US 8,904,616 B2Granted

Method of monitoring a crimping process, crimping press and computer program product

AssigneeSchleuniger Holding AG

InventorsMustafa Ayabakan, Witali Janzen

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method of monitoring a crimping process is disclosed, which determines whether an actual force stroke progression (Fa)/force-time progression is, a) above, or, b) below an ideal force stroke progression (Fi)/force-time progression in at least one point. The method shifts an upper border (Bu) and/or the lower border (Bl) of a tolerance band upwards in case a) and downwards in case b), utilizing four zones (Z1-Z4) of determined force progression. Additionally, there are is an absolute upper limit (Lu), at which an upward shifting of the upper border (Bu) is inhibited, and an absolute lower limit (Ll), at which a downward shifting of the lower border (Bl) is inhibited. Moreover, a crimping press and a computer program product embodying the method are disclosed.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method of monitoring a crimping process, comprising:

generating an ideal crimping force progression level;
setting a tolerance band of actual force progression level surrounding the ideal force progression level;
providing the tolerance band with an upper border of actual force progression level above the ideal force progression level;
setting a first zone of actual crimping force progression level above the ideal force progression;
setting a first lower bound of actual force progression level as a lower bound for the first zone;
setting the level of the first lower bound of actual force progression level higher than the ideal force progression;
setting a first upper bound of actual force progression as an upper bound for the first zone;
setting the level of the first upper bound of actual force progression level higher than the first lower bound;
setting a third zone of actual crimping force progression level above the first zone and below the upper border;
setting a third lower bound of actual force progression level as a lower bound for the third zone;
setting a third upper bound of actual force progression level as an upper bound for the third zone;
defining a fixed upper limit of actual crimping force progression level above the upper border;
providing the tolerance band with a lower border of actual force progression level below the ideal force progression level;
setting a second zone of actual crimping force progression level below the ideal force progression;
setting a second upper bound of actual force progression level as an upper bound for the second zone;
setting the level of the second upper bound of actual force progression level lower than the ideal force progression;
setting a second lower bound of actual force progression as a lower bound for the second zone;
setting the level of the second lower bound of actual force progression level lower than the second upper bound;
setting a fourth zone of actual crimping force progression level below the second zone and above the lower border;
setting a fourth upper bound of actual force progression level as an upper bound for the fourth zone;
setting a fourth lower bound of actual force progression level as a lower bound for the fourth zone;
defining a fixed lower limit of actual crimping force progression level below the lower border;
measuring the actual force progression of a crimping operation;
making a determination of whether the measured actual force progression lies within the first zone or the second zone, or the third zone, or the fourth zone;
dynamically shifting the tolerance band defined by the upper tolerance border and lower tolerance border based on the determination;
and,
limiting the dynamic shifting of the tolerance band to within the fixed upper limit and the fixed lower limit.

24 more elements

A method of monitoring a crimping process, comprising:

generating an ideal crimping force progression level;
setting a tolerance band of actual force progression level surrounding the ideal force progression level;
providing the tolerance band with an upper border of actual force progression level above the ideal force progression level;
setting a first zone of actual crimping force progression level above the ideal force progression;
setting a first lower bound of actual force progression level as a lower bound for the first zone;
setting the level of the first lower bound of actual force progression level coincident with the ideal force progression;
setting a first upper bound of actual force progression as an upper bound for the first zone;
setting the level of the first upper bound of actual force progression level higher than the first lower bound;
setting a third zone of actual crimping force progression level above the first zone and below the upper border;
setting a third lower bound of actual force progression level as a lower bound for the third zone;
setting the third lower bound for the third zone coincident with the first upper bound for the first zone;
setting a third upper bound of actual force progression level as an upper bound for the third zone;
defining a fixed upper limit of actual crimping force progression level above the upper border;
providing the tolerance band with a lower border of actual force progression level below the ideal force progression level;
setting a second zone of actual crimping force progression level below the ideal force progression;
setting a second upper bound of actual force progression level as an upper bound for the second zone;
setting the level of the second upper bound of actual force progression level coincident with the ideal force progression;
setting a second lower bound of actual force progression as a lower bound for the second zone;
setting the level of the second lower bound of actual force progression level lower than the second upper bound;
setting a fourth zone of actual crimping force progression level below the second zone and above the lower border;
setting a fourth upper bound of actual force progression level as an upper bound for the fourth zone;
setting the fourth upper bound for the fourth zone coincident with the second lower bound for the second zone;
setting a fourth lower bound of actual force progression level as a lower bound for the fourth zone;
defining a fixed lower limit of actual crimping force progression level below the lower border;
measuring the actual force progression of a crimping operation;
making a determination of whether the measured actual force progression lies within the first zone or the second zone, or the third zone, or the fourth zone;
dynamically shifting the tolerance band defined by the upper tolerance border and lower tolerance border based on the determination;
and,
limiting the dynamic shifting of the tolerance band to within the fixed upper limit and the fixed lower limit.

26 more elements

A method of monitoring a crimping process, comprising:

generating an ideal crimping force progression level;
setting a tolerance band of actual force progression level surrounding the ideal force progression level;
providing the tolerance band with an upper border of actual force progression level above the ideal force progression level;
setting a first zone of actual crimping force progression level above the ideal force progression;
setting a first lower bound of actual force progression level as a lower bound for the first zone;
setting the level of the first lower bound of actual force progression level coincident with the ideal force progression;
setting a first upper bound of actual force progression as an upper bound for the first zone;
setting the level of the first upper bound of actual force progression level higher than the first lower bound;
setting a third zone of actual crimping force progression level above the first zone and below the upper border;
setting a third lower bound of actual force progression level as a lower bound for the third zone;
setting the third lower bound for the third zone higher than the first upper bound for the first zone;
setting a third upper bound of actual force progression level as an upper bound for the third zone;
defining a fixed upper limit of actual crimping force progression level above the upper border;
providing the tolerance band with a lower border of actual force progression level below the ideal force progression level;
setting a second zone of actual crimping force progression level below the ideal force progression;
setting a second upper bound of actual force progression level as an upper bound for the second zone;
setting the level of the second upper bound of actual force progression level coincident with the ideal force progression;
setting a second lower bound of actual force progression as a lower bound for the second zone;
setting the level of the second lower bound of actual force progression level lower than the second upper bound;
setting a fourth zone of actual crimping force progression level below the second zone and above the lower border;
setting a fourth upper bound of actual force progression level as an upper bound for the fourth zone;
setting the fourth upper bound for the fourth zone lower than the second lower bound for the second zone;
setting a fourth lower bound of actual force progression level as a lower bound for the fourth zone;
defining a fixed lower limit of actual crimping force progression level below the lower border;
measuring the actual force progression of a crimping operation;
making a determination of whether the measured actual force progression lies within the first zone or the second zone, or the third zone, or the fourth zone;
dynamically shifting the tolerance band defined by the upper tolerance border and lower tolerance border based on the determination;
and,
limiting the dynamic shifting of the tolerance band to within the fixed upper limit and the fixed lower limit.

26 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/346,723Filed 9 Jan 2012 · continuation in part
Priority: CH 0580/099 Apr 2009
Published: US 2012/0054996 A13 May 2012
Granted: 9 Dec 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

H01R 43/0486
Crimping apparatus or processes: with force measuring means
B30B 15/0094
Details of, or accessories for, presses; Auxiliary measures in connection with pressing: press load monitoring means
Y10S 72/712
Metal deforming: electrical terminal crimper
Y10T 29/49004
Electrical device making: including measuring or testing of device or component part

Family

Application61/168,212Us provisional application · filed 9 Apr 2009
PCT/IB2010/051530Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Apr 2010
US 2012/0103043 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 May 2012
US 8,671,538 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Mar 2014
Application13/255,029Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2012/0054996 A1Published application
US 8,904,616 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.