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US 7,163,038 B2Granted
Systems and methods for end squaring and dividing elongated materials
AssigneeGlobe Machine Manufacturing Company
InventorsRobert T. Rhodes, Thomas M. Scott, Clifford P. Isaman, Otto M. Allison, Calvin D. Bamford, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for end squaring and/or dividing elongated materials by determining an actual orientation of the elongated material, or an actual position of an associated pair of positioning mechanisms that are contactable with the elongated material, and changing the actual orientation to correspond with a desired orientation through independent movement of the positioning mechanisms prior to or during the end squaring and/or dividing operation.
Claims21
A system for end squaring and/or dividing an elongated material, comprising:
- at least one dividing mechanism having a first dividing plane;
- a first transport mechanism movable in response to a first control signal in a substantially parallel direction relative to the first dividing plane;
- a first engagement element connectable with the first transport mechanism and having a first contact surface for engaging the elongated material;
- a second transport mechanism spaced apart from the first transport mechanism and movable independently from the first transport mechanism in response to a second control signal in a substantially parallel direction relative to the first dividing plane;
- a second engagement element connectable with the second transport mechanism and having a second contact surface for engaging the elongated material;
- a detector system having a first detected output and a second detected output representing an actual position associated with the first contact surface and an actual position associated with the second contact surface, respectively, relative to the at least one dividing mechanism;
- a correction module having a correction program that generates at least one correction factor based on the first detected output and the second detected output, wherein the correction factor represents a corrected position of at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface such that a line between the first contact surface and the second contact surface is substantially perpendicular to the first dividing plane;
- and
- a controller system operable to generate the first control signal and the second control signal representing a desired movement of the first transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism, respectively, relative to the at least one dividing mechanism, and wherein at least one of the first control signal and the second control signal comprises the at least one correction factor.
6 more elements
A system for positioning a substantially rigid sheet of material, comprising:
- a first positioning mechanism having a first engagement surface movable in a first direction, wherein the first engagement surface includes a first linear portion perpendicular to the first direction, the first positioning mechanism having a first drive connectable with the first engagement surface and operable to move the first engagement surface in the first direction according to a first predetermined control signal;
- a second positioning mechanism having a second engagement surface movable along a substantially parallel path relative to first engagement surface, wherein the second engagement surface includes a second linear portion perpendicular to the first direction, the second positioning mechanism having a second drive connectable with the second engagement surface and operable to move the second engagement surface in the first direction according to a second predetermined control signal, wherein the second drive is independently movable relative to the first drive;
- a detector system operable to generate at least one position signal corresponding to an actual position of the first engagement surface relative to the second engagement surface;
- a controller system operable to generate the first predetermined control signal, the second predetermined control signal and at least one correction signal, wherein the correction signal is based upon the at least one position signal and comprises a difference between the actual position of the first engagement surface relative to the second engagement surface and a predetermined position, wherein the predetermined position comprises a position wherein a first plane through a first predetermined portion of the first positioning mechanism and a second predetermined portion of the second positioning mechanism is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein at least one of the first predetermined control signal and the second predetermined control signal includes the at least one correction signal.
1 more element
A method of end squaring and/or dividing an elongated material, comprising:
- moving a first transport mechanism in response to a first control signal in a substantially parallel direction relative to a first dividing plane;
- connecting a first engagement element with the first transport mechanism, where the first engagement element includes a first contact surface for engaging the elongated material;
- moving a second transport mechanism in response to a second control signal in a substantially parallel direction relative to the first dividing plane, where the second transport mechanism is spaced apart from the first transport mechanism;
- connecting a second engagement element with the second transport mechanism, where the second engagement element includes a second contact surface for engaging the elongated material;
- generating a first detected output and a second detected output representing an actual position associated with the first contact surface and an actual position associated with the second contact surface, respectively, relative to the at least one dividing mechanism;
- generating at least one correction factor based on the first detected output and the second detected output, wherein the correction factor represents a corrected position of at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface such that a line between the first contact surface and the second contact surface is substantially perpendicular to the first dividing plane;
- and
- generating the first control signal and the second control signal representing a desired movement of the first transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism, respectively, relative to the at least one dividing mechanism, and where at least one of the first control signal and the second control signal comprises the at least one correction factor.
5 more elements
A method of producing an elongated material with finished side and end dimensions, comprising:
- receiving an elongated material with at least one side having a predetermined finished dimension;
- determining the actual orientation of the at least one side relative to a predetermined plane;
- comparing the actual orientation to a desired orientation;
- generating a correction factor based on a difference between the actual orientation and the desired orientation;
- re-orienting the elongated material with two independently movable positioning mechanisms based on the correction factor;
- and
- producing at least one end having a predetermined finished dimension in a predetermined relative relationship to the at least one side having the predetermined finished dimension.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.