US4471676A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine tool including workpiece clamp sensor
Assignee: Joseph Rhodes Ltd
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Filing: 1981-09-03
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Granted: 1984-09-18
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Expires: 2001-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for sensing the position of a workpiece clamp on a workpiece positioning assembly of a computer-controlled machine tool such as a turret punch press including an X-axis traverse, a Y-axis traverse and, a workpiece support movable along the X-axis traverse and carrying the workpiece support. The method consists of the steps of providing a datum position on the X-axis for the control, providing a datum position on the Y-axis for the control, providing a datum position on the turret for the control, moving the member to the datum position on the X-axis at the beginning of each operating sequence, registering movement of the member along the X-axis traverse, moving the member passed sensor means to identify for the control the position of the member relative to the datum position on the X-axis. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham A. Mason
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:37
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D28/00; B21D28/02; B21D28/04; B21D28/12; B21D43/00; B21D43/003; B23; B23Q; B23Q17/00; B23Q17/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/141; Y10T83/162; Y10T83/173; Y10T83/175; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/654; Y10T83/6563
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for sensing the position of a member such as a workpiece clamp on a workpiece positioning assembly of a computer-controlled machine tool including an X-axis traverse, a Y-axis traverse and, a workpiece support movable along the X-axis traverse, the workpiece clamp being positioned on the workpiece support, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a datum position on the X-axis for the control, (b) registering movement of the member along the X-axis traverse, and (c) identifying for the control the position of the member relative to the datum position on the X-axis by moving the member passed sensor means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for sensing the position of a member such as a workpiece clamp on a workpiece positioning assembly of a computer-controlled machine tool including an X-axis traverse, a Y-axis traverse and, a workpiece support movable along the X-axis traverse, the workpiece clamp being positioned on the workpiece support, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a datum position on the X-axis for the control, (b) registering movement of the member along the X-axis traverse, and (c) identifying for the control the position of the member relative to the datum position on the X-axis by moving the member passed sensor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for sensing the position of a member such as a workpiece clamp according to claim 1 comprising between step (a) and step (c), the additional step (d) of moving the member to the datum position on the X-axis whenever identifying for the control the position of the member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method of sensing the position of a workpiece clamp relative to the working head of a machine tool according to claim 1 or 2 comprising the additional steps of (e) providing a datum position on the Y-axis for the control, (f) recording the position of the machine tool head relative to the datum positions, and (g) registering movement of X-axis traverse on the Y-axis traverse.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of sensing the position of a workpiece clamp on a workpiece positioning assembly of a computer-controlled turret punch press including an X-axis traverse, a Y-axis traverse and, a workpiece support movable along the X-axis traverse, the workpiece clamp being positioned on the workpiece support, the method comprising the steps of providing a datum position on the X-axis for the control, providing a datum position on the Y-axis for the control, providing a datum position on the turret for the control, registering movement of the workpiece support along the X-axis traverse, providing sensor means on the X-axis traverse, and moving the workpiece clamp passed the sensor means to identify for the control the position of the member relative to the datum position on the X-axis traverse, the control then being operative to follow the position of the workpiece clamp and to create a dead area about a workpiece clamp of a size determined by the punch station indexed relative to the turret datum when the workpiece clamp is in the vicinity of the punch station.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of sensing the position of a workpiece clamp on a workpiece positioning assembly of a computer-controlled turret punch press including an X-axis traverse, a Y-axis traverse and, a workpiece support movable along the X-axis traverse, the workpiece clamp being positioned on the workpiece support, the method comprising the steps of providing a datum position on the X-axis for the control, providing a datum position on the Y-axis for the control, providing a datum position on the turret for the control, registering movement of the workpiece support along the X-axis traverse, providing sensor means on the X-axis traverse, and moving the workpiece clamp passed the sensor means to identify for the control the position of the member relative to the datum position on the X-axis traverse, the control then being operative to follow the position of the workpiece clamp and to create a dead area about a workpiece clamp of a size determined by the punch station indexed relative to the turret datum when the workpiece clamp is in the vicinity of the punch station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer controlled machine tool comprising a control, a working head, a workpiece positioning assembly for moving a workpiece relative to the working head and including an X-axis traverse, a Y-axis traverse, a workpiece support movable along the X-axis traverse, and a workpiece clamping assembly on the support for holding a workpiece, a datum position on the X-axis traverse, and sensor means for sensing and computing the position of the workpiece clamping assembly relative to the datum position on the X-axis traverse, the control means being operative to pass the workpiece clamp assembly passed the sensor means to identify the position of the workpiece clamp assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer controlled machine tool comprising a control, a working head, a workpiece positioning assembly for moving a workpiece relative to the working head and including an X-axis traverse, a Y-axis traverse, a workpiece support movable along the X-axis traverse, and a workpiece clamping assembly on the support for holding a workpiece, a datum position on the X-axis traverse, and sensor means for sensing and computing the position of the workpiece clamping assembly relative to the datum position on the X-axis traverse, the control means being operative to pass the workpiece clamp assembly passed the sensor means to identify the position of the workpiece clamp assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer controlled machine tool according to claim 5 comprising a datum position on the Y-axis, and means for registering movement of the X-axis traverse on the Y-axis traverse.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A computer controlled machine tool according to claim 6 comprising electric drive means for driving the workpiece support along the X-axis traverse, and electric drive means for driving the X-axis traverse along the Y-axis traverse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer controlled machine tool according to claim 5 wherein the sensor means comprises a sensor on the X-axis traverse, and an actuator on the workpiece support along the X-axis traverse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
A computer controlled machine tool according to claim 8 wherein the means for registering movement of the X-axis traverse on the Y-axis traverse and means for registering movement of the workpiece support along the X-axis traverse comprises means registering the speed of rotation of respective electric drive means for driving the workpiece support along the X-axis traverse, and the X-axis traverse along the Y-axis traverse.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-09-18 | 1988-03-19 | 1988-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-18 | 1992-03-19 | 1992-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-18 | 1996-03-19 | 1996-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |