Apparatus and method for controlling crimping of articles

An apparatus for crimping an article, the apparatus having a frame, a movable indentor, means for moving said indentor including a hydraulic system, and an indentor movement control, said control comprising:

• means for sensing the location of said indentor;
• means for automatically determining a minimum distance of indentor movement for producing a good crimp, said determination being dependent, at least partially, upon the size of an article to the crimped;
• means for sensing hydraulic pressure in said hydraulic system;
• and
• means for preventing further advancement of said indentor upon the occurrence of a predetermined hydraulic system pressure before the occurrence of said indentor reaching said minimum distance of indentor movement.

An apparatus for crimping an article, the apparatus comprising:

• means for crimping including a movable interior advancable towards an article from a retracted home position;
• means for disabling crimping action of said means for crimping upon occurrence of a predetermined condition until said means for crimping is reset;
• and
• means for resetting said means for crimping after said occurrence, said means for resetting being activated by substantially full retraction of said indentor to said home position.

An apparatus for crimping an article, the apparatus having a frame, a movable indentor, means for moving said indentor, and an indentor travel controller, the controller comprising:

• means for sensing the location of said indentor relative to said frame;
• means for sensing free travel movement of said indentor;
• means for automatically determining length of work travel movement of said indentor based upon sensed free travel movement to produce a good crimp of the article;
• and
• means for preventing further advancement of said indentor upon the occurrence of said indentor reaching an end of said length of work travel movement.

A method of controlling crimping of an article comprising the steps of:

• sensing the location of an indentor;
• sensing hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic drive system for moving the indentor;
• determining deactivation parameters for preventing further crimping by the indentor including a deactivation location of the indentor to produce a good crimp of the article and a deactivation pressure in the hydraulic drive system to produce a good crimp of the article;
• and
• activating a deactivation valve to prevent further advancement of the indentor upon the occurrence of the indentor reaching the deactivation location or the hydraulic system reaching the deactivation pressure.