Method of optimizing part transfer motion

A method to optimally adjust parameters of a motion path for a programmable electronic transfer feed-rail system that transfer parts between workstations of one or more stamping presses while each workstation linearly strokes opposed dies governed by a rotary clock, the feed-rail system having one or more rails, with part engaging tooling, that is movable along a plurality of axes by motors subject to an adjustable servo control synchronized with said rotary clock, the method comprising:

• (a) establishing an HMI with said servo control to provide adjustments of the motion path parameters;
• (b) setting up a non-linear analytical regression math model in said HMI of the motion path for the tooling on said feed-rail system, said path been comprised of interconnecting linear stroke motions along said axes which may be overlapped to create curvilinear interconnections that facilitate speed increases, said math model dynamically reflecting motion path parameters, axis permissive speeds and relative motion between the opposed dies and rails;
• (c) initializing the math model with a first selected set of motion parameters which include stroke length, stroke speed and stroke clock duration;
• (d) iteratively solving the math model with one or more modified stroke angular durations to examine probabilities for higher resultant stroke speeds at different stroke overlaps that is consistent with a circular is path;
• and
• (e) adjusting the servo control with motion path parameters determine its optimum by said HMI.

A method for optimizing an adjustable continuous transfer motion path for part engaging tooling to carry parts between linearly stroked opposed dies of a stamping press driven by a rotary clock, comprising:

• (a) setting up a math model defining said motion path as a composite of linear strokes which may be overlapped to create curvilinear arcs connecting the linear strokes;
• (b) initializing the model with a first selected set of overlaps of said linear strokes as well as a first selected set of stroke speeds for the motion path;
• (c) operating the initialized math model to determine individual resultant stroke speeds and stroke annular durations as a function of the rotary clock that together constitute essentially 360 degrees;
• and
• (d) iteratively solving the math model with one or more modified stroke angular durations to examine probabilities for higher resultant stroke speeds at different stroke overlaps that is consistent with a circuitous path.

A method for optimizing an adjustable circular part transfer motion path between workstations in a manufacturing sequence, the sequence imposing part transfer constraints identified at the workstation and/or between workstations, comprising:

• identifying motion affecting parameters of a given part and a given mechanical motion transfer device for the part;
• initializing a math model of the motion path for the part with stroke speeds and stroke distances;
• solving the math model to determine a maximum limiting speed for the motion path so initialized;
• modifying the math model to progressively overlap and combine vector components of adjacent strokes to create curvilinear connecting arcs between strokes;
• and iteratively examining probabilities of resultant speeds at different degrees of overlap between strokes that avoid interference with motion constraints.

A method for optimizing an adjustable circular part transfer motion path between workstations in a manufacturing sequence, the sequence imposing part transfer constraints identified at the workstation and/or between workstations, comprising:

• (a) setting up a non-linear regression math model of the motion path circuit, which model includes coefficients adapted for the inertia of the part and the apparatus to carry out the transfer, as well as terms for said constraints, said model defining a motion path sectioned into linear strokes which may be more or less overlapped to create curvilinear arcs connecting the linear strokes;
• (b) initializing said model with input data for stroke distances, stroke rotations as a portion of the circuit, stroke overlaps, and overall circuit speed;
• (c) operating the initialized model to determine the individual resultant stroke speeds and degree of overlapped stroke rotations that together constitute essentially a closed circuit;
• (d) iteratively solving the math model with one or more modified overlaps to examine probabilities for higher resultant stroke speeds and different stroke overlaps consistent with a circuitous path;
• and
• (e) adjusting the apparatus so that the transfer motion path reflects the optimum iteration of step (d).