US3753237A — Electronic structure for and method of random too…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 211 words

An electronic circuit for random selection of tools positioned on a moving conveyor for sequential movement past a tool exchange location comprising a tool code signal storage circuit having a separate memory module for storing a tool code signal corresponding to each individual tool on the conveyor, switch means positioned between the tool conveyor and tool code signal storage circuit for sequentially addressing the individual memory modules as the tool associated with a tool code signal in the memory module arrives at the tool exchange location, a coincidence logic circuit for driving the tool conveyor until coincidence of a required tool code signal and the tool code signal of an addressed memory module applied thereto is sensed and for stopping the conveyor on sensing coincidence of the tool code signals, means for passing a required tool code signal to the coincidence logic circuit and means for passing the tool code signal of an addressed memory module of the tool code signal storage circuit to the coincidence logic circuit for comparison with the required tool code signal passed thereto whereby on coincidence of a tool code signal from a memory module with the required tool code signal the tool conveyor will be stopped with the required tool in the tool exchange location.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 211 words

An electronic circuit for random selection of tools positioned on a moving conveyor for sequential movement past a tool exchange location comprising a tool code signal storage circuit having a separate memory module for storing a tool code signal corresponding to each individual tool on the conveyor, switch means positioned between the tool conveyor and tool code signal storage circuit for sequentially addressing the individual memory modules as the tool associated with a tool code signal in the memory module arrives at the tool exchange location, a coincidence logic circuit for driving the tool conveyor until coincidence of a required tool code signal and the tool code signal of an addressed memory module applied thereto is sensed and for stopping the conveyor on sensing coincidence of the tool code signals, means for passing a required tool code signal to the coincidence logic circuit and means for passing the tool code signal of an addressed memory module of the tool code signal storage circuit to the coincidence logic circuit for comparison with the required tool code signal passed thereto whereby on coincidence of a tool code signal from a memory module with the required tool code signal the tool conveyor will be stopped with the required tool in the tool exchange location.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 103 words

Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further including means for placing the tool code signal for a tool exchanged for the required tool in the memory module for the required tool after sensing a coincidence of the tool code signal in the memory module and the required tool code signal and spindle storage means for storing the tool code signal of the required tool until it is exchanged for the next required tool and means for subsequently placing the tool code signal of the required tool in the memory module having the tool code signal of the next required tool therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

Structure as set forth in claim 2 and further including means for initially entering a tool code signal in a separate memory module for each tool placed on the conveyor in the tool exchange location.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 211 words

Structure as set forth in claim 3 and further including a control register for timing the input of tool code signals into the spindle storage means and transfer of the tool code signals from the spindle storage means to an individual memory module including a four-position counter, means for providing free-running clock pulses to each position of the counter, whereby on receipt of a first signal input to the first position of the counter a first signal output is provided therefrom on receipt of a first clock pulse, a second signal output is provided from the second position of the counter to enable reading of the tool code signal in the spindle storage means into the memory module addressed at the time of the second clock pulse, a third signal output is provided on the third clock pulse from the third position of the counter for enabling storage of the required tool code signal in the spindle storage circuit and on the fourth clock pulse following the initial actuating pulse an output signal from the fourth position of the counter is provided indicating transfer of a tool code signal from the spindle storage means and a placement of a new tool code signal in the spindle storage means has been accomplished.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 191 words

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the coincidence circuit comprises a separate exclusive OR gate for each significant position of each character of a tool code signal one of which is connected to the memory modules and the other of which is connected to a source of required tool code signals, whereby no signal will be present at their outputs unless the tool code signal of an addressed memory module is exactly coincident with the tool code signal of a required tool, A plurality of NAND gates connected to groups of the exclusive OR circuits for providing an output signal in response to an output signal from any of the exclusive OR gates, a single NAND gate connected to each of the plurality of NAND gates for providing a single output signal only on occurrence of an output signal from the plurality of NAND gates, and an AND gate for providing an output to drive the conveyor only on occurrence of an output from the single NAND gate and a signal from the source of required tool code signals indicating a required tool code signal is to be compared.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 117 words

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the switch means comprises a rotary switch having a separate pair of contacts for each memory module, a limit switch, means on the conveyor for closing the limit switch each time a tool position on the conveyor is at the tool exchange location, means for synchronizing the rotation of the rotary switch with the movement of the tool conveyor whereby each time the limit switch is closed one pair of contacts are closed in the rotary switch and means connected to the rotary switch and limit switch for addressing a single memory module on simultaneous closing of the limit switch and each of the contacts of the rotary switch.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 94 words

The method of random selection of a tool from a plurality of tools moving on a conveyor past a tool exchange location comprising storing a separate tool code signal for each tool on the conveyor, providing a required tool code signal, comparing the separate tool code signals sequentially with the required tool code signal as the tool represented by the stored tool code signal is moved into the tool exchange location, and stopping driving of the conveyor only when coincidence between a stored tool code signal with the required tool code signal is sensed.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 94 words

The method of random selection of a tool from a plurality of tools moving on a conveyor past a tool exchange location comprising storing a separate tool code signal for each tool on the conveyor, providing a required tool code signal, comparing the separate tool code signals sequentially with the required tool code signal as the tool represented by the stored tool code signal is moved into the tool exchange location, and stopping driving of the conveyor only when coincidence between a stored tool code signal with the required tool code signal is sensed.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 68 words

The method as set forth in claim 7 and further including storing a required tool code signal while the required tool is in use, and subsequently placing the stored required tool code signal with the stored separate tool code signals in the position of the next required tool code signal in the stored separate tool code signals after coincidence of the next required tool code signal is sensed.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 170 words

Structure for maintaining an output signal after initial closure of one of two alternatively closed contacts to complete a circuit until the one contact has been fully opened to close the other contact comprising a pair of parallel circuits each including one of the contacts, armature means for movement between the contacts to open one of the contacts and close the other of the contacts in operation to complete one of the two parallel circuits therethrough and means connected to the two parallel circuits for maintaining an output from one of them after completing the circuit therethrough even though the armature may break the circuit providing the armature does not return to make the other of the parallel circuits, including a pair of two input NAND gates with the inputs of both gates connected together and with the output of each gate connected to the input of the other gate and with each of the parallel circuits connected at one end to the output of one of the NAND gates.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 170 words

Structure for maintaining an output signal after initial closure of one of two alternatively closed contacts to complete a circuit until the one contact has been fully opened to close the other contact comprising a pair of parallel circuits each including one of the contacts, armature means for movement between the contacts to open one of the contacts and close the other of the contacts in operation to complete one of the two parallel circuits therethrough and means connected to the two parallel circuits for maintaining an output from one of them after completing the circuit therethrough even though the armature may break the circuit providing the armature does not return to make the other of the parallel circuits, including a pair of two input NAND gates with the inputs of both gates connected together and with the output of each gate connected to the input of the other gate and with each of the parallel circuits connected at one end to the output of one of the NAND gates.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 65 words

The method comprising the steps of closing one of two parallel circuits through contact structure requiring opening of the other parallel circuit to close the one parallel circuit and maintaining an output signal in response to closing the one parallel circuit even though the contact structure may bounce and open the one parallel circuit until the other of the exclusive parallel circuits is again closed.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 65 words

The method comprising the steps of closing one of two parallel circuits through contact structure requiring opening of the other parallel circuit to close the one parallel circuit and maintaining an output signal in response to closing the one parallel circuit even though the contact structure may bounce and open the one parallel circuit until the other of the exclusive parallel circuits is again closed.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-08-13	1977-02-12	1977-08-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-08-13	1981-02-12	1981-08-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-08-13	1985-02-12	1985-08-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electronic structure for and method of random tool selection

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