Load cell deflasher assembly and method

A positioning assembly for variable positioning of an extrusion relative to a punch and die of a deflashing assembly comprising:

• a positioning actuator cooperatively aligned with said punch and a die, said positioning actuator having an encoder in communication with a programmable logic controller,
• a gripper carriage engaged to said positioning actuator having means for gripping said extrusion and delivering said extrusion to a deflash position in intervening proximity between said punch and die,
• said encoder being capable of monitoring the position of said gripper carriage relative to said positioning actuator and communicating the same to the programmable logic controller,
• said positioning actuator being capable of adjustably positioning said gripper carriage relative to said positioning actuator in response to a command of said programmable logic controller to thereby alter the deflash position of said extrusion in intervening proximity between said punch and die.

A load cell deflasher assembly for the processing of product from an extrusion in combination with a positioning assembly for variable positioning of said extrusion relative to a punch and die of said deflashing assembly comprising:

• a first positioning actuator operatively interconnected with a punch and capable of extension and retraction of said punch, said punch having at least one exteriorly facing punch surface cooperatively aligned to interact with said extrusion against a die, said first positioning actuator having a first encoder in communication with a programmable logic controller, said first encoder being capable of monitoring the position of said punch and communicating the same to said programmable logic controller,
• a load cell pressure transducer interconnected with said first positioning actuator for measuring the pressure of said punch against said extrusion at said die, said load cell pressure transducer capable of communicating said pressure measurements to said programmable logic controller,
• said first positioning actuator being capable of extension or retraction of said punch in response to a command of said programmable logic controller based on said pressure measurement,
• a second positioning actuator cooperatively aligned with said punch and a die, said second positioning actuator having a second encoder in communication with said programmable logic controller,
• a gripper carriage engaged to said second positioning actuator having means for gripping said extrusion and delivering said extrusion to a deflash position in intervening proximity between said punch and die,
• said second encoder being capable of monitoring the position of said gripper carriage relative to said second positioning actuator and communicating the same to the programmable logic controller,
• said second positioning actuator being capable of adjustably positioning said gripper carriage relative to said second positioning actuator in response to a command of said programmable logic controller based on said pressure measurements of the load cell pressure transducer to thereby set or vary the deflash position of said extrusion in intervening proximity between said punch and die.

A method for deflashing product from an extrusion adjustably positioned in intervening proximity between a punch and die comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the position of said punch,
• communicating the monitored position of said punch to a programmable logic controller,
• measuring the pressure of the punch against said extrusion at said die
• communicating said pressure measurement to said programmable logic controller,
• setting a threshold limit of allowable pressure of the punch against said extrusion at said die,
• controlling the extension and retraction of the punch stroke of said punch in response to said pressure measurement by commands of said programmable logic controller executed by a positioning actuator of the punch wherein if the measured pressure of the punch against said extrusion at said die is equal to or less than said threshold limit allowing the punch stroke to be completed and wherein if the measured pressure of the punch against said extrusion at said die is greater than said threshold limit retracting the punch stroke.

A method for adjustably positioning an extrusion in intervening proximity between a punch and die for deflashing comprising the steps of:

• gripping said extrusion by structure interconnected with a gripper carriage engaged to a positioning actuator,
• monitoring the position of said gripper carriage relative to said positioning actuator,
• communicating the monitored position of said gripper carriage relative to said positioning actuator to a programmable logic controller,
• delivering said extrusion to a deflash position in intervening proximity between said punch and die,
• measuring the pressure of the punch against said extrusion at said die at the deflash position,
• communicating said pressure measurement to said programmable logic controller,
• adjusting the deflash position by commands of said programmable logic controller executed by said positioning actuator of the gripper carriage.