duplicate cable receptacle.

8. The die compatibility adaptor of claim 7, wherein the first duplicate proximity signal pathway extends through a first isolation relay of the one or more isolation relays and the second duplicate proximity signal pathway extends through a second isolation relay of the one or more isolation relays.

9. A machine press system comprising:

a machine press comprising a first bolster cable and a second bolster cable;

a manufacturing die coupled the machine press, the manufacturing die comprising a first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor; and

a die compatibility adaptor comprising;

a housing;

a die cable extending outward from the housing and terminating at a die cable end engageable with the manufacturing die;

a direct cable receptacle communicatively coupled to the die cable and configured to receive the first bolster cable;

a duplicate cable receptacle configured to receive the second bolster cable; and

one or more isolation relays positioned between and communicatively coupled to the duplicate cable receptacle and the die cable, the one or more isolation relays comprising a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the duplicate cable receptacle is communicatively coupled to the die cable.

10. The machine press system of claim 9, wherein the first bolster cable and the second bolster cable are communicatively coupled to a press line programmable logic controller.

11. The machine press system of claim 9, wherein the one or more isolation relays are actuated into the closed position when the second bolster cable is engaged with the duplicate cable receptacle.

12. The machine press system of claim 9, wherein the manufacturing die further comprises a die communications module communicatively coupled to the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor and wherein the die cable is engageable with the die communications module.

13. The machine press system of claim 9, wherein the first proximity sensor is positioned within a first workspace of the manufacturing die and the second proximity sensor is positioned within a second workspace of the manufacturing die.

14. The machine press system of claim 13, wherein the first proximity sensor outputs a first proximity signal when a first workpiece is positioned within the first workspace and the second proximity sensor outputs a second proximity signal when a second workpiece is positioned within the second workspace.

15. The machine press system of claim 9, wherein the one or more isolation relays each comprise a solid state relay.

16. A method of communicatively coupling a manufacturing die and a machine press, the method comprising:

positioning a manufacturing die on a machine press, wherein the machine press comprises a first bolster cable and a second bolster cable and the manufacturing die comprises a first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor;

providing a die compatibility adaptor comprising;

a housing;

a die cable engageable with the manufacturing die;

a direct cable receptacle communicatively coupled to the die cable and configured to receive the first bolster cable;

a duplicate cable receptacle configured to receive the second bolster cable; and

one or more isolation relays positioned between and communicatively coupled to the duplicate cable receptacle and the die cable, the one or more isolation relays comprising a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the duplicate cable receptacle is communicatively coupled to the die cable;

coupling the die cable to the manufacturing die;

coupling the first bolster cable to the direct cable receptacle; and

coupling the second bolster cable to the duplicate cable receptacle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein coupling the die cable to the manufacturing die and coupling the first bolster cable to the direct cable receptacle communicatively couples the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor of the manufacturing die with the first bolster cable.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein coupling the second bolster cable and the duplicate cable receptacle actuates the one or more isolation relays into the closed position such that the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor of the manufacturing die are communicatively coupled with the second bolster cable.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first proximity sensor is configured to output a first proximity signal when a first workpiece is positioned within a first workspace of the manufacturing die and the second proximity sensor is configured to output a second proximity signal when a second workpiece is positioned within a second workspace of the manufacturing die.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the die compatibility adaptor is configured to split the first proximity signal and the second proximity signal such that the direct cable receptacle and the duplicate cable receptacle each receive portions of the first proximity signal and the second proximity signal.