Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of monitoring the operation of a stamping press including a punch and a die for forming parts from a blank, the method comprising: selecting at least two ram locations at which a press variable measurement will be made; operating the stamping press so as to produce production parts to measure a production press operating variable at the locations for each production part produced; operating the stamping press so as to produce a predetermined number of baseline parts to measure baseline mean press operating variables at the locations; processing the press operating variables to obtain press operating parameters; determining a deviation of the press operating variables from the baseline mean press operating variables; and comparing the press operating parameters to predetermined operating limits representing limits within which acceptable stampings are produced; wherein the step of processing includes estimating a deviation in the blank thickness (dTh) based on the press operating parameters for the locations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of monitoring the operation of a stamping press including a punch and a die for forming parts from a blank, the method comprising: selecting at least two ram locations at which a press variable measurement will be made; operating the stamping press so as to produce production parts to measure a production press operating variable at the locations for each production part produced; operating the stamping press so as to produce a predetermined number of baseline parts to measure baseline mean press operating variables at the locations; processing the press operating variables to obtain press operating parameters; determining a deviation of the press operating variables from the baseline mean press operating variables; and comparing the press operating parameters to predetermined operating limits representing limits within which acceptable stampings are produced; wherein the step of processing includes estimating a deviation in the blank thickness (dTh) based on the press operating parameters for the locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the deviation in blank thickness is estimated according to the following relationship: dTh=((ΔLf.sub.2 +ΔLf.sub.1)/2)*(B.sub.t) wherein ΔLf 2 and ΔLf 1 are deviations in the production press operating variables from associated baseline mean press operating variables expressed as fractions, and B t is the thickness of the blank used to form the baseline parts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of processing includes estimating a parameter (dN) proportional to a deviation in the work hardening coefficient based on the production press operating variables at the locations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the parameter (dN) is estimated according to the following relationship: dN=(ΔLf.sub.2 -ΔLf.sub.1) wherein ΔLf 2 and ΔLf 1 are deviations in the production press operating variables from associated baseline mean press operating variables expressed as fractions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of monitoring the operation of a stamping press including a punch and a die for forming parts from a blank, the method comprising: selecting at least two ram locations at which a press variable measurement will be made; operating the stamping press so as to produce a predetermined number of baseline parts to measure a baseline mean tonnage at the locations; operating the stamping press so as to produce production parts to measure a press tonnage at the locations for the production parts produced; establishing operating limits based on the baseline mean tonnages at the locations, the operating limits representing limits within which the stamping process is in control or producing acceptable parts; processing the tonnages at the locations to obtain press operating parameters, the processing including determining a deviation of the tonnages from the baseline mean tonnages; and estimating a deviation in the blank thickness (dTH) based on the production tonnages at the locations.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of monitoring the operation of a stamping press including a punch and a die for forming parts from a blank, the method comprising: selecting at least two ram locations at which a press variable measurement will be made; operating the stamping press so as to produce a predetermined number of baseline parts to measure a baseline mean tonnage at the locations; operating the stamping press so as to produce production parts to measure a press tonnage at the locations for the production parts produced; establishing operating limits based on the baseline mean tonnages at the locations, the operating limits representing limits within which the stamping process is in control or producing acceptable parts; processing the tonnages at the locations to obtain press operating parameters, the processing including determining a deviation of the tonnages from the baseline mean tonnages; and estimating a deviation in the blank thickness (dTH) based on the production tonnages at the locations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the deviation in the blank thickness is estimated according to the following relationships: dTH=((ΔLf.sub.2 +ΔLf.sub.1)/2)*(B.sub.t) wherein ΔLf 2 and ΔLf 1 are deviations in the production tonnages from the associated baseline mean tonnages expressed as fractions, and B t is the thickness of the blank used to form the baseline parts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of establishing includes estimating a parameter (dN) proportional to a deviation in the work hardening coefficient based on the production tonnages at the locations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the parameter (dN) is estimated according to the following relationship: dN=(ΔLf.sub.2 -ΔLf .sub.1) wherein ΔLf 2 and ΔLf 1 are deviations in the production tonnages from the associated baseline tonnages expressed as fractions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
204 words
For use with a stamping press including a punch and a die for forming parts, a system for monitoring the process of forming the parts, the system comprising: means for selecting at least two ram locations at which a press variable measurement will be made while the press is operating; means for measuring a baseline mean operating variable at the locations while a predetermined number of baseline parts are being produced; means for measuring a press operating variable at the locations while production parts are being produced; means for establishing operating limits based on the baseline mean operating variables, the operating limits representing limits within which the stamping process is in control or producing acceptable parts; means for processing the press operating variables to obtain press operating parameters, including means for estimating a deviation in the blank thickness (dTH), based on the press operating variables for the locations, according to the following relationship: dTH=((ΔLf.sub.2 +ΔLf.sub.1) wherein ΔLf 2 and ΔLf 1 are deviations in the production operating variables expressed as fractions, and B t is the thickness of the blank used to form the baseline parts; and means for comparing the press operating parameters to the operating limits for the purpose of process control.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
For use with a stamping press including a punch and a die for forming parts, a system for monitoring the process of forming the parts, the system comprising: means for selecting at least two ram locations at which a press variable measurement will be made while the press is operating; means for measuring a baseline mean operating variable at the locations while a predetermined number of baseline parts are being produced; means for measuring a press operating variable at the locations while production parts are being produced; means for establishing operating limits based on the baseline mean operating variables, the operating limits representing limits within which the stamping process is in control or producing acceptable parts; means for processing the press operating variables to obtain press operating parameters, including means for estimating a deviation in the blank thickness (dTH), based on the press operating variables for the locations, according to the following relationship: dTH=((ΔLf.sub.2 +ΔLf.sub.1) wherein ΔLf 2 and ΔLf 1 are deviations in the production operating variables expressed as fractions, and B t is the thickness of the blank used to form the baseline parts; and means for comparing the press operating parameters to the operating limits for the purpose of process control.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the means for processing includes estimating a parameter (dN) proportional to a deviation in the work hardening coefficient, based on the production operating variables for the locations, according to the following relationship: d=(ΔLf.sub.2 -ΔLf.sub.1) wherein ΔLf 2 and ΔLf 1 are deviations in the production operating variables expressed as fractions.