Voltage signal adaptor for machine press communication
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsDale A. Lewis, Edward F. Flaga, Ralph H. Gibbs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A voltage signal adaptor includes a housing, a die cable extending outward from the housing and terminating at a die cable end engageable with a manufacturing die comprising one or more die sensors, and a cable receptacle communicatively coupled to the die cable. The cable receptacle is engageable with a bolster cable of a machine press communicatively coupled to a press line programmable logic controller. The voltage signal adaptor further includes a step down power supply positioned between and communicatively coupled to the cable receptacle and the die cable and one or more signal conversion switches positioned between and communicatively coupled to the cable receptacle and the die cable.
Claims10
A voltage signal adaptor comprising:
- a housing;
- a die cable extending outward from the housing and terminating at a die cable end engageable with a manufacturing die comprising one or more die sensors;
- a cable receptacle communicatively coupled to the die cable, wherein the cable receptacle is engageable with a bolster cable of a machine press communicatively coupled to a press line programmable logic controller;
- a step down power supply positioned between and communicatively coupled to the cable receptacle and the die cable;
- and
- one or more signal conversion switches positioned between and communicatively coupled to the cable receptacle and the die cable.
A method of communicatively coupling a manufacturing die and a press line programmable logic controller, the method comprising:
- positioning the manufacturing die on a machine press, wherein the machine press comprises a bolster cable and the manufacturing die comprises one or more die sensors;
- providing a voltage signal adaptor comprising:
- a housing;
- a die cable engageable with the manufacturing die;
- a cable receptacle communicatively coupled to the die cable and configured to receive the bolster cable;
- a step down power supply positioned between and communicatively coupled to the cable receptacle and the die cable;
- and
- one or more signal conversion switches positioned between and communicatively coupled to the cable receptacle and the die cable;
- coupling the die cable to the manufacturing die;
- coupling the bolster cable to the cable receptacle;
- outputting, using the press line programmable logic controller, an alternating current control signal;
- and
- converting, using the step down power supply, the alternating current control signal into a direct current control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.