Hardware sensor
AssigneeBermo, Inc.
InventorRichard J. Schneider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus for detecting fault conditions, such as missing or improper hardware, in the operation of a fastener press. It includes a workpiece die that is aligned with and cooperates with a punch assembly in the insertion of the fasteners into holes in the workpiece. The die has a linear displacement member mounted for reciprocal movement in response to the operation of the punch assembly. The position of the linear displacement member, which represents whether or not a fault condition exists, is detected and an alarm indication is generated when there is a fault.
Claims9
Apparatus for detecting fault conditions in the operation of a fastener press of the type having a punch assembly for inserting a fastener into a hole in a workpiece comprising:
- (a) A workpiece die having a retractable pin aligned generally with said punch assembly and mounted for reciprocal movement along an axis of said die;
- (b) spring means biasing said pin toward a first extended position to be received within the hole in said workpiece;
- (c) a linear displacement member operatively connected to said pin so that said linear displacement member moves along said axis in concert with the reciprocal movement of said pin;
- (d) a sensor disposed to detect the position of said linear displacement member and generate a signal representative of said position, and
- (e) means connected to said sensor for processing said signal and generating fault indication when a fault condition exists.
A press for inserting fasteners into a workpiece comprising:
- a reciprocating punch assembly;
- (b) dispensing means for delivering fasteners into the path of said reciprocating punch assembly;
- (c) a workpiece die having a retractable pin aligned generally with said punch assembly and mounted for reciprocal movement along an axis of said die;
- (d) a spring means biasing said pin toward a first extended position to be received within a hole in said workpiece;
- (e) a linear displacement member operatively connected to said pin so that said linear displacement member moves along said axis in concert with the reciprocal movement of said pin;
- (f) a sensor disposed to detect the position of said linear displacement member and generate a signal representative of said position, and
- (g) means connected to said sensor for processing said signal and generating a fault indication when a fault condition exists.
Apparatus for detecting fault conditions in the operation of a fastener press of the type having a punch assembly for inserting a fastener into a hole in a workpiece comprising:
- (a) a workpiece die aligned generally with said punch assembly, said die comprising a tubular member with first and second ends;
- (b) a linear displacement device mounted within said tubular member for reciprocal movement along the longitudinal axis of said tubular member, said linear displacement device having a first end adapted to be received within a hole in said workpiece when said first end is in an extended position from said first end of said tubular member, the position of said linear displacement device representing whether or not a fault condition occurs in the operation of the press;
- (c) spring means for biasing said linear displacement device toward said extended position so that said first end is engaged by said punch assembly during the fastener insertion stroke of said punch assembly;
- (d) means for detecting the position of said linear displacement device along the longitudinal axis of said tubular member and generating fault indication whenever a fault condition exists.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.