Numerical control system for finishing machines
AssigneeKoppers Company, Inc.
InventorsDavid Harrison Boyer, III, Richard Dale Mitchell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically positioning the various appurtenances of a Printer-Slotter-Folder-Gluer to form box blanks of various dimensional characteristics. The position of each appurtenance of the system is preselected by a binary numbering input representing each absolute position. The binary input is selected by thumbwheel switches employing binary coded decimal input. The input data is stored and can be retrieved and utilized to position the appurtenances for a blank of specific dimensional characteristics in response to a production order code.
Claims19
A method for producing corrugated paperboard containers of a desired size wherein the container blanks are processed by a container finishing machine having appurtenances which perform feeding, cutting, crushing, printing, folding and joining operations on the container blank, each of the appurtenances having an electrical drive motor connected thereto for individually positioning the appurtenances, the machine having multiple sections relatively movable into closed and open positions, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. initially positioning the appurtenances at known positions with the drive motors;
- b. supplying to a digital computing means, digital signals specifying dimensions of the container blank and locations on the container blank of operation to be performed on the container blank by each appurtenance for a container of the desired size and shape;
- c. generating in response to the digital signals, electrical signals each representing a distance and direction of movement required to position an appurtenance relative to the known position of that appurtanance so as to perform a desired operation on the container blank at the location specified by the digital signals;
- d. sensing an operational condition of the container finishing machine including the open and closed conditions of the sections of the container finishing machine;
- e. applying the generated electrical signals to the drive motors of the appurtenances in accordance with a predetermined application sequence in response to a sensed closed operational condition of the container finishing machine;
- f. indicating successful completion of the application sequence;
- and
- g. subsequent to the indicating step, feeding the container blanks having the dimensions specified by the digital signals through the container finishing machine to produce containers of the desired size and shape.
Apparatus for positioning the appurtenances of a corrugated paperboard container finishing machine having appurtenances which perform feeding, cutting, crushing, printing, folding and joining operations on a container blank, the machine having multiple sections relatively movable into closed and open positions, the apparatus comprising:
- means including a plurality of stepper motors for initially positioning the appurtenances at known positions;
- control means for generating digital signals specifying dimensions of the container blank and locations on the container blank of an operation to be performed on the container blank by each appurtenance for a container of the desired size and shape;
- computing means for generating, in response to the digital signals, a plurality of electrical signals each representing a distance and direction of movement required to position an appurtenance relative to the known position of that appurtenance so as to perform a desired operation on the container blank at the location specified by the digital signals;
- means for sensing an operational condition of the container finishing machine including the open and closed conditions of the sections of the container finishing machine;
- means for applying the electrical signals to the drive motors of the appurtenances in accordance with a predetermined application sequence in response to a sensed operational condition of the container finishing machine;
- and
- means for indication successful completion of the application sequence.
Apparatus for positioning the appurtenances of a corrugated paperboard container finishing machine having appurtenances which perform feeding, cutting, crushing, printing, folding and joining operations on a container blank, the apparatus comprising:
- means including a plurality of stepper motors connected to position the appurtenances;
- control means for generating digital signals specifying dimensions of the container blank and locations on the container blank of an operation to be performed on the container blank by each appurtenance for a container of the desired size and shape;
- computing means for generating, in response to the digital signals, a plurality of electrical signals each representing a distance and direction of movement required to position an appurtenance relative to a known position of that appurtenance stored in memory so as to position the appurtenances to perform a desired operation on the container blank at the location specified by the digital signals;
- means for applying electrical pulses to the stepper motors of the appurtenances in accordance with a predetermined application sequence, the number of electrical pulses being determined by the electrical signals generated by said computing means;
- and
- means for indicating successful completion of the application sequence.
A control console of the type comprising:
- means for generating digital signals to specify the dimensions of container blanks and the locations on the container blank that an operation was to be performed on it;
- computer means for generating electrical signals in response to said digital signals;
- order means for generating said digital signals in response to a predetermined order number;
- display means for visually depicting the operationable condition provided by the generated digital signals;
- and
- warning means to indicate an incomprehensible digital signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.