Work clamp protection system and a method for use

US5400259A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Strippit, Inc., A Unit of IDEX · US

Inventors

• William P. Murphy · Birmingham, US
• Donald E. Kress · Clarence, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 7, 1993
• Grant date: Mar 21, 1995
• Expiry date: Oct 7, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T83/175
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system is provided for identifying no-punch zones corresponding to positions of work clamps on a carriage holding a workpiece to be positioned for tools of a punch press. The system provides a method for storing geometric information with respect to the clamp as well as specifications for the tools on a holder, such as a turret, of the punch press. The edge of each of the clamps is sensed and stored in a control unit which can, therefore, determine boundaries of each of the clamps based on the stored geometric configuration information of the clamp. No-punch zones of the clamps may be determined based on the geometry of the particular tool of the turret and the geometry and the positions of the clamps. As a result, the punch press may be inhibited from operating within the no-punch zones or, in the alternative, the clamp or clamps may be repositioned from the no-punch zone of the clamp for subsequent operation of the punch press. A default setting is further provided for positioning the clamp in a default position upon activation of a flag indicating an occurrence of an event which may effect the no-punch zones.