Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A cutting direction input method for determining a path cutting direction in an automatic programming system, comprising steps of: (a) displaying a path trajectory comprising a number of path blocks on a display screen based on path data; (b) indicating one of a path starting point side and a path end point side using a cursor; (c) entering cutting direction information by operating a cutting direction input switch when the path starting point side is being indicated by the cursor, in a case where cutting is to be performed from the path starting point toward the path end point; and (d) entering cutting direction information by operating the cutting direction input switch when the path end point side is being indicated by the cursor, in a case where cutting is to be performed from the path end point toward the path starting point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A cutting direction input method for determining a path cutting direction in an automatic programming system, comprising steps of: (a) displaying a path trajectory comprising a number of path blocks on a display screen based on path data; (b) indicating one of a path starting point side and a path end point side using a cursor; (c) entering cutting direction information by operating a cutting direction input switch when the path starting point side is being indicated by the cursor, in a case where cutting is to be performed from the path starting point toward the path end point; and (d) entering cutting direction information by operating the cutting direction input switch when the path end point side is being indicated by the cursor, in a case where cutting is to be performed from the path end point toward the path starting point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cutting direction input method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (e) providing a cursor display position changeover switch; and (f) selectively changing over a cursor display position to the starting point side or the end point side by using the cursor display position changeover switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A cutting direction input method according to claim 2, wherein in said step (b), a position on the starting point side indicated by the cursor is an end point of a first block of the path trajectory, and a position on the end point side indicated by the cursor is a starting point of a final block of the path trajectory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cutting direction input method according to claim 3, wherein the positions indicated by the cursor on the starting point and end point sides are obtained from the path data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cutting direction input method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of creating NC data from the path data and the entered cutting direction data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
160 words
An automatic programming method for creating a numerical control tape, comprising the steps of: (a) entering shape data based on a design drawing, independently of the actual machining direction; (b) displaying a path trajectory on a display screen based on path data corresponding to the shape data, the path trajectory comprising a number of path blocks; (c) indicating one of a path starting point side and a path end point side using a cursor; (d) entering machining direction information by generating a first signal when the path starting point side is being indicated by the cursor if machining is to be performed from the path starting point toward the path end point, and by generating a second signal when the path end point is being indicated by the cursor if cutting is to be performed from the path end point toward the path starting point; and (e) creating NC data from the path data and the entered machining direction information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
160 words
An automatic programming method for creating a numerical control tape, comprising the steps of: (a) entering shape data based on a design drawing, independently of the actual machining direction; (b) displaying a path trajectory on a display screen based on path data corresponding to the shape data, the path trajectory comprising a number of path blocks; (c) indicating one of a path starting point side and a path end point side using a cursor; (d) entering machining direction information by generating a first signal when the path starting point side is being indicated by the cursor if machining is to be performed from the path starting point toward the path end point, and by generating a second signal when the path end point is being indicated by the cursor if cutting is to be performed from the path end point toward the path starting point; and (e) creating NC data from the path data and the entered machining direction information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An automatic programming method according to claim 6, wherein said step (c) comprises obtaining the positions indicated by the cursor on the starting point and end point sides based on the path data.