US4987528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Signature analysis control system for a stamping press
Assignee: Signature Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1989-11-21
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Granted: 1991-01-22
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Expires: 2009-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A signature analysis control system for a stamping press is disclosed which does not require a multiplicity of sensors or reconfiguration upon changing the die. An upper and lower reference signature corresponding to desired force values at particular sampling points during the ram cycle is developed based on a known good sample signature. The force signature for successive cycles of the press is then compared to the upper and lower reference signatures, and the press is inhibited in the event that any sampling point deviates from the corresponding point in the reference signatures.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. O'Brien
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:06
CPC Classifications
B; B30; B30B; B30B15/00; B30B15/28; B30B15/0094; B30B15/26; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0428; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/24; G05B2219/24042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for controlling the operation of a stamping press, said press including a ram adapted to cooperate with a tool for controllably moving through a cycle to generate forces at said tool, the method comprising the steps of: generating from the drive system of the press, a position signal comprising pulses indicative of a specific angular position of the drive system for said ram during a cycle; generating a first analog signal indicative of a force associated with said ram; sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a reference ram cycle, and generating a signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position; generating a first reference array comprising a set of data bytes, by adding a first set of offset values to said successive data bytes of said signature array; generating a second reference array comprising a set of data bytes, by subtracting a second set of offset values from successive data bytes of said signature array; storing said first and second reference arrays; sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a subsequent ram cycle, and generating a current signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position; comparing the respective bytes of said current signature array with the corresponding bytes of said first and second reference arrays; and generating control signals for controlling said press in accordance with said comparison.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for controlling the operation of a stamping press, said press including a ram adapted to cooperate with a tool for controllably moving through a cycle to generate forces at said tool, the method comprising the steps of: generating from the drive system of the press, a position signal comprising pulses indicative of a specific angular position of the drive system for said ram during a cycle; generating a first analog signal indicative of a force associated with said ram; sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a reference ram cycle, and generating a signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position; generating a first reference array comprising a set of data bytes, by adding a first set of offset values to said successive data bytes of said signature array; generating a second reference array comprising a set of data bytes, by subtracting a second set of offset values from successive data bytes of said signature array; storing said first and second reference arrays; sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a subsequent ram cycle, and generating a current signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position; comparing the respective bytes of said current signature array with the corresponding bytes of said first and second reference arrays; and generating control signals for controlling said press in accordance with said comparison.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, further including the steps of providing a trigger signal based on the progression of said stamping press past a definable point in the cycle, and initiating the acquisition of said first analog signal based on said trigger signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, further including the steps of generating a position signal based on the progression of said stamping press past a definable point in the cycle, and terminating the acquisition of said first analog signal based on said position signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of permanently storing said aperture array and said first and second reference arrays in a mass storage area when data bytes of the said current signal array are found to deviate unacceptably from the corresponding data bytes in said reference arrays based on said comparison; and retrieving and displaying the stored signature array and said first and second reference arrays on a console for inspection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of offset values equals the second set of offset values.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the values in the first set of offset values are equal, and the values in the second set of offset values are equal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
354 words
A method for controlling the operation of a stamping press for a plurality of different stamping operations, said press including a drive system for cycling a ram adapted to cooperate with a tool for controllably moving through a cycle to generate forces at said tool, the method comprising the steps of: generating a position signal from the drive system of said press comprising pulses indicative of specific incremental changes in angular position of the drive system during a cycle; generating a first analog signal indicative of a force associated with said ram; sampling said first analog signals in response to the pules of the position signal during a reference ram cycle for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, and generating a respective signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position for each of the plurality of different stamping operations; generating a first reference array comprising a set of data bytes for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, by adding a first set of offset values to said successive data bytes of said respective signature arrays; generating a second reference array comprising a set of data bytes for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, by subtracting a second set of offset values from said successive data bytes of said respective signature arrays; storing said first and second reference arrays in a first means for data storage; transferring one of said first and second reference arrays for a particular one of the plurality of different stamping operations from the first data storage means to a second means for data storage; sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a subsequent ram cycle for the particular stamping operation, and generating a current signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position; comparing the respective bytes of said current signature array with the corresponding bytes of said first and second reference arrays for the particular stamping operation; and generating control signals for controlling said press in accordance with said comparison.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
354 words
A method for controlling the operation of a stamping press for a plurality of different stamping operations, said press including a drive system for cycling a ram adapted to cooperate with a tool for controllably moving through a cycle to generate forces at said tool, the method comprising the steps of: generating a position signal from the drive system of said press comprising pulses indicative of specific incremental changes in angular position of the drive system during a cycle; generating a first analog signal indicative of a force associated with said ram; sampling said first analog signals in response to the pules of the position signal during a reference ram cycle for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, and generating a respective signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position for each of the plurality of different stamping operations; generating a first reference array comprising a set of data bytes for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, by adding a first set of offset values to said successive data bytes of said respective signature arrays; generating a second reference array comprising a set of data bytes for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, by subtracting a second set of offset values from said successive data bytes of said respective signature arrays; storing said first and second reference arrays in a first means for data storage; transferring one of said first and second reference arrays for a particular one of the plurality of different stamping operations from the first data storage means to a second means for data storage; sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a subsequent ram cycle for the particular stamping operation, and generating a current signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position; comparing the respective bytes of said current signature array with the corresponding bytes of said first and second reference arrays for the particular stamping operation; and generating control signals for controlling said press in accordance with said comparison.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as claimed in claim 7, further including the steps of providing a trigger signal based on the progression of said stamping press past a definable point in the cycle, and initiating the acquisition of said first analog signal based on said trigger signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as claimed in claim 7, further including the steps of generating a position signal based on the progression of said stamping press past a definable point in the cycle, and terminating the acquisition of said first analog signal based on said position signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the first set of offset values equal the second set of offset values.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the values in the first set of offset values are equal, and the values in the second set of offset values are equal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
286 words
An apparatus for controlling the operation of a stamping press, said press including a ram adapted to cooperate with a tool for controlling moving through a cycle to generate forces at said tool, said apparatus comprising: means for generating from the drive system of said press, a position signal comprising pulses indicative of a specific angular position of the drive system for said ram during a cycle; signal means for generating a first analog signal indicative of a force associated with said ram; sampling means for sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a reference ram cycle, and generating a signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position; processing means for generating first and second reference arrays of data bytes, wherein the data bytes of said first reference array are indicative of said successive data bytes of said signature array having a first set of offset values added thereto and the data bytes of said second reference array are indicative of said successive data bytes of said signature array having a second set of offset values subtracted therefrom; storing means for storing said first and second reference arrays; said sampling means also sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a subsequent ram cycle, and generating a current signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position; comparison means for comparing the respective data bytes of said current signature array with the corresponding data bytes of said first and second reference arrays; and control generating control signals for controlling said press in accordance with said comparison.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
286 words
An apparatus for controlling the operation of a stamping press, said press including a ram adapted to cooperate with a tool for controlling moving through a cycle to generate forces at said tool, said apparatus comprising: means for generating from the drive system of said press, a position signal comprising pulses indicative of a specific angular position of the drive system for said ram during a cycle; signal means for generating a first analog signal indicative of a force associated with said ram; sampling means for sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a reference ram cycle, and generating a signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position; processing means for generating first and second reference arrays of data bytes, wherein the data bytes of said first reference array are indicative of said successive data bytes of said signature array having a first set of offset values added thereto and the data bytes of said second reference array are indicative of said successive data bytes of said signature array having a second set of offset values subtracted therefrom; storing means for storing said first and second reference arrays; said sampling means also sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a subsequent ram cycle, and generating a current signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position; comparison means for comparing the respective data bytes of said current signature array with the corresponding data bytes of said first and second reference arrays; and control generating control signals for controlling said press in accordance with said comparison.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising signal means for generating a trigger signal based on the progression of said stamping press past a definable point in the cycle, wherein said signal means initiates the acquisition of said first analog signal in response to said trigger signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising signal means for generating a position signal based on the progression of said stamping press past a definable point in the cycle, wherein said signal means terminates the acquisition of said first analog signal in response to said position signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a drive mechanism for moving the ram through the cycle, wherein: the means for generating a position signal includes an encoder coupled to the drive mechanism for generating a series of pulses, each pulse corresponding to an incremental change in position of the ram; the sampling means includes an analog-to-digital convertor; and the encoder is coupled to the analog-to-digital convertor such that one occurs in response to one pulse of the position signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first set of offset values equals the second set of offset values.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the values in the first set of offset values are equal, and the values in the second set of offset values are equal.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
379 words
An apparatus for controlling the operation of a stamping press for a plurality of different stamping operations, said press including a drive system for cycling a ram adapted to cooperate with a tool for controllably moving through a cycle to generate forces at said tool, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a position signal from the drive system of said press comprising pulses indicative of specific incremental changes in angular position of the drive system during a cycle; signal means for generating a first analog signal indicative of a force associated with said ram; sampling means for sampling said first analog signals in response to the pules of the position signal during a reference ram cycle for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, and generating a respective signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position for each of the plurality of different stamping operations; processing means for generating a first reference array comprising a set of data bytes for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, by adding a first set of offset values to said successive data bytes of said respective signature arrays; processing means for generating a second reference array comprising a set of data bytes for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, by subtracting a second set of offset values from said successive data bytes of said respective signature arrays; storing means storing said first and second reference arrays in a first means for data storage; processing means for transferring one of said first and second reference arrays for a particular one of the plurality of different stamping operations from the first data storage means to a second means for data storage; sampling means for sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a subsequent ram cycle for the particular stamping operation, and generating a current signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said first and associated position; comparison means for comparing the respective bytes of said current signature array with the corresponding bytes of said first and second reference arrays for the particular stamping operation; and control means for generating control signals for controlling said press in accordance with said comparison.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
379 words
An apparatus for controlling the operation of a stamping press for a plurality of different stamping operations, said press including a drive system for cycling a ram adapted to cooperate with a tool for controllably moving through a cycle to generate forces at said tool, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a position signal from the drive system of said press comprising pulses indicative of specific incremental changes in angular position of the drive system during a cycle; signal means for generating a first analog signal indicative of a force associated with said ram; sampling means for sampling said first analog signals in response to the pules of the position signal during a reference ram cycle for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, and generating a respective signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said force and associated position for each of the plurality of different stamping operations; processing means for generating a first reference array comprising a set of data bytes for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, by adding a first set of offset values to said successive data bytes of said respective signature arrays; processing means for generating a second reference array comprising a set of data bytes for each of the plurality of different stamping operations, by subtracting a second set of offset values from said successive data bytes of said respective signature arrays; storing means storing said first and second reference arrays in a first means for data storage; processing means for transferring one of said first and second reference arrays for a particular one of the plurality of different stamping operations from the first data storage means to a second means for data storage; sampling means for sampling said first analog signal in response to the pulses of the position signal during a subsequent ram cycle for the particular stamping operation, and generating a current signature array of successive data bytes indicative of instantaneous values of said first and associated position; comparison means for comparing the respective bytes of said current signature array with the corresponding bytes of said first and second reference arrays for the particular stamping operation; and control means for generating control signals for controlling said press in accordance with said comparison.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising means for generating a trigger signal based on the progression of said stamping press past a definable point in the cycle, wherein said signal means initiates the acquisition of said first analog signal in response to said trigger signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising means for generating a position signal based on the progression of said stamping press past a definable point in the cycle, wherein said signal means terminates the acquisition of said first analog signal in response to said position signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first set of offset values equals the second set of offset values.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the values in the first set of offset values are equal, and the values in the second set of offset values are equal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-01-21 | 1994-07-23 | 1995-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-21 | 1998-07-23 | 1999-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-21 | 2002-07-23 | 2003-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |