US5828575A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for managing and distributing design and manufacturing information throughout a sheet metal production facility
Assignee: Amada Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-07-31
•
Granted: 1998-10-27
•
Expires: 2016-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method is provided for managing and distributing design and manufacturing information throughout a factory in order to facilitate the production of components, such as bent sheet metal components. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the management and distribution of critical design and manufacturing information is achieved by storing and distributing the design and manufacturing information associated with each job. By replacing the traditional paper job set-up or work sheet with, for example, an electronically stored job sheet that can be accessed instantaneously from any location in the factory, the present invention improves the overall efficiency of the factory. In addition, through the various aspects and features of the invention, the organization and accessibility of part information and stored expert knowledge is improved.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoshi Sakai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T19/00; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/4097; G05B19/418; G05B19/4181; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06T7/00; G06T7/40; G06T7/41; G06T2200/00; G06T2200/24; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30108; G06T2207/30136; G06T2219/00; G06T2219/028; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/964; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/966; Y10S715/967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 113
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for developing a bending plan through the use of a graphical user interface, said bending plan being adapted for use in the production of a part at a facility, said system comprising: a bend sequence display system for generating and displaying a bend sequence input window on a display device, said bend sequence input window comprising a 2-D flat image of said part; a tooling display system for generating and displaying tooling information on said display device, said tooling information relating to a plurality of tools; an input device for entering a bend sequence based on said 2-D flat image of said part and for selecting tooling based on said tooling information displayed on said display device; and a bending plan storage system for storing said bending plan for said part based on said bend sequence and said tooling entered and selected by said input device; said bend sequence display system being further adapted to generate and display a plurality of images of said part on said display device based on said bend sequence entered by said input device, each of said plurality of images relating to a representation of said part at a stage within said bend sequence, said plurality of images of said part being simultaneously displayed on said display device in a sequence corresponding to said bend sequence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for developing a bending plan through the use of a graphical user interface, said bending plan being adapted for use in the production of a part at a facility, said system comprising: a bend sequence display system for generating and displaying a bend sequence input window on a display device, said bend sequence input window comprising a 2-D flat image of said part; a tooling display system for generating and displaying tooling information on said display device, said tooling information relating to a plurality of tools; an input device for entering a bend sequence based on said 2-D flat image of said part and for selecting tooling based on said tooling information displayed on said display device; and a bending plan storage system for storing said bending plan for said part based on said bend sequence and said tooling entered and selected by said input device; said bend sequence display system being further adapted to generate and display a plurality of images of said part on said display device based on said bend sequence entered by said input device, each of said plurality of images relating to a representation of said part at a stage within said bend sequence, said plurality of images of said part being simultaneously displayed on said display device in a sequence corresponding to said bend sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said 2-D flat image of said part includes representations of each bendline of said part, and wherein said input device is adapted to enter said bend sequence by selecting each said bendline displayed in said 2-D flat image of said part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said input device is adapted to enter said bend sequence based on a sequence in which each said bendline is selected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said input device is adapted to enter said bend sequence based on a bend sequence number entered by said input device when each said bendline is selected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a joystick device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 2, further comprising a bend sequence number display system for displaying, on said display device, a bend sequence number for each said bendline based on said bend sequence entered by said input device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 2, further comprising an insert direction determination system for determining and displaying, on said display device, insert direction information for each said bendline of said part.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein each said bendline divides said part into two sides, and wherein said insert direction determination system is adapted to determine said insert direction information for each said bendline based on the side of said part that has a smaller predetermined dimension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined dimension is a length of each side that is perpendicular to said bendline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined dimension is an area of each side relating to said bendline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein said displayed insert determination information for each said bendline comprises an arrow representing an insert direction for said bendline.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 1, further comprising a drag and drop editing system for modifying said bend sequence based on a modification of said displayed sequence of said plurality of images on said display device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein said drag and drop editing system is adapted to modify said displayed sequence when one of said plurality of images is selected by said input device and moved to a different position within said displayed sequence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein said bend sequence display system is adapted to regenerate and display said plurality of images and each said representation of said part based on said modified bend sequence.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said displayed tooling information comprises a plurality of tool icons displayed on said display device, each of said tool icons representing a predetermined tool.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said displayed tooling information comprises a table of tool data displayed on said display device, each entry within said table of tool data relating to a predetermined tool.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said tooling information is displayed by said tooling display system through a series of successively displayed screen displays, at least one of said successively displayed screen displays being displayed based on a previous selection by said input device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 17, wherein said tooling information comprises at least one of tool type data, tool shape data or tool dimension data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 18, wherein said tool type data relates to at least one of a punch, die, die holder or die rail.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 19, wherein said tooling display system is adapted to display, on said display device, a first screen display comprising a plurality of tool type icons, each of said tool type icons representing a tool type.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 20, wherein said tool type relates to at least one of a punch, die, die holder or die rail.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system according to claim 20, wherein said tooling display system is adapted to display, in response to the selection of one of said tool type icons, a second screen display on said display device, said second screen display comprising a plurality of tool shape icons, each of said tool shape icons relating to said tool type icon selected by said input device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system according to claim 22, wherein said tooling display system is further adapted to display, in response to the selection of one of said tool shape icons, a table of tool dimension data on said display device, said tool dimension data relating to a plurality of tools, each of said tools relating to said tool shape icon selected by said input device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein at least a part of said tooling is selected and entered by said input device based on a selection of data from said table of tool dimension data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said tooling information comprises tool set-up information relating to the tooling location within a bending machine for each tool to be used in said bending plan, said tooling display system being adapted to generate and display a tool set-up window on said display device for entering said tool set-up information with said input device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein said 2-D flat image of said part and said plurality of images of said part are simultaneously displayed on said display device.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
205 words
A method for developing a bending plan through the use of a graphical user interface, said bending plan being adapted for use in the production of a part at a facility, said method comprising: generating and displaying a bend sequence input window on a display device, said bend sequence input window comprising a 2-D flat image of said part; entering, with an input device, a bend sequence based on said 2-D flat image of said part; generating and displaying tooling information on said display device, said tooling information relating to a plurality of tools; selecting, with said input device, tooling based on said tooling information displayed on said display device; and storing, in a storage device, said bending plan for said part based on said entered bend sequence and said selected tooling; said method further comprising generating and displaying a plurality of images of said part on said display device based on said entered bend sequence, each of said plurality of images of said part relating to a representation of said part at a stage within said bend sequence, said generating and displaying including simultaneously displaying said plurality of images of said part on said display device in a sequence corresponding to said bend sequence.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
205 words
A method for developing a bending plan through the use of a graphical user interface, said bending plan being adapted for use in the production of a part at a facility, said method comprising: generating and displaying a bend sequence input window on a display device, said bend sequence input window comprising a 2-D flat image of said part; entering, with an input device, a bend sequence based on said 2-D flat image of said part; generating and displaying tooling information on said display device, said tooling information relating to a plurality of tools; selecting, with said input device, tooling based on said tooling information displayed on said display device; and storing, in a storage device, said bending plan for said part based on said entered bend sequence and said selected tooling; said method further comprising generating and displaying a plurality of images of said part on said display device based on said entered bend sequence, each of said plurality of images of said part relating to a representation of said part at a stage within said bend sequence, said generating and displaying including simultaneously displaying said plurality of images of said part on said display device in a sequence corresponding to said bend sequence.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein said 2-D flat image of said part includes representations of each bendline of said part, said method further comprising entering said bend sequence by selecting each said bendline displayed in said 2-D flat image of said part.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 28, further comprising entering said bend sequence based on a sequence in which each said bendline is selected.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 28, further comprising entering said bend sequence based on a bend sequence number entered by said input device when each said bendline is selected.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein said input device comprises a joystick device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 27, further comprising displaying, on said display device, a bend sequence number for each said bendline based on said bend sequence entered by said input device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 28, further comprising determining and displaying, on said display device, insert direction information for each said bendline of said part.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 33, wherein each said bendline divides said part into two sides, and wherein said insert direction information for each said bendline is determined based on the side of said part that has a smaller predetermined dimension.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 34, wherein said predetermined dimension is a length of each side that is perpendicular to said bendline.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 34, wherein said predetermined dimension is an area of each side relating to said bendline.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 34, wherein said displayed insert determination information for each said bendline comprises an arrow relating to an insert direction for said bendline.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 27, further comprising drag and drop editing to modify said bend sequence based on a modification of said displayed sequence of said plurality of images on said display device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 38, further comprising modifying said displayed sequence by moving at least one of said plurality of images to a different position within said displayed sequence.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 38, further comprising regenerating and displaying said plurality of images and each said representation of said part based on said modified bend sequence.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein said displayed tooling information comprises a plurality of tool icons displayed on said display device, each of said tool icons representing a predetermined tool.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein said displayed tooling information comprises a table of tool data displayed on said display device, each entry within said table of tool data relating to a predetermined tool.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 27, further comprising displaying said tooling information through a series of successively displayed screen displays, at least one of said successively displayed screen displays being displayed based on a previous selection by said input device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 43, wherein said tooling information comprises at least one of tool type data, tool shape data or tool dimension data.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 44, wherein said tool type data relates to at least one of a punch, die, die holder or die rail.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 43, further comprising displaying, on said display device, a first screen display comprising a plurality of tool type icons, each of said tool type icons representing a tool type.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 46, wherein said tool type relates to at least one of a punch, die, die holder or die rail.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising selecting one of said tool type icons with said input device and displaying, in response to the selection of one of said tool type icons, a second screen display on said display device, said second screen display comprising a plurality of tool shape icons, each of said tool shape icons relating to said tool type icon selected by said input device.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 48, further comprising selecting one of said tool shape icons with said input device and displaying, in response to the selection of one of said tool shape icons, a table of tool dimension data on said display device, said tool dimension data relating to a plurality of tools, each of said tools relating to said tool shape icon selected by said input device.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 49, further comprising selecting data from said table of tool dimension data in order to select and enter at least a part of said tooling of said bending plan.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein said tooling information comprises tool set-up information relating to the tooling location within a bending machine for each tool to be used in said bending plan, said method further comprising generating and displaying a tool set-up window on said display device and selecting and entering, based on said tool set-up window, said tool set-up information with said input device.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 27, further comprising simultaneously displaying said 2-D flat image of said part and said plurality of images of said part on said display device.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for developing a bend sequence through the use of a graphical user interface, said bend sequence being adapted for use in the production of a part at a facility, said system comprising: a bend sequence display system for generating and displaying a bend sequence input window on a display device, said bend sequence input window comprising a 2-D flat image of said part; and an input device for entering a bend sequence based on said 2-D flat image of said part; wherein said bend sequence display system is further adapted to generate and display a plurality of images of said part based on said bend sequence entered by said input device, each of said plurality of images of said part relating to a representation of said part at a stage within said bend sequence, said plurality of images of said part being simultaneously displayed on said display device in a sequence corresponding to said bend sequence.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for developing a bend sequence through the use of a graphical user interface, said bend sequence being adapted for use in the production of a part at a facility, said system comprising: a bend sequence display system for generating and displaying a bend sequence input window on a display device, said bend sequence input window comprising a 2-D flat image of said part; and an input device for entering a bend sequence based on said 2-D flat image of said part; wherein said bend sequence display system is further adapted to generate and display a plurality of images of said part based on said bend sequence entered by said input device, each of said plurality of images of said part relating to a representation of said part at a stage within said bend sequence, said plurality of images of said part being simultaneously displayed on said display device in a sequence corresponding to said bend sequence.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 53, further comprising a bending sequence storage system for storing said bending sequence for said part based on said bend sequence entered by said input device.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 53, wherein said 2-D flat image of said part includes representations of each bendline of said part, said bend sequence being entered by said input device by selecting each said bendline displayed in said 2-D flat image of said part.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 55, wherein said input device is adapted to enter said bend sequence based on a sequence in which each said bendline is selected.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 55, wherein said input device is adapted to enter said bend sequence based on a bend sequence number entered by said input device when each said bendline is selected.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 53, wherein said input device comprises a joystick device.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 55, further comprising a bend sequence number display system for displaying, on said display device, a bend sequence number for each said bendline based on said bend sequence entered by said input device.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 55, further comprising an insert direction determination system for determining and displaying, on said display device, insert direction information for each said bendline of said part.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 60, wherein each said bendline divides said part into two sides, and wherein said insert direction determination system determines said insert direction information for each said bendline based on the side that has a smaller predetermined dimension.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 60, wherein said displayed insert determination information for each said bendline comprises an arrow relating to an insert direction for said bendline.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 53, further comprising a drag and drop editing system for modifying said bend sequence based on a modification of said displayed sequence of said plurality of images on said display device.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 63, wherein said drag and drop editing system comprises means for modifying said displayed sequence when one of said plurality of images is selected by said input device and moved to a different position within said displayed sequence.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 63, wherein said bend sequence display system comprises means for regenerating and displaying said plurality of images and each said representation of said part based on said modified bend sequence.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 53, wherein said 2-D flat image of said part and said plurality of images of said part are simultaneously displayed on said display device.
Claim 70
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for developing a bend sequence through the use of a graphical user interface, said bend sequence being adapted for use in the production of a part at a facility, said method comprising the steps of: generating and displaying a bend sequence input window on a display device, said bend sequence input window comprising a 2-D flat image of said part; entering, through an input device, a bend sequence based on said 2-D flat image of said part; and generating and displaying a plurality of images of said part based on said bend sequence entered by said input device, each of said plurality of images of said part relating to a representation of said part at a stage within said bend sequence, said method further comprising simultaneously displaying said plurality of images of said part on said display device in a sequence corresponding to said bend sequence.
Claim 71
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for developing a bend sequence through the use of a graphical user interface, said bend sequence being adapted for use in the production of a part at a facility, said method comprising the steps of: generating and displaying a bend sequence input window on a display device, said bend sequence input window comprising a 2-D flat image of said part; entering, through an input device, a bend sequence based on said 2-D flat image of said part; and generating and displaying a plurality of images of said part based on said bend sequence entered by said input device, each of said plurality of images of said part relating to a representation of said part at a stage within said bend sequence, said method further comprising simultaneously displaying said plurality of images of said part on said display device in a sequence corresponding to said bend sequence.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 67, further comprising storing, in a database, said bending sequence for said part based on said bend sequence entered by said input device.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 67, further comprising drag and drop editing for modifying said bend sequence based on a modification of said displayed sequence of said plurality of images by said input device.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 69, wherein said drag and drop editing comprises modifying said displayed sequence by moving at least one of said plurality of images to a different position within said displayed sequence.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 69, further comprising regenerating and displaying said plurality of images and each said representation of said part based on said modified bend sequence.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 67, wherein said 2-D flat image of said part includes representations of each bendline of said part, said method further comprising entering said bend sequence with said input device by selecting each said bendline displayed in said 2-D flat image of said part.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 72, further comprising entering said bend sequence with said input device based on a sequence in which each said bendline is selected.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 72, further comprising entering said bend sequence with said input device based on a bend sequence number entered by said input device when each said bendline is selected.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 67, wherein said input device comprises a joystick device.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 72, further comprising displaying, on said display device, a bend sequence number for each said bendline based on said bend sequence entered by said input device.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 72, further comprising determining and displaying, on said display device, insert direction information for each said bendline of said part.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 77, wherein said bendline divides said part into two sides, and wherein said insert direction information for each said bendline is determined based on the side of said part that has a smaller predetermined dimension.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 77, wherein said displayed insert determination information for each said bendline comprises an arrow relating to an insert direction for said bendline.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 67, further comprising simultaneously displaying said 2-D flat image of said part and said plurality of images of said part on said display device.
Claim 85
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for developing tooling for a part through the use of a graphical user interface, said tooling being adapted for use in the production of said part at a facility, said system comprising: a tooling display system for generating and displaying tooling information on said display device, said tooling information being displayed through a series of successively displayed screen displays; and an input device for selecting tooling based on said tooling information displayed on said display device; said tooling display system being adapted to display, on said display device, a first screen display comprising a plurality of tool type icons, each of said tool type icons representing a tool type, and said tooling display system being further adapted to display, in response to the selection of one of said tool type icons, a second screen display on said display device, said second screen display comprising a plurality of tool shape icons.
Claim 86
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for developing tooling for a part through the use of a graphical user interface, said tooling being adapted for use in the production of said part at a facility, said system comprising: a tooling display system for generating and displaying tooling information on said display device, said tooling information being displayed through a series of successively displayed screen displays; and an input device for selecting tooling based on said tooling information displayed on said display device; said tooling display system being adapted to display, on said display device, a first screen display comprising a plurality of tool type icons, each of said tool type icons representing a tool type, and said tooling display system being further adapted to display, in response to the selection of one of said tool type icons, a second screen display on said display device, said second screen display comprising a plurality of tool shape icons.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 81, wherein at least one of said successively displayed screen displays is displayed based on a previous selection by said input device.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 81, said displayed tooling information relating to a plurality of tools.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 81, wherein said displayed tooling information comprises a plurality of tool icons displayed on said display device, each of said tool icons representing a predetermined tool.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 81, wherein said displayed tooling information comprises a table of tool data displayed on said display device, each entry within said table of tool data relating to a predetermined tool.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 85, wherein said tooling information comprises at least one of tool type data, tool shape data or tool dimension data.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 86, wherein said tool type data relates to at least one of a punch, die, die holder or die rail.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 81, wherein said tool type relates to at least one of a punch, die, die holder or die rail.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 81, wherein each of said tool shape icons relate to said tool type icon selected by said input device.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system according to claim 89, wherein said tooling display system is further adapted to display, in response to the selection of one of said tool shape icons, a table of tool dimension data on said display device, said tool dimension data relating to a plurality of tools, each of said tools relating to said tool shape icon selected by said input device.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 90, wherein at least a part of said tooling is adapted to be selected and entered by said input device based on a selection of data from said table of tool dimension data.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system according to claim 81, wherein said tooling information comprises tool set-up information relating to the tooling location within a bending machine for each tool to be used in said bending plan, said tooling display system comprising means for generating and displaying a tool set-up window on said display device and for entering said tool set-up information with said input device.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 81, wherein said input device comprises a joystick device, said joystick device being controlled by an operator.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 92, said tool set-up window comprising a representation of a profile of at least one of said tools and a representation of the tooling location of said tool in said bending machine.
Claim 100
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for developing tooling for a part through the use of a graphical user interface, said tooling being adapted for use in the production of said part at a facility, said method comprising the steps of: generating and displaying tooling information on said display device, said tooling information being displayed on a series of successively displayed screen displays; and selecting, with an input device, tooling based on said tooling information displayed on said display device; said method further comprising displaying, on said display device, a first screen display comprising a plurality of tool type icons, each of said tool type icons relating to a tool type, selecting one of said tool type icons with said input device, and displaying, in response to the selection of one of said tool type icons, a second screen display on said display device, said second screen display comprising a plurality of tool shape icons.
Claim 101
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for developing tooling for a part through the use of a graphical user interface, said tooling being adapted for use in the production of said part at a facility, said method comprising the steps of: generating and displaying tooling information on said display device, said tooling information being displayed on a series of successively displayed screen displays; and selecting, with an input device, tooling based on said tooling information displayed on said display device; said method further comprising displaying, on said display device, a first screen display comprising a plurality of tool type icons, each of said tool type icons relating to a tool type, selecting one of said tool type icons with said input device, and displaying, in response to the selection of one of said tool type icons, a second screen display on said display device, said second screen display comprising a plurality of tool shape icons.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 95, further comprising displaying at least one of said successively displayed screen displays based in part on a previous selection made by said input device.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 95, wherein said displayed tooling information relates to a plurality of tools.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 95, wherein said displayed tooling information comprises a plurality of tool icons displayed on said display device, each of said tool icons relating to a predetermined tool.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 95, wherein said displayed tooling information comprises a table of tool data displayed on said display device, each entry within said table of tool data relating to a predetermined tool.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 95, wherein said tooling information comprises at least one of tool type data, tool shape data or tool dimension data.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 100 wherein said tool type data relates to at least one of a punch, die, die holder or die rail.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 95, wherein said tool type relates to at least one of a punch, die, die holder or die rail.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 95, further comprising selecting each of said tool shape icons relating to said tool type icon with said input device.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 103, further comprising selecting one of said tool shape icons with said input device and displaying, in response to the selection of one of said tool shape icons, a table of tool dimension data on said display device, said tool dimension data relating to a plurality of tools, each of said tools relating to said tool shape icon selected by said input device.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 104, further comprising selecting data from said table of tool dimension data to select and enter at least a part of said tooling of said bending plan.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 95, wherein said tooling information comprises tool set-up information relating to the tooling location within a bending machine for each tool to be used in said bending plan, said method further comprising generating and displaying a tool set-up window on said display device and selecting and entering, based on said tool set-up window, said tool set-up information with said input device.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 95, wherein said input device comprises a joystick device, said joystick device being controlled by an operator.
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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) | 2001-10-26 | 2002-04-27 | 2002-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-26 | 2006-04-27 | 2006-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-26 | 2010-04-27 | 2010-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |