Programing system for press brakes or the like

Claim 2

A programming system for a press brake or the like having a ram for performing operation on work, said programming system including a backgauge, a backgauge adjusting assembly comprising means for controlling movement of said backgauge through a range of adjustability, a plurality of mechanical backgauge position determining means, each capable of being rendered functional or non-functional, means for pre-locating, from a remote station, the individual mechanical backguage position determining means in a non-functional condition, and means, between work strokes of said machine, for establishing said various mechanical backgauge position determining means to a functioning condition in accordance with a predetermined sequence program.

Claim 3

A programming system in accordance with claim 1, characterized by a second backgauge adjusting assembly with each said assembly coupled to a backgauge adjacent an end thereof, and means for simultaneously advancing the backgauge movement controlling means of each of said backgauge adjusting assemblies until said movement controlling means engages a mechanical backgauge position determining means in its functioning position.

Claim 4

A programing system in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said means for controlling movement of a backgauge, including a frame, a cylinder supported by said frame, a piston in said cylinder having a piston rod extending through an end of said cylinder, means connecting said rod to a backgauge, and means for selectively supplying power to either end of said cylinder.

Claim 5

A programing system in accordance with claim 3, characterized by each of said backgauge positioning means including a screw drive supported for rotation in said frame, a latch threadedly carried on said screw drive, means for shifting said latch between a nonfunctioning position and a functioning position, and means, on a movable component of said backgauge movement controlling means, for engaging said latch in its functioning position, to halt forward movement of said movement controlling means.

Claim 6

A programing system in accordance with claim 2, characterized by means interconnecting both said means for controlling movement of said backgauge, for maintaining synchronism between the two backgauge movement controlling means.

Claim 7

A programing system in accordance with claim 2, characterized by said backgauge movement controlling means maintaining pressure against said backgauge positioning means, following engagement thereof with said backgauge positioning means.

Claim 8

A programing system in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said means for establishing said various backgauge positioning means to a functioning condition in accordance with a predetermined sequence program, including a plurality of backgauge selector switches, each having a plurality of contacts with each contact controlling the functioning condition of one of a plurality of backgauge positioning means, and a rotatable contact for preselecting one of said plurality of contacts to condition a desired one of said backgauge positioning means when said switch is connected in circuit, and stepping switch means for sequentially connecting said backgauge selector switches in circuit.

Claim 9

A programming system in accordance with claim 6, characterized by a plurality of program selector sequence switches, each having a plurality of sets of contacts and a rotary contact, with each succeeding set of contacts having a progressively larger number of contacts wired for connection in circuit, and means connecting said wired contacts in common to one side of a power source, with each of said rotary selector contacts connected to a different contact of said stepping switch, and means for maintaining one of said backgauge selector switches in circuit so long as an associated program selector sequence switch is functioning.

Claim 10

A programming system in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said means for establishing said various backgauge position determinIng means to a functioning condition being responsive to operation of a depthgauge switch on said machine.

Claim 11

A programing system in accordance with claim 1, characterized by a plurality of depthgauges, means for adjusting said depthgauges, and means for utilizing said depthgauges in accordance with a predetermined sequence program.

Claim 12

An assembly for pre-setting the adjustments of a backgauge in a gauge programing system, comprising a frame, a piston drive assembly including a cylinder supported by said frame and a piston within said cylinder having a rod extending through an end of said cylinder for reciprocal movement within the full stroke of said piston, means connected to said piston rod for supporting one end of a backgauge, adjustable stop means in the path of a portion of said backgauge supporting means for arbitrarily limiting the travel of said backgauge supporting means in one direction, said adjustable stop means including a drive supported by said frame substantially parallel to said piston rod, a slide assembly in drive engagement with said drive including a drive nut, a latch carried by said drive nut, means enabling switching of said latch between a latching position in line of travel of a portion of said backgauge supporting means and a position out-of-line of travel of said backgauge supporting means, means for actuating said drive to adjust the position of said latch, and means for indicating such adjustment as it is being made.

Claim 13

An assembly for pre-setting the adjustments of a backgauge in a gauge programing system, comprising a frame, a piston drive assembly including a cylinder supported by said frame and a piston within said cylinder having a rod extending through an end of said cylinder for reciprocal movement within the full stroke of said piston, means connected to said piston rod for supporting one end of a backgauge, adjustable stop means in the path of a portion of said backgauge supporting means for arbitrarily limiting the travel of said backgauge supporting means in one direction, said adjustable stop means including a drive supported by said frame substantially parallel to said piston rod, a slide assembly in drive engagement with said drive including a drive nut, a latch carried by said drive nut, means enabling switching of said latch between a latching position in line of travel of a portion of said backgauge supporting means and a position out-of-line of travel of said backgauge supporting means, means for actuating said drive to adjust the position of said latch, and means for indicating such adjustment as it is being made.

Claim 14

An assembly in accordance with claim 11, characterized by said latch including a substantially rectangular plate and means hingedly securing said plate to said nut on a hinge axis enabling said latch to swing into and out of latching position, and said means enabling switching said latch into and out of latching position including means normally urging said latch toward its out of latching position, a platform connected to said nut, and electrically energizable solenoid means carried by said platform for moving said latch to latching position.

Claim 15

An assembly in accordance with claim 12, characterized by a plurality of said drives supported in said frame with associated slide assemblies.