Machine tool monitoring unit

Claim 2

An electrical monitoring and control unit for monitoring and controlling the operation of a cyclic machine tool, comprising, in combination: first sensing means adapted to register selected cyclic events of the machine tool for producing first switching signals indicative thereof; gating means connected to receive said first switching signals in predetermined combination for producing a gated output signal indicative of the status of any one or more of selected ones of said first switching signals when selected other ones thereof are in a predetermined status; second sensing means adapted to register selected projections in said machine tool for producing second switching signals indicative thereof; and main switching means connected for receiving said gated output signal and said second switching signals for effecting a machine shut down concurrent with the receipt of either one thereof.

Claim 3

An electrical monitoring and control unit for monitoring and controlling the operation of a cyclic machine tool, comprising, in combination: first sensing means adapted to register selected cyclic events of the machine tool for producing first switching signals indicative thereof; gating means connected to receive said first switching signals in predetermined combination for producing a gated output signal indicative of the status of any one or more of selected ones of said first switching signals when selected other ones thereof are in a predetermined status; second sensing means adapted to register selected projections in said machine tool for producing second switching signals indicative thereof; and main switching means connected for receiving said gated output signal and said second switching signals for effecting a machine shut down concurrent with the receipt of either one thereof.

Claim 4

An electrical monitoring and control unit for monitoring and controlling the operation of a cyclic machine tool, comprising, in combination: first sensing means adapted to register selected cyclic events of the machine tool for producing first switching signals indicative thereof; gating means connected to receive said first switching signals in predetermined combination for producing a gated output signal indicative of the status of any one or more of selected ones of said first switching signals when selected other ones thereof are in a predetermined status; second sensing means adapted to register selected projections in said machine tool for producing second switching signals indicative thereof; and main switching means connected for receiving said gated output signal and said second switching signals for effecting a machine shut down concurrent with the receipt of either one thereof.

Claim 5

An electrical monitoring and control unit according to claim 1 wherein: said first sensing means includes switching transient responsive means for producing a signal indicative of a switching transient associated with selected ones of said cyclic events.

Claim 6

An electrical monitoring and control unit according to claim 2 wherein: said main switching means includes a first and second palm button adapted to restart said machine tool at a concurrent depression thereof.

Claim 7

An electrical monitoring and control unit according to claim 3 further comprising: timing means adapted to receive a selected other one of said first switching signals for producing an additional second switching signal indicative of an absence thereof with a preselected time interval.

Claim 8

An electrical monitoring and control unit according to claim 4 wherein: said gating means include an operational amplifier connected to receive said selected ones of said first switching signals at the inverting input terminal thereof, grounding means adapted to ground said operational amplifier upon the receipt of said selected other ones of said first switching signals, and a first transistor means connected to the output of said operational amplifier.

Claim 9

An electrical monitoring and control unit according to claim 5 further comprising: said selected ones of said first switching signals including short memory means for maintaining the status thereof until reset by a reset signal; and reset means connected to said selected other ones of said first switching signals for producing said reset signal subsequent the actuation thereof.

Claim 10

An electrical monitoring and control Unit according to claim 1 wherein: said first sensing means include a plurality of switches disposed for actuation by selected indicia within said machine tool and a strike plate disposed to intercept the ejection of an article from said machine tool.

Claim 11

In a die press including a reciprocating die mounted for cooperating reciprocal actuation with a stock advance device, and comprising a die motor, an electrically actuated clutch connected to said motor, gearing means connected between said clutch and said die stock advance device, and ejection means connected to eject the article formed in the die following a die strike, said stock advance device dispensing sheet stock below said die following each such ejection, the improvment comprising: first sensing means disposed in sensing proximity below said die for producing a plurality of first switching signals indicative of the alignment of said sheet stock thereat; second sensing means disposed in operative proximity with said die for producing a second switching signal indicative of the reciprocation thereof; gate means connected to receive selected ones of said first switching signals and said second switching signal for producing a gated machine shut down signal upon a combination of any one of said selected first switching signals occurring concurrent with said second switching signal; direct shut down means connected to receive the selected other ones of said switching signals for producing a direct shut down signal on the occurrence of any one thereof; and main switching circuit means connected to receive said gated and direct shut down signals for effecting an interruption of electrical power to said electrically actuated clutch upon the receipt thereof.

Claim 12

In a die press including a reciprocating die mounted for cooperating reciprocal actuation with a stock advance device, and comprising a die motor, an electrically actuated clutch connected to said motor, gearing means connected between said clutch and said die stock advance device, and ejection means connected to eject the article formed in the die following a die strike, said stock advance device dispensing sheet stock below said die following each such ejection, the improvment comprising: first sensing means disposed in sensing proximity below said die for producing a plurality of first switching signals indicative of the alignment of said sheet stock thereat; second sensing means disposed in operative proximity with said die for producing a second switching signal indicative of the reciprocation thereof; gate means connected to receive selected ones of said first switching signals and said second switching signal for producing a gated machine shut down signal upon a combination of any one of said selected first switching signals occurring concurrent with said second switching signal; direct shut down means connected to receive the selected other ones of said switching signals for producing a direct shut down signal on the occurrence of any one thereof; and main switching circuit means connected to receive said gated and direct shut down signals for effecting an interruption of electrical power to said electrically actuated clutch upon the receipt thereof.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: said main switching means further includes a start switch, a reset switch and a die hold release switch, whereby the concurrent depression of said start and reset switches prior to the switching of said die hold release switch enables a machine start up.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising: said first sensing means includes a strike plate disposed to intercept the article ejected from the die press and a piezoelectric crystal mounted on said strike plate for excitation therewith, said crystal producing one said selected one of said first switching signals.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: said first sensing means include first limit switches disposed to engage selected index projections on said sheet stock; and said second sensing means includes a second limit switch adapted to close upon the maximum opening of the die.

Claim 16

A cyclic machine tool monitoring unit comprising, in combination: first sensing means adapted to register the automatic advancement of stock into the machine tool for producing first signal transients indicative thereof; second sensing means adapted to register the automatic alignment of stock within the machine tool for producing switching signals indicative thereof; cycle means adapted to sense the cycling of the machine tool for producing a second signal transient indicative thereof; memory means each connected to receive respective ones of said first signal transients, and said switching signals for changing state upon receipt thereof; reset means connected to receive said memory means subsequent the receipt thereof; gating means connected to receive the output signal from said memory means and said second signal transient for producing a gate signal upon receipt of any one of said memory means output signals concurrent with said second signal transient; and main switching means connected to receive said gate signal for effecting a machine shut down upon receipt thereof.

Claim 17

A cyclic machine tool monitoring unit comprising, in combination: first sensing means adapted to register the automatic advancement of stock into the machine tool for producing first signal transients indicative thereof; second sensing means adapted to register the automatic alignment of stock within the machine tool for producing switching signals indicative thereof; cycle means adapted to sense the cycling of the machine tool for producing a second signal transient indicative thereof; memory means each connected to receive respective ones of said first signal transients, and said switching signals for changing state upon receipt thereof; reset means connected to receive said memory means subsequent the receipt thereof; gating means connected to receive the output signal from said memory means and said second signal transient for producing a gate signal upon receipt of any one of said memory means output signals concurrent with said second signal transient; and main switching means connected to receive said gate signal for effecting a machine shut down upon receipt thereof.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising: said main switching means further including a start switch, a reset switch and a die hold release switch, whereby the concurrent depression Of said start and reset switches prior to the switching of said die hold release switch enables a machine start up.