Computer controlled cup forming machine
AssigneeSolo Cup Operating Corporation
InventorsDean Joseph Mannlein, Thomas David Pyper, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer controlled cup forming machine is provided. The computer controlled cup forming machine has a main motor, a main controller, and a plurality of workstations having individual motors electrically connected to the main motor and the main controller. The main controller develops electrical signals of a drive or motion profile that are sent to the individual motors, and the main motor sends additional electrical signals to the individual motors to initiate the drive profiles at the individual motors. The main controller also has an input station to quantitatively control each of the individual motors.
Claims31
A computer controlled cup forming machine comprising:
- a main turret assembly rotatably mounted on a shaft and a plurality of workstations spaced about the periphery of the main turret assembly;
- and,
- a main motor driving the main turret assembly, the main motor electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of workstations spaced about the periphery of the main turret assembly, the main motor developing electrical signals of the position of the main motor and sending the electrical signals to the workstations electronically connected thereto to initiate action of the workstations.
A computer controlled cup forming machine comprising:
- a main turret assembly and a plurality of workstations spaced about the periphery of the main turret assembly;
- individual motors for the plurality of the workstations;
- and,
- a main controller storing drive profiles for the individual motors, the main controller being electrically connected to the individual motors to send signals of the drive profiles to the individual motors.
A computer controlled cup forming machine comprising:
- a main turret assembly and a plurality of workstations spaced about the periphery of the main turret assembly;
- a plurality of the workstations having individual motors;
- and,
- a main controller electrically connected to a plurality of the individual motors, the main controller having an input station to quantitatively adjust control parameters for the motors, and the main controller sending signals to the motors of the adjusted control parameters to assist in quantitatively controlling motion of the motors.
A computer controlled cup forming machine comprising:
- a main turret assembly and a plurality of workstations spaced about the periphery of the main turret assembly:
- a main turret assembly having a main motor;
- a plurality of workstations adjacent the main turret assembly, the plurality of workstations having individual motors therefor;
- and,
- a main controller electrically connected to the main motor and the individual motors to send control signals to a plurality of the motors to independently operate the motors.
A cup forming machine supported on a frame, the machine comprising:
- a main turret rotatably mounted in association with the frame and a plurality of workstations spaced about the periphery of the main turret;
- a master motor having an encoder and a programmable limit switch, the master motor being mechanically coupled to the main turret to drive the main turret, the encoder further developing an electronic signal of the position of the master motor;
- a plurality of workstations radially spaced about the main turret, wherein a plurality of the plurality of workstations have a motor coupled thereto;
- a controller electrically connected to the master motor and to a plurality of the motors coupled to the workstations, the controller sending output signals to the plurality of motors coupled to the workstations.
A method for forming a cup on a computer controlled cup forming machine, comprising the steps of:
- providing a machine having a main turret assembly rotatably mounted on a shaft and a plurality of workstations spaced about the periphery of the main turret assembly;
- generating an electronic signal of the position of the main motor;
- sending the electronic signal to motors at the plurality of workstations spaced about the main turret assembly to initiate action of the other motors.
A method for forming a cup on a computer controlled cup forming machine, comprising the steps of:
- providing a machine having a main turret assembly rotatably mounted on a shaft and a plurality of workstations spaced about the periphery of the main turret assembly;
- storing drive profiles for a plurality of motors for the cup forming machine in a controller;
- generating electronic signals of the drive profiles for the plurality of motors;
- sending the electronic signals to the motors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.