US3888338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic indexing system
Assignee: McNeil Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-03
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Granted: 1975-06-10
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Expires: 1993-10-03
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method and apparatus for linearly moving a machine element, such as a cutting blade, an accurate predetermined distance upon intermittent operation of a motor. The amount of travel of an indicator driven by the motor is sensed by a control system which automatically activates a motor brake which stops the motor at a preselected setting after a certain degree of overtravel. The control system senses and accounts for the amount of overtravel so that each subsequent operation of the motor moves the machine element the preselected distance even if the stopping characteristics of the brake should vary due to wear or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 William T Mars
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:43
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q16/00; B23Q16/02; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/19; G05B19/21; G05B19/23; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/42; G05B2219/42213; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/14; Y10T74/1488
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for moving a machine element a preselected distance, the machine element being operated by a motor which is successively activated and thereafter stopped by a braking device, comprising indicator means driven by the motor and indicating the amount of movement of the machine element, electronic means having a preselected setting therein corresponding to the preselected distance of movement of the machine element, said electronic means reading said indicator means and activating the braking device to stop the motor after the preselected setting has been reached, the motor moving the machine element an overtravel distance between the time of the activation of the brake and the stopping of the motor, said electronic means accounting for the overtravel distance by effectively deducting the overtravel distance of the previous activation from the preselected setting so thAt the machine element is moved the preselected distance on the next successive activation of the motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for moving a machine element a preselected distance, the machine element being operated by a motor which is successively activated and thereafter stopped by a braking device, comprising indicator means driven by the motor and indicating the amount of movement of the machine element, electronic means having a preselected setting therein corresponding to the preselected distance of movement of the machine element, said electronic means reading said indicator means and activating the braking device to stop the motor after the preselected setting has been reached, the motor moving the machine element an overtravel distance between the time of the activation of the brake and the stopping of the motor, said electronic means accounting for the overtravel distance by effectively deducting the overtravel distance of the previous activation from the preselected setting so thAt the machine element is moved the preselected distance on the next successive activation of the motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said indicator means includes a disc having means thereon corresponding to the movement of the machine element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the machine element is driven linearly by a rotatable screw shaft and said disc is mounted on said screw shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means on said disc includes circumferentially placed notches, said electronic means reading and counting said notches as said disc rotates with said screw shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electronic means includes a sensing device to read said indicator means and a counter to record the readings of said sensing device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the preselected setting is set into said counter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the machine element is driven linearly by a rotatable screw shaft and said indicator means includes a disc mounted on said screw shaft and has means thereon corresponding to the linear movement of the machine element, said sensing device reading said means corresponding to the linear movement of the machine element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means corresponding to the linear movement of the machine element are notches placed near the periphery of said disc and said sensing device is adjustably mounted to read said notches.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of indexing to a preselected distance a machine element which is intermittently driven by a motor, the motor being stopped by a brake, the machine element moving an overtravel distance from the time the brake is activated until the time the motor stops; comprising the steps of, selecting the preselected distance; activating the motor to index the machine element the preselected distance; thereupon activating the brake to stop the motor; recording the overtravel distance of the machine element; and thereafter continuously indexing the machine element by intermittently activating the motor until said preselected distance less the overtravel distance is reached, and activating the brake to stop the motor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of indexing to a preselected distance a machine element which is intermittently driven by a motor, the motor being stopped by a brake, the machine element moving an overtravel distance from the time the brake is activated until the time the motor stops; comprising the steps of, selecting the preselected distance; activating the motor to index the machine element the preselected distance; thereupon activating the brake to stop the motor; recording the overtravel distance of the machine element; and thereafter continuously indexing the machine element by intermittently activating the motor until said preselected distance less the overtravel distance is reached, and activating the brake to stop the motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the step of continuously indexing the machine element includes the step of continuously recording the overtravel distance so that the motor is activated until the preselected distance less the continuously recorded overtravel distance is reached.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-09 | 1978-12-09 | 1979-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-09 | 1982-12-09 | 1983-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-09 | 1986-12-09 | 1987-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |