Method and apparatus for producing signals representing the most significant eccentricities of a plurality of simultaneously rotating spindles

Claim 1

In a machine tool having a plurality of simultaneously rotating spindlEs, with tools secured therein for engagement with workpieces to perform an operation thereon at a predetermined feed rate, an apparatus for generating a signal representing the most significant eccentricities of said rotating spindles and for producing an output dependent thereon to adjust said feed rate, said apparatus comprising: a. a sensing means responsive to each of said rotating spindles for producing a plurality of analogue signals as a function of the eccentricities of each of said spindles; b. comparing means for receiving said plurality of analogue signals and producing an output that is representative of the most significant of said plurality of analogue signals at any instant in time; and c. an adaptive control mechanism which receives the output of said comparing means and produces an output signal dependent thereon to alter said predetermined feed rate.

Claim 3

A method for providing an input to an adaptive control mechanism to regulate the feed rate of a rotating tool relative to a workpiece, said input being responsive to the eccentricities of each spindle on the machine tool having a plurality of simultaneously operating spindles, the method comprising the steps of: a. producing electric signals representing the eccentricities present at each of said spindles; b. selecting from said electric signals the most significant electric signal at any instant in time; c. producing an output signal representing the most significant electric signal; and d. producing in an adaptive control system a feed rate regulating signal responsive to said output signal to maintain the feed rate of the tool relative to the workpiece within predetermined limits.

Claim 4

A method for providing an input to an adaptive control mechanism to regulate the feed rate of a rotating tool relative to a workpiece, said input being responsive to the eccentricities of each spindle on the machine tool having a plurality of simultaneously operating spindles, the method comprising the steps of: a. producing electric signals representing the eccentricities present at each of said spindles; b. selecting from said electric signals the most significant electric signal at any instant in time; c. producing an output signal representing the most significant electric signal; and d. producing in an adaptive control system a feed rate regulating signal responsive to said output signal to maintain the feed rate of the tool relative to the workpiece within predetermined limits.

Claim 5

A method fo regulating the feed rate of rotating tool relative to a workpiece in a machine tool with a plurality of simultaneously operating spindles for holding the tools, said method comprising the steps of: a. producing a first deflection component signal for each of said spindles, each signal being responsive to the deflection of one of said spindles in a predetermined direction; b. producing a second deflection component signal of each of said spindles, each signal being responsive to the deflection of one of said spindles in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction; c. squaring said first and second deflection component signals of each spindle; d. summing the first and second squared component signals of each spindle; e. extracting the square root of each sum to determine a deflection vector signal; f. comparing the deflection vector signal of each spindle to determine the most significant deflection vector signal at any instant in time; and g. producing a feed rate signal responsive to said most significant deflection vector signal.

Claim 6

A method fo regulating the feed rate of rotating tool relative to a workpiece in a machine tool with a plurality of simultaneously operating spindles for holding the tools, said method comprising the steps of: a. producing a first deflection component signal for each of said spindles, each signal being responsive to the deflection of one of said spindles in a predetermined direction; b. producing a second deflection component signal of each of said spindles, each signal being responsive to the deflection of one of said spindles in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction; c. squaring said first and second deflection component signals of each spindle; d. summing the first and second squared component signals of each spindle; e. extracting the square root of each sum to determine a deflection vector signal; f. comparing the deflection vector signal of each spindle to determine the most significant deflection vector signal at any instant in time; and g. producing a feed rate signal responsive to said most significant deflection vector signal.