Dimension comparator for machine tools

Claim 2

A dimension comparator for machine tools for comparing an actual dimension with a theoretical dimension and at least one aiming interval for said theoretical dimension, comprising a first register in which said theoretical dimension is entered, a first numerical comparison circuit means coupled to said first register and to means for supplying said actual dimension for comparing the numerical value of said actual dimension with the numerical value of said theoretical dimension, and for supplying a signal indicating which of said numerical values is greater, manually operable setting means for selectively setting a predetermined absolute value for said aiming interval, a second register in which said aiming interval is entered, adder means coupled to said first and second registers and responsive to the signal from said first comparison means for supplying the sum or difference of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval, and a second numerical comparison circuit means coupled to said adder means and said actual dimension supplying means for comparing the numerical value of said actual dimension with said supplied sum or difference to detect and indicate a difference therebetween, whereby the absolute value of said aiming interval can be entered independently of said theoretical dimension.

Claim 3

A comparator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying the algebraic numerical value of said actual dimension comprise a numerical position measurer, said first register supplying the algebraic numerical value of said theoretical dimension to said adder means, said second register supplying the absolute numerical value of said aiming interval to said adder means.

Claim 4

A comparator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first comparison circuit means compares the algebraic values of said actual and theoretical dimensions to supply a signal indicating which of said two compared algebraic values is greater.

Claim 5

A comparator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said adder means are responsive to the signal from said first comparison circuit to supply to said second numerical comparison means the sum of the numerical values of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval when said actual dimension is greater than said theoretical dimension and to supply to said second numerical comparison means the difference between the numerical values of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval if said theoretical dimension is greater than said actual dimension.

Claim 6

A comparator as claimed in claim 4 including control circuit means coupled to said first and second comparison means and controlling said second register for providing from said second register to said adder means one of at least three aiming intervals, said second comparison means making said comparison between the output of said first register and the output of said adder alternately on the basis of the intermediate aiming interval and of one of the extreme aiming intervals of said three aiming intervals.

Claim 7

A comparator as claimed in claim 5, including timing means for controlling said position measurer to cyclically determine the position of said machine tool, said timing means controlling the comparison cycle of said first and second comparison circuit means at a frequency equal to the frequency of the cycle of said position measurer.

Claim 8

A comparator as claimed in claim 8 wherein said control circuit means are responsive to the outputs of said first and second comparison circuits and said timing means for selecting the extreme aiming interval of said three aiming intervals to be compared.

Claim 9

A comparator as claimed in claim 6 including means controlled by said first and second comparison circuit means for commanding the working feed of the machine tool.

Claim 10

A dimenson comparator for machine tools for comparing an actual dimension with a theoretical dimension and at least one aiming interval for said theoretical dimension, comprising a first register in which an algebraic numerical value of said theoretical dimension is entered, a first numerical comparison circuit means coupled to said first register and to a numerical position measurer which supplies said actual dimension to said first comparison circuit for comparing the numerical value of said actual dimension with the numerical value of said theoretical dimension, and for supplying a signal indicating which of said two compared algebraic values is greater, a second register in which the absolute numeric value of said aiming interval is entered, adder means controlled by said first comparison circuit for supplying the sum of the numerical values of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval when said actual dimension is greater than said theoretical dimension and for supplying the difference between the numerical values of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval if said theoretical dimension is greater than said actual dimension, a second numerical comparison circuit means coupled to said adder means and said position measurer for comparing the numerical value of said actual dimension with said supplied sum or difference, means for providing to said adder means at least three aiming intervals, and means for causing said second comparison circuit to make said comparison alternately on the basis of the intermediate aiming interval and of one of the extreme aiming intervals of said three aiming intervals.

Claim 11

A dimenson comparator for machine tools for comparing an actual dimension with a theoretical dimension and at least one aiming interval for said theoretical dimension, comprising a first register in which an algebraic numerical value of said theoretical dimension is entered, a first numerical comparison circuit means coupled to said first register and to a numerical position measurer which supplies said actual dimension to said first comparison circuit for comparing the numerical value of said actual dimension with the numerical value of said theoretical dimension, and for supplying a signal indicating which of said two compared algebraic values is greater, a second register in which the absolute numeric value of said aiming interval is entered, adder means controlled by said first comparison circuit for supplying the sum of the numerical values of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval when said actual dimension is greater than said theoretical dimension and for supplying the difference between the numerical values of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval if said theoretical dimension is greater than said actual dimension, a second numerical comparison circuit means coupled to said adder means and said position measurer for comparing the numerical value of said actual dimension with said supplied sum or difference, means for providing to said adder means at least three aiming intervals, and means for causing said second comparison circuit to make said comparison alternately on the basis of the intermediate aiming interval and of one of the extreme aiming intervals of said three aiming intervals.

Claim 12

A comparator as claimed in claim 9 wherein said causing means are coupled to said first and second comparison circuits, the extreme aiming interval to be compared being determined by the outputs of said first and second comparison circuits.

Claim 13

A comparator as claimed in claim 10, including timing means for controlling said position measurer to cylically determine the position of said machine tool, said timing means controlling the comparison cycle of said first and second comparison circuit means at a frequency equal to the frequency of the cycle of said position measurer.

Claim 14

A comparator as claimed in claim 11 including means controlled by said first and second comparison circuit means for commanding the working feed of the machine tool.

Claim 15

A dimension comparator for machine tools for comparing an actual dimEnsion with a theoretical dimension and at least one aiming interval for said theoretical dimension, comprising a first register in which an algebraic numerical value of said theoretical dimension is entered, a first numerical comparison circuit means coupled to said first register and to a numerical position measurer which supplies said actual dimension for comparing the numerical value of said actual dimension with the numerical value of said theoretical dimension, and for supplying signals indicating which of said two compared algebraic values is greater, a second register in which the absolute numeric value of said aiming interval in entered, adder means controlled by said first comparison circuit for supplying the sum of the numerical values of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval when said actual dimension is greater than said theoretical dimension and for supplying the difference between the numerical values of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval if said theoretical dimension is greater than said actual dimension, a second numerical comparison circuit means coupled to said adder means and said position measurer for comparing the numerical value of said actual dimension with said supplied sum or said supplied difference, manually operable means for entering a numerical incremental value in said second register, connecting gate means responsive to said manually operable means for selectively connecting a third register and said first and second registers to said adder means, said third register providing a recirculation path for data from said first and second registers so that the sum of said incremental value and said theoretical dimension is provided by said adder to said second comparison circuit for comparison with said actual dimension.

Claim 16

A dimension comparator for machine tools for comparing an actual dimEnsion with a theoretical dimension and at least one aiming interval for said theoretical dimension, comprising a first register in which an algebraic numerical value of said theoretical dimension is entered, a first numerical comparison circuit means coupled to said first register and to a numerical position measurer which supplies said actual dimension for comparing the numerical value of said actual dimension with the numerical value of said theoretical dimension, and for supplying signals indicating which of said two compared algebraic values is greater, a second register in which the absolute numeric value of said aiming interval in entered, adder means controlled by said first comparison circuit for supplying the sum of the numerical values of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval when said actual dimension is greater than said theoretical dimension and for supplying the difference between the numerical values of said theoretical dimension and said aiming interval if said theoretical dimension is greater than said actual dimension, a second numerical comparison circuit means coupled to said adder means and said position measurer for comparing the numerical value of said actual dimension with said supplied sum or said supplied difference, manually operable means for entering a numerical incremental value in said second register, connecting gate means responsive to said manually operable means for selectively connecting a third register and said first and second registers to said adder means, said third register providing a recirculation path for data from said first and second registers so that the sum of said incremental value and said theoretical dimension is provided by said adder to said second comparison circuit for comparison with said actual dimension.

Claim 17

A comparator as claimed in claim 13 wherein said connecting means include first gates connected between the output of said first register and the input of said adder means and the output of said adder means and the input of said third register for transferring the theoretical dimension in said first register to said third register, and second gates connected between the outputs of said second and third registers and the input of said adder means and the output of said adder means and the input of said second comparison circuit for conditioning said second comparison circuit to compare said actual dimension with the sum of said theoretical dimension and said incremental value.

Claim 18

A comparator as claimed in claim 13 wherein said connecting gate means are responsive to said manually operable means in a first period to connect said first register to said adder to store said theoretical dimension in said third register, and in a second period to connect said second and third registers to said adder to provide the sum of the contents of said first and second registers to said second comparison circuits.

Claim 19

A comparator as claimed in claim 15 wherein said connecting circuits are deactivated in said first period, as a result of which said sum of said theoretical value and said incremental value is transferred to said third register by said output circuit means.

Claim 20

A comparator as claimed in claim 15 wherein said connecting means include first gates connected between the output of said first register and the input of said adder means and the output of said adder means and the input of said third register for transferring the theoretical dimension in said first register to said third register, and second gates connected between the outputs of said second and third registers and the input of said adder means and the output of said adder means and the input of said second comparison circuit for conditioning said second comparison circuit to compare said actual dimension with the sum of said theoretical dimension and said incremental value.